Brand New 5 spd manual 2005 Vibe, transmission noise, HELP

[Gizmobiaritz]

Greetings,5 days a go I have purchased a base 5 speed 2005 Pontiac Vibe. The car runs fine, however: If I drive normally and shift from 1st to 2nd, I hear a horrible grinding noise (the type you hear when you lift your foot off the clutch and the gear is not in place), If I press the clutch and wait abnormally about 5 seconds it goes in fine. I do pull the lever towards me as well to make sure it goes in to gear. I went to the dealer today and they told me, that it is normal (I do not believe that, as I had many manual cars and never had such issue) because it is a "close ratio" gear box. Is this true? This means all non GT's should have this issue. Does anybody have any knowledge about this ? I do not know what to do as the car is brand new (450 Km).Thank you for your time !

[GMJAP]

Mine shifts smoothly and quickly. Go to the dealer and ask to test drive another 5 speed.

[Mavrik]

my 5spd 04 doesn't make any grinding noise, something is definatly wrong with yours. Did you take them for a drive with you behind the wheel so they can see what your doing/what the Vibe is doing?if possible, get a manager involved if the consultant isn't responsive. Its NOT a normal noise.

[bud_one]

My 1990 Eclipse has been doing that lately.... 2nd gear syncronizeris worn out. But mine has 215,000 miles on it... Yours has a problem. It shouldn't be grinding into any gear exceptreverse, no syncro. See if the dealership has a shop forman of some sort and see if he'll go on a test drive with you, or let him drive it with you.

[Gizmobiaritz]

Greetings,Thank you for your replies. I have brought the car to the dealer. The problem was getting worse as it started to grind from 3rd to 2nd as well. I was told unofficially that they would change the transmission; however they still did not give me a definite answer as they are still taking the car apart. It is a transmission problem. The car can not shift without grinding from 1st to 2nd over 2500 RPM. If the RPM is lower it will shift fine. I have to wait and see what happens now. Thank you.

[Mavrik]

A definate problem for sure then by the sounds of it. Now I work at a GM dealership in Woodstock, we replaced one transmission on a Vibe, it was a standard 03 5spd. Same way your describing it but the noise was there almost constant at vehicle speeds. The vehicle had 30,000km on it though. Threw a bearing but we just put a new transmission in, never tore the old one apart.

[ragingfish]

Bad synchronizer maybe?Dunno...not a tranny expert by far...Let us know what the final diagnosis is!

[Gizmobiaritz]

Greetings,After two days, the dealer told me the synchro gears are faulty. They said they will take apart the transmission to check it and change the synchro gears. To me this is unacceptable as it means a "rebuilt" transmission. They told me that even if they did replace the transmission it would also be with a rebuilt one (on a brand new car 400Km). I want them to give me a transmission off the line because that is what I paid for, not a rebuild. I did not buy a 26000 dollar car with a rebuilt transmission. They take me as an idiot, telling me the tranny will be fine if rebuilt which is not the case. I have to wait and see what happens now. Any help gladly appreciated. Does anybody know how I can get in touch with a GM representative (the same one dealers call when they have a technical issue and are told what to do)?Thank you very much!

[nismo]

What I would do is go to Mavrik's dealership if it's close by and have him check out your car and swap out with a new tranny.Inder

[ragingfish]

It may not be a "brand new" transmission if they replace the synchros, but it's still going to be warrantied!If something else were to go wrong, it's not like they wouldn't cover it...I can understand your position, it's not right for a car that new to have those problems, but I can also see GM's position...why would they replace an entire transmission for a few bad parts...It's a tough position to be in...I think of it this way...if you bought a brand new house, and the fuse panel didn't work (Even though they're not called those anymore), you wouldn't get a whole new house because of that, you'd replace the faulty part, even if it's not "brand new" anymore...

[Gizmobiaritz]

Greetings,The issue is as fallows. I drive 50 000 K a year so the warranty will be gone in 2 years. The reason why I want a new tanny is because the car was practically delivered damaged to me. The car does not drive (can't shift up to second or down to it from third) When I brought the car to the dealer the tranny barely shifted. A house is not a moving part. Transmissions are high precision mechanical devices that once taken apart will not work properly; the reasons are contraction of materials and gaskets and so on, that once taken off/apart will cause the tranny to have vibrations ,tremble or just grind again. If the car had 10 000K on it, I would understand having a rebuild tranny because the car is used, but my car has 400 kilometers, so it is new, therefore all of it's parts should be too. GM has to stand behind their products, admit their fault , and replace them properly. If you buy a bad TV, you get a replacement, I expect the same, on an unused car. The car was used 12 hours. I had a few cars that had transmission problems manual and automatic, so I am very familiar with what I am stating.Thank you.

[glassman]

i agree my friend is a service writter for a chev dealer you probably won't get a new tranny but don't let up till you get a full extended warranty ask mav what the best extended powertrain warrnty they have and go after it and don,t stop till you get it .the dealer can't give it to you you will have to argue with gm don't take no for an answer and you will get it. which is better for you in the long run as it will cover more patrs for longer.

[Gizmobiaritz]

Greetings Everybody,Thank you for your advice.I have received the car back (1.2 weeks) and it was fixed. The synchro gear between 1st and 2nd was changed as well as the 1st and 2nd gears. The car runs fine. No noise or vibration, everything is fine. I want to take the badges off my car and I was wondering if the side (vibe) and back (vibe plus Pontiac emblem) have any screws/holes. What I mean is are they the stick on types or are they the type that have 2 clips which go in to the body work (probably they are the sick on type). Thank you.

[Mavrik]

hey having those parts replaced doesn't mean you have a used transmission now. Its as good as it should have been when you got it. And those badges coming off will not leave any holes, just be careful of the paint.

[Gizmobiaritz]

Greetings,I understand in regards to the transmission. In regards to the badges: I would take them off the same way many do: heat up the badges area, use fishing line to take them off, then paint cleaner to dissolve the glue. Is there a better way? I mean no matter what you do you will have small surface (hairline/carwash scratches). Thank you.