2006 CHEVROLET COBALT check engine light

And, of course, actual stopping distances vary greatly
with the surface of the road, whether it is pavement
or gravel; the condition of the road, whether it is
wet, dry, or icy; tire tread; the condition of your brakes;
the weight of the vehicle; and the amount of brake
force applied.
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.
Adding non-GM accessories can affect your vehicle’s
performance. SeeAccessories and Modications
on page 5-3.Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
Your vehicle may have the Anti-Lock Brake System
(ABS), an advanced electronic braking system that will
help prevent a braking skid.
If your vehicle has ABS,
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 ABS 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.
4-7

You can run the engine to keep warm, but be careful.
{CAUTION:
Snow can trap exhaust gases under your
vehicle. This can cause deadly CO (carbon
monoxide) gas to get inside. CO could
overcome you and kill you. You cannot see it
or smell it, so you might not know it is in your
vehicle. Clear away snow from around the base
of your vehicle, especially any that is blocking
your exhaust pipe. And check around again
from time to time to be sure snow does not
collect there.
Open a window just a little on the side of the
vehicle that is away from the wind. This will help
keep CO out.
Run your engine only as long as you must. This saves
fuel. When you run the engine, make it go a little faster
than just idle. That is, push the accelerator slightly. This
uses less fuel for the heat that you get and it keeps the
battery charged. You will need a well-charged battery to
restart the vehicle, and possibly for signaling later on with
your headlamps. Let the heater run for a while.
4-29

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
The 8th digit of your vehicle identication number (VIN)
shows the code letter or number that identies your
engine. You will nd the VIN at the top left of the
instrument panel. SeeVehicle Identication Number
(VIN) on page 5-96.
Gasoline Octane
If your vehicle has the 2.2L L4 engine (VIN Code F),
use regular unleaded gasoline with a posted octane
rating of 87 or higher. If the octane rating is less than 87,
you may notice an audible knocking noise when you
drive, commonly referred to as spark knock. If this
occurs, use a gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher as
soon as possible. If you are using gasoline rated at
87 octane or higher and you hear heavy knocking, your
engine needs service.
If your vehicle has the 2.4L L4 engine (VIN Code B) or the
2.0L Supercharged engine (VIN Code P), use premium
unleaded gasoline with a posted octane rating of 91 or
higher. You may also use regular unleaded gasoline
rated at 87 octane or higher, but your vehicle’s
acceleration may be slightly reduced, and you may notice
a slight audible knocking noise, commonly referred to as
spark knock. If the octane is less than 87, you may notice
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. If
you are using gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher and
you hear heavy knocking, your engine needs service.
5-5

{CAUTION:
Using a match near a battery can cause battery
gas to explode. People have been hurt doing
this, and some have been blinded. Use a
ashlight if you need more light.
Be sure the battery has enough water. You do
not need to add water to the battery installed
in your new vehicle. But if a battery has ller
caps, be sure the right amount of uid is there.
If it is low, add water to take care of that rst.
If you don’t, explosive gas could be present.
Battery uid contains acid that can burn you.
Do not get it on you. If you accidentally get it
in your eyes or on your skin, ush the place
with water and get medical help immediately.
{CAUTION:
Fans or other moving engine parts can injure
you badly. Keep your hands away from moving
parts once the engine is running.
5. Check that the jumper cables do not have loose or
missing insulation. If they do, you could get a
shock. The vehicles could be damaged too.
Before you connect the cables, here are some
basic things you should know. Positive (+) will go
to positive (+) or to a remote positive (+) terminal
if the vehicle has one. Negative (−) will go to a
heavy, unpainted metal engine part or to a remote
negative (−) terminal if the vehicle has one.
Do not connect positive (+) to negative (−)oryou
will get a short that would damage the battery
and maybe other parts too. And do not connect the
negative (−) cable to the negative (−) terminal on
the dead battery because this can cause sparks.
5-44

Headlamp Wiring
The headlamp wiring is protected by fuses. Should your
headlamps fail to function, have your headlamp
system checked right away.
Windshield Wiper Fuses
The windshield wiper motor is protected by a circuit
breaker and a fuse. If the motor overheats due to heavy
snow or ice, the wiper will stop until the motor cools.
If the overload is caused by some electrical problem,
have it xed.
Power Windows and Other
Power Options
Fuses in the fuse block protect the power windows.
When the current load is too heavy, the fuse opens
protecting the circuit until the problem is xed.
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
The wiring circuits in your vehicle are protected from
short circuits by a combination of fuses, circuit breakers
and fusible thermal links. This greatly reduces the
chance of damage caused by electrical problems.
Look at the silver-colored band inside the fuse. If the
band is broken or melted, replace the fuse. Be sure you
replace a bad fuse with a new one of the identical
size and rating.
If you ever have a problem on the road and do not have
a spare fuse, you can “borrow” one that has the same
amperage. Just pick some feature of your vehicle
that you can get along without — like the radio or
cigarette lighter — and use its fuse if it is the correct
amperage. Replace it as soon as you can.
There are two fuse blocks in your vehicle: the oor
console fuse block and the engine compartment
fuse block.
5-98

