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I have 2005 Chevy Impala which is a company car. In a little over a year I have put over 50,000 miles on it. I'm glad I'm not the owner of this car. Intermittently from the start, it has idled roughly and starts strangely where the starter keeps going. At 30,000, I took it to dealer for above problems and also for leaking fluid and the infamous clicking in the steering. Greased the steering shaft, replaced oil pan and gasket and pcv valve for idling problem. Needless to say, none of the problems were resolved. Had been really busy with work so had no time to take car in.
Well, had a flat tire around 50,000 and guess what the spare is flat. Not only is it flat, but the spare rim is cracked and came that way from the factory. Well after getting a new regular tire and going to the dealer to get a spare, I left the car at the dealer since they could not get a spare tire for a couple of days. I told them to fix the problems that they had worked on before. For leaks, they replaced transmission gasket and filter this time.
For the clicking in the steering they lubricated it again.
Well as soon as I got in the car, I checked the steering and it clicked when turned. Went back and told the service writer and he acted dumb founded. He called the service manager who went and tested it and acted like he didn't hear anything. He called another service guy who test drove it. He acknowledged the problem and said it was due to metal expanding and contracting. He said they would put lock tite on the steering column again. I told him they did that at 30,000 and it didn't work why would it work now. He said that was the only thing he knew to do and wanted to try it again. Oh now he has to order the lock tite kit and the car still smells like something is leaking. Also heard him tell the service manager "the clicking noise is same noise as with the other impalas" hmmmm!
This clicking problem on the steering dates back to the 2000 impalas. One would think in fives years that GM would have the steering problem fixed by now. It seems the clicking is getting a lot worse so now it is a safety issue.
AND GM WONDERS WHY THEY CAN'T SELL CARS WITHOUT GIVING THEM AWAY AND ARE GOING BANKRUPT!!! Go Figure.
We bought our 2000 Impala in 2002 with 16,000 miles on it. Before we even let the dealership with it I wanted the knocking in the steering fixed and the urine smell from the A/C fixed. They greased the steering shaft and cleaned out the A/C and we were on our way. Within a few months I could feel knocking in the steering again so I took the car back to the dealership. They lubed the shaft again only for the problem to return. I brought the car back in and they replaced the shaft. About a year later the knocking feeling returned and I talked to a dealership I trusted and was told it will be an on going problem and is common; it has to do with the shape of the shaft. It’s metal on metal and I was told it won’t fail so I have learned to live with it. About 6 months ago the dashboard lights, console, and all the lights by A/C switch have gone out. It doesn’t seem to be a fuse, hooked up an auto scanner (free rental from Auto Zone) and nothing popped up. The car now has 75 some thousand miles on it and has been pretty good to us, any comments about the lights not working would be great.
I have a 2001 Impala that has 182k miles on it. I put about 100 miles a day on this car driving to & from work. So far this car has been dependable. I run synthetic oil & tranny fluid always. The gas mileage, however, could be better (I get around 27 mpg on the highway with the 2.4L engine).
I also had the same problem with the Check Engine light coming on at about 70k miles. The diagnostics reported a faulty EGR vale. I had a local mechanic replace the EGR valve ($185.00). Approximately a week after a mechanic replaced the EGR valve, the Check Engine light came on again. The mechanic replaced that EGR valve with another, same thing. The mechanic that I took it to knew that there was no way that both EGR valves would be bad so he disassembled the valve. He found out that the tolerances were so tight inside the valve that the piston in the EGR valve would start to expand from the temperature of the exhaust gases, the body of the EGR valve having more surface area & subjected to cool air flowing around it would not expand as rapidly. This caused the piston to catch on the inside of the valve body.
So he took some emery cloth & polished the inside of the valve body to give the piston more clearance & reassembled the EGR valve. So far it has worked correctly since.
Mine is also having the intermittent air bag light problem. I will try reseating the wires under the seat.
The ignition switch intermittently will not work correctly. Sometimes I will have to turn the switch on & off a number of times before the starter will engage. I have seen this documented on a number of websites.
The turn signals will fail to work intermittently. I found out that GM ran the power wires for the turn signals through the emergency flasher switch. This can be remedied by turning the emergency flashers on, then off. However, turning on your emergency flashers is not a very safe thing to do while driving in congested city traffic at speed. This could have been averted, if GM would have spent another 50 cents on a higher quality flasher switch.
The cabin noise is on the high side. The seats are comfortable.
I traded in my '89 Pontiac Bonnevile (3.8L V6, 32 mpg) that had 289k miles on it for this Impala. I should have kept the Bonneville.
