2005 and Earlier Chevrolet Impala

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Comments

  • stormdavystormdavy Member Posts: 80
    ...yes! I read the same article (read as in paper magazine, not online) in the new Motor Trend. This is why I'm confused with all of the news about the Monaro as a new GTO...seems these two items as news are mutually exclusive-- have read no article mentioning both plans.

    I don't post much here, in part because our '01 has less than 5K miles on it, and none of the bad ISS, etc., etc. problems have come up. Just mice getting into the heating system and eating the wires, which has necessitated our getting replacement and/ or repair work 3 or 4 times. Somewhat curious: has no one else had this happen??? Have heard that rodents are in fact attracted by the smell of the coating on new wires-- maybe once that 'new car smell' wears off! "~"
  • roderacerroderacer Member Posts: 311
    Nice work, there. All my past cars have had systems with amps and subs, and all that.

    I can't part with my precious trunkspace, unfortunately... I'd crumble without being able to fold down the split-backs and haul my fishing poles around.

    Keep up the good work on that LS. I know it is a blast to be rollin' around in.

    Florida plates, and you don't fish??

    Take care!
    RR
  • teoteo Member Posts: 2,508
    Where are you In Florida?
  • impalaboyimpalaboy Member Posts: 4
    I'm in Fort Walton Beach, between Pensacola and Panama City (WooHoo Spring Break).
    roderacer, na I dont fish, I can never catch anything and I have no patience.
    Has anyone installed the INTRAX or Eibacks springs on their impala? Any pics?
    Thanks
    Chris
  • sweetpollysweetpolly Member Posts: 99
    Hi Guys,

    I'm still in the market for tires, however, not immediately (unless I have a blow out!). Anyway, I'll be looking for a low noise tire and one that will give me the most wear for my money.
  • nosirrahgnosirrahg Member Posts: 872
    I think there's a Yokohama dbx or something that I've seen advertised as being quieter than several other good touring-type tires (I think someone mentioned this tire several posts back). I probably won't be in the market for tires until late next fall, but if I had to buy something today, I'd check out Yokohama and Michelin (and maybe Continental).
  • teoteo Member Posts: 2,508
    Wow you are far Chris! I am in Miami....about 10+ hour drive.
  • yurakmyurakm Member Posts: 1,345
    Big state!
  • teoteo Member Posts: 2,508
    Yes it is. Florida is 53,937 Square Miles. Has a population of about 15 Million people. Ft Walton beach is in Florida's panhandle region. Very far fo us that live in the souteastern tip of the state. I'll get you the exact mileage from Miami to Ft Walton.

    Of course we still pale in comparison to Texas which is 261,914 Square miles with a population of almost 20 Million people. Texas is about the size or at least 2 to 3 times bigger than most countries in Western Europe! No wonder they wanted to be their own country.

    Connecticut is only 4,845 Square Miles and has a population of about 3 million people.

    Alaska is the biggest state of the Union...570,374 square miles, but a mere 611,500 people populate the state!
  • stormdavystormdavy Member Posts: 80
    If you ask me why, I won't specifically be able to tell you for the Impala, but overall they have an excellent, problem free reputation.
  • 3871338713 Member Posts: 26
    I would bet there won't be an Impala SS. I believe the GTO article on Motor Trend Online said that they were originally considering the Commodore SS coming over as an Impala SS, but then they thought about the GTO instead. Well, now that they approved the GTO, I doubt there will be the Impala SS. I would rather have the Impala. Pontiac and Cadillac seem to be getting all of the new cars from GM.
  • teoteo Member Posts: 2,508
    I still believe the Commodore will find its way here. Consider this: The Monaro will be a low volume seller (Around 20K units per year) hence it will be easier to pass this one in front of the UAW, because importing it will not be taking away their jobs or local plant capacity. I know the UAW unfortunately controls the American auto industry and they basically screw up the industry, the consumers and thenselves all the time, but this is the behind the scenes politics surrounding importing these high ticket Australian GM cars.

