2008 CHEVROLET COBALT brake

Automatic Transmission Shift Lock
Control System Check
{CAUTION:
When you are doing this inspection, the
vehicle could move suddenly. If the vehicle
moves, you or others could be injured.
1. Before you start, be sure you have enough room
around the vehicle. It should be parked on a level
surface.
2. Firmly apply the parking brake. SeeParking Brake
on page 2-32.
Be ready to apply the regular brake immediately if
the vehicle begins to move.
3. With the engine off, turn the ignition to ON/RUN,
but do not start the engine. Without applying the
regular brake, try to move the shift lever out
of PARK (P) with normal effort. If the shift lever
moves out of PARK (P), contact your dealer/retailer
for service.
Ignition Transmission Lock Check
While parked, and with the parking brake set, try to turn
the ignition to LOCK/OFF in each shift lever position.
With an automatic transmission, the ignition
should turn to LOCK/OFF only when the shift lever
is in PARK (P). The ignition key should come
out only in LOCK/OFF.
With a manual transmission, the ignition key should
come out only in LOCK/OFF.
Turn the steering wheel to the left and to the right.
It should only lock when turned to the right. Contact your
dealer/retailer if service is required.
6-10

Parking Brake and Automatic
Transmission Park (P) Mechanism
Check
{CAUTION:
When you are doing this check, your vehicle
could begin to move. You or others could be
injured and property could be damaged. Make
sure there is room in front of your vehicle in
case it begins to roll. Be ready to apply the
regular brake at once should the vehicle begin
to move.Park on a fairly steep hill, with the vehicle facing
downhill. Keeping your foot on the regular brake,
set the parking brake.
To check the parking brake’s holding ability:
With the engine running and transmission in
NEUTRAL (N), slowly remove foot pressure from
the regular brake pedal. Do this until the vehicle is
held by the parking brake only.
To check the PARK (P) mechanism’s holding ability:
With the engine running, shift to PARK (P). Then
release the parking brake followed by the regular
brake.
Contact your dealer/retailer if service is required.
Underbody Flushing Service
At least every spring, use plain water to ush any
corrosive materials from the underbody. Take care to
clean thoroughly any areas where mud and other debris
can collect.
6-11

Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants
Fluids and lubricants identied below by name, part
number, or specication can be obtained from your
dealer/retailer.
Usage Fluid/Lubricant
Engine OilEngine oil which meets
GM Standard GM6094M and
displays the American Petroleum
Institute Certied for Gasoline
Engines starburst symbol.
To determine the proper viscosity
for your vehicle’s engine,
seeEngine Oil on page 5-13.
Engine Coolant50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable
water and use only DEX-COOL
®
Coolant. SeeEngine Coolant on
page 5-20.
Usage Fluid/Lubricant
Hydraulic
Brake SystemDelco
®Supreme 11 Brake Fluid or
equivalent DOT-3 brake uid.
Hydraulic
Clutch SystemDelco
®Supreme 11 Brake Fluid or
equivalent DOT-3 brake uid.
Windshield
WasherOptikleen
®Washer Solvent.
Parking Brake
Cable GuidesChassis Lubricant
(GM Part No. 12377985,
in Canada 88901242) or lubricant
meeting requirements of NLGI #2,
Category LB or GC-LB.
Manual
TransmissionDEXRON
®-VI Automatic
Transmission Fluid.
Automatic
TransmissionDEXRON
®-VI Automatic
Transmission Fluid.
6-12

Service Publications Ordering
Information
Service Manuals
Service Manuals have the diagnosis and repair
information on engines, transmission, axle suspension,
brakes, electrical, steering, body, etc.
Service Bulletins
Service Bulletins’ give additional technical service
information needed to knowledgeably service General
Motors cars and trucks. Each bulletin contains
instructions to assist in the diagnosis and service of
your vehicle.
Owner Information
Owner publications are written specically for owners
and intended to provide basic operational information
about the vehicle. The owner manual includes the
Maintenance Schedule for all models.
In-Portfolio: Includes a Portfolio, Owner Manual, and
Warranty Booklet.
RETAIL SELL PRICE: $35.00 (U.S.) plus processing fee
Without Portfolio: Owner Manual only.
RETAIL SELL PRICE: $25.00 (U.S.) plus processing fee
Current and Past Model Order Forms
Technical Service Bulletins and Manuals are available
for current and past model GM vehicles. To request
an order form, specify year and model name of
the vehicle.
ORDER TOLL FREE: 1-800-551-4123
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Eastern Time
For Credit Card Orders Only
(VISA-MasterCard-Discover), visit Helm, Inc. on the
World Wide Web at: www.helminc.com
Or you can write to:
Helm, Incorporated
P.O. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207
Prices are subject to change without notice and without
incurring obligation. Allow ample time for delivery.
Note to Canadian Customers: All listed prices are
quoted in U.S. funds. Canadian residents are to make
checks payable in U.S. funds.
7-16

