2005 and Earlier Chevrolet Impala

bdime

Isn't/wasn't there a sport or special edition Monte? I think it had some ground effects stuff and pinstripe with little Nascar related stuff or something (like trying to by a pace car look alike) maybe that Impala owner was trying to look like something he/she isn't! I like the sporty look in the Monte but my room/space and options in the
Impala definitely better.

teo

Are not listed on the sales brochure, then they probably are expensive and overpriced tacky dealer add ons.

hunter39

The 2k1 Impala I got my leather headrests from had a dealer added option package that included leather seats with embroidered logo in the seat back, leather wrapped headrestraints and spiffy chrome 17" wheels, price for these add ons? 2445.00! A little excessive I think.

BTW, when I ordered my headrestraints (the ones they told me their cost was 115.00) I got the same LS headrests I had in the car, what a fiasco, I pitched such a fit that they took the nifty leather full headrests from the one on the lot and popped them in, then I pitched a fit about the price they wanted to charge me for doing that... 26.86 for something that took not even two minutes, I know I watched them do it! They didn't charge me and I went away happy...

cookie01

Yesterday was BEAUTIFUL here in the great Northwest and I washed the car up very nice in the morning before taking my lovely daughter to a children's play in an upscale neighborhood in West Portland. Before the play we stopped for lunch in this swank Yuppy strip mall (the "bistro" was closed! dang!) and I parked the freshly polished Impala in a lot FULL of BMWs, Audis and Volvos....the common cars in that neighborhood. After discovering our lunch plans were ruined, we walked back to the car and I was installing my kid when this boy (about 10 or 12) walks by with his mother and another older woman and out of all the cars in that parking lot points to my Navy blue and says "Wow MOM, look at THAT fancy car!"

I love kids...

(we ate at mcdonalds....)

b4z

The continuing saga of my intrigue lease termination has had another chapter added to it.

Please go to the Oldsmobile Intrigue thread, post #2844.

Some interesting info about GM's new program to forgive lease payments.

jeffreyw1

I had a chance to check to see if my 2001 Impala LS had the new amplifier. Unfortunately, it had the old amplifier. I wish I did have the new amplifier in my Impala though. I guess I can live with it. Thanks for posting those part numbers. May all have a great day!

teo

I took a look at the rear shelf speakers and here is the part number for comparison:

10289181

The speakers are still built in Mexico but did not see any brand name references. My guess that these are still the Matsushita made units.

I do not remember the speaker part numbers on my old 2000 LS so I don't know if the speakers are the same or not.

Very hot day here in Miami, 91F. The Impala A/C is simply fantastic. Even in this raging heat, the cockpit cools down in about 5 minutes with the fan in the #3 speed position...very nice indeed.

Does any 2000 LS owners have initiated any sort of contact with local dealers/GM to have the useless amps replaced??

If the speakers are unchanged from 2000, then all what is needed is to 'swap' the old amplifier with the new revised unit.

teo

Interesting saga in regards to your Intrigue's early lease termination. Sort of a catch 22 situation if you will.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy your Impala test drive this afternoon. I gather you are leaning towards and LS with the 3800 engine. I will suggest for you to try cars with cloth/leather upholstery to see which one suits you better. Give yourself plenty of time to get a feel for the car. If possible, see if you can rent one for a weekend just to get a better idea about the qualities of the car. If you can, bring some CD's and/or tapes of your liking to try out the sound system...very important. I am sure you'll be delighted by the sound quality of the current radio unit.

If GM will truly forgive the remaining of the lease payments left on the Intrigue plus adding a $500.00 incentive bonus, I personally would not hesitate taking on that offer at all. The Impala is one of the very few GM products that doesn't carry any type of national rebate incentive or special financing program so if no incentives are being offered in your area, that extra $500.00 is a nice added bonus.

Again, I hope you like the car and decide to become another happy Impala owner very soon!

