GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

beemerphile1

That's a great story thanks for the laugh.

The Hayden 676 is a great cooler but you may want to rethink the price. Amazon will ship a new one for $40.47.

beemerphile1

You are correct that only a class I hitch is available for your car. The 2009-2010 has a class II hitch available but you need a class III. Using an adapter reduces capacity even further due to the longer lever action. If you try this I guarantee you the hitch will bend. Its not just about the weigh...

beemerphile1

Start by going to your local auto parts store and get a free battery load test.

beemerphile1

Have a transmission shop hook it to the machine and do a real flush and fill rather than a drain and fill.

beemerphile1

If you do a search, you will find some threads on here where owners have purchased and installed the control/stalk. Everything needed is there, it is plug and play.

beemerphile1

Not a 2003 but a 2009 with 1.8L. My factory tow rating in North America is 1,500 pounds. In the UK our Vibe has a tow rating of 2,200 pounds if the trailer has brakes and something like 1,300 without brakes. Not sure of the exact rating without brakes. I have towed with my Vibe for over 16,000 miles...

beemerphile1

We are talking about a compact car with approximately 6" of ground clearance and short travel suspension. It will never ride as smooth as a mid-size sedan with more ground clearance and longer suspension travel. On the other hand it will handle twists and turns better.

beemerphile1

I wish there were air bags, helper springs or something available for our cars but there isn't. I have considered adding spring spacers which reduce the amount of spring available for compression.

I installed a stacked plate oil cooler for the transmission. I wouldn't tow without one.

beemerphile1

I think you will have to start over and be more clear in what you are asking.

What are dampers? Brakes maybe?

beemerphile1

Mine has a pocket like that in front of each rear tire. Has always concerned me as a bad design, I expect it to rust out in that area first.

beemerphile1

I pull a utility trailer and a small pop up. With my motorcycle on the utility trailer there is around 1,000 pounds with a tongue weight of 130 pounds. The popup weighs just under 2,000 pounds fully loaded and has a tongue weight of 250 pounds. I have towed with the Vibe for well over 10,000 miles.

beemerphile1

I wouldn't mind tweaking mine a little but nothing is available. I usually do some personalization mods to every vehicle.

beemerphile1

...My mechanic mentioned something about ethanol being more harmful to engines and seals over a long period of time, is he right? Yes, he is right. Unfortunately things will be getting worse. What has been forced on the public so far is 10% ethanol (E10). It was recently agreed to start forcing E15...

beemerphile1

Vulcan05 wrote:The higher the octane the SLOWER it burns. Any power gain is strictly imaginary.

Absolutely, the only damage is to the wallet because they paid more than necessary. Any improvements are imagined.

beemerphile1

You can buy small cargo trailers at Tractor Supply or cargo trailer dealers. You can get cheap DIY bolt together cargo trailers at Harbor Freight and Northern Tool. My bolt together Harbor Freight trailer is almost 20 years old. It has rolled 40,000 to 50,000 miles. It is on its second set of spring...

beemerphile1

Somewhat related; I find it helpful if the first member to find spam and notify the mods posts a note like "mod notified". Lets all the subsequent members know that it is already reported. It is what I do.

beemerphile1

...Since the filtering efficiency is demonstrably (96-99% vs 99%+) worse and I got no other gains I decided to go back to paper. Who knows, the filtering may come down to particles so small they don't even matter but I figure better safe than sorry. I'm glad that we all have the option to do as we ...

beemerphile1

I honestly didn't know there was a speed limiter. It is highly unlikely I would ever discover it for myself. Can't help you on modifying the device.

I won't make any judgements on your desire to remove the limiter but, please keep your high speed work on the track and not the streets we share.

beemerphile1

I've seen this on vehicles that have had poor maintenance. When he pushed the pistons back it forced dirt and crud in the contaminated fluid back into the lines. The lines could be partly plugged which will only allow the pressure to bleed off slowly. This is caused by not flushing the brake fluid a...

beemerphile1

Bigger numbers of CCA is a good thing.

When replacing a battery always remove the negative cable first and put it on last. Be cautious not to short the battery across both terminals at any time.

beemerphile1

I only took the car to a parking lot for the picture. When towng I use a CIPA 11950 Clip-On towing mirror on each side. I installed the transmission cooler myself but any transmission shop can do it for a reasonable cost. You will need the smallest size brakes for the trailer. I think that is 7"...

beemerphile1

I saw your PM and answered before I saw this thread.

beemerphile1

Welcome; Order a set of the GM factory mud flaps. They fit great and blend into the body but keep crud off of the car. Get a set of winter floor mats. There are several brands and they have all been discussed on here previously. The factory headlights on the second generation are great and don't nee...

beemerphile1

Thanks for the help guys but are there any good headers, air intakes and exhaust systems? if so, where can i get them. I just don't really know anything about cars I would suggest that if you don't know anything about cars - leave it alone and do nothing. Buy some chrome for it and call it good. Mo...

beemerphile1

Loose lugnuts? I don't know, hard to even make an intelligent guess without a better description.

beemerphile1

Good looking car, good luck to you.

