New to the Vibe

MotoAce51 · Post by **MotoAce51** » Fri Jan 14, 2011 12:11 pm

I just bought a 2004 Vibe and its a decent little car. It goes with my 97 Lumina, and 2001 PT Cruiser. When I first brought her home I was getting 33.5mpg. I loved it. I drive a lot for work and it was nice to see great gas mileage. The week after my mileage dropped to 28mpg. Last week I got 24.5mpg. I just filled up this evening and I was down to 23mpg. I did like the car but now I am wondering whats going on. I did notice the tank isnt venting properly since you can here the pressure when you take the cap off. Once I get the mileage sorted out, I will be installing a set of HID's, CAI, tinted windows, and a set of rims when the snow melts. I hope to get pics the next time I wash the car. Right now its gross with all the dirt and salt on the car.

04chargedvibe · Post by **04chargedvibe** » Fri Jan 14, 2011 12:21 pm

welcome to genvibe!!

kostby · Post by **kostby** » Fri Jan 14, 2011 12:35 pm

Welcome to GenVibe!If the heater is set to either defrost position, it will cut gas mileage by several MPG because the (A/C) compressor runs pretty much full time.Idling to warm up the car in cold weather is always at 0 MPG.Keeping the RPM below 3000 is pretty key to getting good mileage too. It's possible that you were driving more conservatively during the first few weeks, and now that you're comfortable with the car, are driving it harder.Check the tire pressures too. They drop about 1 lb for every 10 degree drop in temperature.

ponta2147 · Post by **ponta2147** » Fri Jan 14, 2011 12:44 pm

Quote, originally posted by kostby Â»Welcome to GenVibe!If the heater is set to either defrost position, it will cut gas mileage by several MPG because the (A/C) compressor runs pretty much full time.Didn't know that! Good to know, that will explain why my mileage is down.

tpollauf · Post by **tpollauf** » Fri Jan 14, 2011 1:15 pm

Welcome Do you think it's all that SNOW you get there in Bufallo ? My wife is from the Jamestown/Olean area and we get up to the Tonawanda's regularly to visit family & friends. Keep an active log on those MPG numbers and hopefully they will improve with weather conditions & a little behavioral modification

808 Vibes · Post by **808 Vibes** » Fri Jan 14, 2011 3:55 pm

Welcome Quote, originally posted by kostby Â»Welcome to GenVibe!If the heater is set to either defrost position, it will cut gas mileage by several MPG because the (A/C) compressor runs pretty much full time.Idling to warm up the car in cold weather is always at 0 MPG.Keeping the RPM below 3000 is pretty key to getting good mileage too. It's possible that you were driving more conservatively during the first few weeks, and now that you're comfortable with the car, are driving it harder.Check the tire pressures too. They drop about 1 lb for every 10 degree drop in temperature.All these years later and I've *never even noticed* that we don't have CCOT compressors!

star_deceiver · Post by **star_deceiver** » Fri Jan 14, 2011 4:11 pm

Welcome to GenVibe!!!

jkm311 · Post by **jkm311** » Fri Jan 14, 2011 11:54 pm

Quote, originally posted by tpollauf Â»Do you think it's all that SNOW you get there in Bufallo? My wife is from the Jamestown/Olean area and we get up to the Tonawanda's regularly to visit family & friends. You stole my thunder, Tim! Born and raised in Tonawanda/Amherst/Williamsville area. Wish it would have come up more @ the Indy Meet!And, yes Ã¢Â€Â“ I was in David's neck of the woods to watch the Buffalo Spills many a Sunday. Most recently at the last Pats game = Woof.Welcome, David!

ramenboy... · Post by **ramenboy...** » Sat Jan 15, 2011 2:23 am

Quote, originally posted by ponta2147 Â»Didn't know that! Good to know, that will explain why my mileage is down.That, and the fact that, with your cai, you've prob got a lead foot.

Blueridge9 · Post by **Blueridge9** » Sat Jan 15, 2011 2:49 am

Welcome, I've got a 2004 Vibe too and have loved it since 2006.

KITT222 · Post by **KITT222** » Sat Jan 15, 2011 3:44 am

Snow really decreases mileage, as does city driving (obviously). I suggest getting some sort of fuel economy monitor in your car, and watch the instantaneous mileage. It's amazing what your foot position can do to fuel economy. Example, I was going stead at 45MPH, and my gauge read 22.7MPG. I reduced pressure a bit, and was getting about 42.5MPG at the same speed. If you REALLY want to boost your mileage, check out ecomodder.com .

