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Comments
close to Taurus in sales.
51,000 more Imps sold in 2003 than in 2002.
39% are sold to fleets.
Humming noise in the front end.
Diagnosis is a bad wheel bearing.
Whole assembly replaced.
$556.00!!!!!
Not happy.
Drove in the dealership at 10:45. Took the service manger for a ride. It was on the lift at 11 AM. I was driving home at 12pm.
Excellent service.
Looks like my rotors were not warped after all.
It was the front hub moving around when I braked.
Still LOVE my Impala (but I wouldn't get one without a good extended warranty!). Looking forward to seeing what the '06 SS will look like.
Brad
Hoping I can get reimbursed for it.
Good luck!
Brad
Just like Henry Ford who said one could have a Model T in any colour one wanted, so long as it was black.
Ironically, it was Chevrolet, with its many choices, that ended the Model T's reign.
Bought new premium pads and rotors at NAPA store....new rotors are made in China.
The Venture had 40,600 miles on it and the brakes were very soft and not stopping good. They were rusted worse than the Impala. I wonder how many unsuspecting owners have brakes in similiar condition and don't know it....I doubt if our New York State inspection system would catch it because outter pad looked great on both vehicles. The inner which is much harder to see doesn't have the wear tab on it to show or for you to hear it's time to replace them is the one that wears out first...some things never change....saw it on our ''73 Impala wagon many years ago. Just to get the word out for safety.
Still pretty amazing reliability, if you ask me.
My '01 LS is over 65K. I'm adding another 400+ miles on a trip tomorrow and I have a trip to New Orleans and back this weekend that will add 750 or so miles. I have had the intake manifold replaced under warranty and did the recall thing with the new retainers and sealant. My regular commute is 55 miles one way. It goes every morning. Still no leaks, no rattles, no problems. I'm running Mobil 1 synthetic oil on a 4,000 mile change interval. Because we are forced to use reformulated gas here, I use BG44K or Techron fuel additives on the oil change interval to keep deposits off the valves. I do change the Dexcool every 2 years or 24,000 miles not the 5 years GM touts. Otherwise I follow prescribed fluid and filter change intervals very closely. I have the front wheel bearings repacked annually just in case moisture gets in when I drive through water after one of those thundershowers we get here. My Imp is terrific and so far, rock solid.
My last repair was right side front wheel bearings. $556.00!!
Been a long time since I've visited or posted to the forum.
Just a quick update on my 2000 LS.
85,000 kms and most recently I've had replaced
1)alternator
2)currently in shop because some power steering hose blew and that is on order from calgary for the part.
I also got all four brake (pads) changed and a tranny fluid change.
Even though I liked the Impala and chose it over the Honda Accord, I now know that was a mistake. Having gotten married this summer, my wife has 2002 Accord SE and I can honestly say (not being a Accord fan before), the Accord is by and far the staple of the American/Canadian Family Car. The fit/finish is uncomparable to the Impala and the service at the Dealership superb compared to any GM dealer I've ever been to. Look at the lineups at teh GM dealerships compared to Honda or any other Import Dealership, that says it all.
After this winter we will be trading in the Impala for either another Honda or Toyota.
Take care Folks!
I won't argue the fit/finish difference in the cars, Hondas have always been known for that. But I agree with Pluto5, we've had zero problems with ours.
However, you are comparing a first-production-year, 3 year old car with somewhat higher than averarge miles that has only had an alternator and a hose go bad - other than standard maintenance (brakes, fluid changes) to a nearly new car that has been refined for - what - 15+ years?
Our 2002 LS has been flawless in 18,000 miles, if you want to compare similar years and miles (although I'll agree the GM dealer didn't win any awards from us when we did take it in the one time for it's 7500 mile service).
I can tell you from my past experience with japanesse cars that @ 3-4years and 60+K miles, things start to break on them, too.
Having said that, I can apreciate personal preferences and have no problem with someone liking a Honda over a GM car - I happen to like GM the best (I know that's a shock).
If the Honda better suits, then Go For It and Good Luck!
When it comes to soul and expression the GM and the Big 3 win. For some of us there is nothing like the burble of the GM exhaust. Even the Mustang or Dodge RT series of cars have that "feeling".
Accords/Camrys/Maxima et al just don't fit the bill. Just my 2-cents plus inflation :--)
So much so, that i can predict when they will go bad.
My sister has never put one in either of her Hondas. One of which as 156,000 miles.
GM trannies are better though, and they also have thicker sheetmetal too.
Sorry, didn't know I would stir up so much passion!
Don't get me wrong, I have really liked the Impala, heck thats why I bought it! I like the raw power but now I know what they mean when they say the Imports have "refined" V6's compared to the americans...you really can't compare the tech.
