2006 CHEVROLET COBALT tow

When the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
will also come on when you set your parking brake. The
light will stay on if your parking brake does not release
fully. If it stays on after your parking brake is fully
released, it means you have a brake problem.
If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off the
road and stop carefully. Make sure the parking brake is
fully released. You may notice that the pedal is harder
to push or, the pedal may go closer to the oor. It
may take longer to stop. If the light is still on, have the
vehicle towed for service. SeeTowing Your Vehicle
on page 4-36.
{CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working properly
if the brake system warning light is on. Driving
with the brake system warning light on can lead
to an accident. If the light is still on after you
have pulled off the road and stopped carefully,
have the vehicle towed for service.
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning
Light
If your vehicle is equipped
with the anti-lock brake
system, the light will come
on when your engine is
started and may stay on
for several seconds.
That is normal.
If the light stays on, turn the ignition off, if the light comes
on when you are driving, stop as soon as possible and
turn the ignition off. Then start the engine again to reset
the system. If the light still stays on, or comes on again
while you are driving, your vehicle needs service. If the
regular brake system warning light is not on, you still have
brakes, but you do not have anti-lock brakes. If the
regular brake system warning light is also on, you do not
have anti-lock brakes and there is a problem with your
regular brakes. SeeBrake System Warning Light on
page 3-29.
The anti-lock brake system warning light will come on
briey when you turn the ignition key to RUN. This
is normal. If the light does not come on then, have it
xed so it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
3-30

Notice:Modications made to the engine,
transaxle, exhaust, intake, or fuel system of your
vehicle or the replacement of the original tires with
other than those of the same Tire Performance
Criteria (TPC) can affect your vehicle’s emission
controls and may cause this light to come on.
Modications to these systems could lead to costly
repairs not covered by your warranty. This may
also result in a failure to pass a required Emission
Inspection/Maintenance test. SeeAccessories
and Modifications on page 5-3.
This light should come on, as a check to show you it is
working, when the ignition is on and the engine is
not running. If the light does not come on, have it
repaired. This light will also come on during a
malfunction in one of two ways:
Light Flashing— A misre condition has been
detected. A misre increases vehicle emissions and
may damage the emission control system on your
vehicle. Diagnosis and service may be required.
Light On Steady— An emission control system
malfunction has been detected on your vehicle.
Diagnosis and service may be required.
If the Light is Flashing
The following may prevent more serious damage to
your vehicle:
Reducing vehicle speed
Avoiding hard accelerations
Avoiding steep uphill grades
If you are towing a trailer, reduce the amount of
cargo being hauled as soon as it is possible
If the light stops ashing and remains on steady, see
“If the Light Is On Steady” following.
If the light continues to ash, when it is safe to do so,
stop the vehicle. Find a safe place to park your vehicle.
Turn the key off, wait at least 10 seconds and restart the
engine. If the light remains on steady, see “If the Light Is
On Steady” following. If the light is still ashing, follow the
previous steps, and see your dealer for service as soon
as possible.
3-33

Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade)
xw
(Balance/Fade):To adjust the balance between
the right and the left speakers, press and release
the balance/fade button until BAL appears on the
display. Then turn the ADJ knob to move the sound
toward the right or the left speakers.
To adjust the fade between the front and the rear
speakers, press and release the balance/fade button
until FADE appears on the display. Then turn the
ADJ knob to move the sound toward the front or the
rear speakers.
To adjust the balance or the fade to the middle position,
select BAL or FADE. Then press and hold the balance/
fade button for more than two seconds. You will hear a
beep and the level will be adjusted to the middle position.
To adjust the speaker controls to the middle position, rst
end out of balance and fade by pressing another button,
causing the radio to perform that function, or by waiting
ve seconds for the display to return to the default
display. Then press and hold the balance/fade button for
more than two seconds until you hear a beep. ALL
CENTERED will appear on the display.
Finding a Program Type (PTY) Station
(RDS and XM™)
To select and nd a desired PTY perform the following:
1. Press the P-TYPE button to activate program
type select mode. PTY and a program type will
appear on the display.
2. Turn the ADJ knob to select a PTY.
3. Once the desired PTY is displayed, press the
SEEK left arrow to select the PTY and to take you to
the PTY’s rst station.
4. To go to another station within that PTY press the
SEEK left arrow again. If the radio cannot nd the
desired PTY, NONE FOUND will appear on the
display and the radio will return to the last station
you were listening to.
After 15 seconds of inactivity or if the P-TYPE
button is pressed again, the radio will exit program
type select mode.
3-53

Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade)
xw
(Balance/Fade):To adjust the balance between
the right and the left speakers, press and release
the balance/fade button until BAL appears on the
display. Then turn the ADJ knob to move the sound
toward the right or the left speakers.
To adjust the fade between the front and the rear
speakers, press and release the balance/fade button
until FADE appears on the display. Then turn the
ADJ knob to move the sound toward the front or the
rear speakers.
To adjust the balance or the fade to the middle position,
select BAL or FADE. Then press and hold the balance/
fade button for more than two seconds. You will hear a
beep and the level will be adjusted to the middle position.
To adjust the speaker controls to the middle position, rst
end out of balance and fade by pressing another button,
causing the radio to perform that function, or by waiting
ve seconds for the display to return to the default
display. Then press and hold the balance/fade button for
more than two seconds until you hear a beep. ALL
CENTERED will appear on the display.
Finding a Program Type (PTY) Station
(RDS and XM™)
To select and nd a desired PTY perform the following:
1. Press the P-TYPE button to activate program
type select mode. PTY and a program type will
appear on the display.
2. Turn the ADJ knob to select a PTY.
3. Once the desired PTY is displayed, press the
SEEK left arrow to select the PTY and to take
you to the PTY’s rst station.
4. To go to another station within that PTY press the
SEEK left arrow again. If the radio cannot nd the
desired PTY, NONE FOUND will appear on the
display and the radio will return to the last station
you were listening to.
After 15 seconds of inactivity or if the P-TYPE
button is pressed again, the radio will exit program
type select mode.
3-60

Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle..........4-2
Defensive Driving...........................................4-2
Drunken Driving.............................................4-3
Control of a Vehicle........................................4-6
Braking.........................................................4-6
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS).........................4-7
Braking in Emergencies...................................4-9
Enhanced Traction System (ETS).....................4-9
Limited-Slip Differential..................................4-11
Steering......................................................4-11
Off-Road Recovery.......................................4-13
Passing.......................................................4-14
Loss of Control.............................................4-15
Racing or Other Competitive Driving................4-17
Driving at Night............................................4-17
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads..................4-18City Driving..................................................4-20
Freeway Driving...........................................4-21
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.......................4-22
Highway Hypnosis........................................4-23
Hill and Mountain Roads................................4-24
Winter Driving..............................................4-26
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand,
Mud, Ice, or Snow.....................................4-30
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out.................4-31
Loading Your Vehicle....................................4-31
Towing..........................................................4-36
Towing Your Vehicle.....................................4-36
Recreational Vehicle Towing...........................4-36
Towing a Trailer (Automatic Transaxle)............4-39
Towing a Trailer (Manual Transaxle)................4-46
Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle
4-1

Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out
First, turn your steering wheel left and right. That
will clear the area around your front wheels. Then shift
back and forth between REVERSE (R) and a forward
gear, or with a manual transaxle, between FIRST (1) or
SECOND (2) and REVERSE (R), spinning the wheels
as little as possible. Release the accelerator pedal while
you shift, and press lightly on the accelerator pedal
when the transaxle is in gear. By slowly spinning your
wheels in the forward and reverse directions, you
will cause a rocking motion that may free your vehicle.
If that does not get you out after a few tries, you
may need to be towed out. If you do need to be towed
out, seeTowing Your Vehicle on page 4-36.
Loading Your Vehicle
It is very important to know how much weight your
vehicle can carry. This weight is called the vehicle
capacity weight and includes the weight of all occupants,
cargo and all nonfactory-installed options. Two labels
on your vehicle show how much weight it may properly
carry, the Tire and Loading Information label and the
Certication label.
{CAUTION:
Do not load your vehicle any heavier than the
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), or either
the maximum front or rear Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWR). If you do, parts on your
vehicle can break, and it can change the way
your vehicle handles. These could cause you
to lose control and crash. Also, overloading
can shorten the life of your vehicle.
4-31

5. Determine the combined weight of luggage and
cargo being loaded on the vehicle. That weight
may not safely exceed the available cargo
and luggage load capacity calculated in Step 4.
6. If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, the load from
your trailer will be transferred to your vehicle.
Consult this manual to determine how this reduces
the available cargo and luggage load capacity of
your vehicle.
If your vehicle can tow a trailer, seeTowing a
Trailer (Automatic Transaxle) on page 4-39or
Towing a Trailer (Manual Transaxle) on page 4-46
for important information on towing a trailer,
towing safety rules, and trailering tips.
Item Description Total
AVehicle Capacity Weight
for Example 1=1,000 lbs (453 kg)
BSubtract Occupant
Weight 150 lbs
(68 kg)×2=300 lbs (136 kg)
CAvailable Occupant and
Cargo Weight=700 lbs (317 kg) Example 1
4-33

If you put things inside your vehicle — like suitcases,
tools, packages, or anything else — they will go as fast
as the vehicle goes. If you have to stop or turn
quickly, or if there is a crash, they will keep going.
{CAUTION:
Things you put inside your vehicle can strike
and injure people in a sudden stop or turn, or
in a crash.
Put things in the trunk of your vehicle. In a
trunk, put them as far forward as you can.
Try to spread the weight evenly.
Never stack heavier things, like suitcases,
inside the vehicle so that some of them
are above the tops of the seats.
Do not leave an unsecured child restraint
in your vehicle.
When you carry something inside the
vehicle, secure it whenever you can.
Do not leave a seat folded down unless
you need to.
Towing
Towing Your Vehicle
Consult your dealer or a professional towing service if
you need to have your disabled vehicle towed. See
Roadside Assistance Program on page 7-6.
If you want to tow your vehicle behind another vehicle
for recreational purposes (such as behind a motorhome),
see “Recreational Vehicle Towing” following.
Recreational Vehicle Towing
Recreational vehicle towing means towing your vehicle
behind another vehicle — such as behind a motorhome.
The two most common types of recreational vehicle
towing are known as “dinghy towing” (towing your
vehicle with all four wheels on the ground) and “dolly
towing” (towing your vehicle with two wheels on
the ground and two wheels up on a device known
as a “dolly”).
4-36