DJ's Vibe

[dkim1]

My vibe pics

Attached files

[dkim1]

Engine compartment before paint

274206=9942-IMAG0005.JPG

[scherry2]

hows the tornado working out?

[Mrizzle05]

it says washed engine... but i saw some dirty spots!!! looks good! like the intake.

[dkim1]

Thanks guys for your compliments/jokes... The tornado doesn't necessarily save you gas, but in conjunction with the bosch platinum +4 spark plugs, they give off some horses. These plugs also give a much improved smoother engine operation and acceleration.Originally, i had a 2004 matrix that i wanted to put a trd s/c in. but, in an unfortuante event, my matrix got totaled (not my fault). while waiting for my check to arrive, from insurance company, i looked into buying a new matrix. but it would have costed 4k more than the check that was coming. so, instead i went to enterprise rent a car and asked if i could buy the vibe they had in their rental fleet. 2005 with 22k on it. basically, all i needed to do was pay for the TT&L when i got the check. I also had alot of parts that were interchangeable from the trix to the vibe. i didn't need to buy a new wire harness for my radio, a new cai, new plugs, etc...they just plugged right in. of course, i had to buy synthetics all over again. spent alot of money there.it's quite funny though when you think about this next segment. i was wanting a vibe before i got the matrix. the only reason why i got the base trix was that the guy who was selling it went to jail. this individual needed money and sold it to me with 10k on it for $9,000 + TT&L. it was practically brand new and was worth $14,500 according to nada retail.So, i learned a valuable lesson...err...? anyhoo, i got the car i wanted in the end. the point.again, thanks guys for looking at my car.

[dkim1]

did the pinstriping tape myself.

274279=9945-IMAG0001.JPG

[dkim1]

the rear also.

274280=9946-IMAG0003.JPG

[dkim1]

this is my cargo net i took off my trix...it says toyota on the pull tabs...you can also see my mp3 deck

274284=9947-IMAG0007.JPG

[dkim1]

i forgot to get the stupid rear mat from the trix...didn't want to buy one cuz it costs around $90 bucks...i decided to go to a company who sold carpets...asked if they had any they were going to throw away. coincidentally, they did and gave me a big chunk of carpet...yea it doesn't match anything, but it didn't cost me anything either.

274285=9948-IMAG0008.JPG

[dkim1]

gotta have my tribal guys...

274287=9949-IMAG0009.JPG

[dkim1]

a closeup shot of the pinstriping tape i did myself. more mods on the way.

274288=9950-IMAG00010.JPG

[Mrizzle05]

Looks good... and good work with the carpet. doesnt matter if its not the right color... it works and its free.

[dkim1]

I was prepping up the engine cover and fuse box top with gun metal gray primer, and i thought to myself it ain't bad looking. so i just added clear coat to match my air filter housing.

274541=9960-IMAG00011.JPG

[dkim1]

i also did the trim with multi-color multi-textured wood looking paint. i clear coated it and it made it look more like plastic again (ironic). someone told me that you cannot live life without irony-or was that iron.right side

274542=9961-IMAG00012.JPG

[dkim1]

left side

274543=9962-IMAG00014.JPG

[dkim1]

power mirror

274544=9963-IMAG00015.JPG

[dkim1]

the a/c control - 12v power outlet - around the shifter is actually one unit. i had one hella time getting that off. First, i took off the center a/c on-off turn control and underneath there is a screw holding that part on. once i popped it out (carefully) i had to pop off the 120v area before i could take the whole unit out of there (due to short wiring) talk about putting just enough wiring to produce a car (sheesh). after that the shifter part was even harder. first, pop off the o/d and shifter button module (i wasn't paying attention and actually broke off the o/d wire, it was short) there are 2 connecting pins that pops off (inward - not outward - pushing into the shifter) the tiny o/d button module. i had to sauder a new set of wires (it was a pain) for the o/d button connection wire i broke off. all's well though, got it back on and you can't even tell anything had happened. 2 screws holding auto shifter knob backside. push in all the way the little black button on the right side of Park at the same time move the shifter down to get to it without turning on the car. DON'T FORGET TO SET YOUR EMERGENCY BRAKE! That tiny little O/D module is a pain...you might have to cut the wires and then sauder or crimp extra wire about 1/2". make sure which goes where just in case.

