GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

I was given a heads up by a friend about a service bulletin for the A/C not being cold enough. The bulletin states that the temperature door for the HVAC module may not be going to the full cold position on some cars. To correct this the cable has to be adjusted at the door. The cable attaches to the door in the top left of the passenger footwell. You can see it the easiest when it is in the full hot position and adjusting the temperature will move it. The bulletin stated it was a two minute job. I looked at it real quick after work and it looks like a simple procedure. I'll look at it more when I get a chance. It was also discussed in this post: http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=1286

I have had the same problem with the A/C, i.e. it is too warm. Should I wait until next spring or summer to get it adjusted or can they adjust it now or verify it is correct with the colder weather outside? Thanks.

quote:I have had the same problem with the A/C, i.e. it is too warm. Should I wait until next spring or summer to get it adjusted or can they adjust it now or verify it is correct with the colder weather outside? Thanks.They can adjust it now.

I looked at the adjusting the cable today and it's very easy. In order to do it you'll need to first remove the cable from the clip and the cable connection to the door(white piece). Then set the temperature knob to full cold and rotate the door fully clockwise (looking through the passenger door). Reinstall the cable onto the door and into the clip making sure that when the temperature is set to full cold the door also moves completely clockwise. It's difficult to know if yours needs adjustment without prior experience as to what it feels like before and after. Mine was off by a fair amount. Sorry about the quality of the picture.

quote:Sorry about the quality of the picture.Are you kidding! That pic is great!

Thanks a ton for providing us with that pic---I'm going to check mine tommorrow even though my A/C is cooling well---but I am curious. Thanks James

This sounds promising. When I took a test drive the Vibe's A/C was freezing. The Vibe I ordered is pretty weak. I'll check this out tomorrow and see if it helps before asking the dealer to look into it. Thanks...

Made a definite improvement and took all of 5 minutes. Thanks...

will the service station at Pontiac do this? I am not comfortable with doing stuff myself

quote:will the service station at Pontiac do this? I am not comfortable with doing stuff myselfYes. I just didn't want to make an appointment and wait, when I could do it in 2 minutes.

Very cool. No pun intended. I'll do this as soon as my wife comes home with my baby...the Vibe.

quote: I'll do this as soon as my wife comes home with my baby...the Vibe.You let your wife drive your VIBE?

Here's another pic. BTW, if anyone wants to shoot a close-up picture of anything, look to see if your camera has a MACRO mode. On my camera the button to activate it has a little flower icon on it. This pic was shot in macro mode with a Olympus D-510 Zoom camera. , Flash turned off (washes out image if used on close-ups), and the area illuminated by a good flashlight. The original image was darker and larger, but I brightened it using IRFANVIEW, then reduced it to 800x 600.KSNeptune

Attached files

Irfanview is the greatest program I ever used!Where is this particular clip and whatnot you took a picture of? Basically, where in the car does the adjustment need to be made?

The clip and cable pictured above is located passenger side, behind center console, above the passenger footwell. You can see it if you open the passenger door and stick your head into the foot well, looking up toward the rear of the center console.Very easy to check. If yours is in the position pictured when your temp dial is all the way to cool, then there is no adjustment needed. Mine was about 1/2" off. I had to:- unhook the cable end from the pin, - remove the cable housing from the clip,- pull the pin lever as far back (clockwise) as possible- make sure my dial was all the way to cool- reattach cable end to pin- snap cable housing back into clip, but farther back than it had been.Simply make sure the white plastic lever arm is rotated as far clockwise as it can when the heating dial is all the way to cool.KSNeptune

Cool...It's FINALLY supposed to stop raining tomorrow...maybe I can take a peek at it then...

