My modifications so far! (Give me new modding ideas!)

[GordonCave]

Well I have owned my 2.2L Vue 5-speed for about 6 months now. I love the car. I personally think it handles well and I enjoy the easy to clean but somewhat cheap interior. I picked it up with about 74,000 miles for about 5500 including taxes. It now has around 81,000 miles.

I have switched over a Chevrolet Equinox gauge cluster to my Vue. It was an easy swap and I even managed to blacken the silver piece inside the cluster. I have also changed the lighting in the car from amber, to dark blue. I don't have a picture of the lighting yet, it is still mid afternoon here.

*edit* Tried to place picture, says I need 15 more posts. Damn lol

Other modifications I plan on doing are changing out the grey door handles to silver ones or possibly chrome painting them.

I also want to make the car handle a little better. Are there any mods I can do that can make the car feel a little less big? LOL

Thank ya much!
Gordo

[XRL]

That's a nice sounding mod with the Equinox cluster. Everything works correctly too? That's pretty cool.

Get to spamming so we can see some pictures!

[GordonCave]

Originally Posted by XRL

That's a nice sounding mod with the Equinox cluster. Everything works correctly too? That's pretty cool.

Get to spamming so we can see some pictures!

Yep! Works perfectly. The blue at night isn't that even in spots but I am being a little picky. I did have a Service Engine Soon light on the original cluster and when I replaced it with the equinox, the light went away. I assume it's still there just not showing up on the new cluster.

Also, the no traction control light is on, otherwise it all works, including odometer.

[Reston_RL]

Here's some posts from a few months ago that has suspension reference info and brake parts reference info. This info was from a 2005 Redline so it "should" apply to a 2002, but double check yourself to make sure.

http://www.saturnfans.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=146925

http://www.saturnfans.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=146924

[Tom92SCm]

WICHITA!!! I used to live there and that's where I bought my VUE and my Protege (both at Saturn West).

I'd be careful with the painting of interior pieces. I've seen way too many look like crap after the paint starts flaking/chipping off.

Ideas for mods:
Debadge the rear hatch- remove the chrome VUE letters. I'm not a fan of taking of the Saturn badges off because there is a relief in the panels for the badge and you'd be left with a weird rectangular hole (unless you spend tons of money to have it filled at a body shop).

Hella Supertone Horns: http://www.safedrives.com/proddetail...3399801&cat=22
I have these horns on my Protege and they are significantly louder. I almost want people to cut me off now!

Westin Safari Bar: http://www.etrailer.com/Grille-Guard...eid=2002105230
Also available in chrome. I personally really dig this bar. If my VUE was my daily driver, I'd have it for sure. Another forum member (Portugal Focus) has it installed and has pics.

Sound deadening the interior. There are several threads where members have stripped their interiors out and laid in some nice sound deadening. Search the VUE forums.

If you're into motor performance, the motor is shared by a bunch of GM's sportcompacts like the Cobalt, Cavilier, Ion, Sunfire and whatever else. There are lots of performance parts available for the motors in those cars but no one (to my knowledge anyway) has really tried much on the VUE.

Aftermarket gauges- oil pressure, water temp, oil temp. You can get a 3 gauge pod thing from Autometer and mount it above the radio ontop of the dash.

You need to rack up your 15 posts so you can start posting pictures.

[PortugalFocus]

Originally Posted by Tom92SCm

Westin Safari Bar: http://www.etrailer.com/Grille-Guard...eid=2002105230
Also available in chrome. I personally really dig this bar. If my VUE was my daily driver, I'd have it for sure. Another forum member (Portugal Focus) has it installed and has pics.

I have the black Westin bar with Hella 500 Rally Lights. I just added the Razzi spoiler and OE rain guards.

Also, if the Equinox cluster fits then the Torrent cluster fits as well, possibly providing another option.

Good job, if you have a Photobucket account, just post the link to the pics. I'd love to see the Equinox cluster in the dash!

Get a pic of it lit up. I'd really love to see it. If it looks good I can probably get a few together and get a group buy if enough are interested.

