Heh! As a good Canadian would say. The 3.4Ls are not just good for rental cars....And don't rub in that Florida sunshine. Another snow storm here today and the roads were just miserable: salt and snow combo at just the right temperature to make it a greasy slush. I tried the Impala in these conditions and it was just fine. I was worried about the wide tires but they did just fine. Four-wheel disk brakes are impressive, I must say. And the Impala heater is very strong at 10F or so. My confidence in the car builds.
In reference to my earlier post about the SS being axed and a possible alternative: mattmcdill, I know the police package don't have dual exhaust(aftermarket. would probably be better), I was referring to both the police package and Monte Carlo SS collectively for scavenging parts for a SS "upgrade". The Monte Carlo SS has the factory dual, which I think is available from the factory per the Yahoo Impala club. Also, the 3.29 gears instead of the 3.08 gears in the Impala, the voltmeter/oil pressure gauges(which I think will fit in the Impala dash), and the upgraded tires and 140MPH Speedo like the police Impala. Is it that much faster? and why does it have all those performance goodies when it costs less than an Impala LS? Just because it looks like the race car? I'm also miffed at SLP for offering an exhaust kit for the Monte Carlo SS and not even planning on making one for the Impala. What is that? I see more Impalas here than Monte Carlos, much less an SS. Anyway Thrasher Engineering has the torque arm for those that want/need it, as well as the shift improve kit. Thanks night_owl and the others for the incredible site and links/info. I used his link to gm.com and inquired if "police package" parts were available, and the site indicated yes, with a form to leave my info/vehicle info with the description of parts(which I included all the police package and Monte Carlo SS parts I mentioned earlier, including the "reinforced" engine cradle), and submitted the request. They should be e-mailing me back. I'll keep you posted. Also, night_owl1, check with www.scosche.com for the wire harness for the stereo, they specialize in that sort of thing. I bookmarked the site, but did not check it out. I want to put my Rockford Fosgate amp and speakers/subwoofers in eventually, too! And mattmcdill, your teacher must be something! I'm a former police officer, and in lay ministry/counseling, and just made 40 when I picked up my Impala LS in April, but I "see the Light", why doesn't he? Maybe I could pray for a miracle! I am a reformed Buick GN owner! I was raised GM. Ford and the others, even imports are cool with me, now, but that's not my calling! Anyway, please be patient with him, there's always hope! So much for now all, I get back to you about the SS project info when I get it! JACOB
One definition of unrefined is "not in accord with socially approved tastes". It's like people bashing IBM mainframes just because they grew up in the pc era. Those who favor one engine over another don't have to bad-mouth a fine engine like the 3800. I'll take the low-end torque and proven reliability of the 3800 any day. I've wanted one for a long time.
I commute 2+ hours a day on a packed highway and some days see 2 or 3 Impalas and other days none. The ones I do see seem to be LS's or the 3.8 base. I do live in SUV, van and foreign car country but GM's marketing and pricing is poor. Ford and Chrysler have much better incentives thus lower prices (and quality). Makes it look like you get more bang for your buck with them. Nothing on the Impala but the 5.9% and only base models are advertised. And I'm guessing most Camrys and Accords are the cheaper 4 cyl version. BTW, mine is carmine and I get a steady 21.6 mpg. That's doing 55-70 on the highway and including 12 miles of bumper-to-bumper each day.
2k_Impala_LS - nice site - I'll have to get a good picture.
I saw a 2001 Impala LS yesterday. It was white with the faux convertible top. From a distance it looks like a conv. Still had the sticker in the window and said around 25,600 dollars. Just thought I would pass that on to y'all. LRCobra
Tried an Impala LS yesterday and was surprised by the ride and the available options. I am looking for information and feedback on the reliability of this engine and these cars in general. Does anyone have experience with this engine? I know that this is only the second year for this particular Impala. Thanks!
Just received a call from my service guy at the dealer....he tells me that neither they or the GM Tech assistance line know what's wrong with the car!? The mechanic had ordered some replacement suspension bushings but the Tech line told him not to bother with those, so in the end no parts have been ordered and the car essentially sounds like it is going to fall apart when making a right hand turn!!!!!
They told me to bring it in tomorrow and they'll try to fix it somehow. Needless to say I am getting very dissapointed with my car...only 13,000 babied miles and having serious problems already. First the A/C compressor, now the front end thumping and clunking...what's next? I smell the aroma of lemons here.....
As Cookie said one time, I will begin to ride one 'pony' at a time until I get GM to either fix it, replace it or buy it back...I have very little tolerance for subpar quality. I already have initiated a 'paper trail' and basically Florida lemon law....3 strikes and you are out!.
Front end problems are SAFETY problems. Different story if you have a burnt out radio or falling trim....this is the suspension, steering vital components. Ironically, the car's cradle has never popped as others have experienced, but the steering and suspension feel like they are going to fall apart!!!
Like the car, but if problems can't be fixed then its out!
Am I the only one having these problems??
Sorry for the rant, but i think the Honeymoon is over...time for some Lemonade...
Retained Accessory Power....does anybody know what this is or where it's at? It is supposed to be standard on all impalas.
Teo i also have this little thump noise when driving slow like in a driveway then I slightly push the brake..i hear a little clunk or thump. I can feel it in the steering wheel also.
I would suggest to have your car's checked as soon as possible. The car started having the little 'clunk' that I could feel thru the steering wheel assembly at slow speeds and mainly when turning to the right. Right now my car feels like the whole entire front end is going to snap out of place when making a right turn. The clunks have gotten progressively worse to the point that I am no longer confident in driving the car. The dealer and GM Tech help line just don't know what to do! There are no parts in order, so it is basically a crapshoot from now on!. I am working on getting the GM District Manager involved in a meeting at the dealer with the General Manager and the Service Manager. Anyway, I will take the car back tomorrow as they will 'do their best' to try to fix it....my gut feeling is that this is the beginning of an odessey to get this car either replaced or bought back. It is unacceptable that a babied vehicle with 13k miles is already having major suspension problems in the front end.
