My Vibe IS dead!

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BlueCrush
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My Vibe IS dead!

Post by BlueCrush »

My son was driving home from visiting friends at college a couple hours away. He was about halfway home when he said the car engine was getting noisy and losing power. So he pulled over and shut it off. Waited a few minutes, tried to start and and all he got was clicking. I drove down to meet him and had it towed to a nearby repair shop. The preliminary diagnosis is the engine seized up due to loss of oil. He pulled the dipstick and there was black thick oil deposits on it, cleaned it off, rechecked and nothing...no oil!! Not sure how yet but I just checked the oil 2 weeks ago and it was fine. There have been zero engine issues to this point. They are performing an in-depth diagnosis today and hopefully will find out more later....or maybe I don't want to know... :cry:

Here's a couple pics of her 11 years ago in her prime. She was a beauty!!

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Last edited by BlueCrush on Fri Sep 02, 2016 9:09 am, edited 2 times in total.
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vibrologist
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Re: My Vibe might be dead!

Post by vibrologist »

That is sad and worrisome. But she still is a beauty. Get a used engine for her.
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BlueCrush
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Re: My Vibe might be dead!

Post by BlueCrush »

Confirmed fatality on the engine. Looking at options for used engines probably looking at $3,000-$3,500 minimum including install. :o
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Re: My Vibe IS dead!

Post by tpollauf »

Wow that sucks :cry: No indication as to where all the oil went? A lose plug or cap somewhere? Unexpected burning all of a sudden? No dash light indication or oil pressure gauge to verify the loss of oil pressure? Definitely rebuild it and keep it on the road for several more years. Keep us posted on all progress & good luck!
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jayoldschool
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Re: My Vibe IS dead!

Post by jayoldschool »

I'll bet the oil pressure sender failed, allowing the oil to leak out without the low pressure light being illuminated. Turn the key, if the oil light doesn't come on, you've found the cause. Happened to me (documented on this forum). I caught it right before running out of oil.
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vibrologist
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Re: My Vibe IS dead!

Post by vibrologist »

Look for a used engine on car-part.com: http://www.car-part.com/

Good luck!
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vibenvy
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Re: My Vibe IS dead!

Post by vibenvy »

:o

Damn Brian, that really sucks to hear :cry:! I hope you can find a used engine and keep her on the road.
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ehoff121
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Re: My Vibe IS dead!

Post by ehoff121 »

Oh no! :o

Hate to see another '05 AWD get sidelined.

If the drivetrain is still fine (no groaning from bad bearings, rear diff not leaking) and the exhaust isn't rusted out, it's probably worth it to replace the engine. More so if the mileage is under 150k.

On the other hand, $3,000 would go a long way towards a newer Vibe...
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star_deceiver
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Re: My Vibe IS dead!

Post by star_deceiver »

Well, that sucks! For $3K.... New engine... Another Vibe...
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lannvouivre
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Re: My Vibe IS dead!

Post by lannvouivre »

Well, if you lived here, I could do the engine swap for you for considerably cheaper than $3k : /
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BlueCrush
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Re: My Vibe IS dead! - Receiving a transplant

Post by BlueCrush »

Well, I'm getting the transplant this week for $2500. Mileage was at 150K on the existing, the replacement will have 110K on it and warrantied for 1 year.
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Re: My Vibe IS dead!

Post by tpollauf »

That's awesome news ! :D Maybe on this transplant add an oil pressure gauge in addition to the standard oil sensor so you'll know if there is any future trouble brewing internally. Should see another 150k miles moving forward! Keep us posted on the progress.
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ColonelPanic
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Re: My Vibe IS dead!

Post by ColonelPanic »

Good to see you're going to put the Vibe back on the road. :) Best of luck with the new-to-you engine!
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BlueCrush
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Re: My Vibe IS dead!

Post by BlueCrush »

Update: the old engine is out & new engine is arriving today. Lots of internal damage reported by the repair shop. They are going to save some souvenirs for me. they will need to replace both front axles as well as they are not budging and they will need to do some damage to get them out. Not a huge expense, but bothersome none the less. They are doing some exhaust work as well. Could be done as soon a today, but more likely early next week.
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Re: My Vibe IS dead!

Post by jayoldschool »

1. Did you determine what the cause was?
2. Axles will come out, you just need the right pry tool. You can't just pull on them.
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Re: My Vibe IS dead!

Post by lannvouivre »

Probably some mutilated rod bearings.
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BlueCrush
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Re: My Vibe IS dead!

Post by BlueCrush »

Another update: It took a lot of work but they managed to get the Axles out without any damage. Yay! They have not given the cause of death, yet.
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Re: My Vibe IS dead!

Post by vibenvy »

So happy to hear the Vibe will live on! Looking forward to hearing the cause of death and perhaps seeing some pictures...?
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BlueCrush
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Re: My Vibe IS dead!

Post by BlueCrush »

The Vibe is alive again!!! The repair shop said a connecting rod failed sending it through the side of the engine block.
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Re: My Vibe IS dead!

Post by joatmon »

Glad its resurrected

A failed connecting rod is not something that is commonly reported here, not the kind of thing one can do anything to prevent either
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jayoldschool
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Re: My Vibe IS dead!

Post by jayoldschool »

BlueCrush wrote:The Vibe is alive again!!! The repair shop said a connecting rod failed sending it through the side of the engine block.
I will guess that is the effect, not the cause. Rods exit blocks when lubrication disappears.
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Re: My Vibe IS dead!

Post by lannvouivre »

jayoldschool wrote:I will guess that is the effect, not the cause. Rods exit blocks when lubrication disappears.
You can also do this if you overfill a Tundra by 8 quarts and start it.

Customer did this.
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Jbenrod
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Re: My Vibe IS dead!

Post by Jbenrod »

OP, see if you can find out if the oil drain plug and oil filter were still installed on that old engine.

If you checked the oil two weeks prior and it was fine then there must have been a sudden loss of the oil during his drive. Who did the last oil change?

Here too is Jayoldschool old post about the oil pressure sender that might have been leaking:

viewtopic.php?f=12&t=44770&p=508554#p508554
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Re: My Vibe IS dead!

Post by Salsa Guy »

Good to hear Brian!!! Long time no see brother. Glad to hear you are still ticking!
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