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2011 Impala LT stalling is a mystery. No codes.


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HorusDeathtouch
Novice

Dec 7, 2016, 2:02 PM

Post #1 of 17 (2565 views)
  post locked   2011 Impala LT stalling is a mystery. No codes.  

Hello, I have a
2011 Chevrolet Impala LT 3.5L V6 w/ 95k miles.
I purchased this from a Coggin dealership last month and my problem has them and another dealership they called completely stumped.
Sometimes, when idling at a red light or stop sign (brake engaged/in Drive) the vehicle will randomly shut off. It always starts back up with no issue and doesn't give me any warning lights. The only other problem on the vehicle is that the speedometer and rpm gauge will sometimes go nuts (I think I need a new cluster.) It seems to be particularly bad before the cat shuts off, but I keep getting told that a wonky gauge cluster would not effect the engine; that it receives data from the engine but doesn't send any data back.) The alternator has been checked, there are absolutely no codes stored in the dash, and the car has been driven by the dealer with a fuel gauge attached to measure fuel pressure. They haven't been able to replicate the issue at all. I'm at my whit's end. This problem doesn't seem to be a thing that will ever leave me stranded, but it's really frustrating and embarrassing.


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Dec 7, 2016, 2:53 PM

Post #2 of 17 (2557 views)
  post locked   Re: 2011 Impala LT stalling is a mystery. No codes.  

Quote">>It always starts back up with no issue and doesn't give me any warning lights.<<"


Do you mean dash warnings don't all light up while it is stalled? That alone isn't right - it should no matter why it stalled if key is in "run" position.


If so, that's the clue. This has to have codes just the places that checked didn't have a high enough end code reader,


T



HorusDeathtouch
Novice

Dec 7, 2016, 3:12 PM

Post #3 of 17 (2549 views)
  post locked   Re: 2011 Impala LT stalling is a mystery. No codes.  

When the engine shuts off, I put it back in park, and turn the key to the off position. When I turn the key back to the on position, all of the dash signals light up for a second, then they all turn off except for the engine light. Then, when I start the ignition, that turns off. Then codes were checked and there were none.


(This post was edited by HorusDeathtouch on Dec 7, 2016, 3:24 PM)


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Dec 7, 2016, 3:31 PM

Post #4 of 17 (2542 views)
  post locked   Re: 2011 Impala LT stalling is a mystery. No codes.  

The problem doesn't have them stumped. The issue is they cannot duplicate the problem often enough to test anything.

You can't diagnose a problem when the problem isn't present.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



HorusDeathtouch
Novice

Dec 7, 2016, 3:39 PM

Post #5 of 17 (2537 views)
  post locked   Re: 2011 Impala LT stalling is a mystery. No codes.  


In Reply To
The problem doesn't have them stumped. The issue is they cannot duplicate the problem often enough to test anything.

You can't diagnose a problem when the problem isn't present.


I feel you there, and that is what's so aggravating. They drive it around a little bit, then I go out that same night and it happens twice, then they test it again and nothing, but it happens to me again. The issue is that as a technician you cannot possibly test the device or auto in question as much as the owner does, or under the same conditions. And doing so would be tedious and time consuming.
5 out of 6 times its happened since I bought the car has been with someone in the passenger's seat so the passenger airbag was turned on (possible electronic variable perhaps?) It has also always been on a lengthy outing of taking 15 minutes to get somewhere, getting back into a warm car 15-20 minutes later, and driving 15 minutes back. It usually happens during this point, shortly after heading back from our stop or at a read light on that trip back.


(This post was edited by HorusDeathtouch on Dec 7, 2016, 3:41 PM)


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Dec 7, 2016, 3:45 PM

Post #6 of 17 (2528 views)
  post locked   Re: 2011 Impala LT stalling is a mystery. No codes.  

We don't guess at things so that makes this type of problem the worst. The techs get paid flat rate so they are not interested in driving a car around forever hoping to see a problem. Even if they did see the problem, if they didn't have equipment hooked up to it at that very moment, they won't learn anything anyway.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Dec 7, 2016, 3:49 PM

Post #7 of 17 (2525 views)
  post locked   Re: 2011 Impala LT stalling is a mystery. No codes.  

OK - It's confusing all who've checked it in person so puts me at a total disadvantage.
If you are so fast to turn a key to off when it stalls and didn't notice warning lights I don't understand that? That would at least light up low oil pressure, a check engine warning light bulb check, probably a "check gauges" light and more for a while.


RPMs can be all over the place at least as shown in your view and probably engine control computer so it could shut down thinking it should quit providing fuel and or spark or I guess be isolated to just the cluster but don't think that alone would kill the engine.


There are grades of code readers many are not going to have. It can have plenty of codes that don't show up, light a warning that are pending codes. It's probably going to take a GM dealer to declare codes not working or what ones are in fact there.


IDK - you just got it so you nor dealer you bought it from may not know if it had or has antitheft issues from usually aftermarket junk or aftermarket anything for that matter many taken out they caused so much trouble. Aftermarket remote starters, sound system even - lots of junk messes up cars and or ruined something and not left installed? Can't know that and doubt you can either.


