2003 Vibe Two-Tone Cladding Issue - Revised TSB Released!

philndz · Post by **philndz** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 3:08 am

still no '04 mud flaps i assume??? Arggh! I wont replace my cladding until they can replace my mud flaps too!

MrMke · Post by **MrMke** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 3:47 am

quote:I just got my car back this morning from having the cladding replaced, it looks great!!Post some pics when you get a chance so some of can see what it looks like.

NovaResource · Post by **NovaResource** » Wed Sep 17, 2003 3:56 am

shibaman posted pics today of his new rockers. Look here:http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=6100

Kari · Post by **Kari** » Sat Sep 20, 2003 1:23 pm

So does this TSB cover the replacement of ALL of the plastic trim...all the way around the car? Or is this just a specific part of the car? (the wheels or the sides or whatever)

Kari · Post by **Kari** » Sat Sep 20, 2003 1:30 pm

So is it going to match, then, given that my existing plastic has had time to fade in the sun for a year? :

Kari · Post by **Kari** » Sat Sep 20, 2003 1:34 pm

One wouldn't think everyone should have a bunch of paint chips after a year either, but everybody does...or maybe I'm just obsessive about a perfect color match.

Kari · Post by **Kari** » Sat Sep 20, 2003 1:37 pm

yes I know...but see in my signature picture where the "bumper" plastic extends partially up the wheelwell trim? that's where my concern comes from...is there going to be a noticable difference there? or later on when it DOES age and maybe start to fade, will the bumpers fade more and create a discrepancy? much as i'd love to be rid of my scratches, that worries me.

Toasted7 · Post by **Toasted7** » Sat Sep 20, 2003 1:40 pm

I looked at a Vibe today at the MI Rally 2 that had the cladding replaced under the new TSB and they replaced two body panels on each side (the one that goes over the rear wheel well and the one that goes from the wheel well down onto the back door) it also replaces the lower cladding or rocker panel that runs along the underside of the car. It now flares out a little and makes the car look lower (at least from what I saw) and that flare is supposed to keep the rocks and debris from hitting the cladding on the back... which is what caused this problem in the first place. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I am going to have all that replaced on mine later this week and I will know for sure then. As for the color matching, it is very close.

Kari · Post by **Kari** » Sat Sep 20, 2003 1:43 pm

Visually, though, when there's a "relatively large" separation or something to break the line, it's more difficult to tell the difference between two close shades. So unless I sideswipe one at the dealership, it won't be the same situation. The small crevice of black between the two pieces of trim isn't enough of a visual break to truly mask a difference...it will mask it somewhat because it's not DIRECTLY side by side, but it's close enough. Damn me and my artistic OCD mind.

Kari · Post by **Kari** » Sat Sep 20, 2003 1:46 pm

So this is not the front part at all, but just the sides and back?

Toasted7 · Post by **Toasted7** » Sat Sep 20, 2003 1:47 pm

quote:Damn me and my artistic OCD mind.What's wrong with that... I went to school for an art degree???As far as I know it will not replace the front door cladding, but I will be able to tell you more later this week when the parts are replaced on my car... updates to come soon!

Kari · Post by **Kari** » Sat Sep 20, 2003 1:49 pm

The fact that my pickiness about matching and coordination has become coupled with my obsession to keep things in pristine condition and it's turned into some sort of sick obsession that leads me to not want to have this done because I'm afraid it won't match. LOL

