GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

Found out the starter clutch drive was bad and it will cost me $226, that includes $95 for the new drive (very hard to find). THat dealer quoted $433 for a new starter. You guys had better be easy on the key!Now that my 2003 has 40k, it is legally out of warranty, but do any of you have experience in trying to get Toyota or GM to at least help on this repair?penick@nettally.com

I would say the chances are slim to none for GM paying for it. Did you notice anything starange related to the starter during the 40,000 miles? If so the dlr will have documented it and will help your case. Starters, in what they do can be abused or used a lot in say 40,000 miles. Not saying yours... For example what if a person delivered pizzas in an 03 Vibe, plus commuted to College in it. That is a lot of starts in 40,000 miles! Plus stastically not every starter will last 100,000 miles or over like most do. They are wear parts more then a normal part since it moves and is electrical; two areas to fail in. My point is GM has no idea what that starter was gone through and people beat on their cars, not saying you do or did. You can certainly call Pontiac Customer Assistance and complain though. They will create a case for you and review it. They will probably take into consideration how many GMs you have owned, do you take it to the dealer for any and all maintenance, relationship with your dealer... And you should tell them even if they do not ask. There is what is called Goodwill and Pont can pay for things out of warranty, such as this. I Goodwilled tows, jump starts, lost keys many times for people out of warranty when I worked at the GM Roadside Assistance Center, mainly if the person was nice and they were really in a jam! Was not my money, GMs but I was empowered to do it or not and kept the GM customer happy. Certain year Camaro's were known to go through starters because of the engine heat. The solution was to wrap the starter in insulation...