i need all the help i can get

[ashleymc_38]

So, I have an 04 vibe. I love it to death but I'm kind of concerned about some things about it. 1) Is it normal for the car to rev at high rpm's when first started to the engine starts to become warm?It seems i have to let my car sit for about 5 mins before i put it into drive or reverse because if i don't let it warm up it makes a really loud girggling vibrating noise and it seems that since it rev's at higher rpms that the car can just kind of push itself forward more w/o having to tap on the gas2) my cd player. Its getting kind of hard for the thing to, for lack of better words, spit the cd out. It also seems to skip a lot more than it has been to and its not the cd b/c of the fact that i bought a new cd the other day went to my car and put it in and it was skipping..so any suggestions on that?3) The overdrive. This isn't really a concern unless someone sparks a question in my mind about if something could be wrong. But stupid question now, what is the safest speed, if there is any at all, to switch on and off the overdrive? Like say you were getting on the expressway from the city and you wanted to switch it on overdrive, is it safe for the car? Input would be so much appreciated! Thanx guys!

[damronjr]

Quote, originally posted by ashleymc_38 »So, I have an 04 vibe. I love it to death but I'm kind of concerned about some things about it. 1) Is it normal for the car to rev at high rpm's when first started to the engine starts to become warm?It seems i have to let my car sit for about 5 mins before i put it into drive or reverse because if i don't let it warm up it makes a really loud girggling vibrating noise and it seems that since it rev's at higher rpms that the car can just kind of push itself forward more w/o having to tap on the gasSometimes it does rev up to like 11-1200 rpms when you first start it up cold until it gets colser to normal operating temperature. Quote, originally posted by ashleymc_38 »2) my cd player. Its getting kind of hard for the thing to, for lack of better words, spit the cd out. It also seems to skip a lot more than it has been to and its not the cd b/c of the fact that i bought a new cd the other day went to my car and put it in and it was skipping..so any suggestions on that?Get a new HU, sounds like yours might be on the way out, or, if you're still under warranty, take it in and see if you can get it replaced for free!Quote, originally posted by ashleymc_38 »3) The overdrive. This isn't really a concern unless someone sparks a question in my mind about if something could be wrong. But stupid question now, what is the safest speed, if there is any at all, to switch on and off the overdrive? Like say you were getting on the expressway from the city and you wanted to switch it on overdrive, is it safe for the car? Input would be so much appreciated! Thanx guys! You would switch the overdrive OFF, but it's fine. That's what it's there for! It does ruin your gas mileage though if you keep it OFF a lot. It makes the engines RPM's higher than what they would normally be. I've used mine in all different ranges from low end to high.

[joatmon]

Mine idles higher than 1200 rpms when cold, but I don't pay much attention to it, I just get in and go. How high does yours idle when cold?I agree with damronjr on the CD player, sometimes they weear out. Get a new one if you are under warranty, if not, check out ebay. If you get a replacement from someone, go to the Michigan mega meet and one of your fellow genvibers can help you swap it out, it's easy. You are going to the mega meet aren't you? Wish I could, but alas ...I say leave overdrive on unless you need to use the engine to help slow down foing down a mountain, or if you are carrying or towing a heavy load. If you stomp on the gas pedal, the tranny will downshift anyway.

[Mrizzle05]

If you are out of warranty and want that stock hu... i have a single CD one that i took out about 3 months after i got my vibe if your interested.Just IM me if you are interested.

[ashleymc_38]

Quote, originally posted by joatmon »Mine idles higher than 1200 rpms when cold, but I don't pay much attention to it, I just get in and go. How high does yours idle when cold? It idles at around 2000rpms. Does yours make a lot humming, griggling, vibrating noise when you put it in gear? I just need to know if its normal or not so I know to go get it fixed before the warranty is up!Plus, idk if i'm going to the vibe meet or not yet. I want to but i might just wait to see if they have one next year when I might actually have the time and the money to investment into my car!

