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Pontiac Vibe Electrical/Lighting Issues
Discuss electrical problems with the Vibe here.
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He tells me that the Vibe and Matrix use different light systems, and that trix don't have DRL. Hmm, Riight. Mine is also the first Vibe to come in for this problem and he's been there for 5 yrs.
Anyway, we go out to the parking lot and find some areas that I thought the light would go on, guess what, it doesn't. I guess it was about noon, and I rarely drive at noon....
If anyone had the automatic headlights fixed, please let me know the part description and Part Number that was replaced. I'm assuming that the fix worked.
Anyway, the under shifter storage HAS a TSB and they are ordering 2 parts to fix it, I guess it's NOT just the drawer itself.
My 2003 Vibe was built on 10/9/02.
Luzer, way back in this thread I posted the Toyota TSB number - it was around 8-10/04. All they did was replace the sensor, and the new sensor is the one they have been installing in brand new Matrixes ever since. So maybe you could just go into the parts department and order the sensor for an '04 Matrix, then put it in yourself? I dunno.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
I found that post (2/27/03) and brought it with me, but they said they can't cross ref Toyota part numbers....that's why if someone did this with a Vibe and provides the similar info as you, then we would all do a mad rush to the dealer.
Anywho, is it the relay or the sensor itself?
Here's your post...
"I got my paperwork back for the new relay assembly for the twilight sensor. The part # is the same as posted above: #82810-02033. I guess this is a relay better calibrated to its location on the dash in the Matrix. More importantly, it notes on the paperwork that "service bulletin EL007-02/replace relay" was performed.
So I guess this is the number of the TSB for this twilight sensor problem."
I guess my memory, fuzzy at the best of times, confused relay with sensor, but I do remember writing that and I was quoting the service invoice exactly. So it must be a relay. Makes sense, I guess, because the sensor is probably fairly generic. I don't know where this leaves you though. My car was a Matrix, not a Vibe, and there is probably no way to be 100% sure that the parts woill go from one car to the other without just buying the Toyota part and trying to install it in your Vibe. The whole job including professional labor rates was only somewhere in the $100s (covered under warranty for me of course). Which means it didn't take them much time and the part itself was quite cheap. Might be worth investigating.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
What if you just take your Vibe in and complain that the running light/headlight system is not working properly (going from one to the other constantly)? Pontiac should be able to replace the sensor or the relay or whatever, using whatever part they now use when they manufacture the vehicles.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
How do I know this? My neighbor gets home at about 2:00am and he called. Other neighbors have noticed as well.
The first time it happened, the neighbor called and so I went out and could not get them to turn off. They finally turned off when I pushed the high-beam selector forward, which normally would illuminate the high-beams.
Needless to say, I have called roadside assistance each morning for a jump-start. The dealer can't give me an appointment until this Fri.
Has anyone heard of this problem? I know many have complained on other Vibe/Matrix forums about the Vibe's weak battery in cold weather. This may be the root of the problem.
Any help would be appreciated.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
First - The service tech was using a flashlight to make the thing go on/off and claims it works right.
Second - The service manager tells me the trix doesn't have DRL, and uses a different headlight than the Vibe. AND this is the first complaint he's heard of.
He did spend about 30 minutes driving around the parking lot - but it seems that at noon, on a clear day, there is enough ambient light to make me a liar. Most of my morning commute is with the headlights ON.
My two parts for the under storage bin came in, some consolation... they had a TSB for that!...also, there's a PENDING programming update for the rotten egg thing.
So this is the thanks I get for venturing into American cars. The Vibe may be built with "perceived" Japanese quality, but I think I am learning to stick with the original manufacturer/designer/Engineering just so updates happens - Joint Venture or not.
As in real life, information is key, and someone forgot to tell Pontiac to CHANGE THE PART.
About sensor/relay nomenclature - I had a toyota muffler replaced on my old corolla and the item was listed as "tail pipe assembly". Since they warranty the muffler for life, I had the same argument every few years, that the muffler = "tail pipe assembly". So maybe the sensor is part of the "relay assembly"...then again, maybe not.
Wax on, wax off...
I bought this '03 Vibe new at the end of the 2003 model year. This is the first winter that it has not been in the garage, thus it hasn't experiences temperatures so low.
I love this car. My Vibe replaced a 2000 VW Passat, which I had a lot of trouble with, both electrically and mechanically.
In two years of ownership, this will be the first time it has acted up.
I am worried about this mysterious headlight problem. When I set up the appointment, the dealer was very skeptical, and basically said they would have to verify the problem themselves--yeah like some technician is going to sit with the car over-night to watch the headlights illuminate.
