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I picked up my car yesterday and the service manager didn't find any problems with my car (re the hesitation and stuttering on start-up). He said he couldn't duplicate the problem and that he'd ran extensive tests (some type of electrical scan--I forget what he called it) to see if there were any error codes and he didn't find any. The car was running at GM spec! He asked me what kind of gas I was using and I told him that I was using a higher grade than regular (usually mid octane level). Anyway, he thinks that the gas I use may be the problem, he said the engines were built to use "regular unleaded" gas, not the higher octanes and that higher octanes tend to cause more damage to this type engine, than good. He suggested I use Chevron regular. Funny thing, the car has not hesitated nor stuttered once since I picked it up!! It runs really well. It just may be the gas. Some months ago, I started alternating octanes when I filled up, maybe my engine need consistency to run smoothly! I guess I'll go back to using regular.
Prime example is the smooth and troublefree operation of my 3800 V6 engine ever since I switched to Exxon 89 and Exxon Supreme 93 gas....the difference has been like night and day and better MPG to boot.
It really makes me angry when a sleazy Service Manager talks BULL just because he is dealing with a woman. No wonder my wife hates going to the dealer to get her car serviced by herself.
Sweetpolly, do yourself a BIG favor. Time to change dealers! And also, try with plenty of confidence Exxon 89 or 93 gas. You'll be glad you did.
Ken
Personally, I don't care for these behemoths. they have found a niche market among Police Depts and Taxi cab companies where they rightfully belong. They are safe, solid and have 'Body-on-frame' construction which in many ways is better than the solid 'monocoque' construction in most cars nowdays. But to me they look tailored for old people, at least the civilian versions. These cars are pricey (a decent equipped one goes for around $28K) have loads of room and a football field sized trunk. Too big for my needs and taste. Drives and handles like a boat. Just to think of dealing with a FORD product again for service gives me plenty of 'Goose bumps'. No thanks...Fix and Repair Daily had their chance with me and they screwed up..and continue on doing so to thousands of new and current FoMoCo customers.
I'll buy a Chrysler before I go back to Ford ;-)
PS: Yes, I still think the Crown Victoria is ARCHAIC...its basic design dates back to 1977.
Hence, it began. It took approximately three to four weeks for GM to say they would buy the car back. Then another four weeks for them to fax ONE piece of paper for me to sign. Then another two weeks-three weeks for the checks to arrive. During this time, I would call the dealer once a week or so to follow up and he would say things like, "well, I've left a message and that's all I can do". In the meantime, I found GM's website and just started calling numbers until I got a live person, who in turn, put me in touch with my case manager. He wasn't alot of help in moving the process along, but at least I could find out where we were and what the next steps would be.
My two concerns were the length of time it took to complete and the mileage they based the buy back on. The first time I took it in, they replaced the rack in the steering. Second time they said nothing was wrong, so I took it to another dealership. They called GM technical who advised replacement of the cradle. Lastly(it must have only been four times, not five), I was told to take it back to the selling dealer, which was the forth time. They also called GM Tech, as noted above. Mileage was calculated at the time of the second call to GM tech. I felt that it should have been prorated to the time the car was first taken in or at the very least, the first time GM tech was called. I lost out on that one; again the safety factor being a major concern, I needed to get out of the car asap and was afraid negotiations would take several more weeks. Lastly, since it took so long to get me the check, more interest had accrued from when the payoff was gotten. In a nutshell, I was able to pay off the car with about $130.00 left over.
One other thing to keep in mind, they bought the car back based on purchase price only, it did not include t,t and t. If I had purchased another car from that dealer, they would have forgone t, t and t on the new vehicle. The only other one I was slightly interested in was the Impala, but from this forum, I knew it had the same difficulty.
So, it wasn't so short and sweet, but there ya' go.
Good luck and keep us posted.
The car looks like a flying brick and the hood stretches to the next corner (actually only half way down the block - my 72 DeVille hood stretched to Montana!)
