2003 Impala Original Owner - We started having problems after 100K miles. There are times when it will not start, but the battery is not dead. A mechanic suggested we turn the key but not all the way, let the bell ring (5 to 6 times), push the gas pedal to the floor the same number of times, turn the key back off, then try to start again. IT HAS WORKED EVERY TIME WE HAVE TRIED THIS (4 or 5 times).
Passlock/VATS Bypass - This site sells a part that will bypass your defective passlock system. You are not alone because many many people have been kept out of thier OWN cars because of this defective system. This part will bypass the whole security system so you never have trouble again. Worth checking out for sure.
Passlock/VATS Bypass - This site sells a part that will bypass your defective passlock system. You are not alone because many many people have been kept out of thier OWN cars because of this defective system. This part will bypass the whole security system so you never have trouble again. Worth checking out for sure.
I'm sick of this unreliable car! used to be my favorite make of cars, not any more! I also had a lumina with the same problem. It cost me around 1500 before I finally got fed up and traded it in thinking it was that particular vehicle with the problem. To my dismay it turns out it is a general manufacturing defect. Since it has not been recalled, begin to suspect it is not a random or accidental defect. Looks to me like it is intentional to inspire people to purchase new cars more often. I believe the cars should be recalled and the problem fixed or Passlock system disabled at the owners choice and GMC's expense.
This "security light on" and then the car refusing to crank is very unsafe and scary. It may be on for a day and nothing happens, then it may be on for minutes and you stop and turn the car off and surprise, it will not crank when you try it again. And you sit there until it decides that it's not being stolen and it cranks. This is getting to be very stressful in these 100+ degree days in Texas.
This has been a problem on several occasions over the last three years, the last time was 6/28/11. I didn't know this was such a problem until then, I thought the car was just possessed. The no start situation is very strange, it also happened to my 03 S10 in that case I changed the starter and never had a problem since. As for the 03 Impala I've cleaned fuses, changed the starter, changed the ignition relay under the hood at least twice, anyway 6/28/11 was the final straw and that's when I discovered this website. I have done a lot of research since that day and from most of what I read the problem is with the Body Control Module. I couldn't locate this device that is supposed to be under the dash near the steering column, however I did see that there is a BCM fuse in the fuse block. So out of curiosity I took out the fuse and attempted to start the car, it did start, interesting, so I tested to see how the power gets to the BCM. When you turn on the ignition it sends power to the BCM, with the ignition off there is no power at all at the fuse. So I left the fuse out, everything seems to work fine without it in, so I will monitor to see how this attempt goes. For those having this problem, try removing the fuse, it may just work. I will re post if this did not fix the problem. The security light would come on also, that hasn't come on with the fuse out either. Regards, Joseph
Update from Nov 19, 2011: I had to have the car fixed at the dealer for just under a $1,000 with tax. They had to replace the BCM, and the ignition switch and reprogram. Just had this done about two weeks ago, they give a one year 12,000 mile warranty with it. The dealer also has a way to test each component, there first inclination was it was the ignition switch, after diagnosis, they told me the bcm ( body control module) also was defective. The ignition switch is linked to the security light coming on. My suggestion is take it to the dealer and let them take care of it, cause the parts your replacing need to be programed to your car by the dealer anyway. And trust me when I tell you, my car has let me down at the worst times imaginable, which extremely frustrated me. I now have piece of mind that it will start, which to me is priceless.
Update from Nov 19, 2011: I had to have it fixed at the dealer, they replaced the bcm and the ignition switch and reprogram.
I have had this car for 7 years now and for past 3 years my car has had security problems. I have different shops check it and they all say they can't fix the problem, only the dealer can do it ! we all know going to the dealer you will be paying an arm and leg ! So far I have tried everything, putting in neutral, waiting 10 min. then start, disconnecting battery, those things used to work but now my car wont start at all! I had mechanic check car yesterday and they found nothing wrong with the car. They do realize it's something with the SECURITY SYSTEM and told me go buy another key. Well I bought the key and car still wont start ! Now they're going to take the ignition out and see if that's the problem ! What the HELL is going on I need my CAR FIXED !
- virgo,
Los Angeles, CA, US
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED I WAS TRYING TO GET HOME AFTER WORK, I HAD RECENTLY HAD A THERMOSTAT INSTALLED AS THE ENGINE LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. I HAD ALREADY HAD THE PROBLEM WITH THE SECURITY LIGHT,WHEN I WAS TRYING TO START THE CAR AND TOOK OTHERS ADVICE AND ALLOWED THE EXTRA TEN MINUTES AFTER I DISCOVERED THAT MOVING THE GEARSHIFT,AND REPOSITIONING THE STEERING WHEEL WERE NOT THE REAL REASON THE STUPID DAMN THING WOULD NOT START. A GENTLEMAN WHO WAS A MECHANIC SUGGESTED USING THE CANNED AIR TO CLEAN OUT THE KEY/IGNITION AND ANOTHER FRIEND SUGGESTED ONLY USING 1 KEY AND NO WEIGHT ON THE KEY RING. I TRIED ALL OF THESE BUT JUST HAVE LEARNED TO ADD 10 MINUTES TO MY SCHEDULE WHICH IS NOT AT ALL CONVENIENT. TODAY A FELLOW AT AUTO ZONE SAID MAYBE IT WAS THE BATTERY GOING LOW BUT I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT EITHER AS.MY BATTERY IS NOT THAT OLD.SEEMS LIKE ANY TIME I HAVE WORK DOWN THE DAMN SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON.....BUT AT 60 MILES AN HOUR IT IS A BIT DISARMING.....