B
Battery..........................................................5-41
Run-Down Protection...................................3-16
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.........................4-22
Boost Gage...................................................3-37
Brake
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)........................ 4-7
Emergencies................................................ 4-9
Parking......................................................2-27
System Warning Light..................................3-29
Brakes..........................................................5-38
Braking........................................................... 4-6
Braking in Emergencies..................................... 4-9
Break-In, New Vehicle.....................................2-17
Bulb Replacement...........................................5-49
Back-Up Lamps...........................................5-54
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)........5-51
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-49
Headlamp Aiming........................................5-46
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal,
Sidemarker, and Parking Lamps.................5-50
Replacement Bulbs......................................5-55
Taillamps and Turn Signal Lamps..................5-52
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps
and Back-up Lamps.................................5-53
Buying New Tires...........................................5-66
C
California Fuel.................................................. 5-6
California Proposition 65 Warning....................... 5-3
Canadian Owners................................................ ii
Capacities and Specications..........................5-107
Carbon Monoxide...........2-10, 2-32, 4-26, 4-39, 4-46
Care of
Safety Belts................................................5-91
Your CD Player...........................................3-72
Your CDs ...................................................3-72
Center Console Storage Area...........................2-37
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)...........5-51
Chains, Tire...................................................5-72
Charging System Light....................................3-28
Check
Engine Light...............................................3-32
Checking Things Under the Hood......................5-10
Chemical Paint Spotting...................................5-95
Child Restraints
Child Restraint Systems...............................1-38
Infants and Young Children...........................1-34
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children..........1-43
Older Children.............................................1-32
Securing a Child Restraint in
a Rear Seat Position................................1-48
Securing a Child Restraint in
the Right Front Seat Position.....................1-50
2

D
Daytime Running Lamps..................................3-14
Differential, Limited-Slip....................................4-11
Doing Your Own Service Work........................... 5-4
Dome Lamp...................................................3-15
Door
Automatic Door Lock..................................... 2-9
Delayed Locking........................................... 2-8
Locks.......................................................... 2-7
Power Door Locks......................................... 2-8
Programmable Automatic Door Unlock.............. 2-9
Rear Door Security Locks............................... 2-9
Driver
Position, Safety Belt.....................................1-18
Seat Height Adjuster...................................... 1-3
Driver Information Center (DIC).........................3-38
DIC Operation and Displays..........................3-38
DIC Vehicle Personalization..........................3-43
DIC Warnings and Messages........................3-40
Driver’s Storage Compartment..........................2-37
Driving
At Night.....................................................4-17
City...........................................................4-20
Defensive..................................................... 4-2
Drunken....................................................... 4-3
Freeway.....................................................4-21
Hill and Mountain Roads..............................4-24
In Rain and on Wet Roads...........................4-18
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get it Out.................4-31
Winter........................................................4-26
E
Easy Entry Seat............................................... 1-8
Electrical System
Add-On Equipment......................................5-97
Engine Compartment Fuse Block.................5-101
Floor Console Fuse Block.............................5-99
Fuses and Circuit Breakers...........................5-98
Headlamp Wiring.........................................5-98
Power Windows and Other Power Options......5-98
Windshield Wiper Fuses...............................5-98
Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter.........................................5-21
Battery.......................................................5-41
Check and Service Engine Soon Light............3-32
Coolant......................................................5-24
Coolant Heater............................................2-22
Coolant Temperature Warning Light................3-32
Engine Compartment Overview......................5-12
Exhaust.....................................................2-32
Oil .............................................................5-15
Oil Life System...........................................5-20
Overheating................................................5-29
Starting......................................................2-20
Enhanced Traction System (ETS)........................ 4-9
Warning Light.............................................3-31
Entry/Exit Lighting...........................................3-16
Event Data Recorders (EDR)............................. 7-9
Extender, Safety Belt.......................................1-31
4

O
Odometer......................................................3-24
Off-Road Recovery..........................................4-13
Oil
Engine.......................................................5-15
Pressure Light.............................................3-35
Oil, Engine Oil Life System..............................5-20
Older Children, Restraints................................1-32
Online Owner Center........................................ 7-3
OnStar
®System, see OnStar®Manual...............2-35
Other Warning Devices...................................... 3-6
Outlet Adjustment............................................3-20
Outlet(s), Accessory Power...............................3-16
Outside
Convex Mirror.............................................2-35
Manual Mirror.............................................2-34
Power Mirrors.............................................2-34
Remote Control Mirror..................................2-34
Owner Checks and Services.............................. 6-8
Owners, Canadian............................................... ii
P
Paint, Damage...............................................5-94
Park (P)
Shifting Into................................................2-29
Shifting Out of............................................2-30
Parking
Brake........................................................2-27
Over Things That Burn.................................2-31
Parking Your Vehicle.......................................2-31
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator.....................3-26
Passenger Compartment Air Filter.....................3-20
Passenger Sensing System..............................1-62
Passing.........................................................4-14
PASS-Key
®III+..............................................2-15
PASS-Key®III+ Operation................................2-16
Power
Accessory Outlet(s)......................................3-16
Door Locks.................................................. 2-8
Electrical System.........................................5-98
Retained Accessory (RAP)............................2-20
Windows....................................................2-13
Pretensioners, Safety Belt................................1-31
Programmable Automatic Door Unlock................. 2-9
9