Chevrolet Impala Lighting/Electrical Problems

I own the 2001 LS. A month ago I noticed that when the ignition key was in the ignition and doors opened, the chimes were distorted and going in and out. I started the car and when turning on the radio, no audio, same with onstar, turn it on, and no onstar voice. Also when I turned off the traction control, no chimes to alert driver that the traction control is off. Anything audio wouldnt work. All hardware gets power, but no audio. I took it to the Chevy dealer, and they replaced the BCM. Everything was back in order. All audio was working fine until today. While driving and listening to the radio, the audio went mute, and came back distorted. I immediately turned off my traction control to see if the chimes would work, and they were distorted, along with onstar, then all of a sudden the audio went dead. NOTHING. I drove right to the Chevy dealer that made the repair and they are ordering another BCM for another replacement procedure next week. Has anyone here experience this same issue ? Its really frustrating. Thanks
See Also
What Does the BCM Module Do?
Trouble Shooting Electrical Problems
See Also
What Does the BCM Module Do?
Trouble Shooting Electrical Problems
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Comments
Any comments or suggestions are greatly appreciated!!
I suspected that BCM was defective. Security light, Service engine light and Air bag lights kept flashing.
(also we had clicking noises under the dash and the headlights would blink) The vehicle only had 39k miles and
the warranty was expired. The dealer did not find any engine codes during the diagnostic, but agreed that the BCM was probably the cause. The repair cost about $350.
I fought with Chevy Customer Service and they sent me a refund check for 1/2 the repair cost. After the BCM was replaced the problem went away!
Cheverolet has alot of problems with defective BCM's!
Other problems with 05 and earlier Impala's are:
Leaky intake manifold gaskets
Defective headlight combination switch
ISS Steering shaft is noisy
Recall on the Catalytic converter (clogging problem)
disc brake problems.
Time to switch to [non-permissible content removed] cars!
They initially thought that possibly the BCM was bad and was going to replace it again, yet another service tech said that it probably wasnt the problem because all the audio no matter what feature, was distorting and shorting out, it had to be something totally different then the BCM. Well the car was in the service dept at Chevy for 8 days. They even gave me a loaner Impala (base model totally stripped) paying for a full tank of gas too until the issue was resolved. They ordered a new radio, that wasnt the problem. They re-examined all the wiring, connections and grounds. All was good. Well they finally found the problem yesterday(Tuesday). In the trunk between the two rear speakers is a booster amp. This was the problem. They ordered a new one, it was received this morning, and they made the replacement. All is back to normal now, free of charge. I gave them the loaner Impala back and got into my car, and turned on the stereo. It sounded great. It was great to get this issue once and for all behind me. I wanted to share this with you all because some of you may just one day have this problem, and won't have to go thru what I went thru. It was a real frustrating week, but a learning experience. Chevy treated me with great customer service.
Best regards,
FatherTyricius
GM Assistance line basically said since I have the extended warranty they'll keep fixing it (or guessing).
I try to start the car and the ignition is dead.
Battery has full charge.
If I wait 10 minutes it usually starts.
Isn't the PASSLOCK system separate from the BCM?
The dealer told me to try different keys, apparently there is a computer chip in the key.
Tried the spare key, and still had the same problem!! Can any one help?
I am having a similar problem with my 02 Impala.
Another posting on this site suggests that the BCM and Ignition switch could be the root of the problem.
Chevy PASSLOCK/SECURTIY sucks!! The Impala BCM's are Junk!
I've had the BCM replaced on my 02 Impala when it only had 39K on it!!
I have 70k on my Impala and I suspect that I have the same problem again!! I guess that the BCM only works for 30-40k than you have to dump $400 to get the dealer to install a new one. Impalas are lemons!!
I had the blinking security light, noises under the dash and the airbag light would stay on.
I had the BCM replaced and everything was fine.
It seems like defective BCM's are a common problem for the 01-05 Impalas.
Plan on spending 350-400 dollars to have it replaced and programmed.
Good luck!!
Then my power door locks went out a couple weeks ago and the Security light started coming on everytime we turned the car on and sometimes just randomly driving down the road. If we stopped, turned the car back off and on again, it would usually fix the problem.
