coolant level CHEVROLET COBALT 2005 1.G Owners Manual

OIL LIFE
Press the information button until OIL LIFE is displayed.
The engine oil life system shows an estimate of the
oil’s remaining useful life. It will show 100% when the
system is reset after an oil change. It will alert you
to change your oil on a schedule consistent with your
driving conditions.
In addition to the engine oil life system monitoring the
oil life, additional maintenance is recommended in
the Maintenance Schedule in this manual. SeeEngine
Oil on page 5-15andScheduled Maintenance on
page 6-4.
Always reset the engine oil life system after an oil
change. See “How to Reset the Engine Oil Life System”
underEngine Oil Life System on page 5-19and
“OIL–LIFE RESET” underDIC Vehicle Personalization
on page 3-40.
COOLANT
Press the information button until COOLANT is
displayed. This mode shows the temperature of the
engine coolant in either °F or °C.
Personalization Modes
Press the information and reset buttons at the same
time to enter the personalization menu. SeeDIC Vehicle
Personalization on page 3-40for more information on
the personalization menu modes.
DIC Warnings and Messages
These messages will appear if there is a problem
detected in one of your vehicle’s systems.
Any message will clear when the vehicle’s condition is
no longer present. The warning message will come back
on the next time the vehicle is turned off and back on
if the condition is still present. With most messages,
a warning chime will sound when the message is
displayed. You can also acknowledge and clear some
warning messages from the DIC display by pressing
either the reset or information buttons. Your vehicle may
have other warning messages.
AUTO LIGHTS OFF
This message is displayed if the automatic headlamp
system is disabled with the headlamp switch.
AUTO LIGHTS ON
This message is displayed if the automatic headlamp
system is enabled with the headlamp switch.
BRAKE FLUID
This message will display if the ignition is on to inform
the driver that the brake uid level is low. Have the
brake system serviced by your GM dealer as soon as
possible.
3-37

CHANGE OIL SOON
This message is displayed when the life of the engine
oil has expired and it should be changed.
When you acknowledge the CHANGE OIL SOON
message by clearing it from the display, you still must
reset the engine oil life system separately. See
“OIL-LIFE RESET” underDIC Vehicle Personalization
on page 3-40,Engine Oil Life System on page 5-19, and
Scheduled Maintenance on page 6-4for more
information.
CHECK GAS CAP
This message is displayed if the gas cap has not been
fully tightened. You should recheck your gas cap to
ensure that it is on properly. A few driving trips with the
cap properly installed should turn the display off.
CRUISE ENGAGED
This message is displayed when the cruise control
system is active. SeeCruise Control on page 3-10for
more information.
DOOR AJAR
This message is displayed if one or more of the
vehicle’s doors are not closed properly. When this
message appears, you should make sure that the door
is closed completely.
ENGINE DISABLED
This message is displayed if the starting of the engine is
disabled. Have your vehicle serviced by your GM dealer
immediately.
ENG (Engine) PWR (Power) REDUCED
This message informs you that the vehicle has reduced
engine power to avoid damaging the engine.
ICE POSSIBLE
This message appears when the outside air temperature
is cold enough to create icy road conditions.
KEY FOB BATT (Battery) LOW
This message is displayed if the remote keyless entry
transmitter battery is low. See “Battery Replacement”
underRemote Keyless Entry System Operation on
page 2-4.
LOW COOLANT
If your vehicle has a 2.0L engine, this message is
displayed when there is a low level of engine coolant.
Have the cooling system serviced by your GM dealer as
soon as possible.
3-38

A. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See “Adding
Washer Fluid” underWindshield Washer Fluid
on page 5-35.
B. Engine Oil Dipstick. See “Checking Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-15.
C. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See “When to Add Engine Oil”
underEngine Oil on page 5-15.
D. Intercooler System Pressure Cap. SeeEngine
Coolant on page 5-23.
E. Brake Master Cylinder Reservoir. See “Brake Fluid”
underBrakes on page 5-36andHydraulic Clutch
on page 5-23.
F. Engine Compartment Fuse Block. SeeEngine
Compartment Fuse Block on page 5-94.
G. Remote Positive (+) Terminal. SeeJump Starting on
page 5-40.
H. Remote Negative (−) Terminal. SeeJump Starting
on page 5-40.
I. Engine Coolant Surge Tank. SeeCooling System on
page 5-31.
J. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter. SeeEngine Air
Cleaner/Filter on page 5-21.Engine Oil
Checking Engine Oil
It is a good idea to check your engine oil every time you
get fuel. 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 5-12for
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 you do not do this,
the oil dipstick might not show the actual level.
2. Pull out 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.
5-15

