GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

c2cummin

My 2007 base Just passed 163,000km!(roughly 100,000 miles) Have owned it since 70,000km and its been a blessing! Regular oil changes every 5000km. Done a couple of fluid change outs(transmission and coolant) Had to replace the intake manifold gasket a few months back. Other than that just front brak...

c2cummin

antdes45 wrote:c2cummin, has the replacement ECU fixed the problem?

I replied in other thread viewtopic.php?f=20&t=43694

But yes it seems to have fixed the problem!

c2cummin

Hi c2cummin, I'm having the same trouble as you did with my Matrix and was wondering if the new ECU fixed the problem in the long term. While the tach jumps: temp needle stays low and the A/C relay flickers. Also, I get the 5 canister codes even though the canister works properly. It's clearly not ...

c2cummin

cptnsolo77 wrote:When I do my drain & refill, I do it 3 times ( a week apart ) to exchange all the fluid. Just did it last month. Shifts great at 184K

Sounds like a good plan as well! How often do you do this?

c2cummin

A fluid change over is very simple. On the my 1st gen the bottom line from the transmission cooler (located in the radiator) is the return line. Disconnect that then connect a 3-4 ft. hose (I used a clear 3/8" tube) and put the other end in a 5 gallon bucket and secure it. The end going back t...

c2cummin

^True you only got about 1/3 to 1/2 of the fluid out. I did the same but with a fluid change over. Makes sense. So it's probably just the old 1/2 of the fluid that's getting darker? I just didn't know if there was cause for concern. Like I said there's no noticeable problems.....I plan to do anothe...

c2cummin

I was just wondering if anyone else has noticed if their transmission fluid gets dark quick after changing... I just did 1 drain and fill last summer(about 20-25,000 km's ago) and noticed today that the fluid is already a brownish colour. Not dark brown, and nowhere near black. It's still transparen...

c2cummin

I have this problem as well when it gets "cold" here in south Florida. The idle drops to about 500 RPM and feels like it wants to shut off. I changed the intake gasket and it didnt help. I never got any codes when this happened. Through extensive research on this site I narrowed it down t...

c2cummin

Thanks for the update. That confirms that I have to replace my intake gasket as well. I can wait until it is warm outside. You have restored the power of your engine and the fuel consumption should come down a smidgeon. I had read the most common problem on these with the lean code was the gasket b...

c2cummin

Update:

Engine light came on last week with code P0171:P. Intake gasket was indeed leaking. It was only leaking when car was cold, that's why it was chugging. Had it replaced and all is good. Even seem to have more power now!

c2cummin

I noticed a few of those. In fact it reminded me of the chugging the old Ford Windstar did. It chugged horribly when it was cold and cleared up when it was warm, no CEL was triggered at first. P0171 and P0174 appeared in time. This is what happened: Some rubber grommets on the intake manifold shrun...

c2cummin

I noticed a few of those. In fact it reminded me of the chugging the old Ford Windstar did. It chugged horribly when it was cold and cleared up when it was warm, no CEL was triggered at first. P0171 and P0174 appeared in time. This is what happened: Some rubber grommets on the intake manifold shrun...

c2cummin

Just wondering if anyone else out there has problems with their car struggling to idle in really cold weather at start up? By cold I mean around -20 Celsius or colder. I noticed last winter and this winter that if my vibe sits for a while outside in weather that cold that it'll chug pretty bad at th...

c2cummin

Had the ECU replaced this past Monday. The issue didn't happen at least on the drive home from the dealer. I haven't really driven it since. I'm hoping it fixes me issue. If it does I plan to call/write GM Canada and ask them why a recalled part was replaced with a part that failed. Seems like BS to...

c2cummin

Where are you located, anyway? I just went to a salvage yard the other day to pick up a 2007 automatic transmission from a base Vibe, they may still have the ECM. Ontario, Canada. The cost from the dealer for a new one installed is going to be around 500 bucks. A bit of a gouge but for some reason ...

c2cummin

Just an update on this....I'm having the ECU replaced in a week or so. I went into my local GM dealer and explained the issue to the service manager and he agreed my problem could likely be a faulty ECU.

