2005 CHEVROLET COBALT turn signal

Freeway Driving
Mile for mile, freeways — also called thruways, parkways,
expressways, turnpikes, or superhighways — are the
safest of all roads. But they have their own special rules.The most important advice on freeway driving is: Keep
up with traffic and keep to the right. Drive at the
same speed most of the other drivers are driving.
Too-fast or too-slow driving breaks a smooth traffic ow.
Treat the left lane on a freeway as a passing lane.
At the entrance, there is usually a ramp that leads to the
freeway. If you have a clear view of the freeway as you
drive along the entrance ramp, you should begin to check
traffic. Try to determine where you expect to blend with
the ow. Try to merge into the gap at close to the
prevailing speed. Switch on your turn signal, check your
mirrors, and glance over your shoulder as often as
necessary. Try to blend smoothly with the traffic ow.
Once you are on the freeway, adjust your speed to the
posted limit or to the prevailing rate if it is slower.
Stay in the right lane unless you want to pass.
Before changing lanes, check your mirrors. Then use
your turn signal.
Just before you leave the lane, glance quickly over your
shoulder to make sure there is not another vehicle in
your blind spot.
4-21

And always keep in mind that the vehicle you are
driving is now a good deal longer and not nearly as
responsive as your vehicle is by itself.
Before you start, check all trailer hitch parts and
attachments, safety chains, electrical connector, lamps,
tires and mirror adjustment. If the trailer has electric
brakes, start your vehicle and trailer moving and then
apply the trailer brake controller by hand to be sure
the brakes are working. This lets you check your
electrical connection at the same time.
During your trip, check occasionally to be sure that the
load is secure, and that the lamps and any trailer
brakes are still working.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the vehicle ahead as
you would when driving your vehicle without a trailer.
This can help you avoid situations that require
heavy braking and sudden turns.
Passing
You will need more passing distance up ahead when
you are towing a trailer. And, because the vehicle
is a good deal longer, you will need to go much farther
beyond the passed vehicle before you can return to
your lane.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering wheel with one hand.
Then, to move the trailer to the left, just move that hand
to the left. To move the trailer to the right, move your
hand to the right. Always back up slowly and, if possible,
have someone guide you.
Making Turns
Notice:Making very sharp turns while trailering
could cause the trailer to come in contact with the
vehicle. Your vehicle could be damaged. Avoid
making very sharp turns while trailering.
When you are turning with a trailer, make wider turns
than normal. Do this so your trailer will not strike
soft shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees or other objects.
Avoid jerky or sudden maneuvers. Signal well in
advance.
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle may need a
different turn signal asher and/or extra wiring. Check
with your dealer. The arrows on your instrument
panel will ash whenever you signal a turn or lane
change. Properly hooked up, the trailer lamps will also
ash, telling other drivers you are about to turn,
change lanes or stop.
4-42

When towing a trailer, the arrows on your instrument
panel will ash for turns even if the bulbs on the trailer
are burned out. Thus, you may think drivers behind
you are seeing your signal when they are not. It
is important to check occasionally to be sure the trailer
bulbs are still working.
Driving on Grades
Notice:Do not tow on steep continuous grades
exceeding 6 miles (9.6 km). Extended, higher
than normal engine and transaxle temperatures may
result and damage your vehicle. Frequent stops
are very important to allow the engine and transaxle
to cool.
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gearbeforeyou start
down a long or steep downgrade. If you do not shift
down, you might have to use your brakes so much that
they would get hot and no longer work well.
Pay attention to the engine coolant gage. If the indicator
is in the red area, turn off the air conditioning to
reduce engine load. SeeEngine Overheating on
page 5-29.
Parking on Hills
{CAUTION:
You really should not park your vehicle, with a
trailer attached, on a hill. If something goes
wrong, your rig could start to move. People
can be injured, and both your vehicle and the
trailer can be damaged.
But if you ever have to park your rig on a hill, here is
how to do it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but do not shift into
PARK (P) for an automatic transaxle, or into
gear for a manual transaxle. When parking uphill,
turn your wheels away from the curb. When parking
downhill, turn your wheels into the curb.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer
wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the
regular brakes until the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your
parking brake, and then shift into PARK (P) for
an automatic transaxle or REVERSE (R) for
a manual transaxle.
5. Release the regular brakes.
4-43

