GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

Here's a good article I read in the Fall 2006 issue of Pontiac Performance magazine. It has some good tips to avoid common pitfalls to vehicle ownership that can result in unneeded, or even costly, repairs.Quote, originally posted by Pontiac Performance Magazine »Avoid Sabotaging Your VehicleAvoiding mistakes that might cause damageOwning a vehicle can be a lot like any other relationship - if you treat your car well, it will treat you well in return. Here are eight tips on things to avoid to stay on good terms with your vehicle; they come from GM.com's Women In The Driver Seat website [http://www.gm.com/women].1. Start your car and go. The quicker you get your engine up to the proper temperature, the better. In today's vehicles, that means driving it rather than letting it sit and idle. Simply drive gently in the first few minutes.2. Avoid "roll-shifting gears with an automatic transmission. Come to a complete stop before shifting from drive to reverse or the other way. Roll shifting reverses the the torque on the driveline, which may damage parts. 3. Use the parking brake on an incline. If you need to park on a hill apply the parking brake first and Then shift to park. 4. Don't ride the clutch on a manual transmission. If the clutch pedal is released too quickly, or pushed too far (or not far enough) you could damage components.5. Keep your tank at least a third full. Allowing your gas tank to get consistently low can lead to trouble. Fuel pumped from a relatively dry tank may carry oxygen, moisture or deposits that could damage your fuel filter or pump.6. Beware of oil additives. Most quality engine oils already contain additives that help protect your engine. Unless your service consultant recommends one, just avoid additives. 7. Dishwater soaps could weaken your car's clear-coat finish and dull its look. Auto parts stores and many grocery stores carry soap made for clear-coat finishes.8. Follow your vehicle's maintenance schedule. Change the oil, filters, or other components at intervals provided in your owner manual. If your vehicle has an oil life monitoring system, it will prompt you to change the oil. When in doubt, ask your service consultant.

hey raginggreat post! i'd thought of starting a thread about how everyone warms up their car in the winter...or in any season, for that matter. let it sit and idle? or drive 'gently' for a few minutes.great advicehow's that 8track coming along?

I always let mine sit and idle in the winter if there's frost or ice on the windshield, just to let the defrosters heat up. I also use synthetis oil which is supposed to flow better than dino when it's cold.

How do you push a manual clutch "too far" ?

Every shift