2011 Chevrolet Impala, Stall/No Start

Brought in on the tow truck, this vehicle died on the owner while cruising down the highway. . They were not able to restart it. I had a great time troubleshooting this one, and we learned a lot of good lessons on GM flex fuel vehicle! Some methods used...
Basic no start troubleshooting principals.
How to test a fuel pump.
How to check for injector pulse.
Fuel pump current waveform analysis.
How to test a variable resistor.
Sensor substitution using known value resistors.
GM Flex-Fuel system variables
How to prove out fuel gauge accuracy.

[@baxrok2.]

Nice work. Thanks for taking the time to share your diagnosis with us!

[@pinpointautomotiverepair1592]

You bet! Hopefully it helps someone down the line.

[@jasonchi8649]

Thanks for the in-depth, accurate and complete troubleshooting with professional and clear instruction. My 2008 Impala 3.9L had exact same problem. After adding 5G of reserve fuel, the car started just fine. Not sure why fuel gage is showing 1 increment left from complete empty (meaning not empty), yet; didn't start. This is after alternator was replaced. Fuel gage will be monitored further if in fact gage is gone bad or not. Thanks for the great video and one of the best.

[@darrellasbury5781]

Absolutely enjoyed this video.i like the approach.thank you for the time you spent on this and the explanation.

[@MechanicTechnicianRepair]

exselecte diagnostic amigo. my. respect for you. amigo

[@JoseRodriguez-kt5km]

I would have just put gas in it but you are doing the right thing ,well explained i watched the whole video

[@dezblyan5125]

Good video keep em coming

[@int53185]

Very common on most GM's. The sensor may be available seperately if people want to go cheap. My daughter's 2002 Lesabre had the infamous swinging guage problem, $16 off Ebay solved the problem.

[@markferraro5250]

thanks great video TD

[@MarkieDcomics]

I came here because I think my fuel pump is declining so thx for the steps to test it but I definitely have gas in the car it’s just putting and coughing at idle but runs fine when accelerating at normal speeds

[@Jpilgrim30]

That's why I have a 10 turn variable resistor to test gauges and sensors.

[@pinpointautomotiverepair1592]

I need to get one. It'd make checking things like this way easier.

[@spelunkerd]

What an interesting story. I would have missed it, by just adding fuel and telling the owner to ride with a tank more than half full. Come to think of it, maybe he'll do just that and try to delay the expense of dropping the tank.

[@jenniferpeterson6666]

Do you have a video of changing out alternator on an exact car like this? I’m searching for a video on how to change out the alternator but all the ones I’ve seen so far are for an older Impala!

[@johnames6430]

it's pretty simple but you need a ratchet and socket set, you have to get the belt off and remove the bolts, disconnect the battery before doing anything.

[@picoboo5048]

That fuel gauge would have fooled me also. Haven't seen that design until now. I noticed that pink Jeep in the background in a few of your videos, seems like it may be a long term project. LoL

[@pinpointautomotiverepair1592]

Oh boy, don't even get me started on this pink jeep :). We call it the "Pepto Bismol"!

[@billmck12345]

good vid, with these types of issues I go right into hooking up my decade box and go from there. aeswave has what you need (ATS Resistance Decade Box DEC1000). I'm not trying to spam you just show ya good tools that work well for the job at hand.....specs are 1ohm to about 11,000,000ohms in 1ohm inc....

[@billmck12345]

oh and I just found your channel, that's why the very late post....

[@pinpointautomotiverepair1592]

I've definitely got my eye on one of these and hope to get one soon, it would make doing testing like this a lot easier! Thanks for the suggestion!

[@chris2180]

What kind of book that is and were you get it from

[@chuckdean7502]

So what pump did you use ?

[@corieshepherd7962]

I have had this exact problem with my 2012 Chevy Impala. I was riding down the road an I noticed my engine light on and it was losing pressure. So when I tried to crank the car it made the exact same noise. But I look at my mileage gauge it's reading 84 miles. But to make a long story short it's the fuel pump am I correct

[@CSchmiz]

Corie Shepherd no the pump works great it’s the fuel level sending unit that’s the problem

[@rwrobs777]

Usually all injector feed wires are the same color...like GM (pink)...other wire is control !!

[@frankgonzalez24]

I worked at the Cadillac dealer when a DeVille came in on the hook. The lady who owned it had purchased it new three weeks prior. She said she was driving it when it lost power, stumbled and died. The car would crank but would not start. I get into the car and turn the ignition to run. I looked at the digital fuel gauge, IT WAS FLASHING. So I send out for a few gallons of gas to put in the tank. The car started after the gas was put in. Apparently, the owner thought the car ran on fairy fart gas because in the three weeks she had and drove the car, she never put gas in it. The salesperson never showed her how to read the fuel gauge. She was shown how to rea her fuel gauge when she picked up her car.

[@bennieboy2014]

So how you fixed it please help I have same problem I did all checks you did even change mass air flow sensor / fuel pump even look at key Alarm system help someone

[@chrisnas1483]

Why was the check engine light on?

[@johnnyadcock8926]

It's a GM. I have helped many a friend with a can of gas and a rubber mallet. Hit the bottom of tank while cranking and bad fuel pump runs.

