HELP!! 06 Pontiac Vibe Base won't go past 4500 RPM in drive

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JPugh
Posts: 5
Joined: Thu Oct 05, 2017 4:33 pm

HELP!! 06 Pontiac Vibe Base won't go past 4500 RPM in drive

Post by JPugh »

Car will go all the way to redline in neutral and park, but in drive it shifts early. I have had electrical problems recently and I am getting a speed sensor code on my OBDII reader, which explains why my speedometer is not working but I'm not sure if that relates to the early shifting. I know that the car shifts early when the engine is cold but I waited till the car was at operating temperature and it still shifts early.
ehoff121
Posts: 756
Joined: Mon Feb 26, 2007 12:19 am
Location: Conn.

Re: HELP!! 06 Pontiac Vibe Base won't go past 4500 RPM in drive

Post by ehoff121 »

Welcome to genvibe!

Why do you think your base vibe with an Automatic transmission is shifting early at 4,500 rpm. That's pretty high actually.

Maybe you're used to manual shifting, but you shouldn't be getting the tachometer to the red line. Ever.

Have a look at this related post for a 2010 base (numbers should be pretty close): viewtopic.php?f=12&t=31131

Little known fact: the owner's manual says when you're getting on a highway to press the pedal only half way to the floor. If you're flooring it, you're doing it wrong :lol:
2005 Pontiac Vibe AWD - Platinum
JPugh
Posts: 5
Joined: Thu Oct 05, 2017 4:33 pm

Re: HELP!! 06 Pontiac Vibe Base won't go past 4500 RPM in drive

Post by JPugh »

Thank you for the welcome haha

I know that 4,500 rpm doesn't seem early but even when I'm flooring it it still won't go past that. This also has only happened recently along with some electrical problems.
ehoff121
Posts: 756
Joined: Mon Feb 26, 2007 12:19 am
Location: Conn.

Re: HELP!! 06 Pontiac Vibe Base won't go past 4500 RPM in drive

Post by ehoff121 »

On my way home from the mall tonight, I punched it at the on ramp (half pedal ;) ) and it shifted around 4,750-4,800. Hard to get an exact reading at 60 miles an hour in the dark :)

In overdrive, at 3,000 I'd be cruising at 70 so I usually won't be going any higher/faster than 4,500...

But I have an AWD with a different transmission, so unless you were observing shifting at higher RPM before the electrical problem, it doesn't seem like an issue.

What is the code you were getting? Are you still getting it? Post it here and you might get others to help...

Also, flooring it burns a lot of fuel- fun, but expensive.
2005 Pontiac Vibe AWD - Platinum
jolt
Posts: 945
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2014 2:07 am
Location: Twin Cities, Minnesota

Re: HELP!! 06 Pontiac Vibe Base won't go past 4500 RPM in drive

Post by jolt »

What is the code you got from it? Is it a "P'' code or a "C" code? Is the code related to the transmission convertor slippage? When was the last time you changed the transmission fluid and filter?
JPugh
Posts: 5
Joined: Thu Oct 05, 2017 4:33 pm

Re: HELP!! 06 Pontiac Vibe Base won't go past 4500 RPM in drive

Post by JPugh »

The code is P0500

I've had the car since November last year and I'm not sure when the last time the transmission fluid and filter were maintenanced.

I'm beginning to think that the speed sensor is the problem.
andrewclaus
Posts: 482
Joined: Tue Oct 03, 2017 6:38 pm
Location: Golden, CO

Re: HELP!! 06 Pontiac Vibe Base won't go past 4500 RPM in drive

Post by andrewclaus »

The speed sensor is an expensive part, but replacing it should solve your problem. It does more than run the speedometer. The car's computer uses it to calculate other engine inputs, and to control shifting as well. One of the listed symptoms is bad shifting. It sounds like it's a common failure, as well.
jolt
Posts: 945
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2014 2:07 am
Location: Twin Cities, Minnesota

Re: HELP!! 06 Pontiac Vibe Base won't go past 4500 RPM in drive

Post by jolt »

JPugh
Posts: 5
Joined: Thu Oct 05, 2017 4:33 pm

Re: HELP!! 06 Pontiac Vibe Base won't go past 4500 RPM in drive

Post by JPugh »

Could it be a bad instrument panel?
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