What did you do to your Vibe today?

KITT222 · Post by **KITT222** » Wed May 29, 2013 7:08 pm

I drove. I didn't have a place to go, I just drove. And it was the best decision I made all day.

tpollauf · Post by **tpollauf** » Wed May 29, 2013 8:49 pm

Been pretty busy lately and forgot to post on the 28th that my Vibe's FOURTH anniversary was that date

Hard to believe I've had it four years now. It is well preserved at just over 16000 miles and looking forward to it's next road trip .... Pontiac, Ill

Oh I guess I'd better fill it up soon as the last fill up was back in Feb when I returned from my Florida trip

cptnsolo77 · Post by **cptnsolo77** » Thu May 30, 2013 7:34 am

For the recall, how much do they have to take apart ? I was thinking of taking the Vibe in but leary of someone ( other than me ) pulling my car apart....

thebarber · Post by **thebarber** » Thu May 30, 2013 2:23 pm

from what i understand, the module/harness they fix is located somewhere behind the hvac contols deep in the dash

its been a busy week...but im at my parents so i have someone to watch the kids while i get to work

got the car detailed yesterday as it was FILTHY inside

also got the recall done

today i made a trip to NF NY and picked up some cleaning items. most importantly the trim restorer from turlte wax....makes the cladding look new (however, with an ultra-clean car i really notice how many bangs, bumps, and scratches are on every square inch of the car, lol)

also got a vibrant 2.5" ultraquiet resonator installed. i kept the 17" resonator and the oem-style muffler (both 2.5" in/out), and had the UQ resonator installed just behind the passenger side rear suspension

the car is now OEM-quiet inside the car. i miss the gurgle/popping, but don't miss the buzz/rasp at 2800-3200rpm and the subsequent drone on the highway.

in retrospect, i should have done a UQ res in the first place. but my exhaust experience has been a fantastic learning experience

trb · Post by **trb** » Sun Jun 02, 2013 7:58 pm

I changed the oil this weekend on my GT after about 10,000 miles.

Yes, I know, but it was Mobil 1 with a Mobil 1 filter and the oil still looked pretty good. I intended to change it at about 8,000 miles, but just kept putting it off.

One thing I found out, DON'T try to add any oil if the engine is running! I put in about 4 quarts, started it and then tried to put in a bit more, and the valve train sprayed oil all over the engine and windshield! Doh, I felt like an idiot. So the car got a bath as a result of my dumb action!

thebarber · Post by **thebarber** » Mon Jun 03, 2013 8:44 am

i love being a stay-at-home parent...

pic from this morning

vibenvy · Post by **vibenvy** » Tue Jun 04, 2013 5:23 pm

This past Sunday, I spent about 8 hours doing a full exterior detail on my mom's Vibe in preperation for the meet in Pontiac next week.

smurray09 · Post by **smurray09** » Tue Jun 04, 2013 11:46 pm

I drove it around the neighborhood lol.. learning how to drive a stick shift

thebarber · Post by **thebarber** » Wed Jun 05, 2013 7:49 am

Spotted a Gen2 vibe with gen1 16's

vibenvy · Post by **vibenvy** » Thu Jun 06, 2013 4:45 pm

thebarber wrote:Spotted a Gen2 vibe with gen1 16's

Looks nice

!

cptnsolo77 · Post by **cptnsolo77** » Fri Jun 07, 2013 12:36 pm

Replaced my front wipers with Michelins. They originally call for 18 & 21, however I remember reading ( somewhere ) here that a 22" wiper will fit....well its does LOL. Any more coverage I can get is great, Florida storm rainy is here

Loving the fact that I have "upgraded" to a 12" rear wiper & 22" up front. 6.97 each at wally world. Cheaper than the Toyota dealer too ! Also bought a new plain jane window shade. I was using the one for my Civic but its a bit shorter & noticed last week where the dash isnt covered by the shade its fading a little. Florida sun is brutal here & gotta keep the Vibe looking good

thebarber · Post by **thebarber** » Sat Jun 08, 2013 4:22 pm

thebarber · Post by **thebarber** » Mon Jun 10, 2013 10:09 am

thebarber · Post by **thebarber** » Thu Jun 13, 2013 9:04 am

KITT222 · Post by **KITT222** » Fri Jun 14, 2013 1:26 pm

Okay barber... I laughed. Very nice. How did people react?

Rayven01 · Post by **Rayven01** » Fri Jun 14, 2013 7:02 pm

Washed and waxed for the meet. Which means I'm going to get swarmed by bugs and rained on all the way there I'm sure.

thebarber · Post by **thebarber** » Sat Jun 15, 2013 4:57 am

KITT222 wrote:Okay barber... I laughed. Very nice. How did people react?

