1996 Chevrolet Impala Electrical Problems

Your car stalled without warning while you were driving at 50 mph, causing you to lose control and crash into a ditch. This happened after you received a recall notice for an electrical system defect. The vehicle was totaled in the accident, though fortunately no one was injured. The fix would likely involve addressing the underlying electrical fault that caused the stalling.

ALL 3 BATTERIES HAVE LEAKED ACID OUT. HAD A PUDDLE OF ACID ON GARAGE FLOOR, THAT MY 6 YEAR OLD SON ALMOST STEPPED IN BARE FOOTED.*AK

I BELONG TO AN IMPALA SS CLUB AND SEVERAL YEARS AGO WE NOTICED THAT THE STOCK AC/DELCO (?) 676 BATTERY WOULD SOMETIMES LEAK. MANY COMPLAINED TO GMC BUT NOTHING HAPPENED SO AS PRECAUTION MANY PEOPLE CHANGED OUT THEIR BATTERY SINCE GM WOULD DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. NOW WE (THE CLUB) NOTICED THAT THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION ON THE CHEVY SUBURBAN AND TAHOE AND YUKON ABOUT THE SAME BATTERY. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING AT LEAST SINCE 1994 WHEN OUR IMPALAS STARTED TO BE MADE. THESE BATTERYS ARE SHODDY. PLEASE TAKE HELP TAKE THEM OFF THE ROAD. I ALREADY SWAPPED OUT MY BATTERY SINCE I DIDN'T WANT ANY ACID SPILLING IN THE ENGINE BAY.*AK

THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED & IMMEDIATELY THE LOCKS BEGAN ENGAGING & DISENGAGING IN RAPID SEQUENCE, THEN THERE WAS A SNAP AND I BEGAN TO SMELL BURNING WIRES. I NOTICED SMOKE RISING TO MY LEFT COMING FROM THE OUTSIDE HOOD VENTS. I TRIED TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE BUT I COULD NOT UNLOCK OR OPEN THE DRIVERS DOOR. I HAD TO MANUALLY UNLOCK THE DOOR. MY HUSBAND CAME OUT AND CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD HE SAW SMOKE COMING FROM AROUND THE FIRE WALL. HE THEN LOOKED UNDER THE DRIVERS SIDE DASH BOARD AND SAW FLAMES. I AT THAT POINT CONTACTED 911 AND HE WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE WITH A GARDEN HOSE. THE FIRE COMPANY ARRIVED AND CHECKED TO MAKE SURE THE FIRE WAS OUT, THEY DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY. I AM GLAD I WAS OF A CLEAR FRAME OF MIND OR I WOULD HAVE BEEN LOCKED IN THE CAR. WE COULD NOT OPEN ANY OF THE OTHER DOORS OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT UNLOCKING THEM MANUALLY. THE VEHICLE FILLED WITH SMOKE WHICH WAS VERY TOXIC. THIS COULD HAVE DEVELOPED INTO A VERY SERIOUS LIFE THREATENING SITUATION IF I HAD NOT GOTTEN OUT OF THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS AND THEY ARE NOW INVOLVED IN THE INVESTIGATION WITH THE DEALERSHIP.

POSITIVE POST OF BATTERY FORCED OUT FROM INSIDE BATTERY. EXTENSIVE PAINT AND RUST DAMAGE OCCURED. I AM AWARE OF MANY OTHER SUCH CASES WITH DELCO BATTERIES.

REAR OF ENGINE BLOCK WIRING CHAFFED CAUSING MALFUNCTIONS IN SPEEDOMETER.

ELECTRICAL FAILURES : WIRING CHAFFED, VSS SIGNAL (NOT SET TO ECM).

DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT, THE FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT WORK.

HORN CONTACT CAM OPEN, CAUSING HORN TO FAIL.