Jstant01, I have had just the same situation last night, for the first time since I got the car 3 weeks ago. I filled up the gas tank, then I have had to crank it for 2-3 seconds to start up. It also happened this morning. Do you still have that starting problem with your vibe? Have you taken your car to a dealer? Does anyone have just the same problem? I am wondering if I should take mine to a dealer.
I have a Pontiac Vibe 2006 (got it 3 weeks ago) and it seems to have a start up problem. It starts each time, but sometimes it takes 2-3 seconds.
I realized that you have had the starting problem with your Vibe for about two months. Do you still have that problem? Did it get worse since the first time?
Does anyone know why it happens and how to fix it?
Some issues I have experienced with my 2004 Vibe Base automatic:
TIRE WEAR!!! I know that the factory Goodyears are "performance" tires, but wearing out at 30k is ridiculous. Tires were rotated and balanced regularly and the car was not out of alignment. Lots of road driving and inflated to 35 psi. I got 50k out of the same tire on a 99 Grand AM GT and about 80k on a 97 Grand Prix GTP.
Leg room - I am 6'1" and my wife is 5'. I cannot get comfortable driving this car. Needs telescoping steering and more than 2" of tilt capability. When I adjust the seat position for leg comfort, I am too far from the steering wheel. This is primarily my wife's car, and she loves it.
Compartment below the shifter - after a short time, it kept falling open. Dealer replaced the bin. Short time later, same problem. I put a couple of layers of duct tape on the pivot area on the bottom of the bin and the problem is fixed. (What did we ever do without duct tape?)
Gas mileage - excellent! We go from northern Iowa to Kansas City twice a year, and running 75-80 mph on the interstate and we get 34 mpg.
Air filter - I replaced the factory filter with a K&N. I plan to keep the car for a long time, so the initial cost of the K&N will offset the replacement cost of disposable filters.
All in all, this is a great little car - a small SUV that is classified as a station wagon! Wife loves it, and that allows me to have my toys (02 GTP 40th Anniv. Edition and 89 Vette Convert.).
Yes, I still have the problem. No, I have not been to the dealer with it yet. The only reason I haven't is because I am a very busy person, and my dealer is 30 miles from where I live. I am going to ask them about it the next time I take the car in for an oil change.
I have not found any "answers" for this problem through this Forum or any others I have looked in. There doesn't seem to be a sure "fix" - only lots of ideas as to what to try.
The only thing I have had any success with is turning the key and waiting about 20 seconds before starting the car. In other words, I turn the key to "on" and wait about 20 seconds before cranking up the motor to start. This usually makes the car start without cranking forever. However, I still notice a "stumble" as if the engine doesn't want to run at first, then it "catches" and runs OK.
I also hear a very distinct clunking sound in the engine bay (it's not ABS, I do not have ABS) right after the engine fires up. It sounds like a sewing machine (thunk, thunk, thunk) and disappears once I pull away. I read somewhere else that this sound may be coming from an emissions component of some sort, but like I say - no one has been able to specifically say "your problem is caused by ___________." This has been very frustrating.
I'm hoping my dealer will have either a TSB or a clue as to what might be going on. I'll let you know if they discover anything. I've now heard of many others with 2005 and 2006 Vibes that are having this same issue. It's one of those things that is maddening because while the car still operates, a person shouldn't have to wait 20 seconds when they've just plunked down 18K for a vehicle! :mad:
Let me know, please, if you find anything else out about this. I read this forum often, or you can email me directly. Thanks.
Thank you for your quick response. I am sorry to hear that you still have the problem. I don't hear any strange sounds coming from mine except for the ABS "knock" sound. You had better take your car to your dealer, they may give you an idea about the sound, and your start up problem may turn out to be related to it.
I had read the suggestions about turning the key and waiting for a while before starting the car. But I thought it was just for a couple of seconds, I see that your's takes longer (20 seconds). I will try it next time.
My car has the problem when it sits for a short period of time (I guess most of the cases are the same). It takes about 2 seconds to crank it now. Did you use to crank it shorter when you first had the problem? I mean, did it get worse in time, or nothing changed from the beginning? I am hoping that it justs stays as it is.
