MAJOR forum gripe...

[jonathonbarton]

Ok.. I have one (and only one) pet peeve regarding the forum and it's denizens... There's hardly *any* good, solid technical information available (yeah, there are a few), but there seem to be LOADS of "how tall are you", "What Color is your vibe", "what kind of vibe do you own" sorts of posts...Here's a *great* example...Issue (both on the Vibe/Matrix and on the Suzuki Aerio):A/C Turns on to de-humidify the air when selecting Defrost - thus robbing engine power because the A/C compressor is running.GenVibe Solution (mentioned twice, by two different people)...Quote »you all are correct and there is no way of bypassing that option, its standard on all GM vehicles nowAerioStyle SolutionQuote »This was originally posted on the old SAF and I happened to have a printed copy still tucked in the pages on my manual. The credit for this goes to Tim who figured it out for us. The problem for some of us was that the A/C is allways on (even thought the button light is not lit) when the heater control is either of the 2 Defrost positions. The purpose is to "dry" the air to the windshield to prevent misting. The result is that fuel economy is reduced and performance sufferes when the defroster is on. This is a simple mod anyone can do in 10 minutes which stops the A/C from coming on with the defrost. If needed the A/C can still be initiated manually with the defrost simply by pressing the A/C button which then lights up. Since doing this mod I have actually had to manually use the A/C to demist my windshield twice over the last winter so I believe ti to be a very worthwhile mod. This is reported to work on the '02, '03 and '04's. You don't even have to remove the heater controls, just remove the ashtray slide (3 phillips screws using a magnetic bit so as not to lose the screw under the console), and if you have small hands (large handed people get you wife, teenager or pet monkey to help here or remove the bezel as well), reach up behind the heater control on the left side and pop the electrical connector (G61 for those with manuals). This connector has 14 spaces, 3 and 3 on top and 8 across the bottom 1 2 3______ 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 There should be 2 Green/White wires, one goes to terminal # 1 in the connector, the other goes to terminal #4. Terminal #1 is in the first group of 3, terminal #4 is in the same position in the second group of 3) Disconnect the wire from terminal #1, this is the wire that signals the A/C on when your in defrost mode. The wire can be removed with a paper clip or cotter pin. Look at the little slot over the pin, you will see 2 tapered metal tabs. Place the paper clip in the slot and slide it so it pushes the tabs open, then give the wire a gentle tug. As soon as the wire starts to move, remove the paper clip, and extract the wire from the connector. Tape the pin so that it won't short out anything and plug the connector back in. start the car and check to make sure it's all working as intended. This way has the advantage of not messing with the thermisters, so when you do turn the A/C on in defrost mode you get full A/C action regardless of ambient air temp.Both cars came out around the same time, and have about the same number of forum members...I think we have a *long* way to go in regards to our technical prowess... There are a *gazillioin* things that Valerie can do to her Aerio that are listed on the AerioStyle Forums as HowTos.Turn off the DRLsFoglights on with High beamsHow to install HIDshow to remove A/CHow to remove your door panelsHow to install an underdrive pulley setHow to do painted brake calipers (on the car)how to keep the radio display from dimming when the HLs are onetc.We don't seem to have *nearly* as many people who are digging into the technical bits of the car, and posting results...and the Aerio is *SO* not a "performance" car...Anyone up to the challenge of "turning up the tech" and joining me in compiling all the little technical how-tos that other styles of cars have available? Jon

[AKLGT]

ummm.... maybe you should look in the forums labeled: problems & warranty issuesmaintenance issuestech info & do it yourself infoengine & transmissionforced inductionhandling, suspension & brakeswheels & tiresand other such technical forums. plus the search feature is a great tool when looking up a specific issue. obviously forum areas such as:the loungeoff topicracingpolitical asylumare all areas that more than likely will not fit your technical question NEEDS. happy thanksgiving!

