GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

Bookworm

Those look to be identical with the Harbor Freight ones. Worked fine for ladder carrying. Caveat. You will spend quite a bit of time adjusting them so that they're not lopsided. If you're ready for adjusting both ends of each bar, then they'll be fine. You'll want a step stool so you aren't stretchi...

Bookworm

The serpentine belt is always a good one. It can harden and spin/crack even without running, just from the tension. As long as the car is driven regularly enough to circulate fluid, the radiator hoses are probably fine at low miles. Check the donut spare. I had the one in my 03 fall apart by 2016, j...

Bookworm

Well, on my 03 vibe, I replaced the front shocks with Monroe QuickStruts. That, plus the sway bar links, took roughly an hour per side (not including jack/stand time). I reused my original nuts (lots of stories of the top stud nuts not holding up) With this Matrix, I know I need to replace them - th...

Bookworm

So, in other words, buy the shocks, bellows, and mount replacements, yank the old ones out of the car, take them to a shop, and say "here, assemble these for me". Understood.

I'm not really thrilled about the idea of using a spring compressor at _all_.

Bookworm

Apparently some police switched to Vibes for 'greener' vehicles.

If you search for "pontiac vibe" on chron.com (the Houston Chronicle) you get a number of hits.

Bookworm

Alloy wheels and steel are the same size tire in this case.

Need to leave wheels on the old car, so I can get rid of it. hard to haul off a car on drums and rotor

Two beauty covers are good, two are smashed. I'll probably chuck them and paint the rims.

Bookworm

I'm assuming that's on a post-refresh Vibe? (09-10)

I know that on the 03-08, it's not that bad. With the quick struts, I was just quoted $50 a corner for replacement by my local shop.

Bookworm

The steels have a better condition set right now, but they show signs of alignment wear, which can be problematic.

Thanks - I've been running alloy/aftermarket for so long that I couldn't remember any real difference.

Bookworm

I'm looking at a choice - I can use steel wheels (already on the "new" car), or swap my alloy wheels over. Other than the ability for alloy to take shocks without bending (to a point) and steel to be straightened out, is there any real benefit one way or another? If I keep the steel wheels...

Bookworm

I do know that one of my customers kept pushing leasing to me as well, even with all the miles I put on it. There are apparently a number of accepted ways to trade in your leased vehicle and have the additional miles forgiven, if you immediately lease another vehicle. Personally, as I keep telling h...

Bookworm

Is it possible to do the spring compression and strut swap without taking the mount out of the car?

Bookworm

I got my booster shot on Tuesday. Arm still hurts. Yesterday was a NASTY MF. Had something like a fever that had me overheating everything. It went away about 4 AM. (64 degrees in the house, and feeling overheated with one cat, one sheet, one blanket) Caretaker - you probably had the flu, originally...

Bookworm

The front seat is even still solid! No lardasses :) You crack me up !!! :lol: Love it !!! ;) Breate in ... Breathe out. You gotta be feeling pretty good by now. Thanks for sharing your thoughts AND most important, for the sake of this forum, THANKS for getting involved here at GenVibe. :D Oh, I've ...

Bookworm

Nice work, and to think NO garage or shelter to protect you or the parts! I can REALLY relate to that ..... 40 years ago :lol: An old pic of me & a buddy swapping out an inline 6 for a small block chevy in my older Camaro. I miss the car BUT really want some of that hair back :lol: LOL, I am fe...

Bookworm

The place I've bought cats in the past is listed in one of these threads. If you search for my name, plus 'catalytic converters', you'll find it. I had excellent service from them, and the aftermarket cat wasn't cheap, but it was nowhere near dealership prices. That one lasted in my 03 vibe about 12...

Bookworm

Wow. 2002. That was a brand spanking new one, must have been very different from what the cops were used to chasing.

Bookworm

Are you talking about the front to back rails, or the side to side bars? If you have the rails, then you can get crossbars pretty cheaply, aftermarket. I picked up a set from Harbor Freight that whistled, but did the job for the few uses I've had in the last couple of years. If you need the _rails_,...

Bookworm

As someone who's spent the better part of two years car hunting, I want to say a few things. 1) I wish I'd read @KingKrab65's post; I'd have offered to take his Vibe off of his hands :) 2) The new car AND the used car markets are crap. 3) If it weren't for the sites like autotempest, carsforsale.com...

Bookworm

Resurrecting an old thread, just to mention something cute. Not that long ago (three weeks?), California had to ask people to not charge their electric cars because of the stress on their grid. What do they think the stress on the grid will be with everyone in California running electric vehicles? A...

Bookworm

I'll throw in a few anecdotes and some suggestions. 1) I agree with most of the comments above. At the least, with the miles you have, you should have changed the spark plugs at least three times. 2) Intake manifold leaks. With the engine at idle, spray carb cleaner as best you can around the intake...

Bookworm

I have a matrix radio bezel with the clock, thought it would be a unique tweak to my 03 when I had one, but its different enough to not be practical. If your clock is actually broken, I can send you the one I have. Or if anyone else wants to mess around with that bezel. The radio opening is slightl...

Bookworm

I can guarantee it can make the trip to Toledo.

I believe that one of the few parts that wasn't shared between the Vibe and Matrix was the a/c system. Somewhat better compressor, and no click, click, click, click, click.... Another is the radio head unit.

Bookworm

As a late follow up. On my 03, back in about 2006, I replaced the spark plugs. I used platinum. Mileage and performance dropped. I then pulled those out, and put in the NGK Iridium. Everything improved again. So, I think the 1ZZFE engines are very picky, and I'll stick with the NGK Iridium, even wit...

Bookworm

Well, I'm committed. My damaged 07 Vibe is still my daily driver, but not for much longer. Today I finished signing paperwork and driving home a 2007 Toyota Matrix. It's not the highest end version, while it has automatic windows and locks, it does not have automatic mirrors, and has steel wheels in...

Bookworm

Not helpful, but my 07 Vibe has that same feature.

I think it's like the "Lock the doors when you start the car" and "Unlock the doors when you shut off the car" garbage.

Bookworm

In Cypress, TX, just outside of Houston (NW), the current price is around $2.799

(I HATE that the FTC lets them sell in tenth-pennies. There's never been one minted in the history of the country)

Bookworm

I found that you can put two twin, extra long box "spring" boxes into the Vibe and drive home, if you have short legs, like I do. A queen sized mattress also fits if it's rolled. I also regularly carry a 6 foot stepladder, with the rear window shut. (pull rear seat headrest, hook ladder ov...

Bookworm

That's a 'pull the engine' repair, NEGATIVE ....... it can be done with engine in the car BUT it's a bit more difficult, and will take an experienced mechanic a full day to do it. My 2004 Vibe GT was leaking pretty good and kept placing cardboard under the cart wherever I parked it so it didn't sta...

Bookworm

For me, there's been a long haul of time with a lot of different issues, so I haven't really been here. I also don't get email notifications, so not sure if those even work. One of the big failures of Facebook is that you can't really archive data, and then search it. The average forum lets you sear...

Bookworm

This is an older thread, but I want to toss in my tuppenny-bit. I have a 2007 Vibe, with 209k on the engine, but with a leak in the timing chain cover seal. That's a 'pull the engine' repair, which means if you're going to do that, might as well have it rebuilt/refurbished, and replace all the seals...

Bookworm

Sorry about not responding (for anyone reading at this point, a year and change later) Basically, they sell radiator flush kits at the parts store. You pull loose the top radiator hose at the radiator, and open the cap. Attach the flush kit 'tee' or reducer to the hose, and attach another piece of h...

Bookworm

My current 2007 Vibe, about to be retired because it's not worth rebuilding the engine with the body damage, is still running strong at 209,751 miles. As best as I can determine, at the back, bottom of the engine, the timing chain seal started leaking after I tried synthetic oil in it. Currently run...

Bookworm

I have a 2007 Vibe with 209k on it Engine needs to be pulled and timing chain seal redone. As the body is damaged beyond repair (but drives fine), I just got a 2007 Toyota Matrix. However, it's a base model-ish. That means, if possible, I want to move my mirror controls, subwoofer/tweeters, and dash...

Bookworm

Ouch. :o Yeah an estimate will almost surely total it. Frame damage (even though these cars are frameless) is very likely and difficult to correct. Is this guy willing to shell out $4k+ just to keep his driving record clean? If so then that will likely be the case. Curious what estimates come back ...