pmh013 · Post by **pmh013** » Sat Sep 20, 2003 2:25 pm

Well, I finally got around to going into the dealership regarding this TSB. I didn't bother to make an appointment.I pull into the dealership, and notice a new Fusion Vibe on the lot, with some really ugly custom graphics. So, I look that over for a while. Then, I mosey inside to look at an '04 Neptune, to point out to my finance the new cladding, and was hoping to show him the new gauges. Well, you can't tell unless the car is on, so I get out. Then, some young schmuck of a sales guy comes over & wants to know if I want any help.... "No thanks, I already own a 2003 Vibe, I'm just looking at the new cladding for 2004." This sales guy tells me they're the same. "No, the cladding is different for 2004. My car's right outside if you want to take a look." (This is the #1 Vibe selling dealership in the province?!?!?)Finally make my way back to service. I slap the TSB down on the counter, and announce that I have a Vibe with discoloured molding and I want it replaced. The poor girl looked so stunned. She reads it, and says she needs a service advisor to look at it. Fine. "Do you have the car here?" she asks. Of course I do, you idiot ... do you really think I'd come in without the car? Good thing I didn't say that out loud! Anyway... they have me pull it in, and the service guy looks at it, and says, that's not discoloured, it's scratched (duh!). I said, "Well, that's what the TSB covers is the discolouration from the scratching of road debris hitting the car. If the TSB said "scratched" or "scraped" that would be considered normal wear & tear." Oh. He needs to go look this up. 15 minutes, I'm standing in the service bay. Not impressed. I start to wander around and notice that the service advisor is in the office of the service manager, they are on the phone and looking quizzically at the computer screen. Finally, the service advisor comes out, and says that they don't know what the TSB means by discolouration, and they need to get the DSM involved. (removed)?? He then starts to explain what a DSM is. "Ya, I know, and _________ is not going to be impressed", I said. "__________ was hoping to never see this car again, I'm sure." In any case, the service manager was phoning the DSM, who would interpret the TSB for them (as soon as the DSM finds out it's me, I'm sure the parts will be on order, as I am ornery customer #1 with GM after my little catalytic converter episode). Then the service manager will phone me back.Honestly, first I gotta tell the sales guy that the cladding is different, then I gotta explain to the service department that this should be replaced? Does Pontiac expect their customers to hold their hand while they pee, too?Question is, why isn't there a PICTURE that goes along with the TSB, explaining for our simple service people what the hell the TSB is about?So, I'll keep you posted!!

ragingfish · Post by **ragingfish** » Sat Sep 20, 2003 3:12 pm

pmh:Sorry to hear about your troubles...I hope it works out for you in the end...if your dealer has been excessively troublesome, please add the dealer name to my ongoing list, which I will pass on to Jeff at some point so he can be aware of specific dealers who's customer service practices need a closer look... http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=5682

pmh013 · Post by **pmh013** » Sat Sep 20, 2003 3:51 pm

quote:if your dealer has been excessively troublesome, please add the dealer name to my ongoing listThe sad thing is, this is the good dealership!!! The dealership I bought the car from is full of knuckleheads, so I wouldn't take the car there. The DSM wanted me to take the car to this particular dealership when I had the catalytic converter problem, because they were the #1 Vibe seller in the province, and *supposedly* had a lot more experience with the Vibe. No one there had a clue, not even a sniff. I expect that after they talk to the DSM, they will suddenly know what cladding adhesive smells like!

ragingfish · Post by **ragingfish** » Sat Sep 20, 2003 3:56 pm

quote:I expect that after they talk to the DSM, they will suddenly know what cladding adhesive smells like!Sounds like some of them may already be sniffing it...

pmh013 · Post by **pmh013** » Mon Sep 22, 2003 11:18 pm

quote: In any case, the service manager was phoning the DSM, who would interpret the TSB for them ... Then the service manager will phone me back.OK, so it has been 3 days (2 full business days) since I had my car at the dealership. How long do I wait for the service manager to phone me? Seeing as how I have all the contact info for the DSM, should I just go direct to her and bypass the SM all together (he's not much on returning calls, I've learned). What's a reasonable amount of time for me to wait on this issue? I have no patience, it's just the way I am.

threekrows · Post by **threekrows** » Tue Sep 23, 2003 2:50 pm

I'd call...I don't see why they are all making such a big deal about it.You'd thain THEY were paying for the parts...as far as time goes,I think it pays less than an hour warranty time,my body shop would do it just to get my smart (removed) out of their hair.But,since I work there, I'll do it myself,but closer to the time my warranty's up.

