ihaveavibe -- yes, it's definitely meant to come apart. But only 2 years of the VIbe (and none of the Matrix models) come with this silly bolt.

And yeah, an option could be to lift the engine, but it the pulley bolt is much lower down than the tensioner bolt.

Hmm, yeah I have a Craftsman pass-through set. Problem is the handle needs the adapter insert to use the 5/16 socket that a plain T50 bit will fit into ... and that makes it too wide to reach in the gap. Guess I'll check for pass-throughs that can directly hold a 5/16 socket -- but what I've seen wh...

Has anyone removed the T50 torx bolt from a 2003 or 2004 belt tensioner pulley (idler pulley)? There is just enough clearance for a T50 L-wrench, but it is so tight it needs much more leverage than the 6-7" of the wrench. I've also tried a large crescent wrench for a handle on a T50 socket bit ...

It is indeed the idler (belt tensioner) pulley making noise. But on the 2003 Vibes that pulley is attached with a T-50 torx bolt, and the space is too narrow to fit a ratchet with a bit into. Tried using an 8mm crescent wrench around the bit for a handle but the thing is really lodged in there and a...

Great, thanks for the high tech tip! Tomorrow is repair day...

Yesterday my 2003 Vibe started making rattling noises from the area around the generator and belts. I was doing errands and every time I started up again it got worse until it sounded like I was driving an old Model A. I recorded the sound and sent to my Email Auto Diagnostician (dad) and he said it...

Quote, originally posted by Whelan »Definitely start off with an alignment and then have them look at the brakes. You could have an uneven wear issue where the whole pad is not contacting the rotor, thus causing a skewed pad.OK, thanks guys, sounds like a plan. BTW sublime, not a "sir" --...

No, I don't think so. Nice pics though.

I'm the one you replied to a week or so ago. UTC area. 2003 salsa Vibe base with grey parrots

Are you an unrequited neptune-lover too??So sorry to hear that. I couldn't find a blue one in my price range or with any decent kind of mileage on it when i was looking last month for mine. So very sad!raz

My steering wheel pulls slightly to one side, only when I brake. This would be from uneven wear on brakes or a caliper problem, wouldn't it, rather than alignment?I've noticed the parking brake is also quite loose, to the point where you can easily take off and drive with it on. raz

I saw this Vibe GT in the parking lot at the San Diego Zoo last week. What a beauty! I was wondering if the owner might be on this forum. If you're in San Diego, I want to talk to you! Need to fix up my new baby a bit. BTW, when did the switch to the honeycomb grille happen? Is that on both base and...

I'm interested in doing this too, but can't make heads nor tails of the hardwire AUX sticky. I have (A1) .... assume I need some kind of hardware to hardwire in. UPDATE: OK, I see in the big list there are kits listed at the bottom. But all the ones for A1 say A1/A2 "only in Class 2 mode"....

Yeah, that's what I was worried about, and why I didn't experiment and disconnect anything!If it can potentially go off during the process I wouldn't plug and unplug it depending on the passenger. Birds ride with me twice a day. Other passengers maybe once every week or two. Birds get priority. i ma...

Quote »What is your Dream Car? I already have it.... This place is awesome. I'm so glad to know I'm not the only one who thinks a Vibe (my cost raz

OK -- glove box out, piece of cake.Now, which of the wire bundles do I unplug? There's one that has a yellow tube around it, one wrapped in black, and a few others that are bundles of many multicolored wires. At least if it's easy like this, I can reconnect when there's a human in the seat.

No kids in this car, except the beaked kind. But they like to ride this way: Leash attached to cage top so they don't go hurtling through windshield, seatbelt securing cage so it doesn't do same. They don't like being in a cage at all, and have a blast singing in the car while we drive. So next ques...

Quote »unplug itwhich is done how/where?Owners manual doesn't go into anything much more complicated than how to properly use a seatbelt rz(BTW, is there a repair manual for Vibes? Do such things still exist?)

Dang, I was afraid of that. Does anyone know where I can find info about how to non-temporarily disable the passenger bag?Thanks for all the info everyone. rz

Wow, just checked out your web page. You've gone to town on that baby!I'm in La Jolla Colony, near UCSD in UTC area. Where are you? Bought this one at a little dealer in Kearney Mesa after watching the asking price go up and down for 4 or 5 weeks. Got him down to what I wanted. Maybe you can help wi...

Hey I just saw your bird on the pet photos forum. Cutie. I'm a bit on the obsessive side with birds Carly Lu's Flight Blog

Brand new viber here -- good to know this as I'm sure I'd inadvertently try it sometime!I've been poking around the site to try to find general recommendations on optimizing gas mileage. Is there an existing thread or sticky somewhere I should look at?thanks!

I need some thorough information on the airbag system in a 2003 Vibe. I've browsed a few threads on later models and see lots of "I think" and "it should" but I really need solid info on when and how the passenger side bag deploys.Specifically:-- does the seat belt have to be fas...

Patience lads! I'm on my official procrastination break.

Just went from a 1991 Corolla with 198K on it, to a 2003 Vibe, in African Grey Parrot Colors, complete with perch. I've had my eye on these for a year and a half!cool group :-)raz