Driving our New Vibe

[The Viber]

Hey Folks - Well, we have been poking around the site for a couple of days, and decided to post a note. We just purchased a 2006 Base Frosty with Automatic, and most of the goodies (except the monochrome package - couldn't find one anywhere in the region). So far, so good.We traded out of our 2002 PT Cruiser. The PT had been a great car, but the mileage was atrocious, plus the Vibe is ever so slightly larger.I have a couple of questions. The PT had a nice rear area cover that was hard plastic with carpeting, wheareas the Vibe has the vinyl thing. Has anyone located a replacement for this? Hooking up the vinyl cover is a little bit tedious, and a hard board would be preferable. If there isn't an aftermarket replacement, I might get out in the garage and see what I can fashion out of fiberboard or something.And, I am sure that no one has had this occur, but we have a screw loose somewhere in the front dash/console area - everytime we make a turn, this thing rolls all the way across the car, or so it seems. We have been trying to find out where this thing is, since it seems to be rolling across hard plastic, and must a pretty long way to roll - very irksome. When we got the car, we turned around and took it back, and had the service manager ride and he said that yes, something is rolling around, but we didn't want to leave the car for the long holiday, so if I can't find it, I will take it in next week, but I hate to dismantle the car the first week! Any ideas are appreciated.I look forward to hearing your tips and suggestions. The PT forum members were absolute fanatics, but we learned quite a bit from the members, and hopefully this board will be similar.Vibe On!

[ragingfish]

As to the cover, no, nothing exists, someone on here was working on building something in their garage...The rolling thing I can relate to. My former Vibe had the same issue. It sounded like a marble rolling across metal, and only happened in turns. Niether myself nor the dealer were ever able to figure out what it was...3 years later, and 63,000 miles, the Vibe is gone...but that problem was STILL there when I got rid of it...

[Atomb]

Heya Viber,Welcome!Check out this thread: http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=20056which uses a design discussed here: http://forums.genvibe.com/zero...age=2 (look for my post with the attached image..9th post down)as for the rolling around screw...i'd guess it would be in the heating duct? If it's metal, would a magnet on a flexible (plastic) stick help by pushing through the dash vents?I don't know where else it could roll around that far without finally dropping down.

[The Viber]

Ok, so I am not the only one interested in a hard-cover - excellent, I have a big headstart when I get the tools out. Not sure about how to store the thing when I need full cargo space, but I am sure we can work something out.The screw in the duct - never thought about that, but it is a real possibility. We are going to take to the road tomorrow, and I will see if that might be the location. If so, then I have the magnet on a flexible cable that might get that thing out of there.Like I said - great site - thanks for the help. I will let you know if I find anything.

[mcgusto82]

welcome abord. we try to be helpfull. we can only kick the s*** so much. we have to find other things to talk about. the rolling thing. the only part of the car with a long enough flat surface is the windshield vents. i know someone had offered this posibil;ity. i just wanted to conquer with it.

[IMakeVibes]

Welcome Viber!!!IMO Let the dealer take care of the rolling around whatever it is. They're experienced in tearing down vehicles and it could be fairly involved, depending on what and where it is. If something breaks when they do it, they'll replace it. If something breaks when you're doing it, its on you. Could be anything. Could be a part or fastener that fell in during assembly. Could be a part that has come lose or broken. Could be a part of a tool. Could be a welding tip or anything else. Things like that shouldn't happen, but they do. Let us know when you find out what and where it is, I'm sure we're all curious. If I were to guess, I would say an extra fastener somewhere in the dash.Some of the more odd things left in vehicles we have been made aware of at the plant are a cell phone left in a Voltz that made it to Japan and was shipped back and a Coke can or bottle inside a wheel a few years ago. There is also a Corolla currently sitting outside that was recently repaired. It had a used welding tip lose in between the body panels. Apparently that one took a couple of days to find and remove and get put back together.

[kostby]

Welcome to the Encyclopedia of Vibe!Unibody cars transfer noise very efficiently! I thought I had a noise from above the sunroof that actually was one of the two nuts that hold the black plastic housing around the CHMSL (Center High Mounted Stop Light - don't you LOVE acronyms?) to the rear window. One was loose and rolling around on the housing itself during turns. I had removed it once to clean the rear window and measure for an overlay, and apparently hadn't tightened it enough. It could be something in the thin wide 'secret compartment' between the rear wheel wells, the spare tire area, or rolling around under the rear seat, too.

[The Viber]

We had some sleet here in the Deep South, so I didn't get to take the Vibe into the dealer last week, but they called to let us know that the license plates were in, so come by when we could. Stopped by, and asked about a good time to bring the car in to find that loose marble, and they said today was a good time, so I turned it over to the service guys, and we went out and had lunch. Got a call about 90 minutes later. Loose screw was located in the air duct, and by removing the passenger side vent, they were able to extract the darn thing (still don't know where it came from, but hopefully it was just an extra that fell off of the driver bit during manufacture).Any way, we are now driving a rattle-free Vibe - funny, it seems much tighter and quieter without that screw rolling around.First tank was about 27 mpg, all in town in very cold weather, plus it was the dealer's tank, so they probably didn't really fill it to the brim.Vibe On!

[jwalcik]

welcome aboard!i'm glad they were able to find the screw without too much difficulty. i had an old ford that had a pencil drop back behind the dash and close the damper door on the A/C. for the rest of the time i had that vehicle (it was out of warranty when i got it) the A/C would get cold, but the air would only dribble out.

[Digger]

welcome. Good to hear about the screw

[IMakeVibes]

Quote, originally posted by The Viber »We had some sleet here in the Deep South, so I didn't get to take the Vibe into the dealer last week, but they called to let us know that the license plates were in, so come by when we could. Stopped by, and asked about a good time to bring the car in to find that loose marble, and they said today was a good time, so I turned it over to the service guys, and we went out and had lunch. Got a call about 90 minutes later. Loose screw was located in the air duct, and by removing the passenger side vent, they were able to extract the darn thing (still don't know where it came from, but hopefully it was just an extra that fell off of the driver bit during manufacture).Any way, we are now driving a rattle-free Vibe - funny, it seems much tighter and quieter without that screw rolling around.First tank was about 27 mpg, all in town in very cold weather, plus it was the dealer's tank, so they probably didn't really fill it to the brim.Vibe On!In Texas you go to the dealer to get your license plates?Guess I was pretty close thinking it was a lose fastener in the dash. Glad you got that taken care of fairly easily. Hopefully the Vibe will treat you well from now on!

[joholste]

yah in north carolina you can pick up your plates from the dealership, that way is less of a pain in the a$$ to get them. the dealership has one person that that is all they do is work as a liason between the DMV and the dealership.

[mcgusto82]

Quote, originally posted by joholste »yah in north carolina you can pick up your plates from the dealership, that way is less of a pain in the a$$ to get them. the dealership has one person that that is all they do is work as a liason between the DMV and the dealership.VA too. after all that ragging my friends and i did about VA, i actually miss it.

[ToolGuy]

Welcome! Yes the PT mileage does suck! Basically the same for the Turbo or non-Turbo! My Vette even gets better!I do like the PT because the seats come totally out. Hauled my full sized arcade PinBall machine in it!