GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

First - hello everyone! I have been the mostly happy owner of a 2005 base model Vibe for three years now. So happy (overall) that I really have no desire to trade it in BUT I'm really coming to my wits end with how to deal with the problems I DO have with it. I've read several posts both here and on Edmunds, and honestly they just leave me more confused so I'm hoping someone can shed some light - and maybe help me find solutions to keep my wonderful little car. First, the PCM recall. My car is having the exact issue described in the interim letter that was sent out late last year. I called the dealership and was told that "this isn't an official recall yet so there's currently no 'fix'". My car, meanwhile, is just getting worse, so I surfed the web and found several people saying that their dealerships replaced the PCM for free and that fixed the problem. So now, I don't' really know what to do with that information. It's obviously a problem. It obviously needs to be fixed, but apparently I'm not fortunate enough to have a dealership that will step up and fix it since it's not "official". And quite frankly, I don't want to shell out $1000+ (what some have mentioned who got it fixed on their own) to fix something that SHOULD be replaced due to shoddy manufacturing. Am I just out of luck? Has anyone been able to get this resolved by contacting someone/place that they could pass on that info to me??And next, I have serious issues with handling in the snow - or handling in general really. I live in Michigan so this is a big problem. Yet, I look on here and I see multiple posts about how wonderful the Vibe is in winter weather. I'm wondering if that could mean that mine has an actual mechanical problem of some kind that anyone can think of off-hand? The very first time I slid was actually in summer, on a completely dry road. And I mean, I SLID! This was shortly after I purchased the car, so I bought all new all-weather tires thinking this must be the issue (GoodYear Eagles). Then came the fall, and the rainy season in my area, and basically I face a constant battle with both hydroplaning and tires spinning at acceleration from a stop. Then came the snow... and all the horrid handling that came with that. With an inch of snow, my car will slid as if I'm on solid ice. I've been driving in winter for over 20 years. I think I have the hang of it. Yet my Vibe - which I love for it's versatility/cargo room - is just really missing the mark as far as handling. Can anyone think of any reason mine would be so different in handling from everyone else who seems to post on the web?? I'm at a loss. If you've read my ridiculously long shpew here, thank you, and if you have nay opinions on my issues I would seriously LOVE to hear them. I really do love my Vibe and it has lended itself well to having a 'hauling' vehicle while still being a 'car' (I have no desire to own a truck) so I really REALLY don't want to give it up!

I made it through the shpew! Kidding, kidding. Welcome to the jungle, and here are my thoughts/experiences:Are you sure it's the PCM issue, as it seems you are continuing to drive your Vibe, or am I wrong? Once my PCM went out, so did the notion of even turning the engine over.And I'm also frustrated about the PCM issue for a different reason than most on here. Mine went out on my 2006 very early. Still under warranty, I was towed to a Pontiac dealership that not only knew about the faulty batch of PCMs installed, but understood what new batch to look for. I got mine swapped out in a day, and was back on the road with no cost to me. This was years and miles ago, mind you. Maybe early 2008. I am entirely too frustrated that no other member on here has had my experience, and I pray GM gets their stuff straight soon. The kicker? I got the letter, too. Albeit 3 years too late.Next, handling: My stock all-seasons fit the bill for the first week, and then... we got 6 inches of snow in Metro Detroit. Sliding out of control at 40 MPH, after some fool cut me off on the highway scared me into driving like a grandma for the rest of the winter months. Last November, I'd dealt with all the white-knuckle driving I could handle. I took to Craigslist and found a guy selling his 2 month-old Bridgestone Blizzaks, already mounted on steelies. He was selling the Scion tC he used them on, and I walked away with essentially brand new tires and rims for under $400. Invest in them. I plead. They have made an astonishing difference in my handling. I don't have to modify my driving habits too drastically when they are on my Vibe. Do a search online (heck, try Craigslist), for anyone trying to get rid of 15" or 16" 5x100 bolt pattern rims. If they are in good shape, with no dents, you'll probably be able to talk someone down to under $100 for them. You might even get lucky like I did and find a complete set with tires. Junkyards are a good place to look, too. Especially being close to the Motor City. Worst case scenario? Someone will sell them to you in a month when the worst has passed. Good luck to a fellow SE Michigander. And pics of the ride are a must!