    The Commodore, being a 4 door sedan, will be much more popular than the Monaro. This could translate into sales of more than 50K units per year. This will not be welcomed by the UAW as easily as the lower volume Monaro.

    I still believe, Lutz should bring both and even the Holden Ute (Australian El Camino version) and screw the UAW all the way.

    If the Monaro proves to be a success in our marketplace, I don't see a reason for GM holding off importing the Commodore sedan sibling.

    At the end of the day, it is all about profits.
  • teoteo Member Posts: 2,508
    Chevy sells around 200K Impalas per year.
  • No need to screw the unions. They're hard working Joes like you and me. Just build 'em here!
    Hey, if foriegn companies can build there cars here, I think GM can manage it.

    BTW, what's the capital of South Dakota, the stae bird of Alaska, and the population of Iowa?
  • yurakmyurakm Member Posts: 1,345
    Yes, I know that Florida is one of the biggest states. Recall from the school lessons that it have about the same area as NY; checked and it turned to be right.

    However, when we drove to Niagara Falls, it took about 8 hours. Roughly one hour through CT, second hour through Western MA, and 6 hours across NY, East to West. Including the detour around Albany.

    Have a friend who lives in Toronto, ON. He drives 10 hours block to us, via the Niagara. 555 miles.
  • macgyver24macgyver24 Member Posts: 36
    Just heard on the news, that GM is considering scaling back production of some vehicles so they can ramp up production of the Impala, which has seen heavy demand.

    In fact, in one Toronto newspaper today, the auto section had plenty of cars for sale in every category - even Ferraris and Porsches - but not a single Impala.
  • lrcobralrcobra Member Posts: 82
    Teo
    I had 48000 on the goodyears before switching to the bridgestone tires, still had a little rubber left on them but was starting to get some hydroplaning on wet roads.
    Sweetpolly
    Bridgestone has a try out period on their tires. If you don't like them after 30 days they will take them back. I am liking ours a lot more every time I drive. They are definately quieter and have a better feel on the road than the goodyears had.
    LRCobra
  • dgonzalez13dgonzalez13 Member Posts: 110
    Took my 2000 Base Imp in for all 4 brake pads to be changed, and when it was up on the life and the wheels removed it looked as though my rotors were small, or smaller in diameter than i imagined the Imp to have. Is it correct to assume that 2000 Base Impala's have the same Brake size as 2001, and 2002's? Including LS's?
    38,990 Miles on car, i am the second owner and bought it at 15k miles. is 24,000 Miles average for brake pads on the Imp?

    Thanks in advance...
  • bcohenbcohen Member Posts: 58
    There wasn't much detail in the MT article about the Commodore(?) as the Impala SS. I didn't know anything about the upcoming GTO (Monaro) until I read it on here. I would think the two would be related. It will be interesting to see how it plays out. Thanks for the information.
  • teoteo Member Posts: 2,508
    Well, I am going to visit GM's Oshawa, Ont, Canada Autoplex plant within the next few months. I am sure I will get to get a glimpse of the '03 models first hand. It sounds pretty exciting and we are certainly looking forward to it.

    I see lots of Impalas here in South Florida and almost no used LS' models listed for sale. The car is indeed a best seller and I have no doubts about GM's decision to ramp up production.
  • teoteo Member Posts: 2,508
    Alldata.com has finally finished updating the TSB information for the 2001 Impala with 3.4L and 3.8L engines.


    http://www.alldata.com/TSB/10/011019FE.html

  • yurakmyurakm Member Posts: 1,345
    Had a 15k mile service for my Buick at my Chevrolet dealer today. Walked around the lot while waiting.

    The new car lot is half empty. Only one green Impala LS, 3 Monte Carlo, and zero (yes, nil) Malibu. One Camaro Z-28 in show room. No Corvettes. Did not count tracks, but definitely unusually low number.

