All the problems with my impala

I have been reading the posts on the board and i thought i would give a nice run down of the problems i had on my 2000 base impala.

Well when i first got the car at 40,000, the rotators where warped and had to be replaced. I then replaced the pads so it would stay somewhat on the same maintance plan. The first thing i had to replace was the resistor in the blower control. It would only work in speed 5. That costed 75.00 to have fixed.
Then a week later I noticed the fuel pressure regular was leaking, so i took it in right away and they had to replace that. 145.00.
Then I was driving down the road doing about 65 on a four lane highway where i live. I was coming up on a yellow light. I started to apply the brakes, the first time i applied them, it went right to the floor. I started pumping it and nothing would happen. I'm a volunteer firefighter/emt so i have lights on my impala....so i knew i was gonna go right through the light because i couldn't stop...i hit my lights and cranked my siren approaching the light, i started to apply the parking brake until i could hear the back wheels starting to lock up. I blew through it and thank god i didn't hit anyone. I then had the car towed to the garage and they replaced the master cylinder because it was faulty, 345.00.
Then about a month down the road i started to notice the clunk in the steering, so i told them about it and they said they had to lube it, so i paid them 130 dollars to take it out and lube it and put it back in.
Then i started to notice a vibration/shimmy down the road, so i had an alignment and a wheel balance done, still there, i took it to the dealer and they said the rotators where warped, after 6,000 miles i had to replace them again.
Another months goes by, the blinkers stop working and then periodically come back on when they want to. Another trip to the dealer. They replaced the hazard switch because of a short, that costed 73.00.
Another month goes by, the transmission starts to shift hard in all gears. When you put it in reverse, it will hesitate and then slam into gear. I took it in the said it was normal...something about the band needs a little rpm to switch over or something. Well a week later, it started doing it going forward. So they replaced the valves in the transmission and a few other things, 1,000.00!!!!!! It's still doing the same thing as it was doing before. Now they are thinking about putting a new transmission in it, 3500.00.
Then a few weeks down the road, the clunking comes back in the front end. Took it to the dealer and they decided to replace the Intermitted Steering shaft. 237.00. Fixed that problem.
Then a week after that, the clock on the radio dissapeared, but i could still play music, also, the airbag light came on, along with the security light. Took it to the dealership, they replaced the radio. Two weeks later the clock disappears again, took it in and they replaced the headlight switch, all seems good there.
All this time i'm still doing the regualar maintance on it...as far as the tranny flush and the oil changes.
at 60,000 miles, it started to run like crap, it would want to stall out and it would idle up and idle down...so i pulled the spark plugs out, they where terrible, oh, have fun with the back ones, i had to pull the coil pack, after you pull it though there is enough room to work. I replace all the plugs and wires. Started it up still ran weak, so I decided to replace the fuel filter...don't smoke while doing this cuz gas goes EVERYWHERE!!!, this fixed the problem runs good...for now.....
A month later, waiting for the next problem, the car wouldn't start! Everything inside would come on, the radio would play and you turn the key, everything shuts off and the engine didn't start. Again, I had it towed to the dealership, and they replaced the ignition, i don't remember how much that costs, but it was expensive.
Two months later, the car started to overheat, the coolant in it was all sludged up, so i tore it apart, turns out the thermostat was bad, i replaced that, and put new fluid in it, ran it a week and then took it in and had it power flushed. I would recommend that you guys keep an eye on your coolant condition, usually you will notice the bottom of the overflow tank starting to get nasty, thats a good sign to check it out.

I have had the car for almost a year now, i put about 30,000 miles on it...almost all highway miles, i have replaced the brakes twice, and the pads once. This car has been a nightmare for me, i hate the damn thing, but i can't get rid of it yet because i'm in deep with it because of all the problems. I got rid of an oldmobile with 170,000 miles on it and had no where near the problem i have now with this car that is ten years newer.

