GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

I have a 2003 Vibe and am having a sporatic problem with the car starting. It apppears to be related to the engine temperature, ie it starts when the engine is cold-say over night. But won't restart after driving for a few minutes or more.The engine does not crank, the battery is fully charged. It appears to be a switch or relay.I notice that the fan motor comes on when the car is running and stops when I turn the car off.I know there are 2 fan realys and they are different. One is black one is brown. I know the black one is ok because I swapped it with the horn. There isn't another brown one to swap and the part is $45.00Does anyone have a wiring diagram that would help me jump the relay to test?Any ideas or similar problems.Thanks

what year is it? the 2005 and maybe 2006 have heat soak issues that are covered from a TSB.

Quote, originally posted by northvibe »what year is it? the 2005 and maybe 2006 have heat soak issues that are covered from a TSB.What is heat Soak??

here are the linkshttp://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=20634http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=23348

The hot soak issue was that the engine would turn over fine, but it wouldn't start, maybe the comnputer, maybe the fuel pump. That is a different problem than the one in this thread, where the starter motor won't even try, perhaps when the engine is warm.I'm not sure why the cooling fan relays come into this , but since you asked, attached is a diagramIf the starter doesn't even try, then there are a limited number of things inthe starter circuit. There.s the starter itself, the starter relay, the ignition switch. THere's also a starter cut relay, allows the ECU to stop or prevent starting. And if it's an automatic, there's the park/neutral switch, manuals have the clutch to start switch. Not sure which is most susceptible to heat related problems. I say start with the free stuff, like make sure the battery terminals are clean.

Attached files inspec40.pdf (11.1 KB) 

Excellent, thanks for the diagram. I don't know why I started down the cooling fan issue first-only becasue it seemed strange that the fan wasn't coming on when I turned of the engine. And the car would start fine after the overnight or several hours at rest-somehwo I figure it was related to the fan and some type of interlock.I think I will looking at the starter circuit and relay. Any diagrams that will help?Thanks again

Looks like the "starter cut out relay" I mentioned is only there if you got the factory alarm, what these diagrams call "TVIP"Attached below is the starter circuit. The starter relay is on the top of the underdash fuse block, probably most accessible if you either remove the storage bin left of the steering wheel, or perhaps pull the mirror/dimmer control and vent trim piece off. You might be able to put a finger on it while turning the key, try to feel it click. Here is a diagram of it's location ("ST Relay" top right corner)oh yeah, welcome to genvibe!

Attached files 013ss.pdf (30.3 KB)