Problems with 2001 Chevrolet Impala ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

2001 chevy impala engine, radiator and battery replaced. consumer had the vehicle fixed at her own expense because gm would not help her out. she stated that the transmission went 3 months after the engine. *kb the power switch and side mirror was replaced. *jb

I have a 2001 chevy impala and it has been leaking engine coolant for sometime now. we put the required dexcool coolant to replace the lost, but it just kept on leaking. we took it to a mechanic to repair it and he informed us that it was leaking from the intake gasket down onto the spark plugs and it was damaging the spark plugs. he said don't put dexcool coolant into the car again because it just damages the gaskets. he said i cant tell u how many times i have had to repair this same thing on chevrolet vehicles. total repairs $749.43 . there needs to be a recall on this. not just because of the dexcool coolant but because of the gaskets. *nm

Dt*: the contact stated while driving any speed there was a banging noise in the steering column accompanied by a vibration. the banging and the vibration became gradually worse when the steering wheel was turned to either side. the vehicle was taken to a service dealer who determined that the intermediate steering shaft needed to be repacked. the shaft was subsequently replaced, but the problem recurred. updated 9/22/2006 - the fuel tank sending unit was replaced. the fuel injector unit was replaced intake gasket leaked. *nm

Engine/low coolant level light on! overheating. problems appear to be same as other owners of 2001 impala's! had to replace engine. still same problem w coolant. *tr

I recently bought a 2001 chevy impala. shortly after i notice when i first started the car,the temperature gauge showed the car overheating, took to the dealer. they said that it was normal operating temperature. a few week after that it quit working all together. so i look on the car stats. com and found complaints concerning this problem. solution i took the car to repeatable car mechanic .the first thing he did was to take the radiator cap off, it was full of brown sludge, he said that gm tried to save money by putting in a $2.00 manifold gasket in all 3.4 engines, they all fail between 35,000 and 40,000. it cost $580. you can not replace one gasket you buy all three in a replace kit and change the oil and antifreeze. i found out that this problem is routinely missed. they just reset the computer and the gauge works for a short time then without warning it quits. my mechanic said this is so common he has paid for his childrens college education. gm does not cover this common failure under any warranty. i will think twice before i buy any gm product. *nm

The catalytic converter failed and was covered by a gm special policy. due to the failed catalytic converter the upper intake manifold also failed resulting in an expensive repair bill. gm would not cover the cost of the upper intake manifold even though it failed from a known issue. the repair bill states, "upper intake manifold failure due to catalytic converter failure." *nm

I purchased this car with 28,000 miles on it. around 38,000 miles is when the problems started. the check engine light came on and it would not pass smog because of that. the thermostat gets stuck, the fan continues to run after car is shut off, the low coolant light comes on even when it is not low. the car smells like it is burning or running hot. the car now has 53,000 miles on it and i cant afford to get it fixed. it has expired tags on it because i cant get it to pass smog. i am really upset to find out this is a defect in the make of the car. it was hard enough to come up with the money to buy this car and now i cant drive it more then to work and back. i am hoping they will recall this car and i could finally get it fixed. *tr

The temperature gauge is not working consistently. it will go below cold sporadically. this will cause the fans to run continuously and the check engine light to come on. the codes do not match the problem and the haynes book does not match the car either. coolant leaks from intake manifold, probably bad gaskets. *nm

Dt consumer stated the thermostat went out on the vehicle. after the vehicle was shut off the engine made a loud noise, and the fan would run for about five minutes. the mechanic had found oil in the coolant. the lower intake gasket, water pump, and the thermostat were removed and replaced. the mechanic stated when going from warm temperatures to cold temperatures the engine cooling system malfunctioned. *ak updated 11/16/2005. *nm

Low coolant light stays on - replaced first time low coolant light stays on - replaced second time. *jb