If you guys have any imput on what you read let me know, if you need help, more then likely, i can help :)

Thanks,
mike

Mike,

Sorry to hear you got more problems the the Impala! It has been a couple of weeks since I was on the boards. Since my last visit, I mythe car in the shop too :disappoin

I had the common 2 inches of water in the passenger floor board issue. Took it to my mechanic to have the condesation exit line blown out to fix the issue. So far so good on that. While there, he told my wife (who took the car because it happened while she was driving it) that he noticed oil on the manifold and checked the oil which was a quart low. I just put oil in a couple of weeks ago because the OIL light came on. It was down about 2 quarts. I only had 1 quart in, so that makes sense on the level at the check. I still do not know why all of a sudden I needed oil. I haven't had any leaks and it doesn't "burn" oil to my knowledge. He told her that a common (another one) problem he has seen in this car is something to do with the manifold intake?? Wife had no idea what he was talking about, so I only got partiall information from her. Basically some part can be over-tightened and crush a seal causing a leak of oil onto the manifold. The repair is supposed to be $600. I think (hope) that the oil he saw is from my spilling it when adding a week or two earlier.

You ever hear of this one?

I hope you get some good luck with yours.

AW

I just now noticed something leaking around the pcv valve...but it's not oil...i don't know what the pvc valve does..but i know where it is...i think i'm going to replace is.....well if the oil doesn't leak and it doesn't burn..then where does it go...into the coolant? my coolent looks a little sludged up...they noticed it on the oil change...I will be going in tomorrow and have it flushed. It only has 71,000 on it and they said it needs to be flushed, even though the manual says it last 100,000...

mike

Ok check this out. Your warped rotors are from the idiot kid that put your tires on at the last shop that did it. See there actually is a toruqe spec on lug nuts, and the kids take an air wrench and bust the nuts into place one at a time following a clockwise pattern. THIS CAUSES WARPAGE. Every one knows or at least everyone with half a brain knows that you must go in a star pattern to put tires on. Take the car to the person that replaced them last and slap them with the bill.

omg a mechanic quoted you 600 dollars to put a new gasket on your valve cover??? rediculos that is a simple fix, pull it off put the new gasket into place and properly toruqe your bolts. Next time you take your car to the shop take it to two, do NOT tell the other shop what the other one said! When they ask what is wrong use the same termonology that they told you, this way you can avoid sounding like a sucker. Furthermore tell them you want to be billed by actuall hours on working on the car up to the actual standard hours, see mechanichs use a system nationwide that tells them how long it takes to get a certian job done, this time times their labor rate is what they will charge you reguardless of the fact if you have two problems that are in the same area cutting teardown time in half on the second problem.

Dont want to offend anyone but my 00 impala is junk. the electric fan comes on whenever it feels the need, the front end is literally falling out of it, the turn signal bit, the interior light have a mind of their on, but the best one that has happened to me is the fuel gauge was in reverse for a week( E=full F=empty) i was lucky enough to pay the $2400 for the extended warranty so ive got till Jan to fix my problems or 75000. I was always a die hard chevy man got 64 impala and a 73 pro street nova but I dont think i'll ever buy another new chevy.

My 2000 Impala woes: 1) New subframe, 2) steering shaft replacement discussed above, 3) blown head gasket, 4) Warped rotors at 40K

Current problems: fan / autodimming mirror only come on when I pound the dash; transmission slipping; loose front end again.

I've always bought american since my '76 Monte Carlo -- but this is my last GM product. About ready to buy a Toyota, they at least do quality control upfront.

don't forget that GM owns Toyota, so that may not solve your problem either

I have been reading the posts on the board and i thought i would give a nice run down of the problems i had on my 2000 base impala.

