2001 grand am- Need Help

I need all the help that I can get with my 2001 Grand Am. I have had starting problem with it since the day I bought it (2 years) but more recently the passlock has been coming on alot. The problem with the starting is that it sounds exactly like when passlock has come on but if I give it gas it will start. All the spark plugs have been changed and a map sensor has been changed. I recently had a GM mechanic work on it and they could no get the passlock system off or bipassed, it keeps coming back on. They are now saying that the lock cylinder may be the problem. This will be an expensive job as there are a bunch of parts i guess that must also be changed with it. but if it is the problem than I want to do it. The GM mechanic is stumped as to why the passlock is not staying off, they to put in some computer chip or module but that stoppped it from working all together so they put the original back in. I know from research on this board that there are alot of issues with the passlock system, what should I do? I appreciate all your help.

if the GM mechanic is stumped, I'd take it to another mechanic.
The lock cylinder do go out on these models quiet a bit to often.
Also thier is a recall or a Trouble Shooting Bulletin (TSB)on 2000+ GAs for the lock cylinder, they say anything about that?
The key has to make good contact inside the lockcylinder so it knows its not being stolen.
Do you hav a bunch of stuff hanging off your key chain? If you do try and remove some or all the stuff but what you need.
My wife had the same problem with our passlock, and after she removed the 99 key chains, its worked fine.