GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

Ive got an '03 base vibe AWD and I notice on a cold start it usualy takes about 2 mins of driving before the car will use overdrive. Once it goes in it works from there on out. Does this sound like a problem or is this normal?

It is normal. It is a safety feature so your not revving your cold engine too high to cause damage.

Wouldn't it be just the opposite? Keep the revs up while the engine is cold for quicker warm-up and not lug/load a cold engine in O/D.

(removed)>>> what did you do.... you broke the car... ............JKcompleatly normal... it does that to get the transmission up to operating temp faster. Try and keep the RPM's below 3grand till it shifts in to O/D...

Wow, I had the same question a while back. http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=31053

Cool, glad to hear this is a safety feature. Sory I didnt see the previous post about the same problem. Thanks

I wouldn't call it a safety feature, it's probably more of an emissions thing. To me, safety involves the safety of the humans in and around it, if it is to reduce wear or prevent engine or tranny damage, then I'd call it a reliability thing. Unless running in OD when cold could cause it to explode, then that would be a safety thing.

Quote, originally posted by joatmon »I wouldn't call it a safety feature, it's probably more of an emissions thing. To me, safety involves the safety of the humans in and around it, if it is to reduce wear or prevent engine or tranny damage, then I'd call it a reliability thing. Unless running in OD when cold could cause it to explode, then that would be a safety thing.You're getting a little too technical there, Jack.lol. Safety feature for the life of the engine.

What ever the feature is called it is Normal Operating Behavior.

I think it's described in the manual as an emissions thing. It keeps revs up to warm the engine faster.

yeah, it is real annoying. i have an 04 base auto. i'm not sitting in my drive way wasting gas trying to warm up the car. i'm poor! its a problem for me, as i have to go from a side street onto a 40mph road. the light i turn at is 2 blocks from the home, so the car isn't warm. but i found a work around that works for me. as i am stopping at the light, i put the car into neutral. then right before i lift my foot off the break and press the gas, i put it into drive. it allows me to shift at regular speeds. been doing this for 2 months now, no problems yet. but i don't know if it'll work for you.

Quote, originally posted by tribalman ». as i am stopping at the light, i put the car into neutral. then right before i lift my foot off the break and press the gas, i put it into drive. so shifting to neutral while stopped at a light allows the engine to idle higher and warm up faster?

Quote, originally posted by joatmon »so shifting to neutral while stopped at a light allows the engine to idle higher and warm up faster?it might, but i'm not stopped at the light long enough for the car to be at normal operating temp. in fact it is sometimes still at the bottom of the temp gauge. i figured it might help warm it up faster, because it does idle faster. the effect of it is unsurprised. hmmm. i think i will try and take a video of it today, only issue is my "camera" is my phone and it records in a weird format.

the GF's scion has a little light that stays on until the engine is at operating temp. it definitely sounds and feels like the engine's working hard until its warmed up. then the light goes off, and you're fine.our vibes don't have the 'luxury' of an 'idiot light.' so we just keep an eye on the temp gauge until its at temp, then we can give it gas.