i hate when this happens it always happens when I'm in a hurry its so stupid i thought i was the only one with problems like this i love this car but in tired of it i want a ford lol maybe i wont go that for but happens so I'm not late to workings getting close please fix or give me a rental every time this h
I dont want to go off, I want the problem fixed by gmc. I'm at the point I don't want to drive it anywhere. Please find a solution so I will be safe when I go to start my car. I'm about ready to trade it off and it wont be a gmc product.
I have had an issue with my car just not starting all the time.My husband would come, who is a technician, and change out fuses or jump car, change my keys or even just raise and lower steering column and it would start. No click no stutter nothing. I have two children in which I need to pick up everyday and drop off and worrying about whether or not my car will start or should I even shut my car down while going in store is really annoying. Can't even count how many times I've called either my husband or his friends to come and save me and it starts right up! Seriously? Really not satisfied with this car.
I find that the location of the MAF sensor was a bad design. Not only is it on the aluminium block of this air intake on the engine, but it also gets quite hot. All others that i have seen have been mounted in the rubber air flow connector coming from the air filtering system. I believe that this unit keeps failing ( Approx. every three months) because of overheating. I discovered that there is not even a gasket between the MAF sensor and the aluminium block it connects to. Metal to metal connection with electronic components...Hmmm...Poor design in my opinion. cannot even find a replacement part right now as all the part stores in this region have them on back order. Have to run the vehicle with the unit unplugged, as that is the only way it will run. Makes it hard to start in the mornings though, like having an older car requiring a manual choke.
Same problem everyone else seems to be having. The car, without any warning will not start. It does absolutely nothing when you turn the key. After waiting for 10 -60 minutes it will then start normally. Everything else electrical works normally. The ignition does nothing when turned. Does not even click.
I am having the worst time with my Chevy Impala. The security light comes on and I will eventually not be able to start the car. It's been going on for a while. When the car first would not start, I had it towed to where I purchased the car and of course it started right up. It will start for about 2 or 3 months straight and all of I sudden it will not start. I can be at the grocery store, work, dropping my 4 year old daughter off to school or the babysitter, etc. Its a real pain. I have been late for appointments and work on many occasions due to this problem.
When I first got the car I loved (still do) but know I think I made a mistake on getting this car. My regular mechanic could not fix it and suggested that I take it to a locksmith. I did that and they told me to leave the key in the on position until the security light stop flashing and try to start it. I should do this 3 time and it should start up. Sometime it takes 3 times, sometimes 6 but it will finally start up. Its just a plan inconvience. It unsafe and yes it should be a recall on this problem.
As to the fact this car will not start 1 out of every 12 times due to having nothing working with the key turned, I'm glad I am not required to have this car as a quick getaway vehicle. I am amazed that the Police have this vehicle in their arsenal. maybe that's why this car is good for the police who do the radar patrols. It has to be parked to be any good. I would like to know if there is any way to permanently disable the anti theft rig in this car, maybe that would help. or maybe... the cars are all on the same frequency and somewhere in the world someone is stealing this car and onstar disables it for the owner...therefore disabling every other impala out there at the same time. Hmmmm.
I think with so many Impala's having this same problem that the manufacturer should have to do a remedy at their cost.
At least I know it is just not my car!! I refuse to invest any more money into this car if it is not too serious, so at least I have new things to try!! I know I will NEVER buy a Chevy again!!!! I knew I should have went with German! As soon as I can afford to get a different car, this piece of junk is gone!!!
Same complaint as others... Security light comes on and then next thing I know car won't start. I'm glad I got on here because I was about to replace the starter. Now I have a fuse that blows intermittently but becoming more and more often...also effected by the heat. I haven't had a problem with my car until recently. Now I start hearing how they have quirks...wonderful!!
I fill if GENERAL MOTORS care so much about it's customers,want more bussiness and save the US dealerships, they would step up and take care of this problem. There are plenty of complaints out there about the engine keep cutting out and not starting for at lease 10 to 30 minutes. GM should recall these dawn problem cars if they still want or keep there customers. I truly believe they want other countries to be our only auto supplier.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
I'm sick of this unreliable car! used to be my favorite make of cars, not any more! I also had a lumina with the same problem. It cost me around 1500 before I finally got fed up and traded it in thinking it was that particular vehicle with the problem. To my dismay it turns out it is a general manufacturing defect. Since it has not been recalled, begin to suspect it is not a random or accidental defect. Looks to me like it is intentional to inspire people to purchase new cars more often. I believe the cars should be recalled and the problem fixed or Passlock system disabled at the owners choice and GMC's expense.
- Rochelle H., Galesburg, IL, US