Every Pic I have seen of that thing is white when mine is black.?. Strange.-Savoy-

quote:Every Pic I have seen of that thing is white when mine is black.?. Strange.I just adjusted mine tonight and it's black too... not too unusual, but you're not alone.

quote:Every Pic I have seen of that thing is white when mine is black.?. Strange.It could be that once they saw how glaringly white the part was against all the black, they changed the part to black.Or it could be that the original part was black, but of a type that was sometimes too weak and would break. So maybe they then changed to a tougher plastic that was white.Or maybe they ordered them from several suppliers (in case one or more couldn't meet deadlines) and left it up to each supplier as to the color of the part.Or maybe... KSNeptune

Thanks for the tip! I brought mine in and was told the a/c was registering in the proper temperature range, but I have to have the fan on the highest speed (which is quite noisy) to get what I consider to be a moderate amount of cooling. So, I will be going back with your instructions!

I checked mine and the tip of the door moved about another 1/4 inch closed when I popped the cable housing out of the clip. It is not warm enough here to be able to tell if it made any difference or not. Still, 1/4 inch is probably the difference between all the way closed and not . These kinds of threads are the reason why genvibe is so useful. Thanks for the info, and for genvibe

i am kinda lost, where and what is the "door?" and where is the temp. adjust knob or switch?

oh ok, that sounds REALLY easy, thanks. i know in the heat we've been having here, i am really disappointed with my AC, i hope that can fix it. oh wait, is the cat left on when doing this, and is the AC on or off when adjusting???thanks

ok, thanks dude, i am goin to give it a try later

my wife took our vibe in today beacuse of the same problem. I advised here before hand that is should be a quick fix and that there was a service bulletin about the problem. 3 HOURS LATER!!!, she calls me and says they are still looking into it. Appears I had some sort of leak in the a/c system that took them a total of 5 hours to find and fix. At least I will spend the rest of the summer cool. And on the plus side for her trouble they did detail the car at no charge.

One other thing to think about with the Vibe's A/C...It has a considerable volume of hot air to cool down if it's been sitting in the sun for awhile on a warm day. I also drive a Nissan pickup, with just a small cab to cool. My Dad drives a Dodge Caravan, and always comments about how much better the A/C in my truck works compared to his van. I point out that his van eventually gets as cool as my truck does, and so it could simply be that his vehicle with a larger volume of air to cool will take longer to cool down. He then agrees.So if your previous or other car is a sedan or coupe, and they cool down quicker than your Vibe does, don't be surprised. The A/C in those cars has a smaller volume of air to cycle through.As for me, I try to always use a reflective sun shade when parked facing the sun. If it's not going to rain, I tilt open the sunroof to let heating interior air vent out. And if it's really a scorcher, I'll open the side windows just a crack to let the interior air get refreshed by any breeze that may blow by. Why? If the Vibe only gets to 100 inside instead of 130, the A/C will have me cool much quicker.KSNeptune

You guys rock! I had this problem too and I was totally dreading going back to the dealer because they NEVER help me. Anyway, I just found this thread, and it seriously took 15 seconds to fix. As soon as I popped the wire off I hit the pin and it notched right up where it should have been. Thanks!!!!!I do still have the whole window shaking problem though - anyone got any updates on that one? The other day my windows were wet and the driver's side squeaked when I rolled it down. Didn't like that one bit.

Well I have to give a big thanks to everyone here and for the great pictures. I took care of this earlier today. 5 minute fix. It did have some room to move. It will be easier to tell how much of a difference this will make on a hot summer day.I thought that this was so easy to fix that I went to the other side and took a look at the direction control. I was having trouble with mine not staying on the face direction on cool to cold mornings. It kept wanting to jump out of the setting. This control was a little more difficult to get to and to adjust. It took me a total of about 10 to 15 minutes to get it right, but it was well worth it. The directional control now feels perfect.Anyways, thanks again to everyone who contributed to this thread. Great job once again Genvibe members!

quote:- snap cable housing back into clip, but farther back than it had been.KSNeptune, if you do the above step, would this be a permanent fix? If I turn the dial to hot then back to cool, what would prevent it from returning to the original state (being 1/2" off)?