I have a 2001 chevy impala it has a completely clogged catalytic converter according to my mechanic. i contacted country chevy in warwick ny they cant help me w/o charging me because the warranty expired 1800 miles ago. i understand from there serv dept as well as numerous mechanics this is a big problem. the vehicle has no warning light for this or i may have know prior to warranty expiring. now i have a car i paid cash for that i cant drive. i was wondering if there have been any prior complaints. i am contacting gm to see if they can assist me further. *jb

2001 chevrolet impala had a clogged catalytic converter.***no answer required***. *mr the vehicle lost pressure while driving up a hill, the battery had gone dead without warning, rear defroster shorted out and almost injured the consumers daughter, the doors seized, the driver window seized constantly, and the fan blower only worked on 5. *sc

On 6/29/05 i was driving down the road and loss power. the car would only go a few miles per hour. it was hesitating upon take off. i drove it home and called a tow truck. it was picked up and taken to a repair shop. i was told that i needed a catalytic converter. i paid to have a catalytic converter and all parts replaced. *nm

I have just purchased a 2001 impala from dealer less than a week ago (4/29/2005) and i took it to the dealer today for some maintenance. the dealer told me the intake manifold is leaking antifreeze into the engine and it is quite serious. i have checked some online discussion groups and there seems to be a lot of complaints on this issue. it seems like this is a common problem on the impalas. i think gm should issue a recall for this issue and reimburse my cost of repair.

Problems with the wiring system on the 2001 chevrolet impala after the vehicle was impounded. *mr the temperature gauge, gas mileage and the turn signals were inoperative and the radiator hose had burned against the battery. the consumer found that the wiring system was changed. the consumer also found missing components such as a fuse and a huge hollow area due to the missing fans. *sc *jb

I had a intake gasket leak on my 2001 chevy impala w/3.4 engine,i had to have it replaced and the car only has mid 50's mileage,,according to some shops this is a common failure on this car. *ak

The low coolant light stays on indicating that the engine could over heat. consumer checked the engine and found that there was a fluid leak out the engine. as a result the consumer has to put in coolant about once a month to avoid overheating.*ak dealer put new gasket in at intake manifold and repaired radiator. *bf *nm

Our low coolant light came on, then my engine light came on we took it to get it service at first the dealership did a leak infection and found nothing to be wrong with the car they reset the engine light but my low coolant light kept coming back on the needle on the dash board hardly moves,then we brought it back and they said they found coolant leak at intake manifold gasket they also replace a tapping noise (which occured on our way to the dealership) which was caused by the lifters along with a brake check/pad replacement our bill total was $1504 out of pocket because our warranty expired already. i have been reading the internet and found an info regarding this leakeage on manifold is caused by dexcool which what they use in my car,i found out that the chemical doesn't contain an agent to fight rust but contains some acid chemical instead, do not quote me but go to website type dexcool and you'll see it. *ak

I have two gm cars both 2001 my grand am i just changed the manifold gaskets and the head gaskets, now my impala also needs the same gaskets changed maybe there is a reason for this defect. i do not think that it possible to change these gaskets after four years. my grand am was covered my impala is not. what happens in the next four years? please respond. *nm

The intake manifold/gasket on this vehicle has to be replaced. car was overheating when idle. no heat was being generated. cost to repair has been quoted as $580. this is a known problem on these vehicles, gm needs to issue a recall as any knowledgeable mechanic is aware of this very common problem, due to poor-quality intake manifold/gaskets being used on these vehicles. *nm

(1) cooling system failure, temp gauge not working, check engine light, cooling fans running continuously (2) improper engine operation, roadside stoppage (3) reset connection on coolant sensor , system returned to normal operation. i'm not sure there was any correlation with the sensor connection. the computer reset itself after a few minutes and all conditions returned to normal.*ak

Consumer smelled antifreeze for some time. then, while having an oil change, it was discovered there was a leak in the intake manifold seal.*ak

The engine coolant low level light kept coming on. consumer filled the coolant, and the light kept coming on. consumer took the vehicle to the dealer. the dealer determined that intake manifold gasket failed resulting in a leak. *ak *nm