I'll keep everyone posted and again don't take those clunks for granted, they'll just get worse as miles rack up.
I purchased the first 1997 Malibu delivered to my hometown dealership. After about six months in service, the front suspension began to get quite harsh and noisy. Since the deterioration was a gradual thing, I drove it another year or so until the shop foreman told me there was a service bulletin out to replace the lower control arms and bushings on the early production runs of the Malibu. Although it sounded like the whole front end was about to collapse, the job took only a few hours and completely solved the problem. The car was better than new when they were finished. When I traded it in on the Impala, it was still doing great...
I still have some faith left...but I also need to be in tune with reality....a car with clunking noises and GM doesn't know how to fix it??? Doesn't fly with me...but I am hanging in there..
Thanks for the tip. Actually in the Impala I see another source for troubles....the engine cradle. It has been almost 2 years since these cars were released to market and still no TSB/Recalls from GM. While the suspension problem is equally serious, my concern is why the problem developed in the first place?
I'll let you know what happens, but at $23K, this car better be PERFECT.
You mentioned bringing them along to show the tech - didn't they use that guidance? If not - did they essentially disregard the info as irrelevant?
This is what ticks me off about so many car dealerships - both foreign and domestic. They treat the customer like he has gotten the best deal of the century relative to the sale (even protest that you have taken advantage of them) and then turn the screws in the service dept.
I am so disappointed to read of your problems - it had seemed that this car was relatively trouble free except for the engine cradle issue.
Best wishes to you - hope it gets fixed properly and quickly. I'll be staying tuned to your saga.
Yes I did bring in with me the printouts regarding the intermediate steering shaft. Actually they were very receptive about them but according to the diagnostic, the Rack and Pinion and shaft are OK at this time. The problem is the extreme looseness feeling in the front end. My wife's 1997 Mercury Tracer feels much more tighter and has no clunks at the wheel.
keep tuned, I am expecting a call from Chevrolet at 2PM today.
While driving back from Pittsburgh to Cincinnati the other night, I was driving about 70 mph on I-70 when I see this Brown thing in the road, It was a folded Heavy Duty Coardboard box (I think from a New Clothes Dryer Refrig or something? that came off the back of a Truck) anyway, I could not avoid it, So...Thump,Thump Thump....right over it, I said to my wife, there goes the Black Spoiler under the front, I Would have been upset it that thing on the road were wood or metal and tore up the underside of my engine, I got home and the Black Air Dam was broken on the left side, the clips that hold it on, did there job, but the plastic tore around the clip in a sense on the left side,(it is attatched,but really floppy) and it is out of shape,dangling there, I e-mailed Hutton parts..Maybe not to expensive? hope not.....Don
I have been using EXXON 93 octane for a few months,(3.8 RUNS GREAT) Just added a K&N Filter and with the Dual Exhaust, I was getting 31.4 MPG on the Highway! I couldn't beleve it! It read 31.4 up to 31.7 while going 70mph+.....I have never seen it read this high, 1 year old LS w/ 12,700 miles....Don
When I am doing low speed turns (5-10mph) I notice that sometimes I get this grinding noise. This noise occurs only in low speed turns. I've also noticed that the steering is progressively getting looser. When I took deliver of the car, the steering was tight and crisp. Now I have to turn the steering wheel about 1 1/2 inches in either left or right direction before I get a steering response. Is that normal?
You have a similar problem..but let me ask you this...do you also feel a clunk coming thru the steering wheel and brake pedal??
Update:::: Received call from Chevrolet customer service representative at 2PM sharp as promised by her earlier in the morning. This person seemed to be unusually caring about the whole ordeal and she has already contacted my dealer's Service Manager director to arrange for a test drive early tomorrow morning when I take it in. After the test drive, the service manager can directly get a hold of the GM District Manager and arrange for a further meeting. She said that she was recently promoted, so perhaps she is now in a management position, hence the interest in helping with the problem. I told her that if the meeting with the zone representative doesn't produce any results, I will proceed with the next step which is to file the BBB/Autoline arbitration panel.
Florida Lemon law considers Suspension and Steering problems SAFETY PROBLEMS; therefore, state law only gives the manufacturer 1 chance to fix the problem, then its out!
Florida Lemon law seems to be very straight forward and efficient in solving these matters.
I ordered the one that Chuck Hutton parts had in stock, Not bad.. List price $34.25 Hutton price $29.11 and FREE UPS GROUND Shipping! (Part Number 104 363 18 Frt Air Defector) In case anyone else has an Air Dam Boo Boo! I'm sure My current/ Damaged one has plenty of scrapes that I can't see way under there, I would always hear it scrape when pulling out of my Apartment parking lot,(down a steep hill and it would scrape the water drain at the bottom) Now I have a House, No More Apartment and Steep hills so it will not be scraped daily hopefully not at all! Don
To adl79. I do not recall bashing the 3.8L engine. It is a fine motor and has proven itself over time. As to GM not being aggressive, I have to disagree. I purchased my 2001 Impala in late November at 0.9%. That offer expired January 10. The bank rate in Canada is running at about 9.5% plus for new cars. I saved almost $6,000CDN over 48 months. Not trivial. As you will see from the URL below, the current GMAC rate for an Impala LS is 3.9%. That is still very reasonable compared to banks.
To Teo. We will all follow your ordeal with great interest. It certainly must be disappointing for you. But, I am perplexed by the mechanical people not finding the source of the problem....You cannot be the first to experience the noise and the GM service network is wired; right to headquarters. There must be a hidden TSB on this one. Keep us up to date!
