Not starting

ewakko · Post by **ewakko** » Mon Oct 04, 2004 2:54 pm

I was wondering what exactly the symptoms of the Battery issue is.My vibe is barely two months old and a couple times last week it wouldn't start. It would make the noise its suppose to before it starts, but never actually starts (turnover). I've been stranded 5 times. The circumstances are:I was dropping off my sister at school. After driving for a little more than an hour we stopped and got some fast food, and when I got back to the car it wouldn't start. Right before I was going to call Roadside Assistance it started.Twice I've gotten stuck at work, the first time after getting a jump I was able to start it, the second time that didn't work.I took it to the dealership and they said the replaced the battery, but I got stuck at work again and had it towed to another dealership.They said they were able to start it with no problems. I'm two more service trips away from declaring it a lemon.It's starting to get cooler here, but not close to freezing temperatures.That does not sound like a battery problem but more likely a charging or short problem. The "Battery Issue" is a problem with the 310 CCA battery that was put in pre 2005 Vibes. When it is very cold the engine cranks very slowly or not at all. The replacement is a 560 CCA I believe.MavrikGen Vibe GodYup, the issue is the stock battery is not strong enough. Technicly and this is everyone's problem is that the battery works as designed perfectly... Of course its not strong enough in cold weather but as long as there isn't an actual fault in the battery, good luck getting it replaced.Now mine was replaced at the MI meet under warranty because it was leaking. They gave me the big 560cca battery. I was hoping for a CSI report from them so I could commend them... never got one.Now for your vehicle not starting every now and then and having to get it towed in by roadside. Any more info? like did it crank and not fire? was there security lights on? Did there seem to be a lose of electrical power before hand? It could be an ignition problem if its not cranking and no power yet it will start up again later? Cause a dead battery is a dead battery._______2004 Pontiac Vibe 5spdFusion monotone exterior/graphite interior/limo tintAM/FM 6 disc CD player with digital equalizer-6 speaker 200watt amped premium sound system.17" ICON Gun metal rims/chrome lip.Injen CAI and Tein S-Type coilsWish List:Body kit and SuperchargerSee my UPDATED!!! car at: http://www.cardomain.com/id/mavrikewakkoMemberThanks for the replies. I have an 04 Vibe. It cranks but doesn't fire. The radio was on when I turned the car on, but then I shut it off when it doesn't start hoping that would help (it doesn't). I'm picking up my car tomorrow, and I'll just have to wait until the mofo strands me at work again. I'll start a new thread because it doesn't sound like the battery problem, and I don't want to get off topic.thanks

Mavrik · Post by **Mavrik** » Mon Oct 04, 2004 8:05 pm

How well does it crank? Does it crank sluggish or anything like that? If it turns over fine but doesn't start thats not a battery issue, its a possible spark issue where the battery has enough power to turn the starter over which cranks the engine over, but there is either no fuel to fire or no spark to fire the fuel.

ewakko · Post by **ewakko** » Tue Oct 05, 2004 12:09 am

I think there was no spark. I picked my car up today. They straightened something that gets taken out during an oil change (I forgot what it was called). They said if its bent it would interfere with the car sending/receiving the start signal [to spark the engine].His guess was that it might have been loose and itermittenly started causing problems. The first dealership I took the car to also gave me an oil change, but he said the part was bent a little so he straightened it. I guess I'll find out in the next few days.Froze my (removed) of this morning on my motorcycle to pick the car up.