Dt: the contact received a letter, but this was not a recall letter. the letter stated the catalytic converter was being replaced due to the end cone insulation breaking away and blocking the front of the first catalytic converter, and preventing the free flow of the gas. this vehicle was not included because it was over the mileage limit. the vehicle has been taken to 2 separate transmission mechanics and they told him it was the catalytic converter, and not transmission.*ak

Manifold and pump gasket leaked. *nm the low coolant light came on. *tc *jb

1. initial minor then significant loss of engine coolant, leading to breakdown on highway of 2001 chevrolet impala with 3.4 liter v-6. second part: loss of rear passenger turn signal.*ak 2. lower intake manifold gasket defective, allowing coolant to leak and brown sludge observed on radiator cap. had to add coolant and lost use of vehicle. second part: loss of rear passenger turn signal, brake light and hazard flasher as a result of defective multi-function switch (gm part 88964580) - led to recieving written citation of defective equipment from law enforcement. 3. replaced upper and lower intake manifold, dex-cool coolant, o-ring (part 10477565), thermostat, oil (to remove any possible coolant that leaked into oil passed failed gasket). contact for old part availability. replaced multi-function switch (gm part 88964580)

Consumer stated that she kept seeing puddles of anti-freeze under her vehicle. she said she took her vehicle to the mechanic and after an examination of the automobile, she was told that her vehicle was leaking coolant around the manifold. she states this vehicle is much too new for this type of problem. *jb

Have a chevrolet impala with a intake gasket leak. it is so bad it makes my young children physically sick. the turn signals have decided to only work once in a while and the locks on the doors (ours is a 4 door) are sticking - trapping us inside or keeping us locked out. our trunk wont open at all! *ak

Purchase - may 2003 transmission - may 2003 transmission (electrical wire) october 2003 the car continued to run irregular. on an intermittent basis it would be extremely hesitant taking off from a stop sign or red light. february 2004 - nothing was found wrong with the car although it continued to run improperly. september 2004 - catalytic converter october 2004 - undiagnosed due to chevy's refusal to diagnosis the car for free after just replacing the catalytic converter six (6) days ago. *nm

Complaint received via e-mail."i would like to report what i consider to be a defective and potential fire hazard on my truck. the catalytic converter failed and the egr valve returned hot gases into the intake manifold. the hot gases burned a hole in the plastic intake manifold and melted the wiring harness. this could of caused a fire in the engine compartment. the engine stopped working properly and the vehicle had to be towed to the garage. my local garage replaced the intake manifold. the engine was still not running properly. i had my local garage take the car to our chevrolet garage. they found the problem with the converter and replaced it under federal warranty. i reported this to gm. both garage agreed that this was caused due to the failure of the manifold. i believe the plastic manifold should be recalled as a safety factor." *jb *sc

While driving 42 mph the vehicle (police package) crashed into a utility pole. as a result the vehicle's engine caught fire. the consumer sustained multiple fractures to both legs. *jb *sc

The vehicle had a slow leaking head gasket on the front starboard side of the engine. *nm *nm

Traction control light is lit when car is put in reverse.. there is no wheel spin when this happens. also vehicle stalls at idle, whining noise on acceleration dealer says could be intake gasket leaking.. will not replace . dealer says computer test shows no problem. smell of anti-freeze in cabin at intermittent times. cannot locate leak. *ak

2001 chevrolet impala purchased new. had to replace lower intake manifold gaskets at 48,000. warranty expires at 36,000. this appears to be a common problem for this particular engine. 3400 v6. dealer offers no recall. consumer must pay the price. *la

While driving at 35 mph vehicle caught on fire, heavy smoke came under the hood. vehicle was taken to independent shop, technician determined that intake manifold caught on fire. *ak

Coolant leak around thermoplastic intake manifold. this coolant leak developed around 42000 mi and is a design flaw that the dealer admits. also dex-cool is falsley advertised that it can go 150,000 or 5 years. most consumers aren't aware that it turns acidic and destroys gaskets and other cooling system components. i feel the coolant leak and associated dex-cool problems demonstrates gm failure to correct a known defect. unfortunatley the consumer pays dearly right as warranty expires. gm should replace thermoplastic intake manifold with something more durable and heat resistant.

