Need help quickly! Aztek at dealer, getting hosed on a "bad computer chip"??

Coworker has a 2002 Aztek with 70K miles. Wouldn't start the other day, nothing electrical would come on. Tried to jump start it, nothing again. The key also wouldn't come out of the ignition, he could rotate it to the start position but couldn't remove it. Ended up having it towed to the dealer.

Dealer says it's a "bad computer chip" and will be $600 to fix!!!! I'm not too familiar with Azteks but I've worked on cars for a while and never heard of a $600 computer chip. I have replaced many an ignition switch. Can someone give some feedback on this as it's at the dealer right now and I'm trying to get him to get that thing out of there ASAP when it could be a simple ignition switch.

I've heard of the BCM's going bad on these, what is that also?
Thank you, I appreciate all your help!!

BCM has NOTHING to do with starting vehicle (directly). From what you are describing it sounds a lot more like bad battery/cable connection. Bad connection not only will keep it from starting, but can also cause key to key stuck.

BCM has NOTHING to do with starting vehicle (directly). From what you are describing it sounds a lot more like bad battery/cable connection. Bad connection not only will keep it from starting, but can also cause key to key stuck.

Thanks for your help, do the ignition switches typically go bad in these things?

ignition switchs aren't high on the list of things that go bad on these from what I've seen, but its possible (doesn't sound like it to me in this case though)