2005 CHEVROLET COBALT Owners Manual

It is recommended that the vehicle is taken to your
dealer for service if the headlamps need to be re-aimed.
It is possible however, to re-aim the headlamps as
described in the following procedure.
The vehicle should be properly prepared as follows:
The vehicle should be placed so the headlamps are
25 ft. (7.6 m) from a light colored wall or other at
surface.
The vehicle must have all four tires on a perfectly
level surface which is level all the way to the wall
or other at surface.
The vehicle should be placed so it is perpendicular
to the wall or other at surface.
The vehicle should not have any snow, ice or mud
on it.
The vehicle should be fully assembled and all other
work stopped while headlamp aiming is being done.
The vehicle should be normally loaded with a
full tank of fuel and one person or 160 lbs (75 kg) on
the driver’s seat.
Tires should be properly inated.
Headlamp aiming is done with the vehicle’s low-beam
headlamps. The high-beam headlamps will be correctly
aimed if the low-beam headlamps are aimed properly.The vertical headlamp aiming screws are located under
the hood near the headlamps.
The adjustment screw can be turned with a 6 mm
socket wrench.
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To adjust the vertical aim on the headlamps, do the
following:
1. Find the aim dot on the lens of the low-beam lamp.
2. Measure the distance from the ground to the aim
dot on the lamp. Record the distance.
3. At the wall or other at surface, measure from the
ground upward the recorded distance from Step 2
and draw or tape a horizontal line the width of
the vehicle.4. Turn on the low-beam headlamps and place a
piece of cardboard or equivalent in front of the
headlamp not being aimed. This should allow only
the beam of light from the headlamp being
aimed to be seen on the at surface.
Notice:Do not cover a headlamp to improve beam
cut-off when aiming. Covering a headlamp may
cause excessive heat build-up which may cause
damage to the headlamp.
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5. Turn the vertical aiming screw until the headlamp
beam is aimed to the horizontal tape line. The top
edge of the cut-off should be positioned at the
bottom edge of the horizontal tape line.
6. Repeat Steps 4 and 5 for the opposite headlamp.
Bulb Replacement
For the proper type of replacement bulbs, see
Replacement Bulbs on page 5-53.
For any bulb changing procedure not listed in this
section, contact your dealer.
Halogen Bulbs
{CAUTION:
Halogen bulbs have pressurized gas inside
and can burst if you drop or scratch the bulb.
You or others could be injured. Be sure to read
and follow the instructions on the bulb
package.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Back-Up Lamps (Coupe)
To replace a back-up lamp bulb, do the following:
1. Open the trunk. SeeTrunk on page 2-10for more
information.
2. Locate the back-up lamp bulb assembly in the
trunk lid.3. Remove the bulb socket by turning it
counterclockwise.
On vehicles that have a back-up lamp cover, rst
remove it by depressing the tab at the top.
4. Pull out the old bulb.
5. Install a new bulb.
6. Reinstall the bulb socket by aligning the tabs and
turning it clockwise to secure.
Reinstall the back-up lamp cover if your vehicle
has one.
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