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2005 and Earlier Chevrolet Impala

13618 messages,  Last post on Mar 19, 2013 at 11:54 AM

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What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Impala, Sedan

    

Messages Page 1209 of 1363

#12073 of 13618 03034-Engine Coolant Leak by oil_mutt

Jul 22, 2003 (11:50 am)

This program is in effect until 7/31/05. Condition: General Motors has decided that all 2000-2002 and certain 2003 Chevrolet Impala, Monte Carlo; Pontiac Grand Prix, Bonneville; and Buick Regal, LeSabre, Park Avenue model vehicles, equipped with 3.8L (RPO L36-VIN-Code K) engines, may have a condition in which engine coolant may leak at the upper intake manifold throttle body gasket, or at the upper intake manifold to lower intake manifold gasket. This condition may result in a low engine coolant level and higher engine operating temperatures.
 
Correction: Dealers are to replace the three throttle body fastener nuts and add cooling system sealant to the radiator tank.
 
Service Procedure:
Important: All "W" cars and "H" cars require a total of 16 grams of coolant sealant pellets per vehicle engine cooling system. The Buick Park Avenue ("C" car) requires 20 grams of coolant sealant pellets per vehicle engine cooling system.
 
1. Remove the engine intake air snorkel assembly from the throttle body (t/b) and air box.
2. Remove the bolt from the t/b support bracket at the throttle body.
3. Loosen the bolt from the t/b support bracket at the cylinder head and move the t/b support bracket away from the throttle body.
4. Remove one of the 3 t/b nuts.
5. Apply thread locker (p/n 12345382 U.S./10953489 Canada) to the stud.
6. Install a new t/b spring nut (p/n 11517293) and tighten finger tight.
7. Repeat steps 5 through 7 for remaining t/b nuts.
8. Torque the 3 t/b spring nuts to 10 Nm.
9. Reinstall the t/b support bracket into position.
10. Reinstall and torque the t/b support bracket bolt to 10 N.
11. Torque the t/b support bracket bolt at the cylinder head to 10 Nm.
12. Remove the vehicle radiator cap.
13. Remove an appropriate quantity of coolant pellets from package and pulverize the pellets in a plastic bag. The Park Avenue cooling system requires 20 grams of pellets and all the other vehicle cooling systems require 16 grams of pellets.
14. Install the crushed pellets through the radiator neck after adjusting the coolant level to accommodate the pellets.
15. Add coolant as required and reinstall the radiator cap.
16. Install the GM Identification Label.
 
Labor hours allowed are 0.5 plus 0.1 for administration for a total of .6 hours
 
My Pontiac dealer told me that it has taken an average wait time of 30 minutes per customer. My Chevrolet dealer is still waiting for the parts and if he doesn't get them in in a week I will have this procedure done by my Pontiac dealer.
 
St. Louis, MO

#12074 of 13618 my theory all along by pluto5

Jul 22, 2003 (3:44 pm)

Ivan overtightened the fasteners. The problem may not be the thermoplastic parts at all. The sealant will probably lessen the efficiency of the radiator.

#12075 of 13618 Sealant tabs are; by emmanuelchoke

Jul 22, 2003 (4:08 pm)

Actually a vegetable formula composed of, I kid you not, ginger, almond shell, turmeric-CAS#456-37-7 and sal soda.
     The torque on the original fasteners is only 7 ft.lbs, very easy to over torque.

#12076 of 13618 Sealant by nosirrahg

Jul 24, 2003 (6:17 am)

In a pinch (at least in the old days), you could pour some black pepper (the stuff you keep on the table next to the salt) into the radiator if you had a small leak somewhere, and the pepper would often be enough to clog the opening and stop the leak. Don't know if it's advisable in today's cars, but it used to work.

#12077 of 13618 2k_impala_ls by rbb2

Jul 25, 2003 (7:17 am)

I had a friend that had this problem and he suggests the following:
 
"Get it done now. If the coolant leak did happen, it could go into the engine and seriously damage it. The coolant is so corrosive to an engine that it can eat the bearings and screw it up permanently. No real way of knowing whether coolant is leaking into your engine until it's too late. By then the serious engine damage has occurred and you will then have to get a new
engine. What happens a lot of the time is the coolant will leak slowly and then GM will stop the leak by fixing it, but some engine damage may already have occurred. You will never know until your car dies at 50,000 miles because the bearings went out. That's not something to fool with. I'm familiar with this cause Saturn used to have the same problem. People kept driving their cars, damaging them without even knowing it. GM would only replace the engine if it seized."

#12078 of 13618 Recall Service by fathertyricius

Jul 25, 2003 (8:04 am)

Today I took my 2001 LS in for the recall issue. It only took a half hour to do the procedure. Three small bolts were replaced on the throttle body assmembly and sealant was added to the radiator. I asked the technician what was the difference between the bolts, and he showed me that the new bolts have spring fasteners where the original bolts didnt. The original bolts could loose torque with heat and create the coolant leak mentioned, where the new bolts with the fasteners keep the torque at all temperatures.

#12079 of 13618 Recall by b4z

Jul 25, 2003 (4:00 pm)

Yeah, but do those bolts stop the warping issue?

#12080 of 13618 Warping issue by fathertyricius

Jul 26, 2003 (5:44 am)

Those bolts (3 little ones ) has nothing to do with the upper manifold issue. None.

#12081 of 13618 Looking for part information by sim3

Jul 29, 2003 (12:53 am)

My turning signals started living their own life (i.e. signalling without telling it to), and I took it to a shop to have it looked after. They said the turn signal switch & electronics was broken and that I'd need a new one.
 
As luck would have it, I live in Finland and the local shop gave a $800 price for the part. That's somewhat too much, considering gmpartsdirect.com sells it for less than $200.
 
Now, I _think_ the part I want is GM part# 26093873. I've been unable to really find any information or pictures on it anywhere. I wonder if someone could help me and say whether this is the right part for a 2001 Impala LS.

#12082 of 13618 Rear Seat by tepst12

Jul 29, 2003 (5:03 am)

I have a question for the board members.
 
I have a 2000 Impala base that I bought used. Love the car and put 20,000 miles on it already. One thing I don't like is that the rear seat on my Impala does not fold down. the previous owner bought the "base" model without this feature.
 
Is it possible for me to purchase through a Chevy dealership a fold down style rear seat back and replace my non-folding seat? I have had the rear seats out before while changing the 6 x 9 speakers so getting it the old one out won't be a problem. I am hoping that there isn't much difference in the hardware and that with a few nuts I can secure the fold down seat (if I can get it).
 
Any input would be appreciated.

Messages Page 1209 of 1363

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