Gotcha! LOL

That pic was taken at the Toyota nation meet in Mississauga, so they all thought it was funny....

I try to put something amusing on the hood for meets

Rayven01 · Post by **Rayven01** » Mon Jun 17, 2013 4:25 am

GT strut brace installed, courtesy of Carrie. Thanks again!

thebarber · Post by **thebarber** » Mon Jun 17, 2013 6:47 pm

vibenvy · Post by **vibenvy** » Wed Jun 19, 2013 4:43 pm

Rayven01 wrote:GT strut brace installed, courtesy of Carrie. Thanks again!

Looks great Shawn

! You're very welcome!

Doug14 · Post by **Doug14** » Thu Jun 20, 2013 3:41 am

Picked up The Barber's H-techs yesterday, cant wait to put them on!

thebarber · Post by **thebarber** » Thu Jun 20, 2013 4:43 am

Doug14 wrote:Picked up The Barber's H-techs yesterday, cant wait to put them on!

Was good to meet you

Something arrived from Japan...

vibenvy · Post by **vibenvy** » Fri Jun 21, 2013 6:08 pm

So, I filled my Vibe up with gas last Friday before heading down to Pontiac for the big meet. I drove from Sandwich to Pontiac (~65 miles one way), Pontiac to Starved Rock and back to Pontiac (~60 miles round trip), than my dad drove my Vibe from Pontiac back to Sandwich Saturday night, took our dogs for a ride Sunday morning (~30 miles) and I drove it to work (16 miles round trip) Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. I got gas yesterday and achieved my highest MPG ever... 34.005! I was very impressed with this number considering going to Pontiac on Friday, I had the rear seats folded down and had the whole rear seat area and cargo area loaded up with stuff. Some things were removed before the trip to and from Starved Rock, but there was still a lot of extra weight in the rear seat and cargo areas. The majority of driving was done with the cruise control set at 55 MPH. There were a couple miles on Interstate 55 where I had it at 65 MPH, but otherwise it was always at 55 MPH. My Vibe never ceases to amaze me

!

thebarber · Post by **thebarber** » Sat Jun 22, 2013 3:44 am

Good mileage...that's in a 2.4? 55 MPH is key. Driving thru Michigan last weekend the speed limit was 70 and everyone does 75...still managed 29mpg, though

vibenvy · Post by **vibenvy** » Sat Jun 22, 2013 4:04 pm

thebarber wrote:Good mileage...that's in a 2.4? 55 MPH is key. Driving thru Michigan last weekend the speed limit was 70 and everyone does 75...still managed 29mpg, though

Thanks! Yep, it's a 2.4L with the 5-speed auto. Getting that mileage was the best way to start my day off yesterday! I have no doubt that if I didn't have a ton of stuff in the back and I was driving 100% highway at 55 MPH, I could easily get upwards of 36+ MPG no problem. Things like this make me love my Vibe more and more everyday

!

tpollauf · Post by **tpollauf** » Sat Jun 22, 2013 5:42 pm

Awesome numbers Carrie

I think you actually beat my numbers for this trip, but ONLY because the wife was with me

She is so used to driving her G8GT that she just can't drive slow

I didn't calculate the numbers yet but the tank out there was around 34mpg. Me driving but with her nagging that everyone was passing us up, so I had to occasionally "step on it" to pacify her

However; the tank on the way back should be a disastrous 30 mpg if I'm lucky

Sue drove home and went 75-80 most of the way

Oh well, I'm at least glad that she accompanied me on this trip. She really had a blast as most of us did also

Rayven01 · Post by **Rayven01** » Sat Jun 22, 2013 8:09 pm

Awesome! I just beat you, Carrie, at 35.4mpg for the tank on the way and during the meet. I went 55 a majority of the time as well so the difference was probably the weight. On the way home I just wanted to get there quicker so I went 70 and only got 29.6.

vibenvy · Post by **vibenvy** » Wed Jun 26, 2013 5:25 pm

Tim, that's funny that Sue was the one wanting to drive faster and you were wanting to drive slower to achieve the best possible gas mileage. You'd think it'd be the other way around

! I'm glad she had a good time though. It was great meeting her and chatting with her as well! I love her love of her G8 (and I am jealous that she has a G8

!)!