Quote, originally posted by Maz21 »And next, I have serious issues with handling in the snow - or handling in general really. I live in Michigan so this is a big problem. Yet, I look on here and I see multiple posts about how wonderful the Vibe is in winter weather. You need a dedicated winter tire! No all seasons, no rolling donuts of death (goodyear rs-a's), no comprimize!!! Dedicated winter tires!!!!I see lots of snow/ice. These tires are awesome!!! http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id ... 909Welcome to GenVibe, BTW!!!

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welcome fellow SE michigander.i have few weather related problems with my stock goodyear donuts of death, even though they are an embarrassingly poor tire in any weather condition. if i get 30,000 crappy miles out of them, i'll be thrilled to replace them, and would do it in a heartbeat today if i had the $$.a decent set of tires, even just all seasons, should do wonders for your vibe. suggestion: look into some of the tire threads here-there are a bunch. do not listen to anyone who says anything good about goodyear tires.

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions. I'll look into WINTER weather tires. I should mention - my GoodYears AREN'T the stock tires that came with the Vibe. I thought they were Eagles (still) but I just looked them up and they are actually GoodYear "Assurance TripleTred" tires and they are just over a year old now - but the car didn't perform any better even when the tires were first purchased. A friend of mine also said Good Year's just aren't the best brand (after the fact) so maybe I was doomed from the start by buying those. It's funny because the tire is specifically designed to push water away from the tire/car and yet hydroplaning - as mentioned - is a huge problem in my Vibe. Here's the tire I have on my Vibe - just fyi: http://www.goodyeartires.com/t...-tred/Also, @ jkm311 - maybe it really isn't the PCM that's the problem. It honestly never occured to me that it could be anything different. The problem started just before I got my recall letter (the interim one) in the mail and my car is doing exactly as described - check engine light, hard shifts, slow engine turn over at start (new battery just before Christmas hasn't helped), and occasional sputtering at stop lights as if it may stall - so I just assumed that must be it. Maybe it was naive to make such an assumption. I honestly hadn't even considered an alternative issue since the letter just came describing those problems at about the same time. I guess I better get in and have it checked out just in case because mine is definitely still drivable, just very obviously 'not right' as the car jerks into each gear upon acceleration. I did look around on the web today just to see how many Vibes were still around should I decide to replace my car (it never occurred to me just to shop for another one instead of something different until reading posts on here LOL) and I found a whopping two AWD Vibes available within 100 miles. Apparently people hang on to their Vibes.

Quote, originally posted by Maz21 »I found a whopping two AWD Vibes available within 100 miles. Apparently people hang on to their Vibes. Yes we do... and the AWD version is even harder to find...

If the PCM=ECU and if so yes it's part of the recall and "stealerships" tend to drag their feet on this or don't know any better. You just need to go down their and have a chat about it.

Hi ! Im into my 2nd winter with the org Good Years,no problem wih em so far.as far as the ecm problem,try another dealer,then theres a # you can call in the back of the owners manual,see if that does any good. then theres a arbitration proces you can go thru.

Quote, originally posted by Maz21 »check engine light, hard shifts, slow engine turn over at start, occasional sputtering at stop lights as if it may stall, just very obviously 'not right' as the car jerks into each gear upon acceleration.Well, everything above points to the PCM, except for the fact that you can keep it running. Maybe yours is unique in that it will allow you to remain driving it, and get it to a service bay. Mine would not allow me to take it any further... And the fact that you did receive a letter suggests it, as well. I would pester anyone on the other end of the phone number given in the letter. Get a confirmation from them that you will be reimbursed if you get the service done at a certified GM dealer. Hopefully the parts turn up. Good luck.