Mechanic doesn't know what is wrong with my car

[waterbottle]

I have been having trouble with my 2006 Vibe. Automatic transmission. Original owner and 50,000 miles. Generally, it works great. However, on warm, sunny days I experience some problems. When engine gets hot from the sun the car idles at 1000 RPM. Additionally I feel like the car is working really hard just to accelerate and cruise around 30 mph. If I lift my foot off the gas then RPM shoots down to 1000. Car won't even roll forward on its own on a hot day (when break lifted) however on a normal day it works just fine. Mind you, I turned off the air conditioner and fan and the problem still exists.After 20 minutes of driving today with the weird engine issue, engine smelled like burnt rubber. HELP!

[zaxellord]

Quote, originally posted by waterbottle »I have been having trouble with my 2006 Vibe. Automatic transmission. Original owner and 50,000 miles. Generally, it works great. However, on warm, sunny days I experience some problems. When engine gets hot from the sun the car idles at 1000 RPM. Additionally I feel like the car is working really hard just to accelerate and cruise around 30 mph. If I lift my foot off the gas then RPM shoots down to 1000. Car won't even roll forward on its own on a hot day (when break lifted) however on a normal day it works just fine. Mind you, I turned off the air conditioner and fan and the problem still exists.After 20 minutes of driving today with the weird engine issue, engine smelled like burnt rubber. HELP! Have you checked to see if your Vibe was a part of the PCM recall?

[djkeev]

You forget to release your parking brake on Sunny Days??? Dave

[djkeev]

In all seriousness the sunny vs cloudy day running issues make no sense what so ever. How long has this been going on?Pull your dipstick on your transmission, it is bright red like blood, or chocolate red? Take a smell of it. Does it smell like oil or is there a burned smell to it that all but sends a chill down your spine??I'm only half kidding about he parking brake as well! When it won't go, stop, jack up each wheel and see if you can turn it by hand. It should rotate freely. If it binds you may have some odd brake issue. I've seen rubber brake hoses go bad and act as one way valves holding the brakes ON for the fluid cannot flow back when your foot is removed from the pedal.Rubber smell?? Tires, belts, motor mounts, radiator hoses, there isn't a lot of rubber. There are hangers on the exhaust system made of rubber.I will strongly suspect a clogged catalytic converter. This problem would not only show up on sunny days though. It will produce a severe lack of power and make some really strange odors though.At 50,000 miles you may still be under a warranty for emission related parts.Hope this helped a little bit.......Dave

[trb]

Ditto on the two suggestions about the PCM and the converter. They are covered by the emissions warranty which I'm pretty sure is 8 yrs or 85,000 miles.

[waterbottle]

Thanks guys. I will contact the Pontiac dealer.To clarify on the sunny days, its not that its sunny but rather my car was in direct sunlight which made the engine hot upon start... Also I don't warm up my car, I just turn it on and drive.... pretty much always... is that a problem?

[jkm311]

Quote, originally posted by waterbottle »Also I don't warm up my car, I just turn it on and drive.... pretty much always... is that a problem?Two things:1. When your engine turns over, it is "told" to maintain RPMs above 1,000 to warm it up. So, if you are immediately throwing the car in Drive once your hand is off the ignition and letting off on the brakes, your automatic tranny Vibe should practically leap out of any spot. It's RPMs from a cold start are probably just under 1,800 or so. BUT... after that leap, pressing on the accelerator will be disappointing. The engine is not warm. The oil is not warm. She's not going to accelerate well for you. 2.Without fail, every time I start my Vibe, I wait. And wait some more, until I see the temp gauge rising. Until I know the oil is being distributed. Until I know the oil is warming up, before I drive ANYWHERE. I've been known to let my engine warm up for 5 minutes MINIMUM in the winter. Sounds crazy for those on the go, but I have never put stress on my engine immediately after a start. There was a thread a few years back debating whether this was effective, or putting the car in drive and idling around with minimum acceleration was the most effective. I'm in the former camp. Staying put. Not saying my mania will solve anything for you, but if it isn't anything David didn't cover, maybe it's more minor and your engine just isn't ready to take on driving a few seconds after starting. However, if you're noticing that this problem persists well after the temp gauge is up, you have a problem somewhere. Good luck.

[djkeev]

Quote, originally posted by jkm311 »Two things:1. When your engine turns over, it is "told" to maintain RPMs above 1,000 to warm it up. So, if you are immediately throwing the car in Drive once your hand is off the ignition and letting off on the brakes, your automatic tranny Vibe should practically leap out of any spot. It's RPMs from a cold start are probably just under 1,800 or so. BUT... after that leap, pressing on the accelerator will be disappointing. The engine is not warm. The oil is not warm. She's not going to accelerate well for you. 2.Without fail, every time I start my Vibe, I wait. And wait some more, until I see the temp gauge rising. Until I know the oil is being distributed. Until I know the oil is warming up, before I drive ANYWHERE. I've been known to let my engine warm up for 5 minutes MINIMUM in the winter. Sounds crazy for those on the go, but I have never put stress on my engine immediately after a start. There was a thread a few years back debating whether this was effective, or putting the car in drive and idling around with minimum acceleration was the most effective. I'm in the former camp. Staying put. Not saying my mania will solve anything for you, but if it isn't anything David didn't cover, maybe it's more minor and your engine just isn't ready to take on driving a few seconds after starting. However, if you're noticing that this problem persists well after the temp gauge is up, you have a problem somewhere. Good luck.Yeah, this topic could go on for pages but warming up a car is a very controversial topic. A lot of personal convictions, personal practices, and a lot of stuff done based on tradition or gut feelings.IF you are using the proper oil for your engine.... 5w20 or 5w30, its cold viscosity is plenty thin so that as soon as the engine rotates, oil is pumped. There is no need to not stress anything because of a fear of it not being lubricated. IF you've "improved" you engine by running 10w, 15w or God forbid 20w oils, ok, now you've created some problems you might need to worry about.Most auto manufacturers do not recommend starting and letting an engine "warm" up before taking off. Even for our cars, the owners Manual simply says to operate the car "Gently" as engine and transaxle warm up. Even back in the 60's, VW owners specifically, were taught to start up and drive off.There are actually arguments that say idling a cold engine that getting extra fuel actually does engine damage because of the excess fuel washing down the cylinder walls and the piston rings. Fact is, an engine will come up to temps quicker if it is being driven, not simply sitting and idling.Do as you wish and are comfortable with. Just know that long warm up periods are not necessarily good for your engine.Dave

[Houston]

Since some people let their engines warm up a little before driving off while others drive off immediately, and yet because of experience both camps consider their way preferable for engine longevity, perhaps owners should do what they prefer without worrying about it. Except for my 1960 first car bought used that was a lemon from the beginning and I kept for only two months, I've done my engines both ways with several cars for fifty years and they all lasted for many, many years with no major engine problems. If you floor it immediately after backing out of your drive without first letting the engine warm up, however, I guarantee you'll have problems down the road.