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Comments
All the emblems on new cars are stuck on with tape so if you add enough it won't come off. When you do want to take it off, 3M makes an adhesive remover that doesn't harm paint.
http://www.3m.com/us/auto_marine_aero/auto_pro_markets/Tape_Selection_Guide.jhtml
Amazing that you can find on the internet...
As for the headrests, I haven't seen them yet, but they were put on before they tried to do the liners. It seems I will have a set of Sport (LS)headrests left over if someone is interested let me know. They are grey "pleather"...
Nick
At first I wanted to attribute it to the warmer weather. But it kept getting more loose. I didn't know if the front struts were loose or failing or if it was the engine cradle or what. I could not feel anything unusual on straightaways at highway speed. However, in town and the burbs, I could feel the looseness going around bumpy turns or on rippled roads or turning into an up ramp of a parking lot.
I specifically suggested to the service dept that they replace the part based on all I had read here. I did not want them doing anything else. The problem seemed pretty common and two different service departments reluctantly confirmed that they had replaced ISS in Impalas. Buicks have had the same problem and so do some Chevy trucks - although their part # is different. All are made by Delphi.
Since your profile says you manage a fleet of 11 Impalas, you can easily compare and contrast one car to the next. You can't miss it.
People whose dealerships have tried a shotgun approach ("fixing" lots of things at once) seem to have more problems then they started out with.
Since the ISS is a known problem or defect, you might want to try ONLY that for starters.
My car is like new again - so far.
I'm not sure if she's flirting with me or if she really digs my car. LOL! Guess what car she drives? 1999 BMW M5!!
With the engine running at a dead stop, When I turn the steering wheel. I hear a popping sound.
What could it be?
Thanks, Alan
For those that have attached front license plates with the provided screws, do you know if it would be possible to insert the screws from inside the bumper? I'm thinking I could drill the holes through the filler plastic and bumper, then do all my painting/gluing/drilling, ending up by screwing through from the backside of the bumper. I'll look next time I'm under there, but thought if any of you had put the holes in your front bumper, you'd probably noticed what was behind that area of the bumper.
My next task is to find a cheaper source of the Cadillac piece; the list price at the dealer here was about $65! However, I could see the screen on the computer as the guy was looking it up, and it showed a cost of about $37, and a body shop price in the upper $40's.
I do not think that most of us are looking to have any work done on ours cars that is not absolutely necesssary but this steering thing does not heal itself and it does not go away. In 30 years of owning and driving cars, I NEVER had a steering problem with a car (other than needing an alignment).
ANY GM dealer will be paid by GM for warranty repairs - regardless of where you bought the car(s).
PS: I'm guessing that logan pd stands for police department and your fleet is the town fleet ???
(plus the damn gas keeps going up)
Thanks again...
BTW, 2001 LS, Navy Blue, Fully Loaded. 1301 Km. She's only 2 weeks old. (I love her!)
What a car! Nothing but compliments from all that have gazed upon it's grandeur. Dramatic, huh?
Anyway, I wanted to get this out of the way now since I know it is inevitable... what SCRATCH REMOVER do you all use. I have the BLACK LS and I know that I will be needing something in the future. Anybody have black and had to use a scratch remover yet? What works??
Back to my impressions... I dig the stereo. I had a car that I had a decent system in. Alpine components, 2 12 inch subs, the whole nine.. the IMPALA's system is better by far. Simply stated.
Ride is excellent, DIC is the cat's meow... TOYS TOYS TOYS!!
135 miles isn't too shabby for the the first day.
Now if I could only find a way to get rid of the static charge from the car. She's a DUST MAGNET!
First tune?? Zepplin - "Stairway.."
If you don't have an Impala yet, BUY ONE!
Sweet Impala LS dreams await. Good night.
RR
I tried higher octane gas to no avail - no better mileage or noticeable performance change - just a higher price to get from point A to point B.
I try to avoid Exxon or other fuels that contain "MBTE" which is reported by CBS 60 MINUTES to leech from station tanks and badly contaminate underground water.
I feel like I'm in high school listening to the other guys "first time" all over again. Well this time I'm gonna wait until the first few are off the line and get a '02 LS white/neutral loaded. I am soooo glad the radio amp's been handled. I just can't get a straight answer from the dealer as when and what can be ordered for '02. I'll be happy to share any changes for the model year.
Here's one. In the Warrantee talk area, some of the warrantee companies respond to the wandering questions posted. I'd love to see Chevrolet monitor occasionally (even frequently) and answer or contribute to the discussion. Would this be a good thing? I can't believe they hadn't thought of this. Maybe they just like to lurk? Whaddya think?
