actually, the ignition switch replacement doesnt sound to bad...

 

I just did a LOT of playing with the ignition switch in the Grand Ams (same setup). It's real easy. The lock cylinder comes out of the switch housing (and the lock cylinder also has the PassLock chip on it, so as long as you swap the cylinder into the new housing, you keep the same key, no PassLock issues).

I'm not sure if that is you issue or not. On one of the Grand Ams I was messing with it would stall intermittently with no warning and sometimes not restart. In the case with that car, it had a remote start kit installed, so next time it would not restart, I would activate the remote start and that worked, but it would never pass control back to the car (hit the brake and the car stalled because something was not right with the ignition switch).
When I tore into it to replace the switch, the owner of that car used an aftermarket T-harness with the remote start kit (and this was installed a couple years ago). I pulled the switch housing up and the one harness connection slid right out of the connection on the switch!!! There was the problem, it would not clip in (poorly casted plastic). Not the best solution, I used a big zip tie to hold that connector into the switch. This was done so I could drive that car after I wrecked my Grand Am. I drove it fine with no more stalling issues for about 1-1.5 months.

 

I seen that same vid wish otbwas nore detailed. But ibdont gotta choice but to go for the new starter seeing as though. I don't have the time to search for a junkyard one

 

you didnt check the link i gave you earlier? took me all of 10 seconds to find a number of options in philly (used zip 19133) from $25 to $40..


2002
Starter
Buick LeSabre OFF N READY 133538 $35 S.T.O. Auto Parts, Inc.-ELITE USA-PA(Philadelphia) Request_Quote 215-708-2750 / 1-888-333-2750 Request_Insurance_Quote
7 miles away

2001
Starter
Chevy Impala 3.8 A 136362 $35 S.T.O. Auto Parts, Inc.-ELITE USA-PA(Philadelphia) Request_Quote 215-708-2750 / 1-888-333-2750 Request_Insurance_Quote 7 miles away

2002
Starter
Chevy Monte Carlo $35 Atlantic Used Auto Parts-ELITE USA-PA(Philadelphia) E-mail 1-215-492-2222 8 miles away

2001
Starter
Pontiac Grand Prix TESTED $35 Atlantic Used Auto Parts-ELITE USA-PA(Philadelphia) E-mail 1-215-492-2222 8 miles away

2003
Starter
Pontiac Bonneville TESTED $35 Atlantic Used Auto Parts-ELITE USA-PA(Philadelphia) E-mail 1-215-492-2222 8 miles away

2003
Starter
Buick LeSabre 3.8,AUTO,FWD (3.8L) A $EK024 $30.02 LKQ - Venice Auto Parts USA-PA(Philadelphia) Request_Quote 1-800-523-1600 Request_Insurance_Quote 8 miles away

2003
Starter
Buick Regal 3.8,AUTO,FWD 3.8L, w/o supercharger A $EJ809 $30.02 LKQ - Venice Auto Parts USA-PA(Philadelphia) Request_Quote 1-800-523-1600 Request_Insurance_Quote 8 miles away

2002
Starter
Chevy Impala 3.8,AUTO,FWD 3.8L A $EH558 $25.02 LKQ - Venice Auto Parts USA-PA(Philadelphia) Request_Quote 1-800-523-1600 Request_Insurance_Quote 8 miles away

2003
Starter
Chevy Impala STOCK NO. #200201 #200201 $40 C & C Auto Part II, LLC USA-PA(Philadelphia) Request_Quote 1-215-724-2946 Request_Insurance_Quote 8 miles away

2003
Starter
Buick LeSabre TESTED A 131102 $30 Drive Line Auto Parts USA-PA(Philadelphia) Request_Quote 1-888-213-3522 Request_Insurance_Quote 1 mile away

2002
Starter
Pontiac Grand Prix TESTED A 140415 $30 Drive Line Auto Parts USA-PA(Philadelphia) Request_Quote 1-888-213-3522 Request_Insurance_Quote 1 mile away

 

I didn't see it. But its all good. I had them check the old starter and it failed 3 outta 5 tries. Put the new one in and jack fired right up soon as I turned the key. It was funny I wanted them to test the new starter as well and the other emploees didn't know how to do it. They almost fried the new starter by clamping the wrong cables then tried to ground the starter on the rubber gromet... I had to step in cause it was the last one they had lol but this is a case closed. Tha ks for the help and suugestions guys