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Comments
I think Joe's website has a 'printable' link as to how to make the dealer swap the AMP and order the part correctly. He was also successful at it:
http://www.luckyjdr.homestead.com/impala.html
What's really important is that your dealer is willing to help in your particular situation so take advantage of that and educate them about the AMP problem as they seem very clueless about the whole subject.
Let us know if you need more info.
I'm still experiencing the hesitation and stuttering, and as a matter of fact my car almost stalled in front of oncoming traffic recently. I've taken it back and forth to the dealer and supposedly they cannot duplicate the problem. Then I thought, the service manager never drive the car from the start-up point, it's usually driven around by the "lackeys" (for want of a better term to call them) who drive the customer cars from the intake area of the service desk to the area where the cars are actually being serviced. Well, duh! no wonder the problem can't be duplicated, since the service managers don't start the car and experience the problem, they have no proof the problem exists! And do you think the "lackeys" actually tell the service manager that the car hesitated or stuttered? Not likely! The "lackeys" also drive the car from the servicing area back to the waiting customer. So, they're most likely the only ones who can testify that the problem occurs. I'm going to call the dealer service manager and ask about this. So, in the meantime, I try to let it warm up a bit before pulling off from the curb.
Don't you think is time to get rid of the car?
I think either the dealer is vastly incompetent or the car has a serious safety problems that deems it unfixable.
I personally think that you are risking your personal safety in hopes that one day the car will be magically fixed. I am afraid your car is a big LEMON.
Act under the law and get them to buy it back. Your life and well being is much more valuable that a car that tends to stall atthe worst moments....like oncoming traffic.
Sorry for the rant, but I think your endurance and patience are putting a serious constraint to your personal safety.
Time to let go of that car.
Go over the Impala radio forum on instructions on how to proceed with dealer/GM and obtain the new '103' AMP under warranty.
You scared me about the cracking problem on the hood guard! I'm afraid to open my hood now! BUt I do love the look of it - haven't gone back to the bra yet!
What is your determining factor between using the BRA and the Hood Guard?
As far as when I use which - the hood guard is what I leave on most of the time. If I'm going on a longer trip (a few hours) on any of the major highways in Ontario or at night I'll switch to the full bra. I want to try to keep stones and bugs off the front of the car as much as possible.
It must drive you nuts having to park so close to other cars. I'm still at the point where I'll walk across and entire large parking lot to avoid parking close to any other cars!
Checked out your pictures. Ventvisors look good. You took pictures of your dash while driving at 75mph?!?! What is that in the top of picture 6300004? A cell phone? What type of mount are you using? I'm still waiting for my cell phone installer to get a custom mount to install my handsfree cell kit in my car. The bracket will mount just to the right of the radio. I'll post pictures as soon as the install happens.
Brad
That cellphone mount is a Samsonite Platnium Cellphone holder that suctions to my window. IT cost around 20 bucks @ Target, and I don't have to stick-mount or screw in anything. I have a small Nokia and don't like handsfree so I put teh phone there and run my Jabra Headset.
As for a pic @ 75 MPH, no comment!:>
I'll have to go check my hoodguard, I'll have to check out the hoodbumpers. I'm a little confused by it - have any pictures?
On another note, Teo, my 2001 Impala has a build date of 10/00 and it does have the later '103 amp installed in it from the factory.
I also have had a problem with my sunroof not opening. I was able to "help" it by pushing up on the back edge of the glass as I hit the button. It was like the gasket had stuck to the car. When I got home I applied some silicone to the gasket of the sunroof. It has worked flawlessly for 3 weeks since I put on the silicone.
Try this. Pop the hood (but don't open it all the way). Stick your fingers under and find the "tabs" on the hood guard that are screwed into the hood. On my car there are two hood bumpers (one on each side) on the frame of the car (between the grille and the fan) directly on the outside edge of where the "tabs" come down. The bumpers are about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. They catch about 1/2 an inch of the guard on the outside of the "tabs". I drilled out the part that catches using a 1 1/2 inch hole saw. The guard now wraps around the hood bumpers rather than hitting them directly.