Please come back with your experiences about the test drive.

clarkebd

My wife and I test drove an Impala this past weekend (leather seats). It had the dual-zone air option as well. It was 94F and about 90% humidity, and it never got cool in the back seat. Fan was at setting 5 the entire time. We noticed the vent ducts in front are angled at driver and passenger, and can't really be pointed straight back (you can move the inside vents behind the front 'grill' a little towards the back). Anyways, is everyone happy with the cooling capacity of the air - FROM THE BACK seat point of view? thanks in advance.

clarkebd

Oh, one more thing (in addition to my air condition question above) - anyone know what changes are in store for 2002 model year? All dealers in my area will not order any more 2001 models (same for Dodge and Saturn as well). Since 2002 should be showing in showrooms Aug/Sept. I guess.

teo

Our new '01 Impala LS has cloth seats (Neutral Sport Cloth) and efficient A/C cooling in the rear seat section hasn't been a problem. Leather upholstery tends to make cars a lot hotter in the interior than cloth ones, hence cloth seats are better suited to hot, muggy climates such as the one here in South Florida.

Leather is intended for colder climates where the retention of cabin heat is desired for maximum winter temperature driving comfort. Cloth works better on high temperatures. I used to own a '97 Acura 2.5TL with leather seats and the interior got so hot in the summer that I literally roasted my butt many times! That car had an awesome A/C, but still leather made me realize that cloth is just the way to go in warm climates.

Have you tried a Cloth Impala LS? See if there is any difference in the efficiency of the A/C in comparison to the leather seat equipped car.

2002 Changes: I haven't seen/heard regarding imformation about upcoming changes for the 2002 model year. These should become available around June/July when the Oshawa plants (Where the Impala is manufactured) re-tool for the new model year. Typically cars built at the beginning of July already belong to the next model year.

kenbuzz

Now waitaminute, I distinctly remember that the Impala was designed to route cooling/heating to the rear half of the cabin by going under the front seats. I've never peeked, but I'd be suprised to see ductwork coming out down there. More likely, they've probably got some form of "targeted" airstream going under there from behind/under the dash.

Perhaps it's time to look down there, or play around with the A/C settings to see if I can't get some airflow going under the seat. (Perhaps fan on 5, with it set to blow air at my feet would do the trick.)

tpken

My Bonneville has 2 rear HVAC vents in the back of the center console. Doesn't Impala?

Ken

b4z

Test drove a LS with DIC and premium sound in blue. Also drove my salesman's personal car with the 3.4L.

Car is very solid with a softer ride than the intrigue. It is also quieter, especially the base model.
There were no squeaks or creaks in the dash or other parts of the car.

the engine is noiser than the intrigues, but only by a little. I didn't feel like it was any faster than the intrigue.

The premium sound was not in the same league as the intrigue. Couldn't figure out the tone controls. Are there any?

The build date on this car was 08/00. No way am i buying a car that is almost 9 months old.

My salesman is looking for another one on the locator.

watusi

if you look under the front of the front seats youll notice a lip in the floor, behind this you will notice a HVAC vent....i got one of those little air freshener pucks from walmart and put it down on the floor right behind the vent, seems to work very well for me, although i tend not to ride in the back seat

teo

If you are going for a new Impala LS, try to stick to one with a very recent build date, perhaps as recent as 4/01. This will also ensure that you'll get the new revised stereo system amplifier.

Tone controls are in screen prompts available at one of the multifunction knobs. Was the radio CD or tape or both?

p2001

Does anyone know what it is set at? There must be a thermostat somewhere in the system to turn it on and off. It is a pre-set unit unlike other vehicles where you can dial in the temp. Can it be set lower or higher by manual adjustment? And where would that adjustment be?

bdime

Adult children riding in the back state they get plenty of cool air AFTER the button
on the console that redirects to the back is pushed- otherwise the AC does not seem
to circulate to the back. It also does take at least 5-10 minutes to cool down my
leather interior.:)

hvan3

Did you check if the A/C was set to "recycle"? It makes a big difference if the A/C was set to "recycle", then having it set to "fresh air".

You get cooler temperature if the A/C is set to "recycle" due to the fact that cooler temperature gets recycled in the car. Thus, the car gets cool faster.

Just a thought.

night_owl1

There are actually two systems controlling the headlights.

If the daytime running lights are on, pulling the light switch out one detent will not turn off the lights. Pulling out the light switch all the way turns off the DRL, but turns on the headlights.

At night, the automatic headlights activate. Pulling out the switch one detent will turn off the headlights but keep the running lights on.

