Yet another Impala repair

[winterover]

Well... after spending over a grand already this year alone in repairs to my 2000 impala, I had to spend even more this weekend when I thought I blew a head gasket about 30 miles south of Flagstaff. After having it towed and checked out, it turned out not to be a head gasket... but the heater hose had broken loose and spewed steam everywhere. Seriously looked like the car was going to catch fire! Turned out to be a $170 fix plus the cost of a tow... Gotta say, I keep thinking that I've done my last repair on this car... only to have another repair come up. Think I'm going to cut my losses and get rid of this thing! Thanks for letting me vent... hope you other impala owners haven't had the problems I've had. Think I'll write a nice letter to the folks at GM and let them know how satisfied I am with their product.

[bermis519]

Oh don't feel bad..i'm going to be writting chevy a letter here shortly and it's going to be LONG. See if anything happens with that.....

You don't even wanna know the problems i have had......

mike

[winterover]

I can guess at the problems you've had Mike.... Good luck with yours. If I ever get a response back from Chevy, I'll post what they said. Not expecting much... but it'll make me feel better. I'll just be glad to get out from under this car. Won't be long now!

[winterover]

I just can't believe it.... after having spent a bunch of money this weekend when my car broke down on the highway, I was on my way home from work today and my rear passenger window fell down!!! This is the 4th window regulator that has failed in the last 6 months!!!! That'll be another 200 and some odd dollars...... I kid you not.... I'm at my wits end with this car.... I've spent my last dollar on this thing. I just taped up the window and that's the way it'll stay until I can trade it off...... arghhhhhh

[Impala05Man]

My 2005 Impala LS is great. My friend also has a 2001 Impala LS that runs great and it has nearly 100,000 on it. You have to remember 2000 was the first year of this vehicle so there will be bugs in the first year. You many think the money you put into this car is alot, but consider the alternatives such as Ford. If you had a Ford you would have loaded twice to three times as much into it. Trust me I've owned Fords and they have been nothing but problems from the get go. What engine do you have? If you have a 3.4 liter that engine is prone to problems since it is aluminum head and cast iron block. The 3.8 liter in the LS and SS are all cast iron it means less gasket problems. I really don't think writing GM is going to help since they have totally redesigned the vehicle for 2006 and have introduced new engines. Also do you take care of your vehicle? Did you buy it used? If it was used who knows what abuse it endored in it early life. You have to remember its a machine and all machines breakdown at one point or another.

[winterover]

Yeah, I do take care of it... as with all my cars. Funny you mentioned Fords.... I also own a 96 Ford with a 3.8 L engine. It has over 100k miles and the most money I've ever spent on it was replacing the cam position sensor... As far as my Impala goes... I have the 3.4 in my impala and while the engine performs good, it's just I've spent alot more on repairs on this car than any car I've ever owned. Not just engine repairs. Come on... how often do you hear of a car that all four of it's window regulators fail within 6 months of each other. Believe me... it's not cheap to replace those bad boys either! I do realize a letter to GM will do little good... but it will make me feel better. Glad you're having good luck with your car... unfortunately, my luck hasn't been as good.

[Impala05Man]

Funny you should mention Tauruses. I had a 95 and it was a total piece of shit! The transmission started going out of it at 37,000 miles. The wiper switch never wanted to work on the delay cycles. The 3.8 liter from the wonderful Ford Motor Company were known for faulty head gaskets early on in the vehicles life-which a week before I unloaded it the antifreeze started seeping out the exhaust pipe. Overall that car, if I did not unload it, would have cost me close to $8,000.00 to fix at 37,000, trade in value was $6600. So don't tell me that those bastards at Ford know what they're doing. I also have has numerous Ford Rangers and they were plagued with numerous engine problems, which also were very costly. I've never had a problem with any GM product or Chrysler at that. But, don't mention Fords, ever to me about being quality cars. I can tell you that all four window regulator failing at the same time is not uncommon. Usually with electrical items like that that is what usually happens. Remeber also what I said about 2000 being the first year for this car and GM having to work the bugs out. Next time wait until a year or two into the new model before you buy a new car. Go buy yourself an 05 Impala in the LS package because they are built better and have the better engine and unload that Taurus!

[MCO_Death]

Originally Posted by winterover

I just can't believe it.... after having spent a bunch of money this weekend when my car broke down on the highway, I was on my way home from work today and my rear passenger window fell down!!! This is the 4th window regulator that has failed in the last 6 months!!!! That'll be another 200 and some odd dollars...... I kid you not.... I'm at my wits end with this car.... I've spent my last dollar on this thing. I just taped up the window and that's the way it'll stay until I can trade it off...... arghhhhhh

I'd complain to the owner of the shop that fixed your window. If its the same one that breaks. They should get it right the first time, Period.

[winterover]

Originally Posted by MCO_Death

I'd complain to the owner of the shop that fixed your window. If its the same one that breaks. They should get it right the first time, Period.

Nope.... Each time its a different regulator.....

[MCO_Death]

Originally Posted by winterover

Nope.... Each time its a different regulator.....

Then you have my regards to some really crappy regulators. Did you use your windows ALOT or hardly ever?

I use mine a fair ammount, and have never had any problems with them.

[winterover]

Originally Posted by MCO_Death

Then you have my regards to some really crappy regulators. Did you use your windows ALOT or hardly ever?

I use mine a fair ammount, and have never had any problems with them.

Normal amount I suppose. I keep them up mostly in the summer time and the rear windows rarely got used at all. Maybe after the 2000 year, gm changed their design. I was talking to a guy at work the other day and he has a 2000 Olds and he's had all of his window regulators replaced... some of them more than once. Same deal as mine... the windows just fell down...

[MCO_Death]

Originally Posted by winterover

Normal amount I suppose. I keep them up mostly in the summer time and the rear windows rarely got used at all. Maybe after the 2000 year, gm changed their design. I was talking to a guy at work the other day and he has a 2000 Olds and he's had all of his window regulators replaced... some of them more than once. Same deal as mine... the windows just fell down...

I don't know what to say about it, my car is a 2000 and never had any troubles with it... but now i'm worried

[supervisor1886]

lEARN TO LOVE AND WORK ON YOUR CARS SISSIES!

[alphalanos]

when stupid things start to break like window motors that just tells me that the company cuts corners and doesnt really care about quality. This is a reason I avoid American cars. Both of my parents' cars (Sebring and Montana) have both had loads of problems: each needed a new transmission, horrible factory brakes, both have had major electrical problems(batteries, lights, radios, locks, shutting off randomly on the road) the Sebring roof leaks, Montana lights are filled with water, and both cars are well taken care of!! $21,000 each, i'll stick with my $4,000 11 year old Honda thanks.

[billyo69]

All cars have flaws.My bro in law has owned mercedes and they are the biggest junks on the road .If you want a car that is quality built open the wallet and buy a Lexus or Infinity