2001 ignition problems

I am new to this forum and am looking for answers to a problem I am having with my 2000LS. The car will sometimes not start. No cranking at all. I have found that by manipulating the gear shift selector I can get it to start. I have no aftermarket systems on the car. No remote start. Is there a safety switch under the center console?

I have no direct experience with the Impala but this type of problem can be caused by a bad Nuetral Backup Safety Switch. It's a switch on the transmission that works with the gearshift linkage.

I have not had this problem with my Impala. It does not surprise me though as I had a similar problem with my Chevy Pickup. If they used a similar part with the cars as they did with the truck it could be the problem. In my truck, I took it in to fix a sticking brake light. There was a 3-way plunger switch beneath the brake pedal that controled the brake lights, transmission release and cruise control release (I think the 3rd was the CC release??). It took the mechanic 6 attempts (and one to the GM dealer) to finally get it to work.

Symptoms:

Some times the truck wouldn't turn over at all (like the starter was gone)
Some times the truck would be stuck in park and would not shift out while the engine was running
Brake lights would stick on for several minutes after applying the brakes.

A trick my neighbor (who was a Goodyear Mechanic) taught me was to:
Before turning the ignition to start-turn it to accessories
Apply the brake and switch the gears from park to neutral (without the car running)
Start the vehicle in neutral and then I was able to get it to turn over and able to shift from park to reverse and drive.

Apparently the switch underneath the brake pedal (arm) tells the transmission the car is in park and ready to start. In the truck I had, the part had broken and made the vehicle "think" I was trying to start it in drive-thus not allowing the engine to turn over.

Again, I do not know if this is the same situation but it might help. I hope you get the problem fixed sooner than I did. My mechanic ended up doing the repairs at cost of parts because he couldn't get it fixed in the first couple of attempts and of course the local GM dealer service center said they could not find a problem. It did take 6 or 7 replacements to get it right.

Hope this helps.

AW

I am looking into this problem with my 2000 Impala. Seems to be related to the built in Security Features... When my won't crank the Security light is on, after 15 mins, the light goes off and I can start the car. Does anyone know of a fix for it yet?

I am looking into this problem with my 2000 Impala. Seems to be related to the built in Security Features... When my won't crank the Security light is on, after 15 mins, the light goes off and I can start the car. Does anyone know of a fix for it yet?

dizzix,

I had the same identical problem with my 01 Malibu (which I just traded for an 04 Impala). The fix was to replace the passlock sensor that is part of the ignition switch assy. Cost me $225 (parts and labor). This seems to be a common problem with all GM veichles. I found a section in the owners manual that said if the Theft System light is flashing, leave the key in the ignition and wait for 10 minutes. After 10 min the light will stop flashing and the car will start. Mine behaved like this at first but as the problem got worse the Theft Light would stay on all the time. The car would start with the light on, but occasionaly it would still go into the protection mode and not start. Waiting 10 min would still let me start the car but the light would stay on. A new sensor also has to be programmed to your Car with a GM Tech-II scan tool so I just let the dealer change it. I talked to a GM tech I know and he said that most of the time this problem is caused by the passlock sensor. Other possible causes are the BCM (Body Control Module) or a wiring problem. Hope this helps :)

I do remote start installs for a living and I will tell you that I hate GM vehicles because of the problems with the Passlock systems. GM is having fits with these. They fail at a high rate. They are almost as bad as the old VATS system. The only fix per GM is to replace the whole assembly.
The brake/safety nuetral switch could also be the problem but I would bet major money on the Passlock system first!!!

I have a post entitled: "Ignition Complaints to CHEVY to get recalls"

This post says it all in regards to this same problem and what GM had to say on the phone to me about it....

So far, my fix seems to be working..

Good luck

I had the identical problem with my car. Rather than spend hundreds of dollars replacing parts, I bypassed the Passlock system completely by adding a $.10 resistor to that circuit. After all the problem I have had with this car, I am of the opinion, that no one in their right mind would ever steal my Impala.

Ghetto ride of choice down here! Loud paint job, subs and some 22's !

Ghetto ride of choice down here! Loud paint job, subs and some 22's ! That be the shit!

What is the connection with this thread?