I got an e-mail but from Tim Hutton GM On line who said they did not have the police package, Monte Carlo SS goodies available. Oh, well... I will still try directly through Chevy's site and my dealership. Maybe in a year or two, I might try to see if I can order a police package LS. I bought my car cash, so I own it, no finance charges. I still owe my 401K loan, but it's just putting back into my own money, plus interest, but at least I don't have to worry about the monthly car bill and don't have to deal with a "lien" owner if I want to sell or trade in my car. As far as the 3.800II engine, as most of the others her know, RonaH, it is very reliable, provided you do the expected maintenance. If you want the extra protection, you could even change the oil with Mobil 1 synthetic. It's more expensive, but if you feel your car is worth it, the Chevy dealers should have it in stock. I believe it comes standard in the Corvettes, and is the the recommended oil. Also, some dealer ships have the Bilstein hot engine flush you can have done at the oil change. It's expensive, but recommended after initial breakin, when switching from regular to synthetic oil, or every 12,000 miles, etc. And yes, I agree with the others, I would rather have the low end torque with the low-tech engine than a cammer with more parts to worry about, especially the belts/chains etc. Teo, in line with your front end problem and my SS/police package project, maybe Chevy could make a recall of the engine cradle if that is causing widespread problems and make the police package engine cradle regular production. I've been blessed with essentially a problem free car for 9 months/6,000+ miles. I don't have to drive so far here in Hawaii as you folks in "America", and am no longer in the police department, so I don't have to wreck my car chasing bad guys, etc. LIke I said, all the police package parts should be available as regular production as they were put in the former SS's anyway, except the lights and sirens, of course. I also think the 2001 rear bumper on the LS makes it look like the "base" model, though I think it doesn't look too bad on the darker colors. Also, in August, my front end was totaled by an elderly man that passed out while reversing into the roadway, into my car. But everything worked, my car just looked like Mad Max's ride. I'll post the pictures somewhere when I get a scanner. Anyway, I think that's way too much for now, just had alot to share.
Sorry to hear of your problems Frank, for someone who has been a staunch proponent of the Impala this has to be tough for you. I will keep my ears open for any similar sounds and feelings. I'm like you, I get in tune with the vehicle I drive and notice any variation in it's ride or handling, even the sound of the motor.
As for variety of cars, come to Arizona sometime and see what we have to offer in the way of cars. This weekend is the Barrett-Jackson Auto Auction, biggest and best in the country, this brings out all the cars! On my route I have so many guys who restore vehicles it's ridiculous, one fella does only mid 20's Ford trucks (he has three at the moment and they are fine!) Another is restoring a 68' Camaro made in Germany have you ever heard of that? The ultimate guy has a whole shop next to his house with nothing but Mopar(he used to be an exec with Dodge)two Roadrunners and a Charger ($$!!)which are almost complete and will bring about 35k each when he sells them. So anyway, Arizona is a great place to look at cars, the dry weather promotes the longevity of the older cars. The other day I saw a 66' Impala convertible blue green with white interior that was awesome. Oh I see about 20 Impalas a day around here, and not all of them are 00's and 01's I see every year from the late 50's on up...
I recall some of you folks redeeming you GM-Card credits on the Impala. My question is how long do you have to wait, after getting the card, before you start racking up credits? Is there an amount of time that you need to wait to redeem those credits?
So far I don't feel any "clunks" coming through brake or steering. But I do feel the following:
1) When the car is in idle, I feel vibrations from the engine which is transmitted to the steering wheel. I was wondering whether this is normal?? I thought the engine cradle was suppose to eliminate the vibrations and harshnness?
I was wondering why the fog lights seem to be so underpowered? Last night we had a lot of fog in my area, and I saw some pontiacs with their factory fog lights.. I was amazed to see how bright they seemed when compared to the impala's fog lights.
Teo, perhaps GM will give you a brand new impala LS as a sign of customer service!
Please let us know what you find out about the "reinforced" engine cradle for the police package. I am sure many members are interested. FYI, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have been using Impalas for about six months or so. That in the Province of Ontario. I first noticed them when I was looking for a new car last autumn. I was in traffic last night behind two in a bad snow storm and noticed they have single exhaust. I guess that duals are not a Police option as yet; or for the rest of us. If you have contacts with Police Forces, let us know how the Impalas in use are making out in terms of severe service in that role. Thanks!
So far I don't feel any "clunks" coming through brake or steering. But I do feel the following:
1) When the car is in idle, I feel vibrations from the engine which is transmitted to the steering wheel. I was wondering whether this is normal?? I thought the engine cradle was suppose to eliminate the vibrations and harshnness?
I was wondering why the fog lights seem to be so underpowered? Last night we had a lot of fog in my area, and I saw some pontiacs with their factory fog lights.. I was amazed to see how bright they seemed when compared to the impala's fog lights.
Teo, perhaps GM will give you a brand new impala LS as a sign of customer service!
An ex cop performing ministry/counselling [Canuck spelling]. Very Interesting. Check my bio for what I own and do - it's for a X TV station In Toronto. e-mail me at tomaso7@home.com for more correspondence.
TO ANYONE: why is a K&N filter so good? I've never heard of them up here.
Hey Cookie - Navy Blue all the way - how to keep it clean real cheap? Answer: I traded 450 air miles for 15 car washes at any SHELL gas station in Ontario or Quebec. The price is $7 for the works so that's $105 - best deal I can find for air miles without actually flying or 10 free minutes at a do it yourself station. Regards and blessings!
The K&N filter is an aftermarket air filter made by K&N Engineering. It has been around for years and you will usually see them on performance cars. The filter is made of pleated fabric that is oiled and is supposed to last the lifetime of your car. A "million mile" warranty, I believe. When the filter gets dirty, you wash it and re-oil it with the recharge kit sold by K&N. I've used it in my 69 Camaro for over 10 years and have had no problems with it. It's supposed to increase air flow and thereby increase power and performance.
I like it because if I think the filter is too dirty, I can spray it with the cleaner, rinse it out, re-oil, and re-install. Don't have to make the trip to the auto parts store to get a new filter and after a few cleanings, it pays for itself. I will be installing a K&N in my Impala when it comes time to change the filter.
