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Chevrolet Impala Lighting/Electrical Problems

433 messages,  Last post on Mar 21, 2013 at 9:44 AM

You are in the Chevrolet Impala Forum.

What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Impala, Lights, Electrical, Sedan

Messages Page 7 of 44

#54 of 433 Re: 2003 Impala LS - Headlights keep going off while driving [revjim64] by nosirrahg

Jul 05, 2006 (3:02 pm)

Replying to: revjim64 (Jul 05, 2006 10:49 am)
Either I'm an exceptional driver, or I got the one Impala that doesn't have brake wear problems...I've got a 2000 model that just hit 95k miles yesterday, and I'm still running the original brake rotors (front and rear), and I've only changed the pads once (at 45k miles). Very early on I had the front rotors turned (under warranty as I recall), but that's the only brake problem I've had. I actually took the car in to my Chevy dealer last month with plans to have new brake rotors/pads put on it (figuring it was about time), but they called back and said I still had plenty of brake pad left, and the rotors looked fine too.
 
FWIW I bought the pads at AutoZone and replaced them myself, which was a fairly easy task (once I got my jack stands and such together). They weren't that expensive (maybe $40 per axle), and I think they have a lifetime warranty.
 
The last GM car I owned ('84 Buick Skyhawk) had to have new brake pads about once per year, so I was a little worried about brake performance when I bought the Impala, but I've been very happy thus far. My previous car was an '89 Toyota Celica, and as I recall it performed about the same as the Impala is now, under basically the same driving conditions (commuting to work 12 miles each way, with a mix of city and highway driving).
 
I'm hoping to drive the Impala a couple more years...I might have to get new pads in a year or so, but hopefully I can just get the rotors turned and won't have to replace them.

#55 of 433 Re: 2003 Impala LS - Headlights keep going off while driving [revjim64] by tootalltotango

Jul 05, 2006 (4:29 pm)

Replying to: revjim64 (Jul 05, 2006 10:49 am)
I'd like to find someone who has had this headlight issue and had it fixed! What was the diagnosis, and what was the repair? Parts and labor cost, too, please.
 
It's a shame we put this much money into what becomes essentially a big gamble.
 
Good luck on the brakes thing.

#56 of 433 Re: 2003 Impala LS - Headlights keep going off while driving [nosirrahg] by revjim64

Jul 05, 2006 (5:14 pm)

Replying to: nosirrahg (Jul 05, 2006 3:02 pm)
I used the lifetime Autozone brakes too!
I think Autozone is great!
No problems exchanging the lifetime brakes (Duralast MKD814)
I got 75k on my 02 Impala. I think I am on my third set of brakes. (Including the original set)
The brake jobs are easy to do and the rotors are easy to change. Rotors are reasonably priced (about 30 dollars each)
I don't think it's worth having the old ones cut. Check out Autozone or National Discount Auto for replacements.
 
I do heavy stop and go city driving on a daily basis.
(Very little highway driving and tons of traffic lights).
Thats probably why I'm only averaging 20-21 mpg.
 
I am glad that you are having good luck with your brakes and that you are an exceptional driver!
 
One thing good I can say about my 02 Impala is that I have 2 of the original
Uniroyal Tiger Paw radials still on the car. The stock tires held up great. I will probably change them out before winter.
 
I am glad that you are having good luck with your 2000 model. I think I just got stuck with a lemon.
 
 

#57 of 433 Re: 2003 Impala LS - Headlights keep going off while driving [revjim64] by nosirrahg

Jul 05, 2006 (8:59 pm)

Replying to: revjim64 (Jul 05, 2006 5:14 pm)
I had planned to have my rotors turned when I replaced the brake pads last time, but I couldn't get the caliper bracket loose, so I couldn't remove the rotors. They weren't in bad shape, so I just replaced the pads...40k miles later no problems, but when you replaced your rotors did you have similar problems, and if so how did you remove the brackets? I don't have an air compressor, and didn't have a big enough breaker bar to break the bracket loose. Thinking about buying an electric impact wrench and seeing if that will do the trick.

#58 of 433 Re: 2003 Impala LS - Headlights keep going off while driving [nosirrahg] by revjim64

Jul 06, 2006 (5:28 am)

Replying to: nosirrahg (Jul 05, 2006 8:59 pm)
I just used 3/8 drive rachet and put a pipe over the handle
for leverage to get the caliper bracket bolts off.
I used a C-clamp to compress the piston back.
 
Seemed like a pretty easy job.

#59 of 433 Re: 2003 Impala LS - Headlights keep going off while driving [tootalltotango] by fathertyricius

Jul 07, 2006 (5:00 am)

Replying to: tootalltotango (Jul 05, 2006 4:29 pm)
I had the same problem with my 01 LS. You need to change the turn signal stalk. When my headlights would go out, I would keep turning on and off the brights, and eventually the low beams stayed on. The replacement was done under warranty.

#60 of 433 Re: 2003 Impala LS - Headlights keep going off while driving [tootalltotango] by tootalltotango

Jul 10, 2006 (1:11 pm)

Replying to: tootalltotango (Jul 02, 2006 7:29 am)
Since I first posted a week ago the problem has become more erratic. Not only do the headlights go off while on the road, sometimes they won't go on at all. I've had to drive holding the stalk in "flash" position because when I release it, I can't get any headlights to stay on. Sometimes I have no dash lights - so I hope I'm driving in "D" and not "3".
 
I took it to the dealership this morning. I had used a spare key thinking that if there were an issue, I didn't want to have to stop and restart the car as that may make the issue go away. I had lights, I had dash lights, but I could not get the brights to engage. I left the car running at the dealership until they could "test" it. Sure enough, it's the Multi-Function Headlight Switch.
 
From the looks of it, I will have to pay. I'll be back to post the parts and labor costs, and I will continue to update to let you all know if it did, indeed, fix the problem for the benefit of someone else who may encounter the same issue. I should have the car back tomorrow.

#61 of 433 Re: 2003 Impala LS - Headlights keep going off while driving [tootalltotango] by revjim64

Jul 12, 2006 (5:58 am)

Replying to: tootalltotango (Jul 10, 2006 1:11 pm)
My 02 Impala is demonstration early symptoms of Headlight
"combination switch" problems. If it goes out I am going to atempt to change it out myself. I've done a couple on the earlier model Chevys.
Does anyone know if you have to pull the steering wheel off to switch this out?

#62 of 433 Re: 2003 Impala LS - Headlights keep going off while driving [revjim64] by tootalltotango

Jul 12, 2006 (4:38 pm)

Replying to: revjim64 (Jul 12, 2006 5:58 am)
I didn't get to see the particulars of the multi-function headlight switch repair, so I don't know if they pulled the steering column or not.
 
Now I'm embarrassed to admit that I don't know the price or part. I had purchased the extended warranty, and it covered everything. I did "hear" that the warranty got hit for around $400 (and it was around 2 hours labor), but that's unofficial.
 
Believe me, I will be back if the problem with the headlights going out is not fixed.

#63 of 433 elect. problems on radio 2003 impala by bussman

Jul 19, 2006 (9:27 am)

I have a short in my radio system . 1 had the radio replaced . This did not help. ran a hot wire to the radio from a another source. still did not help. Anybody have any other Ideas on what else to try. I have over 600. dollors in this all ready. I am ready to trade this car off. but I don't want to give this problem to anybody else.

Messages Page 7 of 44

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