2007 CHEVROLET COBALT battery

You will need a well-charged battery to restart the
vehicle, and possibly for signaling later on with
the headlamps. Let the heater run for a while.
Then, shut the engine off and close the window
almost all the way to preserve the heat. Start the
engine again and repeat this only when you
feel really uncomfortable from the cold. But do it
as little as possible. Preserve the fuel as long
as you can. To help keep warm, you can get out
of the vehicle and do some fairly vigorous
exercises every half hour or so until help comes.
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand,
Mud, Ice, or Snow
In order to free your vehicle when it is stuck,
you will need to spin the wheels, but you do not
want to spin your wheels too fast. The method
known as rocking can help you get out when you
are stuck, but you must use caution.
{CAUTION:
If you let your vehicle’s tires spin at high
speed, they can explode, and you or others
could be injured. And, the transaxle or
other parts of the vehicle can overheat.
That could cause an engine compartment
re or other damage. When you are stuck,
spin the wheels as little as possible. Do not
spin the wheels above 35 mph (55 km/h) as
shown on the speedometer.
Notice:Spinning the wheels can destroy parts
of your vehicle as well as the tires. If you spin
the wheels too fast while shifting the transaxle
back and forth, you can destroy the transaxle.
SeeRocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out on
page 259.
For information about using tire chains on your
vehicle, seeTire Chains on page 357.
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Dinghy Towing
You may dinghy tow your vehicle from the front
following these steps:
1. Set the parking brake.
2. Turn the ignition key to ACC to unlock the
steering wheel.
3. Shift an automatic transaxle to NEUTRAL (N)
or a manual transaxle to NEUTRAL.
4. Release the parking brake.To prevent the battery from draining while the
vehicle is being towed, remove the following fuse
from the oor console fuse block: 8 (Ignition
Switch, PASS-Key
®III+). SeeFloor Console Fuse
Block on page 384for more information.
Remember to reinstall the fuse once you have
reached your destination.
Notice:If you exceed 65 mph (105 km/h) while
towing your vehicle, it could be damaged.
Never exceed 65 mph (105 km/h) while towing
your vehicle.
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Service........................................................ 280
Accessories and Modications................... 280
California Proposition 65 Warning.............. 281
Doing Your Own Service Work.................. 281
Adding Equipment to the Outside of
Your Vehicle.......................................... 282
Fuel............................................................. 282
Gasoline Octane........................................ 283
Gasoline Specications.............................. 283
California Fuel........................................... 283
Additives................................................... 284
Fuels in Foreign Countries........................ 284
Filling the Tank......................................... 285
Filling a Portable Fuel Container............... 287
Checking Things Under the Hood.............. 288
Hood Release........................................... 289
Engine Compartment Overview.................. 290
Engine Oil................................................. 293
Engine Oil Life System.............................. 298
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter............................ 300
Automatic Transaxle Fluid......................... 301
Manual Transaxle Fluid............................. 301Hydraulic Clutch........................................ 302
Engine Coolant.......................................... 302
Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap............ 309
Engine Overheating................................... 309
Cooling System......................................... 311
Windshield Washer Fluid........................... 317
Brakes...................................................... 318
Battery...................................................... 321
Jump Starting............................................ 322
Headlamp Aiming........................................ 328
Bulb Replacement....................................... 331
Halogen Bulbs........................................... 331
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal,
Sidemarker, and Parking Lamps............. 331
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL) ... 333
Taillamps and Turn Signal
Lamps (Coupe)...................................... 334
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Back-up Lamps (Sedan)......................... 334
Back-Up Lamps (Coupe)........................... 335
License Plate Lamp................................... 336
Replacement Bulbs................................... 337
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
277