Dropped the car at the dealership early this morning. Then I had a chat with the service manager and after that we took the car for a 40 minute test drive. The guy was overwhelmed at the problem and he says that this is a new issue aside from the infamous cradle defects that are plaguing most Impalas and Montecarlos. He fully acknowledged the fact that the car feels TERRIBLE and that the clunks can easily be felt on the steering column and the break pedal. Today the noise could be felt from the front passenger seat where I was riding. He confirmed again that GM has no idea as to what is causing the loose and clunking feeling coming from the front end...no TSB or recall campaigns to date. He also commented on the problems they are having with the engine cradles in these cars and folks, this is cause for concern. He will be getting a Montecarlo next week with the clicking noises. He also told me what we have been reading for a very long time in regards to the different repair approaches....new Teflon shims ,(He claims this is an ALTERATION of the original cradle design)the new GM issued grease that is supposed to work on high temperature applications such as aluminum lubrication (We all know that doesn't do anything)and the last one, the re-welding of the cradles. Anyway, GM is clueless about that one as well.
However, my problem with the steering clunk is different from the ticking noises (Ironically, no ticks to date)but he says that the cradle could be at least in part be causing some serious trouble down there. I URGE those of you with clunking steering wheel columns to not delay and take your cars to the dealer and get a hold of the service manager...I hate to admit it, but these cars have FRONT END PROBLEMS and GM should initiate a recall on these cars..they are defective.
I told the Service Manager that I am very unhappy with two major problems in less than 11 months of ownership (A/C compressor and now this) and he was in total and complete agreement that the problems are unacceptable from any angle. He has worked for GM for 35 years, so the dude says that if there is a design defect that can not be repair, he'll make sure that GM does what they are supposed to do so they don't lose my business for good. This guy a total gentleman and never gave any indication of rudeness or resistance to my complaints...after we cameback to the service drive he asked me what else I didn't like about the car....the useless radio AMP, the chintzy glove box latch, etc.
The manager arranged for me to get a rental (A brand new Chevy Metro with only 278 miles...what an aweful driving go-cart) that GM will be paying out of their own pockets. The Impala will stay at the dealer foer the remainder of the week for what it would be the last repair attempt before I file for arbitration.
I the car can't be fixed, its a goner for sure, but I have to gave these people the opportunity to fixed it as per procedure.
There are two recalls, one each for the Impala 2000 and 2001. Go to this page sponsored by the Canadian government's Transport Canada and click on database. http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/Recalls/recintro_e.htm#Safety-related defects Depending on what happens to Teo, I might contact the Ministry about his problems. Perhaps, Teo, you could document again, in one report, the problems with the front end including the cradle, after you get a report from your dealer next week. I will copy and send to Transport Canada.
Thanks for the link. The 2 recalls listed in the Transport of Canada site are exactly the same that the US NHTSA lists in their database. One is for the seatbelts (2000) and the problem with the airbag firmware (2001); however, nothing is listed for the engine cradle or the steering clunking problems.
I am waiting to see what the dealer is going to do next if they can't come up with a fix for the problem. Perhaps they'll get back to me until tomorrow.
It's been really troubling to hear about all your problems. Your earier enthusiastic support of this car was one of the reasons I looked into and eventually purchased an Impala. I am still surprised they cannot find the problem. With the type of noise you are describing, there must be a lot of play in a joint somewhere and that would lead to increased wear which should be visable.
I found their comparison graph between their product, two paper filters and the K&N very interesting. How is it that the filter life of a K&N be equal to or shorter than the disposable paper filters? There are no units on their graphs and coincidentally their filter is superior in all areas.
I gotta call and see if there are any dealers around me. Thanks for the link!
Thanks! I feel bad to be the bearer of bad news...believe me I still like this car but the front end problems are major show stoppers. If your car runs fine, enjoy it! but if you feel ticks or clunks in the steering, you would already know about them.
I am still on 'standby' until the dealer calls back with an update. Sometimes I wonder if GM really spend the time testing the integrity of these aluminum cradles?
I don't want to sour anyone's experiences with the car but rather to make you fully aware that sooner or later these cars can give up the ghost with cradle and other front end problems. It is time to demand to GM to either find a permanent fix or recall these cars and step up to the plate.
Again, if you car is working fine, enjoy it. If you feel something weird or akward when driving it in terms of faint steering clunk noises or cradle ticks, don't hesitate to enforce your customer satisfaction rights with the dealer and GM. These babies are expensive pieces of machinery and they should deliver quality and reliability as advertaised.
I'll keep everyone posted as soon as I hear from the dealer.
Sorry about your problems , could you explain the clunk , and when you might feel it , so far , ours has 18,000 miles on it , and all ive ever noticed is the clicking ,which for some weird reason, it does'nt do it as much as when it first started ???? it seems be clicking less .thanks---------mattmcdill
The problem starts (At least as it did on mine)with gradual 'looseness' of the steering specially when turning the wheel towards the right. At first, you don't pay too much attention to it, since the car doesn't do it going straight or when it turns to the left. Later on, at low speeds, when you turn the wheel to the right you begin to feel faint clunking sounds that travel up the steering column. If you press the brake pedal at the same time you are turning the steering wheel, the clunkiness also travels down to the break pedal. In the end you feel that the steering is no longer 'crisp and tight' and when you turn right you get this uncomfortable feeling as if the suspension is going to fall apart. This is the best way I can describe it. Cabello and Nosirrahg have described a similar steering feedback problem. Again, I don't have the dreaded ticks on my cradle, but without doubt, that's next on line.
Shamino::: I don't have any idle vibration transmitted to the steering wheel; however, you have noticed an increase in steering play....have the dealer take a look it ASAP.
Sorry to hear about your problems. I own two Honda Accords, but being a car enthusiast, I check many different boards. I've read a lot of your posts on the boards, and you've long been an enthusiastic supporter of GM products.
That's inexcusable and quite troubling that your car is having such problems at 13K. If they can't fix the problem, don't back down! Stick to your guns. You spent a lot of money on the car, they SHOULD either fix the problem, or come to an arrangement where the car gets lemoned and they get you a new one.
Just remember, you are the type of customer GM doesn't want to lose. You're a loyal customer of theirs. You're their bread and butter. Make sure you remind them of that.
Good luck and keep us informed. Looking forward to hearing what GM has to say about your problem.