[ragingfish]

The A/C issue has been addressed on here already: http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=13549I think you're nuts to bypass this, it is done that way for a reason. That's just MHO. Anywho...As to the DRL bypass: http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=2191Fogs independently controlled: http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=12376HID: http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=11389Remove door panels: http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=2241Underdrive pulleys are dissuaded against because of past problems with oil pumps: http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=4798Painted calipers: http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=6177And to remove radio dimming, you probably just cut the illumination wire, but I can't swear to that, as I don't know if it plays a role in all illumination, or just dimming.All this info is available, you just have to SEARCH.And if you can't find it, ASK! If no one asks questions, there won't be any answers...

[Kari]

That's because the Vibe Lounge forum is general chat about our Vibes, and all technical information is funnelled into the forums Hope mentioned. There's a ton of tech info on this site, and some very knowledgeable people. You just have to look in the right forum.

[ragingfish]

If you wanna see EVERYTHING people are talking about, use "Active Topics" at the top of the screen...that shows all recent topics with activity in any category

[JohnC]

There is another site I frequent, it has the projects in a seperate forum. As members perform interesting mods and improvements they take a few pics and send em in as a how-to project. It has been very valuable to me. Genvibe has alot of the same type of info, it is just a little hard to find sometimes.Check out this how to forum, select "members", then "projects" from the left column.http://www.mysporttrac.com/mysporttrac/

[jonathonbarton]

Been there, done that...Yeah, I know that the Lounge isn't a technical forum, nor do I expect it to be.Nor am I saying that the technical information isn't out there on some issues...What I am saying is that what information *is* out there is...well...*really* hard to find, even using the search function...Even in the 'technical' forums, there are a lot more threads with question-titles (that may or may not have answers in them, necessitating reading the entirety of every thread to hope for an answer) than HowTo Answer-type-titled threads (where the answer would be obvious), and a 'sticky' guide at the top of each forum (that someone maintains on a regular basis) with issues and links to cut *way* down on question-titled threads where an answer already exists.I'm loving my new Vibe more every day, and will be taking it autocrossing for the first time Sunday, if it doesn't snow... and, to be clear, I spend LOTS and LOTS of time reading and searching for information, but I gotta say that, even after 2 weeks reading the forums every day, and researching quite a bit trying to learn all of the vibe-specific knowledge that I still have for my old Eagle Talon, there seem to be huge gaps, and what's here seems to be poorly organized and hard to find relative to the resources available on other model-specific car enthusiasts sites.The A/C thread is just the one that got me to post my experiences as a Car-tech friendly Vibe Noob...and put out a challenge to organize the information that *is* available, and collect information that we don't have...

[cohocarl]

http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id ... ad?id=824I did what I could.......

[nismo]

Honestly, there really isn't much made for our cars yet to really have a lot to say about the "How-to". Yeah, there exhaust, intake, pulley, flywheel, clutch. But some stuff like midpipe's, headers (some companies are starting to make), bodykits, euro tails, and some other stuff are not really known how to do because they are not made as of yet. So, before you start going off on how we don't have a lot of technical help, you should first check out what you have to work with.Inder

[ragingfish]

If you can't find what you're looking for through a title search, search WITHIN the threads, and you'll find your answer....

[joatmon]

perhaps someone of a group of volunteers could work on a how to index, finding and cross referencing the kinds of information you are looking for. A lot of it is already here, but it is not always obvious. If you are looking for a specific thing, you can search, but if you are just browsing for things to do, then it's hard to know what to search for. Either that or start reporting threads to the mods that you think should be in the how to's forum(edit - duh, meant the Tech info and DIY forum, there is no "how to's" forum here )

[NSimkins]

Thanks for the quite lengthy suggestion, but a good one nonetheless. I've already planned out some organizational upgrades to the site overall this winter. Check them out here and please feel free to add to the list (I jotted this one down).