Brake Adjustment
Every time you make a moderate brake stop, the
disc brakes adjust for wear. If you rarely make
a moderate or heavier stop, then the brakes might
not adjust correctly. If you drive in that way,
then — very carefully — make a few moderate
brake stops about every 1,000 miles (1 600 km),
so the brakes will adjust properly.
If your vehicle has rear drum brakes and the
brake pedal goes down farther than normal,
the rear drum brakes might need adjustment.
Adjust them by backing up and rmly applying
the brakes a few times.
Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a vehicle is complex.
Its many parts have to be of top quality and work
well together if the vehicle is to have really good
braking. Your vehicle was designed and tested with
top-quality brake parts. When you replace parts of
the braking system — for example, when the brake
linings wear down and you need new ones put
in — be sure you get new approved replacement
parts. If you do not, the brakes might not workproperly. For example, if someone puts in
brake linings that are wrong for your vehicle, the
balance between the front and rear brakes can
change — for the worse. The braking performance
you have come to expect can change in many other
ways if someone puts in the wrong replacement
brake parts.
Battery
Your vehicle has a maintenance free battery.
When it is time for a new battery, get one that has
the replacement number shown on the original
battery’s label. We recommend an ACDelco
®
replacement battery.
Your vehicle’s battery is located in the trunk. You
do not need to access the battery to jump start
your vehicle. SeeJump Starting on page 322.
Warning:Battery posts, terminals, and related
accessories contain lead and lead compounds,
chemicals known to the State of California
to cause cancer and reproductive harm.
Wash hands after handling.
321

Vehicle Storage
If you are not going to drive your vehicle for
25 days or more, remove the black, negative (−)
cable from the battery. This will help keep
your battery from running down.
{CAUTION:
Batteries have acid that can burn you and
gas that can explode. You can be badly
hurt if you are not careful. SeeJump
Starting on page 322for tips on working
around a battery without getting hurt.
Jump Starting
If your vehicle’s battery has run down, you may
want to use another vehicle and some jumper
cables to start your vehicle. Be sure to use
the following steps to do it safely.
{CAUTION:
Batteries can hurt you. They can be
dangerous because:
They contain acid that can burn you.
They contain gas that can explode
or ignite.
They contain enough electricity to
burn you.
If you do not follow these steps exactly,
some or all of these things can hurt you.
Notice:Ignoring these steps could result
in costly damage to your vehicle that would
not be covered by your warranty.
322

Trying to start your vehicle by pushing or
pulling it will not work, and it could damage
your vehicle.
1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a
12-volt battery with a negative ground system.
Notice:If the other vehicle’s system is not
a 12-volt system with a negative ground, both
vehicles can be damaged. Only use vehicles
with 12-volt systems with negative grounds to
jump start your vehicle.
2. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper
cables can reach, but be sure the vehicles are
not touching each other. If they are, it could
cause a ground connection you do not want.
You would not be able to start your vehicle, and
the bad grounding could damage the electrical
systems.
To avoid the possibility of the vehicles rolling,
set the parking brake rmly on both vehicles
involved in the jump start procedure. Put
an automatic transaxle in PARK (P) or
a manual transaxle in NEUTRAL before
setting the parking brake.Notice:If you leave your radio or other
accessories on during the jump starting
procedure, they could be damaged. The repairs
would not be covered by your warranty. Always
turn off your radio and other accessories when
jump starting your vehicle.
3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Unplug
unnecessary accessories plugged into the
cigarette lighter or the accessory power outlet.
Turn off the radio and all lamps that are not
needed. This will avoid sparks and help save
both batteries. And it could save the radio!
4. Open the hood on the other vehicle and
locate the positive (+) and negative (−)
terminal locations on that vehicle.
You will not see the battery of your vehicle
under the hood. It is located in the trunk.
You will not need to access your battery for
jump starting. Your vehicle has a remote
positive (+) and a remote negative (−) jump
starting terminal.
323

{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 (−)or
you 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.
325

6. Connect the red positive (+) cable to the
positive (+) terminal location on the vehicle
with the dead battery. Use a remote
positive (+) terminal if the vehicle has one.
7. Do not let the other end touch metal. Connect
it to the positive (+) terminal of the good
battery. Use a remote positive (+) terminal
if the vehicle has one.
8. Now connect the black negative (−) cable to
the negative (−) terminal of the good battery.
Use a remote negative (−) terminal if the
vehicle has one.
Do not let the other end touch anything until the
next step. The other end of the negative (−)
cable does not go to the dead battery. It goes
to a heavy, unpainted metal engine part or to a
remote negative (−) terminal on the vehicle with
the dead battery.9. Connect the other end of the negative (−)
cable to the negative (−) terminal location
on the vehicle with the dead battery.
Your vehicle has a remote negative (−)
terminal marked GND (−).
10. Now start the vehicle with the good battery
and run the engine for a while.
11. Try to start the vehicle that had the dead
battery. If it will not start after a few tries,
it probably needs service.
Notice:If the jumper cables are connected or
removed in the wrong order, electrical shorting
may occur and damage the vehicle. The repairs
would not be covered by your warranty. Always
connect and remove the jumper cables in the
correct order, making sure that the cables do
not touch each other or other metal.
326