‘EVERY IMPALA DOES THIS:' Mom Gets in 16-Year-Old Son's Chevy. Then It Starts Making This Noise
Mom of three Ashley Augusta (@theashleyaugusta) recently came face to face with an even bigger fear: their child driving in unsafe conditions.
Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily.
back
Sign up
For more information, read our
Privacy Policy
and
Terms of Use
.
In a TikTok Augusta posted earlier this week, her 16-year-old son is driving a Chevrolet Impala that is making a loud and consistent knocking noise.
The text overlay says that Augusta first heard the sound the day before. Her son was unbothered by it, however.
'His response? 'Oh, it will stop in about 30 seconds,'' the overlay reads.
Augusta says her son seemed to have 'not a care in the world,' despite the alarming sound.
The TikTok has 9.7 million views as of this writing.
Is It an Impala Thing?
Trending Now
Volvo Superfan Explains Why They're 'One Of the Best Cars' Under $5K For Teens. He Might Be Onto Something
Teen Driving Dad's Toyota Supra Busted Going 132 MPH In Florida
People familiar with
Chevy Impalas
said that the sound is typical for the model. One who says they formerly owned an Impala joked that they have 'unresolved trauma' from the sound.
Some offered advice to fix the sound, which most believe is caused by the climate control system.
'Ummmm I instantly knew that was an Impala because my son's car does it too lol. We figured ours has to do with the buttons with AC,' a comment with more than 100,000 likes reads.
'Every Impala does this. You could get it fixed and it'll do it again in 4 to 6 months. Easy way to prevent it? Turn AC off 45 seconds before you turn off car,' another advised.
'It's the blend door actuator located behind the glove box. The part will run about $45, generally easy to replace yourself just look up a YouTube video! Had to do this twice with my Impala,' another speculated.
Over a dozen people also opined that the problem is the blend door actuator.
What Is a Blend Door Actuator?
A blend door actuator is a small motor that controls your car's climate control system. It's a plastic box small enough to fit in one hand that has gears inside.
When you turn the knob to increase or decrease the temperature or fan, the signal goes through the blend door actuator. The device also controls the defrosters and other vents, Wrench explains.
Some newer cars have two blend door actuators, one for the front seats and another for the back.
While it's safe to drive around with a busted blend door actuator because it doesn't affect how a vehicle drives, the noises and lack of temperature control can make for an uncomfortable and highly irritating ride.
It costs between $436 and $581 to replace the blend door actuator on a Chevy Impala,
Repair Pal
reports.
Many commenters said replacing the part is simple enough to do at home, and it'll save you a lot of money.
A YouTube instructional video describes this as a "VERY common issue" on Impalas. " It's almost always the recirculation door actuator," creator Daniel Jaeger (@DanielJaegerFilms) adds.
How to Fix a Loud Tapping Noise on Chevy Impalas
Mom's Real Concern
In a follow-up video, Augusta thanks the people who tried to help diagnose the issue. She also says they know what's wrong with the vehicle, but doesn't say exactly what.
She says that what concerned her most about the issue was her son's nonchalance about it.
It's a good rule of thumb to always find out why your vehicle is making a new sound or driving differently. Depending on what the issue is, not doing so could lead to an even bigger problem or risk causing a car accident.
In the case of the Impala in Augusta's TikTok, it could also make driving deeply unpleasant.
'Why would he not care?' Augusta wonders in the post.
'That would drive me crazy, all that ticking. I would lose my ever-loving mind.'
Motor1
reached out to Augusta for comment via TikTok direct message and comment. We'll be sure to update this if she responds.
More From Motor1
Big Chevy Barn Find Sees Camaro, Impala, Square Body Pickup Collecting Dust
Tupac's 1961 Chevy Impala Restored, Turned It Into True Lowrider
Modern Chevy Impala Coupe Rendering Needs To Happen In Real Life
Chevy Impala Dies Today, 62 Years Since The Original's Launch
Share this Story
X
Got a tip for us? Email:
tips@motor1.com
Join the conversation
(
)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Digital Trends
25 minutes ago
- Digital Trends
Elon Musk now wants you to eat at a Tesla Diner, and it opens today
What's happened? Elon Musk, Tesla CEO and owner of X, has taken to his social media platform to show off a new restaurant concept in Hollywood, California which he says will be 'an island of good food, good vibes & entertainment, all while Supercharging.' What's Musk said? Things kicked off on July 20 when Musk re-posted a short video clip showing a drone shot of the Tesla diner at 7001 Santa Monica Blvd, Hollywood, California. Recommended Videos The futuristic-looking building appears to have al-fresco seating on its roof and two huge screens in its parking lot, which itself is lined with Tesla superchargers. Musk followed up the teaser video on July 21, with a more information – confirming that the 'retro futuristic diner' has the potential to expand to cities around the world if the initial location proves popular. If our retro-futuristic diner turns out well, which I think it will, @Tesla will establish these in major cities around the world, as well as at Supercharger sites on long distance routes. An island of good food, good vibes & entertainment, all while Supercharging! — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 21, 2025 This is important because: Today, July 21, is opening day for the Tesla Diner – the first of its kind dining and charging location from an auto manufacturer. It potentially sets a blueprint for future charging locations, not only from Tesla, but possibly the wider EV market. The diner has been at least four years in the making, as we first reported on trademark filings for a Tesla restaurant back in 2021. The auto maker had to wait until 2023 before the City of LA granted approval for the first diner to be built, and two years on it's finally ready to open its doors. According to Sawyer Merritt, the Tesla Diner features two 45-foot LED movie screens for patrons to enjoy a drive-in movie, 80 Tesla Superchargers (V4), and a menu which includes burgers, wings, hot dogs, fries, milkshakes and more. Why should I care? Tesla has invested heavily in the EV charging ecosystem, with 30,000 superchargers across 2,500 locations stretching through all 50 states. Yet, range anxiety and worries over charger availability remain for both current EV owners and those considering the switch. Continued investment in charging locations, not only by increasing the number of charges available, but by also creating spaces which are enjoyable to spend 20 to 30 minutes of your day, is only a positive thing for EV owners. The arrival of the Tesla Diner also introduces some new in-car features for Tesla owners too. Drive up to the restaurant and you'll be able to sync the audio and video from the giant screens to the speakers and screens in your Tesla. Plus you'll be able to order your food directly from your Tesla's infotainment display. Ok, so what's next? As Musk suggested in his post, depending on how the Tesla Diner performs, the company might look to roll out the concept to more countries around the world.
