Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Options
Most popular vehicles
Popular New Cars
- New Acura MDX
- New Acura RDX
- New Audi Q5
- New BMW 3 Series
- New BMW X3
- New Buick Enclave
- New Cadillac Escalade
- New Chevrolet Equinox
- New Chrysler 300
- New Dodge Challenger
- New Ford Edge
- New Ford Escape
- New Ford Expedition
- New Ford Explorer
- New Ford F-150
- New Ford Focus
- New Ford Mustang
- New Honda Accord
- New Honda Civic
- New Honda CR-V
- New Honda Fit
- New Honda Odyssey
- New Honda Pilot
- New Hyundai Elantra
- New Hyundai Santa Fe
- New Hyundai Sonata
- New Hyundai Tucson
- New Jeep Compass
- New Jeep Grand Cherokee
- New Jeep Wrangler
- New Mazda 3
- New Mazda 6
- New Mazda CX-5
- New Nissan Altima
- New Nissan Maxima
- New Nissan Rogue
- New Porsche Cayenne
- New Ram 1500
- New Subaru Crosstrek
- New Subaru Forester
- New Subaru Impreza
- New Subaru Outback
- New Tesla Model S
- New Tesla Model X
- New Toyota 4Runner
- New Toyota Camry
- New Toyota Corolla
- New Toyota Highlander
- New Toyota Prius
- New Toyota RAV4
- New Toyota Sienna
- New Toyota Tacoma
- New Volkswagen Jetta
- New Volvo XC60
- New Volvo XC90
Popular Used Sedans
- Used BMW 5 Series
- Used Chevrolet Impala
- Used Chevrolet Malibu
- Used Chrysler 200
- Used Dodge Charger
- Used Ford Fusion
- Used Ford Taurus
- Used Honda Accord
- Used Honda Civic
- Used Hyundai Elantra
- Used Hyundai Sonata
- Used Tesla Model S
- Used Toyota Camry
- Used Toyota Corolla
- Used Volkswagen Jetta
Popular Used SUVs
- Used Acura MDX
- Used Acura RDX
- Used Ford Edge
- Used Ford Explorer
- Used Honda CR-V
- Used Honda Pilot
- Used Hyundai Santa Fe
- Used Jeep Compass
- Used Lincoln Navigator
- Used Mazda CX-5
- Used Nissan Rogue
- Used Subaru Crosstrek
- Used Subaru Forester
- Used Tesla Model X
- Used Volvo XC90
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
I have done all this and now I am at the point where I am requesting the "Area Rep. (Chevrolet Motor Division)" to give assistance.
Again press your complaint with the service department- then keep going higher.
So far, I had only introduced myself and asked him if he was, in fact, the person I was looking for. He said he was. Now let's see what he has to say about the radio, and such.
If different owners send him the same complaints for the sound quality of the upgrade RDS stereo system, he might do something about the situation and mediate to find a workable solutions. Remember that product managers can excercise a lot of "influence" in the products that they have under their belts. Since the Impala is selling well, I am sure Mr. Parkinson wouldn't want unhappy Impala RDS Radio owners to voice their complaints here in the Internet. In marketing, this just makes plain sense.
I asked him to please visit this site. I also asked him if he'd mind if I passed his address on to others. We'll see what he says. He actually wasn't that hard to find, a little Web searching and I scored!
I'd give him a chance to visit us first. If he doesn't I'll have you that are interested in e-mailing him send me your e-mail addresses and I'll pass it along privately.
You, Teo, would be great to talk with this guy. I bet he'd be happy to hear from you. You seem like such a fan!
Cookie.
http://store.autotoys.com/cgi-bin/wfp53024.storefront/EN/Product/PIONEER TS A1795
He's turned me over to a fellow named Les, hopefully Les is more...?
Whatever (trying to be funny). Also, he didn't reply to my invite to visit us all here. I hope he does. For many reasons. One, to see what issues we might have with the radio/amplifier/speakers etc. and Two, to read the raves we have about the car in general.
Now if only gas would get back to a normal price (like under a buck fifty) life would be perfect.
In light of the brush off that Impala brand manager Parkinson gave cookie00, I have to concede that YOUR idea might have more merit than ever. However, going back to MY dealer is a hassle - it will take a couple hours and I'm not optimistic about an outcome. They haven't kept even one of the two simple promises they made before the sale. They promised to get me a front license plate bracket and to exchange the spoiler lid on my LS for one without when another silver Impala came in. That was over 5 weeks ago.
I'm not naive - I have little trust of car salespeople and held little hope that either would happen. Problem was the trans on my other car was shot and I NEEDED a car. The only car people who seem halfway credible are at Saturn and Toyota.
