2003 Saturn Ion starting

MMUSANTE

MEMBER
2003 SATURN ION
4 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
110,000 MILES

Ok. Here goes. My staurn has this problem for the past few years. When the temperature drops below freezing or it has been a constant cold few days the car will not start. I turn the key first thing in the morning and get nothing. I wait a min. I get some crank. Try again nothing complete dead. If I have the option to wait 15 - 20 mins. And turn the key the car will start no issue. When it first started happening I thought it was the battery. I eventually replaced it about 18 months ago but the next winter I got the same issue. Car sits overnight in cold weather. Nothing. I wait 30 mins or come back out hours later. It starts. It sometimes start even it sat for a few days in freezing temps and other times even if the temp is in the high 30's and I used it the night before I get this issue. ANY IDEAS? During the summer months. Starts everytime.

1 Reply

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,870 POSTS

First of all thank u so much for ur donation it really helps to keep this site going and answering everyones questions. As far as ur starting concern it sounds like ur ignition switch they don't start when cold the electrical grease in them solidify when it gets cold below 40 degrees and causes the pass lock in them to read incorrectly and not start. They have redesigned the switch 3 or 4 times for this concern of not starting. What u need to do to make sure it's the switch which it should be is go to a place that can read body control module codes if u have a b2960 and or a b3033 then u need a new switch. Have that checked out if it needs a switch and ur handy with tools I'll help u replace it there not very hard to replace. Let me know what u find.