hard start and steering

Hello..I have a few things going on. CEL is on I forget the codes off the top ill check tomoorow I know one of them was (running lean on right side) Ill get the exact # tomorrow I have them written down but the code was for running lean on rh side. Any ideas what to check for? Also some time when I am driving the steering get like hard to steer. Mostly at low speeds but its not making any sound when I turn like its low on fluid(wich its not) It was at first like 3 weeks ago. I replaced the steering fluid cooler (looks like a little radiator) but good since then. Just hard to turn some times. Also it takes like 5-6 good second to start some times? Its weird like first thing in the morning it useally starts no prob but after driving it and shutting it off for like an hour hard to start again but if I shut it off and restart in like a minute or two it will start no problem. I have the codes here they are(KOEO-111*117*217)(KOER-172*538)(CYLINDER 3*2) I want to double check cylinder test just to make sure I am right. I did notice when car is running and you touch the top of the wire coming from coil pack I get a little zap from all but one. The 1 wire that dosn't do it is if your sitting in the car it would be left hand side closet to fire wall. if your out side car looking in the engine down at coil pack it is right hand side closet to fire wall? any ideas....

I'd suggest you pull all 6 plug wires and inspect the wires and spark plug wells for signs of oil or moisture. It's not unheard of for the plug well seals to leak and fill the plug wells with oil, which causes the wires to misfire between the contact and the cylinder head through the oil rather than through the spark plug. Also, many aftermarket plug wires for the SHO engine use a non-OEM boot which does not seal properly against the valve cover. This allows moisture to collect in the plug wells causing a misfire.

-Rod

I think on tuesday I will get new plugs. The wires should they get replaced? I seen a few sho's with the wires that sorta clip on the coil pack the other end boot for the spark plug looks like it a right fit but never know. Are the plug well seal hard to do? I am no expert but have done just about all my own work from brakes,radiators,water pumps,alts..had allot of used cars and never any good luck lol.just the normal stuff but would much rather do it myself if it can be done rather then pay for it at a dealer.(even though dealer will do it right...well prob not know people who just keep paying the dealer over and over again for the same prob..any who so maybe that the code 538 and maybe thats why it hard to start? Any ideas on the steering? O shorod you know any thing about chevy 3.4 impala engine? Girlfriend is leeking coolant a few people said that the engine is porrly desighned I have to replace the 2 intake gaskets (upper and lower) that why coolant is leaking but at this point I am more worried about my car

sorry shorod I know your busy just one more thing or for any one who can answer this My sho only has the one fac. amp and the 2 rear speakers I know a kid who is getting read of his sho it is totaled but he said I can have the system He has the 3rd speaker(woofer) and 2 amps but no radio If I took all the brackets and the 3rd speaker(woofer) I already have the two amps one is chrome and the other is black couls I hook it up in mine or are radios different wich would mean the wiring is diffrent. I seen his radio befor he gave it away looked like mine just not sure of the wiring...This isn't really important just woundering that all.

The plug well seals are not terribly hard if you have the patience. Like so many other things on the V-6 SHO, they look like they'd be more difficult than they really are. You need to get to the point where you'd need to be to replace valve cover gaskets, and the plug wells seals are right there too.

Also, you may want to consider doing the valve shim check while you're in there.

However, a code 538 indicates "Invalid cylinder balance test due to CID circuit failure" according to the factory service manual. This certainly seems like a good place to start. Since the car will eventually start and run, I'd suspect the Camshaft Position Sensor for this code.

Code 172 is "Lack of Heated Oxygen Sensor (HO2S-1) switches, indicates lean (Bank #1)" which could be due to the code 538 cause.

Code 117 is "Engine Coolant Temp (ECT) sensor circuit below minimum voltage/ 254 degrees F indicated" which is worth looking into as well since it will cause the PCM to dink with the air/fuel ratio and could contribute to the lean indication.

Code 217 is "PCM detected coil 3 primary circuit failure (EI)" but I'd see if the camshaft position sensor fixes this code as well.

As for the coolant leak on the Impala, I think what you've heard is probably accurate. There were a few model years where GM has serious issues with the coolant in the 3.4L not having the correct additive and it would eat the gaskets. They had so much of an issue that the gaskets were even on backorder for a while. If the concern was caught in time, some tablets could be added to the coolant which should have prevented the issue, but if the damage was already done, the tablets did no good. Keep in mind that I'm not a professional and I'm going off memory here, so this may not be 100% accurate. You may want to lurk around the Impala forum and search for keyword "intake gasket" or related.

As for the audio system on yours, it sounds like you have the Premium audio system and your friend has the JBL system. My recall is the connector to the cabin speaker amp (aluminum colored I believe) is the same same between the two systems. You could swap out this amp from yours for the one from his, then there will be a daisy-chain connector that goes between this amp and the subwoofer amp. There is an addition cable for the subwoofer amp to provide filtered power and ground, I'm not sure if your call will already have this cable installed. Looks like your deck should be fine. Does your car currently have the redundant radio controls to the right of the instrument cluster?

-Rod