2003 Chevrolet Impala Speed Control & Cruise Problems

Accelator keeps getting stuck at traffic lights and while driving

Traveling at 58 mph in Cruise Control for 10 minutes I increased speed with 4-6 rapid pushes of the Accelerate button in less than 1.5 seconds, Each push is 1 mph. I have never pushed it that rapidly.The engine acted as if I floored the accelerator & the transmission went from 4th to 3rd gear, speed went to 70+ and rapidly increasing. I stepped on the break pedal several times to disable CC but no help, I switched the CC button to the off position several times, no help. Now at 85+ and accelerating hard in wide open throttle (WOT). I shift to Neutral and turned the ignition to the ACC position to retain steering ability as the engine was RPM'ing out to destruction. I coasted off the highway and set ignition to off. After a few minutes I turned engine on and it rev'd out of control, still WOT. Ignition off did not reset the problem. I opened the hood to disconnected the battery & I observe that neither the CC or accelerator cables are not holding the throttle body (TB) in "WOT", it was closed in an idle position. It is not mechanical. I disconnected the battery for several minutes and then the system operated normally. I have used CC a million times but never have pushed that accel button that fast. I served 7 years as a Reactor Operation onboard US navy Fast attack Submarines, have torn apart and assemble mechanical and electrical reactor systems. I have been a Hardware Engineer for 40+ yrs and have 10 US patents in fault tolerant server design. I've been a car guy since 5 yrs old. This is a problem with the cars computer or its code. The rapid pushing of the CC accel button is key here as well as memory retaining this CC state after Key OFF. Its a good thing I experienced with many hard casualty life and death situations while serving, because my car was accelerating out of control, my experience and training in the US Military taught me to keep cool and think.You really should investigate this. I can tell you more specifics but I'm character limited.

ABS, TRACTION, AND BREAK LIGHTS COME ON........ THEN WHEN I PUSH ON THE GAS PADDLE ITS OFTEN LIKE THE BRAKES WANT TO LOCK UP , WITH A SCRUBBING SOUND.... ALSO WHEN I PUSH THE BREAK PADDLE DOWN IT OFTEN MAKES A SOUND AND THE BREAK PADDLE FEELS LIKE IT COMES BACK UP WITH THE BREAK STILL DOWN,.........BUT THEN WHEN I DRIVE LIKE 20-25 MILES THE LIGHTS GO OFF AND HARDLY COME ON UNTIL I STOP AGAIN

WHILST DRIVING DOWN THE ROADWAY THE THROTTLE BODY BECAME STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO INCREASE SPEED WITHOUT THE DRIVER BEING IN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHICH COULD RESULT IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WITH OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROADWAY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE INCREASED SPEED VIOLENTLY ONCE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS RELEASED. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS NOT DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER, SHUT THE IGNITION OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE CONTACT WAS A MECHANIC AND STATED THAT THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,000. UPDATED 1/12/16 *CN

THERE ARE 3 RECALLS I HAVE FOUND THAT POSSIBLY ARE EFFECTING MY 2003 IMPALA BUT BECAUSE MY SPECIFIC VIN # DOESN'T FALL UNDER ANY OF THESE GM IS REFUSING TO FIX THESE PROBLEMS. 1)THE BODY CONTROL MODULE NEEDS TO BE RESET. APPARENTLY WHEN IT GOES OUT THE CRUISE CONTROL DISENGAGES.....AND MY CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT IS ON BUT WON'T ENGAGE. PLUS MY MECHANIC SAYS THE BODY CONTROL MODULE ALSO IS WHAT IS COULD BE CAUSING MY HEATER FAN TO NOT WORK NOR MY INFORMATION DISPLAY TO WORK. BUT LOW AND BEHOLD WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT GOES OFF THEY BOTH WORK 2) THERE IS A RECALL STATING DROPS OF ENGINE OIL MAY LEAK ON EXHAUST MANIFOLD WITH HARD BRAKING AND I SOMETIMES SMELL OIL BURNING AFTER I DRIVE. IF IT WAS MY ACTUAL ENGINE LEAKING OIL I WOULD SMELL IT ALL THE TIME BUT I DON'T IT'S JUST AFTER I DRIVE CERTAIN PLACES THAT ARE VERY CONGESTED AND I BRAKE A LOT 3) THERE IS A FUEL VAPOR LEAK FROM THE GAS TANK WHICH IS BELIEVED TO BE CAUSING MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON. IT THROWS THE CODE STATING I NEED TO POSSIBLE REPLACE THE GAS CAP (WHICH I HAVE DONE) AND ONLY COMES ON AFTER I HAVE PUT GAS IN THE CAR. I'M ALITTLE CONCERNED AND APPLAUD THAT JUST BECAUSE MY VIN # DOESN'T SHOW THESE RECALLS BUT IMPALAS ARE HAVING THESE RECALLS THAT GM WON'T FIX THESE PROBLEMS. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON THE BACK ROADS AT THE SPEED LIMIT OF 55MPH WHEN THE CAR STARTED TO JERK VIOLENTLY. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON SO I LET OFF THE GAS AND HIT THE BRAKES A LITTLE. I WAS ABLE TO COME TO A STOP SAFELY, BUT THE JERKING WAS DANGEROUS AS IT PROPELLED ME INTO THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC WHEN I WAS ON A CURVE. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE CAR NOW. THE CAR SHOWS NO CODES AND NO WARNING SIGNALS. I THINK IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE TRANSMISSION, BUT I AM NOT SURE. I READ MANY OTHERS WITH TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND I THINK THIS IS MORE DANGEROUS THAN PEOPLE THINK AND IT SHOULD BE RECALLED IF ITS A KNOWN PROBLEM. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. *TR

ANTI-LOCKING BRAKING SYSTEM, TRACTION CONTROL, AND VSA LIGHT COMES ON UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM ENGAGES AND PULSATES WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND ALSO THE VEHICLE DOESN'T' ACCELERATE IF DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. THIS COULD OR WILL CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF THE SYSTEM IS NOT FIXED IMMEDIATELY. SUSPECT THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR WHICH IS BUILT INTO THE WHEEL HUB. I AM REQUESTING THIS ISSUE BE REPAIRED AND THE FACTORY EXPENSE SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND A VERY WELL KNOW DOCUMENTED CASE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA. WHEN APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AT 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DECELERATE. AS A CONSEQUENCE HE CRASHED INTO THE WALL OF A NEARBY BUILDING. HE INJURED HIS LOWER BODY AND TORSO. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 58000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA. AFTER DRIVING FOR FIVE MINUTES THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WILL STICK TO THE FLOOR. USUALLY AFTER REPEATED BRAKE APPLICATION THE PEDAL WILL RELEASE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO CLEAN OUT THE ACCELERATOR BOX. THE REPAIR COST OVER $100.00 AND IT TAKES BETWEEN 15 TO 20 MINUTES FOR COMPLETION. THEY CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT THE REPAIR WILL REMEDY THE FAILURE. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62000.

MY CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF WITHOUT ME PUSHING THE BUTTON ON THE STEERING WHEEL. IT WON'T WORK FOR THAT DAY OR LONGER, THEN IT WORKS AGAIN. JUST WONDERING IF IT IS THE FUSE OR THE MODULE. *TR

CRUISE CONTROL DISENGAGES ITSELF WHEN CLIMBING MODERATE RISES IN ROAD. *JB