Awesome to hear Shawn! I never really get to do all (or almost all) highway driving in the Vibe, so when I do, I really try to take advantage. I am very pleased and I know if I would have had less weight in the back, it would have been even better. Still, when you consider the EPA highway rating is 29 MPG, to beat that by 5 MPG is pretty d@mn good!

thebarber · Post by **thebarber** » Thu Jun 27, 2013 5:03 am

Filled up @ 30usmpg last tank...

cmpltvertigo · Post by **cmpltvertigo** » Thu Jun 27, 2013 11:59 am

Replaced my antenna. Was not as hard as I thought it would be. I just had to remove the rear ceiling tabs on the headliner and remove the side rear panel (pasenger side) - you dont have to take it all the way off just unclip the top and unbolt the seatbelt bracket. Much better reception now and I get to enjoy my talk shows on the AM station now.

cptnsolo77 · Post by **cptnsolo77** » Sat Jun 29, 2013 2:04 pm

Had some extra sound deadening left over from my doors. I decided to pull back the carpet on the passenger & drivers side floorboard & use it there. I was tring to figure out what to do with it for a while, then it hit me, that the floorboard would be the most effective place to put it. Now i have a nice rectangular piece on both sides. I dont know if it make much of a difference ( i hope it does ) but my next drive on the highway will tell. Anything to help with road noise

vibenvy · Post by **vibenvy** » Sat Jun 29, 2013 3:49 pm

Had the window switch recalls done on both Vibes this week. Everything went fine. As always, everyone was nice as could be at Bill Walsh GM in Ottawa, IL (which is why I drive ~30 miles one way instead of going to the dealer that is about 2 miles from my house

). I thought about test driving a Chevy Spark for the heck of it while I was there, but ended up deciding it would be better not to open up that can of worms

.

thebarber · Post by **thebarber** » Tue Jul 02, 2013 5:30 am

Did all for corners' rotors and pads Friday thanks to dnm (who ideally has taught a man to fish). Had a seized caliper on the front drivers side...so had to grab a "new" one from Napa

Running hawk HPS pads now. Good grip, but nothing seems to have the braking of my yaris...

DNM also got me a bunch of leftovers from his/tices XRS, so I now have a leather(ette?) cover for the center console

Roataed the tires while doing the brakes, too

MrHatchWagon · Post by **MrHatchWagon** » Tue Jul 02, 2013 7:55 am

thebarber wrote: Had a seized caliper on the front drivers side...

Just out of curiosity, how does one diagnose a seized caliper? I've got a weird rubbing/vibrating noise below 20km/h, it carries all the way up into the passenger's A-pillar, often when braking. My mechanic said my car is fine, but of course I couldn't replicate the noise when I had him in the car... He did however look at my brakes and conclude that my Driver's side caliper is a little loose, not enough to do any damage, just to be a bother sometimes.

MrHatchWagon · Post by **MrHatchWagon** » Tue Jul 02, 2013 7:55 am

MrHatchWagon wrote:
thebarber wrote: Had a seized caliper on the front drivers side...
Just out of curiosity, how does one diagnose a seized caliper? I've got a weird rubbing/vibrating/humming noise below 20km/h, it carries all the way up into the passenger's A-pillar, often when braking. My mechanic said my car is fine, but of course I couldn't replicate the noise when I had him in the car... He did however look at my brakes and conclude that my Driver's side caliper is a little loose, not enough to do any damage, just to be a bother sometimes.

thebarber · Post by **thebarber** » Tue Jul 02, 2013 1:11 pm

MrHatchWagon wrote:
thebarber wrote: Had a seized caliper on the front drivers side...
Just out of curiosity, how does one diagnose a seized caliper? I've got a weird rubbing/vibrating noise below 20km/h, it carries all the way up into the passenger's A-pillar, often when braking. My mechanic said my car is fine, but of course I couldn't replicate the noise when I had him in the car... He did however look at my brakes and conclude that my Driver's side caliper is a little loose, not enough to do any damage, just to be a bother sometimes.

What likely happened to me is I had to brake heavy on the highway one time and it seemed to warp a rotor (I thought both fronts got cooked)

Whenever I'd brake hard you could feel vibration in the wheel. Eventually at highway speeds, braking would make a woob-woob-woob sound.

If you took your caliper off and tried to push back the piston with a big sliding wrench like we did and it doesn't go back, its seized

lannvouivre · Post by **lannvouivre** » Thu Jul 04, 2013 4:33 pm

Gloss black upper deck spoiler from http://www.carid.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Direct link as of July 4, 2013 http://www.carid.com/2004-pontiac-vibe- ... 41971.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

thebarber · Post by **thebarber** » Fri Jul 05, 2013 8:10 am

Still needs a drop...

MrHatchWagon · Post by **MrHatchWagon** » Fri Jul 05, 2013 8:51 am

thebarber wrote: Whenever I'd brake hard you could feel vibration in the wheel. Eventually at highway speeds, braking would make a woob-woob-woob sound.

