steering CHEVROLET COBALT 2005 1.G Owners Manual

{CAUTION:
Anyone who is up against, or very close to,
any airbag when it inates can be seriously
injured or killed. Airbags plus lap-shoulder
belts offer the best protection for adults, but
not for young children and infants. Neither the
vehicle’s safety belt system nor its airbag
system is designed for them. Young children
and infants need the protection that a child
restraint system can provide. Always secure
children properly in your vehicle. To read how,
seeOlder Children on page 1-28orInfants and
Young Children on page 1-31.
There is an airbag
readiness light on the
instrument panel cluster,
which shows the airbag
symbol.
The system checks the airbag electrical system for
malfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electrical
problem. SeeAirbag Readiness Light on page 3-25
for more information.
Where Are the Airbags?
The driver’s airbag is in the middle of the steering
wheel.
1-50

If your vehicle has a side impact airbag for the right
front passenger and the person directly behind
that passenger, it is located in the ceiling above the side
windows.
{CAUTION:
If something is between an occupant and an
airbag, the bag might not inate properly or it
might force the object into that person causing
severe injury or even death. The path of an
inating airbag must be kept clear. Do not put
anything between an occupant and an airbag,
and do not attach or put anything on the
steering wheel hub or on or near any other
airbag covering. And, if your vehicle has
roof-mounted side impact airbags, never
secure anything to the roof of your vehicle by
routing the rope or tiedown through any door
or window opening. If you do, the path of an
inating side impact airbag will be blocked.
The path of an inating airbag must be kept
clear.
1-52

The threshold level can vary with specic vehicle design.
Side impact airbags are not intended to inate in frontal or
near-frontal impacts, rollovers or rear impacts. A side
impact airbag is intended to deploy on the side of the
vehicle that is struck.
In any particular crash, no one can say whether an
airbag should have inated simply because of the
damage to a vehicle or because of what the repair costs
were. For frontal airbags, ination is determined by
the angle of the impact and how quickly the vehicle
slows down in frontal or near-frontal impacts. For side
impact airbags, ination is determined by the location
and severity of the impact.
What Makes an Airbag Inate?
In an impact of sufficient severity, the airbag sensing
system detects that the vehicle is in a crash. For
both frontal and side impact airbags, the sensing system
triggers a release of gas from the inator, which
inates the airbag. The inator, airbag, and related
hardware are all part of the airbag modules inside the
steering wheel and in the instrument panel in front of the
right front passenger. For vehicles with side impact
airbags, the airbag modules are located in the ceiling of
the vehicle, near the side windows.
How Does an Airbag Restrain?
In moderate to severe frontal or near frontal collisions,
even belted occupants can contact the steering wheel or
the instrument panel. In moderate to severe side
collisions, even belted occupants can contact the inside
of the vehicle. The airbag supplements the protection
provided by safety belts. Airbags distribute the force of
the impact more evenly over the occupant’s upper
body, stopping the occupant more gradually. But the
frontal airbags would not help you in many types
of collisions, including rollovers, rear impacts, and many
side impacts, primarily because an occupant’s motion
is not toward the airbag. Side impact airbags would not
help you in many types of collisions, including many
frontal or near frontal collisions, rollovers, and rear
impacts, primarily because an occupant’s motion is not
toward those airbags. Airbags should never be
regarded as anything more than a supplement to safety
belts, and then only in moderate to severe frontal or
near-frontal collisions for the driver’s and right front
passenger’s frontal airbags, and only in moderate to
severe side collisions for side impact airbags.
1-54