Hope that helps.
Brad
I, too, am still having the hesitation problem with my 2k. We're going to the dealer again on Monday for an oil change, warped rotor check, key fob check and another round of "Sorry, we can't duplicate the hesitation problem". My dealer's service department actually does sound concerned about the problem so I have typed up instructions for them to try to duplicate the problem and am going to tell them to try it every two hours or so (since they're going to have the car all day). I did read on another site: http://home.hawaii.rr.com/impala/Problems.html , Problem #3, that someone else had the same hesitation problem, and it was finally fixed by replacing the fuel pressure module. I'll mention this to the dealer. Besides the normal every other day occurance, I had a huge hesitation last week - it never kicked back in until I took my foot off the gas and put it back down (it usually kicks in while your foot is still on the gas) - I really thought it was going to stall at that point. I'm just thankful I live on a side street and don't have to pull into traffic right away.
I've had the car (and the hesitation problem) since 10/99 and am over 32k miles right now. We're taking the car to Myrtle Beach next Friday (from NY) so I'm sure to hit the 36k mark by the end of July.
The outside rv mirrors are rock steady.
Anyone else notice this too?
My 2000 LS used to do this and my '01 LS does the same. I think the Rearview mirror is one heavy assembly if you have the self dimming mirror + the OnStar controls. It doesn't bother me because it goes away fast but if anyone (Night_owl) might look into this and have a suggestion, I would certainly appreciate it.
The heat does cause this *funny* interior rearview mirror effect.
And...also the nice Bass from my 103 AMP can cause a case of vibration in the mirror from time to time
http://www.luckyjdr.homestead.com/impala.html
I have 1800 miles on my 01/01 impala and the only thing it needs is to have the roof mouldings replaced.
The build date is on the driver's side door and on the invoice.
PS... I should go into advertising...
These cars have excellent power, AWESOME brakes, stand-out-from-the-crowd styling, and great comfort. As with ANY new design, there were a couple of issues with the first re-issue of the Impala (2000 model year). These have been resolved.
Obviously nobody can comment on long-term reliability, but my '98 Lumina that I had before the Impala went 112,000km in the three years I had it and all I did was change the oil (EVERY 5000 km) and replace the front brake pads at 93,000km (didn't even need the rotors turned). If the Impala team took any cues from the Lumina team, I'd say reliability should be okay.
Brad
88.7 which is what it was set to.
The *lifers* here at this bbs will remember in the early daze of radio discussion it was thought the rear speakers were the incorrect units. Then some body found out the it was the poor functionality of the rear AMP.
Last night I would swear I felt / heard a *pop* that reminded me of the cradle mount *pop* that was trouble in these early cars....... I hope not.
Tony
I have also experienced the same thing in other vehicles, I think if the hill is steep enough, it will just let go.
Paul
The AIR FILTER was CLOGGED TO THE MAX!
Holy Smoly! When I installed the new one( A Fram for 19.99 CDN, GM wanted 40.00! Whatever)wow, what a difference! You can hear the Engine slurp the air in. And the starting and idle is like new again!
I wonder if that is why I had the "Service Vehicle Soon" light?
Watch those Air Filters Folks!
Paul
Summary after two years -- very satisfied.
14.5k miles, mostly short trips in the city, about 15% highway speeds. Oil/Filter changed frequently, tires rotated at 7500 miles.
Problems to date:
* High-pitched whine from A/C blower after 4 months. Dealer diagnosed and fixed immediately.
* "Popping" engine cradle. Dealer diagnosed and fixed immediately.
* Slight, very infrequent engine hesistation after starting. Waiting for TSB or other mention of a known fix. Almost impossible to duplicate at will.
* Two interior panel rattles. Located and fixed by self.
* Rear driver side door tended to stick slightly. Problem worked itself out after 6 months.
Complaints:
* Trunk and door panels appear to be ill-fitting, although there is no leakage.
* Center console is cheaply made.
* Would like to be able to defeat interior lighting when arriving home at night with kids asleep in car.
