GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

Many years ago we actaully blew out a tranny while on a fishing trip up in Canada cause we were hauling a heavy trailer behind a RV and using the overdrive. Cost us a whole day of fishing and many, many, Loonies to get it back on the road. So ever since I have been trailering but never in the overdrive. But in my search on this forum i have read all I could find on trailers but there is very little about the overdrive. The only thing written was dropping out of OD when on a hill.We have a small trailer and the max weight loaded would be around 1,000 lbs. Do you think it is safe on the tranny to trailer that load using the OD except on the hils?

while I'm no trailering guru, butI would never use OD while trailering anything in the vibe.I might consider it if i had both an auxillary tranny and an oil cooler; and the extra load the vibe would tow wasnt too much.just my $.02

Well I read the manual last night being this car is new to me and was surprised to read that it to only refers to a lower gear if going up hiils when trailering. I found on the web the gear ratios for an 06 and I assume they are very close to the 03 model. Even 4th gear is a bit of an OD not 1:1 as I thought it would be. I just worry that is will put a terrible strain on the trannys with these loads in OD. But maybe these new modern trannys are built to handle these loads.

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If you have an automatic tranny, definitely install a cooler as fluid heat build up is the killer. They are cheap and easy to install. My Vibe, while towing, was constantly shifting out of O/D, into third and back to O/D. Third gear, in the Vibe automatic, has the engine turning +/- 4000 rpm @ 70 mph. That's a little to much rpm for my comfort level, so slowing down to 60-65 mph made a big difference, but still somewhat strained. Regarding a manual tranny, the clutch will always be the weak link in any manual. With a manual tranny, you have to be careful not to "lug" the engine down. Obviously, a manual tranny will not 'automatically' dowshift to a lower gear bringing the engine back up into the powerband. Towing ability is the only area of disappointment, for me, regarding the Vibe. If it only had the 3.8 Series II engine. Wish in one hand and ____ in the other.

Thank you for the info. My car is an automatic.Is the cooler an aftermarket product or a GM product?Where can I pick one up?

Most automotive parts stores carry tranny coolers. I installed a B&M #70264 cooler on my Vibe. Others manufacturers are PermaCool, Hayden, Flexilite, etc. click to enlargeI would suggest that you mount the cooler toward the passenger side from the middle. For reference, the big hose is the lower radiator hose where it connects to the radiator. The hose connection in the upper green circle will run to the cooler and the hose connection in the lower green circle is from the cooler and returning to the tranny. Hope this helps.

Thanks a ton for the info and the pictures. Very helpful.

oh yea i also recommend that tranny cooler for any automatic car. auto's trannys do all the work that the user usually does in a manual, so they get HOT and HOT = bad and bad = tranny wear and tear a lot faster. I think im installing mine this summer

Thanks djb383 for the pictures I went out and looked over my Vibe. It looks like a snap to install. Here's my question. ATF is already running thru those lines I see running to and from the radiator but all I'm adding is more cooling with the B&M, correct? And then I would probably have to add some more ATF.

Yep and I don't see a problem with OD when up to speed as it should lock up an not slip. I'd watch the tac and not use the OD in stop and go driving.

Yup, I'd do the same thing. I would use over drive at cruising speed on the freeway only. Otherwise have it off. Make sure the tranny cooler you get is a low pressure drop cooler so that when it is cold it will flow thru one side only until it warms up then it will flow thru the entire cooler.

Quote, originally posted by Viberrrr »Thanks djb383 for the pictures I went out and looked over my Vibe. It looks like a snap to install. Here's my question. ATF is already running thru those lines I see running to and from the radiator but all I'm adding is more cooling with the B&M, correct? And then I would probably have to add some more ATF.You're correct - adding additional cooling to the factory set-up. I added approx. 1/2 qt. Toyota IV tranny fluid to bring back to full mark. Check your owners manual for the tranny fluid level procedure. I'm not sure what BC is talking about regarding " when it is cold it will flow thru one side only until it warms up then it will flow thru the entire cooler." I thought this pertained to engine oil coolers but I'm not sure. Maybe BC will come back and elaborate. Any who, good luck.

What BC is talking about is a bypass. I picked up a Hayden tranny cooler for 36.95 at a Fleet Farm today but it does not have the bypass. I'll double check that yours has it and I found one online for under 50 bucks so I'll just go that route.

BlueCrush which cooler do you have?

Yupper, just went to B&M website this is the kind we all need.

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Here is the one I have: http://www.transmissioncoolers...unt=0

Install the tranny cooller 'inline' after the stock one. Don't bypass it. Let the stock cooler do it's job, then it runs into th aftermarket cooler to get even more cool.

Quote, originally posted by Viberrrr »Yupper, just went to B&M website this is the kind we all need.Cool, this must be fairly new from B&M. My #70264 is about 10 yrs. old and I don't think it has the bypass feature, at least it does'nt indicate so on the box. The box shows 19,000 - 24,000 GVW rating. Maybe a little overkill for the Vibe, huh. I've used it on several different vehicles - I just flush it out and put it on the next one.

Quote, originally posted by Lancer »Install the tranny cooller 'inline' after the stock one. Don't bypass it. Let the stock cooler do it's job, then it runs into th aftermarket cooler to get even more cool.I think the one BC has listed and the "bypass" ones are inline, but have a automated feature inside of the cooler to "bypass" until the coolant is warm enough to run through the whole cooler..... I think thats what it means hahha im still a tranny cooler noob

Yes the tranny cooler is installed inline and after the oem tranny cooler. There is no "bypass". It is a low pressure drop cooler which means that then the tranny oil is cold, it will only pass thru one side of the tranny cooler, but when warmed up it will pass thru the entire tanny cooler. This way there will always be a supply of oil going to the tranny even on -20°F mornings.