2009 CHEVROLET AVEO check engine light

Emissions Inspection and
Maintenance Programs
Some state/provincial and local governments have or
might begin programs to inspect the emission control
equipment on the vehicle. Failure to pass this inspection
could prevent getting a vehicle registration.
Here are some things to know to help the vehicle pass
an inspection:
The vehicle will not pass this inspection if the check
engine light is on with the engine running, or if the
key is in the ON/RUN and the light is not on.
The vehicle will not pass this inspection if the
OBD II (on-board diagnostic) system determines
that critical emission control systems have not been
completely diagnosed by the system. The vehicle
would be considered not ready for inspection.
This can happen if the battery has recently been
replaced or if the battery has run down.
The diagnostic system is designed to evaluate
critical emission control systems during normal
driving. This can take several days of routine
driving. If this has been done and the vehicle still
does not pass the inspection for lack of OBD II
system readiness, your dealer/retailer can prepare
the vehicle for inspection.
Oil Pressure Light
If the vehicle has low
engine oil pressure, this
light will stay on after
the engine is started, or
come on while driving.
This indicates that the engine is not receiving enough
oil. The engine could be low on oil, or could have some
other oil problem. Have it xed immediately by your
dealer/retailer.
The oil light could also come on in three other situations:
When the ignition is on but the engine is not
running, the light will come on as a test to show it is
working. The light will go out when the ignition is
turned on. If it does not come on with the ignition
on, there may be a problem with the fuse or
bulb. Have it xed right away.
If the vehicle comes to a hard stop, the light may
come on for a moment. This is normal.
3-34

{CAUTION:
Do not keep driving if the oil pressure is low.
The engine can become so hot that it catches re.
Someone could be burned. Check the oil as soon
as possible and have the vehicle serviced.
Notice:Lack of proper engine oil maintenance can
damage the engine. The repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty. Always follow the
maintenance schedule in this manual for changing
engine oil.
Change Engine Oil Light
The vehicle may have an
engine oil life system that
indicates when the oil
needs to be changed.
When the change engine oil light comes on, it means
that the engine oil needs to be changed.Once the engine oil has been changed, the engine oil
life system must be reset. After reset, the change engine
oil light goes out.
SeeEngine Oil Life System on page 5-18,Scheduled
Maintenance on page 6-4andEngine Oil on page 5-16
for more information.
Fog Lamp Light
For vehicles with this
feature, the fog lamps light
will come on when the
fog lamps are in use.
The light will go out when the fog lamps are turned off.
SeeFog Lamps on page 3-15for more information.
3-35

Engine Oil
If the engine oil pressure
light comes on, check the
engine oil level right away.
The oil pressure light is on the instrument panel cluster.
SeeOil Pressure Light on page 3-34. Check the
engine oil level regularly; this is an added reminder.
Checking Engine Oil
It is a good idea to check the engine oil level at each
fuel ll. In order to get an accurate reading, the oil must
be warm and the vehicle must be on level ground.
The engine oil dipstick handle is a yellow loop. See
Engine Compartment Overview on page 5-14for
the location of the engine oil dipstick.
1. Turn off the engine and give the oil several minutes
to drain back into the oil pan. If this is not done, the
oil dipstick might not show the actual level.
2. Pull the dipstick and clean it with a paper towel or
cloth, then push it back in all the way. Remove it
again, keeping the tip down and check the level.
When to Add Engine Oil
If the oil is below the MIN (minimum) mark on the
dipstick, add at least one quart/liter of the recommended
oil. This section explains what kind of oil to use. For
engine oil crankcase capacity, seeCapacities and
Specifications on page 5-93.
Notice:Do not add too much oil. If the engine has
so much oil that the oil level gets above the
upper mark that shows the proper operating range,
the engine could be damaged.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 5-14for
the location of the engine oil ll cap.
Add enough oil to put the level somewhere in the proper
operating range. Push the dipstick all the way back in
when through.
5-16

