2003 Vibe GT Intermittent No Crank Issue Solved

[Phoneman]

Posting this here to help anyone who faces the same issue I did.

My 2003 GT began having a problem where it wouldn't crank the engine one out of every 4 or 5 times. I checked the battery and it showed good. I also cleaned the nasty battery terminals, but no change.

Thought it might be the clutch interlock switch because the pedal has always had to be at the floor for the engine to crank. I bypassed it with a shunt at the switch connector. No change.

I finally had the starter changed out but still the issue persisted. I then replaced the ignition switch but no relief. Since then I've had to roll start the car 40 or 50 times when the issue popped up, and it was getting old, like me.

I had even resorted to pulling a battery terminal for various periods of time and discovered that if it wouldn't crank, and if I disconnected the battery for 5 or 10 minutes, the car would usually crank. If it didn't, leaving the terminal off for 20-30 minutes would get the car to crank every time.

Did a little research and watched a youtube video or two and then ordered an ignition relay for $20 shipped from Rockauto. Pulled the driver vent piece and easily removed the old relay and replaced it with the new one.

SUCCESS!!!

It took less than five minutes and was the cheapest part I replaced and the car now starts every time.

If you have a similar issue don't forget to check the ignition relay. I could have saved myself a lot of money and a lot of hassle if I had checked it before replacing the starter.

[tpollauf]

Phone ....... good advice and thanks for posting it. I'm sure it will save someone else the headache down the road if they too have a similar problem. I plan on owning my 2004 Vibe GT for 20 more years and am taking note of all the possible repairs that I may encounter along the way.

[Carly196]

Hey I have a 2006 automatic and ive replaced the starter, checked all the fuses under the hood, checked the battery (it's at 12.4v) and even went as far as checking the electrical of the starter connectors (reading 12.4v). I'm running out of ideas. Where on the dash is the relay you are talking about? Turning the key I get radio, dash displays, headlights, and everything else except a running engine. It doesn't even turn over, just clicks once. Send help before I rip anymore parts out. Thx.

[Phoneman]

Sorry Carly,

Haven't logged into the forum in a while, but the relay is in the driver's side dash near the A pillar. It would be a bit difficult to get to coming up from under the dash but is easy to get to by pulling the HVAC vent/trim piece high on the dash by the driver's door.

The trim piece is just held in with tabs and can be removed by gently prying it away from the dash but be careful not to break the panel or tabs because the plastic it's made from isn't very sturdy.

Here's a youtube video that shows how and where. The guy keeps calling it a fuse but he does show what it is and how to get to it.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eibunwwdsXQ