Today we hopped in the car and headed down the road and about 100 feet from the house noticed none of the lights on the instrument cluster were on, actually it wasn't even working. So we pulled over to restart the car (that seems to help often) and when we went to start it up again, nothing. Dead. No turning over, no clicks, nothing.
Oh, and did I mention we are now living in Germany, where Impalas are as rare as a buffalo in NYC. Except for the MP cars, but they don't matter, because they are serviced completely my military personnel, which won't even bat an eyelash our way.
A kind American stopped by and told us to pull the battery cable, let the car set for 10 min and try to start it up again. That worked.
Now what?
The nearest place that will even look at Impalas is about 3 hours from here.
After reading many posts here I realized we may be looking at the "FAULTY BCM" that is causing everyone stress. We found one online for about $15-$20. But if we replace it (somehow) does it still have to have some sorta factory programing done on it?
This wouldn't be so bad if we weren't in a country where people don't like to speak English and definitely don't like American made cars.
HELP!
- Tawny
Any suggestions please?
My 2002 impala has been having the security light/not starting problem for probably 9 months now. We had been trying the wait 10-15 minutes with key in on position (to clear the codes), shut off, then turn on and had success most of the time. Finally took the car to the dealer today. They claim it is just the passlock sensor in the ignition cylinder but costs upwards of $400 to replace (just for the ignition cylinder. If it were the BCM, which they don't think it is - that would be $600-$800). Either way - save your receipt. If enough people complain and a recall is issued then the rest of us should be able to get reimbursed for this repair.
My 2002 impala has been having the security light/not starting problem for probably 9 months now. We had been trying the wait 10-15 minutes with key in on position (to clear the codes), shut off, then turn on and had success most of the time. Finally took the car to the dealer today. They claim it is just the passlock sensor in the ignition cylinder but costs upwards of $400 to replace (just for the ignition cylinder. If it were the BCM, which they don't think it is - that would be $600-$800). Either way - save your receipt. If enough people complain and a recall is issued then the rest of us should be able to get reimbursed for this repair.
IF you have an extended warr. or it is a recall they will do it for free.
Th relay craps out, the temporary fix is: if this happens while driving just tap the emergency flasher button and the signals will work again for a while.
Help, please?
This unit is mounted high in the dash board.
You know where your 4 way flashers are, right ..???
The relay does not fail, it just gets dirty or worn and it works sometimes when the directionals fail, if you tap or depress the 4 way flasher button.
To change this module yourself is a project, have Chevy change it. And fight with them, because this is something that should not fail in 4 years..!!
So my suggestion would be have them check to make sure that your converter is not clogged. GM should replace it for free.
My other suggestion is the alternator. That is exactly waht happened to me when mine went out in the back woods of Florida on a Sunday.
Good look!!!
My ignition would die once in a while. (I would turn the key and nothing would happen.)
Turned out to be a faulty PASSLOCK sensor!
Chevy's are Junk!
So far my 2002 Impala needed
a BCM, Manifold gaskets, Passlock sensor, and ISS.
This car is a "money pit." I will probably have to get a
catalytic converter next!!
GM built better cars in the 60's,
Time to by [non-permissible content removed] cars!
Good luck. The good news is my car is working fine now *keeping my fingers crossed*
At first, the headlights just went off for no reason. When I hit the stalk on the steering column, they came back on, but went off again a few miles later.
Then they started going off when I switched from low to high beams. Last night, I had no headlights at all unless I held the stalk pulled toward me the entire time I was on the road.
The problem occurs when I have the headlight switch pulled out (on) or when it's on automatic. The dash lights all stay on the whole time, as do the parking lights. This is a headlight issue only - and appeared at first to be happening only with high beams, but now it's all the time.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
It happens once or twice a week and just today after it started up normally the odometer disappeared. All I see is the gear selection. So I turned it off and re-started and it re-appeared.
What's the solution a new BCM or a new ignition module?
I appreciate any suggestions you may have.
It doesn't happen very often, but one time is all you need to have a wreck.
I shot an e-mail to the Lemon law website to see if they can get Chevy to recall and replace these crappy combination switches.
I think there is another post on this site where someone else also has this problem.
My 02 Impala is a total lemon! BCM problems, Passlock problems, Noisy steering shaft, intake manifold leaks coolant, and the car eats up brake pads!
Time for a Ford or Nissan?