Nevertheless, I guess even after a long crunking, your's run okay all the time, right?
It is really depressing to have to deal with problems of a brand new car. I hope it's not something serious, and the dealer is able to fix it.
good write up newvibebuyer. I am your height and do not drive my Vibe either. It is very sad that Toyota/GM failed to put in a $5 option in telescoping steering. As a Corolla, it is a great car, and you should have it for a very long time. The Maxx is a much better option for people our size (and taller). As for tire wear, 30k is very good on OEM tires. Most go out of round, have side tread problems, or wear out prematurely. I hope you got an H rated tire to replace your OEMs. It will ensure you get the Maxx-imum out of your driving experience with the Vibe.
Yep, the car runs fine except for the starting problem. Yes, just like you and everyone else, it only happens on a "warm" restart - after the car has been sitting anywhere from a few minutes up to maybe half an hour. If it's been sitting longer than that, it starts right up.
As for length of time issues - the car started doing this just about right away. As for turning the key and waiting, someone else (norstar1?) in this forum suggested that a while back. It does seem to make a difference. However, even after doing that, the car start differently than it does on a cold start.
As for the clunking, I'm clueless on that one. When I first heard it, I about had a heart attack because it sounds like a loose rod in the engine. However, it goes away as soon as I pull away, and I hear it at no other time - including cold starts. That means it has to be something related to this warm start issue.
I'm hoping the dealer can figure it out. I hate wild goose chase problems. I'm really impressed with my dealer thus far, so hopefully they won't let me down here. However, it seems like this issue has evaded a solution from everyone else who has it as well.
How is the Vibe when going cross country around 75mph? Any power left to pass, safety, ...... Can you get away with towing 1500 - 1800 lbs for a few miles on flat terrain, once a week ?
I just bought a used 2005 Toyota Matrix XR. Unfortunately, there is no owner's manual coming with it. Could anyone tell me how to know if it has side airbag or not?
In good light, look at the outboard side bolster of the seat back. On one of my previous cars (Prizm LSi), it was printed on the side of the seat. There'll definitely be decals, and a ready-to-rip seam in the bolster.
You'd know. It's reasonably prominent. The owner has to know, see, so he doesn't put seat covers on, for instance.
If you still have the original window stickers, it'll have the information, too. Safety "extras" like ABS and air bags are hard to come buy in your more basic Toyotas.
Recently I have put a can of RESTORE Engine Restorer to my Matrix. The first day it ran very smooth (noticible change). However, the nightmare has come. WHen the car was running, it's fine. When the car came to a stop, the engine started to choke. When the car is completely stop, the engine choked even wrose. RPM dropped to lower than 300 rpm. And eventually it stalled. Engine light came on.
I managed to drive to the dealer (since it's running fine when it's moving). The error code was "CODE P0011 CAM SHAFT Position a Timing Over Advance". The Sensor was fine. So all they did was to reset the sensor with a clear code.
Now the car is running ok (so far). They blamed me that I'm driving the car so tough and the sensor got freezed up. (Of course I didn't tell them I have put the thing in my engine). Lucky it's still under warantee.
So does anybody know what has happened to my trix?
I can't tell you what happened but what possessed you to put this restorer in your car in the first place? Do you have an older matrix which was not working properly? In my opinion most additives don't work. I've visited a lot of sites related to the vibe and the matrix and I don't recall any one adding additives. Hope you learned your lesson. Just change the oil religiously and you will have many miles of trouble free driving.
We have a 2006 with the side airbags. There is a stamp on the front and rear side posts that says side airbags. also the front seats have a tag on them.
that was my bad.. Lately I've been feeling my trix's gas efficiency is dropping tremendously. And I came across this product which claims to be able to incress the gas efficiency. There I went and try one out not knowing it would do such damage.
I just got my Vibe back from the dealer today. The master cylinder was on back order for about two weeks. They said they found an internal leak in it. It seems to be better but I have only driven it home from the dealer so far. Just wanted to let everyone know in case the same type of problem pops up.
