Starting problem with 2000 Impala

2000 Chev Impala, Base model.

Every 20th time or so I try to start the car (no real pattern to it), the car will not start. No engine sounds at all. On the Message Center, I see the red battery light, then the yellow security light flashes six times, then back to the red battery light, and so on. This will go on for ten minutes, then the security light will go solid, and the car starts fine.

When I took it to the dealership, they pulled the engine codes, and I was told that I needed to replace the Body Control Module, which was messing up the Anti-Theft on the car. $500 bucks latter, the problem still exists. Now, they want to replace the key tumbler and starting module, which is another $500. Strange thing is, about a year ago, I had an ignition coil go bad. The shop replaced that, and did a full tune up, and for several months, the car started fine. Then the problem came back, and with the onset of the cold weather, seems to be happing with more frequency. When I asked my normal mechanic (not the dealership) about the relation between the tune up and the problem going away for a while, he insists there is no correlation. I'm told that there is an issue with the tumbler/ignition module and the anti-theft system.

Any ideas? I'd like to get a better handle on this before I drop another $500, which may or may not solve the problem.

Thanks,

-C. D.

Reply to
ch_squire
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Just curious. Has the key ever been replaced?

Reply to
TOLYN9

Few points to consider:

-If the $500 you spend initially didn't solve the problem, you must get your money back. They diagnosed it; they replaced the part, no change. Now, if they are guessing at another $500 part, the initial $500 should go towards fixing this the right way. Any and all repairs like this carry a GM 12,000 mile/1 yr warranty and the dealer is responsible to make sure you're happy or at the very least that the problem has been fixed.

-If it is the ignition mod or switch or whatever, please make sure you file a complete report with NHTSA branch of DOT. This way if this becomes a higher than norm failure rate, you and hundreds of others like you will get your money back for repair that should have been covered by GM.

Fred

Reply to
Fred

No. My mechanic recommended trying the other key, but the issue happens no matter which key we use.

-C. D.

Reply to
ch_squire

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