I recently started driving my new-to-me '03 Silverado and noticed that I don't need to hold the key in the "start" position until the truck starts. No joke, I can tap the key and the starter will engage until the motor fires-up, then it disengages.

I thought I was hallucinating so I called the previous owner and he said the same thing, that he thought it was the weirdest thing, but discovered it by accident. He thought it might have something to do with the Viper alarm in it, but I don't see how.

Has anyone ever heard of this? I mean, my GF's little Volvo C30 does this from the factory, but I've never heard of a Silverado doing this? It's the weirdest thing...unless this is common knowledge and I had no idea.

 

If this is a rarity, I'll post a video of it tomorrow.

 

My 06 does it, I don't know when it started, but it's a factory deal.

 

Thats from the factory my inlaws have a 06 silvy and it does that too

 

my truck does it. i noticed when i was just trying to bump it over a little bit lol

 

Interesting, so is it an option or standard equipment?

 

It's not an option as in you could order a vehicle without it. When you turn the key to start the vehicle, that sends an input to the PCM and the PCM decides whether to start the vehicle or not.

Think of it as more idiot proofing for people without to the common sense to let go of the key after the engine starts.

 

and vise versa when the motor is already running

 

its on all newer gm trucks an suvs ive ever driven, only prob i have with it is when i drive a non gm vehicle now, i go to bump it and it doesnt start lol

 

Most if not all 03+ GM vehicles utilize autostart. It's also a pain the behind when the relay for the system dies. You CANNOT replace it with a similarly designed relay, it must be the original type, otherwise the system will die again and again lol.