I feel bad for you, but I learned a long time ago not to trust ANY of those engine "additives" that supposedly work wonders. The worse part is that if the dealer finds out that is what happened, I believe it would void your warranty.
That being said, I would suggest trying to contact the RESTORE company before you think about suing them. More than likely they won't do anything, but it's worth a shot - especially if there was some sort of "guarantee" on the can.
I hope this works out for you in the end, without costing an arm and a leg!
Engine Restorer Oil is just oil that makes your engine run smoothly by balancing the compression in all the cylinders, so it couldn't mess with your timing over advance. Is the car running OK now that they reset the code? thks
Apparently, after they reset the code, everything runs fine now. One thing that bothers me was the mechanic told me (when he saw the error code) if I was pushing my engine too hard. What he meants was was I rev up the RPM to red line all the time. If not, that would be no way the sensor would freeze up like that.
I told him it was an automatic. The most I rev up was 4000 RPM. It would be impossible that reason. Of course I did not mention anything about the restorer.
I bought a 05 Vibe with a window sticker that states roof rack included. I "built" the 05 Vibe at least 6 times on the GM web site. It did not have cross bars as an orderable option. The next day I called the dealer and he said only side rails were included. He also mentioned all vibes had been shipped this way.(BIG DEAL) GM has tried to redefine the term roof rack. According to it's definition roof rack(side rails included) means no cross bars. I contest that this is comparable to wheelbarrow,red,includes wheel, and then when you go to pick it up they hand you a wheel and state it did not say handles included. This is absurd. I notice they have removed any mention of the roof rack inclusion on the 06 web page and added a "utility bar" option. It appears to me they have changed the definition of roof rack as two separate pieces in one case but then use roof rack when it is to their advantage. I have complained to the Attorney General in Washington and if I don't get results I will take them to court on principal. This type of word play has gone on far to long in the automobile industry. Has anyone out there had any luck with this problem?
I have complained to the Attorney General in Washington and if I don't get results I will take them to court on principal.
You've posted this before... while I agree that the rack leaves something to be desired, my '04 has the darned things and if they weren't so hard to remove, I'd let you come pick them up for free. They're very nearly useless, and I have never used them.
Instead of all this indignation, spend $140 and get Thule or Yakima cross bars that fit the rack. Even then, the darned thing is too short to be useful for anything bigger than bicycles.
Do you realize that you sound like you're overreacting rather childishly...?
How often are you changing the oil in your Matrix?
Our 2005 and 2006 owners manuals say every 5K, under all conditions. I showed up at 3k to get it done since that is what I have always done on previous vehicles and the Toyota dealership said to come back at 5k.
I've always changed mine at 3,000 - although in recent years, due to a busy schedule, I have stretched it out to 5,000 or so at times. I've never had any problems related to dirty oil, as far as I can tell. In this day and age, I would think anytime between 3,000 and 5,000 would be acceptable, and would keep your warranty valid. Just my opinion, buy hey, you asked!
We have the '03 AWD and usually change the oil every 3,000 miles or less because it often takes us 4 or 5 months to put that many miles on the odometer. Owner's manual in '03 said every 7,500 miles but the dealer recommended every 3,750 miles. Now that newer Toyotals have a longer recommended interval, the dealer now says every 5,000 for the Matrix. Bottom line is that various 'experts' will give you a different opinion.
I notice what I consider a lot of vibration in my 2006 Martix (Base model automatic). I had the door open with the engine idling in park and I can feel the vibration in the door. I can fell it in the seats when idling also. Is this normal for the Martix? I realize it is not a Cadillac and I can deal with it if it is normal or should I mention it to the dealer?
We really love our two new red 06 Matrix, but the fuel economy (which is one main reason we downsized) is not really measuring up. Granted we have less than 1500 miles on either of them, but they are both rated 28/34. They are both XR automatics. And, yes it is the start of winter - but....
We are only getting as high as 26.5 mpg and as low as 24 mpg in mixed urban and suburban driving. In my previous 97 Olds 88 LSS with a 3 litre V6 I was getting 18-20 mpg in similar driving in the winter.