For your support. Again, no word from the dealer yet, so until then I can't speculate with more clarity exactly what's going to happen with the car.
To those of you with trouble free Impalas: Keep enjoying them to the max.
To those with problems or early stage issues: Don't wait, take your car to the service dept and stay on top of the situation until a satisfactory resolution is provided.
at domestic car manufacturers is done by the buying public - and Teo's unfortunate situation is another prime example of why so many consumers shy away from GM, Ford, DC in favor of the Japanese brands. One can almost hear the Accord and Camry owners laughing already and lining up to say "I told you so". It is maddening that GM allows this nonsense to happen over and over again.
Guess I'll postpone pursuing a preowned 2000 Impala purchase until it becomes evident what's going on with suspension and cradles. What a BUMMER.
Teo - better have your chauffer dust off the Rolls - better alternative to the Metro!
Maybe you'll find a unique vehicle to replace the Impala - like say a Russian Volga 3111. Now that would be an interesting sight in Miami!
Best wishes to you, Frank. We're all pulling for you!
Gee, that's a sight! While I was growing up in South America, I got accostumed to see Lada SUVs, UAZ SUVS, Zastava and Polski sedans (Fiats made under license in then communist Poland)..they were pretty sturdy cars and seem to last in the often rough South American driving conditions. I remember old Post-war Skoda sedans used for Taxi cab service in Bogota. My father always prefered American cars (GM's and AMC's---> Jeeps, Wagoneers,etc)and we also had French Renault cars which were very reliable overthere.
However, I don't miss any of those 'Iron Curtain' cars, altough I would love to have the choice to own the current Renaults we saw in France.
Anyway, I agree with Ken to some extent that first model year car buyers often become the 'Beta testers' of new technology...in this case the engine cradle. Based on interesting info gathered around the internet, it seems that GM has just entered into the unchartered territory of aluminum structure vehicle applications. It seems that this whole cradle thing has been a big thing for GM since the late 1990's and much research and expenses has gone into the cradles we have in our Impalas....however the ponding question is....did they test these cradles for long enough in the actual pre-production cars??
Some other interesting sedan alternatives from the General appear to be the H-platform sedans....Pontiac Bonneville, Buick LeSabre (Don't care too much for it) and the Olds Aurora. They have very good safety records and seem to be much more troublefree than the W-body intermediate sedans but also pricier as well.
Per Consumer Reports, the Y2K Bonneville has exhibited better than average reliabity for the first year on this car, thus recommending it.
May be if you want to stick with the General, I would personally lean in the direction of these 'Premium' sedans. I think none of them have the dreaded cradle.
Bonneville or LeSabre were originally on my potential car list and ironically, it was you and your unbridled enthusiasm for Impala LS that got me initially interested and eventually hooked on the Chevy. I had considered Regal LS (no premium gas requirement) but it's very bland looking in my opinion and not quite as roomy inside. LeSabre doesn't offer buckets with floor shifter that I want and has conservative styling but is worth consideration. Bonneville styling is overdone in my view but otherwise that car probably offers what I am looking for although at more money than Impala. Aurora is interesting - I'll take a look - maybe some terrific end of year pricing deals will come up on 2001 Oldsmobiles that would make that car affordable.
Maxima GLE was on my short list - but pricier and less roomy than Impala. I wonder what your thoughts are on that car?
According to the Olds website, these are the current offers in the lineup valid until 4/12/2001:
2001 Aurora (Either 3.5 V6 or 4.0 V8)
Rebate: $2,000
GMAC Financing: (Cheap GM money, not bad)
0.9% up to 36 months 2.9% up to 48 months 3.9% up to 60 months
Also Olds increased the bumper to bumper warranty from 3/36 to 5/60! However, the new warranty extension is not valid under Florida law :-(
I think it is possible to haggle a new Aurora 3.5 V6 with all the bells and whistles for around $25K to $27K, which is very good because it would undercut both Bonneville and LeSabre price and warranty wise. I don't think anyone can't touch a new near luxury sedan for that price, anywhere, so I think it would be worth a look.
Downs: Resale value (Olds is gone but with the incentives that can help minimize any resale issues), The 'OLDS' name and yep the 3800 V6 is not and option just the 3.5L V6 and the 4.0 V8 cammed engines (I have heard good things about them but the 3800 still has more punch in the low end).
Nissan Maxima: A year ago when I was shopping for the Impala, I test drove the Nissan..nice car, nice V6, good handling, the rest ordinary. I didn't care for the new style that much and the safety score results on the Maxima/Infiniti I-30 siblings are very disconcerting (These cars basically fall apart on an accident). Otherwise in terms of reliability they should be pretty solid and resale value should be decent as well. I have read about problems with the new Maximas...rattles, problems with the 5 speed V-6 models...another 1st year experiment?
I would check it out for the sake of comparison but I think the Aurora is hard to beat.
It seems that lately the 'grass is not much greener' whether you go domestic or foreign.
Regarding the police package, Impala, HPD is not using it yet, or at least I haven't seen one. I'll ask around. I saw an Impala with the airport security police prior to buying my car, but I'm not sure if it was really a police package, or even with the 3.8L. I did not see the steel wheels, center caps, etc. Anyway, as far as the cradle goes, like Car & Driver's article on the police Impala, they put it through the same tests for durability as the RWD Caprice, and it passed with flying colors. If they want to win back the customer base from Ford for the police market, they must have done their homework, hope so. How much stronger is the police cradle? Don't know, but if the stock one is found defective and contributing to all the front end "demons", the police piece should become regular production and part of the recall, or re manufacturing it in a stronger metal, even if it is a little heavier. tomaso7: forgot to mention in my e-mail that I use the K&N filter and like it. It seems to have more power, and noise at WOT, though. Part #33-2141 if you are interested. 0B)
The problem actually started to happen gradually overtime. The car has been babied and driven with ultermost care so no huge pothholes or tall curbs have ever meet the tires of my car.
Glad to hear that you are liking yours better now, but keep your eyes and senses open just in case.
I think this problem goes beyond a common manufacturing defect.