[@brittanivalencia4907]

Did the same thing then finally got it to my garage safely 🤦🏽‍♀️ but working on mine now

[@haywardsautomotive6156]

Nice diagnosis and isolating to defective sending unit. Nice video and keep them coming!

[@pinpointautomotiverepair1592]

Thanks! Thoroughness is key with an issue like this. A lot of people would throw some gas in this thing and ship it without addressing the real problem.

[@marvinsmithsmith4124]

U didn't explain the problem what's poiny6 video

[@apr2499]

I have had a similar Issue. Don’t trust the gas gauge. When you get less than 1/8th tank of a gas, it will die!

[@juanserrano3871]

All my mechanic said was “you need a 200 dollar pump and it’s 200$ dollar labor no test done lol

[@tomwilson5201]

0.5 - 4.5?

[@charlesmecum5009]

I don't c any more of your diags where did u go

[@tremainej8171]

Fuel pump

[@stevenjacksonshreveport988]

So what is the problem for non mechanics and Technicians

[@kennethcollier9791]

At the start of the video I knew the car didn't have any gas I'm assuming I haven't finished watching the video yet but it sounds like the car is out of gas

[@whitleyperry8911]

I have a 2011 Chevy impala I do have gas in my car but it won’t turn over... I turn it off the. Start it again and it turns over. It can be a few things. It could be my starter or the battery.. this car has only 3 owners im the 3rd owner... this car has been such a headache. 😬😬. My fuel pump went. When I’m pumping gas It likes to act like it’s full when it’s not.

[@retrovoid163]

Check your EVAP canister, when I first got my Chevy the gas lines would cut out cause of it

[@juanesparza9197]

I got the same problem but my tank is full even when I try to use the remote start it cranks bit it refuses to start

[@YamirHenson]

I'm literally having the same problem now did u ever find out the reason?

[@igneousbrn9313]

Same problem here, crank no start....anybody solved the problem

[@apr2499]

Literally gas is the solution, and don’t trust the gauge. When it gets below 1/4th a tank, get gas.

[@davem7492]

Ummmmghhh, aint got no gas in it, ummgghh, its out i reckon!

[@jimmyjamesmichael]

Dave M 😹😹 Sling Blade I like dem taters...

[@mph5896]

I bought a Car from The State of North Carolina, they diagnosed it with a no start/bad fuel pump. I got the car and the fuel gauge was in the red, I added 2 gallons of gas to rule that out initially and that was the problem. Also purchased a car from them with a locked up engine, ground was loose on frame. Last car had a "bad engine" after head gasket job, it started up with a dead cylinder misfire. Dx a missing metal piece on the end of the plug wire. Your tax money at work.

[@danielgriganavicius4986]

Having same issue with 2012 impala...I had thought it was fuel pump but after adding fuel it started up, is the sending unit part of the complete fuel pump assembly? If so replacing fuel pump assembly would fix problem? Doesn't this model have fuel pump access panel from trunk?

[@violettecooley]

I got chevrolet impala 2010 I replaced fuel pump but when i start it some days it cranks right up other days it struggles crank and u can hear it wondering if it's the fuel line? But I don't wanna waste money on something ain't gonn fix it when ur on retirement u can't afford to fork out alot of money and shops lie to make money shit you don't need

[@MasterChief-sl9ro]

Surprise GM Fuel Gauge issue... it's only been around for 10 years. Yet GM refuses to recall the failed in tank sender...

[@TeeroyHammermill]

30 years.

[@garnetfanderson7594]

M

[@curtis1951]

So a half hour video to find out it's out of gas.

[@bennieboy2014]

I have same problem but I change fuel pump already

[@bandotoon7319]

Did you find the fix? I’m having this issue too

[@biggdolo5912]

?

[@violettecooley]

I'm having same problem and got brand new fuel pump I'm guessing fuel line is bad

[@throttlebottle5906]

so, typical bad level sensor and ding-dong ran out of fuel. yuuuup :))

[@pinpointautomotiverepair1592]

Haha, got to love it!

[@carleykellogg9412]

😮😮😮🎉😮😅😊😢😢😅 21:43 u😢😢😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😅😂o😅😂😂😅😂😅😂😅😂😅😂😅😅😅😅❤😅❤❤❤😅😅❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@robertilges7111]

Why didn't you just put gas in the tank. The gas gauge is just a step motor. It could be wrong. So why rip off the customer with all your exspensive tests. I'm glad I don't take my car to you. Everything your doing is wrong.

[@mikesabin8568]

Expensive tests? It takes less than five minutes to hook up an amp clamp you idiot. It’s taking long in the video because he is explaining how to do trouble shooting. The customer wasnt smart enough to add gas, not his fault. Also, the gauge is not a step motor since you are pointing out who is wrong😏

[@shanecox3413]

When you put your vehicle in the shop your going to pay A diagnostic fee regardless so he delivered so much more than I’ve ever seen for that fee and if you think that doing a thorough inspection and fixing it right the 1st time is a rip off I agree with the other comment you are a idiot

[@jonsworld5307]

why didnt customer just put gas in it