    This is a big dealership. They usually have about 9-10 Impala plus 8-10 MC available, 15-18 Malibu, about 3 Camaro, 1-2 Corvettes.

    The number of small vehicles was usual, though. 17 or 18 Cavaliers, 3 Prizm, 3 Trackers.

    Used cars are a plenty. Several of them were even parked on unusual place, on the new car lot. Some of used cars are rather new, like a 01 base Impala with 18k miles, 01 Malibu, etc.
  • ctheusactheusa Member Posts: 5
    Hello everyone, I've been lurking here for quite awhile and figured it would stay that way, but when Teo put Florida and Alaska in the same post, I couldn't resist any longer. We were looking to replace a '88 Ford Taurus (ugh, don't ask) last spring when the college student son informed us that he was participating in a student exchange program at the University of Alaska in Fairbanks. My husband, ever ready to do a road trip, briefly looked into SUVs, but was turned off by the price, poor mileage, rough ride, rollover danger, etc. I had test driven an Impala in 2000 and wanted one, so thats what we got, galaxy silver 2001 3.4l base model, no options save for cruise control (two kids in school = not much spare money). After break-in period and a brief 1000 mile road trip to pick up the son in northern Michigan, the guys took off for Alaska in Aug., traveling along the Rockies, across the Yukon, arriving in Fairbanks with the trunk and back seat stuffed with a year's worth of college dorm necessities, including a bass guitar and amplifier, and lots of camping gear, also a full sized spare tire. I flew up there and drove back to Michigan with my hubby by way of Seattle. What an adventure! and the Impala was great, no problems. Good thing, because on most of that road we saw more bears than Chevy dealers. The Alaska Highway isn't too bad of a drive except for the very extensive stretches of construction, which are really bad dirt road. Also we took the Cassiar highway, which AAA warned us not to, 81 miles of gravel, it wasn't that bad. (How could we do this to a new car? I dunno.) More recently we drove down to Florida to see the southern end of US 41 aka Calle Ocho and Miami Beach. So in 8 months we now have 24,000 miles of happy motoring, spanning the NW to SE corners of the US. I also drove by myself to NJ and back to see family, drove all day without much fatigue. We tend to keep cars almost forever, and are wondering if those of you who have experience with extended warranties think that its worth it? Looking forward to participating in this discussion, but fair warning, I'm not into automotive technospeak.
  • teoteo Member Posts: 2,508
    Ctheusa, welcome to the club!

    Wow, you really have driven almost half a world away in your Impala! I am still looking forward to a long road trip on our 2001 LS. This car is indeed a fantastic highway performer. How was your gas mileage along those stretches of highway?

    I would personally recommend purchasing an extended warranty (I prefer GM Major Guard extended contracts over aftermarket ones)if you are planning on keeping your car beyond the 36K mile barrier. The powertrain is the least of my worries as GM powertrains are typically very reliable, but like any other car, things tend to break or go wrong as the car ages. When a car gets old, little things here and there can nickel and dime you to death, so at least a good extended warranty should provide some peace of mind and protection even if you don't ever get to make use of it.

    Typically, the extended warranty contract will pay itself the very first time you experience a major repair. So to me is like insurance, just added financial peace of mind in case it needs to be used.

    Wife & I were in Seattle just about 1 month ago. We loved the Pacific Northwest, it is gorgeous! We were lucky as for the days we stayed up there it didn't rain a drop of water, something very uncommon in rain city Seattle. We flew, had no time to make the long 3,500 mile journey from Miami (Is basically the other end of the continent).

    So did you like Calle Ocho? I work very close to it. Miami indeed is a very different city from anything you get to experience in America. It is a cultural melting pot!

    May be for next time take the Impala on a trip down to Key West, about 4 hours South of Miami...it is worth the trip!.