In my other car current car (which is stored for the winter) I have always gotten more than the EPA estimates of 23/29. It is a 2001 Miata which is driven pretty aggressively and averages 28-29 in city/highway mix.
Has anyone gotten their dealer too look at this issue or do they just blow you off? Again, we love our Matrix otherwise, but this facet is a little disappointing.
Though the fuel mileage does sound a little low I think it can probably be attributed to the lack of miles on the cars. I have a 2005 Vibe automatic with the same motor and I am averaging 34 miles per gallon combined easily. It will improve, but not during the winter.
Some people do report that gas mileage improves after the car is broken in, but that hasn't been my experience. We have an '03 4WD, and I have calculated the mpg periodically:
At 7,700 miles = 26.5 mpg At 15,000 miles = 26.8 mpg At 22,700 miles = 26.5 mpg At 29,800 miles = 26.5 mpg
That's with less highway driving than driving around town, but a mix. Winter driving can easily be 3 or 4 mpg less than similar jaunts in warm weather.
These figures represent fuel economy for all miles driven to that point. For example, we now have 29,800 miles on the odometer and have averaged 26.5 mpg over that number of miles.
I bought a 2003 vibe last March. I've noticed that in the cold (I'm in the Boston area) the heating system does not warm up very well. After idling in the driveway for about 15 minutes, the air flow is still cold. The car doesn't seemed to heat until we are going down the highway at a normal speed. Any speed under 40 seems to make cold air blow through the system after you have heat.
Is this a problem for other Vibe owners and/or is there any solution to this?
I have a 2005 Vibe that I bought brand new, and yes - the heater does take a long time to warm up. I live in Michigan, where it's been 10 degrees or colder every morning for the last week or so. My Vibe does not reach "normal" operating temperature on the gauge until I have driven it for at least 20 minutes. Only then does it put out really good heat. Until then, the heat is mediocre.
I will say, however, that I have not experienced it blowing "cold" air at speeds under 40mph. I would have that checked out. From what I understand (I'm not a mechanic, so I'm going on what I have read elsewhere), the Vibe's HVAC system always has air blowing through it, which is usually routed through the dash vents. For heat (floor) or defrost (windshield), you must close the dash vents for full airflow.
The air temperature is controlled through a "door" that opens or shuts off the amount of outside air/heated air, etc. I suspect that maybe that door is not shutting all the way or something like that if you have cold air coming in through the vents. Just a guess, but you might want to check that out.
I have also read in other posts that Toyota Corollas are notorious for not having the best heaters in the world. Since that is what our Vibe really is (mechanically anyhow), this issue may be normal for this car. I've never owned a Toyota product before, so it was a change for me also. The Ford Contour I had before my Vibe heated up within 5 minutes and blew heat so hot my foot would burn until I turned it down! Good luck, and stay warm!
There is a solution for your problem. If you go to GenVibe.com and post same, a member will give you the answer. It has something to do with the cable adjustment under the dash board that adjust the airflow. If your car is under warranty, the dealer should be able to easily make this adjustment. Hope this helps.
So I go to open the door on my beloved 2003 base Vibe this morning and the lever snaps off in my hand. I couldn't believe how flimsy the plastic lever was. It looked like it belonged on a kid's toy car. Anyhow, I know the warranty on my car is 36 months/3 years bumper to bumper for most things. I've got 50k on the car but owned it less than 3 years. Any chance Pontiac might cover my cost to fix this? If not, does anyone have any suggestions on how to fix this economically?
You didn't say whether it's the lever on the inside or outside. We had the inside one replaced on our Matrix under warranty. It took less than an hour and did not require taking off the door panel, so labor charges would not be outrageous if you are paying for it yourself. And the part itself is of course cheap.
I own a 2003 Pontiac Vibe 6-speed GT We asked our Dealer that same Question. They told me it would be fine to to use Regular. I also asked if that in any way would void the warranty-and they said no.
So to answer your question - yes I use regular for more than a year now and have not seen any change in performance nor has it affected my gas millage.
