Pontiac Service

General discussions about the Pontiac Vibe & Toyota Matrix. New members, introduce yourself here!
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GT Guy
Posts: 46
Joined: Fri Jan 10, 2003 8:00 am

Pontiac Service

Post by GT Guy »

Are Pontiac mechanics adequately trained to work on the Vibe since it essentially is a Toyota??
Zamboni Guy
Posts: 192
Joined: Tue Feb 04, 2003 6:52 am

Re: Pontiac Service (GT Guy)

Post by Zamboni Guy »

Good question. I've wondered that myself. I suspect there are some people here with insight into this...
Go Wild!!
Cubanpete
Posts: 315
Joined: Sun Nov 03, 2002 3:04 am

Re: Pontiac Service (silverawd26)

Post by Cubanpete »

I know of 3 dealers I spoke to about 2 weeks ago regarding maintenance, had no Damn clue...and they were giving lots of BS, ........... Only 1 of the 3 gave me Honest answers and was extremely courteous and very helpful, the other 2....I don't wanna start!!! However I did go to Toyota, and of 3 dealers I went to as soon as they saw the engine they told me right away the info I needed.... So GM should try to spend some $$$ and Train there service personel here in the Montreal area, this is bad for business and affect sales with the service they offer..... I swear, the feeling I got was like bringing a steer to the Butcher shop..they would have slaughtered the vehicle, this is without exageration....
VibeGT_2003
Posts: 44
Joined: Sun Mar 09, 2003 2:55 pm

Re: Pontiac Service (silverawd26)

Post by VibeGT_2003 »

I think it is time to get a service manual and do as much self maintenance as u can...LOL
Sub-Vibe-R
Posts: 2093
Joined: Tue Aug 27, 2002 12:30 am

Re: Pontiac Service (VibeGT_2003)

Post by Sub-Vibe-R »

I took more then 1 hour to my dealer to make my 1st oil change (and I was the only one in the garage). It took about 15-20 mins to the mecanic the find out the wright oil filter!!!!
bellwilliam
Posts: 268
Joined: Thu Jan 23, 2003 4:15 am

Re: Pontiac Service (Sub-Vibe-R)

Post by bellwilliam »

I guess Chevrolet would have a little more experiences with Japanese cars, due to "Prism" and "Sidekick". Pontiac would have to start all over again, does this mean Pontiac guy has to buy metric tools all over? (yes, I did not forget the old Pontiac Le Man, this is a pop quiz for you guys out there, what is a Le Man, who makes it.)
Bellwilliam2003 S/C VibeTrim : Base, Abyss , AutoOptions: Moon & Tunes, Power Upgrades: Supercharger, Split Second A/F controller, 225/45-17, My other cars are PTE Miata, 13 Tesla S, 13 Volt, 06 997
pmh013
Posts: 872
Joined: Fri Nov 01, 2002 12:25 pm

Re: Pontiac Service (Zamboni Guy)

Post by pmh013 »

quote:I suspect there are some people here with insight into this...Speaking from my own experience, they don't know what they're doing, just because they've had NO TRAINING. They are relying on learning this car by the seat of their pants, in my opinion. Also, the Toyota dealer is about 200 km from my Pontiac dealer, so it's not like my service guy can just phone up & go, "Hey this is Mike, I have a question about the muffler bearings..." Pretty shoddy, if you ask me. But then again, just my $0.02.
2003 Satellite AWD Two Tone, traded off at 180,126 kmNow the (fourth) catalytic converter is someone else's problem Now driving a 2007 Dodge Grand Caravan
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ColonelPanic
Posts: 8434
Joined: Sun Jan 05, 2003 8:48 am
Location: South Central Indiana

Re: Pontiac Service (bellwilliam)

Post by ColonelPanic »

quote:(yes, I did not forget the old Pontiac Le Man, this is a pop quiz for you guys out there, what is a Le Man, who makes it.) Yep, the Vibe wasn't the first Pontiac that was truly not a Pontiac. The LeMans of the late 80's/early 90's was really a Daewoo... I'll find out how my dealership's service department does with the Vibe this week. Got a leaking rear window, and over the weekend I noticed the sunroof is leaking (hopefully the fix stated in the TSB will take care of it.) My dealership sells Chevrolet/Pontiac/Buick/Cadillac and Oldsmobiles (for the time being.) Hopefully they still remember how to work on Toyotas from the Prizm days... I'm sure they will do fine. Now, the Pontiac-only dealerships... Hmm.....
03 Vibe base. Born 10/14/2002 06:07 AM
Auto, Moon & Tunes, power package. 143k
Neptune/dying clearcoat/primer grey. :lol:

