2006 Crack but no start Service Bulletin

[moonstonemike]

Hey everyone, I just recieved an email from mycarstats.comand the service bulletin for crank but no start has been extended from 2005 to include 2006.SERVICE BULLETIN:050604074 NHTSA ITEM NUMBER:10020810Bulletin Summary: INTERMITTENT EXTENDED CRANK, HARD START, ENGINE CRANKS BUT NO START WHEN ENGINE IS AT OPERATING TEMPERATURE. (REPLACE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM). *KBand SERVICE BULLETIN:050604064 NHTSA ITEM NUMBER:10017761 Bulletin Summary: ENGINE CRANKS/NO START. *TThttp://www.mycarstats.com/safetystation.aspJust wanted to share because when my 06 would sometimes have trouble starting I brought it to the dealer with the old tsb they told me that was only applicable to 2005 and of course they couldn't find anything wrong. Enjoy

[Kamikaze]

Moonstonemike: It doesn't start at all when it's warm? or it just takes for ever for it to crank over before it starts?I've noticed that when I start mine (every time) it takes a little while (2 seconds) to actually fire up. Was wondering if this is just a characteristic of the car, or if this is similar to what's going on with you.

[moonstonemike]

It would crank for about 5 second, sorta catch, studder a little and die, then you try again and it fires right up.

[Kamikaze]

ok, mine's just slow at starting when cranking over, usually about 2 seconds. then it starts, doesn't really stutter or die, just doesn't seem like it wants to start RIGHT away.

[Mario]

My 2006 does the exact same thing. On warm starts I turn the key and there is nothing for a few seconds, but then it turns over fine.I hope there is no issue.

[Kamikaze]

I was at the toyota dealer yesterday, and listened to someone start a pretty new corolla, it sounded just like the vibe starting, it took a second or two before firing, then some lady in a late 90's early 00 Camary did the same thing. I think my issue is normal for toyota (I was use to the honda sound at start up) I have not experienced the warm start nothings yet. (knock on wood)

[maximum]

My 2005 Vibe had the same problem so I took it in to the dealership while under warranty to get it checked. But, of course, they couldn't find anything wrong. Then I saw the service bulletin and took a copy of it with me. They still wouldn't replace the PCM because they couldn't reproduce the problem. It is intermediate and I can go for weeks before having a extended crank so the chances of it happening at the service center was slim to none.A month before the warranty expired I tried taking it in one more time just to get a paper trail I could use to fight GM after the warranty expires. I was fully expecting the same story -- can't do anything about it unless I can reproduce it -- from them. Car*ma must have been good for me that day because when the service rep. tried to start the car on the launch pad it cranked but wouldn't start. So they went ahead and replaced the PCM but told me that it was only part of the problem and I needed to pay for a $250 fuel system cleaning service. I said maybe next time and left the dealership without paying a dime. This was over two months ago and my Vibe hasn't had an extended crank problem since then. Yeah, that fuel system cleaning was really necessary . . . NOT I remember when dealrships would start replacing stuff when a car was under warranty because it was covered. But GM is being cheap and won't even replace a known defective part unless you can reporduce the problem on the spot. Makes me want to avoid GM products in the future. No wonder they're going under.Now that my warranty is expired I won't be taking my Vibe to a dealership for service ever again. Luckily I have a trusted independent service shop that maintains my cars for about half the price.

[bryonfriesen]

Can some one send me a copy of the service bulletin, I think we have the issue also. Dealer put a 20 dollar bottle of fuel cleaner in the car and did not seem to be able to recreate the issue.bryonfriesen@hotmail.com

[Toasted7]

I had the same problem with my 05 not 6 months after I got it. I took it to the dealership multiple times and they could not recreate the problem so they would not fix it. I ended up writing Pontiac about it and 3 PCM's later... it's fixed. If I didn't write Pontiac, the dealership was just going to keep putting me off. Finally and now for a year or so I haven't had any issues. Mine would crank (extended crank) when the engine was warm... wait a little bit and try again, then it would start fine... then it would idle low and even died on me a few times. If I waited another few minutes, it would start fine and run with no problems.Just a heads up for anyone else with those issues, get your dealership to look into it and get it taken care of under warranty.