GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

Same here... lots of short trips, so I see it more often. Leaving it in the ON position works sometimes, but most of the time it is no help.

Our 05 has this problem. It only happens once in a while. The car only has 14k on it.Actually, I just found out today that there is a fix for this and they claim replacing the fuel pump and filter is supposed to fix this. They say it is pretty common.

Link? many of us have researched the problem hours on end, and visits to dealership w/o a remedy.

I second that! Any info you have, a TSB, correspondence, etc. would be a great help in our quest to have our cars start properly.On a side note, whatever happened with the letter to Pontiac? Any response?

Yea, I received a call from someone at the executive office at GM, and they initiated an "investigation," who knows.

Good to hear that you've been contacted. Hopefully, we can drive this issue to resolution. Please keep us posted.

I am actually a Honda tech at my dealer and this is my wife's car. I will talk to the pontiac tech that told me this to see what I can find out.I will tell you that GM is the worst for telling you they can do nothing for you if they can't duplicate your issue. I know this first hand. Since I work at the dealer I can get the fuel pump done.

I do remember him telling me he just had to do it to a 05 with 12k on it, just a few days ago.

I'm lucky - all of my trips are long shots with long cool down periods.The wife's vibe has this problem all the time - it really makes Pontiac look bad when you have a car with

Mine is an 05 with just over 12k on it... and it needs it.

I was just contacted from someone from GM (about the letter that was sent in and had my info. attatched). He took a lot of info. from me and said that they are doing their best on investigating this issue. He said that the PCM replacement has fixed the issues on some of the cars, but didn't fix it on others (if showed back up a few weeks later). I told him to feel free to contact me for more information, if needed, and I would be more than happy to provide all the help I could in order to come up with a final solution for this issue.I just want it fixed... just like everyone else on here.I think we are up to 2 people that have been contacted since we sent in the letter UPDATE:I was just contacted again from someone at GM (I believe his name was John) and he contacted my local dealer Service Order Manager and informed him of the issue. He said that I need to take my car to the dealership and have them perform everything they can do that falls under the TSB for the Hot Soak Start Issue. I'll give updates once I get that done. Maybe we are actually making a difference here at GVC!

Good luck, the TSB fixes did nothing for my car. I am curious though, that the replaced PCM had the same software that my original did, and hadn't been updated (old stock), I just want it fixed as well, however, John, is unable to set a timeline, and I feel that the car is never going to be fixed, as i received the "looking into it response," when it was brought in for the problem a week after purchase. It has been a year since I first noticed problem, and a total of 4 visits. CH

I also received a call from GM this morning. Told him that the TSB replacement of the PCM resolved the problem for a while, and now it's back. Also told him of my frustration that the problem can never be replicated at the dealer. He told me he was collecting information and would be back to all of us.

I am tempted to visit a Toyota service center and find out what their final solution was to the problem.CH

Blah, don't waste your time, Toyota products never fail so they won't know what to tell you. (That's what they'd tell me here.) hehehe! It does look like you guys are at least getting somewhere with GM so far. Sloooowly. Keep at it, eventually they'll do what is right and fix these issues... And GM if you're reading this, look into that whole shattering window thing too.

How many repairs (and no solution) have to be performed before the Lemon Law kicks in? Any of us close?

Honestly, as much as i'd like to think you could "lemon law" it, after researching, I doubt it would ever hold up. Locking at other peoples cases, since the car runs, and eventually starts, the courts would say it's an annoyance, but not a lemon, as eventually it does run. It is four times in, mine is already there.CH

Its actually repairs (not just taking it in)and the last try the dealer gets to hold the car and make sure its fixed to manufacturer standards.

Well what do you do when they don't know what to repair? I mean my PCM has been replaced, and at this point, after numerous re-checks they are still baffled. I have contacted pontiac, the executives at GM... you run out of options.

Mine goes into the shop in the morning for the PCM replacement (per the GM rep that called me last week). I hope that does something for it. I'll do my best to help out the "it won't start" Vibes.UPDATE: she's in the shop as we speak, wish me luck! I'll update when I find out what is going on.

Well I am excited of your results, because, possibly, if it fixes your car, than my replacement PCM was of old stock.CH

Got it back tonight after work... with the PCM replaced. So far, so good... will find out after driving it for a bit if it will actually start all the time. I will keep everyone posted.

there is a toyota bulletin on these 1ZZ engines...don't know if they have found a cure for sure?

Quote, originally posted by Toasted7 »Got it back tonight after work... with the PCM replaced. So far, so good... will find out after driving it for a bit if it will actually start all the time. I will keep everyone posted.ok, it's been about a week ...

Nearly a week and no issues... yet.

