Ask the Car People.SM


Saturn Ion Starting Problems

1201 messages,  Last post on May 10, 2013 at 9:26 AM

You are in the Saturn ION Forum.

What is this discussion about? Saturn ION, Electrical, Coupe, Sedan

Messages Page 60 of 121

#589 of 1201 Re: 2006 Saturn Ion Ignition Problems [dozensaturn] by dweezil

Jul 12, 2011 (8:39 am)

Replying to: dozensaturn (Jul 11, 2011 6:40 pm)
I'll try having a new key made. Thanks for the suggestion.
 
It's unfortunate: as a car buyer my standards are pretty easy to meet. I expect the car to stop, start, run reliably and not need a lot of expensive repairs down the road.
 
The ION with it's polymer,Ecotec and GM 4 speed auto appears bullet proof.
 
Ideal on paper as a 20 year car. I ordered with minimal electronic gadgetry to go haywire down the road [no power windows or locks], no timing belt and water pump to replace at regular intervals. Like a Checker: built for the long haul.
 
And the simplest, most basic function of a car GM f#$%s up.
 
Every time I think of it my contempt for this company grows. "Bankruptcy is not an option " ? No, it was and is a foregone conclusion.

#590 of 1201 2006 saturn ignition problems by dweezil

Jul 12, 2011 (10:01 am)

Dozensaturn: well....... had the keys made at Ace. So far no having to diddle that hole under the steering wheel to get the key out. Keeping fingers crossed, but you may have solved my problem. Many thanks any way for the suggestion !

#591 of 1201 Re: 2004 Saturn ION Starting Problem [kikib] by krogers2

Jul 13, 2011 (9:29 am)

Replying to: kikib (Jul 02, 2011 9:28 pm)
I have had the same problem too!!! Just yesterday I try to turn the key to kill the engine and it wouldn't turn! I wasn't freaking out. I finally had to leave work and drive it to my local mechanic and after looking at it, he told me I have to replace the ignition system in the steering column...something like that. The key was stuck. He opened the steering column up and metal parts started falling out. Wtf. I'm glad to read this isn't uncommon. My Saturn is a 2007 Ion with only 24K miles on the dang thing. It runs really well so I like the car, but this ignition problem is putting me back $800. Ugh.

#592 of 1201 Re: 2004 Saturn ION Starting Problem [krogers2] by gmcustsvc

Jul 13, 2011 (11:12 am)

Replying to: krogers2 (Jul 13, 2011 9:29 am)
krogers2,
I was reading your post and I would look into this for you. Can you please email me with your VIN, involved dealer, and complete contact information. I look forward to your response.
Christina
GM Customer Service

#593 of 1201 2003 Saturn ION stops starting by notlkh

Jul 14, 2011 (6:52 am)

I bought my car used around 2006, and started having the starting issue in the fall of that year. When the temperature got below 60 degrees, at least once a day, I would try to start it, and it would fail. Initially, over a half hour period I would try to start it, and it would seem to get slightly better, starting to chug after waiting 5 minutes, until eventually it would start with my flooring the gas. After a week or so, I figured out the magic number was 10 minutes. When it would fail, if I waited 11 minutes {One extra, just to insure the 10 minutes expired} it would more often than not start up immediately.
 
It never seemed to happen consistently, so I never brought it in to be fixed. It would seem to stop stopping mostly over the summer, but would start stopping in the Fall. Strangely, when the temperature went below 32 degrees, it seemed to stop stopping less and less, perhaps after every 3 days it would stop starting maybe once.
 
I finally googled, and discovered this thread a few years ago, and saw many descriptions of the same issue.
 
I worry, when I bring my car in for service for other issues {Currently a bad bearing, a coolent notification and an oil change} that it might happen, frustrating the mechanic, but I forwarn them to wait exactly 11 minutes, and it should then start, or else wait another 11 then retry.
So far, it has never failed to start for any mechanic, and they've never heard of this issue. Well, within a year or two, I will be getting a new car, and I can live with this until then.
 
-Lou

#594 of 1201 Re: 2003 Saturn ION stops starting [notlkh] by dozensaturn

Jul 14, 2011 (8:57 am)

Replying to: notlkh (Jul 14, 2011 6:52 am)
Lou,
The starting problem has nothing to do with the outside temperature, hour during the day etc. as this is a Saturn/GM problem (since day ONE) on the ION's ... You are so correct, wait 10 to 11 minutes, try a 2nd time, even a 3rd and a 4th time. Always wait in between. GM keep on responding take the vehicle to a dealer, have it checked out ... at the consumers expense! This is a major GM problem, a liability actually and they do not take the time and expense to review it and recommend how to fix it. As late as y-day they called us, saying we should take it to the dealer when this problem occurs! Have the car towed to their dealer .... Keep in mind the window is 10 to 11 minutes - not much time to get the tow truck, have the car brought to the dealer and they look at it ... All this at the consumers expense. I don't think so. Consider trade the car, turn your back to it and let someone else keep fighting with GM - their reputation will not improve until this issue is taken care of. So far have sold off 3 ION's and the 4th is due to go in September - and the replacements are non-GM products.

#595 of 1201 2005 ION Ignition Problems by dweezil

Jul 17, 2011 (4:52 pm)

The link to the GM rep's customer service line has worked, they've been good about following up.
 
HOWEVER: had the car in and had the ignition switch changed. Got home, first time I shut it off: key stuck again.
 
Took it back to the dealer: he had no problem getting it out. Got home again and the fool thing hung on to the key until I diddled the little button underneath the steering wheel.
 