DavidPIL · Post by **DavidPIL** » Tue Oct 05, 2004 2:32 pm

Hey ewakko...I would appreciate if you could fine out what this part name is. I've started to have this problem. Well, not sure if it's the same and it's not as bad but the Vibe starts fine after sitting for a while but if I drive it then park it for 30 minutes or more, it doesn't fire-up until the 2nd or 3rd try. Cranks fine, just doesn't start. *sigh* let me know if you can...Dave

Mavrik · Post by **Mavrik** » Tue Oct 05, 2004 8:07 pm

Quote, originally posted by ewakko Â»I think there was no spark. I picked my car up today. They straightened something that gets taken out during an oil change (I forgot what it was called). They said if its bent it would interfere with the car sending/receiving the start signal [to spark the engine].His guess was that it might have been loose and itermittenly started causing problems. The first dealership I took the car to also gave me an oil change, but he said the part was bent a little so he straightened it. I guess I'll find out in the next few days.Froze my (removed) of this morning on my motorcycle to pick the car up. oh that sounds rather odd, not calling him a lier but I have changed the oil in my Vibe and a few others and other then dropping the oil and spinning off the oil filter, nothing else gets removed or touched for that matter. I have never removed any other parts in order to do that. Did you get a copy of the work order that outlines what was done? It should have the part number or at least the part name, I'd like to research this.

joatmon · Post by **joatmon** » Tue Oct 05, 2004 8:37 pm

the only parts I remove ( and replace) for an oil change are the oil filter, oil pan drain plug, dipstick, and oil fill cap. Can't imagine what they were talking about.

Mavrik · Post by **Mavrik** » Wed Oct 06, 2004 2:04 am

well when you have your vehicle running with the gas cap off or even with the key on the on position, if it goes into pressure test cycle and detects there is no pressure it will set a CEL light with a (P0440) for small leak detected in the emmissions system.That problem will not cause a vehicle not to start.

ewakko · Post by **ewakko** » Thu Oct 07, 2004 1:22 am

DavidPIL That's exactly what is happening to me. I'm just now figuring that out. It happened again at work yesterday. I was trying to leave and the car didn't start (for 3 or 4 times) and went in to get the dealership phone number and when I got back to my car it started.Whatever I was spouting about before about the oil change, probably doesn't matter, but I'll still find out what the hell the guy was talking about. In regards to the gas cap, the car had a full tank of gas, and since I haven't been riding in it lately I haven't touched the gas cap. Whenever I fill it up and click it at least 3 times.The next time it doesn't start on the first two tries, I'm having them take the car in. My 85 celebrity was more reliable than this POS.

Mavrik · Post by **Mavrik** » Thu Oct 07, 2004 2:10 am

Well I'm just trying to help you out, as a service advisor I have access to a bit of info in regards to your "pos" that might be helpful, but I just need the info on what they thought was wrong.

ewakko · Post by **ewakko** » Thu Oct 07, 2004 2:18 am

I appreciate your help. I'm just bitter because I wanted to install a new hu to hook up my Ipod last weekend.

joatmon · Post by **joatmon** » Thu Oct 07, 2004 5:11 am

Quote, originally posted by Mavrik Â»Well I'm just trying to help you out, as a service advisor I have access to a bit of info in regards to your "pos" that might be helpful, but I just need the info on what they thought was wrong.and I want to know what the fix is in case my Vibe develops the same problem

ewakko · Post by **ewakko** » Thu Oct 07, 2004 9:10 am

I went and talked to the service guy. The work invoice didn't have any details on what he was explaining to me. He had 3-4 other vibes in for some sort of problem where they couldn't start. It turns out that a bent oil baffle can prevent vibes from starting. He also said they had released a service bulletin about it too. I would have asked for more details, but I had to be somewhere. He's really nice and genuinely wants to help, so if there are more specific questions about the oil baffle, I'll be happy to ask him.

joatmon · Post by **joatmon** » Thu Oct 07, 2004 9:21 am

OK motor heads of genvibe, can anyone explain why a bent oil baffle would keep the engine from starting? or explain how an oil baffle can get bent?