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DopeVibeGT
Posts: 1027
Joined: Thu Oct 31, 2002 6:35 am
Location: PA

Re: Pontiac Service (Sub-Vibe-R)

Post by DopeVibeGT »

Dang. Took my dealer 20 min to do my oil change. I do need to ask you guys this. You DO use regular oil in the GT's, right? Not some kind of special oil for the valve changing, high rev? The guy asked around and said you use the same oil.
Pictures of my ride!!'03 Vibe GTMy AED GA!Work in progress
avarice
Posts: 9
Joined: Sun Oct 20, 2002 1:05 am

Re: Pontiac Service (DopeVibeGT)

Post by avarice »

quote:Dang. Took my dealer 20 min to do my oil change. I do need to ask you guys this. You DO use regular oil in the GT's, right? Not some kind of special oil for the valve changing, high rev? The guy asked around and said you use the same oil.Regular oil (as in non-synthetic) should be fine. Make sure it is the recommended weight 5W30 and of course don't forget to change the filter. Thanks for all the heads up, btw. Looks like I will be doing almost all my maintenance myself.
Abyss Vibe GT 6-SpeedTook her home 9/21/02
Big_Red
Posts: 624
Joined: Tue Oct 08, 2002 12:55 am

Re: Pontiac Service (GT Guy)

Post by Big_Red »

Well, I know that when I brought in my Vibe for its first oil change, it took 3 mechanics to figure out where the oil filter was. But I am sure that by now more people will have been trained on it (I hope).
2003 Pontiac VibeSalsaPower PackageSports PackageK&N Air Filter
coratz
Posts: 202
Joined: Thu Nov 07, 2002 8:32 am

Re: Pontiac Service (Big_Red)

Post by coratz »

Im very scared if something breaks. i could just see it in five years, i got a toyota engine with half ac delco accesories!. ac delco alternator, ac delco starter, ac delco oil filters, ac delco rad with dexcool etc. At my first oil change, the tech put in 4.5l of oil and had to drain the oil twice. he also got oil all over the plastic valve cover. the tech did not know how to start the vibe cause you had to stomp on the pedel. at least the tech felt bad and did the oil for free. i wonder if toyota has a say in just what toyota parts have to be kept toyota. example alternator. my extended warenty allows me to go anywhere for service. i will be going to a toyota dealer to keep my engine toyota. i dont want someone playing mix n match with my vibe.
MA-VIBE-FAN
Posts: 313
Joined: Wed May 15, 2002 11:04 pm

Re: Pontiac Service (coratz)

Post by MA-VIBE-FAN »

AC-Delco makes aftermarket parts for most makes. If you are concerned when the time comes, request that your repair shop not use AC-Delco parts to repair your Vibe. It just seams to be a lot of worry, to be concerned with the next parts on your car. Most people worry about the current parts on their cars.
Vibe Rater
Posts: 1100
Joined: Mon Sep 23, 2002 1:37 pm

Re: Pontiac Service (coratz)

Post by Vibe Rater »

quote:At my first oil change, the tech put in 4.5l of oil and had to drain the oil twice.What is the oil capacity of a Base VIBE?
NovaResource
Posts: 2062
Joined: Mon Jul 08, 2002 12:22 am

Re: Pontiac Service (Vibe Rater)

Post by NovaResource »

Base = 3.9 qts (3.7L)GT = 4.8 qts (4.4L)Both numbers include changing the filter.
philndz
Posts: 791
Joined: Sun Aug 18, 2002 1:02 pm

Re: Pontiac Service (ColonelPanic)

Post by philndz »

are you sure....(le mans) i that car was almost identical to the vauxhall astra (in england) or Opel Astra (in the rest of europe). we are talking about that little hatchback car right?
2003 Shadow Vibe Base 5spd - 53,000 MilesFlowmaster 60 series exhaust - Short Ram Intake SystemKonig Kaliber 17x7 Rims w/ 225-45-17 Kumho Ecsta 711's - Hotchkis Springs - Progress Rear anti-sway Bar My Vibe is FOR SALE: $8900
c17il3
Posts: 32
Joined: Sat Mar 08, 2003 11:36 am

Re: Pontiac Service (bellwilliam)

Post by c17il3 »

Seein as how I havent looked there yet this question came in handy. The Le Mans was built by Renault. Not a good car to carry on a grewat name.
03 Abyss Vibe GT 72 VW Beetle stdThe object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other b*****d die for hisGeorge S. Patton
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