I've had my Vibe for two weeks and noticed the air smelled pretty funky when you turned it on. I figured the first step in trouble-shooting this would be to check the cabin filter. Well, I'm glad I checked it first. Honestly it's pretty disturbing how someone could just ignore something like this for a while. I'm going to assume it's the original that came on the car in 2004. Compared to a new one:Yuck!
'04 Vibe GT (Salsa Red) - Stock outside of an '03 Vibe GT ECU
That's pretty nasty! I bet though, that it's one of those "out of site, out of mind" deals. It really doesn't take that long though for those to dirty up.
I've been afraid to look at ours w/+/- 44k on it. I haven't yet tried but probably should.edit: Checked it a few hours ago and though its been in there for at least a year it looked OK. I blew it out w/compressed air and put it back in... for now.
FJ's Garage Thread "There is no tool you can buy that will replace experience." - Josh Mills, C.K.DeLuxe January 2011 GenVibe MOTM
2009 Vibe 1.8L Carbon Gray AT Power Pkg 1/12/092003 Vibe 1.8L Neptune AT Mono Power Pkg 1/27/03 [sold 2/2/09]2007 T&C SWB 7/31/07 "Broke people stay broke by living like they're rich. Rich people stay rich by living like they're broke."
this reminds me that I still have 4-5 spares waiting to go in.. I did it the DIY way, just bought a large sized HVAC type filter (for a house) and cut it up into little squares. Works nicely, waaaayy cheaper.
james / bodhi tree studio / tattoos & illustration / http://www.bodhitreestudio.comebay store : vintage clothing & toys---03 Satellite Vibe GT // 04 Neptune base // 1986 VW Golf // 1990 VW Golf GL---
Hmm, I recently did this to the other side of the cabin fresh air intake: I think that would help with keeping out larger debris, though the original reason was to block mice from coming in through here.
Would you agree to debris acceptance? 2003 Vibe GTMods installed GM Top and Mid-Gate Spoilers, Cosmo CAI, TWM Short Shifter with Desert Eagle weighted shift knob, TWM Bronzoil Shifter Cable Bushings, Magnaflow Cat Back Exhaust, Unichip, Injen Billet Aluminum Engine/Sparkplug covers and oil cap, Optima RedTop Battery, Lineage Ground Wire KitAwaiting install: Energy Suspension Motor Mounts, DC Sports Header
Would you agree to debris acceptance? 2003 Vibe GTMods installed GM Top and Mid-Gate Spoilers, Cosmo CAI, TWM Short Shifter with Desert Eagle weighted shift knob, TWM Bronzoil Shifter Cable Bushings, Magnaflow Cat Back Exhaust, Unichip, Injen Billet Aluminum Engine/Sparkplug covers and oil cap, Optima RedTop Battery, Lineage Ground Wire KitAwaiting install: Energy Suspension Motor Mounts, DC Sports Header
That is disgusting ! I think most people never realize their vehicle even has a cabin air filter and consequently, never change it. Ours will never get that bad because I use the air compressor to blow them out every time I change the oil. I replaced ours at 15,000 miles and they didn't look too bad at all.
2009 Liquid Platinum Metallic Vibe GT - 5-Speed Auto – Garage
2009 Steel Blue Metallic Vibe GT - 5-Speed Auto – Garage
i bet mine looks worse than that. I haven't even checked mine since buying my car. I guess I'll take a look next time I'm messing with my car.My cabin reeks of watermelons lol. I use those oil-wick air fresheners you attach to your vents, they last way longer and smell pretty damn good. It smells so strong that when I replaced my seats with less-worn-out ones, I could smell the watermelon smell on the seat when I had it sitting in my room.
My cabin filter looked like that when I first bought my Vibe. Looked like the previous owner didnt change it out. It was pretty nasty. I can honeslty say no one would take care of my car better than me. Its totally babied cause I want this car to last after it paid off so I can be without a car payment & jumpstart my retirement !
* 2003 Vibe Auto Satellite Silver w / Moons & Tunes
* Kenwood Excelon KDC-X597
* Polk DB651-Speakers
* Soundproofcow Roadblock R sound deadening in all doors
* Drop In K & N Filter
* NGK Iridium IX Plugs
* 27 MPG City/Highway with AC on
yeah our filter looked pretty bad as well, like the first post. It also smelled nasty! As I said in another post, it let off a moldy smell (some say the smell is like cat urine!) and fogged up the windshield when the air was first turned on (hot or cold!).After replacement, everything was great! No more smell or fogging! No need to "disinfect the air duct system" as some were saying had to be done.
It will cost you a small fortune to have a professional do it for you. And it's so easy in these cars you can easily DIY and save 50%.Filter cost: $30, unless you make your own out of a whole house filter. Then it's even cheaper, and you will probably get 6 cabin filters out of the one.Labor: 10-15 mins = $0Professional (parts + mark up + labor): est. $60-$70I don't know about you, but I don't have the $$$ to throw away on such an easy fix. I'd rather save it for when I have a really big problem I can't handle myself.
FJ's Garage Thread "There is no tool you can buy that will replace experience." - Josh Mills, C.K.DeLuxe January 2011 GenVibe MOTM
I'm suprised there isn't any deer fur and dead squirrels caught up in that old of a filter. Please save your money: cut up ordinary furnace filters. On the 2009-10 Vibe, you may want to stack two filters since the housing is so much larger.