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Comments
"I asked the service rep when he recommended that I shift over to synthetic, expecting him to say after 3,000 miles or so. We all know the dino break-in debate. He said never....Just follow the GM 5,000km/3,000mile schedule with regular oil. The argument is that current SAE conventional oils are more-than-adequate to protect the engines of today and unless one encounters extreme cold or high-heat conditions (e.g. racing), there is no need for synthetic. So there you are, right from GM. "
I would not take the word from a service rep as "GM has spoken" especially if a dispute is involved. I am not saying their was a dispute on oil. You asked a question and the service rep gave you a standard answer. I will add there is no greater mechanic than regular maintenance on a vehicle.
As an example of service reps knowledge; (I posted this earlier and will repeat it here): My 2k Silverado developed a drive shaft vibration in first gear when I hooked onto a friends trailer. I called the service rep(2-01) whose card was given to me when I bought the truck in 9-99. I have read of this vibration in the Silverado sections here at Edmunds. THey refer to the trucks as "Shakerados".
The service rep knew "nothing" about vibrations with a load on the trucks. "First I've heard of that" I was told. After I hung up from the call to her I called the service rep for our 2k Impala. He talked for several minutes about the troubles and what I should do before bringing the truck in with the trailer on it for duplication of the vibration. Some of you prolly do not like to leave your car at the dealer, imagine leaving your truck and trailer for these guys to drive around! Some people do not know how to drive with a trailer attatched to the vehicle.
My oil point is : Dinosaur oils do a good job of lubrication due to modern additives in them which are man made. If you follow the cars manufacturers recommendations for oil changes you should be fine. Try to stay away from 10w-40 dino oils, the polymers in the oil to maintain visocity have to work very hard to do so. A friend is a lube forman for a large fleet of vehicles. He has attended seminars on oils and related items.
Synthetic oils do a better job than dinosaur oils. Mobile 1 oil costs me $28.00usd for 6 quarts @ PepBoys and a few dollars for a Wix filter from CarQuest. I've used Wix filters for years since I have known that Fram and others suck for quality. Fram does meet OEM standards and million are used yearly, I just like a bit better quality. I have cut open filters for years, fuel, oil and trans filters too. You would be surprised on how dirty a fuel filter gets.
Now about the flags with posts. I have noticed that some of the posts without flags do not list a city, state or country in their profile. Perhaps the system picks up on this data and adds a flag?
Anyone who does not have a flag can fix this by using the "My Profile" link in the upper left of the white part of this page. (Note that you must be logged in to see that link.)
Choose your country, save your profile, log out of TH then back in - you'll have the flag of the country you chose.
Pat
Host
Sedans and Women's Auto Center Message Boards
Hello again everyone........
I haven't been on the forum since sometime last year. I forgot how intertaining and informative it is with all you nice folks.
My 2000 Impala LS was purchased new January 3rd of 2000,,is dk carmine red with all options and 26,000 It must have been built after 10/00 because I have not had one single thing go wrong with the car outside of a warped front brake rotor.
I found the car to have a quiet cabin when it was new but lately I am experiencing excessive road noise coming from the rear. It seems the Goodyear tires are really starting to howl. The noise is really getting on my nerves and I was wondering if anybody on the forum is experencing the same thing. The car becomes quiet at interstate speeds (65-75),,I guess I outrun the noise.
I must admit,,,I have been very negligent and have not ever rotated the tires so it may be my fault. I hate to get new tires at 26,000....all the tires seem to be wearing perfectly. I'm going to rotate tomorrow and then get new tires at about 45-50K but hate to put up with the racket until then.
Somebody told me to line the trunk and back seat with marine grade lead foil and the car will be as quiet as a Lexus. At $10.00 a sq. ft...I'll think about it.
My car really performs great. When I go to pass, that 3.8 really gets busy. On ice & snow the traction control and ABS features are nothing short of a marvel! About a month ago I was driving about 40 mph on a rain slick curve,,all of a sudden the car wiggled and the trac light came on. I was getting ready to take a ride on the shoulder or in the ditch but the car corrected itself and on we went at a slightly slower pace :>)....It doesn't get any better than that!!
Any comments on my noise problem will be greatly appreciated....Gotta go....my wife just showed me her "honey-do" list....
Keep that trac control "ON" everybody...Rich
P.S. Now that GM is dumping the Olds line, I think there is a good chance that the 02-03 Impalas will be offering an SS with the 240 HP Shortstar motor from the doomed Intrique. The deep-throated sound of that motor under throttle really makes an old hot-rodder smile.
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http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/y2kmontecarloclub
If you've driven 26,000 miles and never rotated your tires, you can pretty well expect tire problems. Rotating now may be too late. Some tire guy told me years ago that front wheel drive cars are especially prone to a wear phenomenon he called "scalloping". This can occur if tires are not rotated at regular intervals. Sounded hokey to me until I saw (and heard) the uneven wear he was talking about - like the edge of a scallop shell.
There is another sound deadening material called "Dynamat" sold by Crutchfield and others.
Yes - it is ridiculously expensive. There is also a material that can be painted or sprayed on the trunk interior.