{CAUTION:
Turning the surge tank pressure cap when the
engine and radiator are hot can allow steam
and scalding liquids to blow out and burn you
badly. Never turn the surge tank pressure
cap — even a little — when the engine and
radiator are hot.
The vehicle must be on a level surface. When your
engine is cold, the coolant level should be at the COLD
FILL line.
Adding Coolant
If you need more coolant, add the proper DEX-COOL®
coolant mixture at the coolant surge tank, but only
when the engine is cool. If the coolant surge tank is
empty, a special ll procedure is necessary. SeeEngine
Overheating on page 5-29for instructions on “How to
Add Coolant to the Coolant Surge Tank.”
{CAUTION:
You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot
engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol,
and it will burn if the engine parts are hot
enough. Do not spill coolant on a hot engine.
When replacing the pressure cap, make sure it is
hand-tight and fully seated.
5-25

Checking Intercooler System Coolant
(2.0L L4 Supercharged Engine Only)
The intercooler system ll neck is located in the front of
the engine compartment, near the center of the
vehicle. SeeEngine Compartment Overview on
page 5-12for more information on location.
{CAUTION:
Turning the ll neck pressure cap when the
engine and intercooler are hot can allow steam
and scalding liquids to blow out and burn you
badly. Never turn the ll neck pressure
cap — even a little — when the engine and
intercooler are hot.
Park your vehicle on a level surface and turn off the
engine. When the engine is cold, the coolant level
should be visible within the horizontal tube section of
the ll neck. When the engine is warm, the coolant level
could be as high as the FULL HOT line on the ll
neck, or a little higher.
5-26

{CAUTION:
You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot
engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol,
and it will burn if the engine parts are hot
enough. Do not spill coolant on a hot engine.
1. You can remove the ll neck pressure cap when
the intercooler system, including the upper
intercooler hose, is no longer hot. Turn the pressure
cap slowly counterclockwise about one-quarter of
a turn. If you hear a hiss, wait for that to stop. This
will allow any remaining pressure to be vented.
2. Then keep turning the pressure cap slowly, and
remove it.3. Add the proper DEX-COOL
®coolant mixture to the
ll neck, until there is coolant visible in the horizontal
tube section of the ll neck.
4. With the ll neck pressure cap off, start the engine
and let it run for at least 30 seconds. Watch out for
the engine cooling fan. Turn the engine off. By
this time, the coolant level inside the ll neck may
be lower. If the level drops so that coolant is
no longer visible in the horizontal tube section of
the ll neck, add more of the DEX-COOL
®coolant
mixture to the ll neck until the level is again
visible in the horizontal tube section.
5. Replace the intercooler system pressure cap. Be
sure the pressure cap is hand-tight and fully
seated.
If the coolant is not at the proper level when the
system cools down again, see your dealer.
5-28

If the coolant inside the coolant surge tank is boiling, do
not do anything else until it cools down. The vehicle
should be parked on a level surface.
The coolant level should be at the COLD FILL line. If it
is not, you may have a leak at the pressure cap or
in the radiator hoses, heater hoses, radiator, water
pump, or somewhere in the cooling system.
{CAUTION:
Heater and radiator hoses, and other engine
parts, can be very hot. Do not touch them. If
you do, you can be burned.
Do not run the engine if there is a leak. If you
run the engine, it could lose all coolant. That
could cause an engine re, and you could be
burned. Get any leak xed before you drive the
vehicle.If your vehicle is equipped with the 2.2L L4 engine and
there seems to be no leak, with the engine on, check
to see if the electric engine cooling fan is running. If the
engine is overheating, the fan should be running. If it
is not, your vehicle needs service.
If your vehicle is equipped with the 2.0L L4 Supercharged
engine and there seems to be no leak, with the engine
on, check to see if the electric engine cooling fans are
running. If the engine is overheating, the fans should be
running. If they are not, your vehicle needs service.
Notice:Engine damage from running your engine
without coolant is not covered by your warranty.
Notice:Using coolant other than DEX-COOL
®may
cause premature engine, heater core or radiator
corrosion. In addition, the engine coolant may
require changing sooner, at 30,000 miles (50 000 km)
or 24 months, whichever occurs rst. Any repairs
would not be covered by your warranty. Always use
DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free) coolant in your vehicle.
5-32