Mavrik · Post by **Mavrik** » Thu Oct 07, 2004 12:20 pm

Well... I could see it getting bent would cause a prob but an intermit no start? And how it would get bent when doing an oil change? I'm going to have to research this to find out where its located...

ewakko · Post by **ewakko** » Fri Oct 08, 2004 6:12 pm

Well, just like clockwork, my car wouldn't start again. I was at a gas station and then it wouldn't start. This time it sounded different like it was a fuel problem. I had it towed to the dealership and hopefully they will be able to figure out what the problem is this time.

cohocarl · Post by **cohocarl** » Fri Oct 08, 2004 6:25 pm

I can't believe the dealer can't find out what's wrong. That is disgusting you have a new car and it is unreliable. Any more info on this "oil baffle" that gets bent during oil changes? I did all my own oil changes on my Vibe (5-speed) and can't imagine what they are talking about.Good luck. I'd be hot.

Mavrik · Post by **Mavrik** » Fri Oct 08, 2004 8:37 pm

I would place a bet that if its cranking and not firing, there is a fuel issue... maybe you had a batch of bad gas at one point and the fuel pump isn't working properly? Hard to say exactly but hopefully they find this out. You seem to be one of the very few with this concern on Genvibe. keep us informed.

cdFxer · Post by **cdFxer** » Sat Oct 09, 2004 5:23 am

Since even mentioning something that would cause hard starts was stepped on, I deleted my evidently irrelevent post...

Mavrik · Post by **Mavrik** » Sun Oct 10, 2004 2:58 am

Quote, originally posted by cdFxer Â»Since even mentioning something that would cause hard starts was stepped on, I deleted my evidently irrelevent post...what did you post? we're all shooting out ideas here...

DavidPIL · Post by **DavidPIL** » Mon Oct 11, 2004 1:08 am

Hiya...On the road in Myrtle beach now... Since getting here I haven't had the starting issue (yet). I did have the same problem while traveling here though. I would guess a fuel issue more than anything... Maybe like a dirtly fuel filter? I mean, if the car sits over night, it starts fine but if I go to the store, come out 45 minutes later, it doesn't want to fire up. It does fire up (for me) if i keep cranking it but I don't like to let it crank for more then 2 or 3 seconds, then try again. Usually doing this it starts the 2nd or 3rd try. But as I said, for now, it seems ok. I am taking it in to the local Pontiac place tomorrow for some odd brake popping (when damp or first drive of the day) Kinda like the issues in a previous sticky post about Brake Issues but now something more than listed in that post. I'm hoping it's just worn pads. I have over 34,000 but most of those miles were highway. Wouldn't think I'd have pad issues now but OEM pads usually suck anyway.Dave

cdFxer · Post by **cdFxer** » Mon Oct 11, 2004 3:00 am

Hmm. Cant wait to hear if your dealer finds something! Mine has always been hard to start after being driven for awhile (say an hour or so) and then stopped for a few minutes. It has always started, but cranking time is about 10X longer! I just assumed it was due to the engine setup they are using.

ewakko · Post by **ewakko** » Mon Oct 11, 2004 4:11 am

I just called to see if they were looking at it. He said they can't get it started, and it doesn't appear to be sending a start code, so it's not trying to fire.Update:They think they found the problem. There's a fuse box, and they found some of the fuses in it there were bent and some weren't even making contact. I think they are replacing those fuses. So think think the vibration of the car made it an intermitten problem of sending a start signal to the computer. I'll give more detailed info once I get my car back.

ewakko · Post by **ewakko** » Thu Oct 14, 2004 12:35 am

Picked up the car this morning.The problem was: "NO POWER TO OR INJECTOR PULSE - NO FUEL PRESSURE CHECKED FOR POWER TO PUMP GOOD RELAY - CONTACTED TECH ASSIST CASE #7723145 - WIRE FROM PUMP TO FUSE BLOCK GOOD R&R FUSE BLOCK AND FOUND BENT PINS AT BOX - CORRECTED PINS AND REINSTALLED"So they think it was bent pins in a fuse box. I was pretty pissed when I left and figured out they put 100+ miles on my car and left me with a 1/4 tank of gas. It was almost full when it got towed there. I hate dealerships and quality control at gm.

Not starting

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