GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

With living in Michigan, wintertime comes pretty early. Fall just basically started and we just had our first snow fall. If you ask me, it doesn't make sense why this is the way its gotta be, but of course, sooner or later, we all have to realize that the snow is not going to go away anytime soon. With this being my first year of owning my Vibe in the wintertime, does anyone who lives in these blastering cold states, have any suggesstions in taking care of their care throughout the winter? I used to have a problem with my old car with the doors always freezing shut and i even tried the silicone trick, but that didn't seem to help. So to prevent this or any of the like happening, does anyone have any tips to keep your car running full strength?

just make sure you are using 5w30 oil (as you should anyway) and make sure you antifreeze is good to really cold tempsmine is good to about -40 celciusother then that- when its REALLY cold I plug her in with a timer and have it come on 3 hours before I need to drive it... no block heater? no problems it should be fine if the coolant strength is good.I dont usually have a problem with the doors... I have only ever used the silcone spray trick and it worked for me in the past... just dont wash your car till you can keep it warm for a bit.

Quote, originally posted by CAN-AWD-VIBE »just make sure you are using 5w30 oil (as you should anyway) and make sure you antifreeze is good to really cold tempsmine is good to about -40 celciusother then that- when its REALLY cold I plug her in with a timer and have it come on 3 hours before I need to drive it... no block heater? no problems it should be fine if the coolant strength is good.I dont usually have a problem with the doors... I have only ever used the silcone spray trick and it worked for me in the past... just dont wash your car till you can keep it warm for a bit.I'm not sure about the american Vibes but the canadian ones come with block heaters from the factory. My 04 did anyway. But up here in Alaska its some state offence to have accessories on a new car that kinda forces the buyer to accept them... ie a block heater on the car. But I guess if its stock with one from the factory its ok. (they are not stock from the factory on subaru)-40 for coolant temp and make sure you have winter washer fluid. It could also be a good idea to snap on a set of front winter wiper blades and a set of snow tires.

What are winter wiper blades?

Quote, originally posted by ajflan »What are winter wiper blades?those wipers with the rubber boot which covers all the hinges...that way they don't fill up with ice/snow and end up one solid straight wiper that doesn't bend to the shape of the windshield.i have those Reflex blades which are pre-loaded with a curve and no hinges...went through last winter and all this summer with them and they still work like a charm!best item i've bought for my vibe for sure.

Quote, originally posted by Atomb »those wipers with the rubber boot which covers all the hinges...that way they don't fill up with ice/snow and end up one solid straight wiper that doesn't bend to the shape of the windshield.i have those Reflex blades which are pre-loaded with a curve and no hinges...went through last winter and all this summer with them and they still work like a charm!best item i've bought for my vibe for sure.my mom had them on here car and yes, they work wonders. I got some crappy Rain-X ones on my car right now that could definately be replaced...so i'll be looking into some winter blades very shortly esp. since the snow is already starting to come around.

Another thing, does the salt from the road in the winter tend to "eat away at your car?" I've heard this expression before so that is why I want to keep washing it but then again dont want to because of the hole door freezing incidents.

Quote, originally posted by silverawd26 » As long as your coolant + oil + tires + wipers are good while you have an extra bottle of washer solvent + an ice scraper you should be all set. One new tire as of last week and the other 3 were put on last february so i think i'm in pretty good shape with that. Coolant is good, oil just got changed, new wipers are a thing for this weekend, ice scraper in the compartment in the back. Washer solvent still have to invest in..lol. But anything else that i should know about. Just want to know how to protect my investment instead of battering it like the people before me prolly did.

if your worried about salt rusting your car, move to alaska... we don't use salt here. we use sand and the trade off is cracked windows and paint chips. You can buy weatherstrip conditioner that is suppose to act like a "grease" and keep the doors from freezing shut. I never had a problem with my doors being frozen in ontario or alaska on my Vibe.

Make sure that you have a good coat of wax on it before the snow flies.

Quote, originally posted by new05vibeowner »Make sure that you have a good coat of wax on it before the snow flies.+1 for that. I gotta do that in the next few days.

I got tired of hearing that sound on the Maxx I had when the door seal is cold and sticking to the door. So the manual said to use some special GM lubricant. I got it and found out it was just dielectric grease. Works great!

Generally I would wash mine everytime it got wet to ensure the salt was completely gone. Watch the gas cap incase it freezes. I had mine frozen shut once to the point where I had to drive home and warm it with blow dryer before I could get gas.Now all I have to do to prep her for winter is take the c/f hood and wheels off, put the in them basement, and throw on a car cover. Then we play the looooooooooong hard winter waiting game uhhhhhhh I hate road salt!

about those winter wiper blades.... screw them. They are the cheapo plastic ones with a thin rubber boot.Try out the flat style blades (no hinges at all), they work great so far but still have yet to clear 6" of snow with them... I dont believe in brushes!My Subaru didnt have a block heater either and it is from Ontario...They often get grouped in with the "cold weather package" usually things like heated seats, heated mirrors and heated front windshield... all of which my Forester has, but no block heater.

