Vibe newbie: How can a car look so nice

[addev]

Hi from Eagan MNI noticed vibe for the first time two years ago and fell in love the way it looked. I finally got it about a month ago. I still wipe my shoes before I get in LOL. Mine is an Silver 06 automatic base vibe with 35600 miles on it. Bought it from a small dealership and the experience was hassle free. I got the car for $14k tax inclusive which I still think was a fantastic deal. Correct me if I'm wrong. I was never looking for performance ..... but was all about looks, comfort, GAS MILEAGE, practicality and coolness. For some reason I always loved hatch back/cross-overs and I finally own one. Every time I look at the baby it makes me smile.Problems I had so far:1) Moldy smell - I changed the in cabin air filter and sprayed alot of lysol on the filter and in the ac vents. The smell seem to have gone.2) I am never able to get 60mpg ...... Just kidding3) Sometimes I smell sulphury smell momentarilyQuestion for all genvibe gurus!!I have 400 miles left for my factory warranty to expire. Should I get anything checked? I just did an oil change (synthetic oil) and had tires rotated. My coolant in reservoir tank is at the low line .... should I be concerned? I do not see a puddle under my car. Today i checked the inside of my exhaust with a paper towel. It was kind of damp ...... Is this normal. (This might sound stupid) I was trying to check if the coolant was leaking from the exhaust, but there was no red/pink coloration on the paper towel. Anyways please suggest if I need to do anything. I'm attaching a pic of my vibe.I took some vibe wallpapers from online and made a collage ..... am sharing that too. I do not know how to add pics so am sharing them thru picasa.http://picasaweb.google.com/ra...JrGVI

[NascarXprt]

Let me be the first to welcome you to the Site! very clean looking car! (i wish mine looked like it used to before the misshaps )

[808 Vibes]

Welcome and congrats! Nice 2-tone you have there! (and love your Tintin & Snowy avatar!)

[kunkstyle]

Quote, originally posted by addev »Sometimes I smell sulphury smell momentarilySounds like the cats. Quote, originally posted by addev »My coolant in reservoir tank is at the low line .... Was the car cold? Or at operating temperature? If it was cold, it should be at the low line. Compare it again in the same condtions and look for a change. As long as there's coolant in the resevior you're good. Monitor it for a while, but I'm guessing you're okay. If it's at the min line when at operating temperature, add some antifreeze or distilled water, and then monitor it.Welcome to the forums. Sounds like your vibe has a good new owner.

[Caretaker]

Welcome. I'm not sure why you were expecting coolant to exit out of the end of the exhaust, but water (vapor) is a natural bi-product of the combustion process-catalytic process-exhaust process. Water accumulates in the exhaust pipes and especially in mufflers if a car has not been driven for a long enough distance to heat up the entire exhaust system and evacuate that accumulated water. As for the low radiator fluid in the overflow cannister, that could be one of 3 things: 1. your radiator is low on fluid and can no longer cyphon it out of the overflow cannister to compensate (check this theory first thing this morning when the car is cold by taking off the radiator cap and seeing if the fluid level is at the top of the radiator. If not, add some to the radiator and to the fill line of the overflow jug. Monitor it for a week.)2. you do have a leak. You should be able to see if the hoses are the original or look newer and have been replaced. If original, and you don't know when the radiator fluid was changed last, go and get the fluid changed out very soon and have them inspect the hoses.3. your radiator fluid was recently replaced along with new hoses. When you get new hoses and switch out the radiator fluid, there will naturally be some air gaps in the line for a day or two, and the radiator will suck extra fluid from the overflow jug to compensate and keep the radiator full. Does the fluid look bright and clear? Do the hoses look new? If so, you simply just need to fill the overflow jug back up to the fill line.

[addev]

Thanks NascarXprt!Nice colors! What happened to your vibe?

[addev]

Thanks! Yes I grew up with tintin and asterix comics

[addev]

Hi maxx4me, Thanks for the suggestions! Quote, originally posted by maxx4me »Welcome. I'm not sure why you were expecting coolant to exit out of the end of the exhaust, If i'm not wrong I had heard that coolant can leak thru exhaust (I'm a novice )Quote, originally posted by maxx4me »Does the fluid look bright and clear? Do the hoses look new? If so, you simply just need to fill the overflow jug back up to the fill line.I'll check that today and post the pictures.Thanks!!!!!

