GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

This is a follow-up to the concern over very slow cranking on cold mornings. I could not be patient enough to mess with the possible dealer problems with replacing/upgrading the deficient battery in the Vibe. I replaced my battery with a "Silver" Diehard battery. The people at sears thought I was a little nutty for putting a new battery in a car with 75 miles on it, but took my money anyway. it was 18 degrees this morning and my Vibe Popped to life instantly with my now several week old DieHard. For thoes interested, the battery is NOT listed in their system but was determined by them to be a group 35 Toyota battery (makes sense). Mod#22832135 For me it was money well spent!

how much was it?

$ 69.99

An update!5 Degrees this morning. Cranked right up!

Mine seems to crank slowly also on cold mornings or as of this week, cold afternoons after it sits for a while. I might have to look into the battery.Thanks!

That's what makes this forum so great. Everyone can benefit from each other. Thank you for the info. i live in Florida and don't really have cold weather, so thank you for helping with learn for the future.

I was wondering if it was only mine. My S-10 would always crank instantly in cold weather. Maybe I need to make a trip to Sears.

One More Update...-5 this morning. Started right up!A good investment

Thanks for keeping us updated on this. I think this will really help alot of us here. I couldn't be much help as I live in a warm climate and can't duplicate this problem.Thanks again Shadow Realm

No problem!Even though it sux to have to buy a NEW battery for a NEW car, having it start on sub-zero mornings, and not having to argue with the Goofs in service is worth it.

Lately its been -25 to -30 Celsius here and twice now I've had to boost my vibe. Even plugged in (block heater) it cranks over really slow. Correct me if I'm wrong here but should it not be up to GM to replace our batteries for those of us in colder climates??

That's what I did. I took an appointement to have my batterie checked. I will request to have it chaged for a bigger one. I hope it'll work

I have noticed in the past that small 4 cylinder engines often had bigger batteries from the factory than some V8's. I remember my shop teacher in high school giving us a reason, but I don't seem to remember what he said . It is defiantly troubling that the Vibe battery is so under powered. I have noticed slow cranking on cold mornings myself.I put a 1000 CCA in my Camaro, I wonder if it would fit in the Vibe Jason

quote:I put a 1000 CCA in my Camaro, I wonder if it would fit in the Vibe I doubt it'll fit. I changed my batterie in my Cavalier for a 875 ca and it was te biggest size I was able to fit in and both (Cav. and Vibe)stock batteries seems to be the same size. But it cost nothing to try

quote:...... I also do not believe, as you stated to me on Monday, that the Vibe NEEDS to be plugged because it's a Toyota engine. Unreal that they would say that to you. I wonder if they got that from their product training package on the Vibe. When I finally go to my local Pontiac Dealer I will feel like a stranger in a strange land indeed! I can hardly wait. Good work on this battery issue M. Salsa!

I am anxious to hear if you ever hear from the DSM. I was told the same thing for other problems that I have experienced-in December. Those engineers for GM must be really busy!!Does your car ever make an ugly high pitched squeal after starting when cold?

Thanks-I will have it checked out. I also have the sound like you're trying to start a car that is already started sometimes. I know some people have talked about this on the forum and suspect it may be tied to the battery. Appreciate all the good tips on this forum!

Most of people up north seems to have trouble with both, hard time to start in cold weather and slipping belt. It happend when it goes at -20c and under.I took an appontement with my dealer, scheduled for thursday, regarding the lack of power of the batterie, the slipping belt, my hand brake and my clutch pedal.When I talk about my problem, it does not sounds like I owned a bran new car.

this problem with the battery is nuts.....you would think with all the electronics on these cars that they would have high output batteries and alternators!!! my car doesnt start like my former S-10 did, as the vibe seems to take awhile to crank over sometimes and this is in a +65* garage! wonder what was the reasoning behind the low amp battery? keep on posting with new info!!!! i wonder if it is worth a recall notice and would nhtsa be interested or another consumer group?

Even living in southern Ohio, I experience this problem during the morning. Today, it was 5F when I left for work and I had the same long start followed by the grinding noise. Living in southern Ohio, they do not sell Vibes with engine block warmers and thus that is not a good solution. Secondly, how many of us actually park in an inclosure with a plug? For me, I park outside and do not have access to a plug unless I run a 100 foot extension cord.Anyone have ideas on how to put the pressure on GM? Anyway we can unite together and make a good stink? This is unexceptable especially when the thing takes forever to turn over during warmer mornings.

We had a plug in front of our parking spot until last year when a strong wind ripped the railing off so it was dangling over the edge of a cliff - live wires and all! So they just cut the power to my section of parking space.

Havn't been here in a while and was suprised to see my posting again As a follow-up, Since replacing that SLLLOWWW crankn' battree, I have had a trouble free winter. I still think it was a small price to pay, HOWEVER I think it sux that I had to spend the money on a 3 DAY OLD vehicle. Geno

quote:Ohio, they do not sell Vibes with engine block warmers and thus that is not a good solution. Secondly, how many of us actually park in an inclosure with a plug? For me, I park outside and do not have access to a plug unless I run a 100 foot extension cord.Anyone have ideas on how to put the pressure on GM? Anyway we can unite together and make a good stink? This is unexceptable especially when the thing takes forever to turn over during warmer mornings.I do have the block heater but like you, no plug in the parking lot. I'll try to have my battery change by my dealer tomorrow. I'll keep you updated.

What kind of battery does everyone have? According to the literature, I have a Delco Freedom II, and I've never had a lick of trouble with it I'm too darn lazy to go the garage & see if this is true...

This isn't going to be a fix all by any means but in the colder areas a larger battery will help as well as using a 0W30 weight oil. The 0W30 oil can be used all year round and is fine for use in hot weather climates as well. It designed to stay fluid even in the coldest of conditions.A 0W30 is going to allow the engine to turn over much easier on very cold morning using less of the battery since the starter doesn't need as much power to crank the engine.

quote:just floor it and drive through thr service door. As you get out, they start yelling and asking what is your problem buddy. I would just look at them and say, well it must of been the Toyota engine that is in this car, I have trouble controlling it. Now that is service. Dude, that's priceless. LOL! Yeah, I have a 310 CCA too, and I have to say, I've always been concerned about the cranking, even in warm weather. It always sounds like it's struggling to start, but I just assumed all along it was normal, but maybe it is under powered. In the cold weather I usually have to turn it over 4 or 5 times before it kicks in. I don't have a block heater, so these are straight cold starts...but I certainly can't afford $70 for a new battery (otherwise I'd get better tires too ), so definitely keep us posted on this...I'd like to see GM come through for us!

LOL! Good call. Yeah, I had some time so perused the various threads...didn't even think about dates.

I agree re synthetic. I changed over on my old car in mid-winter: Big improvement in cranking speed! When I changed the Vibe to synthetic the weather was already getting warmer, so I couldn't really say. Next winter will be the test.

Well, its spring time and I made it through the winter with this underpowered pos battery. Next September I'm going battery shopping for the biggest one that will fit.

Is there such a thing as putting in TOO much power with batteries?

As long as it's 12v., in a word, no.(But if you could find room for a battery from say a D9 Caterpiller bulldozer, do you really need to be able to crank over your Vibe at 1,000 RPM for an hour and a half?)

I got ya...I just wasn't sure if too many CCA's would blow the electrical system or something...

I agree with raging, I too thought this was normal......and I am also in need of a new battery.......I remember having to start the car 2-3 times.....before it kicked in, I always thought it was the carpet under the clutch not causing the switch to engage properly, thats why it would not start that easy