    Welcome again, and keep enjoying that beautiful Impala!
  • hunter39hunter39 Member Posts: 375
    I don't think that Miami is any more a melting pot than say Los Angeles and New York City, and from a cultural standpoint either. My neighbor city (Phoenix) has quite a bit of cultural differences too, between Hispanic and Indian (Native American, not that Hispanics weren't native to here as well) but the Ancient Ones (Anasazi Indians) left quite a record of civilization. In fact the city of Phoenix sits on the very site of that civilization, hence the name Phoenix, derived from the mythical bird that rose from the ashes, the city too rose...

    Wow, this board has turned in to a geography and anthropology lesson! Anyway...

    Gary, Iowa has a population 2.8 million give or take...Alaska's bird is the Willow ptarmigan and South Dakotas capitol is Pierre...
  • stormdavystormdavy Member Posts: 80
    garypen, what is the answer to the riddle you posed. Hope it's a good joke. Impala.
  • teoteo Member Posts: 2,508
    True. I haven't been to L.A. or Phoenix, so I can't really comment. New York is indeed a "World Capital".

    Hope no one got offended. Long live Geography!. Impala.
  • teoteo Member Posts: 2,508
    One thing, Miami has more Int'l exposure. There are plenty of Cubans here, but so many nationalities among other hispanics and non-hispanics. In L.A. the concentration appears to be more Mexicans and Central Americans. In New York you get more Puerto Ricans and Chicago more Mexicans as well.

    Oh, Impala.
  • 00impala00impala Member Posts: 474
    I was split between 2 dealers today, Took my LS to the closer one with the nice Service manager to have the rear valve cover gasket replaced on my 3.8 LS,still there, couldn't pick it up today, when was dropped of by the shuttle van (Venture) I called the other dealer about the Hubcaps they ordered a long time ago, turns out they came in and were Greeninsh again....Second time! Anyway Sent them back and they re-ordered them and the ones I got today are actually Metallic Silver, they finally changed the color of the molded plastic under the paint from a pukish green to a light grey, now even if some of the finish degrades it will blend in instead of stick out. back to my question.... While I was there they were unloading 3 Impala's..2 base (with the nice Wheelcovers) and an LS, on the lot and in the showroom they had an LS, When I bought my car 11/99 with all options incl. Heated Seats, Sunroof, leather. etc..all of it the bottom retail price on the sticker read $25,650, today an exactly the same equipped LS (With the addition of Onstar) stickered for $27,150... Last year in 2001 it was $26,700 or something, anyway the Invoice plus $49 Minus the $2002 rebate put this 2002 Loaded LS at $23,500...almost what I paid for my 2000 without a rebate.I paid $23,300 I was suprised to see an Impala with a $27,000+ Sticker price,(of course you deal on the Invoice) But WOW! My Retail Sticker was $25,650 and I thought that was high... Don
  • I was just testing Teo's geographical knowledge. He had so much info on Texas, Florida, etc. Hunter is apparently the grand exalted pubah in that arena, though.
  • orangelebaronorangelebaron Member Posts: 435
    My co-worker has a 2001 LS with 8000 miles. There is an intermittent transmission lurching problem in drive or reverse. She puts it in gear and nothing happens. Then after giving it some gas, the car lurches. It has happened several times, hot or cold. It happened to her husband as well so it isn't a driver issue.
    The dealer replaced or re programmed the software twice.

    Has anyone else had/has this issue or any ideas?
  • teoteo Member Posts: 2,508
    01-07-30-030 OCT 01 A/T - Harsh 1 to 2 Upshift Diagnostic Information

    01-07-30-014 APR 01 A/T - 4T65E, Delayed Shifts/Flares/Extended Shifts

    99-07-30-030A APR 01 A/T - Grinding/Growling in Park on an Incline

    I don't have hard copies on these, but at least they could point her servicing dealer in the right direction.
  • nosirrahgnosirrahg Member Posts: 872
    I've never been a fan of extended warranties on cars, appliances, or anything for that matter. Very few things I buy break down, and when they do, I either get them fixed, or I toss them and buy something new. Granted, there's a difference between a VCR and a $25k car, but unless you're having a horrible string of bad luck, odds are most of your stuff isn't going to break down that often (granted there are exceptions, like '84 Ford Escorts).

