2000 Chevy Impala coolant system

I took my Impala to a repair shop today because my brakes were squeeling and they were replaced at the end of 05 with lifetime brakes, it was my mom's car at the time so I had to take it back to the place she had the work done. After 2 hours they told me that my brakes were fine but that I need a new radiatior and hoses, a new belt, a new power steering pump, and the sweaking that I am hearing is my wheel bearings, which also need to be replaced and they want to charge me $4000. I flipped out and they took me into the bay to speak to the mechanic, he showed me that there was oil in the radiator, he also said that he did not think it was motor oil, because the engine is running well. My car has never overheated, it gets a little warm when in traffic, but then it cools. I am not leaking radiator fluid or oil, so I am guessing that it is transmission fluid. I used to work on cars when I was younger, I built my own 67 Mustang Shelby, I still can do most basic repairs, but the newer cars are much more difficult and have a lot less room to work in. Any advice would be appreciated.

Need more info, mileage, engine size ie 3400/3.8...when was radiator service last? Is it using oil? Best thing for you at this point would be to try another shop. Ask friends or relatives and co-workers whom they might use and trust. It could still be the Brakes squealing (generally caused by vibration in the pads contact with the caliper) silicone material is used between back of pads and caliper surface to stop this vibration when installing new pads. Some techs do not use this and causes this squealing over time as the pads wear some. You could possibly try to put this anti-squeal on the pads yourself if you have the skills and tools.

Sorry, It has 85,000 miles, 3.4, radiator flushed last summer, not leaking oil, or coolant, (has a power steering leak), I change the oil every 3-3.5K miles, last oil change they had me sign a release because the oil was low, but I have been checking weekly since and level is fine, car runs great. I have decided to flush the radiator again, repalce the hoses, they are kinda soft, repalce the thermostat, and see what happens from there. I am going to take it somewhere else for the brakes, they are still squeeling.

before taking it to some other place, check the wheel bearings. raise and support front of car, with tires ON, grab at top and bottom and try to shake them. if any noticable movement, new bearing/hub assemblies are needed. but before throwing parts at it, more info about the "squeak" would be nice. does it get worse with speed, only happens when braking, does it get worse/better while cornering?

Sounds like a plan, post if and when you get some results that cures the squealing. Possible to check wheel bearings the way described in above post, however this did not work for me with a bad bearing....best of luck on your fix.

I am going to take it somewhere else for the brakes, they are still squeeling.[/quote]


on the brakes. if this vehicle stops properly but brakes make noises and the brake pads are not worn this is usually the pads making the noise . compounds are put on the caliper side of pad this is a "silencer" also brake pads from non oem manufacturers are usually hard and very abrasive to the rotors/brake disks...........and non oem pads usually cause this type of issue.....the repair shop you went to should be reported BBB

Sounds like a plan, post if and when you get some results that cures the squealing. Possible to check wheel bearings the way described in above post, however this did not work for me with a bad bearing....best of luck on your fix.

the test i descirbed will tell you if it is loose. that is also why i asked about if/when the "squeak" gets better or worse. if left bearing is bad, but not loose, while turning left, the should get worse. while turning right, it should quiet down some as the bearing is being unloaded a bit. and same is true in reverse for right side. the noise should be more of a growling than a squeak, but can squeak. this is why i also wanted to know when it happened as well. if you think you have a bad bearing, try listening to it as i described, as well as raising front end and shaking wheel.

before taking it to some other place, check the wheel bearings. raise and support front of car, with tires ON, grab at top and bottom and try to shake them. if any noticable movement, new bearing/hub assemblies are needed. but before throwing parts at it, more info about the "squeak" would be nice. does it get worse with speed, only happens when braking, does it get worse/better while cornering?


We did what you suggested, lifted car, shook tires, no movement, took the tires off, pads look ok. The only time I hear the squeak is when I brake, no problems cornering, no shaking, vibrating, tires wear evenly. What mostly concerned me is when parked on my incline driveway, when I reverse and go down the driveway, I heard a grinding comming from my passenger side front, it only happens in the morning when I leave the house.

I am going to take it somewhere else for the brakes, they are still squeeling.


on the brakes. if this vehicle stops properly but brakes make noises and the brake pads are not worn this is usually the pads making the noise . compounds are put on the caliper side of pad this is a "silencer" also brake pads from non oem manufacturers are usually hard and very abrasive to the rotors/brake disks...........and non oem pads usually cause this type of issue.....the repair shop you went to should be reported BBB[/quote]

Car stops fine, had to test them out today, idiot pulled out in front of me, had to stop real hard, no pulling, pedal feels fine, didn't notice if it squealed. I completely agree on the repair shop, when my mom told me she took the car there for repairs and how much they charged her I was livid, and this is a "reputable chain", needs to be closed down.

forgot to mension that when I took the car to this repair shop I asked them to check why my "low coolant light" was always on. I have read the previous posts in regard to this issue, when I flushed the radiator yesterday, I looked for this box on the passenger side of the radiator and I cannot get it off, couldn't get to the thermostat either, the exhaust is completely in the way, got frustrated, getting dark, put car back together. Thermostat works, temp gets to 200 therm opens and cools down. Did notice something else, while car idling, I was giving it gas to warm it up, and with the pedal about 1/3 to the floor, it sounded like it was misfiring, wouldn't "accelerate" hard to describe. Plugs and wires were changed and that repair shop in 05.

could be of on this, but i think there is a rev limiter that peaks the engine at ~3K RPM while it is in park/neutral.

when parked on my incline driveway, when I reverse and go down the driveway, I heard a grinding comming from my passenger side front, it only happens in the morning when I leave the house.

this could be caliper pin is rusted, binding or caliper piston is binding... I had this happen to me this winter rear cal. pin binding right rear made grinding noise only when first braking never after driving a while. luckily i caught it before pads /rotor got damaged and i was able to remove pin with great difficulty with out breaking anything.........on squeeling noise . the silence material is put on back of pads like making a peanut butter sandwich