2005 CHEVROLET COBALT check engine light

Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive in
spurts — heavy acceleration followed by heavy
braking — rather than keeping pace with traffic. This is
a mistake. Your brakes may not have time to cool
between hard stops. Your brakes will wear out much
faster if you do a lot of heavy braking. If you keep pace
with the traffic and allow realistic following distances,
you will eliminate a lot of unnecessary braking.
That means better braking and longer brake life.
If your engine ever stops while you are driving, brake
normally but do not pump your brakes. If you do,
the pedal may get harder to push down. If your engine
stops, you will still have some power brake assist.
But you will use it when you brake. Once the power
assist is used up, it may take longer to stop and
the brake pedal will be harder to push.Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
Your vehicle may have anti-lock brakes. ABS is an
advanced electronic braking system that will help
prevent a braking skid.
If your vehicle has anti-lock
brakes, this warning light
on the instrument panel will
come on briey when
you start your vehicle.
When you start your engine, or when you begin to drive
away, your anti-lock brake system will check itself.
You may hear a momentary motor or clicking noise while
this test is going on, and you may even notice that
your brake pedal moves or pulses a little. This is normal.
4-6

Once you are moving on the freeway, make certain you
allow a reasonable following distance.
Expect to move slightly slower at night.
When you want to leave the freeway, move to the
proper lane well in advance. If you miss your exit, do
not, under any circumstances, stop and back up. Drive
on to the next exit.
The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite sharply.
The exit speed is usually posted. Reduce your speed
according to your speedometer, not to your sense
of motion. After driving for any distance at higher
speeds, you may tend to think you are going slower
than you actually are.
Before Leaving on a Long Trip
Make sure you are ready. Try to be well rested. If you
must start when you are not fresh — such as after
a day’s work — do not plan to make too many miles that
rst part of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing
and shoes you can easily drive in.Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you keep it
serviced and maintained, it is ready to go. If it needs
service, have it done before starting out. Of course, you
will nd experienced and able service experts in GM
dealerships all across North America. They will be ready
and willing to help if you need it.
Here are some things you can check before a trip:
Windshield Washer Fluid:Is the reservoir full? Are
all windows clean inside and outside?
Wiper Blades:Are they in good shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids:Have you checked
all levels?
Lamps:Are they all working? Are the lenses clean?
Tires:They are vitally important to a safe,
trouble-free trip. Is the tread good enough for
long-distance driving? Are the tires all inated to the
recommended pressure?
Weather Forecasts:What is the weather outlook
along your route? Should you delay your trip a
short time to avoid a major storm system?
Maps:Do you have up-to-date maps?
4-22

Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle
Things you might add to the outside of your vehicle can
affect the airow around it. This may cause wind
noise and affect windshield washer performance. Check
with your dealer before adding equipment to the
outside of your vehicle.
Fuel
Use of the recommended fuel is an important part of the
proper maintenance of your vehicle.
Gasoline Octane
If your vehicle has the 2.2L L4 engine, use regular
unleaded gasoline with a posted octane of 87 or higher.
If the octane is less than 87, you may get a heavy
knocking noise when you drive. If this occurs, use a
gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher as soon as
possible. Otherwise, you might damage your engine. A
little pinging noise when you accelerate or drive
uphill is considered normal. This does not indicate a
problem exists or that a higher-octane fuel is necessary.
If you are using 87 octane or higher-octane fuel and
hear heavy knocking, your engine needs service.
If your vehicle has the 2.0L L4 Supercharged engine,
use premium unleaded gasoline with a posted octane of
91 or higher for best performance. You may also use
middle grade or regular unleaded gasoline rated at
87 octane or higher, but your vehicle’s acceleration may
be slightly reduced. If the octane is less than 87, you
may get a heavy knocking noise when you drive. If this
occurs, use a gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher
as soon as possible. Otherwise, you might damage
your engine.
5-5

