Hello all, 2004 base model automatic transmission Vibe owner here. I've had my Vibe since 2014, bought it at around 130K, currently has a little over 222K. I've always been religious about maintenance issues and have never experienced any significant issues with my car. I love my Vibe!
About 2 or 3 months ago, I started noticing that the automatic transmission seemed to lag just a little bit, especially when climbing hills. It was not very noticable, and I think I was only aware of it because I've had the car for so long and it just didn't feel like what I was accustomed to. The mechanic I have gone to since buying the car changed management for the worst, otherwise I would have taken it in right away. I looked around until I found what seemed like another decent mechanic, and took it in there on the 4th of this month.
I described the issue to the new-to-me mechanic, and asked them to do a transmission fluid change. They made me wait until closing to get it ready, and when I came to pick up the car they told me they hadn't done the transmission fluid change because it "didn't look dirty enough to need it." This mechanic also insisted that I shouldn't prioritize this sort of preventative maintenance, because the car was nearing the end of its lifespan.
Fast forward to yesterday, when I took a day trip to the sierra foothills. Climbing the grade, I started noticing really rough shifting, especially around 45 to 55 mph mark. Once we got to our destination, I noticed incredibly rough shifting going into first and reverse as well. I felt like I was driving a tractor - an old tractor (which I've done, so I know!). Getting back home was a little better, because it was downhill and I could put it in neutral for a lot of the time, but in drive there was still a lot of shaking at anything other than around 75 mph.
ETA: It was also after we had made it up the grade to our destination, parked and turned the car off, then turned it on again that the check engine light came on, sometimes solid, sometimes flashing, but still there.
There was also a burning smell that we noticed
Is my Vibe toast? Should I have insisted on the transmission fluid change? Is this a PCM issue (although I'm not within the recall years window)?
Thanks to all who weigh in!
ETA: If anyone knows of exceptionally trustworthy mechanics in the San Francisco Bay area - or even more inland towards the Central Valley - please let me know! Oceanworks and Arts, both in Berkeley, are the two that I've had disappointing encounters with recently.