Fix It

Chevy engine problems have led General Motors and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to recall 1,497,516 automobiles including 2000-2003 model year Chevrolet Impala vehicles equipped with 3.8L V6 naturally aspirated engines. This recall was announced by the NHTSA on April 8, 2009. Consumers were notified by General Motors of the recall in May 2009.

Type of Engine Problems

Nearly 1,500,000 General Motors vehicles with model years of 1997-2003, including model year 2000-2003 Chevy Impalas may have potentially dangerous engine problems. Per the NHTSA, some of these Chevrolet Impalas may have a condition in which drops of engine oil may be deposited on the exhaust manifold through hard braking.

Safety Risk

If oil runs below the heat shield when the manifold pressure is hot enough, the NHTSA warns that a flame may ignite and spread to the plastic spark plug wire channel and beyond. An engine compartment fire may occur, putting drivers, passengers and property in harms way.

Remedy

Chevy Impala registered vehicle owners should have received notice of the recall in May 2009, according to the NHTSA. Consumers affected by this Chevrolet Impala recall were offered free repairs by the manufacturer, as required by law. Authorized dealers were instructed to remove the potentially dangerous spark plug wire retention channel at the front of the engine and to install two new spark plug wire retainers at no charge to the consumer.

The Chevrolet Impala debuted in 1957. After several production halts, the 2000 model year began with the body style and series that the 2003 Impala uses. The 2003 Impalas upholstery includes adjustable headrests on the front seats. You can slide the headrest adjustments up as needed to remove them from the seat, saving you the cost of automotive detailing.

Instructions

1

Locate the tabs on the inside edge of the round guides around the mounting hole where the headrest posts lock in place.

2

Press both retaining tabs while sliding the headrest up away from the seat back until it stops.

3

Hold the retaining tabs in and pull up firmly to remove the headrest from the seat back.

4

Align the headrest with the mounting holes before reassembly. Press the retaining tabs and hold them while you slide the headrest back into place.

The Chevy Impala has enjoyed three runs with the GM corporation from 1958 to 1985, from 1994 to 1996 and from 2000 to the present. This full size car may have a single pipe system or a double pipe system, which is important to know when replacing the muffler. If you find holes in your muffler or it starts making loud noises, then its time to replace it.

Instructions

1

Spread out an old blanket or a large piece of cardboard on the ground to lay on as you replace the muffler. For an easier time repairing, you might consider jacking the car up and placing it on jack stands instead.

2

Purchase a new muffler. It must have a 2.25-inch center inlet/outlet, be 4 inches thick by 9.75 inches wide, and 13 inches long. Make sure it is the right one according to the model year of your vehicle.

3

Look over the old muffler. Spray the fasteners generously with a penetrating lubricant before you loosen them. The penetrating lubricant will help you to remove the screws and bolts with ease.

4

Loosen the bolts at the bottom of the muffler strap. Its okay to let the muffler hang. Using a hacksaw, saw the stock muffler completely off of the pipe, leaving 1 inch to 1 1/2 inches of straight pipe at the muffler inlet, if you have a single pipe system. Alternately, if you have a dual pipe system, take of the U-bolt clamp found on the front of the muffler and remove the muffler from the exhaust pipe.

5

Take of the tailpipe clamps and then remove the tailpipe. After taking off the muffler and tailpipe, inspect all the hangers and replace any that are damaged.

6

Put the muffler into place under the vehicle. Make sure the muffler inlet slips over the exhaust pipe with ease. Put sealer on the connecting surfaces and then straighten the muffler over the pipe. Tighten the muffler clamp on the muffler inlet using a flathead screwdriver and then tighten all clamps starting at the front of the muffler and working youre way back.

7

Lower the car, start the vehicle and carefully inspect the muffler for leaks and loud sounds. If there are any, youll need to tighten the bolts more. However, the clamps should be loose enough to allow the muffler to move a little with the movement of the car.

The resonator is part of the exhaust system on your Impala. It works along with the muffler to reduce engine noise while producing a mellow tone from the exhaust. The resonator is located just behind the catalytic converter and is part of the muffler, tailpipe and exhaust pipe assembly. Replacing the resonator is done as part of the assembly and requires that you remove the entire exhaust from behind the catalytic converter to the tailpipe.

Instructions

1

Raise your Impala off the ground with a jack and support it with jack stands. Make sure to get it high enough to comfortably work under the car.

2

Locate and remove the two flange mounting bolts just behind the catalytic converter using a wrench or socket and ratchet. Let the pipe droop and move forward to find the rubber hangers that support the rest of the exhaust.

3

Remove the exhaust pipe from the rubber hanger just behind the resonator by pulling the rubber hanger straight off the pin on the exhaust pipe. The rubber hanger may take a little work to get free, but it will slide off without tools.

4

Locate the hanger just in front of the muffler and remove it from the exhaust pipe in the same manner as the first one. Move to the rear and remove the final exhaust hanger behind the muffler. Remove the exhaust pipe from under the car and discard.

5

Position the new exhaust pipe below the hangers on the ground. Working from the rear of the car, raise the exhaust pipe up and slide the hanger rod on the pipe into the rubber hangers. Work forward until all three hangers are engaged.

6

Position the mounting flange on the new pipe so that it abuts the flange on the pipe just behind the catalytic converter. Install the flange gasket and two mounting bolts and tighten them with a wrench or socket and ratchet.

7

Support the car with the jack and remove the jack stands. Lower the car to the ground carefully with the jack.