GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

Maybe this post can help others.

Since day one, I had a strange shift issue from 1st to 2nd. When releasing the clutch, the shift never felt smooth. It was as if the car was hanging on the last few inches of the clutch release. I took the car to the dealership, twice, only to be told that I didnt know how to drive a stick. (This is my third stick over my 30 years of driving history. I NEVER had to replace a clutch.)

Well, at 55K on my Vibe, I finally got around to changing the manual transmission fluid. I measured the drained fluid.... 1 quart, 2 cups, and 5 ounces. hmmmmm, 11 ounces short of 2 quarts.

I filled the transmission with a full 2 quarts. Amsoil GL4, 75-90, synthetic manual transmission fluid. Very little drained out... so 2 quarts is the correct fill. (Yes, car was level.) I looked closely at the passenger side output shaft and saw a build up of dirt on the transmission case. No wetness... but dirt. hmmmmmm, fine spray mist from a bad shaft seal since new?

I test drove the Vibe, now with a full 2 quarts of Amsoil fluid and it is perfect. The symptoms of harsh clutch release in 1st gear is gone! So much for the dealership's theory that I don't know how to drive a clutch. How 11 ounces can make that much of a difference is amazing.

Questions come to mind. Was the transmission not filled properly from the factory? Is the seal bad and this is why 11 ounces were missing? Is there damage already done... due to 55K with low fluid? Why are dealerships arrogant and think they are the only people that know cars? (You should have seen the fit the dealership gave me when I told them NOT to fill the antifreeze with DexCool because it contained Toyota Pink. After 20 minutes of convincing and a history of the Nummi plant and the GM Toyota agreement, they finally got it. They did go to Toyota and purchase Toyota Pink for my water pump repair. (They gave me the remaining fluid in the OEM Toyota bottle.) They said they ALWAYS just add DexCool to other Vibes. (Good luck to them in 50K miles when their cooling system is full of brown mud.)

I read countless articles regarding failed manual transmissions, between 80K and 100K, in the Toyota Matrix. At least the Vibe (my year) has a standard power-train warranty for 5 / 100!

If you want to read something funny, go to Amsoil's website and search the 2009 Vibe, Corolla, and Matrix specs for manual transmission fluid. There, you will get three different answers. I emailed Amsoil and have yet to receive a response.

Comments welcomed.

Doc Doug

Inspiring & interesting story Doug. Hopefully, as you stated, there is NO long term permanent tranny damage. My 5-speed manual is probable different from yours due to the 2.4L engine ? If not then I hope I don't experience anything like this. My guess is that it was probably under filled from day one and it just took a while to act up. Kudos to you telling the dealership how to do their job. Here they are suppose to know anything & everything about our cars and yet it takes an educated 30yr experienced driver to set them straight. Buy yourself a beer or two Just curious if you kept the old gear lube and if so allow it to settle for a week or two. Then look for contaminants in the bottom, especially any brass from the syncros. Did the magnetic plug have any metals stuck to it? Keep us up to date on any further problems (if any) on this transmission, and again congrats on holding your ground and setting the dealership straight

You should have seen the fit the dealership gave me when I told them NOT to fill the antifreeze with DexCool because it contained Toyota Pink.

Not to stray off topic, but I got lucky after my dealership took out my antifreeze overflow jug to replace my camshaft timing actuator. They lost some fluid but did not replace it with anything. I went and bought a jug of Toyota Super Long Life Coolant and filled the overflow jug back up.
Most importantly, while it may not look very pretty, I highly recommend others do the same thing I did on top of my coolant jug; I wrote in a black permanent marker:

Fill with Toyota SLLC coolant ONLY

Since my replacement actuator did not fix the screeching noise issue, they will have to go back in at some point. I wanted to ensure that the bozo technician sees my warning message. He/she won't be able to claim ignorance or be able to say that they never got the word from the car's owner. My message stands out like graffiti on a subway wall.

Good point regarding straining the used fluid. Unfortunately, after measuring, i dumped the fluid into a five gallon jug of other used oil for recycling.

Update from Amsoil. A rep emailed today and advised that my find of inconsistencies on their website is correct. They are going to correct their site to recommend the SVG 75W90 GL5, from the GL4. Go figure. I replaced my fluid with Am soil 75W90 GL4. I emailed them back asking for their advice... now that I have the "wrong" previously recommended fluid in my car.

This car has been a PINTA when it comes to getting a straight answer from anyone regarding specs. After reading more about the countless 5 speed failures in the Matrix, I am glad I have the factory 5/100000 warranty.

This is my first and last "Toyota."

DocDoug wrote: After reading more about the countless 5 speed failures in the Matrix, I am glad I have the factory 5/100000 warranty.

This is my first and last "Toyota."

If you drive your car even half as hard as I did mine, your transmission will last forever! ..... just don't use the GL5!

Now at 63,000 miles (8,000 miles since manual transmission flush / refill) the clutch is getting grabby and temperamental again. Could the fluid level be low again with no real evidence outside of a dirty output shaft oil seal? This weekend I will raise the Vibe again and check the transmission fluid level. If low, I am off to the "Buick" dealership to have them replace the output shaft oil seal under the 5/100K power-train warranty. I will post my findings in a week.

Doc Doug

Good luck and let us know!

DocDoug wrote: This car has been a PINTA when it comes to getting a straight answer from anyone regarding specs. After reading more about the countless 5 speed failures in the Matrix, I am glad I have the factory 5/100000 warranty.

This is my first and last "Toyota."

The 5 speed failures were in the early 1st gen Matrixes and Vibes, not the 09's, so you don't need to worry about a tranny failure any more than anybody driving a non-Toyota. Unfortunately, I owned a early 1st gen 5 speed, and can testify.

Bought my 2009 Vibe 5-Speed Manual 1.8 in September of 2008, 160,000+ miles later the transmission shifts as good as the day it left the factory!! Best car I have ever owned!!