cooling system problem
7.8
pretty badTypical Repair Cost:
$1,099.00
Average Mileage:
86,842 miles
Number of complaints:
21 complaints
Most common solutions:
- had one gasket replaced and coolant flushed (8 reports)
- not sure (7 reports)
- replaced intake manifold gasket (6 reports)
Helpful Websites About 2001 Chevrolet Impala intake manifold gasket failure, coolant light is on
2008May 22
Impala 3.4L
- Automatic transmission
- 68,562 miles
Im tired of smelling Antifreeze every time i drive my car, just the other night i noticed where it was leaking from. My low coolant light was coming on every 3 weeks. It was sad haven't fixed it yet wanted to read up on all the things ive been hearing about the lawsuit with GM
2008May 01
Impala 3.4L
- Automatic transmission
- 85,000 miles
When it asked me what was wrong on that last page it would not let me click on everything listed under coolant system. A leak, check engine light is on, Big puddles under my car, intake gasket shot, Oil leaks into water. This car is trashed and it seems to be because of the dextron or whatever acid they used as antifreeze. IM interested in the lawsuit to get my car fixed. With the price of gas I cant afford to get it fixed! What can I do to help this lawsuit? I need my car!! HELP! ALMOST STRANDED!!
2007Jan 01
Impala LS 3.8L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 125,000 miles
I took my car to my mechanic in Jan. 2007 because of a tapping noise in the engine. He said that I needed to replace the intake manifold gaskets, so I did and it cost me 400.00. So, here it is a little over a year (Mar,2008) and I get this tapping back along with the low coolant light coming on. Instead of taking it back to the mechanic I decided to take it to the chevy dealer and they told me this a common problem with the impalas and that they do about 6-10 replacements a year during the winter months. I had to replace the intake manifold gaskets again. This time it cost me 800.00, I guess because it was the chevy dealer, but get this he tells me AFTER he replaces the gaskets that he is 99% sure that I am going to have to replace my engine 6mo down the road that will cost anywhere from 3-5000.00. My car still has that tapping sound. I have had nothing but problems with this car since I bought it the list could go on and on. I love this car I really do but after this car I will never own another impala or a car by GM for that matter
2008Feb 01
Impala 3.8L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 77,671 miles
I bought this car used 2 years ago and I love it except for the coolant sensor light . The light first went on 1 week after I got it so the dealer changed it for free . About 2 months ago it came on again so I had it changed again at my cost (120.00 ) . Now about 2 weeks ago the light started coming on again and it drives me crazy . What is the fix to this problem or do I have to put up with this , I don't want to keep putting in new sensors so my car can eat them after on about 2 weeks . Please someone tell me what the solution is so I can fix this once and for all . Thanks .
2007Apr 24
(reported on)Impala 3.2L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 82,000 miles
Daughter's car had the same problem. She had the intake manifold replaced and car was still overheating. She couldn't afford another repair and drove it until the heads warped and internal failure. Now needs a new engine. Another Chevy design flaw.
2007May 08
(reported on)Impala 3.4L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 69,000 miles
I will say it is a pain in the ass problem but it cost well less then everybody else's on here. You might wanna check around next time. I paid $600 for the intake manifold repair as well as a radiator flush and fill and an oil change.
2007May 21
(reported on)Impala 3.4 L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 39,047 miles
Moved from Maine to Arizona. On the way, coolant level light came on, checked everything, all fine. Upon arrival in Arizona, took to O'Reilly Chevrolet, Tucson. Misdiagnosed as faulty coolant sensor ($147), replaced twice(second 2 times at no cost to me). Relocated back to Maine, light on again, took to local dealer, Forest City Chevrolet, diagnosed correctly. Since I kept car history, receipts, etc., they covered replacing gasket under warranty; cost to me $100. Followed up with O'Reilly in AZ, never heard back from them.
2008Jan 03
Impala 3.8L
- Automatic transmission
- 118,000 miles
I have a 2001 impala and i have the same problem.i'm doing it my self it's not that hard saved alot of money the parts all together came out to about 160.00,but that suck that u have to do such a big job at only 118,000 miles i thought Chevy was better than that.i don't i'll be buying another one.
2007Jan 16
Impala
- Automatic transmission
- 89,000 miles
My Impala needed this fixed November 2004, and started leaking again January 2007. My husband is a police officer, and their department uses Impalas - at least till they can get rid of them. They're having the exact same problem in their police cars! And that is NOT a cheap fix when you're talking about hundreds of vehicles! They want OUT of the Impalas! Imagine what Chevy would think if they lose all the law enforcement business! Hit 'em where it hurts!! Maybe then someone will take notice and deal with this professionally!
2004Nov 15
Impala
- Automatic transmission
- 70,000 miles
The intake gasket had to be replace in November 2004. Luckily, at that time the dealer accepted my extended warranty (the Chevy dealer in Vegas sold me an extended warranty, claiming that it was a GM warranty - come to find out, it wasn't - and the warranty company had gone bankrupt, so they weren't going to honor the warranty - which had cost me $1600 when I bought the car!!), but it still ended up costing $630 at that time, because they told me I had to pay for the radiator flush, the Dexcool (more like DexCRAP), and other "incidentals". Now, low and behold, January 2007 it started again!!! So I guess I can expect to pay big on this one, because I have since moved to Missouri, and the Vista Chevy Dealer in Vegas says they can't help me with the warranty unless I take it to their location in Nevada (as if it's going to make it that far!). So much for customer service. I can't believe there's been this much trouble with this specific part and they still haven't recalled or offered to pony up to pay for all these repairs!! I live paycheck to paycheck. I don't have the $1400 they tell me I'm going to have to fork over. The mechanic put some type of stop leak in it last January (2007); and here it is one year later, and I still don't have the money to get it repaired. If I don't have my car, I can't work. WHAT A SCAM! Not just the gasket.... but the whole extended warranty bankruptcy and refusing to assist in any way. I'll never own another GM product! They don't stand behind them.