NOTE: Last night I bought a pair of 6-1/2" Kenwood speakers for the front doors (1677, $70).
Although they sounded great in the store, they have less volume in the Chevy and they don't fit!!! It seems the unique (NON STANDARD)plastic speaker frame on the inside of the door does NOT line up with the holes in the edge of the replacement speaker. The headache continues.
In the meantime, I try to stick to the CDs, which I've discovered sound better with the window or moonroof open.
What's up with that?
Unfortunetly you can't remove the speakers from the trunk but have to take out the rear shelf which can't be removed without removing the entire rear seat, but it really isn't that bad. I replaced the cheaply made factory rear speakers with some $130 4-way Pioneer 6x9's from Best Buy and it made a world of difference.
I may replace the front ones some time as well as maybe the amplifer in the future, the service manual gives the pinout for all the connections to the amplifer.
I just can't image that Chevy will actually do something about the systems they have already shipped, but maybe they will.
The problem is still the poor FM stereo radio reception. The speakers by not means are the best sounding, but by judging the good sound quality from my CD's the problem might be worsened by the "back glass" antenna.
Well, I am not giving up on GM just yet!
Cookie: Thanks for your update...don't want to bug you so much!
Since you've already done a successful speaker transplant with the 6x9s in the rear and you have the repair manual, could you please tell us what fits up front. We know from your experience that GM's response to teo quoted in post #51 was wrong where they said the rear was 7x10 and the front was 7".
I bought a pair of 6-1/2" Kenwoods for the front that won't fit. Holes don't line up.
Without an adaptor plate or some other juryrig,
I am at a loss as to what to replace the front speakers with in terms of size. Any ideas?
Thanks.
ALSO I GOT WHEEL LOCKS FOR MY LS THROUGH SUMMIT RACING FOR $16.95. THEY ARE MC GARDS, PART # MCG-24012. THEY ARE CHEAP INSURANCE. ALL MY CARS HAVE THEM. THESE ARE DESIGNED TO FIT UNDER THE CENTER CAP.
Well the manual doesn't say what the size is, it just tells you how to get them out. I didn't know exactly what size the rear ones were until I got them out and measured them and carried one to Best Buy to match up.
The manual does illustrate what someone else said in that there is a 'big' speaker and little one hanging off the side all part of the same package and it is held in with 4 screws. The book says 'remove the front door trim panel' first, although someone said you could just take the grill off, don't know haven't messed with them yet.
As for someone saying they were 7x10 I thought maybe that was metric or something since the answer was from Canada. :-) Anyways, the 6"x9" speakers fit just fine.
In case you take them out the book says to tighten the screws to 2Nm (18 lb in)... :-)
TO: Impala RDS radio/CD/cassette owners
FROM: Yuor friendz at GM management
We have read your complaints about your poor radio reception, your shrill front speakers, your lack of bass and your general dissatisfaction with the sound systems in your new Impalas.
We feel your pain. Really we do.
But we ask you - what did you expect in a $25,000 car - quality? Just kidding.
Well rest easy all. Many solutions are under consideration -
replacement speakers,
replacement amplifiers,
replacement rear window glass
(distortion-free this time) with a diversity antenna built in to solve those annoying FM signal dropouts.
Time will tell whether we actually do anything. It really depends on how many complaints we get. Since we've only heard from a half dozen of you, who knows if we'll fix it or let it slide?
In the meantime, enjoy your sound systems as much as you can. And do continue to struggle to find your own individual solutions - listening only to CDs, riding with the windows and/or sunroof open, putting a subwoofer in the trunk, replacing the 6x9 speakers in the rear or replacing those irregular front speakers we threw in just to make it a challenge.
Your efforts will save us the trouble.
At least your cars run well. Enjoy your weekends everyone. April Fool's. This is a j-o-k-e.
Has anyone replaced the amplifier yet? I am seriously considering this move and want to know if it cured the bass problem and want the installation details.
My complaint specifically addressed the extremely poor radio reception and sound quality of the upgraded system. I also took the opportunity to critique the lack of service response at my dealership.
www.chevrolet.com
I did thesame....and...no response so far. Still worth the try.
It was better ! Not great, but better.
I listened briefly to a couple of FM stations and the sound was more natural, less shrill. I can't say the bass was any stronger (on FM) but the sound was cleaner. I liked it.
If mine sounded that good, I'd be happy with it.
That would leave only the poor reception issue to be resolved.
I'm considering suggesting to GM or my dealer
that they replace my "PREMIUM SPEAKERS" with the lesser ones.
I think the antenna is powerless, or at least weak, which would not be a warranty issue.
I've GOT IT!! We could all just sing to ourselves. Or, if you like talk radio... bring your mother-in-law along for a ride, that should keep the conversation lively!