Appreciate your reply. There must be, or will emerge soon, a Police evaluation report on the Impala, including the infamous Al cradle problem. If you have access to these types of reports, I am sure All will appreciate the URLs. As I stated, the RCMP (Canadian Federal Force) , Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and I believe, the City Police are now using the Impala. Their reports may be hidden but if someone can get the URLs, do let us know. Same for the USA Forces.
Teo, I am perplexed. I am not a mechanic or technician but have worked on many cars in the driveway. My 1979 Corvette is an example. When something is loose, it is loose. I am at a loss to understand your problem as a good Tech can normally spot these things within minutes. And the GM Techs are generally well-trained to new car intros. Even if you hit a curb or whatever. Look at the front-end components and they are few in number. You state that GM cannot find the problem, to date. I have a problem with that! They surely do know the problem with your vehicle. The Service Manager may be a nice fellow but he is well-trained by the factory. We look forward to hearing of the solution to your dilemma but in the absence of widespread condemnation of the Impala from Forum members, I do believe your reaction is knee-jerk. You may have received a "bad" vehicle but where are the other victims, en masse? Need stats and extensive hear-say to be swayed. Just a thought before you abandon the Impala.
we have near 29,500 miles on our LS. It was just in the dealer for a "re-lube" of the cradle bushings to quiet the popping noises. Thats our only major complaint of the car, aside from the battery puking at 11 months of ownership.
No problems with our front end yet.
Rocks???? Yep, the Impala now needs a second replacement windsheild, about 14 months use on this one. A good sized pebble hit the winshield tonight. A big enough chip with star cracks that a repair probably cannot fix it.
Why do rocks seem to hit the windshield in front of the driver most times?? I just had a chip fixed on my 1971 Chevy truck that was almost the same spot as the Impala's new chip !
Comments
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=223638&a=10790790
I commute 2+ hours a day on a packed highway and some days see 2 or 3 Impalas and other days none. The ones I do see seem to be LS's or the 3.8 base.
I do live in SUV, van and foreign car country but GM's marketing and pricing is poor. Ford and Chrysler have much better incentives thus lower prices (and quality). Makes it look like you get more bang for your buck with them. Nothing on the Impala but the 5.9% and only base models are advertised. And I'm guessing most Camrys and Accords are the cheaper 4 cyl version.
BTW, mine is carmine and I get a steady 21.6 mpg. That's doing 55-70 on the highway and including 12 miles of bumper-to-bumper each day.
2k_Impala_LS - nice site - I'll have to get a good picture.
LRCobra
They told me to bring it in tomorrow and they'll try to fix it somehow. Needless to say I am getting very dissapointed with my car...only 13,000 babied miles and having serious problems already. First the A/C compressor, now the front end thumping and clunking...what's next? I smell the aroma of lemons here.....
As Cookie said one time, I will begin to ride one 'pony' at a time until I get GM to either fix it, replace it or buy it back...I have very little tolerance for subpar quality. I already have initiated a 'paper trail' and basically Florida lemon law....3 strikes and you are out!.
Front end problems are SAFETY problems. Different story if you have a burnt out radio or falling trim....this is the suspension, steering vital components. Ironically, the car's cradle has never popped as others have experienced, but the steering and suspension feel like they are going to fall apart!!!
Like the car, but if problems can't be fixed then its out!
Am I the only one having these problems??
Sorry for the rant, but i think the Honeymoon is over...time for some Lemonade...
Teo i also have this little thump noise when driving slow like in a driveway then I slightly push the brake..i hear a little clunk or thump. I can feel it in the steering wheel also.
I'll keep everyone posted and again don't take those clunks for granted, they'll just get worse as miles rack up.
I'll let you know what happens, but at $23K, this car better be PERFECT.
This is what ticks me off about so many car dealerships - both foreign and domestic. They treat the customer like he has gotten the best deal of the century relative to the sale (even protest that you have taken advantage of them) and then turn the screws in the service dept.
I am so disappointed to read of your problems - it had seemed that this car was relatively trouble free except for the engine cradle issue.
Best wishes to you - hope it gets fixed properly and quickly. I'll be staying tuned to your saga.
Ken
keep tuned, I am expecting a call from Chevrolet at 2PM today.
Are these problems front end related???
Update:::: Received call from Chevrolet customer service representative at 2PM sharp as promised by her earlier in the morning. This person seemed to be unusually caring about the whole ordeal and she has already contacted my dealer's Service Manager director to arrange for a test drive early tomorrow morning when I take it in. After the test drive, the service manager can directly get a hold of the GM District Manager and arrange for a further meeting. She said that she was recently promoted, so perhaps she is now in a management position, hence the interest in helping with the problem. I told her that if the meeting with the zone representative doesn't produce any results, I will proceed with the next step which is to file the BBB/Autoline arbitration panel.
Florida Lemon law considers Suspension and Steering problems SAFETY PROBLEMS; therefore, state law only gives the manufacturer 1 chance to fix the problem, then its out!
Florida Lemon law seems to be very straight forward and efficient in solving these matters.
To Teo. We will all follow your ordeal with great interest. It certainly must be disappointing for you. But, I am perplexed by the mechanical people not finding the source of the problem....You cannot be the first to experience the noise and the GM service network is wired; right to headquarters. There must be a hidden TSB on this one. Keep us up to date!