Bookworm

It doesn't look too bad until you see the door tweaked in the frame and not shutting properly. That would disturb me, and indicate it was a fairly disruptive hit. I would be searching for a replacement car rather than repair that one, because I don't like repaired major body damage. It will always ...

Bookworm

Here's an interesting article, from the Jerusalem Post. Israeli Nobel Laureate: Coronavirus spread is slowing - The Jerusalem Post https://www.jpost.com/HEALTH-SCIENCE/Israeli-nobel-laureate-Coronavirus-spread-is-slowing-621145 I will point out that no matter what the end result may be, this particu...

Bookworm

I think the alternator pulley last is because on most _older_ vehicles, you used the alternator to do the tensioning - so you had a pivot bolt and a lock bolt. (whatever they called it) So it just stuck. --- Well, I had lots of damage done to my car today. After I just did some maintenance, AND the ...

Bookworm

Was in the right hand (non-turn) lane, and a tractor in the center realized they needed to make a right turn - and started shoving my car sideways by the front fender. Both of us would rather NOT get insurance involved - me because it's a pain in the (removed), and them because it looks bad. Frankly...

Bookworm

Mark wrote: ↑Sat Mar 14, 2020 8:34 am Just the outlet and harness would work, you'd just have to drill the right size hole in the console to hold it.

Depending on the year, y ou don't have to drill a hole.

My console had a cap over the hole. I yanked the power outlet from my 03 and just put it straight into my 07.

Bookworm

Sure. You're right. Why don't you call him and tell him how full of crap he is, and maybe they'll put you in charge. What the hell does he know anyway? https://www.niaid.nih.gov/about/anthony-s-fauci-md-bio As I pointed out, from their actual _site_, their _own statistics_ say that he's a liar. I d...

Bookworm

You mean they don't want to do the work, so they're quoting high? Not sure what you are saying. precisely. Thing is, the guy spent at least 10 minutes on the computer whipping up a list of things he felt was necessary to do, prioritizing, and included the prices. I don't think he would do that if h...

Bookworm

Man, I always thought my car was too close to the ground as it was.

Bookworm

The book for a first gen vibe calls for an hour on spark plugs. Second gen won't be much different, so $450 is overkill. That could just be their "I don't wanna do this quote." Same thing with adding in an alignment on rear struts, especially since you can't align the rear end. So, I shou...

Bookworm

Well thanks for the feedback. I'm getting a bit suspect about this one particular auto shop. Every time I get an estimate there they include work that is not necessary, misquote from the service manual such as "your way overdue for spark plug service" (when it's not due for another 10k mi...

Bookworm

The quotes I heard from Trump was that it's no worse than the flu - which is pretty much correct. Except that it's not even remotely correct. Dr Anthony Fauci today in congressional testimony: “I mean, people always say, well, the flu does this, the flu does that,” Fauci said. “The flu has a mortal...

Bookworm

Wyoming is reporting zero confirmed cases at this time, but I think that's mostly because there's no testing taking place. Colorado went from it's first case on March 5 to 15 and counting today, so hard to believe we don't have any here yet. Meanwhile Baghdad Bob, aka DC Donnie, says it's all just ...

Bookworm

Okay - after driving it all day, I had my wife come out. Immediately after starting engine, voltage was 13.56. After running RPM up to 3000 or so, voltage was at 13.71. This is with a fully charged new battery. I'm going to assume that the alternator may be fine, but I'll drive it a few more days be...

Bookworm

I'm not understanding what you're asking. Fuses, by definition, are not polarized. When the current passing through them - either way - exceeds their value, they vaporize. (blow) Diodes are polarized, but they're only used for power flow to provide one way current, such as in a full bridge rectifier...

Bookworm

The starter was definitely a problem. I'm going to get my wife to help me test the voltage at high RPM. The 500 RPM voltage is either the same or lower than the battery voltage, and I didn't think they were supposed to do that. If the car was idling, it should have 13 volts or so. Once the learning ...

Bookworm

Replaced battery, starter, and electric radiator fan assembly.

Cleaned and painted battery terminals.

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