laurens 00' impala. and all its problems.
#1
Senior Member
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laurens 00' impala. and all its problems.
so. taking the car to work today i noticed and figured out several things that i missed on the initial inspection before i bought it.
1. gasgauge is all over the damned place. it would say on e then half tank, then e etc. i know this problem thanks to my park avenue, and i know exactly what it is. bad fingers on the sending unit. i pulled over and put 15ish gallons in the 17 gallon tank. in a normal gm car, the gas light would have come on about 1 gallon earlier.
2. the cars temp gauges (both the ext and coolant) are shot. the coolant gauge was working when i test drove it, but today it just sat barley above its needle the entire 22 mile drive both ways. the car also thinks its 27 out right now.
3. dude said "i took the highbeams out" when i asked about the highbeam light. i passed it off because i was focusing on the driving characteristics of the car. playing with the stalk, it never clicks into the highbeam spot and the blue light is perpetually on when the car is running. i think the stalk is shot.
4. the steering has seemed to develop a knock when turning. at a stop and while making slow truns. it dont have the telltale knock sound, its more of a knock in the wheel itself. im trying to convince myself its not the steering box. the car turns tight and there arent any down the road noises though.
5. cosmetically the car needs a little help. dude claimed his generator fell on the passenger fender, causing it to rub the door (at the bottom) and the passenger side body kit is missing from the rocker. i think he bottomed it out or turned into a curb at some point.
6. auto dimming mirror in the center is shot. it has a nice big purple/brown oval in the middle. gonna need a new one of those too.
7. the shifter is really reluctant to go past 2 into 1. i didnt wanna break the cable so i didnt force it.
other than those problems, the car is fantastic. coolant is clean, trans fluid looks perfect, even the oil cap is clean underneath. he had the pads and rotors done the day before i bought the thing.
overall im very happy with the car, i just have alot of weekend projects to do.
1. gasgauge is all over the damned place. it would say on e then half tank, then e etc. i know this problem thanks to my park avenue, and i know exactly what it is. bad fingers on the sending unit. i pulled over and put 15ish gallons in the 17 gallon tank. in a normal gm car, the gas light would have come on about 1 gallon earlier.
2. the cars temp gauges (both the ext and coolant) are shot. the coolant gauge was working when i test drove it, but today it just sat barley above its needle the entire 22 mile drive both ways. the car also thinks its 27 out right now.
3. dude said "i took the highbeams out" when i asked about the highbeam light. i passed it off because i was focusing on the driving characteristics of the car. playing with the stalk, it never clicks into the highbeam spot and the blue light is perpetually on when the car is running. i think the stalk is shot.
4. the steering has seemed to develop a knock when turning. at a stop and while making slow truns. it dont have the telltale knock sound, its more of a knock in the wheel itself. im trying to convince myself its not the steering box. the car turns tight and there arent any down the road noises though.
5. cosmetically the car needs a little help. dude claimed his generator fell on the passenger fender, causing it to rub the door (at the bottom) and the passenger side body kit is missing from the rocker. i think he bottomed it out or turned into a curb at some point.
6. auto dimming mirror in the center is shot. it has a nice big purple/brown oval in the middle. gonna need a new one of those too.
7. the shifter is really reluctant to go past 2 into 1. i didnt wanna break the cable so i didnt force it.
other than those problems, the car is fantastic. coolant is clean, trans fluid looks perfect, even the oil cap is clean underneath. he had the pads and rotors done the day before i bought the thing.
overall im very happy with the car, i just have alot of weekend projects to do.
#4
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well, i tried the high beam sockets, and the high beams are infact perpetually on. even with the key out. looks like ill be replacing a stalk in the future. instead of paying the $300 for a stalk im sorta tempted to remove the blue light blub and just run a switch on a relay.
i also noticed today, the fog lights dont work. all relays/fuses are good too. i dont think the switch is bad and the blubs are both good. looks like ill be running a relay for that too. atleast for those i can utilize the stock switch.
i also picked up a fender mirror and rocker cover today from the j/y. silver car too. the fender was an absolute bear. after i finally got all the hidden bolts off which involved taking the washer bottle off (5 bolts) the damn thing was spot welded to the hood hinge, which has a giant star bit which ofcourse i didnt have on me. my solution was unbolt the hood, took tin snips to the passenger side fender and proceeded to turn the hood 360* till the spot weld broke. lol.
i also noticed today, the fog lights dont work. all relays/fuses are good too. i dont think the switch is bad and the blubs are both good. looks like ill be running a relay for that too. atleast for those i can utilize the stock switch.
i also picked up a fender mirror and rocker cover today from the j/y. silver car too. the fender was an absolute bear. after i finally got all the hidden bolts off which involved taking the washer bottle off (5 bolts) the damn thing was spot welded to the hood hinge, which has a giant star bit which ofcourse i didnt have on me. my solution was unbolt the hood, took tin snips to the passenger side fender and proceeded to turn the hood 360* till the spot weld broke. lol.
#6
Retired
If your highbeams are stuck on, then that'* the reason why your fog lights don't work. Fogs are designed to turn off when the highbeams are on.
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2002 *-10 5.7 V8
2023 Jeep Rubicon Diesel
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2002 *-10 5.7 V8
2023 Jeep Rubicon Diesel
#7
Senior Member
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Damn
Looks like ill be replacing the stalk then. Or atlrast finding the switch and chopping the wires yo it. Thanks for the heads up mike
-sent from my gs3
Looks like ill be replacing the stalk then. Or atlrast finding the switch and chopping the wires yo it. Thanks for the heads up mike
-sent from my gs3
#8
Retired
Good idea because some states require the lights to function properly to pass inspection.
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2002 *-10 5.7 V8
2023 Jeep Rubicon Diesel
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2002 *-10 5.7 V8
2023 Jeep Rubicon Diesel
#10
Senior Member
Posts like a Camaro
It dosent say you have to use the factory switch for NYSI. But it does say the indicator on the dash has to work. Also the switch has to be in drivers reach without the driver having to move to use it.