DAVENEWJERSEY

MY 2001 IMPALA HAS A LOUD BANGING, CRACKING NOISE FROM THE FRONT WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AT NO SPEED OR VERY SLOW SPEED.
I was told today by chevy service the problem is defective / missing sub frame welds.
The defective welding causes the frame to flex, metal to metal.
Sometimes they replace the entire frame, but they will try a super glue type fix on the welds to reduce their cost.

They will try to have the customer pay for the defective/ missing welds.
This problem is very profitable for GM as it is frequently mis diagnosed as steering rack replacement, steering shaft replacement, mount replacement, steering shaft lube, etc...etc...
I wonder if the many crashes of police impala vehicles are related to the missing defective welds?

3.4imp

I thought these new fwd imps.didn't have frames. I thought they had a uni-body. like the imports. I know the 96's had weld problems but they sat on an actuall frame.

MCO_Death

Impala's are Unibodies. Thats why bent frames usually result in totaled cars.

DAVENEWJERSEY

IMPALAS {MINE IS A 2001 IMPALA LS}
HAVE WHAT IS CALLED A SUB FRAME, A SQUARE MADE OF ALLUMINUM, NOT COVERING THE ENTIRE BODY, IT'S SMALLISH AND TIED INTO THE FRONT END.

MCO_Death

Yeah Yeah, I was reply to 3.4's comment about the frames. Impala's don't sit on frames, but there is the sub-frame for under the engine.

bermis519

Thats correct, the impala has an aluminum engine cradle. I haven't really heard about the impalas and the missing welds. The person with the busted/missing welds. With them wanted to do a superglue effect to it, i would consult else where. It's a manufacture defect and also neglegence too. I would pull some weight and have it done correctly. Why are they worried about cost? Tell them they need to fix it right!!! I would settle for anything less.

let me know
mike

MCO_Death

I would think the time to do a welding fix would be worthwhile, if such a thing as glue were used and failed causing the death of someone, that would result in a BIG lawsuit against GM which they Really don't need givin the state of the company lately.

DAVENEWJERSEY

The service mechanic told me this shop has performed this super-glue type lock kit service over the sub frame welds 5 times and has not heard back from the Impala owners who's vehicles received the service.
I hope that is good news! Meaning the faulty sub frame welds, which weren't rewelded properly didn't finally snap free and cause control loss.
If you hear of any Impala or Monte Carlo involved in an accident, refer them to this posting.

DAVENEWJERSEY

GM customer service rep Maria Ruiz 866 942 4368 ext. 45422 lied on the report of the defective sub frame welds, when she stated the service manager of Barlow Chevrolet {NJ} claimed it was not a manufacturer defect.
After hearing that from Mrs. Lopez, I quectioned the service manager, who claimed he never said it was not a manufacturer defect.
GM customer service reps. at the 866 942 4368 number lie to prevent cost assistance for missing or defective sub frame welds.
Who wants to buy a vehicle from a manufacturer who will lie to profit from safety related manufacturers defects?

MCO_Death

With all the cars GM puts out, you assume so quickly that every Customer Service Rep is going to know Every flaw with Every vehicle? She could have been lieing, but she could have just as easily been misinformed or not informed at all.

DAVENEWJERSEY

In this case the service manager didn't say the welds were not a manufacturer defect, the GM customer service rep at the toll free number lied by reporting the repair manager said it was not a manufacturer defect.
I am stuck with an Impala with missing/defective sub frame welds, a common problem on Monte Carlos and Impala's.
I feel unsafe, Poorly built car!
GM Customer Service Lied.
AVOID GENERAL MOTORS PRODUCTS
AVOID CHEVROLET
they lied to avoid partial costs of repair of missing and defective sub frame welding.

MCO_Death

These Forums are more for helping people with cars they have, not ranting on how you hate a company. There are plenty of other forums to voice that opinion at.

If your car fails and you die, be sure to have your family sue GM, or if it bothers you THAT much, go trade your car in for a Non-GM product.

DAVENEWJERSEY

I post about my Impala sub frame weld defects to alert other Impala owners with similar Noise problems while turning their steering wheel.
As I've previously stated, it is frequently misdiagnosed {to GM profit} as intermittent steering shaft problems{they have replaced tens of thousands of those}.
If you want to play mommy over everyone who posts, I cant help that, but try following your own advice {post to help car problems only}

MCO_Death

I try to be helpful in these forums, If you hadn't posted in every steering related thread, in all caps no less about the sub-frame welds, Then making two threads saying the same thing, I wouldn't even have posted anything, useful information is useful information.

It was quickly covered, some ISS may be mis-diagnosed. The glue thing I have to see to believe myself, I can't see how glue is cheaper than making use of welders the shops already have. Labor time would be nearly the same.

And the (to GM profit) I hope thats not implying that it would be cheaper to replace the ISS over making a few welds.

OCTO13ER

Let's all remeber that to avoid GM and Chevy products is poor Daves opinion. I myself have owned two Impalas and know many others who have owned them and also frequent forums for Impalas and have yet to hear of "poor and missing welds" on any GM products from anyone other than poor Dave. We all feel sorry for you but in my opinion you are trying to sabotage a good product and probably drive a Ford. You've never owned a Chevy, have you? Go bad mouth Chevys on your own forum, Ford Boy. We're on to your ploys.

IGNORE THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN!!!