I just received another call from the executive group, they believe they have found a resolution, and just wanted to keep me posted, they are going to contact my dealer and notify them of the parts to be replaced, and I should hear from the dealer shortly.!!!!!!!!!!!! I am impressed, I just hope it works.CH

That's good to hear! Looks like this may have worked. Keep us posted for sure. I hope it fixes it for ya. Mine is still starting every time and it's been almost 2 weeks.

OH! i hope they do find a solution. It is the 2005's that do this right? well then i dont see why they couldnt find a solution. I hope it comes soon

Man i still need to take my car in for that... and the messed up window sealer.i hope they fix it... or they better make mine... THROTTLE cable!

Cable throttle body... that would be GREAT! I want one too.

I got the call too. They are going to try and put a new PCM in my vibe. I really hope this works.

I hope the PCM fixes your problem, but don't hold your breath. Mine was replaced last December and I still have the problem.

Dude, I got my PCM replaced in, hmmm, January, and it didnt work for me either, however, I am really thinking that we may have gotten the old stock PCM when ours were replaced, as it has worked for some.CH

I saw a post on newcelica i think about what would be needed for a dbw to cable conversion...looks like it can be done, but expensive This starting problem happens on the matrix's right? And do we know of any fixes they have done yet?

Hi people, I've been offline for awhile so I haven't been following the updates re: our complaint letter. Strangely, I haven't been contacted by GM. I finally got my PCM replaced in Iowa (it was out of stock and on order when I was living in Toronto so I wasn't able to get it done before), and it seems to be working (maybe). I had my PCM replaced in June and so far have had the issue happen once which is a BIG improvement. It's hard to assume that everything is totally fine though because now I'm not working and therefore not driving it enough for it to happen as regularly as before. If there is a new fix I still want in!

I just got a call from my dealership and they told me that someone from GM called them last week and said they were sending them a "NEW" PCM, specifically for my car. They assume it is an updated PCM directly from GM to deal with my issue. I will see what happens when I take it to the dealer in the morning.

Let us know, because if the "new" PCM solves your problem, then I'm going to high tail it back to my dealer and insist that they replace mine (for the second time).Good luck.

This will be the second one for mine, but this one comes directly from GM for my specific problem... they said mine is a "test car". Will have to see how it does.

Picked up the car from the dealership... going down the road on the way home and I notice the CEL comes on, (removed)? It wasn't on when I dropped the car off and it has a totally new PCM, what's the deal? I went back to the dealership and they said that it will take it a few times of turning on and off the car before the CEL will reset (I think they are full of it). No one from the service dept. was there because it was after their hours, so they said to call back in the morning and ask to see what I should do. I'm nowhere close to being happy with my dealership AGAIN! (do I see a pattern forming here?)

PCM replacement isn't going to fix this problem. Its known by Toyota also. I'll state it again. Fuel pump.

Talked to the dealership today and I have to take it in again on Monday morning to find out why the CEL is on, after they worked on it. I don't think the PCM replacement will fix the problem either, I have had the starting issue since I had the first PCM replaced I seem to agree that I think it is something to do with fuel-injection or the fuel pump... but who listens to us, we don't know anything about our cars.

I still haven't got a call from my dealer about my magical repair. Thank god they doubled my warranty on electrical components, as I see a starter going in the near future. FIX IT! I wonder if they sent our dealerships some pixie dust and a magic wand to install the second PCM.

I think we all need to keep a positive attitude. GM is trying with a few of us as "test cases" to see if the PCM will work. It is possible that some of us got old stock PCMs and that is why we are still having the problem. I am willing to give it a try....I disagree with the fuel pump as being the solution to the problem. Mine was replaced last year and I was still having the problem. So a fuel pump, O2 Sensor and PCM later, I am willing to try the new PCM.The CEL light not going off...the dealer you are going to seems to be full of it. I think you need to find a different dealer in your area to go to....

I am doing my best to keep a positive attitude, however, you must admit that it is getting difficult. Many unsuccessful trips to the dealer, and lack of progress is still where we are. I must say though, regardless of the remediation, I am impressed with the communication I am getting from the "executive group."CH

I picked up the car last night... they said the CEL was on because the PCM that they installed on Friday did NOT hold it's programming. They claim it is fixed now, but I will have to wait and see.

I wonder, does this affect '06 Vibes? Not a single starting issue in over 4k miles.

Glad the're keeping you informed. I got one call from Pontiac, and that's the last I've heard of it. Next time you speak to someone in Detroit, kindly suggest that they keep the rest of us informed. Thanks!

Well the last call I got was (2) weeks ago, and supposedly I was to hear from my dealer to schedule their proposed remediation, and that has yet to happen. For sure I will mention it to them in our next conversation.CH

Thanks Chris. If we get this solved, we all owe you a drink.

I just got a call from my dealer, who said that they received a "new" PCM from Pontiac. I scheduled the car in for service 9/1/06. I'll keep everyone posted. Wish me luck.