If you took your caliper off and tried to push back the piston with a big sliding wrench like we did and it doesn't go back, its seized

Oh I see, thanks for the info.

lannvouivre · Post by **lannvouivre** » Fri Jul 05, 2013 4:45 pm

thebarber wrote:Still needs a drop...

Working on it! Need to do another oil change and possibly new pads/rotors first.

vibenvy · Post by **vibenvy** » Sat Jul 13, 2013 8:19 am

Washed my mom's Vibe this morning. It hadn't been washed since right before the Pontiac meet which was a month ago

. I am hoping to get mine washed at some point this weekend as well since it too hasn't been washed since before the Pontiac meet

.

I feel like such a neglectful Vibe owner

.

thebarber · Post by **thebarber** » Sat Jul 13, 2013 8:26 am

vibenvy wrote:Washed my mom's Vibe this morning. It hadn't been washed since right before the Pontiac meet which was a month ago . I am hoping to get mine washed at some point this weekend as well since it too hasn't been washed since before the Pontiac meet .

I feel like such a neglectful Vibe owner .

My feeling is that like a k&n filter, a car functions better with a bit of dirt on it

vibenvy · Post by **vibenvy** » Sat Jul 13, 2013 9:03 am

thebarber wrote:My feeling is that like a k&n filter, a car functions better with a bit of dirt on it

Rayven01 · Post by **Rayven01** » Mon Jul 15, 2013 7:31 pm

So today I pulled a bonehead move and went to work (20 miles) without my oil cap on!

I'd topped it off over the weekend and left the cap laying on the battery. The CEL was on because of the damn rear wheel sensor (happens for a few miles after every time I wash it, which I did on Sunday) so I thought nothing of it and drove to work. Couldn't tell at all on the highway but once I got to the city I noticed it was running a little (very slightly) louder than normal. Popped the hood in the parking garage at work and no cap. It spit about a couple of tablespoons worth of oil up under the hood (most soaked into the insulation). Couldn't even tell a difference on the dipstick level. I bought a cheapie universal cap at firestone a few blocks from work at lunch and on the way home I found my cap about 50 yards from the house.

Doug14 · Post by **Doug14** » Tue Jul 16, 2013 4:47 am

Rayven01 wrote:So today I pulled a bonehead move...

Bummer, oh well it was a Monday! Glad to hear you found your cap though.

I installed a Cosmo SRI last night and I love the sound! It only came in blue though so I am going to paint it black.

MrHatchWagon · Post by **MrHatchWagon** » Tue Jul 16, 2013 11:12 am

Bought a can of Plasti Dip today. I plan on doing my roof rack, the rear valance, and possibly the two Vibe emblems next to the front doors. Now I just need to find a nice day when I'm not working to do it...

Oh, in other news, I'm officially a Registered Nurse! I got my national exam results back last week, and I couldn't be happier. My many years of blood, sweat and tears have finally paid off. Cheers!

Houston · Post by **Houston** » Tue Jul 16, 2013 4:57 pm

Congratulations, MrHatchWagon. Well done.

thebarber · Post by **thebarber** » Thu Jul 18, 2013 4:15 am

Good job hatchwagon, lots of work in that field

I did the a/c line insualtion and topped off my a/c with a can of stuff from the US.....blow ice cold now

Bastranz · Post by **Bastranz** » Fri Jul 19, 2013 5:42 pm

Awesome! Congratulations MrHatchWagon!

Today I replaced my flasher module with an LED compatible one, and changed my rear indicator light bulbs to LED lights! I'm quite thrilled with them! Many thanks to Derf for posting this write-up and video: viewtopic.php?f=33&t=40564" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Yesterday I finally replaced my map lights and as well as my old LED bulbs for my License Plate lights (hopefully the better quality new ones will last much longer). Quite pleasing, though I had to wait until nearly nightfall to do this with the epic heatwave we are having out here!

KITT222 · Post by **KITT222** » Fri Jul 19, 2013 5:54 pm

Fixed several things today:

-Mirror was a little broken. Reattached at the servo and pivots.
-Tweeter occasionally crackled. It was shorting on the body. Re-soldered where the wire had been cut all the way through.
-Little component box was swaying in the door (causing the rubbing which created the crackle), and was knocking against things, annoying me. Zip tied to other wires: no more problems.
-Door check was making a little "double" noise. A bolt was loose. Tightened, and no more noise.
-Possibly fixed a rattle in my b-pillar trim
-Removed wiring for my botched reverse camera experiment. If I do it all again, I'll do it right.

I feel very accomplished!