'06 Saturn Ion Cold Start Problems

KN4101
Thu, 27 Nov 2008 07:07:58 +0000
Maintenance/Repairs

Hello. I’m new here, so forgive me if this has been covered already. I have an '06 Ion that has decided it doesn’t like to start when it’s cold. Specifically, the passlock system doesn’t recognize the key, so it cuts the fuel injection for 10 minutes, thereby preventing the car from starting. Radio, lights, blower, etc. work fine, it’s just that it won’t turn over. There’s nothing I can do to get it to work until the 10 minute waiting period is over. Once the 10 minutes is up, it starts right up. This only happens when it’s been sitting cold for several hours and the temp is below about 35 degrees. I’m tired of being either late or stranded every single day! What is it about the cold temp that screws up the passlock system?

So I have asked around, and Saturn claims it’s the ignition switch that is the problem. They said the lubricant inside freezes and that’s why it doesn’t work. But that doesn’t hold water - if it’s frozen the first time, why does it work the second time? They said maybe it’s dirty. Again, it’s not cleaner the second time. I got a new key made to see if it was just a worn key. That didn’t help. Someone suggested maybe there was condensation inside that was freezing, so I used a heat gun to dry it out - didn’t work.

So here are a few ideas I have - maybe some of them are stupid. Would a lock de-icer (the kind with a heated pick) work? I have never really looked at them - don’t know if they can be used in the ignition. What about a remote starter? Would that bypass the problem? Is there some kind of relearn process for the passlock system that would teach it to recognize the key? If so, how do I do that?

TIA for all replies!

42 posts - 17 participants