GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

I'm starting to not like my 2009 Vibe (base) very much...

15 months ago I had to replace the "black box" ($1,300) that controls the SSPS, ABS, VSC, and TCS...

2 months ago I had to replace a "wheel sensor" ($130) that lit up my ABS, VSC, and TCS.

Last week I got the VSC (blink), TCS, and a check engine light!!!

I am really getting sick of this...

It's a fun car to drive and it gets decent MPG.... But, I need it on the road, not in the shop!

Oh... and I'm not made of money either...

I had four new tires and rear brakes put on at NTB 6 months ago... could they have messed something up?

I have 10 payments left, and not sure if it is "under water".... dunno if I can sell it for what I owe on it.

But I still need a trade in... and the CarFax may not look so good with all these sensor issues...

I don't think 82k is a lot of miles for this kinda stuff to be happening...

Disappointed in Cleveland...

TommyD69 wrote: I had four new tires and rear brakes put on at NTB 6 months ago... could they have messed something up? (

In a word: NO. About the only damage from a mechanic that shows-up that late is stripped spark plug threads.
Sorry to hear of your plight! I don't know who NTB is, but it sounds like you are paying a lot for your cars' repairs. You may want to look for a competent and reasonable mechanic. Ask your friends and co-workers for a reference. Being "a friend of a friend" helps from my experience.
I found a good mechanic at my local junkyard, obviously your mileage may vary. I try to replace all non-critical and easy-to-replace parts with used parts from the junkyard - they all come with a warranty. I mention this because You (like me) are not made of money.
good luck,
chiadog

That does sound like a lot to go wrong on your car in the amount of time you've had it. Was the black box the main computer, or something else? I'm not sure if these cars have several computers or what. I ask since the PCM main computer is covered under the emissions warranty for like 7 years and 80K miles, but I don't know if that includes the VSC, TC and ABS functions. On the speed sensor, it is possible that the sensor(s) could be dirty, or have corrosion in the wiring connectors causing the light to come on. If they did not put the dielectric grease in the new sensor connection, that could be the problem. Did you have this work done at the dealer, or elsewhere? If you have the check engine light on, you can have a parts store like Autozone check on the stored codes for you. That way you know what the computer is thinking is wrong.

And unless your payments are over $600 a month, no way you should be underwater with only 10 payments left. I figure trade in for a base 09 with auto, PW/PL, AC in good condition is probably in the $6-7K range.

NTB is National Tire and Battery. They did my tires and noticed my rear pads were down to the rivets.

I usually do my own brakes. I worked my way through college working at my father’s garage in PA.

It killed me to pay the crazy amount I did for the brakes, but I did not have the "special tool" to screw the caliber pistons back in. And it was already on the rack with all the tires off... and it was the start of winter and it was cold and rainy... (Don't have a garage) and I just felt lazy... Oh well...

The "black box" was not the main computer, but some other computer that controlled the steering (I don’t think my steering is "fly by wire") and all the other functions mentioned before. That was the $1,300 job that was done at a dealership. Couldn't get that part at a junkyard... because I asked... at least I got a guaranty on that job. I bought the car used at a Toyota Dealership quite a distance from where I am living now, so I went to my local GMC Pontiac dealership. The last $130 wheel sensor was also done at the GMC Pontiac dealership. I agree that there is a lot going wrong with this car, and I am really losing my patients with it.

I messed up with the payments. I have 18 payments left. It's not a large amount of money. I still owe 4 grand on the car. It was a huge step down (in payment amount) from my 2006 CTS, but that was necessary.... what can I say?

Getting the codes checked at AutoZone is a good idea, and I will be doing that soon.

Just really getting tired of all this fooling around....

Dude...
That is not normal.

My 09 just passed the 5 year mark last month and the only thing I did on it were oil changes, tires and brakes.
I had my first official "repair" last january and it was only a rear defrost line that was scratched off.

I hate to say this, but that's sounding like a lemon. I'm really sorry to hear about how much trouble you're going through...

With all the electrical issues, man that sounds like the car was flood damaged or struck by lightning.
Have you pulled a CarFax on it?
<--2009 Vibe with 100,450 miles. Nothing but oil changes. About to give her the big going-over this spring.

rear brakes worn out at 80k? hmm. i just checked mine at 40k and they are probably no more than 25% worn. depends on whether you drive city or highway mostly.

special tool for compressing disc brake? clamp or large arc joint pliers work.

Isn't NTB now owed by Sears?

file014 wrote:special tool for compressing disc brake? clamp or large arc joint pliers work.

Many rear disc brake systems require a special tool to rotate the piston back into place, you cannot just compress it like a front caliper, due to the parking brake self adjuster system.