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Comments
Did you hear the 2001 amp?
We should all complain. It's a legitimate gripe. The thing is worthless and we paid extra for it. By GM changing it, they in effect, have admitted it was no good.
No different to me than changing the rear wheel liners because they were defective or replacing the intermediate steering shaft - which I just had done this week. THAT steering shaft should have been a RECALL, no ifs, ands or buts.
I was (am) considering an aftermarket amp. However I do not want to cut into the harness. So I am still on the lookout for a supplier of the plug that mates up with the amp harness in the trunk.
I would really like to pursue this via GM/Chevy to make them replace the old amps, but I'm not sure how to start the process. Only money probably matters to GM, so in my opinion I just have to become a more-than-$200 nuisance to them ;-)
Any suggestions? How many on this forum with the old amp (bypassed or not) would be willing to raise the issue to GM?
(Oh, the service rep did get back to me - he said the new amp is compatible with the old system, so you could just plug it in. For some reason it doesn't work the other way around, though, but who would want to do that anyway)
From what I've read from other posters, I am curious to hear the new model amp used in the 2001.
IF the new amp sounds as it should, I intend to pusue it for a warranty replacement. Nathan - I would take your word for it - based on your on your apparent technical expertise.
I am not looking for Alpine audiophile quality - just a good "stock" factory system. I would actually be almost satisfied with the bypass IF GM had just supplied us with some custom bypass plugs. As it is - the sound is acceptable but that bypass still looks tacky in a new $25,000 car.
My 2001 has the "good" amp and I am thrilled with the sound. No, it could never be mistaken for an audiophile-grade system, but it is the best factory stereo I've ever had.
I am normally very quick to upgrade my car's stereo, but I have no intention of touching this one, other than possibly replacing the speakers with aftermarket drop-ins.
I still would like to meet someone in the Kansas City area with one of the bad amps so I can hear it.
Dave
hvan: can you check the model # of your amp?
I have a 2001 LS with a build date of 11/2000. Amp model No. is 10432572, or in other words, the old (bad) amp. Sounds like crap at low volume. I think we've got it narrowed as we have at least two posters with build dates of 12/2000 with the good amp. I want to hear this newer amp. Does it make a huge difference, or does the bypass setup (which I haven't tried yet)give superior sound quality? I'm all for going after GM on this one. Let me know how I might help.
Model: 10309548
Ref #: CY-BG2911ZC
Ser #: 603559
This AMP sounds terrific. More Bass than I can possibly use, I've even had to tone it down a couple of notches to keep from swamping my tunes with too much LF stuff. There was some speculation on the Sedans board that the lower model # indicated an older AMP. I don't know if this is necessarily true, but it *is* apparent that GM is putting a *different* (better) AMP in it's newer models, implying that the previous AMP wasn't up to snuff.
I think those of you with the previous AMP have a good case to help you get your units replaced. They're not functioning as designed, and there's a new unit that GM is currently using that should be swappable for the old unit. I'd be hard pressed to see how this wouldn't be a warranty issue.
Serial Number: 475186
Model: 10432572
Ref: CY-BG2911ZC
As I said before, it sounds fine to me. No problem with bass. This unit has met my expectation for a "GM" product. Obviously, it's not anywhere near the same quality as my home theater system.
Btw, I sent an inquiry to Matshushita Electronics (manufacturer of the amps) regarding the differences in them. I'll keep you posted when/if I hear anything from them..
Anyway, if we should come up with an e-mail 'forum' for the amp replacement thing (we might not want everything said be on the 'net), feel free to e-mail me (check the profile for address).
What's the news on your modulated changer? I never heard whether you got it installed, or what the verdict was?
As for Hutton, Kim is great, she was kind enough to refund the shipping charges I had incurred to ship back the other unit which was 14.00, I thought that was decent of her...
first, my car: 2000 dark jade green impala ls
second, amp bypass: Did mine today, unbelievable. Sound quality went up, overall volume level went up, bass really went up. A great thanks to all who contributed to the amp bypass project. Just to throw my two cents in, looking at the picture on nathan's impala site it looks like whoever did that one used the top and bottom sets of holes. Don't know how everyone else did theirs but the center set of holes is actually what plugs into the amp. I found some solid copper 18 guage wire that fits perfectly in the center rows to the point where it doesn't fall out easily. Bent the excess wire around the plug and taped it up. But anyway, hope I don't blow my speakers.
All this of course doesn't explain why I got crappy sound from my amp and it now sounds better if I have the newest amp, unless there is a third amp...more to follow.
So where do I sign for the petition for GM to replace my old USELESS amp on my '00 LS impala?
I'm just wondering why some 2000 model owners opted to just bypass the amp, when they can now perhaps get a brand new amp???
What was the model # of your amp again?
The 2000's stereo was wimpy sounding, had virtually no bass and sound quality at very low volume levels was nothing sort of a thin can...terrible. With the By-pass, things improved significantly, however.
But the 2001 stereo is a blast..powerful sounds, deep rich bass and clear highs...a total audiophile's delight! This is what a REAL amp is suppossed to do...to Improve the quality of the sound, not to diminished it.