    What's an extended warranty cost? $1,000? I've currently got two cars which I purchased new, and before my Impala I had an '89 Celica which I bought new. Never bought an extended warranty on any of them, and I doubt I've ever had enough repairs that would have been covered by an extended warranty to even approach $1000.

    Granted, I do a lot of my automotive work myself, and my last two cars have been Toyotas (Celica and Geo Prizm), so the few times I've had to have stuff done, I've been able to take care of much of it myself.

    I guess it ultimately comes down to whatever makes you comfortable, and if money is tight to the point that being hit with a major repair would break you, then it might be worth the piece of mind to get an extended warranty (especially if you can spread the cost out). I'd consider taking the money it will cost for the warranty, and put it into a savings account or similar investment. If you've got two cars, put in $2k. Odds are you'll never need it, and if you don't, at least it will be drawing interest. Worst case scenario, the repair costs more money than what you've got set aside, but at least you could take out a loan at that point for the difference - MIGHT cost you more than the warranty would, but the odds are against it.
  • nosirrahgnosirrahg Member Posts: 872
    But doing some surfing here at the end of the day, and wondered if any of you Florida folks had ever visited this hotel.


    http://www.impalamotel.com/


    Maybe we should book the rooms for our "2001 Impala Brochure Reunion" now!!!

  • rangerwillierangerwillie Member Posts: 59
    Thanks. Mine doesn't leak either. I noticed the coolant is dropping in the overflow tank. Maybe (hopefully) I have the same problem as you. Perhaps I just caught it before a light came on or the engine overheated. We'll see.
  • teoteo Member Posts: 2,508
    It is very close to Chris. It would be a nice 10 hour drive for me.
  • How do I get an Impala Pool for my LS?
  • nosirrahgnosirrahg Member Posts: 872
    Be sure to check out the "Activities" page; doesn't look like the place I'd want to spend Spring Break (maybe when I'm in my 70s, but not anytime soon!).
  • b4zb4z Member Posts: 3,372
    I posted about the price increase in September.My fully loaded (except sunroof)'01 LS stickered at $25,505.
    The '02 that i looked at was like $26,130.
    A big jump.
  • bh0001bh0001 Member Posts: 340
    Hey Teo,

    I've wanted to visit the Oshawa assembly plant for about a year, but I never got around to it (mostly because I don't want to go alone and I can't get anyone else interested). If you're looking for some company to join you, let me know. I'd really like to see where "Hooloo" was born!
    Brad
  • impalaboy2001impalaboy2001 Member Posts: 117
    yea thats an hour away from me, I might check it out in april when i go hook up with some spring breakers. *wink Wink*
    Chris
  • orangelebaronorangelebaron Member Posts: 435
    Thanks for the service bulletins.
  • You can't find anyone interest in visiting the plant where they make Impalas and Regals? That's unbelievable! They're probably busy painting their closets or something.
  • b4zb4z Member Posts: 3,372
    Edmund's shut down the CTS 2003 thread. Probably a good thing since it was getting really tedious to read.
    People were accusing each other of libel and stuff.
    I got to where i didn't even enjoy going in there.
    i wonder when it will be back up again?
  • johnclineiijohnclineii Member Posts: 2,287
    that some posts failed to include: CTS.