[ToolGuy]

I think another point to remember goes to some of the "been here a long time members" that just because it is obvious to them where things are and what to do to get them on the site, may not always be so evident to newer members. I have seen this before here, we soon forget what it is like to be new... Acting in a non-condescending or matter of fact manner is what is needed when responding to a new member posts, to educate them. I agree with Jon mostly and first and foremost this site is about a car and not life or popularity... And before any one jumps all over me for this post, I am not calling out anyone in this post. Just something I have noticed and something to think about...

[kostby]

Not drawing any immediate conclusions, but jonathonbarton hasn't responded to this thread or posted on GVC since 11/26. IMHO, like any 'community' online-or-otherwise, people visit, take a taste, perhaps lurk a while, choose to move-in or keep looking, perhaps contribute on topics they choose, at a rate and in a manner they choose, and leave as they choose, each on their own timetable.Sharp criticism (even if 100% valid) isn't always the best or quickest way to make new friends and influence people!

[joatmon]

I don't think that a week's absence from posting is an indicator of much of anything.I think he had a good idea. I sort of tried to do something like that with the "recommended reading" thread, but there was no interest, and only a few gallant members bothered to identify important threads there.jonathon was pointing out a valid issue. My question is what is the best way to get there from here. The forum index indicates that there are almost 12 thousand threads here, that's a lot of data mining, someone would have to go through them and decide if they merit inclusion in a special how to or reference section. It would be really useful when done, but who among us has the time to do that?So, I suggest that when a member sees a thread that they think is useful, either as a "how to" or as a reference, then they IM the forum's moderator to nominate it to some "honored threads" list, and within that forum the moderator maintains a thread that provides an index to the honored threads in their subject area. Good how-tos could either be moved to a how to section, or kept in the appropriate forum, kind of like discussed in Generation Vibe Discussion Forums » Site Problems & Suggestions » frequent ask questionsThat would share the workload, and make some progress to the goal of having lots of good information easy to find. Otherwise, someone is going to have to wade through the entire site and do it alone

[Stang2Vibe]

It seems to me that "how-to" and "DIY" are pretty synonomous. Perhaps this problem may begin to be alleviated by beefing up the DIY forum a bit?One big problem I consistantly see is that many new members skip right over the instructions in the thread that reads something to the effect of "new members--read this first". They then begin to ask the same questions that have already been answered clearly in that thread. I am of the opinion (and this is not directed at any particular person but is meant in general) that many people don't seem to want to help themselves to find information. Some people seem to think that this is like a McDonald's drive through where they just pull up, make a request, and expect it to be handed to them. Then they get all bent out of shape if it isn't exactly the way they wanted it. GenVibe--like life in general--is only what you make of it. If you can't find it, ask for help. Most of the info is here, but I too must admit that it isn't always the easiest to find. But we can't help people to find info if they don't ask. I just see this as another one of the site's growing pains. Many long time members know the ropes here and are used to the system of asking for help while it seems that newer members just want to click and read on their own. I think of it kind of how it used to be when you went into a library years ago compared to now. Before, you used to go into the library, search the card catalogs and the stacks, and if you couldn't come up with anything you asked a librarian for assistance. Now you can go online, have a book pulled from the shelves and reserved for you at the front desk so that you can just drive there, walk in and pick it right up. Periodicals can often be accessed from a computer now so that you never even have to touch a printed copy. I guess that genvibe's volume of information has grown to a point now where a more "automated" type of system is becoming necessary. I think that perhaps that is what Jon was getting at.

[joatmon]

Quote, originally posted by joatmon »perhaps someone of a group of volunteers could work on a how to index, finding and cross referencing the kinds of information you are looking for. A lot of it is already here, but it is not always obvious. If you are looking for a specific thing, you can search, but if you are just browsing for things to do, then it's hard to know what to search for. this thread has been idle for a long time, but now zionzr2 has taken on this task, see http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=25918 to zionzr2

[zionzr2]

I hope this should alliviate the long list of Stickies.And put all the DIY/HOW-TO threads into one list.