Yesterday in southern Arkansas I paid $1.59 per gallon for regular. The station down the highway from home has $1.69 on their sign. I did notice a station the other day that was no longer listing their "premium" price on their sign; instead they'd replaced it with either a diesel or possibly even kerosene price, which at first glance made you think they had a decent price on premium.
On the license plate, I can't use a flat plastic plate, because the emblem I'm wanting to use is angled in the middle (it was originally mounted on the front of the hood of the '59, which was somewhat pointed at the end). The Cadillac filler piece has about the right angle, plus it sticks out from the bumper somewhat, which would allow me to drill the holes for the connector tab portions and attach them with no problem. Granted, I could probably bend the emblems a little and make them work on a flat piece, but what I've got in my head requires the 3-dimensional aspect.
I can't begin to tell ya how much I love this car! Granted, a lot of it is because this is my first factory-new car in 12 years, and I probably gonna have a post-delivery "glow" for a few months, but this baby has continued to impress and suprize me at every turn. The 3800 V6 purrs like a kitten, and jumps at the first chance to show off... the RDS stereo cranks out beautifully rich sound (apparently I don't have the same AMP problem that previous owners noted, see below)... I've had two very nice chats with the OnStar folks and am getting personal calling feature set up for next week... the seats are very comfortable, even for a big guy like me (6-1, over 300#)... even the sunroof and the heated seats have worked as advertised, though I think I'm likely to add an after-market air dam to help quiet down the roar from the open roof.
I had a blast getting the compass on the DIC calibrated, turning circles in the parking lot at my local warehouse club Saturday afternoon. Felt like a teenager, and I really wanted to turn the engine loose and burn a couple of donuts. My girlfriend (she drives a 99 Caddy Fleetwood) already likes my ride better than hers!
When I went to the dealer Saturday afternoon to pick the LS up, I caught my first glimpse of it when it was sitting parked in the pick-up area. There were about half a dozen shoppers standing around it at the time, and I wasn't sure at first that that was *my* car. Apparently, it caused quite a stir on the lot while it was there this past week, with several people wanting to take a closer look. Fortunately, the dealer didn't give in to temptation, as the car still had only 3 miles on it at delivery. Nice to have something that other want, eh?
Regarding the AMP. I posted this info over on the Radio board, but since there's an older thread over here too, I figured cross-posting wouldn't hurt. Here's the critical info:
Build Date: 04/01
Model: 10309548
Ref #: CY-BG2991ZC
Ser #: 603559
This puppy puts out one HUGE sound, much much more Bass than I could ever possibly want... so much that I've already cranked it down a couple of notches from center just to keep it from overpowering the higher frequencies. I can state with full confidence that *this* AMP fixes the problems of the AMP GM had been shipping during the first year and a half of production. Those of you with the other unit should really push GM to get a replacement.
If it came on when the tank was more empty than that, the warning (reminder) would be a little late.
Anyway, I am glad to be back home and at the same time I been trying to keep up to date with 2 weeks worth of posts. I am very happy to know that Kenbuzz and others have finally taken delivery of their beauties and are fully enjoying them as much as we are doing with our new '01 LS.
By the time we left to Europe, I had driven the car for just a day and a half. The car was delivered with 4 miles on the clock and 1 day and a half later it already had 97 miles. This weekend I put an additional 85 miles and we are enjoying this car tremendously.
The superbly sounding stereo is indeed one of the main highlights of the 2001 Impala. Crisp, clear and deep sound quality. It makes even AM talk radio a real pleasure to listen to! What a difference from the terrible sounding system fitted in the 2000 Impalas...its like heaven and earth!
For Duraflex, the serial numbers found of my new amplifier are as follows: (Same as Kenbuzz)
(New Amplifier):
Model: 10309548
Ref #: CY-BG2991ZC
(Old Amplifier found on 2000 Model year Impalas with Premium Sound):
Model: 10432572
Ref #: CY-BG2911ZC
Same as Kenbuzz, my car was also built during 4/2001 (My car should be 3 to 4 weeks old). However, I am not sure if the speakers were also changed as well on this new stereo revision. Not only the sound quality but the stereo imaging are as good as some higher priced aftermarket stereo systems.
My suggestion would be to persuade GM to replace the old useless amplifier with the new revised unit. GM knows that the 2000 Impala owners that paid extra for the 'Premium Sound' got short changed big time and this is why they fixed the stereo sound quality on recently built vehicles. If you complain loud enough, GM under warranty should make the swap for you at no charge.