***********************
re: NEW REAR WHEEL LINERS - Has anyone noticed that adding these has had any effect on dampening road noise ?
Yes, regular maintenance is the key. I change at about 5,000km (3,000miles) which is basically every six months for me. So that is before winter and after winter. I assume the dealer follows the GM specs and uses 5W-30?? Perhaps I should have asked the. I do not know what brand the dealer uses but it is obviously not a point of contention if a warranty job comes along....Now, do I have to re-set the oil change setting in the radio or will they have done that?
See page 6-18 in owner's manual.
http://www.b-quiet.com/
http://www.saddleman.com/products/index.phtml?prod_id=dashmat&cust_id=saddleman&set0=off&set1=off&set2=off&set3=off&set4=off&set5=off&set6=on&set7=off&set8=off
LRCobra
LrCobra
FYI: 00-08-61-003 is for the engine cradle shim
If the Service Manager/dealership is on your side, you should expect for the whole ordeal to go smoothly.
Keep strict records of all work orders and make notes of all conversations related to your case. Write down names, dates, times and topics discussed. For offers, promises, etc ask for any of these to be provided in writting and signed by the involved parties.
I am confident that if you switch over to a 2001 Impala LS, you will not experience the engine related problems.
In all fairness, the engine, transmission, brakes and electrical on my 13 month old Impala LS have never ever been cause for grief. It is very puzzling why some cars (Sweetpolly comes to mind)have developed these 'mysterious' and unsolvable cases of stalls and hesitations. Engine problems seem to be more isolated to a few cars with early build dates for the 2000 model year.
Again, I hope GM remedies these problems and put you behind the wheel of a new '01 LS.
Please keep us posted.
Impalaphiles definitely have one of the most interesting (and entertaining) forum areas in Town Hall.
Teo - you certainly sparked quite a discussion thread with your " prison gray " remark! I agree with you about the airy spaciousness of the neutral leather interior of your 2001. I drove that combo last fall both in cloth and leather and loved it - particularly the leather.
It's interesting to hear the great deals being offered on new and left-over Impalas. I wonder if this is regional or nation-wide.
Question for the forum - on a 400+ mile trip to PA yesterday, I played with the RDS in my 2000 Bonneville and discovered there are not many stations - even in metro NYC that utilize this broadcast technology - and that the radio data does not travel the same distance as the signal itself. I.E. you can pick up a station quite a while before seeing the RDS data displayed. Do other metro areas have few or many RDS compatible stations? Perhaps I'll visit the Impala radio forum and see if this question has come up there.
Have a great day everyone.
Ken
I remember that for the 2000 model year, if you wanted leather upholstery, GM forced you to also get the warmers for an additional $400. For 2001 now they offer the leather seats and the seat warmers as two separate options in the equipment list.
Oh well, while we were on the expressway, she was telling me that how she wished that car makers would offer a portable hair dryer for emergencies...then at that point a little 'light bulb' lighted up. I told her to bent her head down closer to the dashboard air outlet vents and then proceeded to set her temperature to maximum heat and the fan to the number #5 speed....incredible, her hair was completely dried (Like if it was done at a professional hair saloon)in less than 2 minutes! needless to say she was thrilled! She loved it!
While she had her side blasting at maximum heat, I had my side blasting cold A/C at the same time!
I love the Dual Zone ventilation system...one of the best!
Hint: For all the married folks or if you have boyfriend/girlfriend, the dual temp zone controls are HIGHLY recommended...they for sure can save the day!.
Impala and complained I only set one station on the presets- I told her there aren't any others:)
Anyway, I took it home, filled it with CD's, and put it down on the "hump" on the floor of my base Impala, where it of course promptly slid off as soon as I backed down the driveway. A quick trip today to purchase some Velcro tabs solved the problem; I stuck a piece of the "hook" portion of the Velcro to each corner of the case, and nestled it into the carpet. It doesn't actually grab the carpet like Velcro (since the carpet doesn't have the loop pile that is needed for the Velcro to hook into), but it hasn't moved since I stuck it down there. For those with base models, this is a great way to have a handfull of CD's "at your fingertips".
Key differences:
Location of the Shifter? Is it in the floor or the Steering column? (Remember base models can be bought with front bench or bucket and center console seats)
Does it have a Tachometer? Base Impalas don't have Tachs, only the LS'.
'Impala' moniker lettering on the front side doors. If it doesn't have them it is a Base model.
Also, take a look at the 'runninboard' portion right underneath the front and rear doors. Is it black or painted? If it is black, that tells you right away the car is a base model. If it is painted, it is a LS model.
The best item to check for to assure that the car is a base or LS is to see if it has a tachometer.
My car is Galaxy Silver.
Please e-mail me....marketbuy@aol.com
Among the 'RDS' stations, none of them support the "Traffic" bulletins function. Only the Country one seems to offer RDS emergency bulletins. Weather reports and play music lists are not supported either.
Farther north, RDS stations are much more widespread around the Orlando area in Central Florida. Roadtrips in that vicinity are extremely enjoyable due to the availability of RDS support.