I will post another update when it's replaced.

c2cummin

I know this thread is old but I've had the same issue with my 2007 Vibe, the bouncy or dead tach. The air conditioning compressor and engine fans also shutdown when the tach starts acting up. From what I can find online it's caused by a faulty ECM. Even if the recall has been done. The service manag...

c2cummin

Also my vibe is past the 5 year mark but well under the recommended 240, 000 km mark(currently at 136, 000). Should I be concerned at all? Thanks in advance! I'm asking myself the same question. My Vibe is a 2009 (bought in 2008) which now has 177,000 km (110,000 miles) and I never changed the cool...

c2cummin

Well....I finally did this today. Is it safe to say that if I have heat blasting through the vents that it was done correctly? One weird thing that did happen when I was finished. I went for a drive and had lots of heat. When I got back and put it in park the heat went away. So I squeezed the hose ...

c2cummin

Is your temp gauge spiking up and dropping or anything? That would indicate bubbles in the hoses. It may still have a little air in it, not sure if it's a big concern though. Temp gauge wasn't spiking. Does it even make sense that it blew hot air while driving and not while parked? And again it did...

c2cummin

Well....I finally did this today. Is it safe to say that if I have heat blasting through the vents that it was done correctly? One weird thing that did happen when I was finished. I went for a drive and had lots of heat. When I got back and put it in park the heat went away. So I squeezed the hose a...

c2cummin

How do you check the part number? Is there an identifier in it to tell if it came from a recall? I'd just like to be able to tell before buying it if possible. If you remove the ECM, it will have the part number on it. There were specific batches that should be listed online somewhere. http://media...

c2cummin

That would be good to know. I remember the recall was for 2005-2008 models so maybe they are different. I've just read around that a new ECU can cost around 1000 bucks so trying to get a good used to work would be great. A wrecker near me only wants 60 bucks for a used, but then again I am taking a...

c2cummin

I've been thinking about this a lot lately and asked the guy who swapped his 2004 auto vibe to a manual whether he got a used ECU, but it's 12 am and I don't think he'll answer just now. I'm posting so I don't forget. EDIT: He used a used ECU, but his was a 2003 or 4. 2005+ may be different. That w...

c2cummin

Just an update.....had an engine light today. P2401...a cause of this code can be a faulty ECM! Looks like it's finally pooched! I'm guessing the ECM is done because of this and other issues....

c2cummin

Would the programming really be that different? Just curious since the ECU in my car says Toyota on it. Everything actually other than the grill on the front says Toyota. Just wondering because a friend of mine thinks he'll be able to program the VIN into the used ECU but is gathering tools/softwar...

c2cummin

How did you end up reprogramming the ECU? Did you take to a dealer for that? Yes. Toyota has a special laptop you plug into the OBDII plug and you run a special program. No idea on GM, as I don't work there. There's an update for the 2006 Matrix so a heat-soaked engine will fire up faster, but I do...

c2cummin

Would that likely be all? There wouldn't be any performance issues or check engine light? Toyotas will throw a check engine light if you install a new ECU, which must have a VIN programmed into it using a Toyota dealership's special computer. Once the VIN on a Toyota ECU is set, it CANNOT be change...

c2cummin

As a side note, do you know if the recall was done on this car? If not, you could get it replaced by GM if it is one of the recalled PCM/ECM/ECUs. The recall was performed on this car. I'm not sure 100% the ECU is at fault for my problem or not just yet. I actually called a dealer and they said if ...

c2cummin

Found this post on here where someone did the same. http://forums.genvibe.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=30729&p=345749&hilit=ecm+replacement#p345749" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; I think it may show up if you put it on a computer that there is a different VI...

c2cummin

You answered your questions. :) If I'm not mistaken, the replacement ECM would need to match up with the one being replaced. Just match the same part number or would it have to go to a dealer for some kind of reprogramming? I'm just curious if I can grab one from a wrecker and throw it in to see if...

c2cummin

I was wondering if anyone out there has ever tried replacing their ECM with a used one? Long story short I'm having a tachometer issue and from what I've found online the ECM ultimately needs to be replaced. It's a really rare issue so I could be wrong but I'm just wondering none the less. If anyone...

c2cummin

Thanks, Just to clarify, did you squeeze the hose while the car was running or while it was off right after you filled the rad? Did you need to top up alot afterwards? I just need to know how much coolant to have on hand when I do this. I only plan on draining and refilling the rad and then doing t...

c2cummin

Are you using Toyota coolant? Hopefully not the Dexcool garbage. Yes I am using the Toyota coolant. I couldn't believe the manual actually said to use the GM garbage. A GM dealer tried telling me it was dexcrud in it for sure. I know. I crossed it out in my son's 06 manual and wrote in "USE TO...

c2cummin

trb wrote:Are you using Toyota coolant? Hopefully not the Dexcool garbage.