New models with the performance and handling package actually ride and handle almost as well as the Impala LS. I was very impressed by that package when I tried one a while back - but the car still has the same basic shape as '92 when this edition came out. At least the landau roof is no longer std (aftermarket add on now). There is no bucket seat option yet and the interior is obviously designed for people who have vision impairment (large easy to read radio controls, etc). I can attest to the fact that the trunk will swallow two Christmas trees simultaneously (or some number of wheelchairs).
One feature often forgotten on this car is towing capacity - the old models like mine are fine for pulling my 2500 lb boat or a camper - I don't think the new ones are similarly rated and don't know why. That was the determining factor for me prior to buying the wife's Suburban.
Parking my new Bonnie between the old Grand Marquis and the Suburban really accentuates the sexy styling on my new love! (Heart is fluttering!)
For what it's worth
Ken
1) Finance charges if you took a bank loan
interest paid is not refundable to you by
neither the bank or the car manufacturer
(I am sure there are exceptions to this
depending on the severity of the case)
2) Any incentives used in connection with the
purchase, such as Rebates, Certificates,
vouchers, special financing, Credit card points, etc. (There have been cases where consumers recup these incentives via a "Trade-buyback" getting a different model replacement vehicle from the manufacturer or if they fought hard during a normal re-purchase procedure.
3)Any dealer installed or aftermarket accessories installed in the vehicle. Good reason to never spend too much $$$$ on expensive and difficult to remove add ons just in case the car turns out to be a Lemon.
4) Mileage used prior to the first time the problem was reported. The higher the mileage at the time of a buyback, the higher the 'hit'. The most common formula used to determine a fee for miles used is Mileage used / 100,000 = Cost in cents per mile. If GM buys back my car today at say 13,000 miles, then based on the calculating formula I will be charged around $.13 cents per mile, times 13K miles = $1,690.00. So if you wait to have your car repurchased with even higher miles, the greater the money loss it would be. However, there have also been cases where consumers get awarded a waiver on mileage used.
In the end, one needs to calculate to see if having the car bought back or replaced makes much more financial sense than say keeping it or simply trading the vehicle and absorb the loss. Sometimes it makes much sense to cut your losses and have the car buyback or replaced. In other instances it makes more sense to accept an extended warranty offer and keep the car or simply trading it in for another vehicle. There are no 2 ways right about it.
The Bonnie is a 747 compared to the Grand Marquis...by the way...do you like the way the dashboard lights up at night in the Bonnie?
Does Impala have this lighting effect? Bonnie has red backlighting - is Impala red as well? Maybe Corvette uses this. If not, Chevy ought to pick up on this whenever they freshen the interior - it is AWESOME
Ken
Need to know if this ever happens to me. I have a 2001LS with only 800 miles.
Thanks
Pontiac and BMW (At least until recently) uses red backlit instruments...looks cool but some people say this is not too easy on the eyes. the red lighting for the instruments was used extensively in aviation for many years.
My favorite dashboard illumination aside from the Pontiac, is the one found in new Volkswagens...looks sooo cool. Its a very subdued blue light that washes the instruments, combined with red pointers (Red means action)..superb and one of the most original instrumentation layouts in any new cars.
But as often with many imports, power window, locks, etc switches are not illuminated at night. The cheapos and champs in poor interior illumination are the Japanese in my opinion.
Has your steering shaft pretty much held up? Have you had the need to repeat the repair?
I wonder why the paint undercoat is white? Seems to me, they should have primed it gray. If you take your car to a paint shop, don't they prime your car grey? It just seems odd that whenever paint is scraped off the car, you see white!
What's most common color where you live?
Ken
http://www.forbes.com/2001/01/26/0126flint.html
tpken: your Grand Marquis and my Vic must be close cousins... congrats on the Bonnie!
traitor... j/k!
I'm sure lovin the Bonnie. My Grand M has been super for the job it did - hauling the family around prior to the Suburban, pulling the boat back n forth to camp, cruising 50 miles to work n back every day and it's still got many miles left to go but looks sooooo old. Those opera lights are soooo stylish!
Ford knows they have a winner for the AARP set and a few of us family guys that like the smooth ride and need the power for towing.
