L@@k what I got FREE from my Pontiac Vibe dealer

[avid-vibe]

At last the SHIFT REALEASE BUTTON......$9 but the dealer paid.

Attached files

[ramenboy...]

those dealers a princes, i tell ya

[GrayFox]

$9.... glad they paid. I think it's crazy that itty bitty stuff like that is any more that a few cents

[wyldejackyl]

If you knew what it cost to make those parts, it'd make you even sicker. A few cents maybe on the high end..depending on who made the tooling and the price of materials at the time. The technology that makes many of those parts is very similar if not spot-on to the same industrial processes that make plastic shampoo bottle caps, perfume sprayers, etc. If you got enough volume (which automakers do), the piece price is infinitesmally MINISCULE.

[GrayFox]

yeah i can imagine... that's why i think its so stupid

[BLAQJAQ]

ok I guess I'm an idiot..not sure what i'm looking at?

[GrayFox]

if yours is a standard then you don't have one.it's the little shift lock button cover that sits to the right of the auto shifter. it's about the size of a dime (maybe smaller)

[ZubenElGenubi]

This thingy:

[BLAQJAQ]

oh ok..thank for clarifying..9 bucks seems kinna steep for a plastic thingy...

[VforVIBE]

So, what do it do? I doesn't feel very button like to me.

[GrayFox]

It's really the cover for the button.

[jake75]

So why is it even needed?

[GrayFox]

ummmm.... to cover the button?

[Katscan]

yea I dont have that covered and the dealer had no clue what its for and the manual doesnt say what it does either

[VforVIBE]

Quote, originally posted by ANO_Vibe »ummmm.... to cover the button? So what is it that this button under this button cover do exactly? Passenger ejection seat? rocket booster? Flame thrower? Oil slick for that little black thing over the back window? hmmmm...

[binary]

Automatic transmissions won't allow you out of Park unless you have the brake pressed down and the engine is running.If something should break in the parts that unlock the transmission - you're parked until you get a tow to a repair shop.Well after the manufactures listened to their mechanics who got reamed up one side and down the other for a stupid lockout costing a poor unfortunate sucker a few hundred bucks - they decided to allow you to manually unlock the transmission in case something goes wrong with the "feature"So yeah, it's a way to bypass a safety feature. The $9 cover is usually in the glove box, along with the two rubber plugs for the tie downs on the frame. All of these are supposed to be installed by the dealer upon delivery.The key words are "supposed to be". As many Vibe owners bought their cars new and never had this cover. I drive a manual, so I don't get one of these fancy nine dollar plastic plugs.

[Katscan]

Soooooo how do you work it?

[northvibe]

while there are no keys in the car you push that button down then can move the shifter. I had to do this while putting my springs in worked good, except that little cap is a paint to get off

[jake75]

Quote, originally posted by ANO_Vibe »ummmm.... to cover the button? The Pope says I can't do that!

[GrayFox]

lol, when I bought mine (used) the cover was on upside down & what does the pope have anything to do with this?

[808 Vibes]

$9????!!!!! I will try to find out how much they are here. Maybe I'll go tomorrow...see what they say.

[jake75]

Quote, originally posted by ANO_Vibe »lol, when I bought mine (used) the cover was on upside down & what does the pope have anything to do with this?It's "Pope" with a capital P and you have insulted me and my religion. If you do not apologize immediately I will burn your house to the ground!

[GrayFox]

Quote, originally posted by jake75 »It's "Pope" with a capital P and you have insulted me and my religion. If you do not apologize immediately I will burn your house to the ground!I'm hoping you forgot the after that little outburst...I was just wondering what the Pope had to do with the button cover. No need for hostilities & I don't think the Pope would like you threatening to burn my house down either (please note the "wink")

[jake75]

Quote, originally posted by ANO_Vibe »I was just wondering what the Pope had to do with the button cover. No need for hostilities (please note the "wink")I guess my original attempt at humor was a little too subtile. My follow-up attempt also - but that was mroe of a political comment than an attempt at humor.Jay Leno last night was talking about the Pope now being provided with additional "protection". He then made a "joke" that he thought the Pope did not believe in "protection" or something to that effect. Oh well, it was a slow night.

[GrayFox]

lol, I still don't get what the Pope has to do with you not being able to cover the button... Anyway... how can dealerships get away with charging $9 for somehting like this. I know Research & Developement is expensive and time consuming... but on a button cover? lol

[vibe-04]

I don't get the pope reference but he does wear funny hats so he must be a jokster.The shift release is important to learn for newbies (not us of course ) cause I've seen people breakdown in the middle of the street and not know how to move the car.I like the pic and the "MADE IN JAPAN" emphasis. Why the heck does everything have made in somewhere printed on it anyway?

[jake75]

[QUOTE=vibe-04I like the pic and the "MADE IN JAPAN" emphasis. Why the heck does everything have made in somewhere printed on it anyway?[/QUOTE]There is a federal "Country of Origin" marking law. Detailed U.S. Customs regulations on that.

[808 Vibes]

Well, I went down today to the parts department. They said my salesperson will pay for the part, which should get here in like a week.

[808 Vibes]

Picked up my plastic cover yesterday; they didn't call me to pick it up because only the salesman had my contact number and he quit already but I still didn't have to pay for it It looks WAY better with it on!!!!

[lmhansen]

Took me 2 seconds to get the Pope joke, but then, I have a dirty mind. So, get your mind in the gutter, and you'll understand what the "cover" and the "button" is, and why the Pope disapproves.

[trtlflwrs]

yes, those of us whose minds tend to LEAP towards the gutter got it... glad i wasn't the only one willing to admit it!

[4azdmunky]

WOW , This whole time I thought that those were a urban legend. I have NEVER actually seen one IRL. None of the Vibes on the lot had the cover, i've seen fuzzy, out of focus pictures. So they really do exist, it isnt a government coverup.

[808 Vibes]

I wanted to show my fellow Vibe brothers & sisters just how much better it looks with this part! BEFORE: AFTER:

[tribalman]

wow. i saw that thing and went, "(removed) is this? oh well. forget it". thanks for the info on what it is! and on the topic of the cover, i don't even see the thing cause of the way i sit in the car, so i'm not droping $9 on that. maybe cause i have to get a new window, but that's another topic.

[vibe-04]

Nice finger nail. Is that professional manicure?

[808 Vibes]

Aw, shucks...thanks I'm too poor for manicures, so I grow and do my own nails

[goodvibrations]

Just so you know you can get the part at the Toyota dealer for 2 or 3 dollars. I did.