06 Intake Manifold is destroying itself - advice? UPDATE: clicking probably made by solenoid valve

sparrow · Post by **sparrow** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 7:01 am

Hi all! Sorry my first post here is a "help me!", but nothing to be done about that. I've had my vibe for about 9 months now, and no problems. However, last week (after it got really really cold), I noticed that the engine was making this wierd clacking noise, and I smelled what I *thought* might have been burnt rubber in the engine. Took it to the mechanic, and they told me that it was the intake manifold breaking apart. Apparently some 06 models had minor issues with this, and they redesigned it for 2007, but the problem wasn't big enough to issue a recall. The upshot is that a new manifold is going to run this graduate student $600 when all is said and done. Do I have any other options? I'm driving the car for now, as its not going to ruin the engine, but at some point, i'm going to have to address the issue. Suck it up? Pony Up? What other options do I have?Thanks!

Raven · Post by **Raven** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 7:10 am

I am not aware of any issues with the intake manifold on the '06, I have one. We get lots of days as cold as -30Â°F and never any problems. I believe all the intakes are the same from '03 to '08. If I were you I'd get another opinion. How well do you know this mechanic? It's an easy DIY if you're mechanically inclined but I trully doubt the intake is breaking apart. Maybe the accessory belt is letting go and making the clacking noise.

keithvibe · Post by **keithvibe** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 7:37 am

I find it very hard to believe that the Intake manny is breaking apart.The only known issue I know of with the intake is the gasket loses contact and can cause an idle hunting issue.If you were not 3hrs away and we weren't expecting 6 inches of snow in the next few days. I would offer that your more than welcome to come to my house and I can look it over for you.

BlueCrush · Post by **BlueCrush** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 7:38 am

Welcome to GenVibe! I would take it somewhere else and get a second opinion. The only issues I have ever heard of with the IM is with the IM gasket leaking or Guys with nitrous blowing them up. That's it. Have someone else check it out. Do you have a CEL at all?

2002sportside · Post by **2002sportside** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 8:19 am

What they said... I have never heard of the IM breaking apart, only the gaskets.Get another opinion...

ou.grizzly · Post by **ou.grizzly** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 10:23 am

Didn't Toyota have a TSB our for a manifold issue?

northvibe · Post by **northvibe** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 10:37 am

um yeah the 1zz intake manifold is plastic... if it broke, you would hear crazy amounts of air sucking noise. I have not heard of 1 issue with a manifold breaking under stock engine conditions. Also a stock manifold is with install should be MUCH cheaper than that. I would get a second opinion. There was a TSB from toyota about the IM gasket for corolla's in sub freezing temps that threw a CEL code of P0171. Never saw it for the vibe though... Is the IM gasket the liquid one? or is it a metal/paper one?

sparrow · Post by **sparrow** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 11:49 am

Wow guys, please keep responses coming. Interesting yall say it might be the gasket. . . I don't think they actually opened up the intake and looked at the IM - they used some sort of techno-ear to listen to the noise. I asked if they could open it up and look inside and see if they could take out what was making the noise, and they were like "well since the IM's coming apart, then you'd just be out the money for our work time and the noise would come back. This place is new to me - thier service department got good reviews from a few friends (and they are AAA rated), but a few people have had problems with other buisness practices of the owner and the towing division.

northvibe · Post by **northvibe** » Mon Jan 26, 2009 12:20 pm

Does the noise still continue even AFTER the car is warmed up? Is there anyway you can record the sound and post it? there will be a ticking from the injectors/fuel rail thing.

Silversn95 · Post by **Silversn95** » Tue Jan 27, 2009 8:33 am

Wow, $600 for a $30-40 intake (this is what the supplier would charge GM for it). I'm not familiar with the '06 vibe intake but I assume it is a vibration welded composite. If it is breaking-up I wouldn't call it minor. To me, this is a manufacturing defect if your car is stock and should be replaced under warranty and not out of your pocket.

sparrow · Post by **sparrow** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 7:55 am

Hmm silversn - thats an interesting idea. I'm scheduled to take it to the pontiac dealer this coming tuesday, hopefully they will have a good idea about if its under warranty or not. If anyone wants to hear audio, I took a few audio files, but have not found a good way to put them on the internet (putfile hates people, apparently). Thanks for the help! Car is stock, but I am not the first owner. ETA: The car has around 36,500 miles on it. Apparently warranty is for 36000. Am I SOL, or might I get a dealer to cover it under warranty anyway?