Engine Oil Additives / Engine Oil
Flushes
Do not add anything to the oil. The recommended oils
with the starburst symbol that meet GM Standard
GM6094M are all that is needed for good performance
and engine protection.
Engine oil system ushes are not recommended and
could cause engine damage not covered by the vehicle
warranty.
Engine Oil Life System
When to Change Engine Oil
This vehicle has the Engine Oil Life System, a computer
system that indicates when to change the engine oil and
lter. This is based on engine revolutions and engine
temperature, and not on mileage. Based on driving
conditions, the mileage at which an oil change is
indicated can vary considerably. For the oil life system to
work properly, the system must be reset every time the oil
is changed.
When the system has calculated that oil life has been
diminished, it indicates that an oil change is necessary.
A change engine oil light displays. Change the oil as
soon as possible within the next 600 miles (1 000 km).It is possible that, if driving under the best conditions, the
oil life system might not indicate that an oil change is
necessary for over a year. However, the engine oil and
lter must be changed at least once a year and at this
time the system must be reset. Your dealer/retailer has
trained service people who will perform this work using
genuine parts and reset the system. It is also important to
check the oil regularly and keep it at the proper level.
If the system is ever reset accidentally, the oil must be
changed at 3,000 miles (5 000 km) since the last oil
change. Remember to reset the oil life system whenever
the oil is changed.
How to Reset the Engine Oil Life
System
The Engine Oil Life System calculates when to change
your engine oil and lter based on vehicle use. Whenever
the oil is changed, reset the system so it can calculate
when the next oil change is required. If a situation occurs
where the oil is changed prior to a change engine oil light
being turned on, reset the system.
After changing the engine oil, the system must be reset:
1. With the engine off, turn the ignition key to ON/RUN.
2. Fully press and release the accelerator pedal slowly
three times within ve seconds.
3. Turn the key to LOCK/OFF, then start the vehicle.
5-18

Scheduled Maintenance
When the change engine oil light displays, service is
required for the vehicle. Have the vehicle serviced
as soon as possible within the next 600 miles
(1 000 km). It is possible that, if driving under the best
conditions, the engine oil life system may not indicate
that vehicle service is necessary for over a year.
However, the engine oil and lter must be changed at
least once a year and at this time the system must
be reset. Your dealer/retailer has trained service
technicians who will perform this work using genuine
parts and reset the system.
If the engine oil life system is ever reset accidentally,
service the vehicle within 3,000 miles (5 000 km)
since the last service. Remember to reset the oil life
system whenever the oil is changed. See for information
on the Engine Oil Life System and resetting the
system.When the change engine oil light displays, certain
services, checks, and inspections are required.
Required services are described in the following for
“MaintenanceI” and “MaintenanceII.” Generally,
it is recommended that the rst service be
MaintenanceI, the second service be MaintenanceII,
and then alternate MaintenanceIand MaintenanceII
thereafter. However, in some cases, MaintenanceIImay
be required more often.
MaintenanceI— Use MaintenanceIif the change
engine oil light displays within 10 months since
the vehicle was purchased or MaintenanceIIwas
performed.
MaintenanceII— Use MaintenanceIIif the previous
service performed was MaintenanceI. Always use
MaintenanceIIwhenever the change engine oil light
displays 10 months or more since the last service or if
the message has not come on at all for one year.
6-4

Audio System (cont.)
Fixed Mast Antenna.....................................3-58
Radio Reception..........................................3-58
Radio with CD............................................3-46
Automatic Transmission
Fluid..........................................................5-21
Operation...................................................2-22
B
Backglass Antenna..........................................3-59
Battery..........................................................5-37
Inadvertent Power Saver..............................3-16
Brake
Emergencies................................................ 4-6
Brake Fluid....................................................5-34
Brakes..........................................................5-34
System Warning Light..................................3-28
Braking........................................................... 4-4
Braking in Emergencies..................................... 4-6
Break-In, New Vehicle.....................................2-18
Bulb Replacement
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)........5-47
Daytime Running Lamp................................3-14
Fog Lamp ..................................................3-15
Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker and
Parking Lamps.........................................5-45Bulb Replacement (cont.)
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-43
Headlamp Aiming........................................5-43
Headlamps.........................................5-43, 5-44
License Plate Lamps....................................5-49
Replacement Bulbs......................................5-49
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Sidemarker,
Stoplamps, and Back-Up Lamps.................5-48
Buying New Tires...........................................5-64C
California Fuel.................................................. 5-6
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements....... 5-4
California Proposition 65 Warning....................... 5-4
Canadian Owners................................................ ii
Capacities and Specications............................5-93
Carbon Monoxide.............................2-8, 2-32, 4-13
Care of
Safety Belts................................................5-82
CD, MP3 .......................................................3-54
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL)...........5-47
Chains, Tire...................................................5-68
Charging System Light....................................3-28
Check
Engine Lamp..............................................3-32
Checking Things Under the Hood......................5-11
2