How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Surge Tank
Notice:This vehicle has a specic coolant ll
procedure. Failure to follow this procedure could
cause your engine to overheat and be severely
damaged.
If you have not found a problem yet, check to see if
coolant is visible in the coolant surge tank. If coolant is
visible but the coolant level is not at the COLD FILL
line, add a 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL
®coolant at the coolant surge tank, but
be sure the cooling system, including the coolant surge
tank pressure cap, is cool before you do it. See
Engine Coolant on page 5-23for more information.
2.2L L4 Engine
If no coolant is visible in the coolant surge tank, add
coolant as follows:
{CAUTION:
Steam and scalding liquids from a hot cooling
system can blow out and burn you badly. They
are under pressure, and if you turn the coolant
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
surge tank pressure cap — even a little — they
can come out at high speed. Never turn the
cap when the cooling system, including the
coolant surge tank pressure cap, is hot. Wait
for the cooling system and coolant surge tank
pressure cap to cool if you ever have to turn
the pressure cap.
{CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your cooling
system can be dangerous. Plain water, or
some other liquid such as alcohol, can boil
before the proper coolant mixture will. Your
vehicle’s coolant warning system is set for the
proper coolant mixture. With plain water or the
wrong mixture, your engine could get too hot
but you would not get the overheat warning.
Your engine could catch re and you or others
could be burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
®coolant.
5-33

3. Fill the coolant surge tank with the proper mixture,
to the COLD FILL line on the tank. Wait about
ve minutes, then check to see if the level is below
the COLD FILL line. If the level is below the line,
add additional coolant to bring the level up to
the line. Repeat this procedure until the level
remains constant at the COLD FILL line for at least
ve minutes.
4. With the coolant surge tank pressure cap off, start
the engine and let it run until you can feel the upper
radiator hose getting hot. Watch out for the
engine cooling fan.By this time, the coolant level inside the coolant
surge tank may be lower. If the level is lower than
the COLD FILL line, add more of the proper mixture
to the coolant surge tank until the level reaches
the COLD FILL line.
5. Then replace the pressure cap. Be sure the
pressure cap is hand-tight and fully seated.
See your dealer, if necessary.
2.0L L4 Supercharged Engine
If no coolant is visible in the coolant surge tank, you will
need to either see your dealer or refer to the Dealer
Service Manual for a special coolant service ll
procedure to ensure enough coolant is added. To
purchase a service manual, seeService Publications
Ordering Information on page 7-11.
Windshield Washer Fluid
What to Use
When you need windshield washer uid, be sure to read
the manufacturer’s instructions before use. If you will
be operating your vehicle in an area where the
temperature may fall below freezing, use a uid that has
sufficient protection against freezing.
5-35

Adding Washer Fluid
Open the cap with the
washer symbol on it. Add
washer uid until the
tank is full. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview on
page 5-12for reservoir
location.
Notice:
When using concentrated washer uid, follow
the manufacturer’s instructions for adding
water.
Do not mix water with ready-to-use washer uid.
Water can cause the solution to freeze and
damage your washer uid tank and other parts
of the washer system. Also, water does not
clean as well as washer uid.
Fill your washer uid tank only three-quarters
full when it is very cold. This allows for
expansion if freezing occurs, which could
damage the tank if it is completely full.
Do not use engine coolant (antifreeze) in your
windshield washer. It can damage your washer
system and paint.
Brakes
Brake Fluid
Your brake master cylinder
and, on manual transaxle
vehicles, the hydraulic
clutch use the same
reservoir. The reservoir is
lled with DOT-3 brake
uid. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview on
page 5-12for the location
of the reservoir.
There are only two reasons why the brake uid level in
the reservoir might go down. The rst is that the
brake uid goes down to an acceptable level during
normal brake lining wear. When new linings are put in,
the uid level goes back up. The other reason is
that uid is leaking out of the brake and/or clutch
hydraulic system. If it is, you should have your brake
and/or clutch system xed, since a leak means that
sooner or later your brakes and/or clutch will not work
well, or will not work at all.
5-36