Vibe GT Manual Transmission Questions

bonzo4ever · Post by **bonzo4ever** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 1:02 am

I'm hoping to do a fluid change on my 6-speed this weekend. Just ordered 3 quarts of Red Line MT-90 full synthetic on the recommendation of a few Matrix owners. Anyone have any thoughts on the fluid? I recently put full synthetic in the last oil change (Mobil 1 Extended Performance - LOVE It), so I'm hoping this will smooth out the shift action and help keep the synchros in good shape. Anyone have any tips? Trick? Other recommendations?Also - Big question that I can't seem to find an answer for: Is there a good way to lubricate the actual shifter, and the shift linkages inside the trans? When I bought the car the boot on the front of the transmission had been bumped and was off kilter, leaving a little space for air and maybe moisture to get in. Any help you experienced Vibe and Vibe GT owners can offer would be killer. Thanks!

NibCrom · Post by **NibCrom** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 1:37 am

What year is your GT?

bonzo4ever · Post by **bonzo4ever** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 2:35 am

Sorry, should have mentioned that in the original. 2003 Vibe GT w/45000 miles

engineertwin2 · Post by **engineertwin2** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 3:26 am

Wow. That's low mileage for an '03. I have the GT but can't speak much to what you are wanting to do.As always, I encourage people to ensure that whatever amsoi/purple crap/etc. they intend to use meets the specs for the fluid. In this case, it takes 2.4 US quarts of API GL-4 or API GL-5 and that it must be SAE 75W-90.What's prompting the work?

bonzo4ever · Post by **bonzo4ever** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 3:29 am

Just bought it about a month ago with 43000 on it. The shifter squeaks a little bit into 3rd and 5th, but mainly I'm just concerned about the gearbox maintenance. I have no faith whatsoever that the dealer did a fresh fluid change on it before I bought it, and no service records from the previous owner to know if they did or not at 30000. I'm hoping that changing it out will give me a little piece of mind in addition to some smoother shifting.

bonzo4ever · Post by **bonzo4ever** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 3:31 am

And the Red Line that everyone (honda and corolla owners, mostly) seem to be recommending is a GL-4, so it's safe for the synchros. I had to do quite a bit of reading to make sure of that (wanted a manual for years - this is my first finally).

NibCrom · Post by **NibCrom** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 3:55 am

Do you know if the fluid has been changed before? My feeling is change it often or don't change it at all. But I'm not an expert on the subject.

bonzo4ever · Post by **bonzo4ever** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 3:58 am

No way of telling, really.

CountryVibe · Post by **CountryVibe** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 4:08 am

it's really easy there are 2 bolt the on is on the rear drivers side of the transmission the other in about the middle of the transmission in on the front about the middle of the engine bay.The drain takes a 24mm socketthe fill plug takes a 10mm hex to remove.

bodhi_tree777 · Post by **bodhi_tree777** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 6:31 am

i have an 03 GT with 58k miles on it and just did the same procedure. it is, on paper, really easy, but getting the fill bolt off was a huge pain. Or maybe I just didn't have the proper tools, I dunno. I have no jackstands so I did it by shimmying under the car for the drain and did the fill from above. Had to finally take out the battery, unbolt the battery tray and put one foot up in the engine compartment to get the leverage to break the bolt free. I'm sure there was an easier way, but I dunno what it might have been I used Redline MT90, by the way, and it shifts wonderfully now. I bought the car at 47k miles and didn't know if the tranny had ever been serviced so I just did it for the peace of mind. Next step is to replace the rubber shifter bushings with brass which is supposed to clean things up even more. Again, it looks easy on paper

bonzo4ever · Post by **bonzo4ever** » Thu Jul 10, 2008 6:34 am

Awesome! Thank you for the response. That brings up another question - Anyone have a link to a guide for replacing those linkage bushings? I was also thinking about upgrading to the brass. And are the ones available on eBay a quality set? If so, they'd be the most affordable upgrade I've made so far.

DavidPIL · Post by **DavidPIL** » Fri Jul 11, 2008 9:00 am

Hey Bonzo...I'm just over in Danville... Have changed out my Manual Transmission fluid a few times simply because it's relatively cheap and fairly easy to do. Yeah, the MT90 worked the best for me too. I tried the Mobil 1 stuff. It was horrible. Also tried a combo of the 75w90NS with the 75w80 transmission fluid. That worked nice for a little while but the shifting started to become more difficult. Now I'm back with MT90 and it's perfect. If you need any help with it, let me know. I'm only 30 minutes down the road.Dave

bonzo4ever · Post by **bonzo4ever** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 2:19 am

Just got done changing the fluid out. Must have gotten lucky, as both of the bolts were fairly easy to remove and replace. Absolute piece of cake (which is more than I can say for my oil change I did a few weeks ago). Big thanks to LarryD over at NewCelica.org for the step-by-step walkthrough (With photos!) http://www.newcelica.org/forum...21104And thanks to everyone here for the recommendations. If anyone has any thoughts or info on lubing the actual shifter or the linkages (tips, tricks, etc.) I could really use them.

Guitarheroal · Post by **Guitarheroal** » Tue Apr 12, 2011 6:08 am

sorry to bump a 2 year old thread, but i just wanted to confirm a couple of things. I have an 04 vibe gt and am going to change the tranny fluid soon, as i have no idea if the previous owner changed it or not. Just wondering if the redline tranny fluid everyone is referring to in this thread is the same as this: http://www.amazon.com/Red-Line..._1_dpand also, the gt 6 speed takes 2.4 quarts correct?

Vibe GT Manual Transmission Questions

Vibe GT Manual Transmission Questions

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