    impala
  • ctheusactheusa Member Posts: 5
    Thanks, teo and nosirrahg for your thoughts. We've always gone without the extended warranties, and so far, it's worked out OK for us, at least on the Chevies we've owned (well, maybe not the '76 Nova, but that was a long time ago). Teo, Calle Ocho looked interesting, but I wasted my high school years learning French and German, so a lot of the experience was lost on me. Also, it was a very chilly day for Miami, 60 degrees and windy, so there weren't a lot of folks out and about. Maybe I 'll get back someday. I will get to read some French when I visit my sister in Montreal sometime this spring, now that city is a wonderful cultural melting pot! Unfortunately, I will be making the drive in a Chevy pickup, the utilitarian WorkTruck, so that I can haul some family furniture home. But I will drive right by the Oshawa plant where the Impala is made. How did you get a trip to see it? BTW, heard on the news yesterday that GM is shutting down for a week the Buick lines in Lake Orion and Oshawa, but not Impala.
  • hunter39hunter39 Member Posts: 375
    When I had 22k on my Impala I asked GM about an extended warranty. Get this. They wanted 3400.00 for it! That's 3.4k american dollars, not pesos or loonies! I actually laughed out loud at them...

    Gary, I cheated on the answers...My "Information Please" Almanac got me the population and the bird, but I did know that Pierre was the capitol of SD. Funny you brought it up too, I was quizzing my neighbor's 7th grader on her capitols (actually she was trying to quiz me by asking what the capitol of Luxembourg was)and I counter attacked with state capitols. I'm pretty sure I had learned them all before 7th grade and she didn't know any... hmmm

    The capitol of Luxembourg? Luxembourg...
  • yurakmyurakm Member Posts: 1,345
    Have one for my 98 Malibu. It paid for itself 2.5 times already.

    Cost $1204, for 6 years / 100k mile. Bought while the car still was under manufacturer warranty. 1.5 years late, the warranty paid for replacing intake manifold gasket (leaking coolant) - $550, oil pump gasket (leaking oil) - $180+, and replacing transmission - $2300. Total more than $3000.

    We bought the car used. The previous owner put 15 k miles in several months, the sold. Do not know how it was used or abused. The car salesman told us that the previous owner of the car was GM itself - so it could be even a lemon buy-back... Had a lot of smaller problems while under the manufacturer warranty.

    The main problem with executing the extended warranty was to get to their administrator - a separate company who approves the repairs. It approved everything without problems. Just a pain to get through a busy phone line, to waiting on hold for 30 minutes or so. Mechanics do not like this. However, recently the warranty company switched to another administrator.

    Do not plan to buy an extended warranty for our other car, a 00 Regal. We bought it new and know what to expect. We have the car for 1.5 years without serios problems. However, if a lot of problems will develop while under manufacturer warranty, we will consider buying an extended one.
  • emtbemtb Member Posts: 42
    Hi everyone! Been a while since I poked my head around here. :) I have two little problems I'm aiming at fixing on my Impala, and was wondering if anyone had any experiance (haha), or thoughts.

    First of all, I have a 2002 base Impala. Whenever I turn the radio on, and then turn the rear defroster on, my radio cuts out to pure static. Obviously, this is bad. I imagine it has to do with the built-in window attenna and rear defroster having some sort of werid cross over. Anyone had any problems with this?

    Secondly, I am planning on wiring in a fire scanner into my car, and want to hook it in somewhere so when the car shuts off, so does it, so it doesn't drain the battery should I forget to turn it off. Thoughts? Thanks!

    -Andrew
  • mediumfrymediumfry Member Posts: 239
    Behind the right side of the dash, just above the kick panel, is the auxiliary power drop connector. It's just for the type of thing you're looking for. More on this at the end of this post.

    Don't know about the rear defogger/radio problem. I think you're onto something...a short of some sort in the rear window. You'll likely need to have a dealer look at it. Presumably under warranty since you have a 2002.

    The auxiliary power drop connector is a six prong female connector that actually has four wires to it. They are:
    Orange: Battery Positive Voltage (Unswitched)
    Yellow: Accessory Voltage (Switched)
    Purple: Class 2 Serial Data (presumably for body control system info)
    Black: Ground

    This system is on a 15A fuse labeled "PWR DROP" on the fuse panel on the right end of the dash, accessible with the door open.

    The connector is part number 12064752 and is a "6-Way F Metri-Pack 280 Series". Not sure the mating plug number but a parts department person should be able to get you one.

    Hope this helps.
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