Silversn95 · Post by **Silversn95** » Thu Jan 29, 2009 10:26 am

A composite intake can easily last the lifetime of the car under extreme conditions. They are designed and tested to ensure no failures will occur in the field. A shell welded intake can fail if it is improperly welded or if the shells are incorrectly molded. Some intakes have active systems integral to the design from MTV's SRV's and CMCV's. Some of these internal components are welded or fastened to the shells and can also come loose if not properly assembled. I have no idea if the Vibe intake has such a system although it is fairly common these days to improve performance on smaller engines. I would definitely fight hard for it to be covered under warranty.

vintagegz · Post by **vintagegz** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 3:20 am

Has your car ever been in an accident? You are not the original owner as you have only owned it for 9 months, perhaps previous owner experienced some vehicle damage and sold the car, now you are paying for it. I do not see that as a factory problem, so would tend to look for another source for the crack you see.

Sublimewind · Post by **Sublimewind** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 5:05 am

Quote, originally posted by sparrow »I noticed that the engine was making this wierd clacking noise, and I smelled what I *thought* might have been burnt rubber in the engine. that sounds like the belt tensioner to me... clacking noise, burnt rubber smell... These are WELL known for the tensioner and/or idler pully ON the tensioner going out... Mine is making noise, and soon i'll have to replace one or the other... the burnt rubber smell could possibly be because of the idler pully locking up momentarily and intermittently..

sparrow · Post by **sparrow** » Mon Feb 02, 2009 10:25 pm

Sublime - thanks! I just got a call from the pontiac dealer, they said that nothing was wrong with the car - that it was a normal noise made by the purge solenoid turning on and off quickly. The noise is coming from the opposite side of the belt tensioner (or so say the mechanics) - it is near the air intake. Thanks all. And now I know who not to go to for car repairs.

BlueCrush · Post by **BlueCrush** » Mon Feb 02, 2009 10:34 pm

VSV ticking is a very common sound on our engines. You'll get used to it.

2002sportside · Post by **2002sportside** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 5:20 am

I never noticed the VSV ticking before I did my CAI. After, it's loud - drive thrus is where I notice it the most.

keithvibe · Post by **keithvibe** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 5:40 am

the vsv ticks even louder in the cold weather, and if it's not held vertical it will tick even more. It's ment to be vertical not just floping around after one installs a CAI.

2002sportside · Post by **2002sportside** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 5:46 am

I know I tied it to something, but I'm going to have to check it...

Sublimewind · Post by **Sublimewind** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 10:25 pm

Quote, originally posted by BlueCrush »VSV ticking is a very common sound on our engines. You'll get used to it.That was going to be my second suggestion, right after you reminded me of that... First time I herd it I was like AWW WHAT NOW.... lol...

06 Intake Manifold is destroying itself - advice? UPDATE: clicking probably made by solenoid valve

06 Intake Manifold is destroying itself - advice? UPDATE: clicking probably made by solenoid valve

Re: 06 Intake Manifold is destroying itself - advice? (sparrow)

Re: 06 Intake Manifold is destroying itself - advice? (Raven)

Re: 06 Intake Manifold is destroying itself - advice? (sparrow)

Re: 06 Intake Manifold is destroying itself - advice? (BlueCrush)

Re: 06 Intake Manifold is destroying itself - advice? (keithvibe)

Re: (Silversn95)

Re: 06 Intake Manifold is destroying itself - advice? (sparrow)

Re: 06 Intake Manifold is destroying itself - advice? (Sublimewind)

Re: 06 Intake Manifold is destroying itself - advice? (sparrow)

Re: 06 Intake Manifold is destroying itself - advice? (BlueCrush)

Re: 06 Intake Manifold is destroying itself - advice? (2002sportside)

Re: 06 Intake Manifold is destroying itself - advice? (keithvibe)

Re: 06 Intake Manifold is destroying itself - advice? (BlueCrush)