pmh013 · Post by **pmh013** » Wed Sep 24, 2003 3:51 am

I called the service manager ... he is still waiting to hear back from the DSM, who hasn't returned his call. This is crap! How can you run a business where you aren't allowed to do anything unless you get permission from someone who you can only get in contact with once a week? If I don't have an answer by Monday (which will have been a full week since I first took it in), this dealer is going on ragingfish's list of BAD DEALERS.

ArcsVibe · Post by **ArcsVibe** » Wed Sep 24, 2003 7:59 am

It just sounds like they are stalling, hoping you will "go away"Call them up, or call GM Canada Customer Service and lodge a complaint.Please keep us posted!

pmh013 · Post by **pmh013** » Wed Sep 24, 2003 9:32 am

quote:It just sounds like they are stalling, hoping you will "go away"BWAH HA HA HA HA ... I don't go away, and this dealership is well aware of that ... http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=2894 Honestly, these guys don't do anything without "mom's" say-so, they're scared that they might get in trouble.

red · Post by **red** » Thu Sep 25, 2003 5:13 am

if they think pmh013 is going away, they are smoking something illegal!!!!! go gettum girl!!!! gggrrrrrr!!!!!

pmh013 · Post by **pmh013** » Thu Sep 25, 2003 5:42 am

You bet!! Pretty much, I'm always ruffling someone's feathers ... it just happens to be GM's turn (again). We'll wait & see what happens on Monday!

Pix Doc · Post by **Pix Doc** » Thu Sep 25, 2003 7:42 am

I took mine in and also got the runaround. they said THEY didnt think the cladding is discolored. I got the bums rush and the parting shot was "well you have plenty of time left before your warranty runs out!

pmh013 · Post by **pmh013** » Thu Sep 25, 2003 10:04 am

quote:I took mine in and also got the runaround. they said THEY didnt think the cladding is discolored. I got the bums rush and the parting shot was "well you have plenty of time left before your warranty runs out!That's not the point! I bet if you went in on the day before your warranty expired, you'd get sh*t for waiting til the very last minute. This is just incredibly stupid. I would book an appointment (as these are apparantly necessary for "bookkeeping purposes") to have this looked at again. If they give you the same run-around, start threatening... I want to talk to the service manager, dealership manager, district service manager, General Motors President of Toilet Paper Installations, etc. Also, log a complaint with GM's customer service line... supposedly this helps, but I personally believe these people are too stupid to be effective. That's all, I'm sure it's been said before, and we'll keep saying it again: GM CUSTOMER SERVICE IS SHAMEFUL!

pmh013 · Post by **pmh013** » Mon Sep 29, 2003 11:24 am

quote:We'll wait & see what happens on Monday!Well, Monday is pretty much over (the business part certainly is) and no news from the dealership. They are now on raging's list of bad dealers. I will phone them tomorrow, if I remember, and I think I'll phone the DSM too. It should not take 9 days to get an answer on this issue.

scherry2 · Post by **scherry2** » Mon Sep 29, 2003 11:33 am

I was suppose to get mine fixed a week ago and 2 pieces between the rear molding and the body didn't come in and it now will be on back order.... november maybe..... oh well as long as they admit there is a problem and knowing it will be fixed, i can wait i guess

red · Post by **red** » Tue Sep 30, 2003 6:39 am

i got mine fixed w/o problem, we all agreed what the problem was!!! it helps if the service mgnr/rep sees it for what it is and READS the entire bulletin!!! alot of them arent reading the WHOLE bulletin (or understanding it) when it talks about road debris destroying the surface......keep on fighting!!!