Well when i first got the car at 40,000, the rotators where warped and had to be replaced. I then replaced the pads so it would stay somewhat on the same maintance plan. The first thing i had to replace was the resistor in the blower control. It would only work in speed 5. That costed 75.00 to have fixed.
Then a week later I noticed the fuel pressure regular was leaking, so i took it in right away and they had to replace that. 145.00.
Then I was driving down the road doing about 65 on a four lane highway where i live. I was coming up on a yellow light. I started to apply the brakes, the first time i applied them, it went right to the floor. I started pumping it and nothing would happen. I'm a volunteer firefighter/emt so i have lights on my impala....so i knew i was gonna go right through the light because i couldn't stop...i hit my lights and cranked my siren approaching the light, i started to apply the parking brake until i could hear the back wheels starting to lock up. I blew through it and thank god i didn't hit anyone. I then had the car towed to the garage and they replaced the master cylinder because it was faulty, 345.00.
Then about a month down the road i started to notice the clunk in the steering, so i told them about it and they said they had to lube it, so i paid them 130 dollars to take it out and lube it and put it back in.
Then i started to notice a vibration/shimmy down the road, so i had an alignment and a wheel balance done, still there, i took it to the dealer and they said the rotators where warped, after 6,000 miles i had to replace them again.
Another months goes by, the blinkers stop working and then periodically come back on when they want to. Another trip to the dealer. They replaced the hazard switch because of a short, that costed 73.00.
Another month goes by, the transmission starts to shift hard in all gears. When you put it in reverse, it will hesitate and then slam into gear. I took it in the said it was normal...something about the band needs a little rpm to switch over or something. Well a week later, it started doing it going forward. So they replaced the valves in the transmission and a few other things, 1,000.00!!!!!! It's still doing the same thing as it was doing before. Now they are thinking about putting a new transmission in it, 3500.00.
Then a few weeks down the road, the clunking comes back in the front end. Took it to the dealer and they decided to replace the Intermitted Steering shaft. 237.00. Fixed that problem.
Then a week after that, the clock on the radio dissapeared, but i could still play music, also, the airbag light came on, along with the security light. Took it to the dealership, they replaced the radio. Two weeks later the clock disappears again, took it in and they replaced the headlight switch, all seems good there.
All this time i'm still doing the regualar maintance on it...as far as the tranny flush and the oil changes.
at 60,000 miles, it started to run like crap, it would want to stall out and it would idle up and idle down...so i pulled the spark plugs out, they where terrible, oh, have fun with the back ones, i had to pull the coil pack, after you pull it though there is enough room to work. I replace all the plugs and wires. Started it up still ran weak, so I decided to replace the fuel filter...don't smoke while doing this cuz gas goes EVERYWHERE!!!, this fixed the problem runs good...for now.....
A month later, waiting for the next problem, the car wouldn't start! Everything inside would come on, the radio would play and you turn the key, everything shuts off and the engine didn't start. Again, I had it towed to the dealership, and they replaced the ignition, i don't remember how much that costs, but it was expensive.
Two months later, the car started to overheat, the coolant in it was all sludged up, so i tore it apart, turns out the thermostat was bad, i replaced that, and put new fluid in it, ran it a week and then took it in and had it power flushed. I would recommend that you guys keep an eye on your coolant condition, usually you will notice the bottom of the overflow tank starting to get nasty, thats a good sign to check it out.

I have had the car for almost a year now, i put about 30,000 miles on it...almost all highway miles, i have replaced the brakes twice, and the pads once. This car has been a nightmare for me, i hate the damn thing, but i can't get rid of it yet because i'm in deep with it because of all the problems. I got rid of an oldmobile with 170,000 miles on it and had no where near the problem i have now with this car that is ten years newer.

If you guys have any imput on what you read let me know, if you need help, more then likely, i can help :)

Thanks,
mike





Hi there, i am new to the forum i read your post about the manifold intake gasket. Im also having that problem to where i need to get mine replaced for about the same amount at the dealer here in town. My problem is my low coolant light has been on forever and a day. I went to check it checked out, my coolant was filled but it's leakin on the engine. I was told this was the manifold intake gasket that needed to be fixed. I was also told that if i continue to let this drain on the engine that it could eventually mix with the oil and then it would cause major damage...=( I havent had it replaced yet, but i'm hoping thats all it is. I hope that helps! =) keep me updated

Mike,

Sorry to hear you got more problems the the Impala! It has been a couple of weeks since I was on the boards. Since my last visit, I mythe car in the shop too :disappoin

I had the common 2 inches of water in the passenger floor board issue. Took it to my mechanic to have the condesation exit line blown out to fix the issue. So far so good on that. While there, he told my wife (who took the car because it happened while she was driving it) that he noticed oil on the manifold and checked the oil which was a quart low. I just put oil in a couple of weeks ago because the OIL light came on. It was down about 2 quarts. I only had 1 quart in, so that makes sense on the level at the check. I still do not know why all of a sudden I needed oil. I haven't had any leaks and it doesn't "burn" oil to my knowledge. He told her that a common (another one) problem he has seen in this car is something to do with the manifold intake?? Wife had no idea what he was talking about, so I only got partiall information from her. Basically some part can be over-tightened and crush a seal causing a leak of oil onto the manifold. The repair is supposed to be $600. I think (hope) that the oil he saw is from my spilling it when adding a week or two earlier.