D
Daytime Running Lamps Indicator Light.............3-36
Defensive Driving............................................. 4-2
Disc, MP3......................................................3-54
Doing Your Own Service Work........................... 5-4
Dome Lamp ...................................................3-16
Door
Ajar Light...................................................3-36
Central Door Unlocking System....................... 2-7
Door Ajar Reminder....................................... 2-7
Locks.......................................................... 2-6
Rear Door Security Locks............................... 2-7
Driver
Seat Height Adjuster...................................... 1-5
Driving
At Night.....................................................4-10
Before a Long Trip......................................4-11
Defensive..................................................... 4-2
Drunken....................................................... 4-3
Highway Hypnosis.......................................4-12
Hill and Mountain Roads..............................4-12
In Rain and on Wet Roads...........................4-10
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get it Out.................4-16
Winter........................................................4-13
Driving for Better Fuel Economy......................... 4-2
E
EDR .............................................................7-18
Electrical System
Add-On Equipment......................................5-86
Engine Compartment Fuse Block...................5-89
Fuses and Circuit Breakers...........................5-87
Headlamp Wiring.........................................5-87
Instrument Panel Fuse Block.........................5-88
Power Windows and Other Power Options......5-87
Windshield Wiper Fuses...............................5-87
Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter.........................................5-19
Change Engine Oil Light...............................3-35
Check and Service Engine Soon Lamp...........3-32
Coolant......................................................5-25
Coolant Temperature Gage...........................3-31
Drive Belt Routing.......................................6-16
Engine Compartment Overview......................5-14
Exhaust.....................................................2-32
Oil .............................................................5-16
Oil Life System...........................................5-18
Overheating................................................5-30
Starting......................................................2-19
Engine Heater................................................2-21
Event Data Recorders.....................................7-19
Extender, Safety Belt.......................................1-34
Exterior Lamps...............................................3-13
4

Headlamps....................................................5-44
Bulb Replacement.......................................5-43
Daytime Running Lamp................................3-14
Exterior Lamps............................................3-13
Flash-to-Pass............................................... 3-8
Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker and
Parking Lamps.........................................5-45
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-43
High/Low Beam Changer................................ 3-8
Heater...........................................................3-18
Engine.......................................................2-21
Height Adjuster, Driver Seat............................... 1-5
Highbeam On Light.........................................3-36
Highway Hypnosis...........................................4-12
Hill and Mountain Roads..................................4-12
Hold Mode Light.............................................3-30
Hood
Checking Things Under................................5-11
Release.....................................................5-12
Horn ............................................................... 3-6
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly...................1-21
Hydraulic Clutch.............................................5-23
I
Ignition Positions.............................................2-18
Immobilizer....................................................2-14
Immobilizer Operation......................................2-15
Inadvertent Power Battery Saver.......................3-16Infants and Young Children, Restraints...............1-38
Ination - Tire Pressure...................................5-57
Instrument Panel
Brightness..................................................3-15
Cluster.......................................................3-24
Overview..................................................... 3-4
J
Jump Starting.................................................5-38
K
Keyless Entry System....................................... 2-3
Keys............................................................... 2-2
L
Labeling, Tire Sidewall.....................................5-52
Lamp
Malfunction Indicator....................................3-32
Lamps
Dome ........................................................3-16
Inadvertent Power Battery Saver....................3-16
Lap-Shoulder Belt...........................................1-30
LATCH System for Child Restraints...................1-46
License Plate Lamps.......................................5-49
6