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06 Impala Retired Police Need Electrical Help

4K views 12 replies 6 participants last post by  dtnel 
#1 ·
I just Purchased a 06 Impala 3.9 Retired Police - The battery was dead but it charged right up and it holds a charge (the car has not been used / driven). When I start the car the voltage at the battery does not increase still at the same or slightly lower voltage than before charging however the battery light on the dash does not come on. Now here are the other issues. headlights do not work in manual or auto. Parking and tail lights work, all blinkers work. Radio does not power on. All windows, door locks trunk horn wiper ect work fine. Keyfob does not work.

Any help would be appreciated
 
#2 ·
I'm assuming that you've checked all of the fuses (both in the passenger footwell fusebox as well as the underhood fusebox)? That's definitely where I'd start...

Get one of those little yellow fuse testers - makes it MUCH faster and easier to test a bunch of fuses (no need to pull the fuses out).

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#3 ·
I hadn't checked all of the fuses just the one related to the headlights But I did go through and check them all last night and found a bad fuse for the radio and it now works.

Anyone have any ideas on the headlights and charging or can someone point me to where I might find the wiring diagrams for these circuits
 
#4 ·
If I'm reading things right, at this point, your headlights are the only things not working (besides the keyfob - but let's concentrate on the headlights for now).

It's strange that everything works but the headlights - issues like that are often fuse-related. Or, I guess both headlight bulbs could be bad? But it's *EXTREMELY* unlikely that both sets of high AND low beam bulbs are all bad! And you still have the battery light on your dash as well. Have you tried swapping the headlight fuse with another fuse of the same rating - just to be 100% it's not the fuse itself? Not sure if you have a fuse tester or you are just looking at the fuses with your eyes, but sometimes it can be hard to see a bad fuse without a tester.

I would probably start looking at wiring next. Make sure all connections to the battery and alternator are tight and free of corrosion. And I'd also get the battery and charging system tested at AutoZone or Advance Auto. It could still be a battery or alternator problem even though most things appear to be working normally.


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#5 ·
It's currently down to 2 problems the headlights and the charging. When I start the car the voltage at the battery does not increase it stays same or slightly lower voltage than before charging however the battery light on the dash does not come on. Not really worried about the keyfob thing.

I haven't tried swapping fuses I will do that tonight.

Wiring was my next option especially since it's retired police either something cut or not reconnected which is why I was asking if anyone knew where to find the schematic for these 2 systems. It was being used by the PD before the equipment removal and my purchase.

I haven't put plates or insurance on it yet so I can't drive it anywhere to have it checked.
 
#6 ·
I'm assuming that you have a multimeter (since you're checking the battery voltage). YOu might want to check the voltage coming out of the alternator next (while running, obviously). Check online for test procedures.

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#7 ·
Lower right passenger side there's a fuse panel there. There's also a relay in there in the upper left part of it that controls the automatic lights but if it isn't working it will keep you from removing the key or at least that was the case on my vehicle last night as I had to fix a wiring issue with the rear window defrost and that same area. If you look in the manual I believe it is page 5 - 99 where it discusses that small fuse panel passenger side up against the front of the floorboard below the glove box against the pillar behind the door hinge. I would take your car to a shop or the auto parts store that has a alternator/ battery analyzer and they can tell you if the alternator is bad and or if it has possibly I diode inside of it that could be going out which is sometimes the case was alternators.

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#10 ·
i'd personally take it to autozone and have them test the battery/alternator for free. that way you know those units are performing as expected. the battery isn't throwing a code but that doesn't mean it isn't a little weak since it was dead before you charged it. it could have some bad cells in it. just my two cents.
 
#11 ·
Also forgot to mention earlier if you use a site like Mitchell DIY they have the wiring diagrams for the different package options, police, regular, etc. I use the 4yr subscription option as it's $40. IF you go one month or one year it's more expensive so it makes better sense.

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#12 ·
I almost think that it may be an issue like it was with an old car I bought back in 88.. Well not old at the time lol. anyway it was a 85 Ford LTD EX not the normal LTD.. It was a Police car in 85 86 and 87. When I bought the car it had the Wag Lights still installed. Luckly I made the mistake of flipping the switch before I drove it off the lot and was told as I was starting to leave I couldn't take the car. So after a day I get the car and find out my lights didn't work. When they took out the system for the Wag Lights they didn't connect the wires back together where the lights spliced. After that small fix it worked great...

I know this is a different animal, But I would for sure check that.

For the Impala, also I would check your grounds in the front of the car. It could be when they disconnected the ground for something they removed they didn't reconnect that branch of grounds. It has been a while since I worked on a 9C1 or 9C3 but if I remember right they would have had a Module on the passenger side under the hood next to the ground and could be what is removed. If they cut it out and didn't repair the wiring as it was in my other LTD back in the day... Unrelated but also a place to check for things in the back to go wrong there is also a branch ground or Aux ground in the trunk with 2 Branch Powers as well.. If your car has issues in the back this would be one of first areas to check... Also this could come in handy if they left them just don't forget they were only wired with 10ga wire.. May have been 8Ga.. That would be if Memory serves me right on the right (Passenger) side of the car behind the carpet It was like a Max of 75 or 100 watts max combined power

So for me if I was looking over this car. First place I would check is under the hood, Passenger side area of where the Radiator is mounted and see if the Light Module was removed by being cut and if they repaired. Also around that area some grounds this also maybe important for the fans to work right as well. IF they didn't reconnect the grounds or make a good connection in that area. If your able take a couple of Pictures of under the Hood of the Car around Radiator, the Fuse panel area and behind the radiator where the 3 coolers were mounted if they didnt remove them I think there was a Relay or 2 in that area as well. The police packages had (if not removed) Oil, Power Steering and Tranny coolers in front of the Radiator. Also Higher output Fans...

For the Remotes if they still not working.... I have had to do this a few times for some customers of mine of the past....
Relearn Remote Keyless, To access the DIC display the car must be in Park and turned on, This display allows you to match the Remotes to your car. Do this.
1. Press the DIC until RELEARN remote displays
2. Press the Set REset button, The message Remote learning key should display
3. Press and hold the Lock and Unlock button on the first remote for about 15 seconds, A chime should sound telling you that it is matched.
4. TO match other remotes you have for the car repeat step 3. YOu can have I think 6 or 8 remotes programmed to it.
5. To exit programming just turn the key to off....

James
 
#13 ·
Lower right passenger side there's a fuse panel @ the bottom by the door. This carries power for the area of the dash and other areas. If you go a little further back along the edge of the passenger area on the lower panel under the carpet you'll see that there's a main ground area there. If you need a diagram PM me and I can print then scan and email it directly to you or get it to you somehow. I believe it's called the BCM (Body Control Module) which would be for the body as it states.

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