Called the dealership from the car itself while the key was stuck. They said bring it back in !!!! By that time I said I would drive it for awhile to see if it got any better as I said I had spent all day on this runaround. OMG: I wound up paying for a repair only to get the same BS problem I went in with.
 
Ran the car around town yesterday, all three stops, no problem. Get to the mail box, turn off the car, key stuck again.
 
Today I tried it at least 6 times. Four out of those times the key came out. The last time it didn't and had to use the override button.
 
I shouldn't have even bothered. May just take the thing to CarMax and sell it outright. The 63 Valiant I have has only had a problem starting when someone stole the battery out of it !!!!!!!!!!!!
And the only time I have replaced an ignition switch has been when I lost the keys and had to replace it.
 
As a matter of fact, in all my years of driving that's the only one I have ever had to replace.
 
On #3 with the ION now and the 7th trip for the same problem with no resolution.....

#596 of 1201 Re: 2003 Saturn ION stops starting [dozensaturn] by flabbergasted

Jul 21, 2011 (1:16 pm)

Replying to: dozensaturn (Jul 14, 2011 8:57 am)
OH M G! My car has the SAME issue, as well as 2 other issues I am reading about! VERY FRUSTRATING. This ignition issue defintely seems to be temperature related because my car has only done this in cold weather, and yes it matter whether you wait 9 minutes or 10 minutes before retrying. 10 IS the magic number! I have argued with my husband over this time and again! He will go out every 5 minutes and I tell him, "You have to wait 10 minutes!" Oh, and if you wait 20, that's too long. I think it has something to do with the connections. Cold=Shrink, Heat=Expand. So, basically, my therory is, the connection is cold and therefore not connecting correctly. Somehow, when you try to crank it the first time it gets it warming up, but it takes 10 minutes, and if you wait too long, it will be cold again. It is VERY annoying. I called the dealership the 1st time it happened, and they wanted to charge an arm and leg to investigate it, not including a repair. UNCOOL! Now, come to find out, a LOT of Saturn owners are experiencing the SAME THING?! That just ticks me off. I also am experiencing the power steering and cooling fan problem several others seem have experienced or are experiencing. This is CRAP! I am fixing to raise a BIG stink at my local GM dealer.

#597 of 1201 Re: 2003 Saturn ION stops starting [flabbergasted] by dweezil

Jul 21, 2011 (2:06 pm)

Replying to: flabbergasted (Jul 21, 2011 1:16 pm)
All I can say is: do what is described above and email your VIN and # to the GM customer service site listed in previous posts here. I was skeptical as you can see from the posts, but they really came through.
 
I am stunned at the way I was treated: car is back and problem is resolved. It was a two part problem.Ignition switch I paid for, the other, a $400.00 repair GM covered.
 
The other issue with the ignition was with the connection between the shifter and the key release in the ignition, some sort of sensor where the whole unit had to be replaced.
 
Because it had been replaced 20,000 miles before under warranty and the car only has 48,000 miles they replaced it.
 
ORielly Chevrolet here in Tucson proved themselves genuine Authorized Saturn Service Providers. And I will be using them for maintenance from here on.
 
Let them try to help you as there is also an extended warranty on the electronic power steering. Going in raving won't help, simply make a case for your problem with GM Customer Service and let them try to fix the problem. They'll open a repair ticket & take you through the process.
 
Have you had this ignition switch repaired before ? Your car is a 2003 ? How many miles ? Have you given the GM people a chance to look at it ? If you've never had the problem before you've been lucky.
 
Mine is finally fixed and I'm grateful. Brilliant customer service on their part. Car was out of warrnaty but had been repaired under warranty twice before and the dealer that repaired it wasn't the one that sold the car.
 
They get a 10. And I was NOT expecting any satisfaction. Maybe this IS a new GM

#598 of 1201 Re: 2003 Saturn ION stops starting [dweezil] by flabbergasted

Jul 22, 2011 (7:25 am)

Replying to: dweezil (Jul 21, 2011 2:06 pm)
Well, you see, my car is an '04 and back in about '06 my car just went over the 36,000 mile mark and the ignition problem started. So, I have been dealing with this MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT for, what is that, 5 years now. If it is cold, I know that I need to go turn the ignition to get the connection warming up and wait 10 minutes to try to start the car. Is this an inconvenience to me? YOU BET! I can't tell you how many times I have been tardy to work, or had to sit in the parking lot somewhere in the freezing cold waiting 10 minutes for the car to get ready to start. Oh, and it took a little bit to figure out that 10 was the magic number. I called Saturn when the problem began, and of course it wasn't covered under warranty anymore, so they were going to charge labor to find out what the problem is plus parts and labor to correct, and I didn't have the money so nothing has been done, I have just been dealing with this problem. Now, I have 2 new, common apparantly, problems. The cooling fan and the power steering. I'm sorry, but if these problems are MANUFACTURER DEFECTS I shouldn't have to pay for squat. As a matter of fact, I remember Saturn mentioning something about the ignition switch being defective and I remember arguing that I shouldn't have to pay for the repair then, and they explained that since the warranty had expired, then the repair was not covered. BULL! It is a MANUFACTURER DEFECT! I should not be required to pay for something that was defective when the car was manufactured. So, I'm going to go in and talk nicely about the issue and see if they will take care of me. I will give them an opportunity, but I am pretty sure what will happen and I will end up raising a big stink. They just better hope that I leave my hubby at home, because he'd raise an even bigger stink. We shall see.
 
Thanks for the advise!

Messages Page 60 of 121

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement