GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

I visit http://www.newcelica.org often and a high number of manual transmission owners are having problems with their transmissions. The problem they are talking about most is hard shifting (Meaning it takes alot of force to shift through the gears) and whining or grining when trying to shift into second. Just about all of these owners have never changed their transmission oil. These transmissions come factory filled with synthetic SAE 75W-90 GL-5 Gear Oil. The owners manual states to change the oil every 30,000 miles if you tow a trailer. It doesn't give a interval to change the fluid if you don't tow a trailor. Since Celica owners are having problem with this issue and the Vibe and Matrix use the same manual transmissions, I'd personally recommend changing the oil every 45,000 miles in manual transmission.Now I sell AMSOIL as everyone knows and I believe it is the best in the world. AMSOIL has stated that there gear oil can go indefinitely in a manual transmission. If you switch to a high quality synthetic gear oil like AMSOIL, I'd recommend changing the gear oil every 100,000 miles.http://www.twocom.com/high_performance_ ... be_75W.htm

Some of my friends have used Amsoil gear lube with good results.I recently elected to run Redline MT-90 in my Golf 5 speed. It's smooth as silk now! And I changed at 12,000 miles...Edit - Where did you find out what fluid the Vibe takes for the transmission? I want to verify the type GL4, GL5, etc. I was hoping to change it around 10K for break-in and the fact it would most likely makes my shifting smoother.Jason

It's listed in your owners manual.http://www.mygmlink.com/pdf/go2content/ ... 03vibe.pdf

I have had these issues with my car since I bought it. 1st to 2nd gear grind and friction and now 2nd to 3rd gear same deal..... I have had a new factory clutch put in and the 2nd gear links replaced by the dealer. After having the 2nd clutch have the burning smell after normal driving and the grinding/friction stuff, I decided to go with an aftermarket clutch....now I have the transmissoin noise deal as discribed in another formum discussion, and the mechanic that put my new clutch in said when he changed the tranny fluid, it was nasty and that I should change it after a while, but my car only has 6500 miles on it! I am so annoyed! I love the new clutch and it does seem to pass through gears a little smoother now, but I still grind/friction into 2nd and 3rd........ I wish they would just recall the whole transmission and start over? I am at a loss? Any advise?

Do you have the base 5-speed or the GT 6-speed?

Hi hotwlz,I had issues with clunkiness. didn't grind exactly but it almost felt like the gears weren't lining up right, specifically going from 2nd to 3rd and sometimes trying to get it into first at a stop. I changed my tranny fluid in the Fall. I noticed less clunkiness but still had the out of alignment feel when cold. Especially when cold. Actually, I had been plugging in but 2 nights ago it got down to 16 degrees or so, I didn't plug in and honestly couldn't shift into 2nd or 3rd without forcing it. Once the engine and tranny warmed up, it was fine. Shifts MUCH better than it did before changing the fluid and lubing the shifter (With Lithium grease). Is your issue mainly when it's cold? I never had this kind of issue with my Ford Ranger but I still love my Vibe more!Dave

how do you lube the shifter? How do you get to it as I just came from a Pontiac dealer who told me the etire mechanism was cable operated and there was nothing that can be lubed. I don't think they were truthful. Please explain how you did this. I have the 6 speed. Thanks

hi gogo,hmmm... the gears are all links and rods. Untwist the shifter knob, pull off the shift boot and you'll see several linkages in there you can lube. Only use something like Lithium Grease because that stays on and doesn't seem to break down or attract dirt. You can also look behind the transmission (kinda sorta back under the air filter box. Have someone shift through the gears (with the car off!). you'll see the linkages there you can lube (again, with lithium grease) I haven't been able to get to these easily yet though someone mentioned they took the air filter box off, used a spray Lithium and made sure it was coated and packed into the joints. My shifter is extremely smooth now except for when it gets below 35 degrees or so. Then it seems more difficult to shift, till it warms up. The Spray Lithium runs about $4 US and will be more than enough.Dave

How do you change the transmission oil? I've never kept a manual transmission car long enough to change it!!

Quote, originally posted by esjones »How do you change the transmission oil? I've never kept a manual transmission car long enough to change it!!There are two plugs in the tranny housing. you remove the bottom one to drain the old oil out, then put the plug back in. Remove the upper one to add the new oil. There's no dipstick on manual trannies to check the level, usually you pour gear oil into the upper hole until it starts to come back out, then you're at the right level.haven't checked the tranny in these cars yet, there may be more than 2 plugs, the plug locations are probably a bit different between base and GT.

Nope, think just 1. I only found the one at least... it's a 24mm bolt.... The fill plug was supposed to be a 17mm bolt but mine was a 10mm hex, which apparently is unusual. As always, make sure the car is on level ground before doing any oil changes. I would suggest opening the drain plug first then the fill plug to help the oil drain out easier. I let mine drain for an hour or so. Probably didn't have to wait that long but the oil is so thick, it just kept dripping out.The oil smells bad. Make sure you catch it all. 75w-90 MT is the type of oil. something GL 5 rated. You don't have to change the oil in the tranny like engine oil. I think it's good for 30k miles or more. Check your maintenance schedule. Read here for more information... http://www.everythingcelica.co....htmlUse a synthetic. I used Mobil 1 75w-90. 2.4 quarts for the GT, I believe it was. Check your manual for your correct estimated amount. Some don't recommend Mobil for the tranny fluid but it's working fine for me. Redline is also recommended. AMSOil is also recommended and I think Admin will tell you if you use that, you may never have to change it again. If you don't drive like a maniac, I'm sure Mobil, Redline or AMSOil will probably last as long as your tranny. I'll probably do this maintenance following the manual's recommendation. Maybe 2x it... I dunno yet.Just remember that you can have a mechanic do this for you though it's not all that difficult to do. Remember not to over-tighten the plugs either. and don't lose the crush washers. I believe the torque setting on the bolts was supposed to be 27psi if you have a torque wrench. Don't hold me to that one though!Dave