Toasted7 · Post by **Toasted7** » Fri Oct 03, 2003 12:16 pm

Ok... here is a question to anyone that has had their cladding replaced already. I'm wondering if the seal around the cladding was replaced on your car as well as the cladding. The seal is the rubber piece that actually sits up against the body of the car, between the cladding and the actual metal. I know that msmyer and a few others have issues with the seals on their Vibes actually falling apart (looks as though they are dry-rotting). I had my cladding replaced not even a week ago and I just noticed that the seal around it is missing (the cladding is sitting right up against the body panel). On top of that, one of the pieces of cladding is not even aligned with the rest of them and is already starting to fall off and if you look down on it from the top, you can see behind it! In addition to all of this, the area where the old seal was, left a dark line (that I can't seem to remove from my white paint) just above the new cladding. I'm really just wondering if the seals around the cladding was replaced on anyone else's Vibe or not?

Bdaz1 · Post by **Bdaz1** » Fri Oct 03, 2003 8:20 pm

quote:Ok... here is a question to anyone that has had their cladding replaced already. I'm wondering if the seal around the cladding was replaced on your car as well as the cladding. The seal is the rubber piece that actually sits up against the body of the car, between the cladding and the actual metal..... I'm really just wondering if the seals around the cladding was replaced on anyone else's Vibe or not? Had my moldings replaced on Wednesday and they DID replace the "seals" as you call them. I think they are only to prevent the edge of plastic molding from rubbing against the painted metal body panels and are not really a "seal" at all.

Toasted7 · Post by **Toasted7** » Sat Oct 04, 2003 4:34 am

I doubt they actually do anything other than keep the molding from rubbing the metal either, but I didn't know what else to call it. I'm going to have to put a call into my dealer who did the work and have them fix it... again. Thanx for the info though!

msmyer · Post by **msmyer** » Sat Oct 04, 2003 6:07 am

quote:I know that msmyer and a few others have issues with the seals on their Vibes actually falling apart (looks as though they are dry-rotting).Had both things looked at and ALL parts are on order! (As you already know Toasted7!)

ArcsVibe · Post by **ArcsVibe** » Thu Oct 09, 2003 2:18 am

Great news Salsa! keep us posted please!

scherry2 · Post by **scherry2** » Thu Oct 09, 2003 11:14 am

took the vibe in weds for the new cladding and I went to pick it up thurs. they were not done yet, it was their 1st time changing all the cladding on any vibe so they took their time suppose to get it friday.

Toasted7 · Post by **Toasted7** » Thu Oct 09, 2003 1:45 pm

I took my Vibe back in since I had the cladding replaced and told them they need to fix the missing "seal" around the rear wheel well. They tried to tell me that the new cladding is slightly smaller than the old stuff and to use rubbing compound to get out the line in the paint that the old cladding left behind. I went and talked to their body shop manager and he agreed with me that it was missing the rubber strip at the top of the cladding. We then walked back over to the service area and looked up the TSB and it said NOTHING about the 4 rubber strips that need to be replaced as well. They are just held on the top of the cladding by tape and they keep it from rubbing against the body of the car. If you get yours replaced... make sure the new seal is put on before you leave the dealer. They ordered it for me (no charge) but I have to take it in AGAIN (4th time for the cladding issue) and they have to take off 4 cladding panels to put on the new rubber seals. He said it would cost them a small fortune in clips becuase GM charges $4 per clip and each side uses at least 20 of them. They said they would take care of it for me, just make sure they order the rubber seal strips as well... will save them a lot of time in the long run to do it right the first time. This was their first Vibe they were replacing the cladding on, so I was not really upset, other than that many trips to the dealer (45mins one way for me.... ugh!). But they have to learn somehow.Educated Vibe dealers... do they exist? (at least they are working on it now).

scherry2 · Post by **scherry2** » Thu Oct 09, 2003 7:21 pm

yea when they first got my cladding in 2 weeks ago they told me that they had to order the protector strips. they said they weren't on the TSB but they would cover it.