http://www.gmcanada.com/NASApp/offersearch/OfferDetailsServlet?oid=15440&lang=en&pc=K1G1C5&f=1&showminimal=&showOnly=
My temporary home page for my 3.4L base:
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=223638&a=10790790
I will still try directly through Chevy's site and my dealership. Maybe in a year or two, I might try to see if I can order a police package LS. I bought my car cash, so I own it, no finance charges. I still owe my 401K loan, but it's just putting back into my own money, plus interest, but at least I don't have to worry about the monthly car bill and don't have to deal with a "lien" owner if I want to sell or trade in my car. As far as the 3.800II engine, as most of the others her know, RonaH, it is very reliable, provided you do the expected maintenance. If you want the extra protection, you could even change the oil with Mobil 1 synthetic. It's more expensive, but if you feel your car is worth it, the Chevy dealers should have it in stock. I believe it comes standard in the Corvettes, and is the the recommended oil. Also, some dealer ships have the Bilstein hot engine flush you can have done at the oil change. It's expensive, but recommended after initial breakin, when switching from regular to synthetic oil, or every 12,000 miles, etc. And yes, I agree with the others, I would rather have the low end torque with the low-tech engine than a cammer with more parts to worry about, especially the belts/chains etc. Teo, in line with your front end problem and my SS/police package project, maybe Chevy could make a recall of the engine cradle if that is causing widespread problems and make the police package engine cradle regular production. I've been blessed with essentially a problem free car for 9 months/6,000+ miles. I don't have to drive so far here in Hawaii as you folks in "America", and am no longer in the police department, so I don't have to wreck my car chasing bad guys, etc. LIke I said, all the police package parts should be available as regular production as they were put in the former SS's anyway, except the lights and sirens, of course. I also think the 2001 rear bumper on the LS makes it look like the "base" model, though I think it doesn't look too bad on the darker colors. Also, in August, my front end was totaled by an elderly man that passed out while reversing into the roadway, into my car. But everything worked, my car just looked like Mad Max's ride. I'll post the pictures somewhere when I get a scanner. Anyway, I think that's way too much for now, just had alot to share.
As for variety of cars, come to Arizona sometime and see what we have to offer in the way of cars. This weekend is the Barrett-Jackson Auto Auction, biggest and best in the country, this brings out all the cars! On my route I have so many guys who restore vehicles it's ridiculous, one fella does only mid 20's Ford trucks (he has three at the moment and they are fine!) Another is restoring a 68' Camaro made in Germany have you ever heard of that? The ultimate guy has a whole shop next to his house with nothing but Mopar(he used to be an exec with Dodge)two Roadrunners and a Charger ($$!!)which are almost complete and will bring about 35k each when he sells them. So anyway, Arizona is a great place to look at cars, the dry weather promotes the longevity of the older cars. The other day I saw a 66' Impala convertible blue green with white interior that was awesome. Oh I see about 20 Impalas a day around here, and not all of them are 00's and 01's I see every year from the late 50's on up...
1) When the car is in idle, I feel vibrations from the engine which is transmitted to the steering wheel.
I was wondering whether this is normal?? I thought the engine cradle was suppose to eliminate the vibrations and harshnness?
I was wondering why the fog lights seem to be so underpowered? Last night we had a lot of fog in my area, and I saw some pontiacs with their factory fog lights.. I was amazed to see how bright they seemed when compared to the impala's fog lights.
Teo, perhaps GM will give you a brand new impala LS as a sign of customer service!
1) When the car is in idle, I feel vibrations from the engine which is transmitted to the steering wheel.
I was wondering whether this is normal?? I thought the engine cradle was suppose to eliminate the vibrations and harshnness?
I was wondering why the fog lights seem to be so underpowered? Last night we had a lot of fog in my area, and I saw some pontiacs with their factory fog lights.. I was amazed to see how bright they seemed when compared to the impala's fog lights.
Teo, perhaps GM will give you a brand new impala LS as a sign of customer service!
TO ANYONE: why is a K&N filter so good? I've never heard of them up here.
Hey Cookie - Navy Blue all the way - how to keep it clean real cheap? Answer: I traded 450 air miles for 15 car washes at any SHELL gas station in Ontario or Quebec. The price is $7 for the works so that's $105 - best deal I can find for air miles without actually flying or 10 free minutes at a do it yourself station. Regards and blessings!
I like it because if I think the filter is too dirty, I can spray it with the cleaner, rinse it out, re-oil, and re-install. Don't have to make the trip to the auto parts store to get a new filter and after a few cleanings, it pays for itself. I will be installing a K&N in my Impala when it comes time to change the filter.
http://www.knfilters.com/affacts.htm
http://www.amsoil.com/products/ts.html
However, my problem with the steering clunk is different from the ticking noises (Ironically, no ticks to date)but he says that the cradle could be at least in part be causing some serious trouble down there. I URGE those of you with clunking steering wheel columns to not delay and take your cars to the dealer and get a hold of the service manager...I hate to admit it, but these cars have FRONT END PROBLEMS and GM should initiate a recall on these cars..they are defective.
I told the Service Manager that I am very unhappy with two major problems in less than 11 months of ownership (A/C compressor and now this) and he was in total and complete agreement that the problems are unacceptable from any angle. He has worked for GM for 35 years, so the dude says that if there is a design defect that can not be repair, he'll make sure that GM does what they are supposed to do so they don't lose my business for good. This guy a total gentleman and never gave any indication of rudeness or resistance to my complaints...after we cameback to the service drive he asked me what else I didn't like about the car....the useless radio AMP, the chintzy glove box latch, etc.
The manager arranged for me to get a rental (A brand new Chevy Metro with only 278 miles...what an aweful driving go-cart) that GM will be paying out of their own pockets. The Impala will stay at the dealer foer the remainder of the week for what it would be the last repair attempt before I file for arbitration.
I the car can't be fixed, its a goner for sure, but I have to gave these people the opportunity to fixed it as per procedure.
I'll keep everyone posted on the developments.
Go to this page sponsored by the Canadian government's Transport Canada and click on database.
http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/Recalls/recintro_e.htm#Safety-related defects
Depending on what happens to Teo, I might contact the Ministry about his problems. Perhaps, Teo, you could document again, in one report, the problems with the front end including the cradle, after you get a report from your dealer next week. I will copy and send to Transport Canada.
I am waiting to see what the dealer is going to do next if they can't come up with a fix for the problem. Perhaps they'll get back to me until tomorrow.
Good luck!
I gotta call and see if there are any dealers around me. Thanks for the link!
I am still on 'standby' until the dealer calls back with an update. Sometimes I wonder if GM really spend the time testing the integrity of these aluminum cradles?
