GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

This began last winter so I assumed it was related to temperature but it seems this is not the case.
So the 04 Vibe GT 6spd makes this noise EVERY time i cold start it. The noise will last for about one minute, then goes away.
The cadence of the noise is unchanged by rpm, and persists as usual even if I toss it in gear and begin driving.
I notice the noise is WAY louder on the driver side of the engine bay, under the battery I think.
I looked in the fender liner hole that so, so many of us have and heard it EVEN louder.
Then I reached in with my hand and felt the awful vibration of this racket seems to be coming FROM this part...or very NEAR this part.
This... mystery part.

You guys' thoughts?

Oh and just to clarify...
I have searched RELENTLESSLY in hope of answering my own questions...
Everything leads me back to the "death rattle" that many people experience where they get the awful chatter on cold starts that lasts about 2 seconds.

This is not that.

I wonder what it is about the Vibes that the tires wear a hole in the fender liner.

Can't remember what is down there under the battery where you can feel the vibration, looks like a hose of some sort. Could it be a power steering hose?

One relatively easy test would be to do a cold start with the serpentine belt removed, that would let you know if was engine/tranny vs some belt driven accessory. I realize the sound is coming on the other side of the engine from the belt, and it sounds awful. Since the belt drives the water pump, only do a no belt test when the engine is cold and then only for a short time

joatmon wrote: ↑Sun Aug 09, 2020 9:09 amOne relatively easy test would be to do a cold start with the serpentine belt removed

I had a mechanic try this during my recent replacement of the belt tensioner. He said the noise persisted.

As for my guess on WHAT the part is... Googling the numbers on the side of it comes up with this



Then a further deep dive lead me to this Russian parts site which has the mystery black box with hoses attached to it.

Further yet into the black hole we call Google, I find this part. The above listed black box part that vibrates so intensely when the noise is going is included in this larger component.

This rather EXPENSIVE component.

I did not know that this was a 'thing' on the Vibe. This secondary air pump.
Could this be my culprit?
Anyone have any experience with this thing failing?

And where the heck are these hoses going? lol

if it has an electrical connector, disconnect it and see if the noise still happens

Fine suggestion.

So I jacked the Vibe up,
opened the fender liner,
unplugged my suspected culprit and...

IT WORKED! No noise at all (aside from the clutch whining...separate repair)

So I plugged it back in to see if I could replicate the symptom and got nothing.
No noise. I may have let the car run beyond the point at which the noise would typically stop.
I will let the Vibe cool off, then try again.
I'll let you know if I'm still getting this awful cold start noise.

...sweet tasty progress!

Nice. Even if the part is pricey, it's got to be reassuring to know that the sound is not the engine or tranny about to explode, 'cuz that awful sound is scary to hear coming out of a car

So is that the modern (well, early 2000's modern) equivalent of the even older belt-driven air pump? The one that people always used to disconnect?

I'm surprised it hasn't started throwing codes at you yet. Fingers crossed that doesn't happen.

I'm wondering that myself. If the part can't simply be ganked and bypassed using an '03 GT ECU.
Then I'd have this problem taken care of and the other benefits that ECU offers.

That is the smog pump/secondary air injection pump. Pick up one from an 03 GT, and you will have bypassed it without issue. I know in your neck of the woods in Alabama, they don't care about emissions/inspection, so even unplugged it would stop it for you, but you'd have the CEL on.

So Zack, what I'm hearing you (a time-proven, reliable source) say...
is that I NEED to pick up an ECU from a 2003 GT
AND
a shiny new SRI (which is TOTALLY a necessity)
...and my problems will be solved????
Just asking so I can explain to my wife where the money went

All kidding aside, this may very well be the route I take.
So with that in mind, any idea what I'll need to do to deal with the remnants of this part?
Seal off some vacuum lines or plug some stuff?

Oh, and here's the video identifying my pesky noise-maker.

Absolutely. Replacing the intake ensure that the stock airbox, which is in the vicinity of your noise, wasn't the cause!

So, the smog pump runs across the front of the vehicle (metal piping above radiator), snakes by the passenger side, and actually goes into the exhaust manifold. If you wanted to totally remove the smog pump crap, you'd have to plug/weld the holes into the exhaust manifold. On mine, I simply left it all in place and swapped the ECU. Mine didn't go bad, I just wanted the lift point to be lowered haha.

I see, thanks for the info.
This will be 2nd on my list unfortunately

Gotta go pay $800 for a clutch replacement

Ouch. I'd say bring it by, but it's about a 12hr drive, and a garage will get it done quicker than we probably would.

Also, I will be in your neck of the woods two times next year. Definitely need to swing by and say hi this time around haha.

Right on, that'd be great.

So I'm dropping the Vibe off today for the clutch repair and I will likely just leave
my little noise-maker unplugged despite the codes it will throw at them.
I'll just give them a heads up.

Side note:
I plan to hunt down and order the '03 GT ECU today and sort of...
window shop, if you will, for a SRI and Short Throw kit

I followed your link (on AnonymousStoner's thread) to the ECM and it's sold.
Having difficulty finding the means to verify that the part is EXACTLY what I need and not just compatible.

A Psycho Martyr wrote: ↑Tue Aug 18, 2020 6:47 am I followed your link (on AnonymousStoner's thread) to the ECM and it's sold.
Having difficulty finding the means to verify that the part is EXACTLY what I need and not just compatible.

Lemme pull mine out later today and I will shoot you some pics of the numbers on it so you know exact fitment. Mine actually came out of Zane's 03 GT.

oh, right on.
I certainly appreciate your time brother.
Thanks again.

This is the most promising thing I've seen so far.

This look right?
I found a part # listed in an ancient thread on here.

Sorry for not getting back to you. Things have been pretty hectic here. Yeah, that looks like it would be the correct one (listing has ended).

zbyers wrote: ↑Mon Aug 24, 2020 3:41 am (listing has ended)

Yup, ya boy snatched it up

I had a hunch it was correct. Should be here Friday.