This explains why a couple shops or couple techs so far in person have nothing to work with yet.


It's not misbehaving in front of them and leaving no trail of evidence so far to them.


Seems like it's their problem to figure this out and are reluctant or unwilling to send this higher up for more help if still under their warranty totally and could be.


Again, if these people/techs have it in person with no clue I can't compete with that for what to do. Take it back again is the best I can suggest as it seems like it's THEIR problem not yours ---- yet,


T



HorusDeathtouch
Novice

Dec 7, 2016, 3:58 PM

Post #8 of 17 (2521 views)
  post locked   Re: 2011 Impala LT stalling is a mystery. No codes.  

Yeah I've pretty much exhausted taking it back to them. They have nothing else to say to me about an issue that doesn't happen nor shows any evidence whatsoever. The service manager believes me but said he can't do anything.
Like I said, the gauge cluster has been acting weird since like day 2 and my only guess is that it is more of a factor in this scenario than anyone is leading on. They won't replace the cluster though, because they say it isn't a concern that effects drivability or safety. To them it's one of those unnecessarily replaced "as-is" issues like a scratched paint job.

I could always order a cluster on Amazon for under 100 bucks, but I'm worried about the odometer awkwardness. If a dealer sends it in theyd just duplicate it.


(This post was edited by HorusDeathtouch on Dec 7, 2016, 4:08 PM)


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Dec 7, 2016, 4:25 PM

Post #9 of 17 (2507 views)
  post locked   Re: 2011 Impala LT stalling is a mystery. No codes.  


Quote
I could always order a cluster on Amazon for under 100 bucks


That would require programming that will set you back another $100-$200.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Discretesignals profile image

Dec 7, 2016, 4:42 PM

Post #10 of 17 (2505 views)
  post locked   Re: 2011 Impala LT stalling is a mystery. No codes.  

Have they tried troubleshooting the instrument cluster issue? The cluster does communicate on the low speed GMLAN bus with the BCM. The BCM communicates with the PCM on the high speed GMLAN bus. Maybe a communication issue is going on causing the instrument cluster to wack out and the engine to stall.





Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.


HorusDeathtouch
Novice

Dec 7, 2016, 8:14 PM

Post #11 of 17 (2496 views)
  post locked   Re: 2011 Impala LT stalling is a mystery. No codes.  

 

In Reply To

Quote
I could always order a cluster on Amazon for under 100 bucks


That would require programming that will set you back another $100-$200.


Let me make a correction and a clarification.
I meant eBay. And there are pulled parts on there already programmed, but I was concerned with having an innacurate odometer.



In Reply To
Have they tried troubleshooting the instrument cluster issue?.



Unfortunately they have not. The services manager keeps assuring me that it can't be the issue. But it's pretty idiotic to have anot issue you can't figure out and not try to trouble shoot the only other problem that there is evidence of, just in case.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Dec 7, 2016, 9:16 PM

Post #12 of 17 (2490 views)
  post locked   Re: 2011 Impala LT stalling is a mystery. No codes.  

No, they have to be programmed with your VIN# so it can communicate with other modules.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



kev2
Veteran
kev2 profile image

Dec 8, 2016, 7:50 AM

Post #13 of 17 (2473 views)
  post locked   Re: 2011 Impala LT stalling is a mystery. No codes.  

might sound redundant but what I would check.
Alternator - check DIODES not the common alt quick check.
Add ons - anything plugged into ALDL - or lighter
Add ons- 2way radio, audio, GPS, lighting,
SCAN - all modules, freeze frame,
Laugh at me but is there remote starter - dealer, factory or pep boys?
look at GM history by vin
Time to look at the @500 TSB's maybe a clue there


HorusDeathtouch
Novice

Dec 15, 2016, 11:38 AM

Post #14 of 17 (2444 views)
  post locked   Re: 2011 Impala LT stalling is a mystery. No codes.  

By speaking with someone in charge of finance, I finally got the services department to send in the gauge cluster for replacement and give me another loaner at no charge.
I'll update this on whether or not the issue persists.


HorusDeathtouch
Novice

Dec 16, 2016, 12:44 PM

Post #15 of 17 (2419 views)
  post locked   Re: 2011 Impala LT stalling is a mystery. No codes.  

Just got a call and was told they actually found a couple of stripped wires and that they believed there was something wrong with the ECM/BCM/PCM (not 100% sure what I heard over the phone,) but that they patched it all up tight.
They say they test drove it and there was no bouncing of the speedometer. Guess I'll see when I pick it up in a bit.

It's looking like DiscreteSignals was onto something there.


(This post was edited by HorusDeathtouch on Dec 16, 2016, 12:48 PM)


HorusDeathtouch
Novice

Dec 17, 2016, 7:28 AM

Post #16 of 17 (2390 views)
  post locked   Re: 2011 Impala LT stalling is a mystery. No codes.  




Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Dec 17, 2016, 9:38 AM

Post #17 of 17 (2382 views)
  post locked   Re: 2011 Impala LT stalling is a mystery. No codes.  

Looks like we can close this one out as solved.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.







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