Cold start rattle on my 2009 Vibe 1.8L
Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2025 7:17 am
Just bought this car for my son. It has 96,000 miles. Pretty good for a 16 year old car. Anyway, the car starts and drives fine. However, I have noticed that infamous 1 second cold start rattle, which although it disappears, still bothers me. Has any had an engine failure from NOT fixing this issue? Is it just an annoyance, or is it a ticking time bomb that will soon destroy the engine? I would like to pay someone to fix it. I presume many of you have done this. Recent cost estimates would be very much appreciated! Also, where does one go (in the Hartford, CT area in particular) to get service on a Pontiac Vibe? I called my local Toyota dealer who refused to even look at it because it is not a Toyota. I have no "trusted mechanic" to go to, and I don't even know where to start to find one. Any advice would be sincerely appreciated!