The rest of the car is great. For instance another nice touch is that when the remote trunk lid release is pressed, the trunk lid now opens a 1/4 of the way making it easier to open the trunk lid with 'full' hands. This is thanks to new revised trunk lid hydraulic lifter props and a lighter weight trunk lid spoiler. It is interesting to do cross reference checks on improvements made on the 2001 Impalas against the 2000 model year vehicles.
So far very happy with the new car...let's see who things go further down the road.
Ken::: You'll be interested to know that I saw a 2000 Pontiac Bonneville SLE in London but it was still left hand drive. The British really do have a very confusing traffic parttern (They drive on the left side on the road)and visitors should be extremely careful when crossing busy streets as cars come from the opposite direction...very interesting nevertheless. We had a great time in London and look forward to visit again sometime in the future.
I also was buying 89 octane for a while. I do think I was getting better gas mileage.. but I just can't afford that stuff!
I DID find 87 in Salem (one hour south of here) while visiting my aunt for $1.55! What a deal. at at 76 station no less. Up here 87 is about $1.69-$1.75.
coming up to the first oil change next week I think.
But here's a question, let's say the fuel serves to cool the pump, which one would presume is located in the fuel tank. Doesn't it seem a little dangerous to use fuel as a coolant? I mean, you run low on fuel, the fuel pump heats up, and potentially ignites the remaining fuel (which could be almost 2 gallons). Seems like there'd be a lot of folks on the side of the road with their gas tanks exploded, who almost made it to that next exit to fill up.
I don't doubt the information; just wondering about the logic of using a highly combustible liquid to draw heat away from the pump.
Funny how a great car makes the 45 minute haul to work less of a HAUL and more of a pleasant trip.
Teo- welcome back. Glad you had a good and safe trip.
I am averaging 24.0 mpg as of this morning. Still on the initial fill-up from the dealer. And I am at a little over 1/2 of a tank. I will probably fill up with 89 octane fuel the next time around. I'd like to keep 89 in her but as everyone knows, gas is a bit rediculous these days... here's a perfect example...
Good day to all... enjoy your Impalas.
RR
Teo said that his 2001 trunk lid opens about 1/4 of the way. My 2000 trunk lid doesn't even pop open at all. I have to use my fingers to pry open the trunk.
Kenbuzz/Roadracer:
Can you confirm if your trunk lids pop about 1/4 of the way when ejecting the trunk button? If so, I have my car in this Friday to have the seat belt recall done. I will insist on GM to replace the hydraulic lifts. Perhaps there should be a TSB for this?
Thanks!
If your trunk has never done this, it could be due to the gas shocks.. maybe not enough pressure. Is there an adjuster knob? Ya know, like on screen doors... you can adjust the compression according tp the air temp. Just a thought.
RR
This just doesn't seem right to me. Thanks.
The stereo system is awesome!!!
I recommend Langka and a bottle of touch up paint for fixing paint chips and scratches. Works wonders. Haven't really worried about the swirl mark type. It rains in Hawaii pretty much every day so keeping a black car clean is a losing battle. Only place I know where the sky is blue, and rain is falling.
It's much worse when it's dry out. And in Oregon that doesn't happen much... hehehe.
Try some Static Guard. And if you wear wool or fleece very much, use it every week. Fleece seems to make it worse.
I had a black Tbird that had a few clearcoat scrathes. I got a bottle of touch up but found it difficult to apply a THIN layer. I don't want to have gobs of touch up on the car. Makes it look worse than before the scratch was there...
I'll do a search on the Langka product to see what that is.
Any method you found that works for getting that thin coating and for blending it in nicely?
Thanks!
RR
http://home.hawaii.rr.com/impala/
By the way, congrats on the excellent updates on your web page and sorry to hear about the recent scratch episode on your Impala...did you fix it successfully?
http://www.langka.com
RR
Another interesting feature is that the car will not open the trunk if the car is in drive. Nice safety feature.
Maybe I gotta bath with dryer sheets....
BTW - This is one reason you should NEVER get out to pump gas, and get back into the car and rummage around waiting for the pump to finish. You could climb out and touch the outside of the car, creating a spark that could ignight the fumes.
TRUNK LID - Oddly enough, when I read through those NHSTRA (or whatever it is) complaints a couple of weeks ago, there were a few mentions of how the trunk didn't pop open when you hit the release. This was something else I didn't really see as a defect, just a different way of handling things. My sister-in-law's Taurus trunk really slams open when you hit the relase; it actually bounces when it hits the top - I prefer the subdued opening of the Impala much more than the Taurus approach. (Also had a good laugh on Mother's Day when she had to try a second time to start her brand-new Taurus; and even with the 24V engine, it sounded awfully rough.)