GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

I posted this message back in 2004:http://forums.genvibe.com/zero...68027 which, in summary, was a complaint about the poor mileage on my new Vibe and the dealer/service dept's refusal to acknowledge any problems. I had brought it in several more times, complaining about the mileage and also the fact that the car is an all wheel drive and has been stuck in mud and snow where the front wheels spun and the rear wheels did nothing. The dealers response was always "there's nothing wrong with the car, we looked it over".Well, now that my 3yr/36K warranty has expired, I read here: http://forums.genvibe.com/zero...44890 about someone else who experienced the same problem and it was a $1800 repair.I had been complaining about the problem to the dealers for years. Will I have to pay the full cost for repairs? Do I have any recourse with the Pontiac dealer or GM regarding this problem? Am I screwed?

my father had a simmliar situation years ago with a honda. As long as you have paper work from the dealer stating your issue prior to the warranty expiration your dealer should cover it. Fight it tooth and nail if you have the paper work stating the issue you have been having. If you have no documuntation you are screwed as you put it.

This might be worthy of makeing a call to (or viewing the website) of a "pre-payed legal" service.. Much cheaper than hiring an attourney, and can really help get things like this done.. something to consider, seeing as how you haven't yet followed and legal preceedings as of yet.. Just something to consider as an option...

yes if it was documented BEFORE the warranty expired and is broken now/still then you should be covered. explain that to them though and be courteous, well unless they deny you, then bring it to the regional manager if need be.

Call GM Customer service. Their 800 number is in the manual I think. I had luck with them in the same sort of situation.

Quote, originally posted by NibCrom »Call GM Customer service. Their 800 number is in the manual I think. I had luck with them in the same sort of situation.Thanks for the tip. I have a case open with GM corp now. They said I have to bring the car back to the Pontiac service center for another diagnosis which is going to cost me around $130, ugh. So, I brought the car in this afternoon and the service person called over their top technician to assure me of their expertise and the thoroughness of their exam. The tech then proceeded to explain how the car's computer intelligently controls the amount of torque transferred to the rear wheels. I sat there and nodded while wondering if he will change his tune when he finds out the Vibe's AWD VC is a totally mechanical component that has no link with the computer.

And this guy is their top technician?

well the computer does control some of the AWD. I mean its fwd normally but if it senses slip it will engage the rear wheels....

Quote, originally posted by northvibe »well the computer does control some of the AWD. I mean its fwd normally but if it senses slip it will engage the rear wheels....That would negate the need for a Viscus Coupling... I'm sure the system is totally mechanical much like the non-adjustable Subie AWD... The VC is what senses the slip, not the computer... under normal state, everything is turning in unison, as things slip this changes the rotation inside the VC and the fluid starts to lock up... (just what a VC does) In subies this can happen as fast as 1/4 rotation of a wheel...

ah i didnt know what the VC was...i was trying to figure it out....but didnt know the acronym. So does anyone know if the ecu does do any awd handling what so ever? I mean is TC used on the rear wheels?

Update to my situation:The service dept at Greenbrook Pontiac (in NJ) called me back about 5 minutes ago and told me they performed the standard GM diagnostics and were not able to replicate the problem. They told me the AWD is working according to specs. I asked if I could speak with the tech who performed the diagnostics and the service person responded that he would have to take th tech out of the shop and that would cost him time and money which he needs to support his family. He said I would be able to speak to the tech manager (the one who told me the computer controls the AWD). The service person then recommended I get a 70K mile 4x4 service, which consists of replacing the fluids in the drivetrain. I proceeded to explain how I suspect that the silicone in the VC unit may be low and he said that they will change the fluid in the VC unit with the 4x4 service. I asked him if he was sure the fluid in the VC unit was servicable. He said yes, they drain and replace it with 5 quarts of VersaTrak fluid and it's $125/quart. I am going to try and get down there to speak with the tech before he leaves at 4pm. I want to find it exactly what they did to test the vehicle. Is there anything else I should ask?

I thought the VC was sealed and not servicable.

I downloaded the 03 Matrix manual here, http://www.megaupload.com/?d=RK4K5SVSI can't find anything in it about the VC, can anyone else? I see what I thought was the VC in front of the differential, but it doesn't seem to be it, they call it a coupling.

VersaTrak fluid is differential fluid "oil" for GM vehicles, the technician doesn't know what he is talking about. You can buy it here http://paceperformance.com/ind...74593I suggest just taking your car to the Toyota dealer in your area. It cost me about $50 for them to look at and diagnose a bad differential, I then took the diagnosis back to the dealer I purchased the car from and the extended warranty. Toyota knows much more about your Vibe than Pontiac does.

This is an old thread, but I thought I would revisit it because the problem did end getting resolved (unfortunately without any help from the dealer). Last winter my check engine light threw two codes: P0133 and P0171. After doing some online research, I stumbled across the TSB attached below. Having brought the car to Greenbrook Toyota a number of times without any resolution, I tried a local mechanic. He let the car sit out in the cold overnight, then ran some tests in the morning and confirmed it was indeed the issue mentioned in the TSB. After replacing the intake manifold gasket, the car has been getting the 28-32 mpg like everyone else.

Attached files 2008-04-05_204452_04_rolla_0171.pdf (128.4 KB)