GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

I am reasonably certain that I have a transmission bearing that is going wonky in my 05 5 speed. I very much dislike the service department of the Ponitiac dealer where I purchased the car....it isnt good for my health...I swear my blood pressure rises as I go through their door .The local Chevy dealer is very close but more importantly it is not that Pontiac dealer! I know my warranty will be honoured at any GM location but I am wondering what you guys and gals think of having extensive work done on the Vibe at a nonVibe dealer?

I've had an oil change done at a Chevy dealer, but I was under the impression that warranty work had to be performed at the correct "brand" of dealer. My parents wanted to take a Chevy Trailblazer to a GMC dealership, and GM told them they couldn't do that until it was out of warranty, unless they wanted to go ahead and pay for the repairs out of pocket.

Quote, originally posted by Kari »but I was under the impression that warranty work had to be performed at the correct "brand" of dealer.I am pretty sure that GM warranty work can be performed at any GM dealer.

Well why not go for broke and give the local dealer a call and see if they can do the work? better than takin it there finding out that you cant and your blood pressure goin right back up!

Quote, originally posted by Mrizzle05 »Well why not go for broke and give the local dealer a call and see if they can do the work? better than takin it there finding out that you cant and your blood pressure goin right back up! You are right. I will call tomorrow and speak frankly with a service rep.

Quote, originally posted by Boxgrover »I am pretty sure that GM warranty work can be performed at any GM dealer.I think what my parents were told was that it had to be some kind of emergency extenuating circumstance...like you're stranded somewhere and there are no dealers for the brand of car within a certain distance, then they'll perform warranty work at a different brand of dealership. I do know for sure though that they were told they could not take the Trailblazer to the GMC dealership for warranty work, even though the Envoy is the same vehicle with a different trim package...that info came from GM's customer service number and I'm just relaying it. Things may have changed since 2002, I don't know. The best way to find out how things are now would be to call the dealership or GM directly.

Quote, originally posted by Kari »Things may have changed since 2002, I don't know. The best way to find out how things are now would be to call the dealership or GM directly.For sure Kari.

I don't think using a Chevy dealer is the best idea. Remember, your Vibe is really a Toyota, that the Pontiac dealer is having a hard enough time servicing even with training and support. Now take that Toyota to a Chevy dealer who has to figure it out without training and support. There may be a few Chevy mechanics with Prizm experience but many things have changed since then.

The other problem is all the specialized tools, especially for transmission work. The Chevy dealer won't have them, where the Pontiac dealer will. That's the best reason for taking it back to a Pontiac dealer, maybe not the one you bought it from, but in general. That said, most OTHER GM products can go anywhere, especially a Trailblazer, which is also a GMC, A Buick, a Hummer, a Saab, an Isuzu, a Subaru, and coming soon, a Cadillac.

Quote, originally posted by mikey00 »I don't think using a Chevy dealer is the best idea. Remember, your Vibe is really a Toyota, that the Pontiac dealer is having a hard enough time servicing even with training and support. Now take that Toyota to a Chevy dealer who has to figure it out without training and support. One point in the Chevy dealer's favour is that there is a Toyota dealer right next door! But seriously I have major dissatisfactions (such a word?) with this Pontiac dealer and the next closest P dealer is too far away...

Quote, originally posted by tnpartsguy »The other problem is all the specialized tools, especially for transmission work. The Chevy dealer won't have them, where the Pontiac dealer will. Good point but what a pain..sigh..

have you thought about bringing the car to a smaller repair shop that you like (or that has been recommended by somebody you know) to make sure that there is a problem with the transmission or if it's something not so serious?all this worry about dealing with either dealership may be for not if the problem isn't so bad.

I actually called the chevy dealer for a repair a while ago and they would only do "emergency" repairs on a pontiac, i had to call the pontiac dealer, but this was under warranty still.

GM allows any dealership to perform the warranty work only if the vehicle can not be driven or it is not safe to drive the vehicle to the correct brand dealership. However, once you are in a GMPP extended warranty, any GM dealership can perform the work.

Quote, originally posted by michaelgt »GM allows any dealership to perform the warranty work only if the vehicle can not be driven or it is not safe to drive the vehicle to the correct brand dealership. However, once you are in a GMPP extended warranty, any GM dealership can perform the work. Yep, that's what I thought. Believe me I would have loved to take my Vibe to our beloved GMC dealer as well, only they don't sell Pontiacs. At least I have a good dealer up here, though now I'm out of warranty so it doesnt really matter.

Chevy service has the same access to the same information Pontiac service does. However the Pontiac service is the place to take it IMO simply put they would have more experience. For example... Chevy trucks and GM trucks are basicly the sameSunfires and Cavaliers are basicly the samePontiac Vibes and.... hmmm there isn't anything chev has thats the same...Chev vans and GM vans are the sameMaybe you don't like the pontiac dealership near you but then you might as well drive to another.

Isn't the Vibe based on a Toyota Matrix, which is based on a Corlolla drive train, as is the Chevy (Geo) Prism ? I would think that If they could work on the Prism's, they should have to tools and the "books" to work on at least the motor & drive train.

the new corrolas which have no gm counterparts are far different than the old prism platformswhich havent been made in years(im guessing close to 10 years)

Quote, originally posted by michaelgt »GM allows any dealership to perform the warranty work only if the vehicle can not be driven or it is not safe to drive the vehicle to the correct brand dealership. However, once you are in a GMPP extended warranty, any GM dealership can perform the work. I called the Chevy dealer and he was unequivocal in stating that his dealership would/could do warranty work for a Pontiac Vibe.

Quote, originally posted by satur9 »the new corrolas which have no gm counterparts are far different than the old prism platformswhich havent been made in years(im guessing close to 10 years)Actually, the Prizm went away right before the Vibe appeared - model year 2002. The last Prizms also had the 1ZZ like the Vibe has....http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geo_Prizmh ... olet_Prizm

Quote, originally posted by Atomb »have you thought about bringing the car to a smaller repair shop that you like (or that has been recommended by somebody you know) to make sure that there is a problem with the transmission or if it's something not so serious?all this worry about dealing with either dealership may be for not if the problem isn't so bad.Just curious but will a Toyota dealership take in a non Toyota vehicle for servicing....I dont mean for warranty work of course but just for servicing.