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Chevrolet Impala Catalytic Converter

24 messages,  Last post on Oct 07, 2007 at 10:01 PM

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What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Impala, Sedan

Messages Page 1 of 3

#1 of 24 Impala LS - Engine Computer? by gretchen4

Jul 21, 2007 (8:56 am)

The car is a 2001 Chevy Impala LS. It has 61,330 miles.
 
This started yesterday on the freeway. It won't go over 35 mph or 3500 rpm in any of the four forward gears, even with the accelerator floored. I don't know about reverse gear.
 
When in 2nd gear, if you floor the accelerator, it will get up to 35 mph and 3500 rpm, and the Check Engine Light will blink on and off. When you slow down, the Check Engine Light goes off and stays off.
 
When in 3rd gear or drive, it still won't go over 35 mph or 3500 rpm, but the Check Engine Light does not come on.
 
If I'm in 3rd gear and shift down to 2nd gear, it's a hard shift. That is, you can feel the tranny engage hard.
 
Sometimes the car will buck when you try to reach 35 mph / 3500 rpm.
 
I took the car to my regular (non-dealer) mechanic. He said he put the scanner on it, and nothing showed up. I don't know if he drove the car and reproduced the 35mph/3500rpm/blinking Check Engine Light symptom while the scanner was connected (I forgot to ask). Since I gave him a good descrition of the problem, I doubt that he test drove it.
 
He told me that since he didn't get a code from the scanner, he called the local Chevy dealer for help. The Chevy dealer told him that it 'sounded' like the engine computer, and to bring the car to them.
 
I don't own an OBD2 scanner, so I can't diagnose myself, and even if I did, it sounds like a dealer repair. But, I'd like to be armed with more information before taking to the dealer, since I don't even trust the dealer to do much more than replace parts until it's fixed.
 
Any ideas?
 
By the way, if I were to purchase and OBD2 reader or scanner, can I connect a scanner (or reader) to the vehicle while driving the vehicle to capture the codes/specs when the problem occurs? Would the less expensive reader do, or must I purchase the more expensive scanner? I'm afraid that even if I get the information, such as voltage, pressure, etc., off a reader/scanner, I still won't know what to do with this Chevy, and I'm destined to take it to the dealer and will be at their mercy.
 
I haven't been to a dealer for years, because my normal mechanic is quite good. I just dread going to a dealer, not particularly because of cost, but because of hassles and stress, and not doing the job right the first time.
 
Thank you very much.

#2 of 24 Re: Impala LS - Engine Computer? [gretchen4] by jimbmw

Jul 22, 2007 (11:02 am)

Replying to: gretchen4 (Jul 21, 2007 8:56 am)
My daughter had EXACTLY the same problem with her 2004 Impala. The answer was replace the CATALYTIC CONVERTER. It gets plugged and produces excess back pressure, causing loss of power abover 35 MPH and yes the CHECK ENGINE LITE also came on , until you backed off the gas pedal. It should cost just under $500 for labor/mat'l.
 
Good Luck.

#3 of 24 Re: Impala LS - Engine Computer? [jimbmw] by quietpro

Jul 22, 2007 (2:26 pm)

Replying to: jimbmw (Jul 22, 2007 11:02 am)
I've heard of the catalytic converter problem as well but that it is a defect that is covered for free. Ask about this and inquire about the free replacement. I thought it was with the 3800 engine but it may have affected more than just that engine.

#4 of 24 Re: Impala LS - Engine Computer? [quietpro] by gretchen4

Jul 22, 2007 (2:59 pm)

Replying to: quietpro (Jul 22, 2007 2:26 pm)
I've heard on another forum from someone who's Impala was a 2001, had 75,000 miles, and this problem was indeed the catalytic converter, and covered under warranty. Do you know if this problem is covered past the original 3 year, 50,000 mile warranty. I'm in California, and California may require that smog components be covered for longer than 50,000 miles, but I'm not sure. Do you know?
Thanks.

#5 of 24 Re: Impala LS - Engine Computer? [gretchen4] by gretchen4

Jul 22, 2007 (9:50 pm)

Replying to: gretchen4 (Jul 22, 2007 2:59 pm)
I just checked my car's warranty. It says:
 
"For 8 years or 80,000 miles, whichever comes first, if the catalytic converter or vehicle (powertrian) control module is found to be defective, GM will repair or replace it under the Federal Emission Control Warranty."
 
Is the 'vehicle (powertrain) control module' otherwise known as the Engine Computer? At any rate, it does sound like the catalytic converter.
 