[808 Vibes]

Years ago my sister sent me the book The Crab with the Golden Claws. I have to find it...I think it's at my Mom's.I want to see if they have the series on DVD!

[addev]

maxx4me,It might be the case that I have a coolant leak since it is at the low line. I did look the the coolant, it looks pink on paper towel but orange when I shine a light on it. What coolant should I use? to do my test? Or should I just go to the dealer since it is under warranty? I have 400 miles left before the warranty expires. Should the dealer fix it for free?Please adviceThanksRavi

[Nelson]

3) Sometimes I smell sulphury smell momentarilyCould be evidence of demon activity.

[BlueCrush]

Howdy Neighbor! Welcome to GenVibe! I haven't read the other replies so these may have been answered already but here are some things to try/know.Quote, originally posted by addev »Hi from Eagan MNI noticed vibe for the first time two years ago and fell in love the way it looked. I finally got it about a month ago. I still wipe my shoes before I get in LOL. Mine is an Silver 06 automatic base vibe with 35600 miles on it. Bought it from a small dealership and the experience was hassle free. I got the car for $14k tax inclusive which I still think was a fantastic deal. Correct me if I'm wrong. I was never looking for performance ..... but was all about looks, comfort, GAS MILEAGE, practicality and coolness. For some reason I always loved hatch back/cross-overs and I finally own one. Every time I look at the baby it makes me smile.Problems I had so far:1) Moldy smell - I changed the in cabin air filter and sprayed alot of lysol on the filter and in the ac vents. The smell seem to have gone. Check to see that the a/c line under the dash on the passenger's side is connected. It can sometimes get kicked and water can drip onto the passenger side carpet causing a moldy smell if not taken care of.2) I am never able to get 60mpg ...... Just kidding At least you can get halfway there...lol3) Sometimes I smell sulphury smell momentarily There was a TSB for this smell. Someone should be able to direct you to it. I never had the sulfer smell problem. It had something to do with the ECU or the Catalytic Converter. I would get that checked out before your warranty is up if possibleQuestion for all genvibe gurus!!I have 400 miles left for my factory warranty to expire. Should I get anything checked? I just did an oil change (synthetic oil) and had tires rotated. My coolant in reservoir tank is at the low line .... should I be concerned? I do not see a puddle under my car. Today i checked the inside of my exhaust with a paper towel. It was kind of damp ...... Is this normal. (This might sound stupid) I was trying to check if the coolant was leaking from the exhaust, but there was no red/pink coloration on the paper towel. when the engine is cold the coolant reservoir should be at the low level. when it is hot it should be at the higher level. If not, you may need to add little but keep an eye on it to see if it changes at all. Condensation is normal from the exhaust. I see water pouring out of other exhausts in front of me all the time.Anyways please suggest if I need to do anything. I'm attaching a pic of my vibe.I took some vibe wallpapers from online and made a collage ..... am sharing that too. I do not know how to add pics so am sharing them thru picasa.http://picasaweb.google.com/ra...JrGVI

[ramenboy...]

hey! welcome to the family!looks just like mine when i bought it!

[808 Vibes]

Quote, originally posted by Nelson »3) Sometimes I smell sulphury smell momentarilyCould be evidence of demon activity.HAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAA..."El Diablo...aqui!! aqui!!!" oh that still cracks me up to this day!

[NascarXprt]

Quote, originally posted by addev »Thanks NascarXprt!Nice colors! What happened to your vibe?the latest was this: http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=28875the third thing was this:http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=27536the first was this:http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=22731the last two have given me the nick name: VibeBassBoat aka VBB

[addev]

Quote, originally posted by ramenboy... »hey! welcome to the family!looks just like mine when i bought it!Thanks neighbor!! Whenever I see someone with a vibe I feel like telling them "tyte car!"

[addev]

Quote, originally posted by BlueCrush »Howdy Neighbor! Welcome to GenVibe! I haven't read the other replies so these may have been answered already but here are some things to try/know.Thanks neighbor for all your great advice!!!! It feels great that we're all there to support each other and not let the $tealers(dealers) get the better of us.

[addev]

Quote, originally posted by NascarXprt »the latest was this: http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=28875the third thing was this:http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=27536the first was this:http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=22731the last two have given me the nick name: VibeBassBoat aka VBBI have no words to console you!! Man you went thru a lot. I must say you have a strong heart!!!Hope you get your vibe fixed soon. The third day after I purchased the vibe .... a pebble chipped my windscreen and I wanted to cry