Hello,
I just bought a 2005 Pontiac Vibe. Previous owner thought it need a new clutch and did not want to take the time to fix it. After getting the car home turn out it was a sheered off pin on the shifting linkage. Put a pin in now shifts fine. However it has sat for at least a year with no battery in it. I bought a new battery put it in, checked to make sure connections were tight. No power, no lights no dash lights, nothing. It's like there is no battery even in it. What do I need to be looking for. I'm not a maniac but I can do the basic stuff.
2005 Won't start
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VibeNation2024
- Posts: 105
- Joined: Mon Mar 18, 2024 6:06 pm
- Location: Central IL
Re: 2005 Won't start
Welcome to Gen Vibe and I provided a similar response in to another user so I modified it for your situation.
It would help to provide information. When you turn the key, you do not hear any sounds or see any lights. How many miles are on the Vibe? Was it parked in a known good mechanical state or were there pre-existing issues and then sat for a year? What climate is this in or what state?
Also, there are various checklists available with some basic Google searches but depending on your situation and the condition, you could modify them to fit your needs. If gas was left in the tank for a year, one thing that I would not recommend is trying to start the car! The gas in the tank, lines, engine, etc would be degraded to the point it is not combustable and could cause issues with the fuel pump, injectors, etc. I would recommend siphoning as much as possible from the tank, replacing the fuel filter and filling with new gas once you are ready to start it. There are plenty of other forums, sites, advice about dropping the tank, replacing the fuel pump, draining the fuel lines, etc but I'm not sure if that would be required with the small residual amount that might be left in there. Since I don't have first hand expirience with leaving gas in for this long, another member might be able to provide some input.
There are other items that you would want to check out and/or address before attempting to start or drive the car. For example, did you check the battery/electrical system since it might need a new battery, cables, have corrision, etc. Did you check the hoses for dry rot, leaks, splits, etc? Did you check the belt? Did you replace the oil and filter? Did you check/replace the trans fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid, etc? Did you check the conditions of the tires, brakes, joints, bearings, etc? Did you check for missing or blown fuses both in the fuse box in the engine bay and under the steering wheel.
I know this is alot to start but there is a lot to check on a car that has sat for 1 year. The worst part would be to attempt to start/drive before preforming the electrical and mechanical maintenance and then have more problems to deal with. If you just wanted to start small, then I would "recommend getting a voltmeter (Fluke) and start tracing down where you lost power (voltage) at in the electrical system and check for shorts to ground. Remember that fuses are a safety device and never the cause. A blown fuse is the result of a problem somewhere in that electrical branch and not the problem. The fuse will tell you which branch you need to check out." (Taken from another post to save the writing). It might also be a master relay.
Please post a reply with any info and we can continue to help you get this Vibe back on the road!
It would help to provide information. When you turn the key, you do not hear any sounds or see any lights. How many miles are on the Vibe? Was it parked in a known good mechanical state or were there pre-existing issues and then sat for a year? What climate is this in or what state?
Also, there are various checklists available with some basic Google searches but depending on your situation and the condition, you could modify them to fit your needs. If gas was left in the tank for a year, one thing that I would not recommend is trying to start the car! The gas in the tank, lines, engine, etc would be degraded to the point it is not combustable and could cause issues with the fuel pump, injectors, etc. I would recommend siphoning as much as possible from the tank, replacing the fuel filter and filling with new gas once you are ready to start it. There are plenty of other forums, sites, advice about dropping the tank, replacing the fuel pump, draining the fuel lines, etc but I'm not sure if that would be required with the small residual amount that might be left in there. Since I don't have first hand expirience with leaving gas in for this long, another member might be able to provide some input.
There are other items that you would want to check out and/or address before attempting to start or drive the car. For example, did you check the battery/electrical system since it might need a new battery, cables, have corrision, etc. Did you check the hoses for dry rot, leaks, splits, etc? Did you check the belt? Did you replace the oil and filter? Did you check/replace the trans fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid, etc? Did you check the conditions of the tires, brakes, joints, bearings, etc? Did you check for missing or blown fuses both in the fuse box in the engine bay and under the steering wheel.