Yahoo
42 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Report: NASCAR to Race in San Diego in 2026, Location Revealed for Street Race
The NASCAR schedule for the 2026 season is still being finalized, but the Chicago Street Race will not return next year. With an opening on the schedule and a desire to add another street course race, NASCAR is heading to San Diego next season, with a specific location already selected. Kelly Crandall of will race on the Coronado Naval Base in San Diego, California, in the summer of 2026. The official race plans are expected to be announced this week, marking NASCAR's return to Southern California. Read More: The Athletic's Jordan Bianchi reported in June that NASCAR was working to finalize a deal for a street course race in the San Diego area next season. It would mark the return to Southern California after a multi-year absence, but league officials still needed to finalize details with the city. Now, according to Crandall, NASCAR is poised to make the announcement official on Wednesday. The expectation is that the race will take the place of the Chicago Street Race in the summer, which has occurred on the Fourth of July weekend in the last three years. Naval Base Coronado is based in Coronado, California, and is located right alongside the Pacific Ocean and San Diego Bay. It serves as one of the major naval bases in the United States, including use for Navy SEAL training. A street course race at the Naval Coronado Base will require significant investment from the city. The first-ever Chicago Street Race cost the city at least $3.5 million, but costs dipped in the following years. NASCAR also paid the city approximately $2.5 million to help host the race in 2025 and the Chicago Street Race had a $128 million total economic impact in 2024. While Chicago will not be involved with NASCAR racing in 2026, Bianchi said on Sunday night's episode of The Teardown that racing could return to the streets of Chicago as early as 2027. Related Headlines Why Baltimore Orioles' Adley Rutschman May Face an Uncertain Future with Team Report: 2 'Strong Candidates' Revealed to Become Atlanta Braves Manager in 2026 Report: Texas Rangers Could Trade Coveted All-Star Player By Next Week New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, Detroit Tigers Interested in Trade for Gold Glover
The Verge
an hour ago
- The Verge
Tesla's response to cratering sales? A deals blitz
With its sales in the crapper, Tesla is resorting to a slate of deals and incentives to get reinvigorate flagging customer interest in its lineup of electric vehicles. In recent days, the automaker has rolled out a series of discounts and financing incentives on all of its models, as it seeks to capitalize on what is likely to be its last best chance at a successful sales quarter. It's an understandable move, given how much of a drag this year has been for Tesla. The company recently reported a 14 percent drop in second quarter sales year over year. Tesla's sales in Europe have been in a serious slump with five straight consecutive months of decline. And in China, where the company is facing its fiercest competition from brands like BYD and Zeekr, second quarter sales were down 12 percent year over year — though there were some hints of a possible comeback in recent weeks. In the US, Tesla's response is the pull out all the stops. To start, every Tesla vehicle is eligible for the $7,500 federal EV tax credit until September 30th, when the incentive sunsets thanks to President Trump's budget bill. On top of that, Tesla is also offering one free month of Full Self-Driving (Supervised) driver assist feature, as well as a free trial of its Premium Connectivity package (one month for Model 3 and Y, and one year for Model S, X, and Cybertruck). And there's also a $1,000 discount for 'American heroes' like members of the military, teachers, and first responders. Moreover, all models except the Cybertruck are eligible for a free upgrade for a limited time. And the Model 3 and Cybertruck come with 0 percent APR financing with a purchase of the FSD package. And the Model 3 also comes with 18 months of free Supercharging for cash purchases. Meanwhile, Model Y buyers with 'excellent credit' and a 15 percent down payment can get 3.49 percent APR financing, down from 5.54 percent. Cybertruck buyers of a similar status can also get 0 percent APR, as well as a free 20-inch 'Cyber wheel' upgrade, which typically have a $3,500 value. And for anyone interested in the company's practically ancient Model S or X (though they did just get a mild refresh), Tesla is offering a free upgrade when you purchase the FSD feature. The third quarter is likely going to be a high water mark for Tesla, giving the expiring federal incentives and an expectation that EV prices will be going up across the board. Tesla has tried to juice sales by refreshing its models with new designs and a mild tech upgrade, but Elon Musk's polarizing persona has made it increasingly difficult for the company to climb out of its rut. And the newest model, the Cybertruck, is just a sales dud and arguably one of the biggest automotive flop in decades — no one wants it. Of course, Tesla could reverse its fortunes with the release of a new, more affordable EV — not just a cheaper Model 3 or Y. The company has been promising a cheaper model for years now, though Musk has said he's more interested in pushing robotaxis and humanoid robots than spending resources on a budget EV. The CEO recently teased an 'epic demo' of a new Tesla project by the end of the year. The company is expected to report another steep drop in profits in its Q2 earnings on Wednesday, July 23rd.
