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8.2

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$450
Average Mileage:
100,650 miles
Total Complaints:
38 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (29 reports)
  2. ignition security lite on, will not start. leave on for 10 (3 reports)
  3. check your neutral safety switch (1 reports)
  4. replace bc module (1 reports)
  5. replaced actual ignition switch and that solved it (1 reports)
  6. replaced cps (crankshaft positioning sensor) (1 reports)
2002 Chevrolet Impala electrical problems

electrical problem

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2002 Chevrolet Impala Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #38

Oct 052018

Impala 3.4L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 130,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The car can set for hours or just a few minutes. I get in, turn the ignition, all lights come on as they should & it will not crank!! All the lights go out for a second, never noticed if they all go out when it cranks & starts as it should. I can wait a bit (10 - 15 minutes) & it starts right up.. no dragging or excessive cranking!!

Was going to replace the starter tomorrow but, after reading all of the complaints, I do not think it is the starter. I have wondered if there is any kind of delay or timer that might be going bad tied in with the security system. I have a fob that unlocks the doors but, I don't always lock the doors & it still has the same symptoms.. The security light flashes when I try but, again, I don't recall if the light flashes when it starts normally.

I need to do a bit more studying on the car but if anyone has had this issue & resolved this issue, your help in troubleshooting could save me time, money & frustration.. thank you..

- Robert F., Valley Center, US

problem #37

May 012015

Impala

  • Automatic transmission
  • 26,500 miles

My 2002 Chevy Impala now with 30,000 miles on it at times will NOT start! All the lights come on the dash, radio works, etc. the engine WILL NOT turn over. After 15 to 30 minutes of waiting the car will start like nothing ever happened. This is SO SO SO frustrating! Does anyone have a SOLUTION to getting the car to start without having to wait 15 to 30 minutes? I've been keeping track of every time I start the car. One time it would not start after just 13 attempts, another time it started 72 times before not starting again. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to when it will or will not start.

PLEASE - if anyone has a fix for this problem please put it out there for ALL of us stuck in this situation.

- Tony C., Westerville, OH, US

problem #36

Sep 092013

Impala LS V6 3.4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 75,000 miles

I am so happy to learn I am not crazy. I had this issue with my 2002 Chevy Impala not starting intermittently for over 2 years. It happens every couple of months. I have taken it to dealer and they can never get this to happen when they have the car and they can never offer any solutions. Starter/battery/Alternator are all fine. There is no reason that the car does this. I always say a prayer before I turn the key to pray it starts. After sitting for about 15 minutes it will start right up like there was never a problem. Was not good when it happened over this cold winter.

- tsinitsky, Westerville, OH, US

problem #35

Oct 262012

Impala LS 3.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 47,430 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I've always had trouble getting it to start right away if I shut it off and tried to start it immediately, but I had no engine rollover this time at all. I did finally see after several attempts to start it , It flashed battery and then security, back and forth, not the rest of the normal cycle. I then turned it off and then it started, but this was after many attempts, trying a different key, wiggling the emergency release in the trunk. I have no idea why it wouldn't even roll over at all.

- dmbl511, Fairfield, OH, US

problem #34

Sep 302011

Impala LX 3.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 157,730 miles

Purchase this car as a used vehicle, works great most days, however it want start when we need it to. Ex: if we stop at the store and come back out to start the car, it want start for at least another 30 minutes. When the car is check out by mechanics they never seem to pinpoint the problem, the worst thing is I had the same problem with my 2006 Chevy Malibu, but after a recall on a part I told the dealership mechanic of my problem, he told me this want fix that problem, but he thinks he can help, I'm assuming he fixed the corrosion on the wires and didn't report it to me or anyone else. But I haven't had that problem since, now I just wish I could fix my college student's car,

so getting to class want be a problem anymore.

- Mary E., Hueytown, AL, US

problem #33

Aug 032011

Impala 3.4L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 102,000 miles

Bought the car new. On average, about once a week over the past two months it has been very hard to start. Usually it takes up to five or six attempts in a span of at least fifteen or twenty minutes to start it. As time goes on, I noticed an increasing frequency of the problem.There have been three attempts to find the problem but each time the garage computor says that there is no problem. I'm ready to switch to a different make of car.

- allanpa, Coraopolis, PA, US

problem #32

Apr 012011

Impala

  • Automatic transmission
  • 84,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

After reading the same complaint from others I am glad to know that it is not just me that has this problem! Never know when this will happen, how long I will be stuck or where I will be stuck. Took to a mechanic who checked it high and low and said that he could not figure out what is the problem or causing it. Came home, did some browsing on line and found this site and the comments are exactly the same as what I have experienced and the mechanic. Like everyone else, I depend upon my car for getting back and forth to work, appointments, etc. What a total pain to deal w/this.