I popped in a best of Beach Boys CD that I knew very well. Those vocal harmonies and background instrumentals just did not sound right in the car. It was unnatural, lacking dynamic and frequency range, without depth or richness. Just blah and ugh - nothing I wanted to listen to.
It was really bothering me (maybe the rest of you have just given up on it). And yes I have a life, but the radio in my car has always been a sanctum for me and when it stinks out loud, that sanctum is gone. I'm ticked and there's no easy solution since that RDS radio is essential to many aspects of the car. You owners know why.
I had an idea to try an experiment. In our home, we have a very good stereo system - not audiophile quality but good consumer components. Some of the stuff is over 20 years old and still sounds great. Anyway, I took my Beach Boys CD and copied portions to audiocassette.
I transferred segments of various songs through the audio equalizer and then to tape - Maxell II.
I used the Dolby B record setting on the tape recorder. Using my EQ, I boosted the bass portions below 160Hz and boosted the highs above 6000Hz. As I recorded song segments, I alternately hit the EQ bypass switch to alter the recorded sound from EQ'd to non-EQ'd.
I then played the tape in the car with Dolby NR ON. Treble all the way down; Bass all the way up. The EQ'd segments sounded good - lots of hi fidelity - full and decent sound. The non EQ segments were dull and lifeless - just like playing the same CD in the car's own CD player.
What does that tell me? - It would appear that the car amp (in the trunk) lacks frequency range meaning it doesn't adequately play the low notes and the high notes very well on its own UNLESS the LOWS and HIGHS are artifically boosted on the source material- ie: audiotape in this experiment.
BOTTOM LINE:
IF this hypothesis is true - it points to the main problem being the AMP in the trunk. Something about it is lacking. Maybe it's under powered. Some external amps have treble, mid and bass adjusts on them or in them. Don't see any and I'm not about to open it up. Maybe somebody out there with more tech expertise than me can interpret my experiment and either confirm this notion or refute it.
After witnessing these "Dramatic" changes in sound quality performance, I have come to my own conclusions:
1) The RDS Radio Unit has nothing to do with the generally poor performance of the system. On the contrary, I think the RDS Radio is well engineered and should be no different from other fine radios designed by Delco. The "Basic" RDS Radio/Tape unit (And 6-speakers) offered on base Impalas is essentially the same Radio we have in the Impala LS. Only difference is the CD Player.
2) Speakers: They are certainly not the best units around, but they are capable of delivering decent sound quality. In my opinion, they are not the source of the problem...but they are not 100% out of the woods yet.
3)Amp: This little guy seems to be the culprit of the stereo system. I have no doubt in my mind that the amp is either underpowered or it just doesn't work. Does anyone has the output ratings for this amp?
4)Back Glass Antenna: Another sore aspect of the stereo in the car. Bad reception = Bad sound reproduction. Last night, coming back from a meeting, the reception in both AM/FM bands was the sharpest ever since I bought the car. Zero hiss, interference, noises, echoes, etc. Radio sounded great in almost every station. But that was last night. This morning back to "normal" We had a "cool" (Low 70's) and clear night here...could that be it?
So in the end this is what I envision:
* Owners will have to upgrade the amp at own expense. (Including speakers).
* GM, if it ever responds, will provide a fix for the antenna.
I am planning to visit a good Car Stereo shop here in town during the weekend. I'll try to explore the possibility of replacing the AMP with a more powerful unit. I won't even bother with the speakers for the time being.
Dura, same as you, a good sounding car stereo is a must for me. Thanks for the time you invest in those "experiments"...the results, I think, seem to be very conclusive.
The simplest example is when thunder storms cause audible static in radio broadcasts. Activity on the sun (like sun spots) effect radio and TV on Earth! When our side of the world rotates daily away from the sun (at night) the sun's effects on the atmosphere are no longer an issue - that is until we rotate into the sun's light the next morning. Night time reception is usually better.
Radio always travels much further at night.
In fact, by law, some small stations in this country are licensed by the FCC to operate dawn to dusk ONLY. This is because they are geographically located too close to other stations
on the same frequency (number)on the dial. In the daytime - not a problem. But at night with the signals traveling as much as 10 times the distance, their signals would overlap. Therefore, some stations, actually have to sign off before sunset. Other stations actually have to reduce their transmitter power at night for the same reason. (We have a "clear channel" powerhouse
AM station in Philly that reaches 35 states at night! It's 1210AM, WPHT (formerly WCAU).
Always appreciate your thoughts Teo. Although I find this forum a release, I wish these radio problems would get solved very soon. Nobody buys a new car expecting to encounter problems with a radio. This is real basic stuff. I've never had a worse sounding radio in any car I owned - even the AM only radio in my first car in the late 60s. This really is absurd.
duraflex, if you don't mind, please send me your E-Mail address. I have a question for you.
