2007 Vibe Clunky Acceleration - SOLVED

[ThePatriot]

Hey guys,

I have been looking around for an answer to my question below but I can't find anything that fully fits me: I bought a vibe with 93,000 miles from a girl who appears to have taken very good care of it. She kept up with ALL the required maintenance (coolant change, transmission fluid change, oil change, etc....). I have had it about two weeks and have been noticing that the drive system has some type of issue where if I push down the gas pedal a little bit nothing happens (as in, it doesn't really accelerate like other cars would if pushed in the same amount); if I push it down too quick the car really jolts as it finally "catches", accelerates and subsequently changes gears. After that jolt everything is perfect for the rest of the acceleration curve. As I have looked on the internet, it looks like my 2007 has an electronic throttle cable, so I have no real cable that I can adjust. In older vehicles, I would just tighten the slack in the throttle cable and problem solved. It just feels like something isn't catching between the gas pedal and the transmission. I think the automatic transmission is just fine. The girl was almost crying as she handed me the keys to her car, she just got rid of it because she had to have a truck for her work.

There is no check engine light on.

The ECM was changed under warranty a year or two ago.

1. I tried to do a "reset" procedure I read about where you put your key to the on position, hold down gas pedal 5 seconds, then turn key off - no change in my issue

2. I will take a look at the throttle body this weekend, maybe it's dirty - engine bay is dusty as crap on this car, but I know that the girl I bought it from did change the air filter regularly

My time with working on the car is very limited. I would spend more time diagnosing myself, but I need some suggestions for things to look for this weekend. I have been getting by ok if I just do a very slow, smooth pedal acceleration. But, I don't want to drive the next 10 years with this issue either. If you have any other suggestions on what my problem is, please let me know. I hope I made a good purchase. I finally got to go get back in the saddle of a Japanese vehicle with this baby, after driving an old piece of junk Volvo. Thank you very much in advance!

[SeattleJeremy]

I have experienced this as well. I think it's between two issues.
1. The engine/transmission moving around in the engine bay due to squishy motor mounts.
2. The engine doesn't produce much torque from 1000-2000 rpm.

Sorry, I haven't tried to address this issue yet, so I don't know the actual solution, but it will be addressed by spring (autox season is coming).

[ThePatriot]

Thanks for your input, Jeremy. I will definitely check out the motor mounts this weekend, while fixing my leaking spark plug seals. Which, by the way, I bought fel-pro ones and looked up the part number to find that it matches the Toyota genuine valve cover gasket. At least in this case, fel pro is just re-boxed Ishino/Toyota OEM!

[KITT222]

I put the energy motor mount inserts in my Vibe, and response increased a very noticeable amount. There used to be a small hiccup of non0power before it caught, but with the inserts it catches pretty much immediately.

[circuitsmith]

Cleaning the throttle body and MAF sensor might help.

[joatmon]

When you step on the gas, does the engine not respond right away, or is it that the engine responds/speeds up and after a short period of time something catches and the car accelerates?

[SeattleJeremy]

When you step on the gas, does the engine not respond right away, or is it that the engine responds/speeds up and after a short period of time something catches and the car accelerates?

Good call, if you've got an automatic check the transmission fluid level.

[ThePatriot]

When you step on the gas, does the engine not respond right away, or is it that the engine responds/speeds up and after a short period of time something catches and the car accelerates?

When I step on the gas lightly, the engine spins but nothing happens, or the car moves unusually little for the amount of pedal force applied. From there I can either A - continue to slowly press a little more force and things smoothly kick into gear (I think I literally feel the transmission go into another gear or possibly start working) or B - quickly put the pedal down to where it would end up if done so slowly and the car jolts and begins to move.

When you step on the gas, does the engine not respond right away, or is it that the engine responds/speeds up and after a short period of time something catches and the car accelerates?

Good call, if you've got an automatic check the transmission fluid level.

I changed the transmission fluid as soon as I got the car, it was changed with T-IV. I did a one time drain/refill. No change in shifting was noted after the change, and the old fluid looked like T-IV - a little less red and more brown than most other ATF's I've encountered. I also checked the ATF level after warming up the transmission with the car on, and it was at a good level on the dipstick.

I have experienced this as well. I think it's between two issues.

2. The engine doesn't produce much torque from 1000-2000 rpm.

Sorry, I haven't tried to address this issue yet, so I don't know the actual solution, but it will be addressed by spring (autox season is coming).

I will note that the rpms are at 1000-2000 when I get the lack of acceleration with the car. But even the gutless 90hp cars I've been driving do at least something in that rpm range.....

I'm driving it on a business trip now, and as I've driven it more, I can learn to live with it. But, if someone else has to drive (like my wife) I think it will be rocky until she figures out how to work with it. Again the problem is only in the beginning of my acceleration. I drove it across mountains all day today and it has been smooth as butter going up and down them on the interstate.

I will for sure check my MAF, clean throttle body, check engine mounts, and check transmission mount.

It's also possible this is simply a characteristic of the car. I have had two Toyota rentals before - a Camry which was touchy as could be, I hated it, and a 2009 Corolla that wasn't too touchy from what I remember.

Thanks for all the suggestions thus far.

[joatmon]

Maybe I don't understand, but if you step on the gas and the engine revs up but the car doesn't move, then I'd say its a transmission problem

[ThePatriot]

Well, I have driven about 800 miles this week and have gotten the hang of driving this thing without making the jerk. I am able to pull out from a stop smoothly and quick enough. I think I just had to get used to the feel of this 2007 vehicle vs. my 80's technology Volvo. Sorry to bring up a non-issue.

In other news, I did the valve cover gasket today and the engine is squeaky clean!!

[daniel4888]

ive experienced this to when your at a red light and you hit the gas little hard it takes few to make it go but then once you feel it kick in it does fine