quote: would this be a permanent fix? If I turn the dial to hot then back to cool, what would prevent it from returning to the original state (being 1/2" off)?Since it's an easy adjustment, I wouldn't say it was a "permanent" fix, but it should stay fixed unless you adjust it again. I think that the problem is that the cable wasn't properly adjusted at the factory, not that it slips around in the retaining clip. The clip that holds the end of the control cable sleeve seems to hold it firmly enough, just might need to adjust it so that it holds the cable sleeve at the correct spot.

quote:The clip and cable pictured above is located passenger side, behind center console, above the passenger footwell. You can see it if you open the passenger door and stick your head into the foot well, looking up toward the rear of the center console.Very easy to check. If yours is in the position pictured when your temp dial is all the way to cool, then there is no adjustment needed. Mine was about 1/2" off. I had to:- unhook the cable end from the pin, - remove the cable housing from the clip,- pull the pin lever as far back (clockwise) as possible- make sure my dial was all the way to cool- reattach cable end to pin- snap cable housing back into clip, but farther back than it had been.Simply make sure the white plastic lever arm is rotated as far clockwise as it can when the heating dial is all the way to cool.KSNeptune What's the pin lever you refer to?

Never mind -- realized mine doesn't need adjustment, which sucks, cause it's not cold enough for my tastes...Guess I'll have the dealer look at it next time I'm there...

quote:Never mind -- realized mine doesn't need adjustment, which sucks, cause it's not cold enough for my tastes...Guess I'll have the dealer look at it next time I'm there...Same here. Mine was all the way to the left too, and it's still not cold enough for my taste.

Cool tip! Thanx My only ? is "will this procedure have to be done in reverse when the cold weather comes?"

quote:KSNeptune, if you do the above step, would this be a permanent fix? If I turn the dial to hot then back to cool, what would prevent it from returning to the original state (being 1/2" off)?So long as the cable housing doesn't slide in it's clip, you shouldn't have to ever adjust it again.KSNeptune

why would you have your A/C on when the cold weather comes? lol

So, this service bulletin is out already ? My Vibe isn't too cold either... but I didn't really feel the difference until I rode in my friend's sunfire yesterday... it was like a freezer!

Yeah it's out. I took mine to the dealer, they fixed it right up real quick.

I assume it applie to Canada as well ? Is there a Service Bulletin number or name for this particular Serivice Bulletin? So I can quote that to my dealer.thank you

Unfortunately, I haven't been able to track down a TSB#...but they should know about it...

HVAC System is Not Cold Enough (Adjust Temperature Control Cable) #02-01-37-006 - (09/27/2002)HVAC System Is Not Cold Enough (Adjust Temperature Control Cable)2003 Pontiac VibeConditionSome customers may comment that the HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) system does not get cold enough.CauseThis condition may be caused by a misadjusted HVAC temperature control cable.CorrectionAdjust the HVAC temperature control cable using the Temperature Control Cable Adjustment procedure (SI Document ID #841682). The inspection and adjustment procedures are very easy and should take no more that two minutes to complete. The key points to the cable adjustment are to make sure that the temperature control knob is held in the full cold position, and the temperature control lever is held in the full rearward (cold) position. The purpose for this bulletin is to make sure our dealers are not overlooking this simple adjustment that has a huge impact on the HVAC outlet temperatures. If the HVAC temperature control cable does not repair this concern, perform the Air Conditioning (A/C) System Performance Test (SI Document ID #839856) and repair as necessary.Warranty InformationFor vehicles repaired under warranty, use:Labor Operation Description Labor Time D0400 Cable, Air Distribution -Adjustment 0.2 hr GM bulletins are intended for use by professional technicians, NOT a "do-it-yourselfer". They are written to inform these technicians of conditions that may occur on some vehicles, or to provide information that could assist in the proper service of a vehicle. Properly trained technicians have the equipment, tools, safety instructions, and know-how to do a job properly and safely. If a condition is described, DO NOT assume that the bulletin applies to your vehicle, or that your vehicle will have that condition. See your GM dealer for information on whether your vehicle may benefit from the information. WE SUPPORT VOLUNTARY TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATION © Copyright General Motors Corporation. All Rights Reserved