GM obviously was aware of the problem for a long time and the new 'revised' AMP appears to have been introduced 'mid-year' during the 2001 Impala production (Around 12/00).
GM IMO, will not replace the defective 2000 amps by their own initiative. That would be a huge massive recall for a component that in reality doesn't affect the safety or operation of the car...in other words, they are not forced to do so.
However, most 2000 Impala LS owners (And base owners with the upgrade stereo) paid extra for the a better quality sound system and in turned they got short changed. My suggestion to everyone here is to complain as loudly as possible...rattle the Lion's cage!
Here is what I think everyone should do:
1. Call GM/Chevy customer service (Probably an useless endeavor)and make sure you express you complete dissatisfaction with the upgrade stereo.
2. Have the customer service representative open a Case/Customer file. Write down the reference number given to you for your file.
3. Ask to get the Service Manager at you local dealership directly involved in your complaint and also request for Chevy Customer service to arrange a meeting with the Service Manager directly this way GM and your dealership are officially responsible to properly handle your complaint with regular follow-ups in their part.
4. Document your conversations with the GM/Chevy representative. Write down names, call times, etc.
5. Forget about walking into the dealership's service dept and expect the service advisor to handle your complaint. Service advisors are often low level employees with very limited decision making. Get the Service Manager Involved by having GM arrange the Service appointment with him/her.
5. Once either the GM/Chevy customer service represemtative or the Service Manager initiates contact with you to confirm the time and date of your appointment, then proceed to get as many print outs as possible from all the posts pertaining to the radio problem found here in this forum. Knowledge is power and the more information ammunition you have, the better results you can expect.
6. make your appointment with the service manager as frugal as possible. Plan to spare at least 1 hour or so to make the most out of your visit to the dealer. Make sure that the Service Manager listens to your 2000 issue radio (if you have the by-pass undo it so he/she can hear for themselves how bad sounding the unit is). Then have the Service Manager pull up a new 2001 Impala with the upgrade stereo system. Have him/her compare the sound quality and fully acknowledge that the sound in your 2000 Impala is simply UNACCEPTABLE.
7. Hint:: Bring a good quality CD/Tape to make the sound comparison a lot easier.
8. Once the Service Manager acknowledges the problem, tell him/her that you would like for GM to swap or replace the 2000 trunk amp for the new 'revised' unit under the terms of the satisfaction provided by limited warranty. Make an emphasis on saying that you believe the 2000 amp is defective, therefore GM should replace it with the new working unit. Don'
t offer to pay for it yourselves!!!!!!
9. Follow up with your Service Manager and Chevy Customer service until GM makes good on the warranty and replaces the unit.
10. Last but not least, make yourselves acquinted with the part numbers for the old and new revised amps.
Good luck, if you have any questions, please let me know.
One important thing to remember in all of this is DON'T YELL, SWEAR, RANT, RAVE, BERATE, BELITTLE, INSULT, NAME-CALL, ETC ETC ETC. Although you might be completely pissed (particularly if you don't get the responses you want) it is CRITICAL that you remain calm, respectful, and professional through the entire process. You'll have a much higher chance at success this way than in you try the bully approach.
Just my $0.02 (Cdn).
PS:: I saw your pre-delivery pics of your '01 LS Navy Blue...beatiful ride! Enjoy!
The plot thickens though, as Kennbuzz and other 2k1 owners list their booster amp part number as 10309548, this from 04-01 build date. I have not spoken to my service manager yet but from the conversation I had with him yesterday I was of the opinion he would order the new amp and swap them out. He told me to wait on opening a case file until he knew for sure we would need to do that. My dealer is very interested in making me happy so I'm hoping that I won't have to "go thru the motions" to get this done. I'l update more when I hear more...
This is not a done deal, he said only that he will order the part, though I'm not sure why it's listing the part as "not available" I'm sure there are ways they can get one...I will keep you updated.
They agreed to order the 103 (2001 amp).
They said the 103# didn't check out and what they received was a 104 (2000 amp) instead.
I already have a 104 in my car which I bypassed almost a year ago. I am not about to spend half a day waiting for them to install an identical unit I know to be junk just to see if it might sound better. I already know it won't.
My best guess is that GM has an awful lot of these worthless 104 amps already built and in stock and are simply trying to unload (read DUMP) them on folks requesting warranty replacements. The unknowing multitudes won't hear the difference - they hope. In reality, GM knows the 10432572s are junk and that's why the replaced them with the 10309548s in the new Impalas.
Where do we go from here? This has been a colossal and unnecessary waste of time and energy just to get a decent sounding audio system.
Last week I checked the rear shelf speakers and they are still being built by Matsushita in Mexico. I think it would be worth making sure that the speakers (Part numbers) did not change from one year to the next....this will minimize the chance for unwanted surprises.
I believe the Radio head unit to be unchanged (Internally) but I have no certainty about this.
I hope that the only item in the sound system that was changed is the amp itself.
I am tired of having my bass and volume cranked to hear some decent bass.
Also, does anyone know how to remove the rear speakers? They are 6X9 right?
Thanks!
John
As far as climbing into the trunk vs. climbing into the back seat, they are about the same to me being as big as I am!