The sensor that monitors the ambiant lights is on the dash, in the defogging grill. I have a photo of it in the How To section. If you cover the sensor, the car will think it is dark and the nighttime headlights will come on. Then you can pull out the headlight switch and the headlights will go dark.

I wonder if the Helm's manual would be any help here.

http://home.hawaii.rr.com/impala/

night_owl1

The vents under the front seats only work when the AC is set to bi-level or only to the feet. If it's set to the dash vents only, no air flows to the back.

The blower seems stronger when set to re-circ vice outside air. Anyone else notice this?

bigjerry

The Edmunds pricing data for the Impala shows that there are two incentives available to those living in the Southeast. There is a dealer cash incentive of $1000.00 and a customer cash rebate of $1000. Assuming that one can not only obtain the customer cash back, but persuade the dealer to give up his cash incentive, you should be able to reduce Edmunds TMV price by $2000. Thus, a no option base Impala should be priced about $16,386 including shipping, but add taxes, doc,license).
Has anyone been able to get this kind of pricing or better?-- adding the options you want. I'm looking to buy the base Impala with only the Preferred Equipment Group 1, hopefully at no more than $17,300.

dewdrops38

The blower seems stronger when set to re-circ vice outside air. Anyone else notice this?

"seems" stronger, or just sounds louder?

I noticed the same thing. I also noticed that my 3.4 has to be on high ALL the time to get cool and stay cool, that is with cloth seats. It seems as though our 3.8 cools better.(cloth seats also) There is duct work directed to the rear, under the seats.

I've had 5 or 6 new vehicles since they outlawed the old freon, and frankly, I dont think any of them cool as well. I also notice an odor on ALL my new cars ventilation/AC. A not so pleasant odor, musty, rotten, wet. Only in the summer months.

fangio2

A dealer in SC is advertising 2001 IMPALAS for under $17,000.

hoowa

The AC does blow out faster with re-circ. When re-circ is off, the fan has a harder time pushing the air into the passanger compartment because the air already in there can't leave as easily. This creates a higher pressure zone inside the car. With re-circ, you're just "rotating" the air.

hvan3

A perfect way to disconnect the DRL permanently is to replace the DRL bulbs with burnt out bulbs. This way, the DRL will never come on.

As for me, I like the DRL. I want to be seen with my "Impala". LOL

b4z

There are currently no impala incentives in the southeast region. There are some in the south central and western though.

Thew impala is breaking sales records this year. But my dealer only had about 6-7 on his lot.

He said he was not sure if he was getting anymore in this year.

I wonder when the 2002's will appear?

dewdrops38

I was thinking, about my last AC post. Although I DO know that the 3.8 runs a whole lot snappier than the 3.4, I DO NOT know if the AC compressor, squirrel cage etc is any different. I thought I'd take a stab at it seeing how I have both cars and there is in fact a difference in air cooling. It could very well just be the difference in the two vehicles altogether. I just got a 2001 Blazer and I cant go any higher than low #1 fan speed without freezing. It sure is nice.

hunter39

Leaving for Indy 500 this morning! Great seats in the middle of turn 1, get to see the start, finish and coming out of the pits. This is my first and probably only trip to the 500 so I hope it's great. Taking the Impala on the whole big trip, should be near 3500 miles roundtrip from Arizona. I'm not dreading the thought of the drive at all...See ya all when I get back!

tpken

I'm not sure which I envy more - the race seats or the opportunity for a 3500 mile drive! I'll be scanning the turn one crowd on TV . Have a great time!

Ken

nosirrahg

The best way I've found to get cooled air to the back seat area in a hurry is to put the directional knob in the uppermost position (dash only vents), crank the fan up to 4 or 5, and point the vents beyond me toward the rear of the car. Once the car has cooled down sufficiently, I'll turn the fan down, and/or switch to the bi-level setting. Switching to the "recirc" setting also cools more as well, but on a really hot day I typically don't do this initially, but wait until the car has cooled down a bit. Another plus is having the sunroof; I can crack it open briefly and let the heat that's built up in the car dissipate out the roof when I first get in.

b4z

Sounds like a great trip! Bring your earplugs.

nosirrahg

In about a month we're driving down to Orlando to do the whole Disney experience; overall it should be a 2000+ mile adventure. Last time we drove down there, our "good" car was my wife's '95 Geo Prizm. We haven't had the urge to make the drive since. After our very comfortable spring break trip to Pensacola earlier this year (and last year's St. Louis trip), we thought it was time to hit the road again to Orlando.

