GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

Hey everyone! Just a little question. What is the typical life of the PCV valve on my 2003 vibe? I've put a good 64,000 miles on it and i believe it has not been replaced since i bought it. Thanks!

Some close to FOREVER... I know I replaced the one on my Subie at like 95k or something.. Often they can be cleaned with break or carb cleaner to... It's just a silly one way valve, most use a "marble" to make the valve work, if you get a new one shake it, you'll hear what i'm saying..

Quote, originally posted by THE VIBERATOR »Hey everyone! Just a little question. What is the typical life of the PCV valve on my 2003 vibe? Don't know what's typical. The one in our '87 Nova seems fine after 250 kmiles, but the one in our '97 Camry started sticking with only 120 kmiles.

ah. Thanks for all the help. I've been wondering why my car has been idling rough on some occasions. Just a quick shudder down to 550 rpm and it will continue to do so for about 5-10 seconds. Then it returns to normal. It happens rarely, but i have read up on this problem and it goes back to the valve. So i got a new one just in case.

I replace mine every few years, that is just the way I maintain all my vehicles. Following change intervals in your Owners Manual is best... At 64,000 I would replace and not clean...Some clean them out but that is not how I operate and the price of one is too cheap so I buy a new one. A rough idle can be many things though but not a PCV. If you have not done spark plugs I would as well as add a bottle or two of Chevron Techron Fuel System Cleaner in your tank. Not both bottles at once though! Plugs do not last forever and with today's gas blends and more alcohol in them now so the gas companies can make the true gas last longer by mixing more alcohol in the gas, resulting in crappy gas blends, plugs do not last 100,000 miles like some literature states. You probably need your throttle body and Idle Air Control valve cleaned thus the erradic idle down. They are not designed to last forever in the environment the parts lives in. Here is what GM states on checking a PCV...Crankcase Ventilation System Inspection/Diagnosis Caution: Do not breathe the air through the EVAP component tubes or hoses. The fuel vapors inside the EVAP components may cause personal injury. Blow air into the cylinder head side of the PCV valve. Check that air passes through the PCV valve easily. Blow air into the intake manifold side of the PCV valve. Check that air passes through the PCV valve with high resistances. If the PCV valve fails either test, replace the PCV valve.

Quote, originally posted by ToolGuy »Here is what GM states on checking a PCV...Caution: Do not breathe the air through the EVAP component tubes or hoses. The fuel vapors inside the EVAP components may cause personal injury. I was going to do that while running with scissors.

LOL!!! Make sure it is caught on camera too!

Quote, originally posted by Sublimewind »Some close to FOREVER... I know I replaced the one on my Subie at like 95k or something.. Often they can be cleaned with break or carb cleaner to... It's just a silly one way valve, most use a "marble" to make the valve work, if you get a new one shake it, you'll hear what i'm saying.. The Midas shop near me used to sell a lot of overpriced PCV values - they'd take it off and shake it for the unsuspectring customers claiming that "rattle" indicated it was bad.

Quote, originally posted by jake75 »The Midas shop near me used to sell a lot of overpriced PCV values - they'd take it off and shake it for the unsuspectring customers claiming that "rattle" indicated it was bad.Nice! What idiots! Lose customers over a cheap part/sale when that customer does find out they had been taken! I hope that place went under! Crooks!

5-10 years I would think. Just check to see if its clogged

Quote, originally posted by ToolGuy »Nice! What idiots! Lose customers over a cheap part/sale when that customer does find out they had been taken! I hope that place went under! Crooks! They are still there - probably changed hands a few time. As Abe said, you can fool some of the people all of the time.

HAHAHA GM sucks. I took my car in to get my window regulator bolts fixed (I am one of the few that own a 2003 model..its a recall) and afterwards i was driving back home that very same day and i noticed that my airbag light was flashing. I'm extremely humored that they managed to **** up an airbag sensor while changing two bolts on each front window (removed). I DID change the PCV valve by the way. I looked at the old one after taking it out and it was gross beyond belief. Plugged with oil and rusted as hell. So now i have a new shiny non plugged non rusted PCV valve in there.

Quote, originally posted by ToolGuy »A rough idle can be many things though but not a PCV. If you have not done spark plugs I would as well as add a bottle or two of Chevron Techron Fuel System Cleaner in your tank. Not both bottles at once though! Plugs do not last forever and with today's gas blends and more alcohol in them now so the gas companies can make the true gas last longer by mixing more alcohol in the gas, resulting in crappy gas blends, plugs do not last 100,000 miles like some literature states. You probably need your throttle body and Idle Air Control valve cleaned thus the erradic idle down. I will run that cleaning fluid through sometime this week. It should help alot