But I do have a question for you... If you have the GT...do you have the 17" rims and if so what do you do for winter/what kind of tire? -TGoes
On our 05 and 06 Matrix XR, when you use the key fob transmitter to lock the cars, it does not give a audible confirmation. My question is - has anyone come up with a fix for this. It would be nice not to have to look back and make sure the lights flashed to confirm the car is indeed locked.
I just purchased a used 2004 AWD Vibe and am getting vibrations when I hit 60mph or more. I had the dealer balance the tires before I drove it off the lot becused it was obvious they were off and then again at a well repected dealer where I live. The dealer in my area said these tires would NOT BALANCE! Has anyone esle had this issue? Upon a little investigation I found that these tires come from WalMart (a place I do not patron).
Wondering if I am just looking at 4 crappy quality tires? Has anyone else had balancing issues on their Vibe with other tires? (I did see a couple of posts speaking to balancing)
Any recommendations on good quality all seasons? Anyone using the GoodYear Triple Tread?
Is Douglas the brand name? I've never heard of them. I once had a tire that was slightly out of round -- maybe Yokahama, maybe Firestone (I dont' really remember which) -- but this was after it had been driven for many miles. When that happens it's true that you can't balance them properly. The dealer where you bought the car should have been able to figure out if that was the problem.
I seem to be in the middle of a disinformation campaign. Today, I called two dealers, one transmission place, and my mechanic. In short, I was told that my 2003 Vibe AWD had a metal screen, a washable filter, or a replaceable filter in the transmission, depending on the type of transmission I have. Come on; are there really different types of transmissions depending on when my car got slapped together out at NUMMI? I have 60k on my Vibe (all city driving) and would like to get the tranny fluid flushed out (per the owner's manual) since the color is beginning to go a little grey. Can anyone shed some light on whether I have a filter or not? My call to Pontiac Customer Service indicated that my local dealer would be able to tell by giving them my VIN.
Comments
I have had just the same situation last night, for the first time since I got the car 3 weeks ago. I filled up the gas tank, then I have had to crank it for 2-3 seconds to start up. It also happened this morning.
Do you still have that starting problem with your vibe? Have you taken your car to a dealer? Does anyone have just the same problem? I am wondering if I should take mine to a dealer.
I realized that you have had the starting problem with your Vibe for about two months. Do you still have that problem? Did it get worse since the first time?
Does anyone know why it happens and how to fix it?
TIRE WEAR!!! I know that the factory Goodyears are "performance" tires, but wearing out at 30k is ridiculous. Tires were rotated and balanced regularly and the car was not out of alignment. Lots of road driving and inflated to 35 psi. I got 50k out of the same tire on a 99 Grand AM GT and about 80k on a 97 Grand Prix GTP.
Leg room - I am 6'1" and my wife is 5'. I cannot get comfortable driving this car. Needs telescoping steering and more than 2" of tilt capability. When I adjust the seat position for leg comfort, I am too far from the steering wheel. This is primarily my wife's car, and she loves it.
Compartment below the shifter - after a short time, it kept falling open. Dealer replaced the bin. Short time later, same problem. I put a couple of layers of duct tape on the pivot area on the bottom of the bin and the problem is fixed. (What did we ever do without duct tape?)
Gas mileage - excellent! We go from northern Iowa to Kansas City twice a year, and running 75-80 mph on the interstate and we get 34 mpg.
Air filter - I replaced the factory filter with a K&N. I plan to keep the car for a long time, so the initial cost of the K&N will offset the replacement cost of disposable filters.
All in all, this is a great little car - a small SUV that is classified as a station wagon! Wife loves it, and that allows me to have my toys (02 GTP 40th Anniv. Edition and 89 Vette Convert.).
I have not found any "answers" for this problem through this Forum or any others I have looked in. There doesn't seem to be a sure "fix" - only lots of ideas as to what to try.
The only thing I have had any success with is turning the key and waiting about 20 seconds before starting the car. In other words, I turn the key to "on" and wait about 20 seconds before cranking up the motor to start. This usually makes the car start without cranking forever. However, I still notice a "stumble" as if the engine doesn't want to run at first, then it "catches" and runs OK.
