03 saturn ion, remote start

i installed an alert model 250R in to my sisters 03 Ion about 2 years ago working great    on the original install i had used an astro bypass for the passlock 2 it lasted 2 days so i pulled it out and made my own the relay and resistor method worked great recently the car will randomly not start Via key or remote start the security light on the dash will be flashing   if she leaves the car off for 5 mins or so it will start and not have a problem again for a month or so   i had her take it to saturn and there blaming the install   what could have changed to cause this ?

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If i Can't Install it    I Don't need it   Joe

These cars are well known for ignition switch failures.

Since the dealer's being silly, I would disconnect your Passlock bypass, reconnect the car's white and WHITE/ black wires to factory status.

Ask the customer not to use the remote start. (Disable or unplug the remote start if you can.) Then, as soon as it fails to start again with the key, bring it back to the dealer and have them fix it.

You could tell her that it might be the ignition switch, but leave it to the dealer to make the diagnosis. Better to let them decide which parts to replace, that way, if they're wrong, it isn't your fault.

After the dealer eventually does replace the ignition switch, you'll also have to meter the car again, and put in a different resistor than the one you have in there now. The new ignition switch will almost definitely be different. (If you try to just reconnect the bypass you have now, and remote start the car, it'll go into the 10-minute lockout again.)

P.S. Go on Google and search for "saturn ion ignition switch." Very well-known issue, and very unprofessional of the dealer to automatically blame you.

Here you go:

https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=tsb+040845005&aq=f&oq=

Hey, here's a really cool post.

The ignition switch is only $33, and looks pretty easy to replace and reprogram.

If you could be 100% sure that you diagnose the problem right, maybe you could do the repair for your customer, cheaper than the dealer, and still make some money.

https://www.saturnfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=92569

thanks a millon chris   i think im going to put that switch in as its my sisters car and i do work on cars for a living   shouldnt be a big deal

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If i Can't Install it    I Don't need it   Joe

You're welcome, and I hope it helps.

And yes, it does look pretty easy. We as installers already know how to remove the steering column cover, and it looks like it's just one Torx screw after that.

And the part is cheap, and as long as you have 30 minutes, you don't need the dealer's scan tool to program it.

So you should be able to not only get the car fix, but save your sister a couple hundred bucks. Take care.