- Maxine D., Greenwood, IN, US

problem #31

Jan 012007

Impala

  • Automatic transmission
  • 89,000 miles

After years of my son being stuck for 15 minutes waiting for his car to decide to start and having the car in and out of the shop it is now finally fixed. The car would click but not start, lights would come on but nothing. He would wait around 15 minutes and then it would start. A few times he could put in neutral and it would start others times it wouldn't, We had a friend replace several things with no luck finally we replaced the neutral switch and its started everytime now for the last 4 months.

- Linda S., Keswick, VA, US

problem #30

Jan 012011

Impala ES 3.6L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 93,000 miles

Car started once in a while making loud buzzing noise when directional signals were turned on, now thrice it has not started. Get same loud buzzing noise and key won't initiate the ignition to start the car. Twice it started after the 4th to 10th try. Once I left it and came back the next day and it started right up. All three times it had been driven and then shut off for about an hour and then wouldn't re-start up. So far I've replaced the battery and had my mechanic swap the positions of but not yet replace the relays. Mechanic says he tried to replicate noise and problem but couldn't. Suggestions?

- Paula K., Saint Albans, VT, US

problem #29

Jun 012007

Impala LS 3.8L 6 cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 56,000 miles

this problem started 3 years ago. happened maybe three times a year but since then has occurred more often, usually about every 4-6 weeks. so far have been lucky & it hasn't been on a trip or out of town when it happened. worst was after grocery shopping with a trunk full of food. usually after 30 minutes it will start without any trouble & it runs ok until the next episode. our car does not have even 60,000 miles on it & we bought it new. spent over 100.00 but mechanic couldn't find any reason for it to have happened. the dealer wants to check it out & said would probably cost about 500.00. after reading the comments of others who are having the same problem & did have a dealer check it out with no results don't want to go that route. is there some way a recall could be made to happen. we feel really gyped after spending so much money on this car to begin with. have had other problems too but this is the most annoying as everyone says they don't have a clue as to what is causing the problem. don't want to be stranded somewhere in bad weather and am afraid to drive it out where there is not much traffic & have it parked & not able to get it started. was really glad to be able to read on your site that we are definitely not alone with this problem. Teddy

- Teddy P., Grass Valley, CA, US

problem #28

Jul 012009

Impala LS

  • Automatic transmission
  • 95,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Love my car...hate the problem and the fact that Chevrolet will not admit that there is a problem nor do they have a fix for it.

- Laura H., Harrisonburg, VA, US

problem #27

Sep 082006

Impala 3.4L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 40,000 miles

Bought my 2002 Chevy Impala new. At just over 36,000 miles had transmission replaced.. then, my AC/HT switch quit working on level 1. AC still works on levels 2-5, so I haven't had it replaced. Estimate to fix was $387.65 because they have to buy a whole new blower motor/switch. Then just a month or so later, my engine wouldn't start have I had stopped to get gas. After about 30 minutes, it started and didn't have any more problems for a while, then out of nowhere, went to the store and when I came out, car wouldn't start. Waited about 15 minutes and it started right up. Has done this several times, and I never know where or when I'm going to get stranded. No one can find the cause.

- Carla G., Pflugerville, TX, US

problem #26

Aug 012005

Impala

  • Automatic transmission
  • 80,000 miles

first time car wouldn't crank was at gas pump after filling up in 2005. replaced some things car went for long time and didn't happen. happened infrequently for years had car towed twice and both times mechanic got it to shop it started. 2 mechanics have put it on there computers and they are baffled. it started happening very often now, it has to sit for hours before it will crank after having been driven from 5 minutes to 45 minutes. car has 244,000miles. rides good, gets good gas mileage but it is a pain in the ass. drive straight to work and straight home can't stop anywhere unless I leave it running. disgusting situation and there is no way in hell I will take to dealership, called and talked to them and they say we can fix whatever it is and act like they haven't heard of the situation.BS.

- At S., Social Circle, GA, US

problem #25

Apr 012010

Impala

  • Automatic transmission
  • 104,000 miles

I'm so hurt that my car is doing this and nobody can figure it out. I have already spent about $700 fixing this issue, but it is still a problem. I have heard from others that this is a common problem and it seems like Chevy should do something about it, but instead they are not.. For me it did not happen until the car surpassed 100k and the warranty was already expired. I don't think I would buy another GM car.

