Any Pontiac dealership?

[21Rouge]

Last month I ordered a Vibe from "my" dealership. However since this happy day I have had mounting frustration with this dealership over ongoing expensive problems with my 5 year old Pontiac minivan...which also had been purchased from them. My frustration was such that I even played the card "Hey I have on order a new car from you guys. I've shown goodwill now you show some to me". I got 20% off the parts Anyways looking to the future I might like the option of taking the Vibe for warranty work somewhere else. This is ok right?

[kharman]

you can take you vehicle to any Pontiac dealership for warranty work...

[Raven]

Any GM dealer actually, Pontiac, Chevrolet, whatever.

[Mavrik]

Some chev might send you to pontiac but really you can take it anywhere.So whats gone wrong with that minivan? A/C? intake or head gaskets? tranny? Its nice they actually did you a goodwill by 20% off parts because your getting another car through them. Some places might not have done that. Where did you order from again?

[21Rouge]

Quote, originally posted by Mavrik »So whats gone wrong with that minivan? A/C? intake or head gaskets? tranny? ?It is a 2000 Montana with just over 100,000 km. I am the original owner. I go to the dealer for most of it servicingSeptember 2004: Replace the PCSolenoid to remedy harsh shifts. ($700 Cdn)January 2005: ABS sensor in one wheel goes south; whole hub must be replaced ($700 Cdn)March 2005: Same symptoms as Sept 2004. This time just change tranny fluid and filter; they see lots of sediment . Doesn't bode well for the future. ($200) ie I am expecting to need a tranny rebuild this summer.Less than three weeks later, April 2005: check ENGINE light is on Verdict this time: EGR valve gone and at the same time they notice spark plug wires corroded, needs new plugs, ignition coil, clean throttle body, gas filter, injector service and finally to top it off the water pump is leaking. ($1400).Maybe you can understand my frustration with this vehicle. And still the transmission problem haunting me This 'behaviour' by a vehicle just approaching 5 years of age with just relatively low mileage is unacceptable. I guess I have led a shelteredlife re cars as I had my 86 Toyota Corolla for 14 years. I currently have an Eagle Summit Wagon going on 14 years (this is the car to be replaced by the Vibe). Neither have given me the grief of this only 5 year old Pontiac. My expectation is that a 'today' car, with regular maintenance should not require a new engine or new tranny or similar "major' failure (we can decide what that is later) at less than....say 125 000 km.When I bought it in 2000 there was only the 3 year bumper to bumper warranty. Not too many model years later the 'same' vehicle now has an additional 5 year limited power train warranty. That would have helped me. Quote, originally posted by Mavrik »Its nice they actually did you a goodwill by 20% off parts because your getting another car through them. Some places might not have done that. Mavrik, I am glad you told me this because I had no idea what to expect when I angrily demanded 'goodwill'. I know they didnt make this car but they are the point men for this monolith car company GM. In fact I was expecting more. I bought the van thru them, did most of its servicing with them and have the Vibe on order through them. And they likely expect they will get warranty and general maintenance monies re the Vibe. That is alot of money coming their way. Giving me about $300 off this repair doesnt seem so great to me.

[Mavrik]

Well unfortunatly for most Montana/Venture van owners out there, they are going through the same thing you are. Something about those 3.4litre engines wear out intake and head gaskets like no tomorrow. You got off light with that transmission though as you said, if metal was found in the fluid there is now probably a lot more wrong with it. And not to scare you but that could mean replacing that PCS all over again because iys likely that metal can or already has gotten into it and unfortunatly those can not be flushed. Your overhaul could end up costing well over $1400 in parts alone... depending on whats all damaged. You would be better off buying a rebuilt transmission and having them put that in. You see a rebuilt costs the same of not less then parts to rebuild a transmission. And the labour to do the job is less as well since its a simple swap.$700 ABS wheel speed sensor and bearing, sounds about right. I'm surprised you have not had an intake gasket done yet. Oh... check around if you have not already gotten the tune up done... Book time to replace the spark plug wires is 2 hours... small shops could do it for less I am sure.I have had no problems with my Vibe. However I can say from my experience working at the garage part of the dealership as a service advisor... there is little else from GM I'd buy...

[21Rouge]

Quote, originally posted by Mavrik »Well unfortunatly for most Montana/Venture van owners out there, they are going through the same thing you are. Something about those 3.4litre engines wear out intake and head gaskets like no tomorrow. I'm surprised you have not had an intake gasket done yet. Oh... check around if you have not already gotten the tune up done... I had this problem at 57 000 km ...just before the basic warranty expired.Quote, originally posted by Mavrik »I have had no problems with my Vibe. However I can say from my experience working at the garage part of the dealership as a service advisor... there is little else from GM I'd buy... I agree totally. The only reason we are buying GM is because of our GM Visa points and a relative is a salaried GM employee so there is a discount. We figure we got the best of both worlds with the Vibe ie Toyota heritage, GM badge.

[Mavrik]

I usually came across those problems with the vans beginning at 40,000KM...my next car will be an import. Only reason I bought the Vibe was because I worked for GM at the time and got a nice discount and it was basicly an import under the GM flag.