[Dugg04]

Anyone know where to get the OEM impact bar or push bar (some people call it different names lol) I would like to get my hands on it I love the way they look

[GordonCave]

Thanks for the ideas! I also am interested in a dark lower door panel trim on some Vue's. Do you know anything about that? I will post a picture when I hit fifteen lol.

[GordonCave]

Oh and I will post a picture of my cluster in a bit. Two of the LED bulbs for some reason arent working so its back to the original colors for the Equinox which is a white/beige combo. I like it but I want my blue back!

[Dugg04]

Does anyone have one they would like to sell lol. No I can't find one anywhere

[YourMainParadox]

Also the Pontiac Torrent Cluster looks really neat in our Vue's. There are some performance parts for the 2.2 if you look for cobalt stuff. You can debong your intake if your search the forum. You can get the aftermarket tail lights and side markers and paint your badges to match the car?

[GordonCave]

Originally Posted by YourMainParadox

Also the Pontiac Torrent Cluster looks really neat in our Vue's. There are some performance parts for the 2.2 if you look for cobalt stuff. You can debong your intake if your search the forum. You can get the aftermarket tail lights and side markers and paint your badges to match the car?

I am not exactly a car genius but what is debonging? I see quite a few topics about it. What is the purpose of doing it?

[GordonCave]

Also, to rack up almost to 15 posts!! Where can I get the dark grey trim that is on the doors on some Vue's. I'll see if I can find a pic.

[GordonCave]

This is the Gauge cluster. It lights up all blue at night. I bought a red LED from superbright leds and it wouldn't work but I will probably just have to buy another.


My vue

[PortugalFocus]

Originally Posted by GordonCave

Also, to rack up almost to 15 posts!! Where can I get the dark grey trim that is on the doors on some Vue's. I'll see if I can find a pic.

That's the lower body cladding on the bottom of the doors. I love the way it look and is the last real accessory I need to get. Unfortunately it usually only found at the dealer or if you can get a parts VUE with them already on and swap the lower trim or the complete door skins.

[Dugg04]

I'm getting them from the junkyard. Every grey piece except seats

[youknowme]

Originally Posted by PortugalFocus

That's the lower body cladding on the bottom of the doors. I love the way it look and is the last real accessory I need to get. Unfortunately it usually only found at the dealer or if you can get a parts VUE with them already on and swap the lower trim or the complete door skins.

I actually passed on several used VUE's because they had those panels on. I think it looks horrific...makes it look like any other plastic clad SUV.

You know that stuff wears terrible as well? I wish they would have done without the pebble texturing, makes it hard to clean.

[chillin05VUE]

Originally Posted by GordonCave

Yep! Works perfectly. The blue at night isn't that even in spots but I am being a little picky. I did have a Service Engine Soon light on the original cluster and when I replaced it with the equinox, the light went away. I assume it's still there just not showing up on the new cluster.

Also, the no traction control light is on, otherwise it all works, including odometer.

Was it an easy install? Also, does the current mileage come up with the new cluster? Here, your vehicle won't pass emissions is the Service Engine light doesn't come on at start-up.

[GordonCave]

Okay, so I bought the 2004-2005 Vue gauge cluster and recieved it in the mail today. It fits perfectly (as expected) and yes, the odometer reading is stored in the car, not the cluster.

I do now have the Check Engine light still as well as the wrench in the car light on. Not sure what it means...and a very easy install. All you do is take the bezel out and switch the clusters.

[PortugalFocus]

Originally Posted by GordonCave

Okay, so I bought the 2004-2005 Vue gauge cluster and recieved it in the mail today. It fits perfectly (as expected) and yes, the odometer reading is stored in the car, not the cluster.

I do now have the Check Engine light still as well as the wrench in the car light on. Not sure what it means...and a very easy install. All you do is take the bezel out and switch the clusters.

Fantastic man! The 04-05 CLuster looks 100x better than the 02-03 one. Also If you don't have ABS or Traction Control, (mine doesn't) the TCS and ABS lights stay on if you swap to the Torrent/Equinox Cluster. I wanted to take the bulbs out for the TCS/ABS but they are hard wired in... darn..