Tow package? Never heard of a tow package on a Vibe.

beemerphile1

I've read that the Matrix racks fit fine and I see them on eBay all the time.

beemerphile1

Sounds like you need to diagnose and fix, not hide.

beemerphile1

It isn't unusual to smell a mold/mildew odor when turning on the ac. Never have smelled any burning/hot smell.

beemerphile1

You could disconnect the battery.

You could use a code reader to scan and erase codes.

You could just drive the car as normal and the code is likely to clear itself after several off-on cycles.

beemerphile1

You gave the car away with no conditions. You have no claim to the car and no reason to feel slighted in the least.

Not wanting to insult any Native Americans, but have you heard the term, "Indian giver"?

beemerphile1

When I got tires last fall the Firestone store said they don't recommend changing by more than one rating. That T rated tire is a 2 rating change. He also said that the warranty would be void if a customer insisted on going beyond one rating difference.

beemerphile1

You could disconnect the power wire at the receptacle and run a new (fused) power wire to it. I chose to keep the stock receptacle switched as it was. I did add 3 always on receptacles and a USB power port. I installed them in the slot below the radio. I keep a rechargeable trouble light plugged int...

beemerphile1

We got our letters in the mail yesterday saying that a fix for the master power window switch issue is now available... Got ours on Friday also. Hate to go through the bother of getting it done but it is a potential safety issue. Of course I know that the dealer will insist on mutilating the gas pe...

beemerphile1

This is reported n/c as part of LOF at dealer...My point - I think these multi-point inspections are pretty much useless... Not useless if you consider the purpose of the free inspections. They are a sales tool and are used to generate business for the dealer. They are promoted as a service for the...

beemerphile1

ColonelPanic wrote: ...The most important question, did your fuel economy go up with these...

I have no idea. I don't watch the fuel consumption closely and it always sucks in the winter. I use a remote start to warm the car and the mileage is zero when sitting in my garage warming.

beemerphile1

I bought four of the Bridgestone Ecopia EP422 last fall. I have put 3,000+ miles on them. Nearly 2,000 of those miles were towing a small trailer. First off, be aware that there are two different load ratings on these tires. Since I tow regularly I made sure to get the higher rating. The positive; T...

beemerphile1

I wish I had an answer but I don't. That shifter sticking up in the way has always been an annoyance for me also. I really don't understand why modern automatics even have a shifter. Back in the sixties some cars had push button electric shift, you would think they had perfected it by now. That leve...

beemerphile1

Another option is to replace the bumper cover every year or two like me. In 2010, some moron cut his turn too tight and hit my front end while I waited for a traffic light! Two days before Christmas last year (2012) one of Santa's reindeer jumped in front of me and broke the plastic front end! Thank...

beemerphile1

If you can see the damage, you should be able to wrap electrical tape around it to get past the emissions test. You'll need a code reader to reset the engine light. If you are you REALLY afraid of the Junk Yard, don't go in the dark! :lol: I would suggest silicone rescue tape if you go that route. ...

beemerphile1

...he told me I had to connect a wire to my battery because if I didn't it would cause a drain on my cars system and mess up the car's computer. I didn't see that step in your demo. A friend told me if I connect a wire to the battery I will have problems with it draining my battery and will be jump...

beemerphile1

Don't waste your time, it looks to me like the paint is chipped.

beemerphile1

I have never had any luck on keys from big box stores, they usually never work even if they have the blank.

Go to a local hardware store or locksmith.

beemerphile1

I never heard of it so I had to take a look. You apply for free. If you are accepted and I somehow think everyone is, you pay $140 and might get some free stuff. Sounds like a great deal - for them. Not for me, good luck. I hope it works out well for you. I see a lot of true sponsored cars since I l...

beemerphile1

I have been very happy with my Vibe. My only regret is not having the AWD. I have enjoyed watching for years as used Vibes sell for more than I paid new. I don't remember exactly but mine was a little under $11,000 out the door including tax and everything. I traded a gas hog 1996 Mercury Grand Marq...

beemerphile1

Takes you a while to make a commitment? Three years and you've only gone as far as putting tape over the chrome.

I like it the way the factory built it.

beemerphile1

Hard to know what has happened but often the problem is the lifter has collapsed. Logic would be that thicker oil is the wrong way to go, thinner lubricant would be more likely to pump the lifter back up if anything would help.

beemerphile1

My temperature control isn't loose but the heat/defrost control is loose. The knob can push in at the top but is connected at the bottom. I took the trim piece off and there isn't any attachment at the top. It is only connected at the bottom. I didn't put a lot of effort into figuring it out because...

beemerphile1

I did that to an older car using a kit that I purchased for $20. The kit included a sealer that you applied after polishing. They came out fantastic.

beemerphile1

If it is a lifter just drive. Back in my hoopde days I had engines that the lifters tapped for many years and they were still going when I got rid of them.

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