But I've had nothing but problems with it since day 1 which were covered under warranty repairs, including:
1) went back 3x to get keyless remote fixed
2) window power controls fried out so they had to get a new system installed
3) new Traction control system
4) new blower motor for heating interior
5) Air bag module changed twice under warranty, and guess what, light comes on and off still
6) air bag housing on driver seat kept coming out, finally after swearing at dealer they fixed it ( hey how many times does it take?)
7) Door jamb was out of alignment
8) Poor driveability on occasion which as never cured or diagnosed
and on...and on...and on...
I have a huge stack of service orders from GM...quite ridiculous and time consuming...
Guess it comes down to not wanting to waste my time at the dealership waiting.
As for the hose yesterday, the mechanic which I've known for along time said it was due to poor design and placement of the Power Steering cooling line... shrugs, I'm not engineer, just take it as I get it.
As for the alternator, he could not believe it went after such a short amount of time, *Just right after the warranty* and even tried to convince me to harrass GM to cough up the bucks, but I said no thanx, I don't really want to deal with the service department, I've been to sooo many gm service depts I have found one thing, they all don't know what they are doing.
warped rotors
migrating door trim
right rear power window go out
crank shaft sensor causing rough start, non start
2018 VW Passat SE w/tech, 2016 Audi Q5 Premium Plus w/tech, 2006 Acura TL w/nav
I can't remember if any of you guys have had this replaced before?? I think b4z might have had this done.
Also, I got the ISS lubed and the steering feels much tighter and smoother.
www.muyfa.com/spider/impalastorm.jpg
Yes thats mine.
I'm sorry! Glad no one was hurt (assuming that was the case)
Same color as mine.
Give us an update after the adjuster comes by.
The tech thought it was the lower arms causing the noise, he was incorrect.
Most of the long time folks here know the story of the engine cradle issues with the current Impala
I am quite suspicious that a lower control arm bushing has gone bad so early. I did some internet research and the lifespan of something like this is 5-7 years unless the part was defective from the factory.
After replacement of the lower A arms the car started popping again the next morning. Back to the dealer the car went 2 days later
This was very early in the discovery process that some impala's had a problem with the engine cradle to body mounts.
Our impala was never fully corrected. GM paid ALL costs to replace the OEM engine cradle at 43k miles on the car with the latest design cradle. A full 7k miles beyond the OE warranty.
The cradle popping noise returned at 46.5k miles. Before the car turned 47k miles it was traded off (Nov 2001) for a Ford F-150 Super Crew truck. We still have the Ford.
We actually still miss the Impala, but would not buy another till there is a serious redesign.
135,000 miles.
No front end issues of any type.
You cannot judge a car by a single example. Not yours, not mine. But each of us is free to buy whatever we choose!
kirstie_h
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At 11,700 the left front wheel bearing went out,and the right side transaxle shaft seal leaked. Thought it was fixed, but still seeing tranny fluid in the driveway. Took it back and the shaft itself was cracked. Replaced.
At 22K warped rotars. Machined. Now at 23K I have the popping noise from the engine cradle. The dealership has lubed the intermediate shaft, and still have the popping but the steering is much better. The dealership has ordered a cradle lube kit and once that arrives they keep the car for 2 days while it "sets". Also, the interior pops and rattles, not to mention the gas mileage is no where near the 32 hwy MPG posted on the sticker. Any suggestions??
Pluto5 you can buy a base model with the 3.8L engine and have all the necessary goodies like traction control, ABS, sport suspension, aluminum wheels without spending the extra $1500. I didn't need the fog lamps, tach, spoiler and floor shifter the LS has.
Currently own as a family car a '97 Lumina which I gotta say has been almost bulletproof, so thinking of a replacement I naturally thought Impala. Now after reading all these posts I'm not so sure. I am looking at a leftover '03LS.
Do you feel all the bugs are worked out? Like engine cradle,iss,leaking manifolds and other groans.
Would you buy again ?
If so, I can buy a leftover that stickers for 26,000. for 20,400.
Is this a good deal given it's the end of September ?
I know it's a lot of questions, but I'm sure I came to the right place.
Thanks,
Greg
Our imapla was at the border line for the AZ lemon law. I could have pushed the issue with a lawyer, but i choose not to.
As a mechanic/shop owner for decades I looked under the impala when new, I told my wife of 30 years,: "if we have trouble it most likely will be the aluminum sub frame"
On the funny side about this time of year we recieve computer generated letters asking us if we are interested in replacing the Impala from Chapman Chev. We traded the car off in nov 2001
The following week we bought our Impala we also bought a new 2000 Silverado 1500. Zero trouble with the truck....still own it. Heck it is paid for!