Car issues with engine

[DudeinBlue]

hey everyone,

I’m not new to owning a Vibe GT. Ive had issues with oil leaking from the head gasket, consuming a ton of oil, a bunch of starters(maybe 4-5 since 2015) 2 last year when oil kept leaking from the gasket and my starters stopping turning. Now there’s an issue when the car just shakes uncontrollably when parked. I have it in the shop. They’ve changed O2 censors, the head gasket, spark plugs, and a new starter.

My question is, what can I do to try to keep the car. I’ve seen I can do a direct engine swap with a Carolla, Matrix, and a RAV4. I have a 2009 Pontiac Vibe GT. If in the near future I do swap the engine and continue to have the same issue. Are there engines I can swap that aren’t the 2AZ, which ones would you recommend? I heard about K-series swaps and I don’t know much about swapping engines and such. I want to work on cars and I would like this to be my first test.

One thing I’d like to add. Is I plan on getting a clean/cleanish car and swap the engine and getting rid of the old one(engine)if it comes to that. If it works, great. If not, I’ll be back to square one. I will have a shell and would like ideas on how to proceed with it.

 

[melsg5]

How many miles on the current engine?

 

[DudeinBlue]

How many miles on the current engine?

It was replaced after an accident. The engine originally engine had 80k miles in 2016. After, the engine we got the dashboard said it had 150k. Now it’s at 216k with the current one.

 

[melsg5]

The shop can't tell you why the engine is shaking?
Do you have a check engine light on?
Who is going to do the labor on any kind of engine swap, you or a shop?
I can't find any K series within GM or Toyota, what is it?

______________________________

 

[DudeinBlue]

The shop can't tell you why the engine is shaking?
Do you have a check engine light on?
Who is going to do the labor on any kind of engine swap, you or a shop?
I can't find any K series within GM or Toyota, what is it?

“The shop can't tell you why the engine is shaking?”

I took it to a few shops and they have said, motor mounts, rubber bushings, and one said it’s both. I don’t know who to believe at this point. Especially with shops I’ve never done business with. I do everything, fluids(windshield, brake oil, oil, coolant), brakes, ecu(white little box in the engine bay, it burned a fuse with in. Smelt burnt) and suspension(axle and struts. Struts were easy and the axle was pretty difficult).

Yes, the check engine light is on. The shaking began around 2019 but the engine light didn’t come on until 2022. The engine idles pretty rough(between 500-800rpm). Every year since, the engine light comes and goes randomly. It will stay on a few days and disappear a few days sometimes weeks and comes back on and stays longer. It’s been a headache to diagnose. My brother picked up the car this morning and has it in his garage. Thinking what to do next. I already have a plan. I just wanted to know if it was possible.

“Who is going to do the labor on any kind of engine swap, you or a shop?“

Me. I’ve done most of the work on my car besides the transmission fluid. I don’t trust myself with that and didn’t do much research on that. Now the one thing I will absolutely not do is wiring. From Vibe to Vibe will be easy, plug in play. For the other car(shell) I will not touch it. I don’t want to burn down the car.

“I can't find any K series within GM or Toyota, what is it?“

Honda engine. I was even looking at a LS4 but that thing look huge. I’m worried about if the engine can fit into the engine bay. I don’t mind cutting/hammering into it. Even welding if needed can be done by my brother in law.

 

[melsg5]

If you have a check engine light on, what are the codes?
Motors mounts are made of rubber so sounds like both shops told you motor mounts.
Cannot help you with Honda fitting in a Vibe and you need a valid diagnosis of what's wrong with the current engine before doing anything.