Charging System Light....................................3-26
Check
Engine Light...............................................3-30
Checking Things Under the Hood......................5-10
Chemical Paint Spotting...................................5-87
Child Restraints
Child Restraint Systems...............................1-34
Infants and Young Children...........................1-31
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System)..........................1-40
Older Children.............................................1-28
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for
the LATCH System...................................1-42
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear
Seat Position...........................................1-43
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right
Front Seat Position...................................1-45
Top Strap...................................................1-38
Top Strap Anchor Location............................1-39
Where to Put the Restraint...........................1-37
Cigarette Lighter.............................................3-17
Cleaning
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels..............5-86
Exterior Lamps/Lenses.................................5-85
Fabric/Carpet..............................................5-83Cleaning (cont.)
Finish Care.................................................5-85
Inside of Your Vehicle..................................5-81
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Plastic Surfaces.......................................5-84
Leather......................................................5-83
Tires..........................................................5-87
Underbody Maintenance...............................5-87
Washing Your Vehicle...................................5-85
Weatherstrips..............................................5-84
Windshield and Wiper Blades........................5-86
Climate Control System...................................3-17
Outlet Adjustment........................................3-20
Clutch, Hydraulic.............................................5-23
Comfort Guides, Rear Safety Belt.....................1-25
Compact Spare Tire........................................5-80
Content Theft-Deterrent....................................2-14
Control of a Vehicle.......................................... 4-5
Convenience Net............................................2-36
Coolant
Engine Temperature Warning Light.................3-29
Heater, Engine............................................2-20
Surge Tank Pressure Cap.............................5-29
Cooling System..............................................5-31
3

E
Easy Entry Seat............................................... 1-7
Electrical System
Add-On Equipment......................................5-90
Engine Compartment Fuse Block...................5-94
Floor Console Fuse Block.............................5-92
Fuses and Circuit Breakers...........................5-91
Headlamp Wiring.........................................5-90
Power Windows and Other Power Options......5-91
Windshield Wiper Fuses...............................5-90
Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter.........................................5-21
Battery.......................................................5-39
Check and Service Engine Soon Light............3-30
Coolant......................................................5-23
Coolant Heater............................................2-20
Coolant Temperature Warning Light................3-29
Engine Compartment Overview......................5-12
Exhaust.....................................................2-30
Oil .............................................................5-15
Oil Life System...........................................5-19
Overheating................................................5-29
Starting......................................................2-19Enhanced Traction System (ETS)........................ 4-8
Warning Light.............................................3-28
Entry/Exit Lighting...........................................3-16
Event Data Recorders (EDR)............................. 7-9
Extender, Safety Belt.......................................1-27
F
Filter
Engine Air Cleaner......................................5-21
Finish Damage...............................................5-87
Fixed Mast Antenna........................................3-76
Flash-to-Pass................................................... 3-8
Flat Tire........................................................5-69
Flat Tire, Changing.........................................5-70
Flat Tire, Storing.............................................5-78
Fluid
Automatic Transaxle.....................................5-22
Manual Transaxle........................................5-22
Windshield Washer......................................5-35
Fog Lamp Light..............................................3-33
Fog Lamps....................................................3-15
Folding Rear Seat............................................ 1-8
5

