Please, Whats Wrong With My Impala?

OK, HERE'S THE DEAL, I DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT CARS SO I AM HERE. MY IMPALA IS ALL SORTS OF JACKED UP. FOR ONE, IT SQUEAKS WHEN I PRESS THE GAS PEDAL WHEN IT REACHES A CERTAIN SPEED AND FROM THERE ON IT GETS WORSE. IT DOESNT STOP UNTIL I EASE OFF THE GAS. THEN TO TOP THINGS OFF THE IMPALA DOESNT GO FAST AND TAKES FOREVER TO SPEED UP, THEN WHEN I GO UPHILL, IT WILL DECREASE IN ITS SPEED BADLY. SAY I WAS GOING 60, IT GOES TO 30 OR 40 ON LONG HILLS NO MATTER HOW HARD I PRESS THE GAS PEDAL. ALSO, WHEN I "STRESS" MY GAS PEDAL, FOR SOME REASON, MY CAR WON'T GO FASTER THAN 45 OR 50 SOMETIMES, AND ITS PISSING ME OFF. MY BOYFRIEND THOUGHT IT WAS THE BELTS WITH THE SQUEAKING, BUT THOSE WERE FIXED AND ITS STILL DOING IT. DOES ANYONE KNOW WHATS UP WITH IT? PLEASE I REALLY REALLY NEED HELP ON THIS. I WANNA TAKE IT TO A SHOP, BUT I WANNA SEE WHAT OTHERS HAVE TO SAY BEFORE I SPEND THE MONEY I DONT HAVE ON MY CAR. :frown:

Kinda sounds like a plugged catalytic converter making it slow and the "Squeak" could be a bad belt tensioner keeping the belt loose. But, really need more info like; what year is the car, what engine, what tranny, where does the "squeak" sound like its coming from, does it "Squeak" just when you are driving or even when parked?

ok thank you soo much. the year is a 2002. its a 6 cylinder and i dont know about tranny, all i know its automatic. but the belt tensions are good to go, they pretty tight. as for the sound, it sounds like its coming from one of hte pulleys (according to my bf). but its coming from somewhere in the hood area. and well as for the noise, its a load squeaking sound thats gets louder the faster i go. it only goes when i press the gas past 40 mph, or if i try accelerate to fast for my car. i doesnt do it if im parked or if i just have the car on. it only does it while the car is actually traveling.

ok thank you soo much. the year is a 2002. its a 6 cylinder and i dont know about tranny, all i know its automatic. but the belt tensions are good to go, they pretty tight. as for the sound, it sounds like its coming from one of hte pulleys (according to my bf). but its coming from somewhere in the hood area. and well as for the noise, its a load squeaking sound thats gets louder the faster i go. it only goes when i press the gas past 40 mph, or if i try accelerate to fast for my car. i doesnt do it if im parked or if i just have the car on. it only does it while the car is actually traveling.
Here is some info on the loss of power
Some customers of 2001-02 Chevrolet Impala, Monte Carlo; Pontiac Grand Prix; and Buick Regal model vehicles, equipped with a 3.4L (RPO LA1 - VIN E) or 3.8L (RPO L36 - VIN K) V6 engine, may experience a condition where the vehicle exhaust catalytic converter is replaced due to complaints of lack of power or illumination of the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL). This may be due to the front endcone insulation from the catalytic converter breaking away and blocking the front of the first catalyst brick and preventing the free flow of exhaust gas through the converter.

Special Policy Adjustment
This special policy covers the condition described above for a period of 10 years or 120,000 miles (190,000 km), whichever occurs first, from the date the vehicle was originally placed in service, regardless of ownership. The repairs will be made at no charge to the customer.


As far as the squeaking, I would look at the belt, pulleys and componants..might have a belt slipping...OR the squeak could be air rush from the clogged converter

Your low power problem is almost definately due to a clogged Catalytic converter... Take it to a dealer, have him test the CAT for excessive backpressure and/or high temps... It's covered under an extended GM warranty so they must replace it for free...

Your squeaking can be from a number of different things... Try this... Start the car and open the hood... Rev. the engine and listen for where the squeak or squeal is coming from... It's probably from the serpintine belt or the serpitine belt tensioner... Just for kicks, buy a small can of spray on belt dressing... When you hear the squeak/squeal spray the belt dressing on the belt and see if the noise goes away...

ok well thanks a bundle. well you see the reason i dont have anymore money is cause there were other things that needed to get fixed before my car did the noise deal. but thank you soooooo much!

Ha ha, I know lots of people that do not have money for necessities but they have XBOX and every game imaginable.

Sadley you have more of a problem then you think. I have a 2002 Impala too and the root of the problem lies in the coolant system. This year Impala had the wrong gasgets put into the cooling system and they breakdown in dex-cool (there is actually a lawsuit against Chevy for it right now). It does sound like your car is loosing power due to the CAT converter being clogged but it has most likely happened becasue the cooling system is leaking into the exhaust system and breaking apart the ceramic inside the CAT. This is not a matter of IF your gaskets are breaking dow it is a matter of WHEN will they break down and obviously your are now. This is not a cheap fix but it will get worse if it is not done.