Vehicle Data Recording and
Privacy
Your GM vehicle has a number of sophisticated
computers that record information about the vehicle’s
performance and how it is driven. For example,
your vehicle uses computer modules to monitor and
control engine and transmission performance, to monitor
the conditions for airbag deployment and deploy
airbags in a crash and, if so equipped, to provide
antilock braking to help the driver control the vehicle.
These modules may store data to help your
dealer/retailer technician service your vehicle. Some
modules may also store data about how you operate the
vehicle, such as rate of fuel consumption or average
speed. These modules may also retain the owner’s
personal preferences, such as radio pre-sets, seat
positions, and temperature settings.
Event Data Recorders
This vehicle has an Event Data Recorder (EDR).
The main purpose of an EDR is to record, in certain
crash or near crash-like situations, such as an airbag
deployment or hitting a road obstacle, data that will
assist in understanding how a vehicle’s systems
performed. The EDR is designed to record data related
to vehicle dynamics and safety systems for a short
period of time, typically 30 seconds or less. The EDR in
this vehicle is designed to record such data as:
How various systems in your vehicle were operating
Whether or not the driver and passenger safety
belts were buckled/fastened
How far, if at all, the driver was pressing the
accelerator and/or brake pedal
How fast the vehicle was traveling
This data can help provide a better understanding of the
circumstances in which crashes and injuries occur.
Important:EDR data is recorded by your vehicle only
if a non-trivial crash situation occurs; no data is
recorded by the EDR under normal driving conditions and
no personal data (e.g., name, gender, age, and crash
location) is recorded. However, other parties, such as law
enforcement, could combine the EDR data with the type
of personally identifying data routinely acquired during a
crash investigation.
7-17

A
Accessories and Modications............................ 5-3
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle.......................................................1-66
Additives, Fuel................................................. 5-7
Add-On Electrical Equipment...........................5-105
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine.................................5-18
Air Conditioning..............................................3-18
Airbag
Passenger Status Indicator...........................3-28
Readiness Light..........................................3-27
Airbag System................................................1-53
What Will You See After an Airbag Inates?........1-60
When Should an Airbag Inate?....................1-58
Where Are the Airbags?...............................1-56
Airbag Systems
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle...................................................1-66
How Does an Airbag Restrain?......................1-59
Passenger Sensing System...........................1-61
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle..........1-66
What Makes an Airbag Inate?......................1-59
Antenna, Fixed Mast.......................................3-77Antenna, XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System.....3-77
Antilock Brake System (ABS)............................. 4-5
Anti-lock Brake, System Warning Light...............3-32
Appearance Care
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels.............5-101
Care of Safety Belts....................................5-98
Chemical Paint Spotting..............................5-102
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses....................5-99
Fabric/Carpet..............................................5-96
Finish Care.................................................5-99
Finish Damage..........................................5-102
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic
Surfaces.................................................5-98
Interior Cleaning..........................................5-95
Leather......................................................5-97
Sheet Metal Damage..................................5-102
Tires........................................................5-101
Underbody Maintenance.............................5-102
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials...............5-103
Washing Your Vehicle...................................5-99
Weatherstrips..............................................5-98
Windshield and Wiper Blades......................5-100
Appointments, Scheduling Service.....................7-10
Ashtray.........................................................3-17
1

Audio System.................................................3-54
Audio Steering Wheel Controls......................3-76
Fixed Mast Antenna.....................................3-77
Radio Reception..........................................3-76
Setting the Clock.........................................3-55
Theft-Deterrent Feature................................3-75
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System............3-77
Audio System(s).............................................3-58
Automatic Door Lock.......................................2-11
Automatic Transmission
Fluid..........................................................5-19
Operation...................................................2-28
B
Battery..........................................................5-34
Electric Power Management..........................3-15
Run-Down Protection...................................3-16
Brake
Emergencies................................................ 4-6
Brakes..........................................................5-31
System Warning Light..................................3-31
Braking........................................................... 4-4
Braking in Emergencies..................................... 4-6Break-In, New Vehicle.....................................2-21
Bulb Replacement...........................................5-42
Back-Up Lamps...........................................5-46
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)........5-44
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-42
Headlamp Aiming........................................5-39
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker,
and Parking Lamps..................................5-42
License Plate Lamps....................................5-47
Replacement Bulbs......................................5-47
Taillamps and Turn Signal Lamps..................5-44
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Back-up Lamps........................................5-45
Buying New Tires...........................................5-66C
California Fuel.................................................. 5-6
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements....... 5-4
California Proposition 65 Warning....................... 5-4
Canadian Owners................................................ ii
Capacities and Specications..........................5-112
Carbon Monoxide...................2-13, 2-36, 4-21, 4-34
Care of
Safety Belts................................................5-98
2

Horn............................................................... 3-6
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly...................1-15
Hydraulic Clutch.............................................5-20
I
Ignition Positions.............................................2-22
Infants and Young Children, Restraints...............1-32
Ination - Tire Pressure...................................5-56
Instrument Panel
Overview..................................................... 3-4
Instrument Panel (I/P)
Brightness..................................................3-14
Cluster.......................................................3-24
J
Jump Starting.................................................5-34
K
Keyless Entry System....................................... 2-4
Keys............................................................... 2-3
L
Labeling, Tire Sidewall.....................................5-50
Lamps
Dome........................................................3-15
Mirror Reading............................................3-15
Lap-Shoulder Belt...........................................1-23
LATCH System
Child Restraints...........................................1-39
License Plate Lamps.......................................5-47
Light
Airbag Readiness........................................3-27
Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) Warning...........3-32
Brake System Warning.................................3-31
Charging System.........................................3-30
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning.............3-34
Enhanced Traction System (ETS)
Indicator/Warning Light..............................3-32
Fog Lamp..................................................3-39
Highbeam On.............................................3-39
Malfunction Indicator....................................3-35
Oil Pressure...............................................3-38
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator..................3-28
Safety Belt Reminders..................................3-26
Security.....................................................3-38
Tire Pressure..............................................3-34
Up-Shift.....................................................3-30
7