QuestionI have a 2000 chevy blazer, it has an ordinary key, not one of those with a chip on it. Recently, I have been experiencing some problems starting the vehicle. First, occassionally i found that i start the car, it would run for about 2-3 seconds and then stop, i start the engine and it would happen again, then i waited a couple minutes and tried it again and then i started and ran fine. this has happened 2 or 3 times in the last couple weeks. Now recently, i tried to start the vehicle and it was like the battery was dead, i turn the key and no power. I took kep out and checked battery and everything was fine, new battery only a few months old. I tried to start it again, then it started to turn over but was cranking slow, then i turn the ignition to the off position and tried it again, this time, i had full power and engined crank right over like nothing was wrong.
ANyone have any ideas? obviously to me it sounds like a problem somewhere in the steering coloum area, either the key cylinder, ignition switch & wiring or the ignition actuator rod???
Answer
ignition switch
Hi Thomas;
Sorry about your troubles. the condition you described is a Passlock failure. although you cannot see the antitheft system, you do have one. It's built into the lock housing and cylinder, not the key on yours.
After reading the reset of the symptoms though, I don't think the Passlock is the cause, but rather a result of the condition you have. What fail most often is the ignition switch itself. This is the electrical part, not the key and tumbler. It supplies power to the rest of the car as well as the Passlock system, so when it fails, it can do a lot of strange things at once.
I am enclosing picture of it for you to see what you are getting into, but this part has had a lot of problems and I've replaced more than a few.
The harness runs down under the dash and the column has to come partially apart.
Good luck
Doug
