I just posted my intro in another thread - we just bought our daughter a Vibe, and for the foreseeable future, I will be the principal mechanic (until my daughter can afford to pay a real one).
I have a couple questions about this car based on my initial prep of the Vibe before giving it to our daughter (2009 2.4 FWD, 83,000 miles with Sun & Sound package, 18" wheels)
1. The center console doesn't open all the way (only about 45º) . Is that normal? Also the lid wobbles a lot, but the two screws will require a right-angle driver (which I don't possess right now). is there a better way to disassemble this console and tighten everything up?
2. When I originally test drove the car, everything mechanical looked perfect, but it shuddered badly at idle when in D and warmed up. I was worried about motor mounts, and so I brought the seller down $500 on the price for this. When I got it home, I pulled apart the throttle body and scrubbed it out and used some MAF spray to clean the MAF. Upon reassembly, she *seems* to run fine now. Is this a common issue and should I be confident that I addressed the problem? (the TB didn't seem overly dirty or varnished, but there was a slight ring behind the butterfly).
3. The exterior weatherstripping is nearly absent around the front windows. Is this relatively easy to find and replace? What is the best source?
4. The car has a sunroof. Other than lubricating the tracks, is there anything else I should worry about before winter comes? I don't see any signs of leakage in the interior, so I believe for now it is good, but this car spent its entire life outdoors parked under oak trees, so the rubber isn't in the best shape.
Any other advice for a new Vibe mechanic would be most welcome!