RDS was originally invented in Europe, I believe it was in the United Kingdom. Multifrequency radio broadcasts systems have been used in Europe for many years and are extremely popular. The original system was called 'ARI' which provided a second broadcast channel for traffic/emergency/weather bulletins. If you remember older Blaunkpunt dashboard radio units, the 'ARI' button was included on all of them...now you know what that little mysterious button is supposed to do.
RDS is the new replacement system as it supports full text messaging and other host of features. Problem is that RDS has made a very slow introduction here in the United States due to the cost of the RDS equipment and the degree of popularity of such systems. I don't know how popular RDS is up in Canada.
GM and Ford have been selling their vehicles fitted with RDS radio units for a couple of years now in hopes that RDS becomes more of a radio broadcast standard.
GM will be releasing the next generation of radio broadcasting systems...it is called the 'XM' Satellite Radio. Essentially, think of it as a DirectTV system without image transmission. You get radio satellite broadcasts with digital sound quality. You can even select the type of programming and music selections according to your preferences. However, you have to pay a monthly subscription to gain access to the XM radio services...kinda strange paying for radio in your car?
Read all about it:
www.gm.com
I would like to thank you for all of your concern and the time that you have spent answering my messages relating to the hesitation problem with my 2000 Impala LS.
You are a real asset to this message board and you have knowledge about this car that most of us do not. I am sure that many others feel the same way that I do.
Thanks again
Jeffrew1: I think the previous owner of your aunt's car might had purchased the bladed wheels outside of the dealership or simply purchased them from someone else or ordered them directly from GM..who knows!
Does it have a steering column or floor shifter?
Hvan--as soon as I see her to talk to her I will find out what kind of prices she has gotten on the spoilers. I think she is going to go to a custom shop though and have it installed at the same time she gets her windows tinted.
LRCobra
Teo - Great synopsis of the RDS system - once again you provide a wealth of info for the subject of the day. Bet you can't wait to slip into that new leather seat!
Ken
It was a learning experience, I must say. I was given a quote for X years beyond the contract purchase date. Let us say five years. That was fine; but why not wait until one month before the GM warranty expires and then add on the five years? Well no, then the price would be different at that time. I guess my lack of knowledge of that industry is showing. But thinking about it, it does make sense given the time value of money.
On another note, I've been enjoying my car to its fullest, having just passed the break-in period today ( 848km). However, I also just got my first scratch too and a shopping cart neatly resting against the car (not the same scratch) despite parking away from the crowd
Check out this website http://www.warrantydirect.com/
Let us know if they are competitive to 1sourceautowarranty.
Also, regarding the Base/LS Impala identification: I'm not sure, but I think the LS wheels/Eagle GA tires were available on the base sedan w/ the 3.8L engine. I really like the wheels on the MC SS High Sport Package, 16" versions of those on the prototype Impala SS in the pictures. If they could be available in 17"(like on the Impala SS pics), that would be even better! The exhaust system on the MC SS High Sport Package also has nice slant cut stainless steel tips, like available the SLP exhaust systems, but didn't look under the one I saw to see if the pipes/mufflers were stainless steel also. Since SLP makes some parts for the Camaro SS package, I figure it would be a possibility, especially since they are pushing the NASCAR image with the MC with that package(ground effects, wheels, exhaust, IP badging, race car type rear spoiler).
JACOB
The 5-spoke wheels are exclusive to the LS.
Oil & filter change every 3000 miles.
Filter will now wait every 6000 miles.
New Steering Shaft.
New rear wheel liners.
All noises gone.
Thinking about new wheels and tires.
Anybody want to make offers on my 5 spoke LS wheels? Check them out @ http://www.angelfire.com/tx/bigodaman/index.html
Recently, I have noticed a minor clunk in the steering wheel when going slowly over uneven surfaces. Generally while turning when only one wheel hits a bump, etc. I have been taking a wait and see attitude. While changing the oil last weekend, I noticed what appeared to be power steering fluid leaking from the rack assembly. I stopped at my dealer during lunch and they confirmed the leak and ordered a new rack. While there, I specifically asked them to check the intermediate steering shaft when they replace the rack assembly. I also had previously asked them to order the wheel well liners.
I dropped the car off yesterday and left with a loaner. By the end of the day, all repairs, including replacement of a slighly loose steering shaft, leaking rack assembly and wheel liners were completed. When I expressed concern over the steering shaft, based on what I have learned here, they said they would check it again before I hit 36,000 mi. As I said, the shaft symptoms were just appearing, so the results of the replacement are not a dramatic as expressed in this forum by others. It is noticable though and I am extremely happy with the repair.
The car is a 2000 LS with 19,000 mi. Build date of 12/99. Purchased in March of 2000. Thought I would share, sorry for the long post.
Any of you guys have that combo? I suspect it's pretty rare.
Ken
On another matter for those who have On Star - do you pay extra for travel routes and cellular On Star phone calls?
On the flag icon, forgive me because I wanted to see what the Russian flag looked like on this forum LOL.
what brand?
who did the installation?