introduction: NEW MEMBER

[wufwydr]

Hello fellow Vibe owners, I just registered. I have been viewing some informational postings for a few weeks since the purchase of my first Vibe. I was just reading about the Vibe meet in Pontiac,IL. June 15th 2013. I think I would like to attend if time and weather permit. I only live only a couple hours away. From what I gather a variety of ages might attend. That would make me feel more comfortable being slightly over a half century old.(lol) I just purchased a 2003 base 5 spd with 153k on odometer. It came with a new clutch, battery, brakes and tires for $3200. I believe the color is called salsa. I thought it was a good deal. It does have the normal clicking air duct noise, revving idle and weak plastic parts. These things are yet to be repaired but, will be! I do have a noise that just developed that I hope is just a wheel bearing. Thanks everyone, Wayne

[tpollauf]

Welcome to GenVibe Wayne. First off, being a "half century" old is rather young for several members here I'm right there with you, although my 18 year old son owns his Blue 09Gt in my signature Salsa is an awesome color! My SRT (sport red metallic) is as close to the "salsa" color for the 2009 model year which is why I sought it out We'd love to see you & the Vibe in Pontiac this summer. Post pics of your Vibe soon & update your profile showing your location. Again .................. WELCOME

[KITT222]

Welcome to GenVibe! Age range is quite vast here. At the last meet we had probably a 50/60 year range of ages. I myself am 18. But we welcome all ages here! We'd love to see you at the meet. Sounds like a great deal on the salsa Vibe!

[mntn-biker]

Hello fellow Vibe owners, I just registered. I have been viewing some informational postings for a few weeks since the purchase of my first Vibe. I was just reading about the Vibe meet in Pontiac,IL. June 15th 2013. I think I would like to attend if time and weather permit. I only live only a couple hours away. From what I gather a variety of ages might attend. That would make me feel more comfortable being slightly over a half century old.(lol) I just purchased a 2003 base 5 spd with 153k on odometer. It came with a new clutch, battery, brakes and tires for $3200. I believe the color is called salsa. I thought it was a good deal. It does have the normal clicking air duct noise, revving idle and weak plastic parts. These things are yet to be repaired but, will be! I do have a noise that just developed that I hope is just a wheel bearing. Thanks everyone, Wayne

If the noise seems to be coming from the transmission, it most likely is the bearing in the trans which is common for these bearings to go bad in the 5 spd MT. Search the engine and trans threads here and you will see many a posting on it. I replaced my noisy 5 spd @ 94k miles with a 6 speed since the replacement bearing is OEM and I would be doing it again in another ~90k miles. The 5 spd to 6 spd swap is a direct bolt up swap.

Your revving idle might mean you need to change the intake manifold gasket. Get the red 1 from a Toyota dealer. I changed mine it in all of an hour.

Welcome to the Vibe world!

[Doug14]

Ahhhh Salsa! Love that colour, welcome to genvibe!

[mac99d]

I must agree Salsa is a very nice color.
Look forward to possibly seeing you at the meet.

[wufwydr]

my 2003 pontiac vibe.jpg (196.48 KiB) Viewed 3644 times

Thanks all for the warm welcome. I am not the most savvy on the computer be it uploading or just maneuvering through this new to me forum site. I just tested the waters on uploading pics in a test spot. I'll try it again in this posting for those who were curious. Its not a good pic but, you'll get the idea. Also edited my location. I will plug away at wearing off the newness (lol).

[vibenvy]

Welcome to GenVibe Wayne! That's an awesome deal you got on your "new" Vibe ! As others have already said, there will be a wide age range at the Pontiac meet. We'd love to have you and your Vibe join us!

[michellem]

Welcome , and that IS a very good deal. I recently bought my second Vibe 05 Auto with 180,000 in need of new tires and brakes, prior salvage title and paid 4,000 for it. Also need of replacing some plastic and wheel well liner and there's an odor in the interior I still cannot find the source of ! I immediatly changed the cabin filter that was filthy and the blower got alot louder. My first Vibe was 03 and it was the best car, I drove it 8 yrs and it had over 230,000 miles(was totaled or I would still have it) You made a good choice.

[09SnowyVibe]

Looks like you have a busted door handle?

[kostby]

Welcome to the GenVibe family. There are LOTS of 2-tone Salsa Vibes around here, including my 2003.

[wufwydr]

Sorry I haven't been on here much to reply. Very busy these days. I finally was able to get Vibe up on ramps and check things. When I bought the car I only had test drove the car in and out of plant parking lot on lunch hour. The day I brought money to seller I test drove for about 1.5 hours. Again constrained by time but, pretty confident it was worth buying even with some of its issues. I found that a lot of the plastic directly behind front bumper is missing and what was left had missing bolts or plastic inserts. A very bad developed noise ended up being a combination of the loose plastic and heat shield. A big sigh of relief because it never had that tinny sound you usually hear with loose shields or exhaust system and I didn't feel it was a bearing though wasn't ruling it out. I cleaned throttle body and MAF sensor which helped with the surging it had. The car had bad odors and stains on interior. Lots of stain remover, carpet cleaner, scrubbing brush with elbow grease, Armeral wipes and air fresheners. Changing and cleaning cabin filter and duct surely helped because I believe it was original. I still have to pull radio to replace bulbs to see clock/station display that is when I'll also fix actuator gear. Someone has had to have been behind dash because gauges are loose and move around but, they do work. Also, I will fix the broken door handle that I broke on the first day I drove it to work. Freezing rain the night before left me holding the handle in my hand. I was not to happy about that! Thanks GenVibe members for your Ideas,support,suggestions and observations. Looking forward to meeting this summer and hopefully will have car looking, running and driving GREAT. I have a lot I would like to improve upon. Also, looking for parts like wheel covers or wheels(OEM), maybe OEM mats. Again thanks all.

[cmpltvertigo]

Welcome to the group, sounds liek you've been busy. I am a new owner myself having my Vibe for a little less than 2 weeks. Mine is an 03 base model with 110K miles, in great shape besides a misfire when cold. Looking to do some maintenance of my own the first free weekend I get.

[wufwydr]

Welcome aboard, vibe meet in Pontiac,IL. this summer. Lots of good info from this forum to apply to your Vibe! Good luck. Maybe see you at the Meet?

[ramenboy...]

Hey

Welcome to the family. The Illinois group seems to be getting bigger

[kc6yot]

Welcome, Nice Car!