Chevy Impala: Battery Saver Active → Diagnosis | Drivetrain Resource

Many modern GM made vehicles have a battery saver feature, this includes the Chevy Impala. If you are getting a "battery saver active" message, it means that your Impala's electrical system voltage has dropped to a critical level (less than 11.7 volts). Typical electrical systems run at 13+...

www.700r4transmissionhq.com

 

Yes, I've read the official diagnosis.

Thing is, I've checked the alternator, and the battery, and they both tested fine. The battery has been getting charged flawlessly, the voltages are reading as they should.

Which leaves it to be either in the current sensor (such as a bad sensor), the way the sensor is installed (for instance, the possible problem of it only being through one wire), or something else wonky in the computer or electrical system. But I'm guessing it's related to the sensor, since it's the simplest explanation for it reading the system incorrectly, like that.

 

First rule of troubleshooting.
What did you monkey with and did you miss something.
I'd check to be sure your mechanic buddy installed the battery terminal connections properly. I've seen folks leave out body ground leads.

If it works. Don't fix it. You can easily fix things til they're broke.

 

First rule of troubleshooting.
What did you monkey with and did you miss something.
I'd check to be sure your mechanic buddy installed the battery terminal connections properly. I've seen folks leave out body ground leads.

If it works. Don't fix it. You can easily fix things til they're broke.

Agreed - it's very possible my friend got something wrong. In particular, I found one reference to the notion that the current sensor must be around both positive wires, not just one. It's only around one, and my friend may not have realized the lead came out. The problem is, despite several google and youtube searches, I can't corroborate the correct configuration. I don't want to try correcting it until I confirm how it's supposed to be. Odd that that info seems so elusive.

 

Both are supposed to go through the sensor. I had done the same thing the first time I changed my battery. Lead slipped out without me noticing. Warning light came on. I went and inspected the battery and noticed the lead not through the sensor.

 

Thanks. That's what I heard from the video, it's good to get confirmation.

 

Just an update...

I re-did the terminal, threading both positive leads through the current sensor, and I have not had the problem ever since.

Now I only have to research a good make of plugs and coils...

 

OEM parts. Aftermarket is asking for trouble. Delphi is the OEM supplier.
Delphi XS10560 plug wires
AC Delco 41162 Iridium plugs

The LS engines could have square or round coils. Get the same as the original. The LS coils last forever. I don't change these ignition coils til they actually fail and I only change the failed coil.
Delphi GN10639 Square coil
Delphi GN10165 Round coil

 

 

hmnnn🤔, I just got that light too, after sitting with phone charger on for a few hours, with new battery & terminal. the current sensor goes through 1 of the cables, not both. side is differant on differant year impalas, & I’m told it’s directionally sensative, like the round thing is the head & the tail shaped thing the tail, this is, as you said, a ‘current’ sensor - & I beleive current goes from + towards -, which ever side of loop they’re posted on(while electrons thE opposite).. but btw., mines hookd up properly, & I’m getting that with new battery.. don’t quite get what voltage’s got to dU with it - many a time Iv drivn with very low batery - & after jump start, while car & alternator is charging them, no such light. In other words, it’s been a year, did you find problem?

 

gr8 summary of what that batery saver wat-cha-ma-cal-it msg means, yatsie- 1 thing to keep in mind, is that when batteries get low for watever reason, the charging voltage gets lower, & amps higher until things charge up(& as they do, amps go down while volts go up).. EVEN IF, BATERY, ALTERN8R, Yrs, connections, etc., are ALL FINE😳!! IO, computers😒

 

mine started doing this after having phone charger plugd in for a several hours.. when it started this, & message appeared, idle was higher(pres. as part of battery saving, meaning higher charging rate, program), but here’s the thing - it only started doing this with a new battery, a beter one - & Iv read in this thread that it started for other people with new, therefore presumably orobly better, batteries - or new fatter wiring improvements? maybe-probley, - etc. - THIS IS TO SAY, that these changes might make program THINK battery’s dead. like an imbalance or something of electric current fluidity or something like that… this started for me 1c I let go of, but luckily still have, my loOZ(but apparently not) 600 cca econo-watever it’s calld batery & switchd to a ‘beter’, BUT IS IT🤨? 800cca 3 year battery.. I’m guesscing 1st try a full ECU reset, incase ECU is comparing old battery strengths with new battery & that causing this imbalance(wats that mEn, IdOnO), & if that don’t wrk, switch back to the crapr bat. cooooommpUtrs👋😑.