Quote, originally posted by CAN-AWD-VIBE »My Subaru didnt have a block heater either and it is from Ontario...They often get grouped in with the "cold weather package" usually things like heated seats, heated mirrors and heated front windshield... all of which my Forester has, but no block heater. well they are made with 100% japanese parts... guess they don't stock block heaters

are you saying japan is too efficient to be cold

Okay these are the only two steps you'll need to winterize you Vibe:Step 1: Move to FloridaStep 2: Laugh at those who don't follow step 1.

Quote, originally posted by VforVIBE »Okay these are the only two steps you'll need to winterize you Vibe:Step 1: Move to FloridaStep 2: Laugh at those who don't follow step 1.I'll remember you next hurricane season

Better yet, switch to 0W-30 motor oil.

Quote, originally posted by CAN-AWD-VIBE »I'll remember you next hurricane seasonMy patented Two-Step Winterizing Process is for winter use ONLY, I repeat do not attempted the two-step process during hurricane season, you have been warned.

I can't help but laugh at that one....hahaha

Yeah but does Florida have all the blown 454s and 427s a boy could want cruising the streets at any given moment during the summer? I think not!

Quote, originally posted by VforVIBE »Step 1: Move to FloridaNOOOO!! We're growing too fast as it is:Population Growth Rate (1990-2000) - 23.5%Florida's Population (2003) - 17,019,068Florida's Population (2002) - 16,713,149Florida's Population (2001) - 16,396,515Florida's Population (2000) - 15,982,378Population (1990) - 12,937,926Population (1980) - 9,746,961Average is still 1000 new residents per day, hurricanes or not!

with all those people- careful you don't break off and float away

Quote, originally posted by micbarric »NOOOO!! We're growing too fast as it is:Population Growth Rate (1990-2000) - 23.5%Florida's Population (2003) - 17,019,068Florida's Population (2002) - 16,713,149Florida's Population (2001) - 16,396,515Florida's Population (2000) - 15,982,378Population (1990) - 12,937,926Population (1980) - 9,746,961Average is still 1000 new residents per day, hurricanes or not! Micbarric, may I ask where aboust in cantral Fl you live?Quote, originally posted by Merzbow »Yeah but does Florida have all the blown 454s and 427s a boy could want cruising the streets at any given moment during the summer? I think not!What are 454s and 427s?

I think i'm pretty much set. Just gonna check the fluids in my car over this coming weekend. Gotta still invest in those new wiper blades though, i sure could of used them driving home from the college tonight. Also, if its nice this weekend, i'm gonna wax the car It needs it badly. What really driving me nuts is the stupid vibrating though. Got a new tire put on and ever since its been vibrating at high speeds like 50 or 60. They rebalanced them and then it was fine, but now its sort of doing it again. Dont know what to do about that. I dont know if its to late to go back in and complain now.

Quote, originally posted by VforVIBE »What are 454s and 427s?see detroit muscle aka sweet engines aka gas guzzlers aka best v8's made

(removed) that sums it up right there CAN-VIBE Detroit muscle. The only thing worth dealing with Michigan weather for in my eyes. Sure you see a fair share of exotics and imports down in FLA but you wont see too many blown '68 Baracudas or '73 Camaros with fat tires and 700 horsepower naturally aspirated engines.. Atleast when I go down there I don't see alot of them Ashley, waxing this weekend sounds like a great idea. I might have to do that as well...just keep in mind it will either rain or snow when you are finished so try not to flaunt your gleeming car around too much so the rest of us don't have to deal with the rain....thanks

Quote, originally posted by CAN-AWD-VIBE » best v8's madeYou mean this? cause we got these EVERYWHERE. beat that

That's not what I had in mind. I was thinking more of classics...new muscle cars just don't do the trick like the old ones did...Here are a few from around my area.Sorry for hijacking your thread Ashley, I jus get excited sometimes lol...whats the weather suposed to be like this weekend anyways? I have a feeling it's not going to get any warmer

Quote, originally posted by Merzbow »Yeah, but you woun't EVER see those running around in the winter, salt bad. My dad had a <87 trans-am, during the winter, he got rides from co-workers.

Quote, originally posted by Merzbow »Sorry for hijacking your thread Ashley, I jus get excited sometimes lol...whats the weather suposed to be like this weekend anyways? I have a feeling it's not going to get any warmer haha, no worries, i'd get carried away too if I knew what you guys were all talking about ..lol. Don't know to much about all these "souped" up cars but i try my hardest..lol. But heards its supposed to be nice friday so hopefully it holds up for the weekend

Quote, originally posted by VforVIBE »Yeah, but you woun't EVER see those running around in the winter, salt bad. something tells me they dont need to drive all winter... they probably cram enough fun into the summer to last a while. And I agree with Merzbow... they truly dont make em like they used to. Although I would take the gas mileage in the vette over those others any day. Otherwise keep your fiberglass.

(removed) yesss they pack enough fun in the summer for me to enjoy all winter and I don't even own one! You don't buy a car like that for the gas milage though so that's ok lol.Of course it'll be nice Friday, I have class and work all day...wont be home til aroun 9 when the sun is long gone BTW the 427 in that Mach 1 is just breathe taking. I forgot about those pics I had logged away from last summer (removed)...now I'm sad about winter.I like your dad if he had a car like that