Fuel............................................................... 5-5
Additives...................................................... 5-6
California Fuel.............................................. 5-6
Filling a Portable Fuel Container....................5-10
Filling Your Tank........................................... 5-8
Fuels in Foreign Countries.............................. 5-7
Gage.........................................................3-34
Gasoline Octane........................................... 5-5
Gasoline Specications.................................. 5-6
Fuses
Engine Compartment Fuse Block...................5-94
Floor Console Fuse Block.............................5-92
Fuses and Circuit Breakers...........................5-91
Windshield Wiper.........................................5-90
G
Gage
Boost.........................................................3-34
Fuel..........................................................3-34
Speedometer..............................................3-24
Tachometer.................................................3-24
Gasoline
Octane........................................................ 5-5
Specications............................................... 5-6
Glove Box.....................................................2-35
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program.................. 7-5
H
Hazard Warning Flashers................................... 3-6
Head Restraints............................................... 1-6
Headlamp
Aiming.......................................................5-44
Headlamp Wiring............................................5-90
Headlamps....................................................3-13
Bulb Replacement.......................................5-47
Daytime Running Lamps...............................3-14
Flash-to-Pass............................................... 3-8
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-47
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker,
and Parking Lamps..................................5-48
High/Low Beam Changer................................ 3-8
On Reminder..............................................3-14
Wiper Activated...........................................3-14
Heated Seats................................................... 1-4
Heater...........................................................3-17
Height Adjuster, Driver Seat............................... 1-3
Highbeam On Light.........................................3-33
Highway Hypnosis...........................................4-23
Hill and Mountain Roads..................................4-23
Hood
Checking Things Under................................5-10
Release.....................................................5-11
6

N
New Vehicle Break-In......................................2-16
Normal Maintenance Replacement Parts............6-14
O
Odometer......................................................3-24
Off-Road Recovery..........................................4-12
Oil
Engine.......................................................5-15
Pressure Light.............................................3-32
Oil, Engine Oil Life System..............................5-19
Older Children, Restraints................................1-28
Online Owner Center........................................ 7-3
OnStar
®System, see OnStar®Manual...............2-34
Other Warning Devices...................................... 3-6
Outlet Adjustment............................................3-20
Outside
Convex Mirror.............................................2-33
Manual Mirror.............................................2-32
Power Mirrors.............................................2-33
Remote Control Mirror..................................2-32
Owner Checks and Services.............................. 6-8
Owners, Canadian............................................... ii
P
Park (P)
Shifting Into................................................2-28
Shifting Out of............................................2-29
Parking
Brake........................................................2-26
Over Things That Burn.................................2-30
Parking Your Vehicle.......................................2-29
Passing.........................................................4-13
Passlock
®......................................................2-16
Power
Accessory Outlets........................................3-16
Door Locks.................................................. 2-8
Electrical System.........................................5-91
Retained Accessory (RAP)............................2-19
Windows....................................................2-13
Pretensioners, Safety Belt................................1-27
Programmable Automatic Door Unlock................. 2-9
Q
Questions and Answers About Safety Belts.........1-14
9

R
Radios..........................................................3-45
Care of Your CD Player...............................3-76
Care of Your CDs........................................3-76
Radio with CD............................3-46, 3-51, 3-60
Setting the Time for Radios with
Radio Data Systems (RDS).......................3-46
Setting the Time for Radios without
Radio Data Systems (RDS).......................3-45
Theft-Deterrent............................................3-74
Understanding Reception..............................3-75
Rear Door Security Locks.................................. 2-9
Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides......................1-25
Rear Seat Passengers, Safety Belts..................1-22
Rearview Mirror, Automatic Dimming..................2-32
Rearview Mirrors.............................................2-32
Reclining Seatbacks.......................................... 1-4
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants.................6-12
Recreational Vehicle Towing.............................4-35
Remote Keyless Entry System............................ 2-3
Remote Keyless Entry System, Operation............ 2-4
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing
the Spare Tire.............................................5-75
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools...................5-71
Replacement Bulbs.........................................5-53Reporting Safety Defects
Canadian Government..................................7-11
General Motors...........................................7-11
United States Government............................7-10
Restraint System Check
Checking the Restraint Systems....................1-57
Replacing Restraint System Parts
After a Crash..........................................1-58
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)......................2-19
Right Front Passenger Position, Safety Belts......1-22
Roadside
Assistance Program....................................... 7-6
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get it Out....................4-30
Running the Engine While Parked.....................2-31
S
Safety Belt
Pretensioners..............................................1-27
Reminder Light............................................3-24
Safety Belts
Care of......................................................5-84
Driver Position............................................1-15
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly................1-14
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