I checked this old thread about the A/C problem some people are/were having with their Vibe. Does anyone here know if the dealer is allowed to charge you for checking what temp the A/C is operating at and/or adjusting the A/C temp cable? I took my Vibe back to the dealer today to be serviced for the first time. I told them about this problem with the A/C and TSB about it. I also told them about the problem with the "headlight sentinel" sensor. They said they would check out and adjust/fix whatever I wanted but they would charge me $98.00/hour labor. Shouldn't the A/C problem be checked and fixed (if needed) free of charge under the 3/36,000 bumper to bumper warranty because of the TSB? What about the "headlight sentinel" sensor problem?Does anyone here actually work for a Pontiac dealer? If so, can you please explain the proper procedure the dealer is supposed to follow in addressing these problems? I want to make sure I know the facts before I go back and fight with them about these problems so I can "give 'em both barrels" without having to worry about putting my foot in my mouth.

quote:Does anyone here know if the dealer is allowed to charge you for checking what temp the A/C is operating at and/or adjusting the A/C temp cable? Shouldn't the A/C problem be checked and fixed (if needed) free of charge under the 3/36,000 bumper to bumper warranty because of the TSB? It should be covered under warranty (even if you experience this problem and there was no TSB). If the dealer trys to charge you, talk to the Dealer's Management first and, if not satisfied, call Pontiac at the 800 number in your owners manual.

Okay, thanks for the advise. I can give it a try and see what they say, but these dealers can give you the run around sometimes. I'm still hoping to hear from someone who might actually work at a Pontiac dealership though, they would probably know the best and quickest way to solve this problem.

quote:They said they would check out and adjust/fix whatever I wanted but they would charge me $98.00/hour labor. That is ****ing unbelievable! Why are the dealers so freaking stupid! Wow. Which dealer served up this garbage to you?

A GOOD dealer won't charge labor unless they find a problem and fix it.My dealer NEVER charges labor just to diagnose...

quote:They said they would check out and adjust/fix whatever I wanted but they would charge me $98.00/hour labor. That is ****ing unbelievable! Why are the dealers so freaking stupid! Wow. Which dealer served up this garbage to you?The dealer is here on Long Island and it's the same dealer I bought my Vibe from, Sun Pontiac in Wantagh,NY. You would think they would be more helpful being that I just bought my Vibe there a few months ago and this was my first experience with their service department. I guess they don't care too much about making a "good first immpression". I plan on going back there this week and talking directly to the general manager of the dealership. If I still don't get anywhere then I guess I will have to call Pontiac and see what they have to say about all this.Thanks for the advise, I'll post again sometime to let you guys know how evrything turns out.

I'm in the same boat. Just picked up my GT last Saturday and that is the first thing I noticed. I did take a visual and it looks like the cable is in the correct position. I have an appointment for next Wed. Upon telling the service department, it didn't really ring a bell with them, so they said if I had the bullentin, could I bring it in. Hmmm. I also have a good door "ding", they are fixing. Got the XM radio setup this is great. Again thanks for the info on this.

My cable was off a small amount, but it really mattered. I don't think that it's the kind of adjutment that you can just look at and tell if it's right. It was a very easy adjustment, I can see having the dealer check it if you're taking the car in for something else, but if not, I'd recommend just doing it yourself.The service bulletin has been out for a while. I was hoping that this was a problem that would have been resolved by now, and new Vibers wouldn't have it.

Where I have time before I take it in I will try it. I tried to pull the clip that holds the cable and it seemed like it was in there pretty good. There is a small slot, that I'm figuring I can use a flat head screw driver and pry it towards me. Is that how you got yours out?