I will probably buy another GM car, but not another Impala.
I own a 2000 Impala, I bought the car new in Sept. 1999. I loved the car the minute I drove off the lot. Within 3 days the steering began to click and the steering wheel will turn, but not the wheels, (what a fright)!! I returned the car to the dealer and they said they had to replace the entire steering system. Well needless to say I did not want that 3 day old car with a major safety problem of that nature. After FIRM conversation the dealer replaced the car with an exact duplicate. Within months the 2nd car began the clicking when turning, the dealer said the the suspension was "dry" and needed lubrication and tightening, so whatever they did it worked. Since then in 2002 the manifold gasket leaked anti-freeze, in 2003 radio started smoking and burned out, also battery went dead (prematurely) and drivers power window cable snapped. Fortunately all was cover by warranty except for the battery. But now 2006-07 I Still own the car, I guess I am a glutton for punishment, 2nd replacement battery in May 2007, turn signals work when the want too and yes pushing the hazard button works, and now my air bag light remain on, not to mention the windshield leaks badly on passengers side during heavy downpours leaving a puddle. And lastly whenever it feels like it, more often than not the car idles very fast when in park and in drive if anyone has any thoughts or remedies for this it will be appreciated. In closing as far as ride, handling, roominess and trunk space the car great, but the intermittent and consistent problems I could definitely live without.
Your car sounds exactly like mine!
I recently purchased a 2005 Chevy Impala, last week to be exact. The first few days I noticed a faint smell through the air conditioning. I first thought it was coming from out side. Then yeasterday I took the car for a drive on trhe high way, the check engine light came on. Now today makes a full week. I bought the car to the dealer at 7:30 this morning, and the guy tells me I have to leave the car with them today, because it could be anything from a serious problem to a gas cap. After hearing all these comments about the chevy models, I have a right mind to go and tell them give me my money back. My last to cars had engine problems, but they were old and paid for. But to finance a car monthly and have break downs is not acceptable. I do have a warranty package, but I should not be facing repairs this soon. I'm am going to try to get in another vehicle.
Our 2000 Impala was purchased in the fall of '99, new. It has never left us stranded; however it has had many problems. The steering has always made a grinding noise, the transmission was replaced at 100k, it eats front brake rotors, and now after starting the car it may take five minutes for the A/C, radio and other features to work.
I would like to continue buying American cars, but this car makes it a hard sell.
I own a 2003 Impala, bought new. I found this thread while researching coolant leak problems. My car is right now having an engine gasket replaced and an air conditioning line replaced, having just lost all of it's freon. The dealer did not mention to me that lots of GM engines seem to have the coolant gasket problem (judging by the stuff I've just been reading in a google search). My dealer has done all service on the car as scheduled/needed. My dealer tells me my bill will be approx $1300 (US). The car has been a pleasure to drive, but as for this kind of major repair in a relatively new vehicle??? NOT SURE I WANT TO BUY ANOTHER GM CAR... My 1999 Ford Explorer has had its own issues... never bought a "foreign" car before, but I am pretty disgusted today...
I really wish that GM Would actually look at this page, because everything that I have seen on here is dead on!
I bought a used '00 Impala LS at 144K on October 17th. And the next day I had problems! First off, my fuel gage was going wacky. When I got the car, it said I had a full tank a gas. I was extremely happy, because you rarely buy cars with full tanks these days, but I was wrong. The fuel level sensor was broken and it was reading full, when it was really empty. So needless to say, the damn thing stopped on me in the middle of nowhere and I had to wait for AAA To come. The next day, I took it to the dealer and they told me it was the fuel level sensor that needed to be replaced. That was an extremely costly bill of 800 bucks, not to mention they kept my car for two days.
After that, as soon as I came to the first turn out of the dealership, I noticed that my flashers did not work! I was extremely disappointed, so I took it back. And they said the the hazard light fixture or something like that didn't work. That is when I said that, they just need to fix the problem and give me a full diagnostic on the car.
The fixed the flashers in about 3 hours, and that cost me another 300 bucks, but more bad news was soon to follow. They told me the manifold gasket was leaking antifreeze and needed to be fixed. They told me it wasn't a huge problem, but needed to get fixed before the harsh winter came. I asked them how much that would cost and they told me around another 800-900 bucks. and I was like WOW! How about not. I got it fixed in a regular auto shop, but the bad part is that it took them an entire week to do it. Needless to say, I drove my car about 4 days out of the first two weeks.
