GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

andrewclaus

It sounds like the starter pinion gear might have stripped. Either that or the flywheel gear. Hope it's the starter--it's easy to replace. Remove the starter and inspect the gear, look for missing or worn teeth. It's an easy removal and replacement.

andrewclaus

How does the smoke smell? Hydrocarbon vs antifreeze? Could it be more vapor than smoke?

andrewclaus

Moisture can enter the crankcase via piston rings as well. It's not necessarily coolant--it could be water vapor from combustion. At least that's what I heard about a half a century ago.

andrewclaus

Use this site: http://www.japan-parts.eu/toyota/us/2009/matrix# Find the equivalent Toyota vehicle type (AWD/FWD, MT/AT) in the pull-down menus and get the Toyota part number.

You won't be getting just the bearing, but the whole hub.

andrewclaus

Check with your local auto parts stores, if they have a tool loaner program, borrow a coolant system pressure tester. Your mileage isn't that high for a Vibe, and that kind of coolant loss is not normal.

andrewclaus

There was a loss of coolant somewhere. If there's no visible leak, it got burned in the combustion process. Read up on pressure testing and bleed-down testing. You may be able to borrow a pressure test kit from an auto parts store loaner program. The heater core is the highest part of the coolant sy...

andrewclaus

If you're lucky and it is the clockspring, and even luckier and the Toyota part works, it might be as cheap as $30 on eBay for a non-OEM part.

andrewclaus

I also believe it could be something other than an airbag recall issue. If the dealer read the code(s), you should be able to get that report.

andrewclaus

Note to moderator: I check this forum every day and this post never showed up. There were a few days I couldn't sign on. An OBD-II reader is an important tool if you want to keep this car running DIY. Often a sensor or actuator will start failing and you'll get an impending code, or it will fail in...

andrewclaus

That could be the ECM relearning new parameters. Something similar happened on my '07 when I cleared a stuck throttle code by cleaning it. I was back to normal after a few drives.

andrewclaus

I sure wouldn't worry about it, especially if it dropped behind the engine. That area on my car has swallowed tool or two, most recently my 12 mm 1/2" drive socket. If it's not in the very visible belt area on the right (passenger) side of the engine, there's nothing for it to interfere with.

andrewclaus

I'd also look at starter solenoid and starter switch. It's also pretty easy to reach the solenoid on top of the starter and try tapping it with a hammer handle next time this happens. The only time my Vibe failed to start was also the starter solenoid, and just replaced the whole unit since it was s...

andrewclaus

I'm just guessing here, but I bet you'll have to at least remove the whole assembly to determine if it can be repaired. You might be able to glue it together with Super glue or epoxy. I doubt you'd be able to do that on the car.

andrewclaus

Yes, I call it "percussive engineering" when stuff like that happens to an old car. Usually I live with it, but seeing heater controls can be critical when the windshield's fogging up on a cold night. The fix will probably involve taking the bezels off, but carefully. Connectors are plasti...

andrewclaus

Fluid level okay? Did you also replace the master cylinder?

You may need a GM-specific scan tool to get ABS codes.

andrewclaus

I've stopped a couple of leaks over the years, the typical easy ones--timing chain tensioner, front pulley seal. I just took a long drive to visit three friends in three different cities who all have brand new concrete driveways, and I had no qualms about parking on them--not a single drip.

andrewclaus

I just did that replacement a couple of weeks ago, failed motor bearing. Got the whole fan and shroud at the local auto parts store for $80. Maybe I'll need to keep an eye on it.

andrewclaus

I just added 3000 miles to the odometer, now at 228K, on a three week road trip through the Pacific Northwest. I had a couple of maintenance problems the day before I left--a sticky throttle plate and failed radiator fan bearing--that took a half day and $80 to fix. The Vibe ran great at 80 mph free...

andrewclaus

From a parts blowup I found, it looks like it runs through the firewall and through the engine room, maybe above a fender skirt.

andrewclaus

The paint on my '07 has been pretty much destroyed by Colorado sun and winter road sanding. But its appearance doesn't bother me--it runs great and that's all that matters to me. I personally wouldn't paint an older car. I did it once to an old Bronco and was never happy with the result, either.

andrewclaus

I was getting my '07 Vibe (230K miles) ready for a 3,000 mile road trip this morning--oil change and tire rotation. Got that done, tried a test drive, but got a check engine light and went into limp mode. Scanner gave P2103, throttle circuit. I took a look at the throttle plate and electrical connec...

andrewclaus

14.4 Volts is pretty common for alternator output when charging.

The relay burned either from dirty contacts or an overload in the blower motor circuit.

andrewclaus

I had the same starter issue last year, replaced the starter easily, got the better quality one for $200.

andrewclaus

Have you checked the relay itself? Try a bench test--should be open contacts out of the car, apply 12V to the coil terminals and contacts should close.

andrewclaus

If the wire insulation is black with a white stripe (I think I can see the edge of a white stripe), it's power for the magnetic clutch for the A/C compressor. It's easy enough to check--does the A/C work?

andrewclaus

Usually "German torque" is all you need--Gutentight. Like if you're changing a flat on the roadside. But when I'm rotating tires at home, I do use my torque wrench. It sounds like you probably don't do your own tire rotation, so why not bring the new nuts to your tire shop and have them in...