274546=9964-IMAG00013.JPG

[NascarXprt]

nice vibe great detailing. i love that pin stripe. we are having a meet in Dallas Oct.28th if youd like to join send me a PM all we are waiting on is a site. hope you can make it.

[ToolGuy]

Quote, originally posted by dkim1 » so, instead i went to enterprise rent a car and asked if i could buy the vibe they had in their rental fleet. LOL!!!! I am sure the rental place was thinking SURE, YES, Definately we can sell you any car you want off the lot! LOL!!! I am not saying this is a bad thing, they way you worded it sounds funny! At any rate, nice car and nice work! I am a Do It Yourselfer too! No one touches my cars unless they are under warranty still or towed in. And my cars never see a towtruck!

[Katscan]

Where did you get the Bosch Plat 4's for the Vibe at? Ive been looking for them as Ive always wanted to get those for my car. Last set I tried to install on my Ford...they said it was for my car but when I tried to install them. they were an inch and a half shorter than the OEM plugs.

[dkim1]

hi katscan...i bought mine at autozone. they also sell them at advance auto. you can look up retailers on boschusa.com. call them to make sure they have them. sorry for the late response, been on a business trip for several weeks. thank you all for your kind remarks...updated pics on cardomain.http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2355637/1

[dkim1]

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2355637/1

[tcam]

wow, I love ur Vibe. Particularly what you did with your door sills. I think you're the first to think about painting over them. Great work

[BlueCrush]

Nice job on painting the interior dash and the wheel covers. Love 'em both!

[northvibe]

yea the painting on the interior and engine bay are looking good.

[dkim1]

thanks tcam...i really enjoyed painting my car. i accidentally spilled some potent air freshner all over my center console and it left streaks that were badly visible. then i decided to paint it. after that, i decided why stop there and continued until what you see today. i used pretty cheap paint, and surprisingly it doesn't look too bad. but, i have to say, that midnight blue is pretty awesome. i remember how nice that color was when i had a truck in that color. it got too hot for me though during the summer months. it can also get pretty dirty, pretty quick. but keep up the good looks, love what you have done so far.

[dkim1]

sorry for the delayed reply...yea, i actually got a rental car from enterprise car rental, provided by my insurance company. afterwards, when i was returning the car, i saw a vibe on the lot. then i remembered someone telling me that the vibe and matrix are one in the same. so, i asked the saleperson if the vibe was a rental car, and i got a yes for a reply. for some odd reason, i was jokingly saying, man it would sure be nice if i could go to a rental car place, pick out a car i want, then be able to buy it. right then, the dude said, you can buy any car you want from our rental fleet, from any enterprise location where the car is located that you want. and my tale ends there. believe it or not, there were minor problems with the vibe that i fixed cheaply, but it took several days to do. for instance, one of the door molding was undone and i didn't see it and i had to buy some double sided molding tape ($8), some trim clips to hold it ($5), and bug and tar remover specially designed to remove molding tape ($6). some scratches in the hubcaps i had to paint over. some loose wiring i needed to straptie and tape together. some cumbersome stuff like that which took several days to complete and still doing. however, there were no mechanical or structural problems with the vibe, which was a good thing. they also allowed me like 1k to return the car for another if i didn't like it or had mechanical problems. i thought that was a nice gesture. plus, they sold it at a price that was between nada wholesale and retail, which was 1k less than suggested retail. all in all, i love my vibe. i wish it had more power though. but i can live without it with today's gas prices. currently, i have around 20-30 more hp than stock with all my mods and using chevron supreme. techron really works and i get around 31 mpg hwy, and 27 mpg city. that's alot considering all the flooring i do on the gas pedal.i love my vibe...it is the most maintenance free vehicle i have ever owned. and thanks for your nice comment...

[Tubaryan12]

mine was also liberated from the enterprise fleet. I got it from a dealer after auction. Did you get a good deal buying directly from Enterprise?