You ever hear of this one?

I hope you get some good luck with yours.

AW


Hi there, i am new to the forum i read your post about the manifold intake gasket. Im also having that problem to where i need to get mine replaced for about the same amount at the dealer here in town. My problem is my low coolant light has been on forever and a day. I went to check it checked out, my coolant was filled but it's leakin on the engine. I was told this was the manifold intake gasket that needed to be fixed. I was also told that if i continue to let this drain on the engine that it could eventually mix with the oil and then it would cause major damage...=( I havent had it replaced yet, but i'm hoping thats all it is. I hope that helps! =) keep me updated

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Dont want to offend anyone but my 00 impala is junk. the electric fan comes on whenever it feels the need, the front end is literally falling out of it, the turn signal bit, the interior light have a mind of their on, but the best one that has happened to me is the fuel gauge was in reverse for a week( E=full F=empty) i was lucky enough to pay the $2400 for the extended warranty so ive got till Jan to fix my problems or 75000. I was always a die hard chevy man got 64 impala and a 73 pro street nova but I dont think i'll ever buy another new chevy.

i am also having problems with my interior lights..do you know what the cause of that is? I havent had mine looked at yet. Everything on my dash went out: panel lights, radio...pretty much every light except for the lights on the ceiling...if anyone else has had this problem let me know

For everyone with an intake gasket issue, this is very common. Just do a search on the malibu forum and you'll see posting after posting about it. In my case, I had oil leaking into my coolant aprox. 1/2 quart a week and coolant leaking on the block. When you change the gasket make sure that you use the new GM torque spec. They increased the torque on the outer bolts to stop it from bowing like a banana.

Document ID# 1396678
2003 Chevrolet Malibu

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Engine Oil or Coolant Leak (Install New Intake Manifold Gasket) #03-06-01-010B - (10/24/2003)
Engine Oil or Coolant Leak (Install New Intake Manifold Gasket)
2000-2003 Buick Century

2002-2003 Buick Rendezvous

1996 Chevrolet Lumina APV

1997-2003 Chevrolet Venture

1999-2001 Chevrolet Lumina

1999-2003 Chevrolet Malibu, Monte Carlo

2000-2003 Chevrolet Impala

1996-2003 Oldsmobile Silhouette

1999 Oldsmobile Cutlass

1999-2003 Oldsmobile Alero

1996-1999 Pontiac Trans Sport

1999-2003 Pontiac Grand Am, Montana

2000-2003 Pontiac Grand Prix

2001-2003 Pontiac Aztek

with 3.1L or 3.4L V-6 Engine (VINs J, E - RPOs LG8, LA1)

This bulletin is being revised to change the model Information. Please discard Corporate Bulletin Number 03-06-01-010A (Section 06 - Engine).

Condition
Some owners may comment on an apparent oil or coolant leak. Additionally, the comments may range from spots on the driveway to having to add fluids.

Cause
Intake manifold may be leaking allowing coolant, oil or both to leak from the engine.

Correction
Install a new design intake manifold gasket. The material used in the gasket has been changed in order to improve the sealing qualities of the gasket. When replacing the gasket, the intake manifold bolts must also be replaced and torqued to a revised specification. The new bolts will come with a pre-applied threadlocker on them.






Notice
An oil leak may result if the vertical bolts are not tightened before the diagonal bolts.


Diagonal bolts may require a crows foot to tighten.