- T L., San MATEO, CA, US

problem #24

Sep 012009

Impala ES 3.8L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 90,000 miles

I am going to keep this real simple. I have a problem going anywhere where I don't get a headache before I even get there because I really don't know how long I am going to be stalled because of this car. I have a 2002 Chevy Impala, love the car. I have had it since 2003. When you are a female and you get stranded at the gas pumps, hospital, work, grocery store etc., it is very embarrassing to say the least. I usually have to wait for about 5 minutes before the car will crank back up. I SEE THAT I AM NOT ALONE. Someone needs to be responsible for this.

- Terri A., Milton, FL, US

problem #23

Feb 012010

Impala 3.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 135,000 miles

WELL WHERE DO I START AT, THIS CAR HAS BEEN HELL... I GOT NEW WIRES , SPARK PLUGS AND COILS , BOUGHT A NEW BATTERY. JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING, IT STARTS WHEN THE CAR WANTS TO, THERE IS NO SECURITY LIGHT OR ENGINE LIGHT ON. I HAVE TO SAY THIS IS DRIVING ME CRAZY! MY DAD IS A MECHANIC AND HE CANNOT FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. TIRED OF SPENDING MONEY ..IF ANY ONE HAS FOUND A SOLUTION PLEASE LET ME KNOW...THANK YOU

- Clarissa R., Tucson, AZ, US

problem #22

Nov 072009

Impala 3400 V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 96,747 miles

Just bought the Impala at the end of October, thought it drove great. Little did I know that it wouldn't start that it wasn't the battery until I found this sight. I have clunky noise in the steering, the dealer that I bought it from said it was from sitting and would go away. Then the windshield pops as if a rock hit it. The first time it did that I thought it was going to explode in my face. Then the headlights went out and there was an 18 wheeler behind me, what a scarey feeling. I was on the side of the road for awhile until they came back on and then I never dimmed them any more. I got that problem fixed, it cost $700.00 and that wasn't at a dealer. Imagine how much it would cost at a dealer. Went to start the car yesterday and it wouldn't go, then after about 8 hours it went. I thought I was pretty good around old cars until now. This one didn't act up until after the warranty of 30 days was over. I sent the bill to the guy I bought it from anyhow. I didn't pay it and don't plan on it, I'll go to court first. This is my first GM always drove Dodge's and never had problems like this, just normal wear and tear. I just sold my 1989 Dodge 2000 GTX and should have kept it. At least it worked great and was still able to get inspected. The guy that sold me this Impala seen sucker written all over me. This will be the last GM product I ever buy.

- Evelyn H., Country Harbour, Nova Scotia, Canada

problem #21

Oct 282009

Impala LS V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 85,000 miles

I have the same passlock problems many impala owners have. The security light will come on and the car will not start. Wait a while 10-20 min and usually it will.

I took it to a big dealer in the area, they replaced the Passlock sensor ($600) the problem seemed to go away but then started again a month or so later. They then replaced the BCM ($500) the problem came back. The dialer finally told me there was nothing they could do as the computer code was too generic (problem connecting to BCM).

They stated it was probably one of the hundreds of wires connecting to the BCM and checking them all would cost thousands and may not fix it as they are not sure that is the problem.

- Samual B., Midland, MI, US

problem #20

Jun 232009

Impala

  • Automatic transmission
  • 146,000 miles

ok now the door ajar and trunk open are coming on again and when i turn the key over it takes like a second before it starts. i still have to go out and close the trunk and then on my way. called car x today and they told me they think to fix will be 1 to 2 grand. screw that. i have been reading all the complaints and my security has not come on as of yet. i will keep in mind some of the suggestions if it won't start in the future. i also am going to look at the wires on the bcm and see if they are oxidized. its going to be a trade in. i have always been a Chevy girl, thats my family always standing by Chevy. no more i think im going to look at Toyota or Honda. its really to bad that something that started out so good turned out to be so bad. those of us that haven't been laid off from our jobs and are paying crazy gas prices to get to and from work to support our families they want us to shell out what money we do have to put a bandaid on a problem that dosen't have a guarentee it won't happen again. WTF chevy,you suck. this will be my last Chevy that i can guarentee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

- dragongirlky, Covington, KY, US

problem #19

May 252009

Impala 3.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 178,000 miles

just filled tank with gas. while going 45 mph, loss in acceleration. picked up again then loss again, picked up again with a jerk. stopped at store, after riding down the hwy 6 miles, and car would not restart. Lights work, new trans, new fuel pump 10 mo ago. Feels like it wants to kick over but doesn't. The last place I want to go is the dealer.

Before I tow, any thoughts?

- Kelli L., Coatesville, PA, US

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