What Will You See After an Airbag
Inates?
After an airbag inates, it quickly deates, so quickly
that some people may not even realize the airbag
inated. Some components of the airbag module — the
steering wheel hub for the driver’s airbag, the
instrument panel for the right front passenger’s bag or
the garnish trim and ceiling of your vehicle near the side
windows — will be hot for a short time. The parts of
the bag that come into contact with you may be warm,
but not too hot to touch. There will be some smoke
and dust coming from the vents in the deated airbags.
Airbag ination does not prevent the driver from
seeing or being able to steer the vehicle, nor does it
stop people from leaving the vehicle.
{CAUTION:
When an airbag inates, there is dust in the
air. This dust could cause breathing problems
for people with a history of asthma or other
breathing trouble. To avoid this, everyone in
the vehicle should get out as soon as it is safe
to do so. If you have breathing problems but
cannot get out of the vehicle after an airbag
inates, then get fresh air by opening a
window or a door. If you experience breathing
problems following an airbag deployment, you
should seek medical attention.
Your vehicle has a feature that will automatically unlock
the doors and turn the interior lamps on when the
airbags inate (if battery power is available). You can
lock the doors again and turn the interior lamps off
by using the door lock and interior lamp controls.
1-55

In many crashes severe enough to inate an airbag,
windshields are broken by vehicle deformation.
Additional windshield breakage may also occur from the
right front passenger airbag.
Airbags are designed to inate only once. After an
airbag inates, you will need some new parts for
your airbag system. If you do not get them,
the airbag system will not be there to help protect
you in another crash. A new system will include
airbag modules and possibly other parts. The
service manual for your vehicle covers the need to
replace other parts.
Your vehicle is equipped with a crash sensing and
diagnostic module which records information after
a crash. SeeVehicle Data Collection and Event
Data Recorders on page 7-9.
Let only qualied technicians work on your airbag
system. Improper service can mean that your
airbag system will not work properly. See your
dealer for service.
Notice:If you damage the covering for the driver’s
or the right front passenger’s airbag, or the side
impact airbag covering on the garnish trim and
ceiling near the side windows, the airbag may not
work properly. You may have to replace the
airbag module in the steering wheel, both the airbag
module and the instrument panel for the right
front passenger’s airbag, or side impact airbag
module, garnish trim and ceiling covering for
roof-mounted side impact airbags. Do not open or
break the airbag coverings.
1-56

Ignition Positions
With the key in the ignition switch, you can turn it to
four different positions.
Notice:Using a tool to force the key from the
ignition switch could cause damage or break the
key. Use the correct key and turn the key only with
your hand. Make sure the key is all the way in. If
it is, turn the steering wheel left and right while you
turn the key hard. If none of this works, then
your vehicle needs service.
9(LOCK):This position locks your steering column. It
is a theft-deterrent feature. You will only be able to
remove your key when the ignition is turned to LOCK.
If you have an automatic transaxle, the ignition
switch cannot be turned to LOCK unless the shift lever
is in PARK (P).
{CAUTION:
If you have a manual transaxle removing the key
from the ignition switch will lock the steering
column and result in a loss of ability to steer the
vehicle. This could cause a collision. If you need
to turn the engine off while the vehicle is
moving, turn the key to ACC.
ACC (ACCESSORY):This position operates some of
your electrical accessories. It unlocks the steering wheel
and ignition.
R(RUN):This is the position the switch returns to after
you start your engine and release the switch. The
switch stays in the RUN position when the engine is
running. But even when the ignition is not running, you
can use RUN to operate your electrical accessories
and to display some warning and indicator lights.
/(START):This position starts the engine. When the
engine starts, release the key. The ignition switch will
return to RUN for normal driving.
A warning tone will sound if you open the driver’s door
when the key has not been removed from the ignition.
2-17

Shift Lock Release
The following procedure allows the ignition to be turned
to LOCK and for ignition key removal in case of a
dead battery or low voltage battery.
1. Make sure the shift lever is in PARK (P).
2. Using a tool, pry off the cover from the bottom of
the steering column.3. Place your nger into the access hole and locate
the plunger.
4. Press and hold the plunger toward the driver’s door
while turning the ignition key to LOCK. Remove
the key.
Have your vehicle serviced at your GM dealer as soon
as possible.
2-18