I don't want to sour anyone's experiences with the car but rather to make you fully aware that sooner or later these cars can give up the ghost with cradle and other front end problems. It is time to demand to GM to either find a permanent fix or recall these cars and step up to the plate.
Again, if you car is working fine, enjoy it. If you feel something weird or akward when driving it in terms of faint steering clunk noises or cradle ticks, don't hesitate to enforce your customer satisfaction rights with the dealer and GM. These babies are expensive pieces of machinery and they should deliver quality and reliability as advertaised.
I'll keep everyone posted as soon as I hear from the dealer.
Shamino::: I don't have any idle vibration transmitted to the steering wheel; however, you have noticed an increase in steering play....have the dealer take a look it ASAP.
Sorry to hear about your problems. I own two Honda Accords, but being a car enthusiast, I check many different boards. I've read a lot of your posts on the boards, and you've long been an enthusiastic supporter of GM products.
That's inexcusable and quite troubling that your car is having such problems at 13K. If they can't fix the problem, don't back down! Stick to your guns. You spent a lot of money on the car, they SHOULD either fix the problem, or come to an arrangement where the car gets lemoned and they get you a new one.
Just remember, you are the type of customer GM doesn't want to lose. You're a loyal customer of theirs. You're their bread and butter. Make sure you remind them of that.
Good luck and keep us informed. Looking forward to hearing what GM has to say about your problem.
To those of you with trouble free Impalas: Keep enjoying them to the max.
To those with problems or early stage issues: Don't wait, take your car to the service dept and stay on top of the situation until a satisfactory resolution is provided.
Guess I'll postpone pursuing a preowned 2000 Impala purchase until it becomes evident what's going on with suspension and cradles. What a BUMMER.
Teo - better have your chauffer dust off the Rolls - better alternative to the Metro!
Maybe you'll find a unique vehicle to replace the Impala - like say a Russian Volga 3111. Now that would be an interesting sight in Miami!
Best wishes to you, Frank. We're all pulling for you!
Ken
However, I don't miss any of those 'Iron Curtain' cars, altough I would love to have the choice to own the current Renaults we saw in France.
Anyway, I agree with Ken to some extent that first model year car buyers often become the 'Beta testers' of new technology...in this case the engine cradle. Based on interesting info gathered around the internet, it seems that GM has just entered into the unchartered territory of aluminum structure vehicle applications. It seems that this whole cradle thing has been a big thing for GM since the late 1990's and much research and expenses has gone into the cradles we have in our Impalas....however the ponding question is....did they test these cradles for long enough in the actual pre-production cars??
Per Consumer Reports, the Y2K Bonneville has exhibited better than average reliabity for the first year on this car, thus recommending it.
May be if you want to stick with the General, I would personally lean in the direction of these 'Premium' sedans. I think none of them have the dreaded cradle.
Maxima GLE was on my short list - but pricier and less roomy than Impala. I wonder what your thoughts are on that car?
Ken
2001 Aurora (Either 3.5 V6 or 4.0 V8)
Rebate: $2,000
GMAC Financing: (Cheap GM money, not bad)
0.9% up to 36 months
2.9% up to 48 months
3.9% up to 60 months
Also Olds increased the bumper to bumper warranty from 3/36 to 5/60! However, the new warranty extension is not valid under Florida law :-(
I think it is possible to haggle a new Aurora 3.5 V6 with all the bells and whistles for around $25K to $27K, which is very good because it would undercut both Bonneville and LeSabre price and warranty wise. I don't think anyone can't touch a new near luxury sedan for that price, anywhere, so I think it would be worth a look.
Downs: Resale value (Olds is gone but with the incentives that can help minimize any resale issues), The 'OLDS' name and yep the 3800 V6 is not and option just the 3.5L V6 and the 4.0 V8 cammed engines (I have heard good things about them but the 3800 still has more punch in the low end).
Nissan Maxima: A year ago when I was shopping for the Impala, I test drove the Nissan..nice car, nice V6, good handling, the rest ordinary. I didn't care for the new style that much and the safety score results on the Maxima/Infiniti I-30 siblings are very disconcerting (These cars basically fall apart on an accident). Otherwise in terms of reliability they should be pretty solid and resale value should be decent as well. I have read about problems with the new Maximas...rattles, problems with the 5 speed V-6 models...another 1st year experiment?
I would check it out for the sake of comparison but I think the Aurora is hard to beat.
It seems that lately the 'grass is not much greener' whether you go domestic or foreign.
You are - or were - Impala's biggest fan.
I am sorry you're having the front end problem but as
you know with all trevails in life, what doesn't kill
you only serves to make you stronger.
Did it happen gradually or after you hit a big
pot hole or something?
I hope it all works out to your satisfaction.
I've actually been warming to mine the longer I own it.
Just hit 10,000 miles last weekend.
Any front end problem over the long haul?
Glad to hear that you are liking yours better now, but keep your eyes and senses open just in case.
I think this problem goes beyond a common manufacturing defect.
Teo, I am perplexed. I am not a mechanic or technician but have worked on many cars in the driveway. My 1979 Corvette is an example. When something is loose, it is loose. I am at a loss to understand your problem as a good Tech can normally spot these things within minutes. And the GM Techs are generally well-trained to new car intros. Even if you hit a curb or whatever. Look at the front-end components and they are few in number. You state that GM cannot find the problem, to date. I have a problem with that! They surely do know the problem with your vehicle. The Service Manager may be a nice fellow but he is well-trained by the factory. We look forward to hearing of the solution to your dilemma but in the absence of widespread condemnation of the Impala from Forum members, I do believe your reaction is knee-jerk. You may have received a "bad" vehicle but where are the other victims, en masse? Need stats and extensive hear-say to be swayed. Just a thought before you abandon the Impala.
No problems with our front end yet.
Rocks???? Yep, the Impala now needs a second replacement windsheild, about 14 months use on this one. A good sized pebble hit the winshield tonight. A big enough chip with star cracks that a repair probably cannot fix it.
Why do rocks seem to hit the windshield in front of the driver most times?? I just had a chip fixed on my 1971 Chevy truck that was almost the same spot as the Impala's new chip !