FYI: I just came from another dealership (I'm out of town visiting family for easter) and they didnt have a clue about the issue, and the service advisor looked up all of the current TSB's (ONLY TSB's, not other documents) and found nothing about this problem. So, no update as of today, unless someone can look up PI (preliminary information) documents and see if PIC4354B has been updated/changed, etc. because that is what is currently out about this problem. Thanks guys, and have a Happy Easter!
P.S: I also looked under my hood and that black "cap" protruding from the alternator pulley and it is indeed metal and it is part of the pulley. But if you look closely, there is a small black rubber center cap which isnt shown in the photo, which could be pried off and someone can gain access to the guts inside. If anyone is brave enough, pry off the cover and take a look, I don't know if that cover will be in good enough a shape to be reused afterwards.

 

I had another look at it as its so tight in there. NowI see
the center rubber insert. I will leave it for some one else
to pry it open.
Here is whats on the back of the unit

Bosch 125
0 124 425 49
14v 65-120A
15 233 597

Must be good as its made in Mexico.

Jim

 

THEY FIXED IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just went into my dealer to raise hell, and the service advisor did one last quick search and found this updated preliminary information:
Headlamp Flicker and Interior Lamp Flicker- #PIC4354D- dated 3/14/07

Condition/Concern:

When driving interior and exterior lamps may flicker on vehicles equipped with the LZ8 3.9L engine.
Headlamps and Interior lamps flicker when switching between 3 and 6 cylinder mode mostly at highway speed.

Recommendation/Instructions:

Engineering has root caused the concern and has validated a repair. A Technical Service Bulletin and updated parts will be released in the near future.

This is a proactive PI. When a TAC case is set and the service repair becomes available your dealer will be sent a DCS message.


I CAN'T WAIT F OR THIS FIX TO COME OUT! EVERYONE SPREAD THE WORD TO ALL THOSE WHO HAVE THIS PROBLEM, AND TO OTHER FORUMS WHERE THIS ISSUE IS BEING DISCUSSED. ALSO, KEEP REPEATEDLY CHECKING THE SERVICE BULLETINS UNTIL THIS FINALLY GETS CORRECTED...

 

my girlfriends dad sent me this....maybe it is linked to our problem. Did they put the wrong alternator's in our car???






Subject:

Engine Compartment Or Accessory Drive Belt Noise - keywords alternator cylinder deactivation mode pulley #PIP4111 - (04/11/2007)






Models:

2007 Chevrolet Impala or Monte Carlo








Equipped with 3.9L LZ8 Engine (VIN Code R) Active Fuel Management


[hr]
[/align]The following diagnosis might be helpful if the vehicle exhibits the symptom(s) described in this PI.

Condition/Concern:

Some customers may comment about a noise coming from the engine compartment when traveling at steady speeds. Some may also comment that the noise can only be heard when the engine is operating in the 3 cylinder mode (cylinder deactivation). Upon inspection you may find that the noise is coming from the accessory drive belt and that it appears to be jumping or whipping up and down only when the 3 cylinder mode is activated. When the engine is operating in the 6 cylinder mode the belt movement is smooth and the noise is not present.

Recommendation/Instructions:

Verify that the engine has the correct alternator installed. The alternator used on the 3.9L LZ8 engine (active fuel management) is unique and has a declutching pulley feature which is used with the cylinder deactivation. This alternator is not used on the 3.9L LZ9 engine or the 3.5L LZ4 or LZE engines. See the pictures below for alternator identification.






If you find that the vehicle has an incorrect alternator then you must contact Jim Kelly at (586) 492-5612 before replacing it. He will supply you with additional information and also the address of where to send the incorrect alternator to.
Please follow this diagnostic or repair process thoroughly and complete each step. If the condition exhibited is resolved without completing every step, the remaining steps do not need to be performed.






GM bulletins are intended for use by professional technicians, NOT a "do-it-yourselfer". They are written to inform these technicians of conditions that may occur on some vehicles, or to provide information that could assist in the proper service of a vehicle. Properly trained technicians have the equipment, tools, safety instructions, and know-how to do a job properly and safely. If a condition is described, DO NOT assume that the bulletin applies to your vehicle, or that your vehicle will have that condition. See your GM dealer for information on whether your vehicle may benefit from the information.



WE SUPPORT VOLUNTARY TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATION
© Copyright General Motors Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

 

could it be some where shipped with the wrong alternator?
good to hear the fix has been found

 

No, this is if the alternator DOESN'T have that clutch/pulley. But the 3.9L w/ AFM has that odd-looking pulley with a large protrusion coming out of it, which mine has. I dont know if this is linked to our flickering lights, because the PI that I posted yesterday didnt specify what the root cause really is. We'll just have to wait and see...

 

I called my Service manager and he told me the near future may be 90 days or longer and they are not going to publish the information to the public, so if you don't ask, they won't tell.
Bobby Jo in Missouri

 

There is a fix now. My Impala '07 had this problem. Went to BBB Auto Complaint Dept. Problem solved on 4/19/07. Replaced Coil Pack and Ground Strap. The reason was they found a failed coil pack. Good luckto everyone getting their problem fixed with what my wife calledour flirting Impala.

 

WOOO HOO! Hey, did they release a TSB to the dealers? Because I just went to mine on Friday (he checks for bulletins for me twice a week now) and as of 2 days ago he says he didnt find any released bullteins or updated parts. Any info you can give me would be incredibly appreciated, I have had this problem since I got the car in October. Please and thank you!! And by the way...did the fix totally take away all the flickering?

 

I have been meaning to reply to this thread for a while. I went to my dealer a few weeks ago to get a carwash, and while I was waiting, I started talking to my regular service guy. I showed him the 2 bulletins (above) about the alternator, and the one where engineering found the "root" problem. He called up the service manager (guy in charge of all the regular service guys). He came over and told me that "he talked to engineering yesterday andGM knows about the problem, knows what causes it, but will not fix it." I said, but look at the bulletin...a TSB is coming shortly. He said it isn't, because the fix is too costly for GM. He said its a cost benefit thing, and mentioned that it is perfectly normal for the car to operate like this...all with the smugness of any used car salesman. At that time I wanted to punch that smirk right off of his face! He blamed it on the government and the stringent restrictions they have put on cars to comply with fuel laws or some BS like that. So I said, GM KNOWS about this problem? They are purposely selling faulty cars, and will continue to until they dicontinue the Impala? They are going to put this faulty system in the brand new base Camaro? This makes absolutely no sense to me. He said yes because they are going to do away with the Impala in a few years. I have no idea if this is true or not. He said they are also doing the same thing with the Tahoe which exhibits similar problems. GM refuses to fix our small problem because it is insignificant in their eyes, according to that service manager. Granted, this is what one guy told me and hetold me in the rudest way possible. I seriously wanted to punch him! Why would GM purposely selldefective cars? I see lawsuit written all over that decision...they are already in trouble in terms of sales, why would they risk selling cars like that? Please tell me you guys have heard something different. Keep bugging your service managers, calling the BBB auto line, complaininghere http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/pr.../tsbsearch.cfm whatever it takes.We know this car is not operating correctly and itneeds to be fixed.