Need HELP to figure out problems with my '01 3.4 Impala

[Caterpillar_Rob]

Ok, here goes the problems.. Need some help/advise!

I have a coolant leak. Comes from the top right side of the motor as if you are in front of the car looking at the motor.

Next problem.. Car sometimes will idle high while driving it, causing it to pick up speed on its own. And sometimes will not idle back down until after you shut it off and restart it a couple times. Very hard to drive through the city at 25 MPH when it's acting like this!

Next problem.. The temp gauge stopped working.. Driving down the highway looking at my gauges everything was fine.. just before I get to work, the damn thing stopped working. It currently reads as if it has no power. The fans are also running now after I shut the car off for a few minutes. Is it safe to drive the car back home or should I have it towed? I live about 18 miles from my work. What parts need to be replaced?

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!

Rob

[tom3]

Coolant leak is no doubt the intake manifold gaskets, well known problem with those engines. There have been improved gaskets for this. Some info on dealer parts here but the usual replacement would be from a company called Felpro:

http://www.chevytalk.org/threads/sho...&page=0#795792

The electrical problems might be from a bad ignition switch just starting to go bad, hard to say though. Or the high idle sounds like a bad throttle position sensor or idle air control. Are you getting a "service engine" light?

[billyo69]

The temp gauge problem only happens when its cold outside below 50 degrees.Take the PCM fuse out for 20 minutes and then your gauge will work until the next cold day.if you let the fans run for to long they will burn out.I have already done that.My 01 is going into the dealer next week for that problem ill let u no what it was if they figure it out which i doubt they will.