GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

Chiadog

Very sharp. Nice work!

Chiadog

Welcome to the group 396! The Vibe sounds perfect for your needs. Very nice work on the mounting bracket for your Garmin. Must be very handy to have access to a 3D printer! If I make such a bracket - it will be made of wood,

Chiadog

Shouldn't be too hard to find the problem. Sounds like a sloppy CV joint, loose axle to wheel connection or worn motor mounts. Get an accomplice, er helper, and have them (SAFELY) watch the engine, and axle shaft to wheel connection (one at a time) as you shift the car AT IDLE from neutral to drive ...

Chiadog

Hey Meshami, Welcome to the group. Sounds like you got an incredible deal. You're going to love the Vibe it's great for hauling a bunch of stuff!

Chiadog

Fresh plugs wouldn't hurt, but if it is missing I think it would throw a code? Check the serpentine belt and tensioner. With a cold engine you can run the car for a minute with the serpentine belt removed to see if the "misfire" disappears. Next try cleaning the mass air flow sensor, I thi...

Chiadog

You did vacuum out the plemum, or try to reach to the fan to see it is clear of debris? Mostly I wanted to use the word plenum!

Chiadog

Sounds like you may simply have something stuck in the fan, a leaf for instance. Time to check the filter? My brother had so much crap on his filter it had collapsed under the suction of the fan. On a Gen1, pulling the fan is a lot easier than a brake job. 2009 Owners manual PDF, see section 7-4. ht...

Chiadog

Not certain about second-Gen, but the fan quit on my 2005 because of hung up brushes. Removing the motor and pulling it apart was straight forward. A drop of oil should cure the squeak for a period of time. The fan is located behind the glove box on Gen1's. Maybe a gen2 owner will confirm this?

Chiadog

...well its a large size bottle that's almost full and should be enough to do the brakes....I don't see it being any different than the master cylinder screw on lid? Actually, the master cylinder is vented! And only one way. Stuff goes out, not in. Oh Lanny, I hate to disagree but the brake reservo...

Chiadog

Well its fixed.. Put my third belt tensioner on but this time an original equipment one. Vibration is now gone. I guess I would have never thought that the ebay ones I bought wouldn't work. Live and learn. Thanks for all the help!!! That makes two of us! Can you see any difference between the two t...

Chiadog

Congratulations, and best wishes to your daughter in her new career! I have a great deal of respect for those service Men and Women who protect our country. Haze grey and underway, Oorah!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDzvjJQNEVg

Chiadog

dnoishere wrote:...well its a large size bottle that's almost full and should be enough to do the brakes....I don't see it being any different than the master cylinder screw on lid?

Actually, the master cylinder is vented!

Chiadog

FROSTYYYY...... Sorry, Glad to hear your daughter is fine. Don't beat yourself up, dropping full coverage with a 17y/o boy would have been stupid! Just a guess, but I think rear impact with a dirt berm should be repairable. good luck!

Chiadog

I believe brake fluid goes bad because it absorbs water. If the container was sealed, it should be fine to use. I would use it. I've never had a brake system failure from moisture in the fluid.

Chiadog

check this thread: viewtopic.php?f=12&t=43319&hilit=+steering

Chiadog

zmonster97 wrote:Hey everyone,
Just joined and wanted to post my vibe here.
I have a 2003 base vibe (shadow). I got it back in February all stock with 46,000 miles!

Welcome to the group zmonster! Congrats on the super low mileage Vibe. Let's see ... 4,000 miles per year, WOW! Nice find.

Chiadog

I'm sticking with motor mounts and/or exhaust system. For me, it's not a problem until it does it without brake-torquing it. I'd still look closely at the pulleys.

Chiadog

Yeah, sounds like it could be a motor mount/misalignment problem Possible accident damage, if it was doing it when you bought it. still I'd closely recheck all pulleys and put on a new serpentine belt. Also recheck all motor mounts for frame-on- engine contact. look at the exhaust system also. Are y...

