02 Chevy Impala question

[tones2SS]

Hi guys. I have a question about my dad's 02 Impala. The engine coolant light came. My dad took it to the dealership and they replaced it once before a couple of years back.
Recently, the light had come on again and he brought it back and they said it would cost him 900 bucks or more to be repaired and said it wasn't just the sensor this time.
Anyways, just wondering if anyone here knows where this sensor is located on the engine. Engine is a 2002 3800 base model V6.
I appreciate any help/info. THANKS!!!!!

[CamaroAJ]

passenger side, on the back on the radiator. pretty easy to do. but if its a base model it should be a 3400. either way at that price it sounds like it needs an intake gasket and a poss. water pump.

[tones2SS]

passenger side, on the back on the radiator. pretty easy to do. but if its a base model it should be a 3400. either way at that price it sounds like it needs an intake gasket and a poss. water pump.

THANKS for the quick reply CAMAROAJ!!!!
So, it is on the back of the radiator. On top or bottom of radiator?

[69keith]

If it is the 3800 motor, it could be the plastic upper intake.

[73z-6sp]

Ahhh yes...the wonderful 02 Impala! I too suffer from one of these. My low coolant light is on constantly! I just ignore it now! But I do have to add water occasionally. I was told those cars are notorious for intake gaskets leaking. Not sure why. But to my Imp's credit...it is still running!

[MonzaRacer]

If that is the car I am thinking of the low coolant light sensor is in the expansion tank over on the right fender. Keep the coolant about 1/2 to 3/4 in below bottom of kneck and your good. One thing is get the Dex-Cool out of it as its crap in my professional opinion. if you want extended life coolant use the Ford approved GO-5 it doesnt have the cruding issues Dex has.
As for the low coolant light if the tank is over there you can see where the wires go into the bottom just fill it and then use a wrench or screwdriver and peck the crap out of it.
now just what did they say was causing this $900 dollar light to come on? Was it because the lower intake(on 3.4) has gaskets leaking? If so you can actually do it your self if you have any engine skills at all for about $100 total.
A quick clear pic under the hood would give me a palce to start on remembering which set up your dads car has.
Lee Abel
AFTERMARKET PERFORMANCE

[tones2SS]

Man, you guys are AWESOME!!!
I really do appreciate the info guys. I guess my dad had the dealership do a diagnostics test and they did a pressure test of some sorts and said it had a leak, (I just found out from my dad).
So,....maybe it is an intake gasket?? Sounds like a recall issue to me.
AGAIN, thank you all for the replies.

[CamaroAJ]

well on the impala the sensor is gray about 2x2. ON the radiator its self. back side about half way down, passenger side. you can use a long pick to pull the metal clip off and then a long screw driver to pop it out. its easy and should only take about 10 mins or so. LEAVE the radiator cap on and it will help keep all the coolant from running out as fast.

[CamaroAJ]

oh and its not a recall.

[justasquid]

I just replaced the intake gaskets on an 01 impala with the base model 3400 series engine. if there is a leak, you will need to have these replaced.

Now for the fun. It took me about 6 hours to do this. thats where the 900 bucks comes in form the dealership. I know, its just intake gaskets...... But, on the 3400, you have remove all of the front accessories from the engine just to get the valve covers off so the intake can be removed. Also, you will need to loosen all of the rockers and turn them. this so you are able remove the pushrods as the intake gasket doubles as a guide for the pushrods and they go through the gasket.

The gaskets themselves cost me around 60 bucks, then with a coolant flush, it was about 90 bucks total... "I agree, get rid of the dexcool". I also changed my oil. It was about due and just for the peace of mind that I might have gotten some antifreeze into the oil.

The reasons the gaskets leak are one, because the gaskets are a bad design, (bare minumum design). There is only a very thin rubber seal on a plastic base. And two, the dexcool tends to turn acidic if any contaminants get into it, and will eat the rubber. The anti freeze is probably more to blame than the gasket.

I don't believe there is a recall as CamaroAJ said. But, I would guess you have between 50-70,000 miles on the car?. That is the most common mileage I've seen for failure of the gaskets.

[tones2SS]

Thanks guys.
This really helps out a lot. I'm not sure what my dad is going to do? Drive it as is for awhile or trade it in? There is also the headlight issue where it fogs up all the time and water seems to be getting in from somewhere. That would be an easy fix, except for dishing out the cash for the headlight unit. This would be the second time, only on the opposite side.
Yes, the car has 56,000 miles on it, good call on the mileage justasquid.
AGAIN, I appreciate the replies. THANKS!!!!!!

[MonzaRacer]

No the Dex doesnt turn acidic, it has a plasticizer called 2EHA that softens the plastic frame on the intake gaskets and they also have redesigned bolts out for the 3.4.
If you want long life antifreeze use the G-05 recommended for Fords.
as for the bad design, lookaround as FelPro, I believe has some aluminum based replacements.
As for removing a bunch of stuff thats BS as I can turn one of these out in 3 to 4 hours.
Trust me I do it every week.
On the head lights take the unit out and drill a small 3/32 hole at a diagonal angle pointing down and towards the back (rad support)of the car and then the air flowing over the hole will create a negative pressure event inside the light. Wone hundreds with no issues yet.
And as for the gaskets being bad design, not really as they are "supposed" to be reuseable, theyalso use them on vortec and LSx engines. Just use any type of antifreeze that isnt dex-crud(cool).
I have also seen many of these cars with 150k on original gaskets.
Oh and dont forget to use new intake bolt kit from GM.
Oh and make sure you use a good inch pound torque wrench, a lot of then have over torqued bolts in my opinion.

[tones2SS]

Thanks Monza. Great info!!
I have a couple more questions guys. How does my dad know the dealership isn't pulling his leg on the intake gasket and all it needs is a sensor? And my second question, say it does need the intake gasket, will replacing the coolant sensor itself turn off the low coolant light inside the car?
Again, thanks for all the great info and help. I really appreciate it.

[CamaroAJ]

it will turn off the light unless it runs low on coolant again. what happens is with the intake gaskets leaking ther oil and coolant can mix. some oil can get into the coolant and when it gets on the sensor it sticks to it and even though its full it will turn the light on.

[tones2SS]

Thanks CamaroAJ!!!
I think my dad may just get it repaired.
I appreciate all the info/helps guys!!! THANKS!!!!