Thanks for the reply. Will get out the old creeper and give it a try. Somehow I wrongly assumed that it wasn't accessible from underneath. Guess I'm old and confused.

Thought I'd replace the starter on my 2003 GT. All the videos I've found show the starter removal process for a standard Vibe/Matrix. Looks quite simple due to the relatively small plastic intake manifold that lets you get at the starter without removing the manifold. However, the GT model has a hug...

I have a '03 Vibe GT. My son recently asked me to change the oil in his girlfriend's '10 Matrix. My Vibe has a conventional one-piece spin-on oil filter, but the '10 Matrix uses a disposable paper filter element in a re-usable screw-on plastic filter case. An online search revealed that there should...

"Take care of a clultch and it will last a long time." While this statement is generally true, there are exceptions. I firmly believe that there is a problem with "some" GT clutches. I have been driving sticks for the past 40 years - among them Plymouth Road Runners, Volvos, BMWs...

I replaced the slipping clutch in my GT last June and posted a report here without the photos I took. Here is a link where you can view the photos. The photos are not complete as I got so into the job that I forgot to take some photos that would be more explanative. (Hope this link works!)http://s56...

Is the serpentine belt tensioner in the Vibe GT the same as that in the non-GT Vibe (also Matrix XRS and non-XRS)? Some aftermarket suppliers list the same tensioner for both engines, while others list two different units. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

The fact that there are Vibe GT drivers who haven't had clutch problems does not negate the fact that there is a problem with SOME GT clutches.There are too many reports of clutch prolems from experienced drivers to attribute it to "driving style." Notice that I said "some." Ther...

No worries. The same thing happened to me. I was able to simply lift the locking tab on the metal band to release it and push the boot back on and then re-tighten the band. The only thing that prevents the CV joints from separating are the boots. With the shaft installed, there's not enough movement...

They'll both work well. I used the same bolts on the flywheel of my '03 GT. I contacted ARP and they said that either would work well provided that the bolts were torqued down to around 70 ft. lbs. I was also infomred that 30w motor oil can also be used with aournd 50lbs. of torque. The ARP bolts ar...

I’ve got only 32,000 miles on my ’03 GT and still have the original Denso Iridium plugs in it. It runs fine. However, since I don’t like the idea of keeping the same plugs in my car for eight years (not a fan of seized spark plugs), and since they’re so easy to replace in the Vibe, I was thi...

In early April this year I installed a new clutch disc, pressure plate, and refurbished flywheel in my '03 GT with 32,000 miles. The clutch was starting to let go in 3rd gear on freeway ramps – not fun when merging with high-speed traffic. I’m an old man, and drive like one, and have owned many ...

I've been wondering if anyone on this site has had a valve adjustment done on their engine. The Vibe engine uses flat tappets with shims to set the valve clearance. I've heard different reports from "get your valves adjusted every 30,000 miles" to "valve adjustment isn't needed on a f...

The Matrix/Vibe clutch problem remains a mystery. Some go quickly and some don't. However, the fact that so many seem to slip with only a few thousand miles points to a problem. I bought the car from my brother-in-law with only 18,000 miles on it and noticed the clutch beginning to slip at about 20,...

I just finished installing a new flywheel, clutch disc, and pressure plate assembly in my seldom-driven 2003 Vibe GT. The infamous clutch was starting to slip noticeably at 28,000 miles. It was time for repair. There have been quite a few posts on this site about clutch installation, including the o...

Thanks for the info, I'll get the ART bolts from Never Enough. I found a few fastener websites that have 10-1.25/20mm 10.9 grade metric flange bolts (10.9 grade is hardened with tensile strength of 150,000psi) for $1.12 each. These, however, have rather small hex heads. The ARP bolts had larger Torx...

My '03 GT has come down with the infamous slipping clutch syndrome at only 28,000 miles. As I plan to install a new clutch and refurbished flywheel, the manual says to replace the eight flywheel bolts. I checked with my local dealer, and they want $10.81 for each bolt! Not wanting to pay over $88 fo...

Here's an off-the-wall question. Does anyone know the length of the eight 10 x 1.25 flywheel bolts on my Vibe GT with 6-speed manual trans? These should be the same as the ones used on the Toyota Matrix XRS. Any info or comments are greatly welcome.

Hi everyone. I'm a new member here and would like to know if the slipping clutch on my '03 Vibe GT (27,000 miles) is common or not. I've been driving a clutch for almost 40 years and have never had a problem. My wife drives the car occasionally, but she knows the proper clutch technique. I bought th...

Thanks for a great tutorial! The clutch on my Vibe GT (27,000 miles)is starting to slip on hard acceleeration, so I'm getting ready to put in a new one. The instructions will be useful. About supporting the engine....I removed the transmission on my old Dodge Spirit Turbo using a homemade 2X4 frame ...