Service............................................................5-3
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................5-4
Adding Equipment to the Outside of Your
Vehicle......................................................5-5
Fuel................................................................5-5
Gasoline Octane............................................5-5
Gasoline Specications....................................5-6
California Fuel...............................................5-6
Additives.......................................................5-6
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-7
Filling the Tank..............................................5-8
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.....................5-10
Checking Things Under the Hood....................5-10
Hood Release..............................................5-11
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-12
Engine Oil...................................................5-15
Engine Oil Life System..................................5-19
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-21
Automatic Transaxle Fluid..............................5-22
Manual Transaxle Fluid..................................5-22
Hydraulic Clutch...........................................5-23
Engine Coolant.............................................5-23
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap..................5-29
Engine Overheating.......................................5-29
Cooling System............................................5-31
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-35Brakes........................................................5-36
Battery........................................................5-39
Jump Starting...............................................5-40
Headlamp Aiming...........................................5-44
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-47
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-47
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker,
and Parking Lamps....................................5-48
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL).........5-49
Taillamps and Turn Signal Lamps (Coupe).......5-50
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Back-up Lamps.........................................5-51
Back-Up Lamps (Coupe)................................5-52
Replacement Bulbs.......................................5-53
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-53
Tires..............................................................5-54
Tire Sidewall Labelling...................................5-56
Tire Terminology and Denitions.....................5-58
Ination - Tire Pressure.................................5-61
Tire Inspection and Rotation...........................5-63
When It Is Time for New Tires.......................5-64
Buying New Tires.........................................5-64
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..........................5-65
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance..................5-67
Wheel Replacement......................................5-67
Tire Chains..................................................5-68
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1

Headlamps, Front Turn Signal,
Sidemarker, and Parking Lamps
A. Front Turn Signal/Parking Lamp
B. Sidemarker
C. Headlamp
To replace one of these bulbs, do the following:
1. Open the hood. SeeHood Release on page 5-11
for more information.2. Remove the two wing bolts from the headlamp
assembly.
3. Remove the two plastic fasteners from the fascia.
4. Pull the front fascia back.
You may need someone else to assist you with
Steps 3 and 4.
5-48

5. Pull the headlamp assembly up on an angle and
towards the radiator to remove.
6. Disconnect the bulb base from the wiring harness
by lifting the plastic locking tab.
7. To replace a headlamp bulb, do the following:
Disconnect the wiring harness from the bulb
socket.
Remove the black retainer by turning it
counterclockwise.
8. Turn the bulb socket for the headlamp, front turn
signal or parking lamp counterclockwise to remove.
For the sidemarker bulb, you will need to us a
tool to assist in turning the bulb socket.
9. Pull the old bulb out of the socket.
10. Install a new bulb.11. Reinstall the bulb assembly by reversing Steps 1
through 8.
When reinstalling the headlamp assembly, rst
ensure that the wiring harness is in its original
position. If not, the headlamp assembly will not t
correctly.
You will also need to line up the two tabs on the
bottom of the assembly that t into two slots in the
headlamp assembly bracket.
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp
(CHMSL)
To replace a CHMSL bulb, do the following:
1. Open the trunk. SeeTrunk on page 2-10for more
information.
2. Locate the CHMSL bulb assembly in the trunk lid.
3. Use a tool to depress the plastic tabs to release the
bulb assembly.
5-49

4. Pull the bulb assembly down to access the bulbs.
5. Remove the bulb by pulling it straight out.
6. Install a new bulb.
7. Align the tabs in the bulb assembly with the
assembly in the trunk lid. Push the bulb assembly
back into place until it snaps in. You may need
to use the tool to guide the tabs into the assembly.
Taillamps and Turn Signal
Lamps (Coupe)
To replace a taillamp or rear turn signal bulb, do the
following:
1. Open the trunk. SeeTrunk on page 2-10for more
information.
2. Remove the fastener which holds down the
trunk trim.
3. Disconnect the wiring harness by lifting up on the
tab to release and pull it straight out.
4. Remove the two nuts from the taillamp assembly.
5-50

5. Remove the taillamp from the quarter panel.
6. Remove the taillamp bulb socket from the assembly
by turning it counterclockwise.
7. Pull the old bulb out of the socket.
8. Install a new bulb.
9. Reverse Steps 1 through 6 to reinstall the taillamp
assembly.
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps
and Back-up Lamps
To replace one of these bulbs, do the following:
1. Open the trunk. SeeTrunk on page 2-10for more
information.
2. Remove the fastener which holds down the
trunk trim.
3. Remove the outer two screws from the taillamp
assembly.
4. Disconnect the wiring harness by lifting up on the
tab to release and pull it straight out.
5. Remove the taillamp from the quarter panel.A. Sidemarker
B. Stoplamp/Turn Signal/Taillamp
C. Back-up
6. Locate the bulb you wish to change
7. Remove the taillamp bulb socket from the assembly
by turning it counterclockwise.
8. Pull the old bulb out of the socket.
9. Install a new bulb.
10. Reverse Steps 1 through 6 to reinstall the taillamp
assembly.
5-51