Chiadog

Not sure this applies to the Vibe, but the heater setting should be on "hot" when draining coolant to help get it all out of the block. Also, when doing a drain/refill for the first time on a car I haven't done before I always measure what comes out and compare that to what goes back in! A...

Chiadog

I would do a thorough drain/refill twice with pure distilled water, then drain/refill with your choice of antifreeze. Always use distilled water when mixing with antifreeze! Toyota antifreeze can be bought at CarQuest Auto parts, They also carry many OEM fluids - ATF, etc. Good Luck! http://www.carq...

Chiadog

How long have you owned the car? Did the vibration start after the motor mount replacement? What is the frequency of the vibration, is it a buzz or is it a wobble or shake in the steering wheel? Doesn't sound like a tensioner to me.

Chiadog

Thanks for the info, Bama! Quiet is good, especially on a Vibe. Please update this thread to let us know if you still love them at 10K, 20k, etc.

Chiadog

A good possibility is that the rotor shown has a brake disk "tattoo" on it from a panic stop to zero mph (or locking the brakes - as in anti-lock) on a fresh brake job! It will ruin the rotors every time! New brakes need to be broken-in properly. See this easy explanation: http://www.ehow....

Chiadog

...yes I could return it but would have to re-order another and pay for the return shipping. You should NEVER have to pay return shipping on a bad part! Where did you get them from? Call them and tell them you really hate to have to tell the Worlds Largest vibe Site how Crappy their customer servic...

Chiadog

Welcome to the group cwl! Very clean looking Vibe you got there, congratulations. I also went from a Saturn to a (2005) Vibe,lol, Wise Move!

Chiadog

I replaced a starter on a Chevy V-8 years ago. The new starter came with instructions and a gauge to shim it. I haven't had to replace a Vibe starter yet, but I assumed the tolerances are such that shimming is not necessary. I would loosen the starter and try to change it's position a little or pull...

Chiadog

...so I have a front end suspension issue...I think...no clunking noises...more of a "hovering helicopter" sound. ...just had tires balanced but they have around 40000 miles on them .....So any ideas on what I can check out myself? 2007 Vibe base front wheel drive. 91000 miles give er tak...

Chiadog

Thanks for the information. This could be very helpful for members down the road! Glad it turned out OK.

Chiadog

...okay some good things to check on. The brakes do 'chirp' when 1st applied. Pads looked good but there is some rust inside the caliper piston? And those plastic panels underneath are missing some of those fasteners so I'll tighten that up and see if it makes a difference... Rust inside the calipe...

Chiadog

Many junk yards replace engines with low mileage used engines for very reasonable prices. With only 122K on the car, it is worth the cost of a used engine. My last used engine cost $1400.00 installed. That was 5ish years ago, the car still runs fine. Good Luck!

Chiadog

Probably not a broken rod! That would likely stop the engine in a hurry. And unless the engine was over-revved, a rod knock usually starts quietly and becomes more noisy over a period of time. Try not to drive the car until you find someone knowledgeable in auto mechanics. Ask friends and family if ...

Chiadog

Thank you for your input guys. ....I will focus on the mechanics again, I used the torque converter that came with the donor transmission, it look cleaned, no debris and no dirty fluid inside, but neither the old torque converter seemed dirty..... Thank you again, I'm not giving up on this Vibe yet...

Chiadog

WOW, What a puzzle! Have you looked underneath to ensure neither axle is is spinning in its hub? Have you checked for proper shifter movement at the transmission? Long-shots, I know. The fact that it moves in PARK eliminates the torque converter/flywheel and leaves only a failure AFTER the transmiss...

Chiadog

I've never done it, but it sounds like you are correct: "15. Remove the base wire from the OEM shift boot and insert it into the RedlineGoods shift boot. Orientation is key here because one of the three panels is a little smaller than the others." http://www.redlinegoods.com/Vibe0305instal...