Salsa Guy · Post by **Salsa Guy** » Sat Jan 15, 2011 8:01 am

Welcome to GenVibe Edited by OU.Grizzly

ramenboy... · Post by **ramenboy...** » Sat Jan 15, 2011 8:43 am

Quote, originally posted by rmckinjr Â»Welcome to GenVibeerrrr..... wrong site Fixed.... Edited by OU.Grizzly

Blanco_Diablo · Post by **Blanco_Diablo** » Sat Jan 15, 2011 9:34 am

Welcome to the family. Another person who grew up in WNY here Just outside of Lockport! Go Bills!

vibolista · Post by **vibolista** » Sun Jan 16, 2011 2:26 am

Welcome to the Vibe show. You need to follow kostby's suggestions and add a few steps, too. Your Vibe is an '04, so it wouldn't be unreasonable to think about replacing the spark plugs, the air filter and the oil and filter as well, if you haven't already. Denso Iridiums are very good and my favorite Winter oil is synthetic. It doesn't seem to turn into a thick gel as fast as dino oil does when temps drop way down.Driving on snow is a known MPG killer. Driving in very cold Winter air is an MPG killer. Winter gasoline blends are also MPG killers. If you don't keep your tire pressures at near optimal levels, that will help kill your MPGs as well. Lots of MPG killers out there... but the biggest one comes from overmodulation of the go pedal. Go easy as you can with the accelerator pedal and you'll get excellent MPGs!!!Where did you find your Vibe? Did you drive it home from a warmer climate? And usually on this forum, you will find people who are just a little impatient with new members that haven't posted their car's picture. So here's a gentle nudge... we would like to see a picture or pictures of your Vibe.

TONY TAT2 · Post by **TONY TAT2** » Sun Jan 16, 2011 7:51 am

I was in LOCKPORT NY back in july of 78 with my old 68 VETTE,some friends from Philly moved there so I took a ride to see em.Also drove into Canada to check out the falls,got pulled over into customs comming back into the states.

Salsa Guy · Post by **Salsa Guy** » Sun Jan 16, 2011 8:22 am

What I'd say that needed to be edited? 9thgen? MO? LOL

ou.grizzly · Post by **ou.grizzly** » Sun Jan 16, 2011 9:32 am

Quote, originally posted by rmckinjr Â»What I'd say that needed to be edited? 9thgen? MO? LOL You said welcome to MOThis is not MO

Salsa Guy · Post by **Salsa Guy** » Sun Jan 16, 2011 9:59 am

Sorry all!

MotoAce51 · Post by **MotoAce51** » Sun Jan 16, 2011 10:33 am

Thanks for the welcome.I have been doing a lot of research about the mileage, I set the tire pressure, ran some injector cleaner through the system, and I try to nurse it a little but sometimes I do need to jump on it when passing someone. Ill prob throw a filter in this week, unless I find a decent CAI and install that instead. Its just too cold to do any work now. Ill get some pics but you won't like how ditry it is. Its pretty gross!

star_deceiver · Post by **star_deceiver** » Sun Jan 16, 2011 12:03 pm

Dirtly car.... never seen that before...

MotoAce51 · Post by **MotoAce51** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 8:33 am

You asked for it. This is 3 days of driving over the mountian to one of my plants.

BlueCrush · Post by **BlueCrush** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 8:42 am

(removed)! That's hideous....haha j/k. Nice 2-tone. My Vibe looks like that half the winter. Welcome to GenVibe!

A Psycho Martyr · Post by **A Psycho Martyr** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 2:53 pm

Quote, originally posted by ponta2147 Â»Didn't know that! Good to know, that will explain why my mileage is down.news to me too! glad to hear it, so now i cn expect it

star_deceiver · Post by **star_deceiver** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 3:01 pm

That's it? Meh, it's just a light coating.... you can still see out of the driver/passenger windows...

MotoAce51 · Post by **MotoAce51** » Tue Jan 18, 2011 3:37 am

Still drives me nuts, and needs a good cleaning. I cant wait until summer when I can throw a set of wheels on it.

lovemyraffe · Post by **lovemyraffe** » Wed Jan 19, 2011 1:31 am

Welcome to GenVibe!

MotoAce51 · Post by **MotoAce51** » Wed Jan 19, 2011 7:25 am

Cleaned last night but woke to an ice storm this morning.

jkm311 · Post by **jkm311** » Wed Jan 19, 2011 7:36 am

Those, for the price and purpose, have to be the nicest wheel covers I have seen on an Abyss Vibe. I understand wanting rims for the warmer months, but if you put snows on those steel rims, those covers do a good job of pulling the black-on-black together!