Coolant sysyem:temperature gauge moves to hot for about 5 minutes then back to normal. clicking sound in steering wheel when you you make a turn. loud popping or cracking sound in the dash area with various temperature changes.*ak

When the heating system was turned on there was a strong anti freeze odor within the cabin. the odor caused a burning irritation in the eyes and nose. this was caused by the heater core leaking anti freeze into the cabin of the vehicle onto the driver's side floor.*ak *mr

My check engine light came on november 9, 2003. we took it to our local dealer and the manifold gasket was leaking; therefore, leaking oil into our coolant system. *la

At 47000 miles and only 9000 of these miles were put on by me. i just bought it 5 months ago. the lower intake gasket had to be replaced. costing me 813.37 this is a common problem in the 3800 engines. mine is the 3400 and i'm told by the repair person that it is common in these to. why won't gm help me pay this repair work. *jb

While driving 50 mph the driver depressed the brake pedal and noticed that brake power was lost after the vehicle came to a stop and that it was vibrating. it was later determined that the air intake had worn through the computer sensor on the harness and caused a loss of vacuum to the power brakes, and loss all power to assist. *ak *cb *nlm

1. crank sensot failed and ran hazard lights on side of innerstate for 3 hours while gm roadside assistance sent tow service. 2. turn signals failed intermittently and operation of hazard switch would be restore them temporially. 3. replaced hazard signal switch and the old part is available. *tr

Upper intake pluentum was leaking coolant at 30,000 miles. *jb

Why traveling on the highway and without prior warning vehicle just shut down , power steering and brakes also failed. *ak

Chronic coolant leak on 2001 impala ls. dealer replaced manifold under warranty. also in first 2 years, wheel bearing, intermediate steering shaft required replacement, as well as roof molding. *jb

My vehicle was towed to the dealership on 10 april,2003, the catalytic converter/ exhaust system had to be replaced, my car doesn't even have 47,000 miles on it and it is just barely 2 years old???? the engine lost all power, the parts were replaced, the transmission was flushed, but.... the vehicle still doesn't have the power that it should have and the transmission is not shifting like it should, now i was told that when the catalytic converter went that it sent pieces though the lines in the car, i did ask the dealer if this would be cause a problem with the engine or the transmission and the response was (it shouldn't) now this does sound like a problem to me.... i would like someone to look into this matter and give me a real answer on this problem...the problem that this vehicle had is kind of unheard of in the early stage of mileage and age.. the dealership was even confused on the problem, all computers that the car was placed on by different shops should nothing was wrong with the car, until it was put on a flat bed and taken to the dealer.... i would appreciate any help you can give me in this matter.... *nlm

Complaint letter from il state attorney general offc requesting assistance in getting refund for replacing a defective intake manifold gasket. also, engine check light came on and went off *ak *cb *jb

Vehicle is 2001 chevrolet impala. at 11,500 miles, engine began to lose coolant. (no visible leaks). dealer service manager indicated "this is a big problem" and that plastic intake manifolds on gm v6 engines are warping causing coolant loss. dealer "fix" was to install "gm pellets" to seal cooling system. if engine still loses coolant, intake manifold will need to be replaced (approx cost=$800). according to various interntet chat groups, this problem exists among a wide range of gm models with 3.4 and 3.8 liter engines, yet there is no recall or any written acknowledgement from gm that this problem exists. there is also no indication that replacement of the intake manifold will cure the problem, as the replacement part is identical to the original.

Chevrolet impala ls with 3.8l engine. the upper manifold warps and allows coolant to leak. this is a very common problem. my car is in the shop with no parts available in houston. there were 15 on backorder. gm needs to replace this plastic part that warps at 17-24,000 miles.

Engine coolant leak resulting from upper plenum ( manifold) being warped with only 26300 miles on vehicle. 2001 chevrolet impala ls v6 3800 series ii engine.