Tighten
Tighten the vertical lower intake manifold bolts (1) to 7N•m (62 lb in).
Tighten the diagonal lower intake manifold bolts (2) to 7N•m(62 lb in).
Tighten the vertical lower intake manifold bolts (1) to 13N•m(115 lb in).
Tighten the diagonal lower intake manifold bolts (2) to 25N•m(18 lb ft).
Parts Information
Part Number
Description
Qty

89017279
Intake manifold Gasket
1

11588915
Intake manifold bolt - short
4

11588914
Intake manifold bolt - long
4


Parts are currently available from GMSPO.

Warranty Information
For vehicles repaired under warranty, use:

Labor Operation
Description
Labor Time

J0259
Manifold or Gasket, Intake (Upper, Lower) - Replace Gasket Lower
Use Published Labor Time

Well I had mine fixed for about 900 bucks if i remember right....it took the dealership about a day to do it....my coolant light never came on.. i noticed it because i could smell antifreeze and i couldn't find the source. I checked the hoses and the radiator and all that found nothing. I figured it was just the overflow tank or something. Well i took it in because it was running like crap....so they replaced it, runs great....for now....

the person who has the dashlights that have gone out...does the cluster still work??? If so...try playing around with the headlight switch...i have my headlight switched replaced because the radio clock would go on and off...still worked but sometimes you couldn't see they time or anything.....

do the lights on the dash come on when you turn the headlights on?

let me know...take it to the dealer and tell them whats going on...should cost you any money to get an opinion on it....

mike

Well I had mine fixed for about 900 bucks if i remember right....it took the dealership about a day to do it....my coolant light never came on.. i noticed it because i could smell antifreeze and i couldn't find the source. I checked the hoses and the radiator and all that found nothing. I figured it was just the overflow tank or something. Well i took it in because it was running like crap....so they replaced it, runs great....for now....

the person who has the dashlights that have gone out...does the cluster still work??? If so...try playing around with the headlight switch...i have my headlight switched replaced because the radio clock would go on and off...still worked but sometimes you couldn't see they time or anything.....

do the lights on the dash come on when you turn the headlights on?

let me know...take it to the dealer and tell them whats going on...should cost you any money to get an opinion on it....

mike




My head lights and everything else still work, when it goes completely dark outside is when all the panel light/radio clock go blank. During the day they seem to work just fine. I know that if i take it to my dealer here in town it's 37.00 for them just to look at it.

On my 2002, the shift indicator and radio display go blank in the daytime when the headlights turn off (in the day time they should go to full brightness). At night when the headlights come on, the cluster lights up normally and the shift indicator and radio display come back on and are controlled by the dash dimmer switch like they are supposed to do. In the day time, I have to pull the light switch to the parking light postition to make the shift indicator and radio display light up if I want to see them. Gets deeper that that though, I can't get to the menu in the radio anymore, I no longer have non-essential displays in the message window (Door ajar, trunk open etc) and the air bag and Park indicators stay lit all the time. Also, that red LED on the radio stays on constantly, day, night, engine on or off.

....Then a week after that, the clock on the radio dissapeared, but i could still play music, also, the airbag light came on, along with the security light. Took it to the dealership, they replaced the radio. Two weeks later the clock disappears again, took it in and they replaced the headlight switch, all seems good there....


Hey Mike, just read through your post again and found the comment above. When your radio display disappeared, did you notoce if the shift indicator went away too? I have the same problem with the blanked out radio in the daytime and the air bag light on. Don't have the securtiy indication in the message window, but the red LED on the front of the radio used to be off when the car was running and then blinked when the key was removed and the car was locked, now it stays on all the tiime.

If I understand your comment, replacing the headlight switch fixed the radio dispaly probelm as well as the air bag light problem? Does your Impala have the automatic ambient light controled headlight system that come on at night automatically?

Sounds like you have a problem with the radio and they only way you are going to fix it is to replace the radio....

mike

Also....i have my headlight replaced because the radio was dimming out...but i didn't have the airbag light on or anything like that. But you said the light stays on on the radio and you can't get to the settings anymore...i had my radio replaced because of this problem.....let me know if you need more info....

mike

you know all you people posting your problems here is really scaring me, I just bought a 2002 impala LS fully loaded used with 30,000 miles on it. and I looked for all these problems before I bought it cuz I read all of this and I didnt see the problems. but could someone here please say some good news like that it doesnt happen to everyone.

