Big mistakewhitealltrac wrote:repair no. 3
Checked the pressure and it was over filled by a bit so I took a nail and vented some of it until it was back to normal level, still no cold air.
In my case it turned out to be the compressor clutch was seized! I went to the local yard and got a whole compressor from an 06 Vibe I swapped it refilled and its working like new! It cost me $30.00 for the yard2nd03vibe wrote:Do you have any updates? I have an 03 base with 130K. My problem is very similar to yours. The pressure is right at the top edge of good on the gauge. I checked the fuses and the relay. They seem to look OK. Not sure what a blown relay should look like. And when people talk about the relay, I am assuming they are talking about the one in the fuse box under the hood. The clutch won't kick in no matter what, but then I used my cheap voltometer, there is no juice in the line to the compressor. I gator clipped the voltometer ground directly to the negative on the battery and pinned the contact inside the plug of the electrical wire, which feeds power to the compressor. I touched the positive and negative on the battery, and the voltometer lit up. I know it works. So I am at a loss. I was going to blame it on the clutch, but now I am not sure what to troubleshoot next.
There is a common problem with 03 Vibes, where the O-ring on the timing belt tensioner gets blown and leaks oil. The serpentine belt slings the oil all in the passenger side area of the engine compartment. It drenched the alternator and the AC compressor on my car. I replaced the tensioner and the O-ring and was going to blame the compressor for no cold air, but since there is a possibility of it not getting any power, I need to trace the wire to make sure it's OK.
If anyone thinks there is an obvious solution, I will be grateful if you share it.
Thank you RonB, still have to get to it but will do it soon....RonB wrote:Hi, WhiteAllTrac
I really like the look of your GT with the body-color cladding, as opposed to mine with the faded-gray cladding.
I hope you get your mechanical issues sorted before cold weather sets in.
Its been super cold here so I have not been able to fix the leak. I may live with it until Spring as the leak is very small. As soon as we hit good weather I'll jump on it.fawlty04 wrote:Hey! Wondering if you sorted out your oil leak. I used to change my own when I had a driveway to park/work in, but now just hit Jiffy Lube—today they told me there was excessive leaking of oil (explains the small patches where I park on the street... thought they weren't mine, they're never mine!) and have been doing a little research online to get a jump on where to look before I dig in and found a video on youtube ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wS423KsMbxk ) showing how to replace the O-ring on the timing tensioner but a commenter said that with first generation GTs "a bracket on the front of the engine prevents the removal of the timing chain tensioner" and then listed all the various steps required just to get at the tensioner.
What did you discover of your oil leak? Was it the timing tensioner? Any chance you took pics when you fixed it??? Haha. I dig fixing my own stuff, but once things require too many levels of removing and replacing, I get gun shy... think I might need to take it to a mechanic... bleeeeeeeccchhhh
Where you at in PA? I wish this beauty was near me! haha.whitealltrac wrote:5/31/18
Replaced both front rotors, new brakes all around, new tires, new front control arms, a/c compressor took a dump bought a refurbished one from Ebay will have to replace it soon cuz its hot as hell here in Pa.
Im in Allentown Pa.zbyers wrote:Where you at in PA? I wish this beauty was near me! haha.whitealltrac wrote:5/31/18
Replaced both front rotors, new brakes all around, new tires, new front control arms, a/c compressor took a dump bought a refurbished one from Ebay will have to replace it soon cuz its hot as hell here in Pa.
Reading through your posts I would agree it's the timing cover or crank seal leaking for that oil leak. Crank seal isn't too bad to do; take fender line out, belt off, take crank pulley out, yank old gasket out, insert new, tada!
199k miles isn't bad at all. My 03 GT is at 267k. The paint is showing it, but the motor and everything else does not.
Bummer to hear that. Glad you're (mostly) okay AANNNDDD you chose to still stick with the Vibe/Matrix platform!whitealltrac wrote: ↑Sat Sep 30, 2023 9:56 am Update
5/5/23
I am sad to report my Vibe GT was totaled. I did get hurt and as of today 9/30/23 I am still being treated for issues with my right hip. I want to thank everyone that helped me on this forum. I now owe an 09 Matrix.