Even so, they've messed with new parts too - using a plastic intake manifold that has been cracking and causing major engine failure (4.6L) without any prior warning. At least the guys with Impala cradle and steering issues can hear it coming.
Can you imagine a CEO riding in the back of his Lincoln limo - stranded on the side of the road waiting for AAA to tow him? heheheheh
Maybe that's why the W limo is a Cad - usually they alternate with Lincoln and it would have been Ford's turn this time but for some reason it's a Cadillac again.
Have a great day all - it's cold and gray looking here and we have 2 of 3 kids sick - should be a blast!
Ken
Sweetpolly, I posted your problem and also marked it "resolved." I also think the dealer's suggestion is highly suspect. If the octane was the case and your car runs great after being at the dealer, did they empty your gas tank and re-fill it with regular? In any case, it's great news that your car is ok again. Maybe it missed the dealer and wanted to visit. I swear this happens to all my stuff. Small irritating problems that dissapear once it is in the shop.
http://home.hawaii.rr.com/impala/
my biggest gripe with the Impala is FWD... good in winter, but I like the feel of RWD...
Ken
Ken
Good Luck!
Ken
Ken:: Nope I haven't seen the Bronze Mist Metallic in person, but the color does look gorgeous in the catalog...I'll be looking at the cars next week in hopes that I can find a LS wearing this beautiful color. It appears to be as exclusive as the year 2000 Auburn Nightmist Metallic, only much more beautiful, classy and rare for 2001. The interior is Neutral.
Shamino::: Fuel tank capacity should be 15 Gallons (Correct me if I am wrong). The first time the 'Low Fuel' message lights up in the 'Message Center' you should have about 2 to 3 gallons left in the tank reserve and a range of about 40 to 50 miles according to the trip computer. This depends on the actual MPG that the car is reporting at the time.
My service manager told me they currently have one Police cruiser Impala...he will let me take a peek under the car to check out the cradle hopefully sometime next week.
I am still very INTERESTED to receive responses of current 2001 Impala owners to see if they have also experienced any cradle/intermediate steering shaft problems. At this point it is very likely that I will be making the move to a 2001, but feedback is always greatly appreciated.
When I was a little kid I remember watching it dubbed to the Spanish language...I still watch the re-runs...in English of course.
Can you send us some pics of a new Y2K Impala LS optioned with the 'Police Package'??
Don't get me wrong, In despite of my 2 major problems in 11 months of ownership, I still believe the Impala is a great car and a superb value. The front end issues (Cradle/steering shaft) need to be addressed by GM and PRONTO if they don't want to further damage the good reputation the Impala and Montecarlo have enjoyed with the automotive press, consumer reports and the public in general.
The specific problems with my car are simply unacceptable. However, I have been, so far, very satisfied with GM's response and my dealer's treatment and genuine sense of customer service during the duration of these problems. The moment of 'truth' wil come this week when the GM Zone rep will make known his final decision on replacing my car for a new 2001 Impala LS. I still enjoy this car and look forward to continue my Impala ownership (Erase, and begin the count again) with a new car that I am sure will not give me another 2 or 3 major issues during the first few years of ownership. I have not yet lost my faith in GM and the Impala, so I am more than willing to give it a second full chance provided that GM and my dealer carry out with their promises and can ultimately go out of their way and completely regain my confidence in the product by making me truly satisfied. Everyhting right now is pointing in that direction, so I hope a FINAL resolution is reached very soon.
If GM truly begins to pay much more attention to certain quality control aspects of this car, it would make it almost 'just' perfect and would avoid the unnecessary headaches and frustrations (And money losses) that come whenever a new vehicle needs major repairs. The Steering shaft problem, my previous A/C compressor problem and the engine cradle situation are examples of some of the things that GM could have perfectly been able to avoid in order to make the product nearly flawless in execution. the day GM starts to pay attention to some quality control issues, they will save themselves big headaches as well as the customer.
C'mon GM, you could have avoided my 2 major repairs in 11 months of ownership if you had been a bit more careful. Now you are gonna have to replace my car for a 2001...guess which resolution will be more expensive in the end for GM...
