2005 Impala 3400

[nequamminor]

My friend was beating on his Impala a few days ago, and it was wet outside. He was downshifting to first and spinning the tires to ~40 and letting off the gas. He repeated that about 3 times. The fourth time he went to do it, it started to rev and just stalled completely. We coasted into a local muffler shop and tried to start it up. Wouldn't even try to fire. We checked everything over that we could. Fuses checked out, tried some starting fluid, still no start. He took it to his mechanic who rebuilt the head on it a while back because a head gasket went. He is taking it to a dealer today to get some electrical diagnostics performed. Does anyone have any clue what it could be?

[pocket-rocket]

Did you guys do any other diagnostic work like check for fuel and spark? If not, I would start there. Engines are basic, they only need 3 things to run. Fuel, Spark, and Compression. If you don't have one of those, your engine isn't going to run.

[IanSzgatti]

well they tried starting fluid and it wouldnt bite... so im gonna say no spark... doubt you lost compression on all cylinders. I'm assuming the engine would turn over but not fire... if so, how did it sounds while cranking? I think some thing that should be spinning is no longer spinning, shutting down the fuel and the spark... something go breaky-breaky. Thats a technical term for, something is fucked up dawg.

[pocket-rocket]

I was in a rush and forgot about the starting fluid :P Good catch. I hate those breaky-breakies... Seems to happen all the time

[nequamminor]

Its kinda hard to explain. It sounded like it was going to start normally, but only for the amount of time it would normally take to start. Once the normal amount of time it took to start had passed, it sounded like it was working harder to crank. Never sputtered or tried to fire though. Just cranked.

[IanSzgatti]

that motor is getting torn down is my guess. should be interesting and i'll be waiting for the answer

[nequamminor]

Its had a rough life, however its only got 110,000 on it. I'm waiting for the result as you are though. If my friend's mechanic can't figure it out, he's taking it to the local stealership tomorrow for $75 they are doing a full electrical diagnostic and they said if they don't find the problem with that they will hunt until they find the problem for free. Doesn't sound too bad to me, but I bet there is a catch.

[pocket-rocket]

Labor to put it back together, lol. J/k

[Rhedalert]

sounds like he roasted the crank position sensor.

[nequamminor]

Well, he took it to the dealership... and they found one of the problems. Broken ignition wire they said. However, when it broke down, it could crank all day long, just wouldn't start. However, someone stole his two 12" subs in a box that were in the back seat, as well as a 15" sub and his amp in the trunk, all while the car was at the dealership. And now that he has it back, its very sluggish... sounds like its working just to stay running, however i dont think its misfiring much at all. His mechanic thinks its a clogged cat because of all the gas that was in there from cranking, and the starting fluid.

[IsaacHayes]

Very well could be be clogged cat, some of the newer impalas had problems with failing clogged cats stock. Try unbolting the downpipe a little and taking it for a quick test drive and see if it's better. Don't drive too long so you dont melt stuff.