Chiadog

Not sure, but this may help. I'm running 2000 (I think) 15" Chrysler Cirrus steelies on my 2005 base Vibe. The Chrysler center hole is larger than the 05 base Vibe, so hub centric rings should be used. 56.1mm - 54.1mm, I think. I haven't put the rings on mine yet, seems to drive fine without th...

Chiadog

The Vibe is the best truck I've ever owned! [URL=http://s1267.photobucket.com/user/ccindyz/media/Open%20to%20ALL%20PUBLIC/GEN%20VIBE%20do%20not%20delete/IMG_2112_zps66476d11.jpg.html][img]http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj555/ccindyz/Open%20to%20ALL%20PUBLIC/GEN%20VIBE%20do%20not%20delete/IMG_21...

Chiadog

From what I see on my 05 Base wiring diagram, there are two relays for the engine cooling/AC fan (fan 1 and fan 2). It may be possible that the fan motor is running, but the fan itself is loose on the shaft of the motor.

Chiadog

Sticking a couple hundred into your engine to check/adjust the valves sounds reasonable if other Vibe owners have done this and found a benefit or necessity. I would never go any farther on a 245K engine. I'd save my money for a low cost used engine when that becomes necessary. I've seen low-mileage...

Chiadog

Very helpful information! Thanks Fixit

Chiadog

She decided on a '14 Elantra GT. Think we got a good deal: $1,500 cash back plus $500 military cash (I'm a veteran) plus $500 competitive car cash (since I own a non-Hyundai vehicle). Add in the almost $8000 from insurance and we ended up financing a little over $11k. We pick it up tomorrow. Awesom...

Chiadog

Small parts like these can usually be found at a junkyard! If you have a self pick-n-pull yard nearby, you get to practice on their car.

Chiadog

Right On Jake! Your advice was valid ten years ago, and even more so today. Since Cash-for-Clunkers, used car prices have been totally out of whack! Besides, there are just too many ways to get screwed on a late model used car.

Chiadog

DeClercq wrote: I wouldn't mind looking at a CX-5, but the closest Mazda dealer is over an hour away.

I think you should make the drive. Looks like you can get a very nice CX-5 for about 25K !

Chiadog

You nailed it Colonel!
As for the Ypsilon, No thanks! I don't care for the looks of that Chrysler "shield" on anything.

Chiadog

Ughhhh !!! I know they are Italian owned BUT try to make the subcompact car look a little more American. Long live our Vibes :D What is the Italian word for "Nemo"? Actually, this thing is growing on me. http://blog.caranddriver.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Dodge-B-segment-rendering-626...

Chiadog

Prius "C" wins for being "Un-Prius"!
http://www.automotive.com/features/car- ... esert-sun/

Chiadog

Just guessing, but could you have drained a quart out of the oil cooler also? Additionally, from memory, Total system volume is 9 quarts, but I needed 10 quarts to fully replace my (05 base) transmission fluid. The book may simply be wrong about the 3.2 quart sump volume, I didn't measure mine when ...

Chiadog

i had the 131s. gotta say it was a blast to drive. started to rustaway as soon as it left the showroom, but it wasn't as ugly/boxy looking as the 128. i can't remember the hp, but the double overhead cam sounded cool I had a Fiat 128SL. 2X on that awesome Fiat engine! Not only sounded great, but pu...

Chiadog

jcwit wrote: Just at 100 grand, but it looks brand new, and engine compartment looks the same, engine runs super.

Just broken in????????????

ABSOLUTELY!!!!!
Synthetic engine oil and transmission fluid might be a good idea.

Chiadog

Posting Pics? Gonna have to get the grandkids to instruct me how. One of the bad things about being old and out of touch with all this new fangled stuff. Course I guess I could hang them on my wall like the old lady in the commercials. THAT'S NOT HOW IT WORKS! :lol: Welcome to the group! How many m...

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