[ashleymc_38]

Quote, originally posted by damronjr » You would switch the overdrive OFF, but it's fine. That's what it's there for! It does ruin your gas mileage though if you keep it OFF a lot. It makes the engines RPM's higher than what they would normally be. I've used mine in all different ranges from low end to high. It seems like there is a big difference in the rpms when i switch from overdrive to no overdrive at all. I usually keep overdrive on for the gas mileage and the fact that it doesn't idle as high. Is that considered the "engine noise" that everyone complains about? It does seem a little loud and well, i'm not really sure if its normal b/c of the fact that i don't know what this "engine noise" is supposed to be. I guess what i meant to say was, that i was driving on the expressway one time with my friend and he goes "what is this button for" and he switched the overdrive from on to off and it made a huge clunking noise so then he switched it back on to overdrive and once again there was the clunking noise...i was embarrased to ask b/c of the fact that idk if this is noise is bad or normal or what but i guess its better to ask than not at all....at least it wasn't me who did it in the first place. I was just wondering if it is safe at all to switch from overdrive to no overdrive when you are going speeds such as 65mph like i was.

[damronjr]

Quote, originally posted by ashleymc_38 »It seems like there is a big difference in the rpms when i switch from overdrive to no overdrive at all. I usually keep overdrive on for the gas mileage and the fact that it doesn't idle as high. Is that considered the "engine noise" that everyone complains about? It does seem a little loud and well, i'm not really sure if its normal b/c of the fact that i don't know what this "engine noise" is supposed to be. I guess what i meant to say was, that i was driving on the expressway one time with my friend and he goes "what is this button for" and he switched the overdrive from on to off and it made a huge clunking noise so then he switched it back on to overdrive and once again there was the clunking noise...i was embarrased to ask b/c of the fact that idk if this is noise is bad or normal or what but i guess its better to ask than not at all....at least it wasn't me who did it in the first place. I was just wondering if it is safe at all to switch from overdrive to no overdrive when you are going speeds such as 65mph like i was.Shouldn't clunk. Should just jump in rpms a little and feel like you need to change gears. Might want to go get that checked out. I switch the overdirve off at high speeds, even leave it off up to 100mph just to get the extra boost from time to time or to use as a kick when the engine doesn't seem to want to go anywhere. But still, it never makes any clunking noise. If you're just saying "clunk" in reference to the sharp raise in rpms and seemingly lowering of speed or power, that is normal. If it's a clunking noise you better get that looked at.

[ashleymc_38]

Quote, originally posted by damronjr »Shouldn't clunk. Should just jump in rpms a little and feel like you need to change gears. Might want to go get that checked out. I switch the overdirve off at high speeds, even leave it off up to 100mph just to get the extra boost from time to time or to use as a kick when the engine doesn't seem to want to go anywhere. But still, it never makes any clunking noise. If you're just saying "clunk" in reference to the sharp raise in rpms and seemingly lowering of speed or power, that is normal. If it's a clunking noise you better get that looked at.Well, i think i might try that again. It was a while ago and I don't remember if it was really a clunk or maybe just a hard shift. Should it even shift hard? I'll have to try it on my way home tonight from work and get back on this one. I'm just trying to find out whatever i can that might be wrong with my car before my warranty expires!

[scherry2]

Quote, originally posted by ashleymc_38 »Should it even shift hard?well the RPMs jumping up would cause you to think it was shifting hard. just go out and drive it about 40 mph and hit the button then hit it back again while keeping your foot in the same place on the gas pedal. to get the feel of the trans pulling and the RPMs rise and falling. It shouldn't be a "clunk" though.

[ashleymc_38]

So on the way home from work today i tried turning on and off the overdrive while going at a steady 50mph speed. There was no clunking noise! Thank heavens! Idk, apparently i don't remember the day well enough when i thought it made a "clunking" noise but at least now i realize that all it is, is a short little reaction and that my rpms jumped a little higher...but what is considered a normal rpm range when the overdrive is off? it seems that my vibe, when i am going around 50mph with the overdrive off, i'm up at around 3000rpms. So, what is "normal"? With the overdrive on ...ahh..i would say at that speed i'm around 2000rpms, maybe a little lower...input would be great!!

[jake75]

I can't think of any good reason to ever turn the overdrive off. [I am sure someone here will have one though.]

[joatmon]

At highway speeds, the engine RPMs should be about 45% higher with OD off than with it on

[slvrvibes]

I always have my OD on. I used to turn it off when going through downtown with all the lights I would get stuck at, but then started to just leave it on all the time.