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Any answers?
This engine has rings that are very thin. Because of that, if there is any carbon build up, the rings will cease up in the pistons, allowing oil to blow by continuously.
My kids drive a couple of these, (one with almost 200K miles on it), and we've been putting oil into them religiously.
Certain oil additives are supposed to help free up the stuck rings, but if an engine has had this problem for a while, the rings may never reseat completely.
This is the exact same engine that Toyota uses for the Matrix and Corolla's, so don't blame the problem on GM. I have put a Corolla engine into a Prizm- it is part for part identical.
I can't remember the exact additive that folks are using but check the Corolla sites. You may have to special order it. and it may take a few thousand miles to make a difference.
I have found that using the high mileage oils cuts oil consumption roughly in half.
Jim
I own a 2006 Pontiac Vibe. I take extremly good care of my car and recently had a collison with a 100 lbs deer, doing about 40 mph. I hit the deer in the very front head on. My air bags failed to deploy. After shutting my car off and then starting it the check engine light popped in. So when I drove my car home and then to the collison repair place it was determined that my computer fried. Now my insurance is trying to tell me that the computer frying is not accident related. Can they do that?
We check recalls and the manufacturer and there were no "known" problem areas with the Pontiac Vibes. I still owe a good 15k on my vibe.
Has anyone experienced then or does anyone have any advice?
Waiting tranportationless
kmachleitlaborready.com
My 2005 Vibe has been exhibiting crazy idle patterns this winter. The problem occurs only when it's cold outside (freezing or below) and the engine is completely cold (first start of the day). The car starts fine, and of course idles pretty high as all Vibes do (usually around 1700 RPM or so. Everything is fine if I don't pull out and drive until the engine is fully warmed up.
However, if I let the car run for a minute or two, and then pull out, the idle kicks up above 2000RPM when I push in the clutch and if I come to a stop at an intersection it will idle up and down between 1500 and 2500 RPM quickly and repeatedly. If I don't move again quickly, it will usually kick up to an even higher idle around 2100RPM.
I have a stick shift, and the crazy idle is most evident when I push in the clutch to come to a stop at an intersection. Once the engine is fully warmed up, the idle returns to normal, although I have noticed that it still seems a bit more erratic then it did when the weather is warm.
I have no check engine light indicating the computer has registered a problem, but it seems obvious that there must be some sort of problem with the PCM or some other component related to regulating the idle.
Any ideas? I hate the thought of taking it to the dealership without having an idea of what it might be. I'm sure they'll have a difficult time recreating the problem unless I leave it sitting there overnight and then force the technician to ride with me when I start it up cold.
Would a PCM reflash fix the problem, or is there something else that regulates cold weather starts that could be malfunctioning? Car runs great otherwise. I have noticed the exhaust smells "rich" (i.e. somewhat of a gas odor) when the car is exhibiting the strange idle characteristics. My gas mileage hasn't declined much though - other than what is typical because of cold temps.
Appreciate any advice or insight.
Have seen dirty MAF sensors do similar things like you described.
Also you don't mention mileage, air filter condition etc.
Have seen this on other Vibes in the shop and on my 05 W/Auto. GM seems to look the other way. Doesn't mean you don't have a problem.
Make sure the MAF is clean before jumping to all sorts of conclusions and guessing.
I replaced the air filter a couple months ago, so that should still be good.
Where is the MAF, and how do I clean it? I'm not a mechanic-type, so if it's something I need to have done in a shop, please let me know. I'd like to try that before I try the dealership.
My PCM was replaced under warranty at about 35,000 miles because I was a victim of the infamous "warm-start" issue where the car would crank fine, but not start for several seconds. It would act sluggish when it did finally start.
The new PCM seems to have taken care of that problem, but the idle issue has only arisen since it turned cold. The colder the temps (like this morning when it was 5 degrees with a 25 below zero windchill) the worse the problem.
Anyhow, if cleaning the MAF sensor is relatively simple, I would appreciate instructions on how to do it. Thanks!
Here's where it's located however. http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/2683/mafstockintake7kd.jpg
Thanks
Thanks
the resonsponse i got was; a broken flex plate (auto trans) will sound like stones rattling around in a tin can. it did.
method to reset the check engine light without disconnecting the battery. Tried
it, it didn't work. You were to turn off the engine, depress the mileage reset button with the odometer mode in view, turn the ignition on and count to ten. Anybody
got a method for resetting without buying a code-reader or going to a shop?
check engine light came on again. I'm taking it in tommorrow for another scan.
Does anybody have any experience with 02 sensor failures? Is this a catch-all
message which can refer to a number of possible problems? I'm not eager to
start an expensive trial-and-error process of elimination if we can get directly
to the problem. Maybe I should go to a dealer instead of an independent mechanic.
Anybody got any suggestions?
engine and got the same o2 sensor diagnostic that led to the $300 repair. He
didn't really have any idea what to do next. I'm going to try a long shot and use
fuel injector cleaner in my next tankful using regular gas instead of ethanol
but I don't have any real expectations of success. I was only trying to fix it because
I was going to give it to my grandaughter who lives in a state that has inspections
and I didn't want her to get stuck with the bill. The tape fix is what I'll do if I keep it.
I'd like to see that the Pontiac dealer that sold it to me gets it back.
that the code that came up when the scanner did it's thing was PO420 which refers
to the "Cataylst System Efficiency Below Threshold". Most of the time, the problem is an O2 Sensor supposedly but it could be the catalytic converter which
is covered by an 8 yr- 80K mile warranty. I'd have to take it to the dealer, pay for
the scan again, and hope they found the converter to be the problem and not
some other educated guess that costs me money. Maybe I should just buy a
lottery ticket.
to bite the bullet and take it to the Pontiac dealer. I expected to spend $100-$125
for the diagnostic test but decided I'd wait and see what they found before spending
any more for parts. Much to my surprise, they declared the problem to be a
defective PCM (Power Control Module ie. "on-board computer") It was covered
under warranty and when the new PCM was installed, the check engine light went
out and stayed out. Apparantly emission parts are covered by an 8yr-80,000 mile
warranty. I took the car out on the interstate and drove 110 miles and no light!
Usually I'd get the light on before I had driven 30 miles. Hope my experience may
be of help to others with a similar problem.
I called GM yesterday to file a complaint, but I am not sure if this will do anything.
I currently have $9000 ($CAD) in repairs, and my car was worth $12'500!!! I went to the GM garage, and they agreed with me that the airbags should have deployed, but they refused to help me in my complaint. I do not know where to turn to anymore. I am considering contacting a News Reporter... to see if he can move things. Big companies usually do not like bad publicity.
When I started it the 4th time, I tried giving it some throttle and was if the throttle was not connected. Ended up towing to Pontiac stealer. They tell me now low compression in 2 cylinders although it was running perfectly before it quit and it may have a timing chain issue (bs). The car uses no oil and is supremly kept up.
I can't find any issue relating to this as its pretty bullet proof. I believe it to be a sensor, ignition or fuel pump issue. Any answers?
-Mark
unless it ran low on oil,or some other catastropic failure happened,you're being fed a large steaming plate-of bull ! ! personally,i understand when they don't know for shure-untill they check a few things out,but i detest being LIED to..
watch these people like a hawk!!