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Chevrolet Impala Steering/Suspension
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Comments
This really ticks me off, because my car I traded in for this one, a 1997 chevy lumina with 145,000 miles on it NEVER failed me. It had misc. little issues, but I was always able to get to work and back and drive around without any problems.
It is also known on the Monte Carlos also.
#01-02-32-001O: Clunk Felt/Noise Heard From Stering Column, Steering Gear and/or Front of Vehicle During Turnign Maneuver and/or Steering Wheel Rotation (Replace Intermediate Shaft As Directed) - (Mar 27, 2008)
Models:2001-2004 Buick Regal
2005-2007 Buick Allure (Canada Only), LaCrosse
2000-2008 Chevrolet Impala
2000-2007 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue
2004-2007 Pontiac Grand Prix
This bulletin is being revised to provide new I-shaft part numbers for servicing Allure and LaCrosse vehicles built PRIOR to January 1, 2006. A Corrective Action Summary has been added to this bulletin for quick reference. Please discard Corporate Bulletin Number 01-02-32-001N (Section 02 -- Steering).
Corrective Action Summary:
Model Year
Vehicle Line
Corrective Action
2001-2004
Buick Regal
Replace using P/N 19179922
2005-2006
Buick Allure/LaCrosse
(built PRIOR to January 1, 2006)
Replace using P/N 25829292
2006-2007
Buick Allure/LaCrosse
(built AFTER to January 1, 2006)
Replace using P/N 25828562
2000-2005
Chevrolet Impala
Replace using P/N 19179923
2006-2008
Chevrolet Impala
Replace using P/N 25913681
2000-2005
Chevrolet Monte Carlo
Replace using P/N 19179922
2006-2007
Chevrolet Monte Carlo
Replace using P/N 25913680
1998-2002
Oldsmobile Intrigue
Replace using P/N 19179922
2004-2008
Pontiac Grand Prix
Replace using P/N 25913680
Condition
Some customers may comment on a clunk type noise coming from the front of the vehicle while driving during a turning maneuver. This condition may also be felt through the steering wheel when the vehicle is stationary and the wheel is rotated from steering stop to steering stop. Some vehicles may only exhibit the noise once for every 360° of wheel rotation. On all other vehicles, this clunk noise will be noticed during low speed acceleration or deceleration, typically in light turns of the steering wheel or when applying/releasing the brakes.
Cause
This condition may be caused by a "slip stick" condition resulting in the clunk noise or feel through the steering wheel.
Diagnostic Tip
Important: This condition is commonly misdiagnosed as originating in the steering gear and has resulted in the replacement of numerous steering gears without correcting the concern.
Attempt to duplicate the customer's concern and isolate the I-shaft by following the procedure below:
Locate a large area (parking lot) where the vehicle can be turned in a tight circle. Turn the steering wheel to the right and/or left all the way to the steering lock, then off the steering lock a 1/4 turn. Drive the vehicle approximately 5 km/h (3 mph) in a circle, preferably over rough pavement or seams on the road surface. If a clunk is felt in the steering wheel, the MOST likely cause is the I-shaft -- not the steering gear. Continue with the correction.
Drive the vehicle straight ahead at idle speed while applying and releasing the brake pedal. Listen/feel the steering wheel for the clunk-/noise condition.
Correction
DO THIS
DON'T DO THIS
Replace the intermediate shaft
DO NOT lube the intermediate shaft.
Replace the existing intermediate shaft using the service procedure found in Service Information.
