GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

I went to do my first oil change on my Vibe and I ran into a few problems that people could learn from:The oil filter is a cartridge/element that is housed by a black plastic cap. First, Parts Source gave me the wrong filter, even though they assured me it was for an 09. Then GM didn't have any in stock. Then I went to Toyota and asked for one for the Matrix. It was the correct style with the 2 replacement O-rings, but the circumference was slightly too large. So I've put in an order with GM and they say they'll have them in in a few days.Once you have the correct filter there is still one obstacle. The black cap needs to be turned counter-clockwise (while a small metal tab is moved out of the way) to get at the cartridge, but mine seemed to be torqued on. I used a rubber strap wrench and a lot of elbow grease to get mine off. [IMG][/IMG] Other than that it was pretty easy The next one will be a breeze.

Attached files

I'm curious as to why the matrix one wouldn't fit.Should be exactly the same.I did an oil change on my buddies Matrix and we bought this tool,made it a breeze.http://toyota.spx.com/detail.aspx?id=877or get a 65mm 14 flute and you can buy at NapaHave to say,it was an odd setup,I guess it's something new and I'm not used to a cartridge type.

Well, it turns out that the "technicians" at Toyota gave me the wrong oil filter. It wasn't even for a Matrix. I have the right one now, and the Matrix filter is the same as the Vibe. Apparently this cartridge-style filter is actually old-school and it's design predates the oil filters we are accustomed to. I guess they are going retro.Thanks for the link on that tool! Gotta get me one of those for sure.

'yota is going green as the paper cartridge will bio-degrade over time and the metal spin-on won't. Our '07 Tundra is the same......takes a little more time to change but no big deal. Is the '09 1.8L different from the '03-'08 1.8L? Maybe a '03-'08 spin-on could be adapted to the '09?

"Apparently this cartridge-style filter is actually old-school and it's design predates the oil filters we are accustomed to. I guess they are going retro."Very old school. Replacement element filters all but disappeared by1965. This is ridiculous. Green my ***. I would never buy a car without a spin on filter. Toyota is out of their freakin minds on this one.

Quote, originally posted by harryyiii »........Green my ***. I would never buy a car without a spin on filter. Toyota is out of their freakin minds on this one.Dude, I'm just quoting what Toyota says regarding the cartridge filter. I can't imagine making a car buying decision based upon the oil filter.

I hate that cartridge oil filter design! My sisters 1991 Grand Am 2.5L 4 cylinder had that...If I remember it was a 2.5L or the old Iron Duke engine.

Quote, originally posted by ToolGuy »I hate that cartridge oil filter design! My sisters 1991 Grand Am 2.5L 4 cylinder had that...If I remember it was a 2.5L or the old Iron Duke engine.Yea, I had that Pontiac Grand Am engine also. It was such a mess changing the oil because the oil would gush out in a heap when the filter plug was removed. There was no drain plug in the earlier models.

I don't understand what the problem with this replaceable element is. My oil change took less than 15 minutes and was the cleanest one I've done so far. Very easy, didn't even have to jack up the car.

Quote, originally posted by djb383 »Dude, I'm just quoting what Toyota says regarding the cartridge filter. I can't imagine making a car buying decision based upon the oil filter.I'll never buy a cavalier again based on filter location.

My standard oil filter cap for my socket wrench used to change my 03 Vibe also fits the 09. Yes, I can imagine it will be a pain to have to move the "child-proof" metal clip out of the way while you rotate the oil filter cover. That I find stupid.Can anyone tell me if any of the chain auto parts stores have the paper filter in stock for the 1.8? I can't seem to find one on line, and I did not want to drive all the way to the dealer to get one. Thanks in advance.

rockauto.com has them. They are 7 bucks though. The local GM dealer charges that much also. I went to the local Toyota dealer and got one for $5.12.

Quote, originally posted by zionzr2 »I'll never buy a cavalier again based on filter location.Ditto on a 1994 Saturn SL2. On the back of the engine mounted horizontally pointed towards the rear and when you remove the filter, oil runs down the side of the engine onto the cv joint boot making a mess everywhere.

I just went to my local Toyota dealer and bought the paper filter for the Corolla-Vibe. My local Pontiac dealer still does not carry them. Although they are cheap, it is amazing that I paid $7 for a 10 cent paper filter and a 2 cent rubber o-ring. Can anyone explain to me why there are two different oil density numbers on the cap of the Corolla-Vibes?? I want to make sure I'm puting in the correct weighted oil for the mid-Atlantic. Thanks.

Has anyone had trouble removing the washer under the oil drain plug? On my 1.8 '09 the washer doesn't want to come off, yet one is supposed to replace the washer each change. Any risk in prying off the washer with a screw driver? Any reason not to just use the old washer?

I didn't change/remove the washer on our '09 Corolla and it's fine....no leak.

If anyone who owns a 2009 Vibe 1.8 has already changed their oil, can you tell me: since there seems to be a childproof clip on the side of the filter housing (like one found on medicine bottles) that, I'm guessing, has to be depressed before you can spin off the outer cover, does it take two hands to do the job or can you loosen the outer housing to where you can spin it off by hand and depress the clip with one hand to get the housing all the way off? Getting under these cars and doing work is relatively easy when you only have to reach and use one hand. Getting your whole shoulder underneath to get up and close is a different matter. Your thoughts?

Quote, originally posted by vhoward1122 »Ditto on a 1994 Saturn SL2. On the back of the engine mounted horizontally pointed towards the rear and when you remove the filter, oil runs down the side of the engine onto the cv joint boot making a mess everywhere.Apparently Saturn didn't learn, because the '97 SC2 had the same location. I did the old "filter in plastic bag" trick, with a few towels over the CV boot, but it still was a disaster sometimes. I hated working on that car.

GM dealer was $11.xx vs. toyata dealer $6.xx. for the filter 1.8. the 65mm cap for $5 I bought would not fit the 64mm it slipped. I used a channel lock plier and gripped it and turned it fine removing the oil filter housing.

emt, explain the metal clip on the side. I will be doing my oil change in under 800 miles. I too bought the toyota recommended "special service tool" and it was the wrong size. I finally figured out that my oil filter cup that I use to take off my 03 Vibe filter fits perfectly on the 09. I just don't understand the little metal clip on the side. Is it to keep Russians from drinking the motor oil to get high???

Crazy Russians. I just bent the clip back a little with my thumb and it stayed out of the way while I torqued the cap off. As far as I can see, the clip serves no purpose (assuming you've properly tightened the cap).

OK, I had my first oil change done by my mechanic since I could not get the stupid oil filter housing off on the Corolla engine. I watched as he did it. He scraped off the oil pan plug washer that was stuck on to the oil pan as others have commented. I wish he had just left it on the pan. I have NEVER changed the washer in 7 years of changing the 03 vibe's oil. Nonetheless, I went to Toyota today and got 5 washers and a new oil filter for the next time(s). I also bought the 65 mm 14 flute oil filter housing cup. It fits perfectly. You really cannot use two arms under the car, so simply put the cup on the socket wrench. That gives you the best torque for removing the outer housing. I still can't fathom the stupid aluminum clip on the side however. Does Toyota really think the housing is going to back itself off and spin off??? I seriously doubt it. It also is interesting that the other Toyota models using the paper filter inside the housing have a drain plug on the outside of the housing to allow you to insert a hose and neatly drain the oil out of the housing before unscrewing it. But for us 1.8 liter owners, we're stuck with the mess that will come out. I'll report back in 5000 miles on how my first one goes.