OnStar®Personal Calling
As an OnStar®subscriber, the Personal Calling
capability is an available hands-free wireless phone that
is integrated into the vehicle. Calls can be placed
nationwide using simple voice commands with no
additional contracts and no additional roaming charges.
To nd out more about OnStar
®Personal Calling,
refer to the OnStar®user’s guide in the vehicle’s glove
box or visit www.onstar.com or www.onstarcanada.com;
or speak with an OnStar
®advisor by pressing the
OnStar®button or by calling 1-888-4-ONSTAR
(1-888-466-7827).
OnStar®Virtual Advisor
Virtual Advisor is a feature of OnStar®Personal Calling
that uses minutes to access up-to-date weather and
traffic reports for your area, news and sports updates,
stock quotes, entertainment and more. Customize
your information prole at www.myonstar.com. See the
OnStar
®user’s guide for more information.
Storage Areas
Glove Box
Open the glove box by lifting up on the lever. Close the
glove box with a rm push.
Cupholder(s)
There are two cupholders located at the front of the
center console, in front of the shift lever. There are also
cupholder for the rear seat passengers located at the
rear of the center console.
Center Console Storage Area
Your vehicle may have a center console armrest with
storage area. Use the lever on the front of the console to
open it.
Driver’s Storage Compartment
The driver’s storage compartment is located near the
left side of the steering column on the bottom of
the instrument panel. It can be used to store small items
and contains the remote trunk release switch. For
more information, see Remote Trunk Release under
Trunk on page 2-10.
2-35

Driver Information Center (DIC).......................3-35
DIC Operation and Displays...........................3-35
DIC Warnings and Messages.........................3-37
DIC Vehicle Personalization............................3-40
Audio System(s).............................................3-45
Setting the Time for Radios without
Radio Data Systems (RDS)........................3-45
Setting the Time for Radios with
Radio Data Systems (RDS)........................3-46
Radio with CD (Base Level)...........................3-46Radio with CD (Up Level)..............................3-51
Radio with CD (MP3)....................................3-60
Theft-Deterrent Feature..................................3-74
Audio Steering Wheel Controls.......................3-75
Radio Reception...........................................3-75
Care of Your CDs.........................................3-76
Care of the CD Player...................................3-76
Fixed Mast Antenna......................................3-76
XM™ Satellite Radio Antenna System.............3-76
Section 3 Instrument Panel
3-2

The main components of your instrument panel are the following:
A. Side Window Outlets. SeeClimate Control System
on page 3-17.
B. Air Outlets. SeeOutlet Adjustment on page 3-20.
C. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever. SeeTurn
Signal/Multifunction Lever on page 3-7.
D. Cruise Control Buttons (If Equipped). SeeCruise
Control on page 3-10.
E. Audio Steering Wheel Controls (If Equipped). See
Audio Steering Wheel Controls on page 3-75.
F. Instrument Panel Cluster. SeeInstrument Panel
Cluster on page 3-22.
G. Hazard Warning Flashers Switch. SeeHazard
Warning Flashers on page 3-6.
H. Windshield Wiper/Washer Controls. SeeWindshield
Wipers on page 3-9andWindshield Washer on
page 3-10.
I. Audio System. SeeAudio System(s) on page 3-45.
J. Fog Lamp Button (If Equipped). SeeFog Lamps
on page 3-15.K. Trunk Release. SeeTrunk on page 2-10.
L. Instrument Panel Brightness Control. SeeInstrument
Panel Brightness on page 3-15.
M. Horn. SeeHorn on page 3-6.
N. Driver Information Control Button. SeeDriver
Information Center (DIC) on page 3-35.
O. Cigarette Lighter (If Equipped). Accessory Power
Outlet (If Equipped). SeeAshtrays and Cigarette
Lighter on page 3-17andAccessory Power Outlets
on page 3-16.
P. Shift Lever (Manual Shown). SeeManual Transaxle
Operation on page 2-24andAutomatic Transaxle
Operation on page 2-22.
Q. Climate Controls. SeeClimate Control System on
page 3-17.
R. Heated Seats Button (If Equipped). SeeHeated
Seats on page 1-4.
S. Glove Box. SeeGlove Box on page 2-35.
3-5