I also hear a very distinct clunking sound in the engine bay (it's not ABS, I do not have ABS) right after the engine fires up. It sounds like a sewing machine (thunk, thunk, thunk) and disappears once I pull away. I read somewhere else that this sound may be coming from an emissions component of some sort, but like I say - no one has been able to specifically say "your problem is caused by ___________." This has been very frustrating.
I'm hoping my dealer will have either a TSB or a clue as to what might be going on. I'll let you know if they discover anything. I've now heard of many others with 2005 and 2006 Vibes that are having this same issue. It's one of those things that is maddening because while the car still operates, a person shouldn't have to wait 20 seconds when they've just plunked down 18K for a vehicle! :mad:
Let me know, please, if you find anything else out about this. I read this forum often, or you can email me directly. Thanks.
Thank you for your quick response. I am sorry to hear that you still have the problem. I don't hear any strange sounds coming from mine except for the ABS "knock" sound. You had better take your car to your dealer, they may give you an idea about the sound, and your start up problem may turn out to be related to it.
I had read the suggestions about turning the key and waiting for a while before starting the car. But I thought it was just for a couple of seconds, I see that your's takes longer (20 seconds). I will try it next time.
My car has the problem when it sits for a short period of time (I guess most of the cases are the same). It takes about 2 seconds to crank it now. Did you use to crank it shorter when you first had the problem? I mean, did it get worse in time, or nothing changed from the beginning? I am hoping that it justs stays as it is.
Nevertheless, I guess even after a long crunking, your's run okay all the time, right?
It is really depressing to have to deal with problems of a brand new car.
I will inform you of the progress. Thanks.
As for tire wear, 30k is very good on OEM tires. Most go out of round, have side tread problems, or wear out prematurely. I hope you got an H rated tire to replace your OEMs. It will ensure you get the Maxx-imum
As for length of time issues - the car started doing this just about right away. As for turning the key and waiting, someone else (norstar1?) in this forum suggested that a while back. It does seem to make a difference. However, even after doing that, the car start differently than it does on a cold start.
As for the clunking, I'm clueless on that one. When I first heard it, I about had a heart attack because it sounds like a loose rod in the engine. However, it goes away as soon as I pull away, and I hear it at no other time - including cold starts. That means it has to be something related to this warm start issue.
I'm hoping the dealer can figure it out. I hate wild goose chase problems. I'm really impressed with my dealer thus far, so hopefully they won't let me down here. However, it seems like this issue has evaded a solution from everyone else who has it as well.
I love my car, but this is an annoying problem.
Any power left to pass, safety, ......
Can you get away with towing 1500 - 1800 lbs for a few miles on flat terrain, once a week ?
Thanx!
-Mathias
It seems I can't find anything on the back of the seats... Probably it doesn't come with side airbags...
The owner has to know, see, so he doesn't put seat covers on, for instance.
If you still have the original window stickers, it'll have the information, too. Safety "extras" like ABS and air bags are hard to come buy in your more basic Toyotas.
-Mathias
Recently I have put a can of RESTORE Engine Restorer to my Matrix. The first day it ran very smooth (noticible change). However, the nightmare has come. WHen the car was running, it's fine. When the car came to a stop, the engine started to choke. When the car is completely stop, the engine choked even wrose. RPM dropped to lower than 300 rpm. And eventually it stalled. Engine light came on.
I managed to drive to the dealer (since it's running fine when it's moving). The error code was "CODE P0011 CAM SHAFT Position a Timing Over Advance". The Sensor was fine. So all they did was to reset the sensor with a clear code.
Now the car is running ok (so far). They blamed me that I'm driving the car so tough and the sensor got freezed up. (Of course I didn't tell them I have put the thing in my engine). Lucky it's still under warantee.
So does anybody know what has happened to my trix?
:sick:
Do you think I could sue the company?
:mad:
That being said, I would suggest trying to contact the RESTORE company before you think about suing them. More than likely they won't do anything, but it's worth a shot - especially if there was some sort of "guarantee" on the can.