* How to trigger car alarm and wake neighbors: Stop car, put in park, remove key, pop trunk, open door, lock doors, close door, open trunk.
* Front rubber air dam scraping against driveway. I know it doesn't hurt it but it sounds awful.
* Would love a tachometer instead of that huge gas gauge that comes with the base model.
* 60/40 bench should have 40 on driver side. When center is occupied want the 60 side (with the center passenger) to be moved back all the way to compensate for air bag.
Things I like:
* Drive/handling/ride. Bought car for utility, these are nice pluses.
* Ergonomics. Pull light, keyhole-on-dashboard, steering wheel radio controls, steering wheel, CC, blinkers, wipers.
* Seats. Just great.
* Wiper sprayers. Good design.
* Auto-on lights.
* RDS radio system.
* Heated seats on such a low-priced car.
* Large trunk. Nice design to keep water out.
* Hydraulic Hood.
* Engine layout. Easy to do oil change.
* Safety ratings.
* Tires. Great performance. Have not needed new air in 2 years.
Overall a purchase I'd make again in a heartbeat. Expect to keep this car for at least another 6 years.
I've had this w/ all my cars w/ Cruise and all tht I can recall driving. This isn't a problem w/ cruise control - if you roll a car down a hill it will increase in speed unless you apply the brakes.
No GM passenger car cruise control has ever had the ability to apply the brakes.
A month or so ago, I related how a dealer ordered me an 01 loaded base, and then mistakenly sold it as part of dealer inventory. Some believed the mistake, most did not. In any case, after profuse apologies, and an alleged revamp of their inventory check-in' process (plus two of the new people on staff re-trained to handle inventory), they tried to order me an 02, with the same specs.
At first they were not sure they could get the order in, but then they confirmed that the car is supposed to be built during the week of July 23, with delivery around the first week in August. Said they would give me dealer cost because of the mistake they made. At the time, they did not yet have the pricing information on the 02, so I do not know how that translates. In addition, part of the original price I negotiated for the 01, included a $750 rebate, which I am guessing will not be in effect on the 02, in August, but I am expecting to pay less than my 01 price anyway. My questions are: 1) Is my expectation on pricing fair, and 2) where is the information on any of the 02 cars? If these bad-boys are due out in four weeks, don't we usually see reviews, pics, etc., on Edmunds, Carpoint, etc. I know the Impala has only minor changes (dual heating standard, etc.), but where are the reviews, and pics for any of the new cars?
Thanks
Frank
cgn, we've got a lot of Impala fans on this site, and many have had problems. But the vast majority have had minor (or at least fixable) problems and cars built after 12/00 seem to be great. I wouldn't hesitate to get one if I were you.
I was just on vacation to Colorado. A 3000+ mile trip in nine days. What a pleasure!! I used the cruise extensively on fairly hilly roads (not the mountain grades though) and found the cruise to be well behaved both uphill and downhill. The cruise will not downshift to slow the car (or apply the brake) on a down-grade. However, the tranny did seem to engage on down slopes therefore allowing the engine to slow the vehicle back to set-point without user intervention. It wasn't perfect but was obviously programmed to try. I was impressed.
On the long uphill and downhill mountain grades the cruise wasn't practical to use so I didn't. It's too difficult to maintain exact speed on ups and downs and sharp, slow turns, etc.
I do not know if its me, but the car even new seems noisier than my current Lumina 99,it is me ?
Tire noise specially,what do you think ?
And now just to make you realize how lucky you are peoples from the US,that here in Canada we have(not really if we negociate)to pay for a base Impala 2001,with 1SB,upgraded radio,custom seat 60/40 elec.on one side,dual climate zone, $ 28475.00 msrp !!! Transport included,but not the taxes...You make me sick with your Impala at 22k!!!
have a good day,and if I have to wear hear plug I'll keep my reliable and quiet Lumina !!!
Again, thanks for your advice.
The car will quiet down some more once the nobby bits on the tires wear off. Probably around a 1000 miles or so.