*Platour
*Night_Owl
*2k_Impala_LS
It would be great if you can also take some good close ups of the engine cradle structure from your Police Cruiser fleet. Pics of the interior of the vehicles, engine compartment would be a good addition as well.
Based on your comments, it appears to be that the Impala Police vehicles have held up pretty well for you with minimal problems. Between 11K and 19K miles in a cruiser is almost the equivalent to 50K to 70K on a civilian car. Indeed, the Police cars are taking a good beating so it seems.
Question....how do the Police package Impalas measure up against the Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptors? Likes and dislikes of both vehicles? Which one has exhibited better reliability and better maintenance costs? Do you think the Impala Police package has a good chance to be adopted by Law Enforcement agencies?
Thanks for your perspectives.
Also, you own a new 2001 Civilian Impala LS....How's the car has been so far? Any engine cradle or intermediate steering shaft problems? How's the leather interior holding up (I currently have the LS sport cloth seats which have hold up pretty well, but I am open to upgrade to leather also)...any noted differences between the 2000 and 2001 Impala civilian versions in these areas??
Last, I have read some of the 'Bumper Bash' test result from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety safety website (www.highwaysafety.org)and these valuations have shown that the current Impala front and rear bumpers are very weak and can easily be damaged (At great $$$$) on a typical fender bender encounter. The institute conduct two sets of tests to determine bumper strength..one is the "Reverse into a pole test" and the other one is the "Bumper Bash" test conducted at 5MPH. While the rest of the car is pretty much built like a tank, the bumpers don't seem to measure up well at this time. I am surprised to hear that the Police Package Impala vehicles don't have reinforced bumpers and are using the same identical units installed in civilian cars.
Next Tuesday night, the news program "Nightline MSNBC" will feature on their program a report on how the bumpers on the most popular new vehicles for sale on the market hold up against low speed fender benders. The ratings will show which cars have good bumpers (I suspect Volkswagens will pass with flying colors) and which ones have the weakest, most expensive to repair units....if they show the Impala bumper performance I don't think it will be a pretty sight either....but I recommend to watch Nightline next tuesday to see this interesting report.
Thanks again and keep enjoying those Impalas.
The center console is pretty easy to readjust, it just takes a few minutes. Inside the console compartment box, remove the bottom rubber pad. Right underneath it, you'll find 6 screws that hold the bulk of the entire rear console section and console box. There are 4 7mm black screws and two 'silver' 10mm screws located on the center on the center of the pod (again inside the console compartment). Re-tight these using a ratchet driver (I would strongly suggest using a ratchet driver for very small or tight spaces..I got one at Sears for this chore..paid $23.00). You'll be surprised on how 'loose' these screws are. Re-torque them carefully and after finished try to 'wiggle' the console side to side....it should not move and feel solid to even a slight amount of hand applied pressure.
Now, the front section of the console is held up by two black 10mm screws on each side of the console right under the joint where the console assembly meets the main center dashboard (Screws are located at the height of the accelerator pedal)its a bit of a stretch to get there but go ahead and re-torque these screws carefully. Do the 'wiggle' test again and it should be just perfect. I don't know if there are other screws located right under the black plastic ring the sorrounds the tranny shifter...may be since Joe has the Impala service manual he can find out that for us and how to get to those screws in the middle section of the console (If they exist).
Finally, apply some WD-40 or similar lubricant to the joints in the console to minimize 'plastic to plastic' rubbing noises and squeaks. After this your console should be as tight and good as news and again it takes only 10 to 15 minutes to eliminate any rattles from it.
Night_owl::: Suggestion...can you dedicate a section with photos as to how to re-adjust and eliminate rattles from the center console? Thanks!
http://home.hawaii.rr.com/impala/
Teo, just e-mail me or post the a/c info. Mileage, date, description of problem and fix. I can get the rest off of your other report. Also, what browser are you using and what program are you using for e-mail?
As soon as I get my digital camera back, I'll work on a console squeek page. Does anyone else have suggestions for how-to pages?
I have to admit to admit I did not follow every deatil of your clunk
adventure but am I correct in that the cradle was left untouched?