Vue Maintenance

Auto Trans or Manual? If auto, and you have not already done so at least once previously, I'd change the trans fluid and filter. Also, I'm not sure of this vehicle's maintenance schedule, but the potential "normal maintenance" replacement items to check in the table in the owner's manual are: fuel filter, spark plugs, and PCV. Not sure about GM OEM batteries, but if it is not permanently sealed, make sure it is full (do not overfill) and the posts and cable connectors are clean and tight. Also, most vehicle's today have throttle bodies that get pretty gummed up and cause low RPM/idle issues. Cleaning the TB as preventive measure makes good sense now before it gets really cold.

Bob

He said CVT, Constant velocity transmission. Not sure what the service was on those. The TB on Ecotecs isnt apt to gum up. The Ecotecs run pretty clean.

I would clean and coat the battery terminals with a protectant. Teens and suv's dont really mix but the 140hp Ecotec helps balance that equation. If you can, when the weather first turns bad, get him out on a slick empty parking lot and have him practice in bad conditions. That should help him know an suvs limitations.

The GM maintenance schedule calls for having more of the "magic" friction modifier added to the transmission at 50K miles. My plan is to just have the fluid changed at that point (with the magic ingredients added of course). At least so far, the car has led a pretty stress free existence (no towing, very little high speed driving, mostly medium length trips at 45 to 65 mph).

This is a very nice engine. Easy to work on. Runs smoothly. Stays clean. It is probably the nicest 4 cylinder I've owned. BTW, in the Vue, the Ecotec is rated a mighty 143 HP - I don't want to loose those 3 extra horses. The new

2.4L VVT Ecotec might be really nice - as much as 167 hp. Or the supercharged 2L Ecotec - 205 Hp. But probably, the CVT transmission would be toast with much more power. The Vue's CVT is probably the most worrisome feature of the car. When I bought it, I really liked the idea. Unfortunately, I've read too many negative things about it to be completely satisfied. Plus, after driving my Father's Ford Freestyle with a CVT, I am really disappointed with how much less refined the GM CVT is than Ford's implementation. The Freestyle's CVT hardly seems any different than a normal automatic. If you are looking for it, you realize there are no shift points. On the other hand, the Vue's CVT is obviously different. The results are OK, it just seems to be far less refined.

I don't really think of the Vue as an SUV (no matter what Saturn claims). It is more like a station wagon. I am not sure what limitations I should be worried about. The vehicle has very good sight lines, decent brakes, a relatively low center of gravity, and is fast enough to keep up with traffic, but not so fast to encourage high performance driving. Mine has side air bags, and the rear suspension upgrade has been completed. I feel it is a much safer car than the sort of third hand compact cars I see a lot of kids driving. Winter weather around here is not really that bad (central NC). We will probably have a couple of "snow days." When that happens, he will just need to stay home - or I'll take him to school. And he hates the car - no "cool" factor at all. He keeps saying he would rather drive my 14 year old F150. Hard to believe a teenager would rather drive a 14 year beat up truck than a 3 year old Vue in good condition, but that is what he keeps saying. If the F150 wasn't just an old vehicle with no safety features, I'd probably let him drive it. I'll bet after a month or so of 12 mpg, the Vue's

23 mpg would start to look good.

Ed

I just wonder how it would react to new fluid. No towing is good though, I dont think the CVT is rated handle more than 5 adults in the cab.

The 2.2 has so many various ratings I just estimate... Yes a 2.4 would be good in a vue if it can get the same MPG.

Yeah I dont completely trust something under a constant state of friction. When a conventional automatic is in a gear the friction surfaces are no longer in a state of friction. I was thinking of putting a shift kit in my Pontiac just so the delay in engagement would be cut in half. Everytime it shifts when I'm punching it I think, eh there goes some more clutch material... You should get 200k out of that CVT with "your" driving though.

I forgot the fact that its FWD, that helps because a RWD suv's butt end likes to get into a swinging motion that's difficult to recover from on bad roads. If you have traction control thats even better. The Vue is the only SUV I consider pratical. No Saturns in my family right now but I wish I could replace my mothers blazer with a Vue. Every SUV is a pain in the ass to service or work on except for that little Ecotec equiped Vue.