Either it’s not storing enough voltage (battery), not creating enough voltage (alternator), or the voltage is getting lost from the alternator to the battery (bad cables/corroded terminals). The “battery saver active” notification means that there is some issue with the charging system. Here’s a great video on how to diagnose a bad battery sensor.Ĭonclusion: Impala Battery Saver Diagnosis It is connected to the negative battery terminal. This sensor determines whether or not current is flowing in or out of your Impala’s battery.

It could still be the battery current sensor that is at fault. It would still be wise to have the battery tested before it is replaced. If the alternator appears to be fine from your testing (and the battery cables are clean) that leaves the battery and battery current sensor. Here’s a great video from ChrisFix on how to test the alternator yourself. Or it can be going bad, which means that it is charging some, but not enough to meet the needs of the vehicle. The alternator could be all the way bad (not charging the battery at all). You need a voltage meter, that’s about it. It’s very easy to see if the alternator is bad. With the engine running, the alternator should be putting out at least 13.5 volts. If the battery saver light came on when you were already driving, that is a strong indicator that the alternator is bad. There are also specialized battery cleaning tools that you can pick up at Autozone or Wal-Mart for around $5. If they look corroded, clean them off with a wire brush. The battery saver is usually activated when an alternator goes bad, but there can be other causes as well.īefore jumping straight to the alternator or battery, it’s a good idea to take a look at the battery posts. If this feature is on, assume that your vehicle will stop running and get it fixed immediately.īattery Saver Active Causes: Chevy Impala

The battery saver increases the driving range of your Impala when the system is not properly charging. If electrical voltage gets much lower than the 11.7 that it’s at when the battery saver is active, the engine will no longer be able to run properly (and eventually at all). When the battery saver is active, it causes many of the vehicles non essential functions to stop or run slower (including the air conditioner), in order to increase battery life. The battery should also be over 12 volts even with the vehicle sitting. Typical electrical systems run at 13+ volts with the engine running. 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). Many modern GM made vehicles have a battery saver feature, this includes the Chevy Impala.

How to fix battery saver active