Yes I am using the Toyota coolant. I couldn't believe the manual actually said to use the GM garbage. A GM dealer tried telling me it was dexcrud in it for sure.

c2cummin

Thanks, Just to clarify, did you squeeze the hose while the car was running or while it was off right after you filled the rad? Did you need to top up alot afterwards? I just need to know how much coolant to have on hand when I do this. I only plan on draining and refilling the rad and then doing th...

c2cummin

Just looking for some opinions/advice on a coolant change. I plan on doing one before the winter. I'm familiar with the steps and how to drain the rad and what not. I'm just concerned with 'burping' the system after. How is this done? I've read about a couple of different methods and was wondering i...

c2cummin

Thanks for the reply and sorry for my delayed response. I bought the car used and it had already had the ECM replaced so I don't know if the issue existed before hand. The issue had started tho shortly before a full year of me owning the car. It was very intermittent at first though, it rarely happe...

c2cummin

Just wondering if anyone else out there is having an issue with their tachometer and temperature gauge. I've noticed in the last while that the tach will sometimes bounce around or just die and zero out. When it drops to zero the temperature gauge also drops to zero. It never stays this way for very...

c2cummin

I will likely do that at some point, this time around I might just a drain and fill.

The owners manual states that it takes 3.2 quarts. Is this the capacity for just doing a drain/refill?

c2cummin

Thanks! I was on the phone with a local transmission shop the other day to see how much it would cost and he said that my model would only have a screen-type filter and he wouldn't change it if I brought it to him. How do I confirm what kind of filter it is without having to drop the pan? If it is t...

c2cummin

Just wondering for those who have changed their automatic transmission fluid if it's necessary to change the filter as well. I've read different things saying you need to and some saying you don't. I called a GM dealership a few weeks back and they don't even stock the part because the filters aren'...

c2cummin

Just wondering for those who have changed their automatic transmission fluid if it's necessary to change the filter as well. I've read different things saying you need to and some saying you don't. I called a GM dealership a few weeks back and they don't even stock the part because the filters aren'...

c2cummin

Awesome! I'll have to call them today. I saw them on their website but just haven't called them yet. Partsource couldn't find them for me which is surprising since they're owned by Canadian Tire.

c2cummin

Has anyone ever found a set of hubcentric rings that go from 57.1mm to 54.1mm? I bought some after market rims online and the centre bore is 57.1 but I change them around myself and want to make sure I'm putting them on perfectly. I've searched around online and haven't had much luck finding them in...

c2cummin

Thanks! Can I get rings for steel wheels? I've looked around online and alot sites say rings aren't really meant for steel wheels.... I never ended up buying the wheels mentioned above. The guy finally said they are the universal ones from Costco. I just don't like the idea of all the weight on the ...

c2cummin

Hi. I was hoping someone could answer this for me. I found steel wheels online for a decent price. The only thing that worries me is that the center bore 66.6mm because they are universal and the seller tells me not to worry since vibes are 'lug-centric' and not 'hub-centric'. I was just wondering i...

c2cummin

I was just wondering if anyone would know the bore size for a 2007 vibe? A lot of online sources say 57.1 but a lot of posts on this site say 54.1. I am looking to get steel rims for winter tires and want something that fits exactly.

c2cummin

cptnsolo77 wrote:I have done 2 drain & refills so far and zero problems with 143K on the odo. You will be fine !

Thanks!

Just wondering if you remember how much fluid went in? Also did you just drain and refill it once or do it 2-3?

c2cummin

I actually called both the toyota and GM dealers to see how much the type T-IV fluid and is. Toyota wanted roughly $7/quart and GM wanted almost $13! I think I'll obviously be getting it from Toyota. Both dealers did also tell me to not bother changing the filter this early. They said it's something...

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