Hi all, this is my first ever post here. I've read a lot of other posts on here and tried my best using Search to find all the answers I'm looking for before posting, but I could not find answers to many of these questions.
My Vibe is a base 2005 AWD. Although I love this car, it has been one problem after another. I'm the only one in my family who does auto repairs because my husband is intimidated by auto work. I'm a 49-year-old woman so I am limited in the amount of heavy DIY work that I can do, but I have replaced the battery and done general tweaks here and there. I am not afraid of getting under a car and getting my hands dirty. Here is a list of all the problems:
1. The biggest problem I am having right now is the hood latch. A few months ago, I was cruising down the highway when the hood flipped open. I pulled over and shut the hood and then drove at a low speed (with flashers on) to a shop to get it repaired -- only it was not repaired. Last night I went to get two bulbs for the headlights. The bulbs went in OK but I could not get the hood to shut. A person came out from the auto parts store and told me that whomever had "fixed" the latch had simply put it back in backwards. So now I'm trying to figure out what to do about the hood latch. Auto Zone has a hood latch assembly that I could buy but honestly I'd feel much better if the Vibe pros on this site looked at it before I bought it. It's a Dorman - OE Solutions Hood Latch.
2. The tires cannot be aligned because the connector arms in the rear need to be replaced. The tire shop did not tell me if it was a lower arm, or which arm it is, so I can't reliably look for a good used part. So frustrating!! The tire shops does not do mechanical work, and the auto shop wants to charge me over $500 for each arm, but this is the same place that put my hood latch on backwards, so well they can just "whistle Dixie" as my mother used to say. But seriously, is that a reasonable price that I should be expecting to pay?
3. The car needs new struts all around. I'd also like to buy those myself and take them to a shop (or do it myself if I can get the bolts loose). However I don't know if it needs different struts for the front and the back, or if I can use the same kind all around, or what. The videos I've viewed have shown me how to replace the struts, but I think I might need [MORE POWER] (LOL!) to do the job right. Once I get the struts all set and the connector arms replaced, the place where I bought tires recently has agreed to give me an alignment for free.
4. There is a big dark spot under where I normally park the car. With all the other stuff going on I am almost afraid to get it looked at.
One of my co-workers made a joke that I should just stab a stake through the heart of this car because of all the trouble, but I don't want another car, I want to make this car mechanically sound.
I'm completely on my own on this and I am very frustrated. Any input is very much appreciated.
Christa