2007May 24
(reported on)Impala Base 3.4 AUTO
- Automatic transmission
- 120,000 miles
Also just got the bad news from a local trusted shop. This repair will run about $600, which is reasonable due to the fact it books at about 6 hours of labor. I caught the problem when I noticed small anti-freeze leaks when I came out of work to drive home.
2007Oct 23
(reported on)Impala 3.4L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 155,100 miles
This is a ridiculous thing I just bought the car 6 days ago and now this.
2007Aug 31
(reported on)Impala LS 3.4L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 106,300 miles
Took car in for a cooling problem. Was told that I needed to replace the lower intake manifold gasket AGAIN. This was also replaced at 53,000 miles. Also had to replace the oil. Car still not cooling properly.
2007Aug 31
(reported on)Impala LS 3.4L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 53,000 miles
Took the car in for a oil change and to look into cooling problem. I had to have the intake manifold gasket changed, a new thermostat put in and a oil change. Service manager told me this was normal.
2007Jul 01
(reported on)Impala LS 3.8L V-6
- Automatic transmission
- 55,000 miles
At 55,000 miles, the LOW COOLANT message is displayed in the car. I just had the system serviced two weeks ago and it did fine during a 4000 mile trip until yesterday's return leg home. Chevy says the problem is a $150 sensor in the coolant reservoir, but I'm not sure I believe them. The coolant was INDEED LOW when I visually checked it prior to have the system flushed/refilled two weeks ago, and appears low today. Not only that, the coolant should be bright red in color but appears brownish. Not cool.
2007Apr 14
(reported on)Impala 3.4
- Automatic transmission
- 60,000 miles
Car started sputtering and not running right, took it to goodyear service center and was told it was something wrong with the intake manifold. I think I had a gasket changed , coolant flushed, and what not. Car keep acting up, took it back and was told now it was the catalityc converter. Took it to the dealership and was told it was under federal warranty but they would only fix it once. Car was acting fine afterwards until 10,000 miles later when the low coolant light went on, check engine light went on and thermostat gauge would not work sometimes (at the same time ac wouldn't work when thermostat gauge did not). took it to other shop was told I had 2 bad sensors, had that done and the coolant flushed again.
Car worked fine for 2 days after that same thing going one. Took it back and they said i had a bad intake manifold again. If so many people are having trouble with this why GM isn't doing anything about it???
2007Mar 29
(reported on)Impala
- Automatic transmission
- 100,000 miles
Car started sputtering and not running right. Took to dealer and was told I had a leaky gasket that needed to be repaired. They fixed one gasket and flushed my coolant system for $1700. Car still sputtering! Took back to dealer. They said their "best guess" is that coolant leaked into my catalytic converter and that should be replaced too for another $500-700! Luckily my dad could do that for me for under $100. Car runs fine now.
2007Mar 04
(reported on)Impala 3.4L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 85,000 miles
I am also having issues with this Low Coolant light coming on the dash of my 2001 3.4L V6 impala. There is a pool of coolant that coagulates near the driver side head of the motor.. I am not sure that this issue was ever covered under Chevrolet or not but it is a complete pain in the ass. also The windshield wipers are stuck in the upright position I hate that.
2007Jan 31
(reported on)Impala 3.4
- Automatic transmission
- 86,000 miles
Bought the car Fall 2005 -- Intake gasket failed -- cost me 600 to fix -- About a month ago Low Coolant Level Light comes on, and stays on until car is at full operating temperature, however, there is plenty of coolant in the system and overflow bottle -- Just noticed today -- the external coolant leak is back (pooling a little near the front head on the driver's side, just below the thermostat neck... I've read several websites where this is apparently a big problem.... GM/Chevy absolutely needs to correct this or they'll find themselves in just as bad a shape as Ford. Class Action Suit? Sign Me up... Tell me how.
2007Jan 03
(reported on)Impala 3.4L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 80,000 miles
Car was being driven in normal conditions, Coolant light comes on but temperature remains stable. Flushed coolant, cleaned overflow Tank and checked coolant sensor. Car acted correct for three more days and then started overheating. Inspection shown blown intake manifold gasket. $1000. If they do not cover this, I will have to cross them off the list with Ford who also had this problem with the Mercury Sable cars and did not cover this defect.
We have partnered with JustAnswer to offer online auto repair help and advice from expert professional automotive technicians. You describe your cooling system problem or ask your question and they try to help you figure it out. The fee is typically $9 to $15, but you can offer to pay more for really tough questions. You will usually receive an answer in 10 minutes or less, and you do not have to pay anything unless you accept the answer.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2008Aug 01
Impala Sedan 3.4L V6
I bought the 2001 Impala thinking that it would be as good as the older models, this is a piece of crap. Every time I turn around I have a major problem with this car, the price range for the repairs is from $400.00 to $2500.00. The first sign of trouble with the coolant light, I was told I just needed a coolant sensor for $85.00, well I had to go to work and told them I would come back. I came back again and the same technician came back and told me that it's not the sensor, I have a hole in my radiator, he said it was pouring water. I have not seen the water yet. I am constantly seeing that low coolant light and the thing is full. Then the guy tells me that I need the gaskets because the engine is pouring oil. Now I have problems with the ABS system and the alternator. By the time I get through repairing this car, I will have paid for it twice. I will never buy another one. I've decided to get an old clunker, they seem to ride better than the new cars.
Stephanie E.
Augusta, Georgia, USA
SEND A COMMENT »