9.3

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
$790
Average Mileage:
140,350 miles
Total Complaints:
3 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. fix (1 reports)
  2. not sure (1 reports)
  3. unclog catalytic converter (1 reports)
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problem #3

Feb 182011

Impala LS 3.8L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 160,000 miles

A week ago, the serpentine belt came off, the battery light came on and then the hot light. Had to have it towed to a repair shop. Cost $150 plus $70 tow for that. Ran a little rough after the belt was put on. Drove it about 40 miles then the engine was running somewhat rought, with no real power. It could get down the road with some patience.

Took it back to the repair shop the next day, and they found a hole in the upper plastic intake manifold. That cost $400, but it was a lot less than the dealer quoted. Dealer wanted $900 to install new gaskets, and he could not believe me that there was a hole in the manifold. Would have cost $1500 to have the manifold replaced at the Chevy dealer. Paid the repair shop for the repair and the car seemed to runn just ok, but it didn't have the prior great power of the line. Again drove it about 50 miles, then the check engine light went on.

Took it back to the repair shop. They said there had been nothing show up on the diagnostics before they gave it back to me the last time. They had test driven it and thought it was ok. I don't think they knew this car had great acceration before the engine troubles. Anyway, they called and said it had a somewhat dirty gas filter, spark plugs were good, and the O2 sensor (rear) was bad. Bad news was that the catalytic converter was clogged. Total repair estimate at $602. This is quite reasonable compared to a new car deal garage, although the total of all the work has been a bunch. Picked up the car a while ago, and it is a hot rod again, even better than before. They didn't have to replace the oxygen sensor, so the repair was $502.

I recommend Foster's Garage in Peoria, IL for their good work and great diagnostics. It seems strange that all of this happened after losing a belt, but stranger things have happened before. From this I have found that the idiot lights do not always report serious problems that are going on with your engine. Would I have done better if I had taken the car to a dealer and paid more than twice as much?

- Robert H., Peoria, IL, US

problem #2

Jan 012009

Impala ES 3.2L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 156,000 miles

I have 2003 Chevy impala spent $1064.02 to get car fix.

Ignition wire set replace, Upper intake manifold,Valve cover gasket set,Grommet set,Two L Bow Pipe, Spark Plugs, Antifreeze, *T P S Sensor. The very next day had to take car back temp gauge was hot, the reason was a part that came from the dealer that was plastic had to be replace again. (the reason i took car was, engine light stayed on, sensor went out, coolant was getting hot, kept losing antifreeze, car was skipping, cutting off any giving time. Car was just bad. I will not purchase another Chevy vehicle.

- johnsot1, Gainesville, FL, US

problem #1

Jul 312007

(reported on)

Impala LS 3.4L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 105,000 miles

The car idles fine on the highway you push on the gas and the car starts to bog down and the speedometer goes haywire I just had the catalytic converter replaced.

- Stephen K., Groton, CT, US