Again it is possible that if your Pontiac dealer is not willing or able to diagnose and eliminate this problem, you could maybe approach a Toyota dealer and ask if you could pay for the repair that was performed on the Matrixes that had this problem. Even though it appears Pontiac dealers are making much of the differences between the two vehicles, the fact is that until the updates to both models for the '05 model year, they were identical except for some cosmetics. Both would have the same DRL, the same twilight sensor and relay, etc.
If nothing else, you could perhaps get the Toyota dealer to llok up their recall info on those early Matrixes and print it out for you to show the Pontiac dealer.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
The good news is that Pontiac dealership did find a TSB and ordered the new "switch", and they will replace it Tuesday.
Thanks all of you on this forum for your help. It makes a difference when you go in to the dealership with some information backing your claim. In this instance, headlights turning on at night.
I know there are many on the "Vibe" sponsored forums complaining about dead batteries in the cold. They may want to look into the headlight problem as well, not just battery problems.
Thanks again!
The sensor is installed by just connecting to wires and pushing into place, simple tension retainer. Be gentle! The dash is still hard for me to see in bright daylight, but much easier to see than it was when the sensor dimmed dash lights when the headlights were activated!
I did find that during the bitter cold, turning the brights on caused the daytime running lights to turn off, and because the car was turned off, the brights did as they were supposed to and remained off . . . resulting in all lights being off .
I heard a crunching noise in the shifter about a year ago which lasted about a week or so. Then I noticed no light in the gear shift letters. Posted are request for help then. No one has come up with a simple repair.
Any ideas?
Check it out.
I have the 2003 Vibe with 74k miles....
Here's what I did.
Looked at owners manual.
Take off the black cover - you press the smaller middle part on the fasteners and the outer part come out, I learned this on my old COrolla years back, and the Vibe manual do not tell you.
I remove the two screws.
NOW, I try to take off the light asembly as shown in the manual, and I can't pry this off!!
- I used a butter knive around some of the edges, but the plastic looks like it will crack.
- I pull on both sides with equal pressure - and still think I wil crack it.
I cannot see anymore clips etc.
Please help me replace the 3rd stop light bulb aka stop light buld aka high mount on the hatch stop light bulb.
Bulb info -
Center High Mounted Stop Light Part number = 921
After taking off the black overcover, I used a screwdriver and pried up the little red tabs and voila, the red cover came off, the bulb was replaced...last step - throw out the owners manual...
I have that crunching noise also and it happens on and off. More on that off. I thought something was stuck in or was caught in the shifting column. Now my light as gone black also. Very strange and I have not taken to a dealer to look at because I thought it might be a fuse.
Have you had any luck?
I own a 2006 Pontiac Vibe. I take extremly good care of my car and recently had a collison with a 100 lbs deer, doing about 40 mph. I hit the deer in the very front head on. My air bags failed to deploy. After shutting my car off and then starting it the check engine light popped in. So when I drove my car home and then to the collison repair place it was determined that my computer fried. Now my insurance is trying to tell me that the computer frying is not accident related. Can they do that?
We check recalls and the manufacturer and there were no "known" problem areas with the Pontiac Vibes. I still owe a good 15k on my vibe.
Has anyone experienced then or does anyone have any advice?
Waiting tranportationless
kmachleitlaborready.com
I changed over to a single life GE one a few months ago - hope that one works better. So is it the bad bulb or is there a problem in the system?
No headlight problem until 3 + years....
About 6 months ago, the recir button problem came up. With the light off (fresh air), there was a clicking sound...I removed the glove box and promptly broke one of the tabs for the interior air filter. The user manual shows you how to lift up...I read a post here to push down on the tabs...since it was dark, I did not pursue this any further. However, I did feel the duct flap trying to go into the open position.
I did a quick search here on the forum and read that this is due to a motor module, or a gear missing teeth. I guess I'll have to wait for Spring to look deeper into this - it's cold outside. Also saw again the option of buying a furnace filter and cutting it into 8" x 8" instead of an OEM part.
Other problem is a broken Fog Lamp cover - can't just replace the bulb - it'll just go out pretty quick.
Otherwise, 84K miles and going real good..
Syn blend oil every 4 - 5 months (7000miles +/-)
regular gas - 29mpg mix driving (28 if I go fast, like 80mph)
No more rotten smell - not sure when it stopped, but noticed it went away one day (after 60K miles give or take) Again, that smell was under hard acceleration like starting a climb.
Snow tire sale on tirerack on the blizzack revo