Parts Information
Part Number
Description
19179922
Shaft -- Steering Gear Coupling
'01-'04 Buick Regal
'00-'05 Chev Monte Carlo
'98-'02 Olds Intrigue
19179923
Shaft -- Steering Gear Coupling
'00-'05 Chev Impala
25913680
Shaft -- Steering Gear Coupling
'06-'07 Chev Monte Carlo
'04-'08 Pont Grand Prix
25913681
Shaft -- Steering Gear Coupling
'06-'08 Chev Impala
25829292
Shaft -- Steering Gear Coupling '05-'06 Buick Allure and LaCrosse vehicles built PRIOR to January 1, 2006
25828562
Shaft -- Steering Gear Coupling ’06-'07 Buick Allure and LaCrosse vehicles built AFTER January 1, 2006
Warranty Information
For vehicles repaired under warranty, use:
Labor Operation
Description
Labor Time
E7700
Shaft, Steering Intermediate - R&R
Use Published Labor Operation Time
Finally, I spotted it. The car was about 30' down in a ravine. Kate was turning left when the steering locked up. Yeah, right, I thought. I would've tried that when I was sixteen, too. She hit a curb, two trees, some brush, and a bunch of big rocks down the hill. Car's likely totaled - both sides beat in, left front wheel off to the side, hanging on by the brake line. She walked away without a scratch. Shaking like a leaf, but unscratched.
I've been looking around the net, and it looks like GM has been aware for years of steering problems with these cars and not done anything. We can replace the car. It will cost a bunch of dollars, but anything built can be fixed or replaced.
I think THEY need to replace the car, since it was a known defect. I think our insurance company doesn't need to pay out the value of an '06 SS, and Katie doesn't need to have the claim on her record.
Anyone else had any similar problems, or does anyone have an idea of how to get GM to step up and do the right thing?
I've turned on Email alerts for this topic. I'll look forward to hearing from some of you, hopefully soon. Have a great day today and a better day tomorrow. Stay safe, and may God bless. I wish you His peace.
Dan
I am sorry to hear of Katie's mishap but glad she was unscathed, perhaps a testament to the car's safety quotient.
I have an '06 SS with approximately 18,000 miles on it and have never experienced any steering issues. I wasn't aware the 2006 Impala had any known steering defects apart from the intermediate steering shaft issue, which thankfully I personally have not encountered.
What "known defect" specifically are you referring to and is it known to result in accidents?
GM STEERING & LEGAL ACTIONS
The Intermediate Steering Shaft issues are merely inconvenient for most people. My daughters drove this car and if the steering was making noises, I was unaware. the original GM fix for the problem was to lube the shaft every 10,000 miles. Now the GM fix is to replace the shaft. It seems a natural progression from a shaft binding up occasionally to a point that it locks up. I don't know if that's valid, but it seems to me to follow.
I'm having the parts pulled and I may sned them out for testing.
Thanks for your good wishes for our Katie.
The intermittent steering occurred a few more times until I was nearly hit head-on while trying to make a left turn on a busy road. I took the car back to the dealership and expressed my concern over the safety of the steering condition. The service department finally found and corrected the problem: a mis-machined harmonic balancer, which also drives the PS belt, which could under certain conditions become loose and spin slower relative to the engine crankshaft.
The service department mentioned that they actually found the problem by checking their database of steering problems and found the harmonic balancer issue.
That belt couldn't be any tighter.
C/S LOUD SCREETCH NOISE ON COLD START.NOISE CHANGES WHEN STEERING WHEEL MOVED BACK AND FORTH. POWER STEERING CUTS OUT AT TIMES CAUSE:
M MISC REPAIR
707 MILLER, LARRY J LIC#:
W (N/C)
1.12588034BALANCER (N/C)
1 12577710 SEAL (N/C)
FC: PART#: COUNT:
CLAIM TYPE:
AUTH CODE:
14880 SLIPPING / MISMACHINED ROAD TEST SEVERAL MILES & P/S JUST DROPS OFF AT TIMES. NEC TO SEARCH BULLETINS FOUND BULL FOR BELT SQUEAL & P/S INOP. NEC TO MARK HARMONIC BALANCER & ROAD TEST VEHICLE. RECHECK BALANCER. FOUND MARKS HAVE MOVED, BALANCER SLIPPING. NECTO SEND TO HEAVY. NECTO REPLACE HARMONIC BALANCER & TIMING COVER SEAL PER 707 REQUEST. REASSEMBLE ENGINE & ROAD TEST OK.NEC TO SET TOE & ROAD TEST OK.
07 & 718