MotoAce51 · Post by **MotoAce51** » Wed Jan 19, 2011 9:22 am

Yeah when I got the car it had the stock covers with cracks and missing pieces so for winter I got these for like $30. They do the job for now. Plus it lets me see if I want to go with the Black/ chrome trim combo, or if I should go another direction. Next I need to get the windows tinted (not sure what % to go yet, NYS legal is 70% which is nothing) and HID's. I got the HID's for the fog lights but I don't want to install until I get the headlight's.

torker · Post by **torker** » Wed Jan 19, 2011 10:17 am

Looks good. My vibe does the same thing in the winter. One or two tanks will show 22 or 23 but it always pops back up to 27 or so. A little warm up here, a little extra defrost etc. I run mine on floor only when I can to keep the AC from cycling. Looks like the ski rack might be eating a mpg. Looks like the mesh is missing in your lower grill openings. You got a really clean looking ride there. Welcome to one of the top 10 cheapest cars to own and operate..

star_deceiver · Post by **star_deceiver** » Wed Jan 19, 2011 11:54 am

You need winter tires.... +1 on that roof rack eating your gas mileage!

A Psycho Martyr · Post by **A Psycho Martyr** » Wed Jan 19, 2011 12:26 pm

sexy car!

MotoAce51 · Post by **MotoAce51** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 1:35 am

Yeah the bottom grill was missing when I got the car. I am looking for something to put in there thats different. I was thinking about the billet aluminum parts I saw on ebay but I havent seen them for the 04 since I first looked.Also, what do you think if I make a roof fairing for the roof rack in the winter? I have some polished aluminum left over, or can do it out of plexi.

torker · Post by **torker** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 1:41 am

An airfoil of some sort would surely make a difference. For the grill you might look at a surplus store or home depot for some stamped alum. I actually used a piece of gutter guard for a similar project.. I am cheap.

MotoAce51 · Post by **MotoAce51** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 3:44 am

I am an engineer that designs plows, mounts, and dump trucks, so I have some resourses I can use. Maybe I will draw something up and see what I can come up with.

jkm311 · Post by **jkm311** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 3:59 am

My only concern would be weight, and if it were to become loose from hitting something or being hit. It'll be fun to see what you come up with.

MotoAce51 · Post by **MotoAce51** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 7:34 am

Actually I was thinking the same thing and out of pure luck I found some carbon fiber sheets in the closet and may design something using that instead.

A Psycho Martyr · Post by **A Psycho Martyr** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 10:08 am

lol... who has carbon fiber sheets in their closet? If you make something, be sure to take pics along te way. I wanna see how it's done

MotoAce51 · Post by **MotoAce51** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 11:14 pm

Well this project will be put on hold. Vibe's back window exploded on my drive to work, switched cars with my fiance, totaled her car on the way to work. FML. Oh yeah and her car is on her mom's insurence without collision...

jkm311 · Post by **jkm311** » Thu Jan 20, 2011 11:21 pm

From one Western New Yorker to another: sorry, brotha.Hope you get things sorted out, and we'll be here when you get back in the game.For now, do you need the backglass for sale in this thread? It's #8 on member shaeet's list of goodies and ships from Maryland:http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=43448Hope this helps, if a local junkyard can't get one for you.

MotoAce51 · Post by **MotoAce51** » Fri Jan 21, 2011 8:10 am

Yeah, that was the part but I got lucky and insurence covered it.

torker · Post by **torker** » Fri Jan 21, 2011 10:36 am

Damn that sucks. Hope you can get it fixed quick. Why did it explode? Does this happen to Vibes alot?

tpollauf · Post by **tpollauf** » Fri Jan 21, 2011 11:04 am

Wow ... What a mess You need really tp find a garage to keep your Vibe in, then this may not have happened ??? If not temperature related then what did cause this to shatter? Neighbor kids with pellet guns (that happened to me years ago ) Hope the next window lasts forever

star_deceiver · Post by **star_deceiver** » Sat Jan 22, 2011 7:26 am

It's been a while since I've seen that happen.

MotoAce51 · Post by **MotoAce51** » Sat Jan 22, 2011 9:08 am

I was driving when it happened. I was about 20min into the drive to work. It sounded like a gun going off. Scared the crap out of me. I am wondering if a stone came out of a snowblower or something. It was just the start to the good day. Ill post pics of the totaled PT cruiser tomorrow.

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