For those who have not yet contacted GM:
The web address is:
www.chevrolet.com
Click on "CONTACT US" at top of screen
Click on "CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE" along left edge in next screen
Click on "E-mail us..." within text.
Fill in the blanks and spell out your complaint
The 800# is there too if you'd rather call.
Be polite but firm in your dissatisfaction.
Flying off the handle will not win friends and influence people.
Inquired Vehicle: Malibu
Comments:
I purchase a 2000 Chevy Impala LS at the
end of last summer. Since then I have
been very disappointed with the sound-
system provided with the vehicle.
The biggest problem is the bass response
from the radio. My feeling is that the
amplifier in the trunk is lacking in
quality. I have heard from Impala
owners who don't have this amplifier that
they are happy with the system. Why is my
"premium" sound system not performing as
well?
Please reply to this concern. I have
heard from many internet chatters that
your reponse to these types of inquiries
is below poor. Please make your customers
feel that they have made the right choice
of buying Chevy products by responding to
concerns. Your name is being quite
tarnished on the internet and I foresee
your repeat-purchase rates diminishing due
to this.
Sincerely..............................
Thank you for your Internet communication. We apologize for any dissatisfaction you have with the sound system in your 2000 Impala. If you feel that there is something mechanically wrong, please
see your Chevrolet Dealership so that they may test the factory equipment. However, comments from
current and prospective owners, keep us aware of customer expectations. We have forwarded your
comments to Chevrolet Brand Management for their review. If you have a any further questions,
please feel free to E-mail us again.
Sincerely,
Vicki Kazerooni, CRM
Internet Response Center
Chevrolet Motor Division
In some amplified systems the loudness contour of the audio system is disabled. Could this be the cause of your concerns? Loudness would boost both bass and trebel when the radio is set at a lower volume level (roughly below 75% of maximum).
How can the loudness setting be checked for inside the amp? I don't think the "loudness" is working at all.
Based on these findings, the amp seems to be responsible for the lackluster sound frequency management. Could the problem be:
1. Amp factory settings done incorrectly?
2. Underpowered amp?
3. Defective amp?
Audioguy, have you considered replacing just the amp? If so, what would be your amp of choice?
I don't know why the got posted as anonymous.
Ron
Last week I took the car to a car audio specialist, and asked his opinion on the sound and any possible fixes. [He laughed when I told him he'd be seeing lots of Impalas!]. Anyway, he listened, played with the volume, tone, etc., and then told me the radio really lacked clear, HIGH TREBLE!? Go figure....he thought the problem was largely the speaker placement: too low on the door, with no dash speakers. His only solutions were (1) Add tweeters to the small panel at the lower front edge of the window, which requires custom-fitting panels for about $400...(2) Since the bass was also not great, add a sub-woofer either under the dash (behind the storage bin, about $600) or in the trunk (about $400).
While his prices sounded outrageous, his opinion was interesting: sounds like we're missing both some lows and some highs...so, is it the amp? Or the speakers (placed too low in front and/or too weak in the rear)?
1) We could bypass the amp by disconnecting the large plug and jumpering the feeds to the returns. This would prove if the amp is working or if the radio sounds better without it. We could demo this to the dealer.
2) Knowing the exact pin function on the plugs one could possibly try a amp from another manufacture by making a conversion harness.
Audio guy or anyone else who would like to try this idea out let me know. I could fax you the info from the service manual.
Has anyone had success with this approach?
If so, what did they do and how does it sound?
----------------------
I'm coming up on 1900 miles and will be taking the car in soon for its first visit.
This is how I wanted them to compare the sound, but they refused to even listen to a car without the amplifier. They say that my radio OK and is normal. No Help!!!
I test drove a new impala in Nov. 99 it had the base radio for the IMpala, which is AM/FM Cassett
only, and 6 speakers -- NO amp. It sounded fine. I placed my order for the new impala in Nov. 99. A week after placing my order I decided to add the WX9 option, which adds a wiring harness to the trunk for a CD-changer.
When I took delivery in Feb. 00, to my surprise I descovered that a AMPLIFIER was also added as part of this option. So I went back and checked many new stocked impalas and behold this is where I could really hear the difference in sound quality. I had the Fleet Manager, the Sales Manager, and two salesmen listen to the two different radios (with and without the amplifier) and they ALL agreeded that there is a better bass sound and quality of sound without the amplifier. However, the service manager still insist that there my radio is operating as designed. --- These people are not radio electronic technicans!!!! They only trouble shoot from a readable meter which may or maynot give them a trouble code. Where do we go from here?????