Small simple project car

[barkingspider]

I got a sweet deal on this 05 Pontiac vibe, the guy wanted $3500 but I got him to accept $2400 because it had a check engine light on (p0420). This is what I did so far:
- replace catalytic converter $300
- 2 new tires, delinte, 215/50/17 $150
- wash, clay, my finish exterior, detail interior, just my time and labor
- 3M tint all except windshield $200
- oil change, 10w30 and puro classic from my stash
- degrease engine w power purple, $8
- new PS fluid (ST dex merc)
- replace trans pan (old had a stripped bolt) w a junk yard part, $8
- replace trans fluid, maxlife $18
- replace trans filter, purolater $13
- flush cooling system, prestone 2in1 cleaner flush, $4
- filled w AC Dexcool Dexcool $17 and distilled $0.88

Picked up the following at the local pick a part
- used head lights, the old ones are super sun faded
- trans pan cover (above)
- tow hook
- cargo cover
- lower dash compartment
- cargo r/s interior panel
All for $75

To do list
- replace broken stock radio w a nice pioneer I already had laying around, just labor
- replace broken stock door speakers w some my quart components $55
- amp and sub woofer I already had laying around, labor
New front break rotors and pads, bleed the dot 3, $75

It passed CA smog today and it's running nice. Will upload a pic soon

 

[Bgallagher]

Nice work! Sounds like you covered all the basics for the vehicle. I am sure it looks nice. How many miles does it have? Maybe somebody can correct me but the Pontiac vibe was essentially a Toyota Matrix. Did it take Toyota antifreeze or dexcool? I thought it was powered by the 1.8 yota engine. this is more for my curiosity.

 

[Mr Nice]

Sounds like you have a low cost daily driver that's reliable.

 

[barkingspider]

Just found I need to replace a blend door actuator $32, driver side switch / don't panel, $35, and new floor and cargo mats, $40, replace valve cover gasket w felpro, $5, clean TB and replace gasket $3, clean MAF, labor only, new pcv $6.

The car is an automatic trans, all options except premium stereo sound, has 154K mikes on it, clean title. It had the good fram oil filter on it when I bought it. Air filter was till clean, cabinet filter was also clean.

 

[CharlieBauer]

Nice job. How many hours would you say you put in, all up?

 

[CourierDriver]

How many miles were on the transmission??

 

[earlyre]

Originally Posted By: Bgallagher
Nice work! Sounds like you covered all the basics for the vehicle. I am sure it looks nice. How many miles does it have? Maybe somebody can correct me but the Pontiac vibe was essentially a Toyota Matrix. Did it take Toyota antifreeze or dexcool? I thought it was powered by the 1.8 yota engine. this is more for my curiosity.


They are 99.5% Toyota. engine(s)incl. there were 2 different 1.8l 4cyl depending on the trim level.
either the 1ZZ-FE(base Vibe/Matrix, Martix XR), or the 2ZZ-GG (Vibe GT/Matrix XRS) -this is for the first gen models(2003-2005) the 2006 & up had a 2.4l unit.

they should specify the Toyota Long Life Coolant (Pink/red IIRC)

 

[barkingspider]

Correction, it's an 2004 w the 1.8L 1zz-fe. I probably spent 18-20 hours on the vehicle in the last week working on it. It's therapeutic to me. The vibe manual calls for dexcool. The matrix/ corolla manual calls for Toyota LL coolant. I assume the tranny is original. Got 32 mpg on the last tank of gas, mostly city and traffic. Here a pic I took when it was going for smog test. It just got washed/my finish'd. Paint is starting to peel on the front bumper and there are a lot little dings (normal wear and tear)