I know this is alot to start but there is a lot to check on a car that has sat for 1 year. The worst part would be to attempt to start/drive before preforming the electrical and mechanical maintenance and then have more problems to deal with. If you just wanted to start small, then I would "recommend getting a voltmeter (Fluke) and start tracing down where you lost power (voltage) at in the electrical system and check for shorts to ground. Remember that fuses are a safety device and never the cause. A blown fuse is the result of a problem somewhere in that electrical branch and not the problem. The fuse will tell you which branch you need to check out." (Taken from another post to save the writing). It might also be a master relay.
Please post a reply with any info and we can continue to help you get this Vibe back on the road!
Re: 2005 Won't start
Sounds like there is something wrong at the very start of the electrical system. I attached a PDF of the power source wiring diagram for an 03 Matrix, applies to your 05 Vibe also.
Power from the battery flows through a fusible link, and then hits various fuses. I'm not sure where that fusible link is , what it looks like, or how hard it is to replace it. With the battery in, if the horn works, then the fusible link is ok
Many circuits get power through the 100 ALT Main fuse, which is a big thing inconveniently bolted into the under hood fuse block. Seems like when folks here have had that one blow, it was because someone attempted to jump start the car with the battery cables crossed (+ to -, - to +)
to troubleshoot it, I'd get a multimeter (harbor freight sells cheap ones that will do, if that's an option where you are)
With the battery disconnected, check for resistance between the battery negative cable and the engine block, should be zero or very close to it. If not, then could be a bad or disconnected ground cable,
With the battery connected, check for 12-14V on the battery terminals, and also on the cables connected to the battery terminals. Assuming the cable ends are cleaned of corrosion, they should be the same
Pull a fuse (Horn, Dome, Hazard, one of those that don't get power from the ALT fuse) and check for 12-14V between one side of the fuse socket and the battery negative terminal. If you get voltage there, then the fusible link and cable between the battery and the fuse block are ok. Alternatively, with the battery disconnected, you could check for continuity (~0 resistance) between one of the fuse socket terminals and the positive battery cable clamp
Power from the battery flows through a fusible link, and then hits various fuses. I'm not sure where that fusible link is , what it looks like, or how hard it is to replace it. With the battery in, if the horn works, then the fusible link is ok
Many circuits get power through the 100 ALT Main fuse, which is a big thing inconveniently bolted into the under hood fuse block. Seems like when folks here have had that one blow, it was because someone attempted to jump start the car with the battery cables crossed (+ to -, - to +)
to troubleshoot it, I'd get a multimeter (harbor freight sells cheap ones that will do, if that's an option where you are)
With the battery disconnected, check for resistance between the battery negative cable and the engine block, should be zero or very close to it. If not, then could be a bad or disconnected ground cable,
With the battery connected, check for 12-14V on the battery terminals, and also on the cables connected to the battery terminals. Assuming the cable ends are cleaned of corrosion, they should be the same
Pull a fuse (Horn, Dome, Hazard, one of those that don't get power from the ALT fuse) and check for 12-14V between one side of the fuse socket and the battery negative terminal. If you get voltage there, then the fusible link and cable between the battery and the fuse block are ok. Alternatively, with the battery disconnected, you could check for continuity (~0 resistance) between one of the fuse socket terminals and the positive battery cable clamp
- Attachments
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012ps.pdf- 03 matrix power source wiring diagram
- (65.7 KiB) Downloaded 11 times
Re: 2005 Won't start
Nice find on the shift linkage fix! Since the car sat for a year without a battery, start by checking the main power connections. First, inspect the battery terminals for corrosion and make sure they are making good contact. Next, check the main fuses, especially the large fusible link near the battery, as a blown one could cause a complete loss of power. Also, verify the ground connections there should be a main ground strap from the battery to the chassis and another to the engine. If those check out, try testing for voltage at the fuse box to see if power is reaching it. Let us know what you find!