I hope this works out for you in the end, without costing an arm and a leg!
I told him it was an automatic. The most I rev up was 4000 RPM. It would be impossible that reason. Of course I did not mention anything about the restorer.
You've posted this before... while I agree that the rack leaves something to be desired, my '04 has the darned things and if they weren't so hard to remove, I'd let you come pick them up for free. They're very nearly useless, and I have never used them.
Instead of all this indignation, spend $140 and get Thule or Yakima cross bars that fit the rack. Even then, the darned thing is too short to be useful for anything bigger than bicycles.
Do you realize that you sound like you're overreacting rather childishly...?
-Mathias
Our 2005 and 2006 owners manuals say every 5K, under all conditions. I showed up at 3k to get it done since that is what I have always done on previous vehicles and the Toyota dealership said to come back at 5k.
Great vehicles so far - we got two in red!
Cheers
Steve
We are only getting as high as 26.5 mpg and as low as 24 mpg in mixed urban and suburban driving. In my previous 97 Olds 88 LSS with a 3 litre V6 I was getting 18-20 mpg in similar driving in the winter.
In my other car current car (which is stored for the winter) I have always gotten more than the EPA estimates of 23/29. It is a 2001 Miata which is driven pretty aggressively and averages 28-29 in city/highway mix.
Has anyone gotten their dealer too look at this issue or do they just blow you off? Again, we love our Matrix otherwise, but this facet is a little disappointing.
Happy Holidays,
Steve/OH
At 7,700 miles = 26.5 mpg
At 15,000 miles = 26.8 mpg
At 22,700 miles = 26.5 mpg
At 29,800 miles = 26.5 mpg
That's with less highway driving than driving around town, but a mix. Winter driving can easily be 3 or 4 mpg less than similar jaunts in warm weather.
Is this a problem for other Vibe owners and/or is there any solution to this?
Please remember to use the Browse By Vehicle search tool to find existing discussions before creating new ones.
I will say, however, that I have not experienced it blowing "cold" air at speeds under 40mph. I would have that checked out. From what I understand (I'm not a mechanic, so I'm going on what I have read elsewhere), the Vibe's HVAC system always has air blowing through it, which is usually routed through the dash vents. For heat (floor) or defrost (windshield), you must close the dash vents for full airflow.
The air temperature is controlled through a "door" that opens or shuts off the amount of outside air/heated air, etc. I suspect that maybe that door is not shutting all the way or something like that if you have cold air coming in through the vents. Just a guess, but you might want to check that out.
I have also read in other posts that Toyota Corollas are notorious for not having the best heaters in the world. Since that is what our Vibe really is (mechanically anyhow), this issue may be normal for this car. I've never owned a Toyota product before, so it was a change for me also. The Ford Contour I had before my Vibe heated up within 5 minutes and blew heat so hot my foot would burn until I turned it down! Good luck, and stay warm!
Hope this helps.
Thanks for any advice.
Todd
Thanks again.
We asked our Dealer that same Question.
They told me it would be fine to to use Regular.
I also asked if that in any way would void the warranty-and they said no.
So to answer your question - yes I use regular for more than a year now and have not seen any change in performance nor has it affected my gas millage.
But I do have a question for you...
If you have the GT...do you have the 17" rims and if so what do you do for winter/what kind of tire?
-TGoes
Thanks,
Steve/OHIO
I just purchased a used 2004 AWD Vibe and am getting vibrations when I hit 60mph or more. I had the dealer balance the tires before I drove it off the lot becused it was obvious they were off and then again at a well repected dealer where I live. The dealer in my area said these tires would NOT BALANCE! Has anyone esle had this issue? Upon a little investigation I found that these tires come from WalMart (a place I do not patron).
Wondering if I am just looking at 4 crappy quality tires? Has anyone else had balancing issues on their Vibe with other tires? (I did see a couple of posts speaking to balancing)
Any recommendations on good quality all seasons? Anyone using the GoodYear Triple Tread?
Many Thanks!
Antonio
Thanks,
Steve
Here is the link if anyone else wants it:
http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=20692
Cheers,
Steve