Well when i bought mine...it rode smoothly...there was nothing wrong with it...great car...but I think the car holds it's breath till all the financing is done and your stuff with it and then all these problems start to happen. I bought the car because people where talking highly on the impala..based on it's looks, comfort and durability....well whatever those people where smoking....i would like some...I like the looks and everything, rides nice and pretty comfortable, but it just gets really annoying with all the things that are going wrong with it. I'm afraid to go long distances in it for fear of something happening and leaveing me stranded like it already has. I keep up with the maintance just like the owners manual says. I do everything it says to, i get oil changes faithfully and still all this stuff keeps happening.

Since my first post on this thread of all my problems. I just i can update that with more problems.

Just recently, had the intake manifold gasket replaced because antifreeze was leaking on the engine. When they did this...i had them put a new thermostat in it, and a new pvc valve in it.
I replaced that brakes....again for the third time.
I had a new fuel injector replaced because it was missing, running on five cylinders.
Also had the something with the air conditions replaced. The low pressure side of the system was some how high pressure, consequently no cold air was coming out of the vents.
I just now noticed that when the car is sitting, without the air conditioning on, the cooling fans will not kick on and the car will overheat. If i turn the a/c on the fans kick on and it's fine, also when it's going down the road. SOOOO.....i'm in for ANOTHER trip to the dealership tomorrow so see what the problem is now!!

I just can win with this damn car....i will never buy another impala...let alone a chevy.....

mike

don't forget that GM owns Toyota, so that may not solve your problem either


Not sure where you are getting your information but GM most certainly does NOT have any ownership of Toyota. The 2 companies are involved in a joint venture called NUMMI and together they make the GM version of the Matrix ( Pontiac Vibe) as well as the Corolla in this plant. (California)
Toyota is an extremely rich corporation which has managed to stay controlled from within Japan by the relatives of the founding (Toyada) family. Even the shares which trade for over $USD100 in New York have no voting rights attached to them and only allow outsiders like us to participate in the fortune/misfortune of the parent company by tieing the price of the "share" to the price of the actual share in Japan.
Toyota has done very well in the last couple of years and if you owned any of these shares you would have been well rewarded.
Compare this company with GM...a corporation which was once mighty and strong but now has a worth of $16 billion and obligations of over $90 billion.
Their bonds are reduced to junk status and only a fool would think that they could crawl out from this mess without some form of debtor protection.
I like GM products and at this time own 2 of them but I really think they have a bunch of executives at the top who will get golden handshakes even if the company goes down and really dont have a clue as to what the general public will buy in these days of expensive fuel.
The quality of components has eroded greatly since I bought my first GM car (a '67 Firebird) but the real killer is not the fact that parts need replacing but that GM uses this opportunity to GOUGE the consumer for replacement parts after selling the car and knowing certain components will fail shortly after the warranty expires. eg: $400 for a dimmer/turn signal switch on my '02 Impala....a known weak point on these cars...ask any wrecker if they have one of these on site..
Toyota could buy GM with loose change.....but why would they want the obligations that go with it?

you know all you people posting your problems here is really scaring me, I just bought a 2002 impala LS fully loaded used with 30,000 miles on it. and I looked for all these problems before I bought it cuz I read all of this and I didnt see the problems. but could someone here please say some good news like that it doesnt happen to everyone.

OK, I have a 2001 Impala LS fully loaded that I bought 2 years ago... Aside from the intermediate steering shaft problem and a failed driver side seat heater (both replaced for free under the GM protection plan) this car has been perfect... I read about alot of brake problems, but I've had zero brake problems and still have the same pads and rotors on from when I bought the car 2 years ago (about 18,000 miles ago) and they weren't brand new then... In fact this car has the best performing brakes I've ever felt, and that includes a Chrysler minivan and an Audi 4000 and a Mercury Tracer... I've yet to have any electrical troubles (knock on wood!!)... Also I've had no intake manifold/gasket leak problems yet but at 50,000 miles maybe that's coming soon... But I guess I have an advantage as my son worked as a head mechanic at the Chevy dealer where I bought the car and he went over the car fully before I bought it... He replaced and fixed some things that from his experience he knew would go bad later on...