GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

Hello all, excellent info here! I am a noob and just purchased a 2003 base model Vibe with 63k original miles. Still figuring out things about it, but I just cleaned the MAF sensor and put in new air filter, new tires. It had a lean running smell when I bought it so Im trying to see if the changes I made correct the issue. Thanks for letting me join here!

Welcome to GenVibe You got a clean low mileage Vibe there for being 14 model years old! Looks like your in a northern climate also. Price, location, anything seriously wrong with it? visit often and get involved here

Welcome, nice Vibe. Kentucky, I suppose?

I picked this up in Nashville. It was on a dealer lot with a clean one owner Carfax record for $4900. Not sure it was a great price but it was the best I could find for essentially a Toyota with 63k miles. I'm in Ky. It needed tires..the brakes checked out ok.

Welcome to Genvibe. I recently replaced the original black color intake manifold gasket with a new orange color one and fixed the fuel system too lean problem.

I just ordered the intake manifold gasket from my Toyota dealer. Any idea what it costs to have someone replace it?

Of course it depends on what model you have. If you have the second generation Vibe (2009-2010) make sure you have your mechanic replace the PCV valve as well since it is buried underneath the intake manifold. I provided the new orange gasket and new PCV and my mechanic charged me $271 on my second generation Vibe.

KyVibe wrote:I just ordered the intake manifold gasket from my Toyota dealer. Any idea what it costs to have someone replace it?

I did it myself. It's like a one hour work. Not including the research of online forums and youtube.

Haha..I don't think I'm handy enough to do it myself.

I am a believer that miles are everything. I don't think $4,900 is unreasonable for for a 2003 Vibe with 63,000 miles.

I had the intake manifold gasket done on my old 2006 Matrix. I paid my Toyota dealer $285 CAD. The gasket itself cost $7

MacGyver wrote:I had the intake manifold gasket done on my old 2006 Matrix. I paid my Toyota dealer $285 CAD. The gasket itself cost $7

Thank You all! since my Vibe is 14 yrs old but the mileage is low, is there a need to do any of the following?? I have no codes and the vehicle drives fine but there is some rattling and vibration at idle.


-Change Trans Fluid?
-Replace Plugs?
-Drain Coolant?
-intake manifold gasket?

jake75 wrote:I am a believer that miles are everything. I don't think $4,900 is unreasonable for for a 2003 Vibe with 63,000 miles.

The dealer originally wanted $5800 and there were no comparable I could find to match the year model and mileage..so I took it at $4900 as is and was happy.

Welcome to GenVibe! Very sharp looking two-tone Abyss! Thanks for posting a picture right away !

KyVibe wrote: Thank You all! since my Vibe is 14 yrs old but the mileage is low, is there a need to do any of the following?? I have no codes and the vehicle drives fine but there is some rattling and vibration at idle.

-Change Trans Fluid?
-Replace Plugs?
-Drain Coolant?
-intake manifold gasket?

The trans fluid is good for 100,000 miles, but you can check it with the dipstick. If it's reddish and doesn't smell burnt or look black, it's ok.

The spark plugs are good for 120,000 miles. They are iridium tipped and last a long time. But changing them is super easy.

Replacing the coolant and brake fluid are good ideas. Time is not kind to those fluids.

Changing the IMG is not a big deal. I had mine changed because the engine started to run funny and eventually that check engine light came on.

heres some more pics...not bad for a 14 yr old. Im still getting a little rough idle, that I can feel some vibration inside the car. Just put in a new PCV valve also. Any suggestions???

4 cylinder engines are inherently unbalanced and vibrate in particular at idle. Many large 4cylinder engines are therefore equipped with one or two balance shafts.
Of course if it vibrates more than usual then you may have some misfiring or the engine/transmission mounts are failing. There is rubber in these mounts therefore they may be failing after that many years.

Welcome! Price seems worth with that neat and nice looking Vibe.

What tires are you looking to get? We are about to replace on ours as well, looking at BFG or Toyo tires as they are reliable ones on our truck.

collins92 wrote:Welcome! Price seems worth with that neat and nice looking Vibe.

What tires are you looking to get? We are about to replace on ours as well, looking at BFG or Toyo tires as they are reliable ones on our truck.

Hi..sad to say I went the el cheapo wal-mart route and got 4 Goodyear tires. So far so good they ride smooth and no noise. It had 3 mismatched tires when I bought it.