GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

Yeah, just what I need, but since I started working again a few months ago I rarely drive my Vibe as my wife drops me off on her way to work and if we go out we were taking the truck vice the car until very recently. It MIGHT get taken out once a day, but usually less than that. A few days ago I went out to start it to move it to make room for someone else to park. When I started it the compressors for the air-bags came on as usual (just throwing that out there to get all the info out), but it immediately died. I started again and the same. One more time, same results. So I started it one more time and held the gas for a little while and it stayed on, but when I let go fast it acted like it was going to die again, so I kept holding the gas for a few more seconds and then slowly let off. The rpms fell to like 6-700 and it slowly worked back up. I currently have it set up to idle at 1k rpms to get more power from the alternator for the compressors, and when I cold start it it usuaully idles at like 12-1300 for a few minutes anwyays. Now every time I cold start it it tries to die, but once I have driven for a while it seems to go back to normal. Also, it seems to idle and lot quieter and smoother than before, but I haven't done anything to it even fairly recently. Any ideas???

ummm its a toyota motor? sorry had to throw that out there.well since you. don't start it much maybe, thats part of the problem. like an old car that sits around and is hard to start with no oil in the alley ways of the block and old gas sitting in the lines. just a thought.

Afraid I can't help, but I'm interested in what the problem is since it sounds the same as one I've had intermittently on our Camry. A few times it has not wanted to idle at all and died repeatedly immediately after starting. I had to hold the gas pedal down a bit to keep the revs up while putting it in gear to drive it. Once driven for even a short distance it acts perfectly normal again.

battery and alternator still OK?

Sounds like the cold start Idle accelerator in out of whack. In the old days we called them chokes.

Either the Idle Air Control Valve is dirty (along with the TPS) or you have a clogged converter. Try unhooking your compressor and see if that makes a difference. There's a nice guide at MO on how to clean the IACV. I'm going to do that to mine soon.Quote, originally posted by scherry2 »ummm its a toyota motor? sorry had to throw that out there.Lame.

Quote, originally posted by Petrucci914 »Lame.yea I know.

Quote, originally posted by scherry2 »ummm its a toyota motor? sorry had to throw that out there.#2 at that! Thanks for the info guys. I'll have to look into that stuff and see what I come up with.Quote, originally posted by joatmon »battery and alternator still OK?Can't say for sure, but as far as I can tell from my readout on my Avic-D2 and the fact it still starts every time I have to assume they are both operating normally. Quote, originally posted by Petrucci914 »Either the Idle Air Control Valve is dirty (along with the TPS) or you have a clogged converter. Try unhooking your compressor and see if that makes a difference. There's a nice guide at MO on how to clean the IACV. I'm going to do that to mine soon.TPS????

Quote, originally posted by damronjr »TPS????Throttle Position Sensor

Quote, originally posted by millster »Throttle Position SensorAh, guess I got some research to do!

sorry to hear about the trouble...again

Would that be a 1996 Camry? Had the same problem, but the tranny died before I was able to get it looked at...

Quote, originally posted by ehoff121 »Would that be a 1996 Camry? Had the same problem, but the tranny died before I was able to get it looked at...Ours is a '97 with the 2.2 I-4 engine and automatic transmission. So far the problem has been very intermittent and therefore hard to diagnose.