2001 Impala - "needs a new computer"

gents, i need your help.

the check engine light in my car came on last Friday. tightened the gas cap, waited a couple days, that didn't do it.

took it in to a mechanic (same guy i've used for 10+ years) and after 2 hours on the diagnostic machine he tells me "you need a new computer". (long story, short)

what am i looking at cost-wise?

do i NEED the computer? what exactly is the thing doing for me?

i'm only 30 but i'm pretty sure i remember cars running just fine WITHOUT computers :banghead:

well, your mechanic had to tell you more than that, or you need a new mechanic....

you have 2 computers in your car, PCM, and BCM. I don't really see you frying your PCM, so it's most likely your BCM.

Tell us a little bit about the problems you are having and we can better assist you with an answer, it may not even be your BCM, but we need to know what is wrong.

well, your mechanic had to tell you more than that, or you need a new mechanic....

you have 2 computers in your car, PCM, and BCM. I don't really see you frying your PCM, so it's most likely your BCM.

Tell us a little bit about the problems you are having and we can better assist you with an answer, it may not even be your BCM, but we need to know what is wrong.


the run-up:
over the last month or so i'd noticed that my car was running a little hot. when i'd idle the temp gauge would breeze past the halfway point. i chalked it up to low coolant level. so i added some coolant and everything seemed fine.

went away on vacation, came back, filled the gas tank.. day later the check engine light came on. saw on the gas cap that sometimes the check engine light will come on if the cap isn't screwed on tight enough... did that... drove a couple days.. no luck.

took it in to the mechanic.. who said a code came up that showed a "cooling fan" wasn't functioning properly and that's what they believed was causing the problem.

he continued to check and then told me the PCM computer was bad. that it was covered under warranty by the dealer. take it to the dealer and they will change it.. other than that the car looks fine.

took it to the dealer on Friday, he said they'd check it over and call me on Monday. fine. if it is indeed a faulty PCM then the whole works is free.

dealer calls me this morning and says "it's not the PCM. the computer is fine. the code your mechanic put on your invoice is an old code related to oil pressure."

drumroll please

he then proceeds to give me a $1900 dollar estimate for repairing the following:

loose tie rod (right rear)
2 new tires
tire balance and alignment
new battery (positive post is basically rotted through from acid)
leaky intake manifold gasket
front hub & wheel bearing assembly
transmission flush

he said "priority" is the tie rod. and might as well get the tires balanced and aligned with 2 new tires (tires are a little old). and the battery needs to be changed.

then the leaky gasket "before winter".

then the front hub & wheel assembly is "just starting to get a little loose".

finally the transmission flush.

A lot of that stuff can be done by any handy DIY'er.

the leaky intake gasket, if it's still under warrenty, tell them to shove that up their ass, that is covered under warrenty and a very common problem

Tie rods are fairly easy to replace.

Tires, you can go to any shop.

Battery, ...why pay them to install it? you can repalce the battery on your own.

Tranny flush.... how many miles on your car, if it's a lot, don't do it, just cahnge the tranny fluid, NO FLUSH. flushing the system can clog up ports and parts in the tranny and actually make it worse, so just a fluid cahnge and no flush will do.

Sounds to me that the priority is the intake manifold gasket. The 3.1 and 3.4 liter engines have had problems with that for years (like since the early 90s). Chevy did finally admit that it was a problem, and the mechanics all know it. What bigrod meant by tell them to shove it up their ass is that they know it is a covered repair, and are still trying to get money from you for it. Don't let them.
And if it doesn't get fixed soon, it will get worse and really ruin your day. They are full of shit talking about "before winter". It needs to get done yesterday.

Also like bigrod said, almost everything else can be done super easy by you.

Engine - Intake Manifold Oil/Coolant Leak
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 (http://www.alldatadiy.com/alldata/AFI~V7003308~C37398~R0~OD~N/0/89012112/94694975/94694986/94694990/34853741/100411974/34853743/34872059))
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-O10A (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 (http://www.alldatadiy.com/alldata/AFI~V7003308~C37398~R0~OD~N/0/89012112/94694975/94694986/94694990/34853741/100411974/34853743/34855755) may be leaking allowing coolant, oil or both to leak from the engine.
Correction

Install a new design intake manifold gasket (http://www.alldatadiy.com/alldata/AFI~V7003308~C37398~R0~OD~N/0/89012112/94694975/94694986/94694990/34853741/100411974/34853743/34872059). 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 (http://www.alldatadiy.com/alldata/AFI~V7003308~C37398~R0~OD~N/0/89012112/94694975/94694986/94694990/34853741/100411974/34853743/34855755) 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
1.Tighten the vertical lower intake manifold bolts (1) to 7 N.m (62 lb in).
2.Tighten the diagonal lower intake manifold bolts (2) to 7 N.m (62 lb in).
3.Tighten the vertical lower intake manifold bolts (1) to 13 N.m (115 lb in).
4.Tighten the diagonal lower intake manifold bolts (2) to 25 N.m (18 lb ft).

Parts Information
Parts are currently available from GMSPO.
Warranty Information

I think 99% of repairs you can do your self. You just need couple of wrenches and good info(like ALLDATA).