Power window problems

[kodalux]

I have had my 2003 Vibe in four times for power window repairs. They have had to change the check link (whatever that is) each time. It has been covered each time by warranty but the last time the dealer said it was the wind that caused the problem and would not cover it unless I paid $300. I told him where to go. A week and a half later I brought it to a different dealer and he made the repairs with no questions asked. I am sick of battling GM with warranty issues (I also have an Astro van which has been a money pit) This is the last GM I ever buy. The only good thing about the car is that it is Toyota powered.

[joatmon]

No idea what a "cjeck link" is, unless it's that metal thing that keeps the oor from opening too far, some threads here somewhere about power windows breaking from a misaligned or poorly designed one of them. sux you've had problems with the car. Funny thing is, the only problems i've had with my 2003 vibe was the 'toyota powered" part. welcome to genvibe

[scherry2]

the vibe is built with a majority of Toyota parts in a GM plant in a joint venture between GM and Toyota to be sold by Pontiac. And window regulators are one of those parts.now as to your dealer problem: the check link at our GM truck plant is the link that stops the door at different points when opening it, and also stops the door when the wind catches it and blows it open. what this has to do with your power windows, I couldn't tell you. and every time the dealer worked on your car there was a 1 year warranty on the Item that was fixed from that date on.what was the problem? gringing going up and down ? no function? yes dealers can be pains and its because it is a Toyota with GM labels, next warranty visit to the dealer ask to talk to the owner and ask him this:sir, "is it your common practice to sell a car that your mechanics and service manager tend to not want to or know how to fix? If poor attitudes concerning my PONTIAC VIBE continue I will be forced to call the regional representative and complain. thank you"oh' by the way Welcome to GenVibe.

[Atomb]

welcome to the site....i'm with scherry2 on this one. it's more a matter of GM mechanics not being properly trained to fix primarily toyota parts.as for the window, can you explain what the problem was? Was it grinding while going up and down? Did it stop working all together? Was it only going partially up and/or down?I've spent a bit of time working on power windows in my old VW and in the end, it isn't rocket science. Like many problems, you will probably do a better job working on it yourself then leaving it in the hands of a mechanic that could care less and isn't 'trained'.

[joatmon]

here's the thread I was remembering:http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=18049

[kodalux]

Don't get me wrong. I like the car. It's the fighting and arguing I have to go through with the dealer (particularly one) to have repairs done under warranty. I went through the same thing with my 96 Astro when it was under warranty. My opinion is that GM works so hard to render the problem non warrantable and have you pay out of pocket. My concern is that when the warranty expires (which will be May of this year) and the problem reoccurs am I stuck with the bill even though history shows an inherent problem? I am done with GM, period. As for the other questions, it was making a grinding sound when the window was going down. This occurred with both the passenger and driver side doors. I would have done the repairs myself but decided against it since the car is still under warranty. The car only has 50k on it now and this point in its life I woudn't have expected the power windows to give me any problems.

[joatmon]

each time the first dealer fixed it, did it really seem to be fixed? Does it seem to be fixed now? Did the second dealer also replace the check link, or did they do something else?I had my car in to the dealer for service exactly one time, and they did fine by me, but it was a minor thing at the time. There were a lot of dealer education issues when the car first came out, too bad they are still there after the car has been out for several years. Could part of the problem why the GM shops haven't had a chance to learn about the Vibe be that so few are taken in for repairs?

[scherry2]

I took my vibe in 2003 for a right rear window regulator that ground and jumped when I turned the window crank. they replaced the regulator and I haven't had a problem since. I'm sure every time you take it in they start at square 1 on how to diagnose the problem from the computer system GM has that tells the repairman what to check and in what order.

[Mase]

Wind damage due to lack of control whenever opening the doors shouldn't be covered under warranty. Be happy that they performed that goodwill service 4 times already.These things are not heavy duty truck doors. That little check link is all that keeps that 50lb+ door from slamming open into the side of the car. When those get bent or damaged they will interfere with the operation of the windows. In some cases, even causing them to shatter.Keep control of the doors. They don't just break themselves.

[scherry2]

Quote, originally posted by Mase » When those get bent or damaged they will interfere with the operation of the windows. In some cases, even causing them to shatter.learn something new everyday. thanks

[kodalux]

Mase, like I said, the problem has occurred four times. They decided that the fourth time it was caused by the wind. Why would they not "guess" (that's likely what they did) that the wind caused it either of the three first times? What would make it look any different? The end repair was the same, a replaced check link. I don't believe for one minute that the "technicians" are intelligent enough to distinguish between wind damage as they claim in the fourth case and mechanical damage as they did in the first three cases.

[kodalux]

Where can I get a copy of this bulletin?

[21Rouge]

Quote, originally posted by kodalux »I have had my 2003 Vibe in four times for power window repairs. They have had to change the check link (whatever that is) each time. It has been covered each time by warranty but the last time the dealer said it was the wind that caused the problem and would not cover it unless I paid $300. I told him where to go. A week and a half later I brought it to a different dealer and he made the repairs with no questions asked. Just curious but the new dealer would have been able to view the repair history of your Vibe on the computer system...specifically the many window repairs. Just wondering if he mentioned any of this to you?