andrewclaus

Concentrating on fixing the no crank problem, only when the battery's in the circuit, leads me to think there's something wrong with the battery under cranking load. I suggest bringing it to a parts store and have them do a load test on it. How old is the battery? Then work on the load on the Gauge ...

andrewclaus

The negative cable, just 'cause it's easier. I sometimes violate the safety rule for operations I know how to do, are not near the SRS system or fuel, and are just a matter of unplugging something small and plugging something else back in. It saves the programming in the radio and various other memo...

andrewclaus

Engine vacuum is highest in idle, lower when throttle is open, so it's probably not a vacuum leak if it's louder when accelerating.

andrewclaus

The Toyota parts website I use doesn't let me in anymore. But a dealer parts counter can help you out. Mine always checks my numbers anyway. If you have an active leak at the pulley, you might also need to replace the pulley. A failed seal has a wire that will dig a groove. I tried sanding out the g...

andrewclaus

There's a remote possibility you got a bad bulb from the store, that had an early failure. I'd just try another one. I assume you verified the bulb failed--discolored glass or broken filament.

andrewclaus

It's probably not the fuse--it's more likely the radio itself. In the wiring diagram for the 2003 Corolla, which is very similar to the Vibe, the following items are on the DOME fuse: ABS Clock Combination Meter Cruise Control Headlight Illumination Interior Light Light Reminder Buzzer and Key Remin...

andrewclaus

Is a non-CARB cat possible to buy/ship where you live? Those are less expensive.

andrewclaus

joatmon wrote: ↑Thu Mar 27, 2025 3:30 pm your right, I was just trying to guess at a scenario where while driving down the road the starter relay closed to connect the bad solenoid circuit to the 30A fuse

I reread your first post and see I misunderstood. I was wondering why it stalled and that makes sense. But still freakish.

andrewclaus

Not sure how the bad starter got too much juice if the starter relay wasn't closed, which obviously wouldn't be normal. Maybe some bump in the road shocked the bad starter into engaging, and stalled the engine, the the fuse blew when you tried to start it again. Freakish coincidences. Glad you've g...

andrewclaus

The 30A MAIN fuse feeds directly to the starter solenoid via the ST relay. It also feeds the ignition switch, but via the 15A AM2 fuse, so that would blow first if there were a problem with the ignition switch.

Somehow a short developed in the starter solenoid on the starter motor.

andrewclaus

I use this site to get the Toyota part no. You have to get familiar with the Matrix frame codes.

http://www.japan-parts.eu/toyota/us/#

andrewclaus

Those are great photos above. You can see you'll need new nuts and probably washers, not bolts. The nuts thread onto studs permanently attached to the body. You may need to clean threads. I was able to replace the entire exhaust system with the car jacked up on stands. My heat shields (three on the ...

andrewclaus

If it's a heat shield above the exhaust, you shouldn't need a lift. They're held on by nuts with a 10 mm hex head, probably M6 X 1.0 thread.

andrewclaus

The rear engine mount is supported by the front crossmember. If you need to move that, the engine should be supported. That can be done with the car jack and a block of wood on the transmission.

andrewclaus

Looks like a torn CV boot causing the "splatter" in last few photos. The oil pan is hard to tell from below.

andrewclaus

Did you have the adapter to test the cap with the pressure tester? Did you try running the engine with the pressure gauge attached? That could show head gasket problems. If there was crud on the cap, it's probably bad. A leak from there might be vapor, not visible in the short term. That's all I can...

andrewclaus

The passenger side leak, if at the rear of the engine, is likely (hopefully) the timing chain tensioner and that's an easy repair. There are some threads on that. I'm not sure about the other area--photos could help. It may be a valve cover gasket. I have no experience with that on this engine. A cl...

andrewclaus

The dimensions you're changing are probably okay. But a larger rear cylinder will take more fluid to actuate, will take more time to fill, and won't travel as far. But it will provide slightly more force across the lower range of travel. There are always trade-offs.

andrewclaus

Doesn't your Vibe have the map lights on the rear view mirror? My dome light switch is wonky too, but I just leave it off. It's probably dirty/corroded switch contacts. You can try to squirt a drop of WD-40 in there, but only a drop or two--you don't want a drippy mess. I'd hesitate to try to remove...

andrewclaus

When you say "second stage of overdrive," do you mean when the torque converter locks in? I wonder if you switched overdrive off, would you still get the sound when the torque converter locks in while in Drive? If it does, I'd suspect some sort of problem with the torque converter lock, th...

andrewclaus

You might want to stop shooting the parts cannon and do some tests. Get a vacuum gauge, read up on its use. Plug or pinch off the vacuum hose to the booster and look for a change. Also pull the fuse for the brake lights to eliminate an electrical problem. And consider the car is 20 years old. If it ...

andrewclaus

It sounds like the car was driven for a while with a very loose belt, which could explain why you didn't have cranking power, and maybe it stalled due to lack of ignition power. That belt also drives the water pump, so it's possible the engine ran too hot for too long, and there's some mechanical da...

andrewclaus

You might be able to tell if it's valve noise by the frequency. If it's half engine RPM, it's a valve. DId you check valve clearances when you reassembled the cam? Did you move any of the lifters?

andrewclaus

The moving parts for the HVAC are lower, below the radio. There are several movable doors to direct the different modes. Maybe one is loose, and affected by outside air under pressure at higher speed. Have you tried all modes, in addition to recirc? All fan speeds? Also verify all the HVAC modes wor...

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