I haven't driven my Impala in about a week; my wife's seat belt on her Geo broke (the retractor), so it's in the shop sitting while the dealer orders the wrong part every couple of days. I've been forced to drive my 8MPG truck this week, which also happened to have it's AC go out as well. Looking forward to getting her car fixed so I can get mine back...

clarkebd

Thanks everyone for the AC replies to my question about backseat cooling.

Looks like I'll wait until an incentive is offered in the Southeast region or the 2002 models start appearing - both should happen about the same time I imagine, so I'll see what the 2002 changes are - probably minor.

casl

I've been getting that same smell with the AC on lately in my 2k. It hasn't been terribly hot here - one week of 90 degree temperatures or so, but pretty average besides that. I don't remember the odor happening last year though. I just assumed that it was my kid's sneakers or maybe the floor mats - I haven't put my nose down there to do any real investigative work yet.

Is anyone else getting this odor when the AC is on?

teo

It appears to be that the odor is coming from MOLD formations inside your air ventilation ducts. This is a very common problem in hot and humid environments affecting nearly every car that is equipped with A/C.

The Mold growns inside the air ducts due to the fact that most drivers tend to leave the air circulation in 'RECIRC' or cabin recirculation mode. What's typically recommended by A/C experts is to leave the A/C running in 'RECIRC' mode until the cockpit cools down to a comfortable temperature and then set the system to the 'FRESH' setting to allow the cabin recirculating air to be 'flushed' from the interior and allow exterior air to go into the cabin. This is also the reason why the A/C and fan speed feels stronger in RECIRC mode in comparison to FRESH mode.

To get rid of the disgusting mold smell everytime you turn on the A/C, perform the following.

1. Start the engine
2. Set the temperature control to MAXIMUM HOT
3. Set the Air Flow direction to either DASH VENTS or BI-LEVEL.
4. Turn on the fan and set the speed to maximum 5
5. Turn off the A/C compressor by depressing the A/C button (It should not be lit)
6. Set the air circulation mode to FRESH.
7. Exit the car and shut the doors/windows.
8. Leave the engine/heater running for about 15 to 20 minutes depending on how severe the odor is.

What this will do, it will kill the mold around the air ducts and will also flush it out of the ventilation system. This is the ONLY most effective way to get rid of smelly air duct vents.

Don't even think about spraying Lysol inside the air vents or thru the base of the windshield...the Lysol method will not work at all, only temporarily.

Repeat the above steps as needed until the musty smell is gone from the system.

And don't forget to set the air circulation mode to FRESH after cooling down the cabin to avoid any further mold formations.

teo

If you are heading to Epcot in Disney World, don't forget to try the awesome ride 'Test Track' presented by GM. Lines are typically very long for this ride unless everyone wants to 'split up' and head to the single riders line or get the admission tickets in advance from the FastPass machine.

This ride breaks down all the time(According to Disney is one of the most complex and sophisticated rides in the park)but when it is in operation, its just a blast!.

One of the fastest too.....expect to make a turn while riding at 70MPH!

dewdrops38

I only noticed this AC odor in my last 4 new vehicles, which also had the new AC chemical stuff. I found it ironic that when they changed things, the odor was there from the get go.This happened even after only using it 2 x's ! I've had an awful lot of cars with AC and never had an odor. The condensation under the vehicle is a significant amount too, no clogs etc. At first I was thinking it might be due to ALWAYS parking in a garage, always hot in there, never quite cooling down in the summer months...but after noticing this odor on a brand new car, after only using the AC twice, it stumped me. The odor is tolerable because it clears out after you get rolling with the windows open and the fan on high. Then I shut it all up to cool the cabin down. I just wish it wasn't there at all.

Reminds me of the time we had a window unit AC 18,000 btu and it clogged up with all the drip ending up on our bedroom floor. We took it apart that day to give her a good cleaning out, hoses etc and the stuff I saw in there would gag a maggot. It was green, it was black, it was thick, it was slimy, it was downright gross. All I could think of was Leigionaire's disease. Pretty scary, yet a reality.