Now it is 11/26 and I am still having problems. The flashers still work when they want too, I have heard a large thumb in the cargo area as well, and also just today my airbag light came on, so that is how I found this site. So I will try the yellow wire thing under the driver seat. And also I hear the clicking when I turn the wheel. I love my impala to death! I am only 19, so this is my second vehicle. My first one was a '95 Buick century and that car gave me hell! So I found that that my Impala LS was extremely stylish to be almost 8 years old. Very comfortable and had a large amount of room, and extremely good features. It has a smooth ride and everything about it is just excellent. I really wish that GM would thoroughly evaluate their vehicles before sending them off to be sold. I can honestly say that IMPALAS are wonderful cars! It is just the company that makes them that has the issues. It's kind of like a very bright kid, with the crappy parents that lets him do whatever he pleases, thus resulting in bad actions.
So far it looks like I'm going to keep my car. If I have any future problems I'll let you guys know!
Hello Everyone!
I don't want to burst anyone's bubble, but I have a 2000 Impala. This car has been from the south in Louisiana to Washington D.C. to Arizona. Had very minimal problems. None of the above problems described. I do all my own repairs. I've been a mechanic as long as I been walking. So nothing goes to a dealer. If I can help it. But this problem I now have is driving me nuts. The car never seen a dealership. Get this though. The car has 125,000 plus miles still gets 30 plus mpg. Now when the car starts and let idle for approx 30-45 sec it starts to idle rough and start to stall like starving for fuel. Sometimes it kills, but starts right up. Runs fine after that. Sometimes you let it sit for a couple of hours. and it stumbles after start up, tap on the accelerator and away she runs. I'm suspicious that it might be the fuel pressure regulator. Did a self check and found it to be working, no codes at all. No other problems at all. Sounds it might be fuel problems? You can hear the fuel pump (tank) pressure up. Have to listen good, but you can hear it. Any suggestions what this can be.
Mark.
Could be a coil pack. I had a park avenue that started to idle rough out of the blue. I had a bad coil pack which had looked the same since I had it one of the post was kinda brown, but I never bothered with it. I clogged up the erg valve which made the check engine light come on. but once I changed it the light went off later that night and it stop idling rough, but not before I went to the dealership and they charged me $110 and told me I needed $430 dollars to fix a 'shorted' erg valve. The coil pack on cost me $20 dollars. My car had around 125,000 miles when this happened.
I also have a 2000 Impala, and almost all of the problems listed above, I have had.
The steering noise, it was caused by the intermediate shaft, I put a new one in, but I believe by just tightening the clamps on the shaft that the noise would have been corrected.
The brake rotors need to be turned every 7000 to 12000 miles.
Gas gauge sometimes full and sometimes 1/4, or wherever it wants to be.
Radio has very poor reception when away from the station.
Check engine soon light comes on for a day or so, then goes out for a week or maybe a month.
Air bag light came on, took it to the dealer, was told the left side air bag needed to be replaced, but when I took the car home, no light, so didn't fix. Lasted about 6 months, came back on, cost about $500 to fix?
Funny thing though,we like the car, couldn't get mush satisfaction from GM. So we just live with most problems.
I have a 2000 Impala 3.8L. It has 133,000 miles and has rarely had a major problem, so I believe it is a good car overall. The steering does feel a little clunky, but I've inspected it myself and have never found anything that looked loose. The air bag light comes on intermittently, but I haven't done anything about it. I had the transmission fixed once around 100,000, and I think it is due again. I suspect the engine gasket is leaking now, but that's not necessarily surprising for a car of this age. One mechanic told me that the Dexron coolant had a tendency to eat away at the gaskets. The flashers 'stick' off when it is humid, but I haven't been able to find where the part is mounted to replace it myself. Unfortunately, I think it is in the dash and so difficult to get at. The rotors rusted and were using up the brake pads, but I had them turned and braking is much improved. The mass air flow sensor failed at one point and that did strand me. It caused the car to run way too rich and flood itself. But has been fine since fixed. The air intake throttle/vane was sticking causing it to idle high, but some work with a carburetor cleaner at the air intake got it loosened up and fixed the problem. Trunk light doesn't come on reliably. I've been told the wires break due to frequent motion. The air conditioning condensation drain plugged at one point, and that led to a 'flooding' of the blower motor, so I ended up replacing that and the fan resistor block. The battery cable sometimes comes loose, which causes it to fail to start, but I've got a power inverter attached and I think that's my doing.
Is it necessary to disassemble the dash to replace the turn signal/flasher component?
Are you loosing antifreeze from your gasket leak, because if you are its probably the intake manifold. If you don't get that fixed it could hydro-lock your engine or you end up needing a new engine.