I dropped it off at the dealer's shop tonight. I'll write back with the results.

#6 of 24 Re: Impala LS - Engine Computer? [gretchen4] by topper7

Jul 23, 2007 (7:10 pm)

Replying to: gretchen4 (Jul 21, 2007 8:56 am)
Hello Grethen4,
I am the one that posted on the Chevrolet Impala 2005 & Earlier Discussion Section. Please look at posting 13377 dated 06/08/07. This references the warranty extension of the 2001 LS catalytic converter to 10 years or 120,000 miles (whatever comes first). The replacement is no charge. Not one penny!
I did not have any problems at the dealer. I had forgot about the letter until they told me that it was covered under an extended warranty issued by GM.
I then found the letter and typed it word for word on the Discussion Section so that others may benefit from it.
Hope this clears up any confusion that you may have had.

#7 of 24 Re: Impala LS - Engine Computer? [topper7] by gretchen4

Jul 24, 2007 (8:38 am)

Replying to: topper7 (Jul 23, 2007 7:10 pm)
The dealer just called and said yes, it's the catalytic converter, and he has to order one (2-3 days, since they don't store them there, due to hazardous materials )
 
I never received the warranty extension letter from GM, so I'm looking for your post 13377. When I enter 13377 in the message number and press go, I go nowhere. I'll keep looking.
 
Thank you.

#8 of 24 Re: Impala LS - Engine Computer? [topper7] by gretchen4

Jul 24, 2007 (8:45 am)

Replying to: topper7 (Jul 23, 2007 7:10 pm)
Thanks again. I just found your post number 13377.
 
(This forum is a bit difficult for me to navigate.)

#9 of 24 Catalytic Converter by slvimpala

Jul 25, 2007 (12:29 am)

Replying to: gretchen4 (Jul 24, 2007 8:45 am)
hey iv been reading about this catalytic converter problem my
 
car acts the same as what yall had sad in the other post i got
 
an 2002 Impala Base 3.4 v6 New Motor
 
but on take off my car is very slow slow i mean it struggles
 
to get reach 25 mph an at low speeds u can feel it cutting
 
out and jerking and it kills my gas millage since the cat
 
went out iv ben getting around 9.2 mpg i have to floor it
 
97.9 % of the time to get it to even move faster then 30
 
but once i get rolling it will run up to 115 mph i mean once
 
it warms up it dose good on the high way i can put it to the
 
floor and suck up to the car in front of me an pass them
 
with out any problem but after i hammer it for a while it
 
will display a light saying Reduces Engine Power
  
i noticed with my old motor i was getting 24.8 mpg and thats
 
everyday driven in the city
 
also who ever has the 3.4 v6 watch out for over heating
 
problems it only takes one time for it to over heat to
 
start messing up very bad i over heated my 3400 once and
 
about 3days later it blew the intanke & head gasket
 
theres nothing you can do to stop so be ware and watch your temp gauge when my head blew it took 4 weeks for the whole motor to blow i mean it threw a rod threw the oil pan and on to my tires and the motor causen a fire and i spun the car out

#10 of 24 Re: Impala LS - Engine Computer? [gretchen4] by 0patience

Jul 29, 2007 (2:01 pm)

Replying to: gretchen4 (Jul 24, 2007 8:38 am)
"For 8 years or 80,000 miles, whichever comes first, if the catalytic converter or vehicle (powertrian) control module is found to be defective, GM will repair or replace it under the Federal Emission Control Warranty."
 
This is correct. DO NOT let them tell you otherwise.
The emissions warranty covers the ECM/PCM (computer) and some other emissions sensors. If the catalytic converter has failed and you are with in the 8 years/80,000 miles, then they have to cover it under warranty and you should not be paying a dime.
Now, they can charge you for waste disposal fees, diagnostics and incidentals, so they have you there.
 
The dealer just called and said yes, it's the catalytic converter, and he has to order one (2-3 days, since they don't store them there, due to hazardous materials).
There are so many things wrong with that statement, I don't even know where to start.
In the first place, new catalytic converters are not classified as hazardous materials. Used ones, possibly, but not new ones. So who ever told you that is clueless.
Besides, even if for some reason, the cat could possibly be hazardous material (which it is not), then I would have to assume that they couldn't keep bulk oil, coolant, brake cleaners, carb cleaners, A/C refrigerant, paints and a whole host of other automotive chemicals, as those ARE all hazardous materials.
 
I sometimes wonder about some of these places and what they tell people. I'm betting that the reason that they don't stock the cats is cost. They don't want to put the expense out to keep something like that on the shelf.

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