Five Speed Tranny Issues

[VibeGriff]

I was wondering what kind of issues there have been with the 2003 Base Vibe and it's five speed? Is there something I should look out for, something that seems to be a factory flaw perhaps? My vibe has always been stubborn about shifting. Sometimes I have to double clutch to get it into gear for third gear and up. It will stick when shifitng quickly at times and I can also say it is notchy. Is this normal? I hear no odd sounds from the transmission, so I guess it is ok. My vibe has 54,8XX miles on it, as well as a TWM Short Throw and a Weighted Knob and I was looking to change the gear oil for the first time over to Royal Purple 75W-90 since it is synthetic and GL4/GL5 rated. Is this an ok oil to use, will it damage my transmission? Would the AMS-Oil 75W-90 API GL-4 be better? DOes it really matter if I use a GL4 or GL5 gear oil. Thanks in advance, sorry for all the questions.

[joatmon]

There have been a few people (including me) that had bearing problems in the 5 speed, but not so many that I would say there is a general reliability problem. I had previously switched to a Mobil1 gear oil. Don't know if the Mobil1 caused or delayed the bearing problem, but am now running stuff I bought from the Toyota dealer. The only time I've had to double clutch, or something sort of like that, is when stopped and switching into reverse, I don't think reverse has a synchro. If you have to double clutch to get it into the higher gears, I'd be thinking your synchros might be worn, except you say that it has always been that way. Perhaps stop by a Pontiac dealer and test drive a new 5-speed vibe (or a Toyota dealer and test drive a 5 speed Matrix or Corolla) and see if it feels the same as yours. Maybe an oil change will help. also try cleaning/lubing the tranny ends of the shift linkages

[VibeGriff]

Was there any warning signs before your bearings broke down? Are these bearings replaced with some ease? Thanks for the help joatmon, will clean and oil the linkage today.

[joatmon]

my troubles are in http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=15551 , and then continued into http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=16794FLABARBARA had a 5 speed problem, http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=18673 and continued into http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=19054Then there was rock_hopper, in http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=17599And last month there was a viber on car talk http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=20343 but the audio segment referenced in that thread is no longer available on the car talk web page

[VibeGriff]

Thanks, I was able to catch some of those through the search function last night, but I was not able to find all of them . Your help is greatly appreciated .

[VibeGriff]

It odd so many Toyota transmissions are failing like that. Oh well.

[VibeGriff]

I ordered some of that new Amsoil stuff that is a direct replacement for the the 12349...GM oil, so we will see if i cant ward off the bearing demon.

[joatmon]

Quote, originally posted by VibeGriff »It odd so many Toyota transmissions are failing like that. I haven't done any research into the overall reliability of that transmission, which is used in VIbes, Matrixes, and Corollas. TOyota sells a huge number of Corollas.By comparison, I had a mid 90's Dodge minivan, auto tranny, and I don't know anyone who had one that did not have to have the tranny rebuilt. Luckily for me mine was fixed under that 7/70 warranty they used to come with, but there was never any recall or legal action, and it didn't seem to affect the number of them sold, which was a lot.I do admit that the tranny is something that has opted me out of the "Toyota quality" mindset. I do have to give Toyota crerdit, the rest of the car has been wonderful. Also, looking at the 2006 numbers on fueleconomy.gov, the 5 speed Vibe still has the best MPG ratings of any US brand (Ford, GM and Chrysler, even though Chrysler is technically german now) Four years in a row, Vibe wins the US mpg race. That's pretty much why I bought the Vibe in the first place. But the only way that happens is because the Vibe is built on a Corolla platform with a Toyota powertrain.

[goodvibe]

Your fluid is dead. Even if you use synth I would change exery 30k. The GM replacement fluid is better than what it comes with. RP feels great at first but the shift action gets worse in less than a year. Amsoils MTF, Redline MT-90, and Specialty Formulations MTL-R are all great. Cleaning and lubing the linkages as described sure won't hurt.

[VibeGriff]

Just put in the Amsoil, made a world of difference. I will relube the linkage once i put in bushings. I am hoping wiht regular maintnence this will be then end of my attempt to get a rifle bolt like action for my shifter.