GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

I got my VibeGT in September. I have quickly adjusted to it and most of the initial quirks (Like foot pedals very close together... center console rubbing my right upper calf... not much really) I don't notice anymore.But the transmission was starting to really annoy me. It always felt very notchy ..and on occasion I would end up really having to jam a gear (usualy 2nd or 3rd) to make the shift change. Plus the motor seemed quite Buzzy and a little erratic.I got the car with 28,000 miles and from the oil filler cap the oil looked fresh. I decided to change it anyway along with the manual transaxle fluid. This morning I put in a little over 4qts of Castrol 5w30 new Wix oil and air filter... a little over 2qts (2.3 maybe) of amsoil 75w90 gear oil in the tranny....and just leaving the hobby shop it drives like a completely different car... The Motor is Very smooth now the rpms even dropped like 100 rpm at idle....So smooth I stalled 3 times today (I normally take off in first by engine feel... now you can't feel the buzz)The Tranny is absoloutly smooth... Like Butta as they say.I wish I would have done this on day one ..its relly a pleasure to drive now .. no more fighting 2nd and 3rd gear.... Awsome!I'm really suprised at he differece the fluids made. I'm used to v8s and they just don't feel that dramaticly different after normal maintenance.Anyway, if the Tranny has been tickin you off lately this might make your life a little better.....Don

good post.even better luck that there isn't anything wrong with your car other than required maintenance.

in my condition i cannot look up in the manual, but when aka what mileage are we supposed to change tranny fluid? i have a base vibe.

Quote, originally posted by PONKAW »..and just leaving the hobby shop....I also left the hobby shop last week and came home with a Harrier 90 ARF airplane. Pic below is the fuselage still in the bubble wrap, with a CD leaning up against it for size ref.

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Wow!That's some serious hobby, carl!Do you have, like, a little brother you can send up in it to take pix?

Quote, originally posted by mcgusto82 »good post.even better luck that there isn't anything wrong with your car other than required maintenance.It goes beyond required fluid changes. The tranny fluids really feel different in the way they interact with the synchros. Some last longer than others and I recall the manual said evry 30k was recommended.

Quote, originally posted by PONKAW »a little over 2qts (2.3 maybe) of amsoil 75w90 gear oil in the tranny....Is this the BEST gear quality gear oil that you can get. My GT has always shifted hard, and I think that I may try this..

almost ready to fly? arf.

I'm an Amsoil fan I guess.. I can get it localy at Carquest. I've been running Amsoil in my bike for a couple of years now. It's expensive but I think its good stuff.Changing the tranny oil is a piece of cake... the hardest part is transfering the new lube. The auto hobby shop here on base has a modified Condiment pump (the big ones like at a resteraunt) It has a large automotive type hose that goes in the oil bottle and a smaller clear hose mated to the spout. Worked like a champ. I could see it being a pain with out a lift though.Don

Quote, originally posted by MadBill »Wow!That's some serious hobby, carl!Do you have, like, a little brother you can send up in it to take pix? No, but I have played around with wireless video cameras on one.Yup, A.R.F. stands for almost ready to fly. There's still a lot of work to do before you can fly it, but the hard part is done. Here's a link to what it looks like after it's finished.: Harrier 90Sorry for getting off topic.

Quote, originally posted by iinan »Is this the BEST gear quality gear oil that you can get. My GT has always shifted hard, and I think that I may try this..I'd look at Redline MT-90, Specialty formula MTR and Amsoils new tranny fluid. Not the gear oils. I like the MTR best.

Yeah, my shifting is really notchy and just way harder than a Toyo transmission should be...Next oil change, it's getting the tranny done too! I only have 10K miles on my car too!