Buick/Olds: 99 Pk Ave - Turning ignition key kills all electrical systems, trip odometer, system specialist

Question
About every 5th time I try to start the car it goes dead (all lights out, no power systems work. The dealer says it could be a defective computer chip in a key, or a defective ignition switch. I have switched keys and the same problem occured. Sometimes the system goes dead for a second or two, during which time the trip odometer resets, and the radio goes to 1400 am (not a programmed station.)  

Twice the car has remained dead for 10+ minutes then started fine. The battery is fine and starter seems to be okay as the car starts normally when it isn't killing itself.

Is the switch the likely problem? What else might it be? Does this look like a do-it-yourself project, or should I let the dealer do it?

Answer
It sounds like your security system is having a problem.  I am not a security system specialist, but if your car has that feature, that is where I would specialize my search.  A fuse intermittently doing bad or and a bad ignition switch.

Thanks,
Ray Barham

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