Mold can make you good and ill. I just did some studying recently, being a pool owner, on algae and its many shades. I had NO CLUE that the "red/pink" algae, mold is actually bacteria. That "red" seems to like it in my neck of the woods.

night_owl1

GM has a A/C refresher kit. The foam cleaner clears out bacteria from the core. The kit also includes an odor eliminator and auto refresher. You can find it on the NAISSO SuperStore site under GM service parts. I don't know if it works, I got the info from NAISSO. However it is a GM service product so it must do something..

bdime

I'm jealous but not- leaving ourselves on Friday AM.. Our seats are inside in the tower terrace section- great pit action- can also see turn 1 and turn 4 as well as the straightaway. Don't wear earplugs- rent a scanner and listen to the crews, the earmuffs that you use with the scanner work well to protect the ears too! Hope you have a great time and you folks can look for me too- with the
rest of the meager crowds (ha ha)

teo

Enjoy your trip to Indy 500!

bdime

What's reasonable for the dealer to do an oil change- time wise? I used to take the new cars into dealer and even take the truck in to Dodge and I'm usually out in 30 minutes for an oil change. Over an hour for the first one today- at 2900 miles. Hoping this is not a sign of what's to come.

teo

My dealer is 'Mr.Goodwrench' certified. They have a big sign banner over the service bay area that states:

"If we fail to perform your Oil and filter change under 29 minutes or less, the service provided will be free of charge".

On My 2000 LS, they always did its oil changes in 15 to 20 minutes tops.

I love my dealer!

kenbuzz

While I can't top AZ-Indy, I *am* heading down to Augusta GA next weekend (500 miles door-to-door) with my less-than-500-miles-on-it LS. I'm certain I'll enjoy the drive, and the guest-brunette in the passenger seat will make for pleasant company too.

bdime

Thanks for the 29 minutes or free info. I didn't have to pay anyway- it's included free for the first year with the service plan but maybe I'll rattle some cages and before the next service survey get a letter or coupon for an extra one free or something.. I don't mind a few extra minutes when they're busy but an oil change only takes 15-20 minutes- waiting over an hour is ridiculous and then I had to ask about the wait- they didn't look for me and tell me it would be ready- sorry for the wait- etc. Time will tell with the service department.

roderacer

I haven't been here all weekend so I am playing catch-up. I sure do love to hang with all of you here on THE BOARD!

kenbuzz You had some pretty cool plates there. I like the URNS myself! LOL! GA is GORGEOUS! Have a ball with the new ride!

nick01 Before I took delivery of my 01 LS, I specifically asked them not to apply the dealer logo sticker. It is actually not as bad as some I've seen and I have even heard that some WANT it and that it looks "classy"... well, I am not getting paid to advertise and they obliged. To get one off? Try the dryer and GOOF OFF! and BE CAREFUL!

tpken I have seen a Monte Carlo with the carriage type cloth roof. TACKY is right... but on an Impala? That is just painful to think about. To each their own, I guess. And NO - Impalas don't have any HVAC vents on the rear center console

Have a good time hunter39! I am jealous. However, i am taking a 300 mile or so trip in a couple of weeks. Good 'ol AMA Superbike races! WHOO HOO!

Well, I think I am just about back to speed. Great threads, all!

Thanks!
RR

rfor17

I was just wondering if anyone really understands how the traffic button on the radio really functions. I've the manual numerous times and am still confused

hank64

00impala -

Back in March you posted relative to the wheel liners and said you have the TSB (#00-08-111-004).

At my dealer, the service manager ordered and received the liners, but, evidently, did not get the installation instructions. The body shop isn't sure how to install them. You mentioned that the instructions were in the TSB. Would it be possible for you to post that bulletin or just the section about installation? Thanks - Hank

alanwagen

Hello Hank,

Go the the Yahoo Monte Carlo Club website.

You have to join but it is free.

After you join you can go to the "Photos" section and view Monte Carlo warranty info where there is copies of the "Wheel Liner" and "Engine Cradle"
TSB's.

Here is the link:

http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/y2kmontecarloclub

b4z

Both the 2001 impalas that i drove had the wheel liners.

The impala is noticeably quieter than my '99 intrigue. It also seemed to be more immune to changes in road surface.