Toasted7 · Post by **Toasted7** » Fri Oct 10, 2003 5:59 am

Friendly reminder:If you haven't had your cladding replaced yet... ...let the dealer know when they order the parts that they need to order the protector strips as well (4 of them/ 2 on each side). Will actually save the dealer from having to do the replacement twice on the same car (and save you time away from our Vibe ). I would hope the dealer would appreciate us being "educated customers" because we are saving them time and money by letting them know this up front. Just my 2 cents.

scherry2 · Post by **scherry2** » Fri Oct 10, 2003 8:03 am

quote:Friendly reminder:If you haven't had your cladding replaced yet... ...let the dealer know when they order the parts that they need to order the protector strips as well (4 of them/ 2 on each side). Will actually save the dealer from having to do the replacement twice on the same car (and save you time away from our Vibe ). I would hope the dealer would appreciate us being "educated customers" because we are saving them time and money by letting them know this up front. Just my 2 cents.also tell them to take their time. they broke a peice on mine and now I can't have my vibe back till monday.. they did give me a nice grand am gt to drive.

immyj79 · Post by **immyj79** » Fri Oct 10, 2003 8:52 am

Back to the cladding issue, does anyone have pictures of the problem?

scherry2 · Post by **scherry2** » Tue Oct 14, 2003 12:12 pm

well i got the spider-vibe back with the new cladding it looks great.I also have installed my powder coated roof rack rails.

Attached files

MrMke · Post by **MrMke** » Tue Oct 14, 2003 8:27 pm

Yes, Looks good scherry! Any problems at your dealership with the replacement of the new cladding?

ArcsVibe · Post by **ArcsVibe** » Tue Oct 14, 2003 8:36 pm

Wow!!What a difference!Thanks for the picture ( I am kinda of a visual guy ) LOLThis is what makes genvibe.com rule!!!

scherry2 · Post by **scherry2** » Wed Oct 15, 2003 10:11 am

quote:Any problems at your dealership with the replacement of the new cladding?yea mine was the first one they had ever done and it took from tues to monday to do it there was no problem getting them to order the parts in the first place, kelly pontiac in fort wayne indiana has been very good to me and its the "Kelly" of indy racing fame.

msmyer · Post by **msmyer** » Wed Oct 15, 2003 10:17 am

I just got the notice in the mail that my "parts" were in! I have to make it up there and set-up an appointment...

Toasted7 · Post by **Toasted7** » Wed Oct 15, 2003 12:55 pm

Looks great... the new cladding and the painted roof rack rails. You just got the silver part painted right, not the cross-bars?

scherry2 · Post by **scherry2** » Wed Oct 15, 2003 7:11 pm

correct! i removed my cross bars long ago

Pump233ca · Post by **Pump233ca** » Thu Oct 30, 2003 12:26 am

As we speak my Car is in having cladding replaced.....how different is the colour? I never asked if they charge me to install..is installation covered?

scherry2 · Post by **scherry2** » Thu Oct 30, 2003 8:46 am

quote:As we speak my Car is in having cladding replaced.....how different is the colour? I never asked if they charge me to install..is installation covered? its the same color and it will not cost you a cent. I love the look

Geo · Post by **Geo** » Thu Oct 30, 2003 10:26 am

Going in on Monday to get my cladding looked at, as well as my rear windshield wiper fixed! I be excited

Geo · Post by **Geo** » Mon Nov 03, 2003 5:35 am

Update!I had to physically show them that all three peices were affected on both sides and explain to them that the 04 design would stop this ... which is why I want the rockers replaced as well - but all went well. Even mentioned that they should order those rubber strips as well, but the body shop guys said they can in fact re-use the old ones. Parts are being ordered and are on their way! Yippie

(On a side note: They "fixed" my rear windshield wiper, repalced a corroded terminal. However, after working for 5 minutes, it now has discontinued to work again. Grrrrr...gotta take it back in when I get my cladding replaced. Grrrr...)