CHEVROLET COBALT 2007 1.G Owners Manual

{CAUTION:
Operating the engine with the air
cleaner/lter off can cause you or others
to be burned. The air cleaner not only
cleans the air; it helps to stop ames
if the engine backres. If it is not there
and the engine backres, you could be
burned. Do not drive with it off, and be
careful working on the engine with the
air cleaner/lter off.
Notice:If the air cleaner/lter is off, a backre
can cause a damaging engine re. And, dirt
can easily get into your engine, which will
damage it. Always have the air cleaner/lter
in place when you are driving.
Automatic Transaxle Fluid
It is not necessary to check the transaxle uid
level. A transaxle uid leak is the only reason for
uid loss. If a leak occurs, take your vehicle to
the dealership service department and have
it repaired as soon as possible.
Change the uid and lter at the intervals listed
inAdditional Required Services on page 398,
and be sure to use the transaxle uid listed in
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 406.
Notice:Use of the incorrect automatic
transaxle uid may damage your vehicle,
and the damages may not be covered by
your warranty. Always use the automatic
transaxle uid listed inRecommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 406.
Manual Transaxle Fluid
It is not necessary to check the transaxle uid
level. A transaxle uid leak is the only reason for
uid loss. If a leak occurs, take the vehicle to the
dealer and have it repaired as soon as possible.
SeeRecommended Fluids and Lubricants on
page 406for the proper uid to use.
301

Hydraulic Clutch
The hydraulic clutch linkage in your vehicle is
self-adjusting. This system does not have its own
reservoir. It receives uid from the brake master
cylinder reservoir.
SeeBrakes on page 318for more information.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle is lled with
DEX-COOL®engine coolant. This coolant is
designed to remain in your vehicle for ve years or
150,000 miles (240 000 km), whichever occurs
rst, if you add only DEX-COOL
®extended
life coolant.
The following explains your cooling system and
how to add coolant when it is low. If you have
a problem with engine overheating, seeEngine
Overheating on page 309.A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL
®coolant will:
Give freezing protection down
to−34°F (−37°C).
Give boiling protection up to 265°F (129°C).
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
Let the warning lights and gages work as
they should.
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
the rst maintenance service after each
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.
302

What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half clean, drinkable water
and one-half DEX-COOL®coolant which will
not damage aluminum parts. If you use this coolant
mixture, you do not need to add anything else.
{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.Notice:If you use an improper coolant
mixture, your engine could overheat and be
badly damaged. The repair cost would not be
covered by your warranty. Too much water
in the mixture can freeze and crack the engine,
radiator, heater core, and other parts.
If you have to add coolant more than four times a
year, have your dealer check your cooling system.
Notice:If you use extra inhibitors and/or
additives in your vehicle’s cooling system,
you could damage your vehicle. Use only the
proper mixture of the engine coolant listed
in this manual for the cooling system.
SeeRecommended Fluids and Lubricants
on page 406for more information.
303

Checking Coolant
The coolant surge tank is located in the engine
compartment on the driver’s side of the vehicle.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 290
for more information on location.
{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.
304

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 309
for 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.
305

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 290for 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.
306

Adding Coolant to the Intercooler System
Fill Neck
If coolant is not visible in the ll neck, add a 50/50
mixture of clean, drinkable water and DEX-COOL®
coolant at the ll neck, but be sure that the
cooling system, including the ll neck pressure
cap, is cool before you do so.
{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 intercooler system pressure
cap — even a little — they can come out
at high speed. Never turn the cap when
the intercooler system, including the
intercooler system pressure cap, is hot.
Wait for the intercooler system and
intercooler system pressure cap to cool
if you ever have to turn the pressure cap.
{CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your
intercooler system can be dangerous.
Plain water, or some other liquid such as
alcohol, can boil before the proper coolant
mixture will. With plain water or the wrong
mixture, your engine could get too hot.
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.
Notice:In cold weather, water can freeze
and crack the engine, intercooler, and other
parts. Use the recommended coolant and
the proper coolant mixture.
307

{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.
308

Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap
Notice:If the pressure cap is not tightly
installed, coolant loss and possible engine
damage may occur. Be sure the cap is properly
and tightly secured.
The coolant surge tank pressure cap must be fully
installed on the coolant surge tank. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview on page 290for more
information on location.
Engine Overheating
You will nd an engine coolant temperature
warning light on your vehicle’s instrument panel.
SeeEngine Coolant Temperature Warning
Light on page 174for more information.
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
{CAUTION:
Steam from an overheated engine can
burn you badly, even if you just open the
hood. Stay away from the engine if you
see or hear steam coming from it. Just
turn it off and get everyone away from
the vehicle until it cools down. Wait until
there is no sign of steam or coolant
before you open the hood.
If you keep driving when your engine is
overheated, the liquids in it can catch re.
You or others could be badly burned.
Stop your engine if it overheats, and get
out of the vehicle until the engine is cool.
Notice:If your engine catches re because
you keep driving with no coolant, your vehicle
can be badly damaged. The costly repairs
would not be covered by your warranty.
309

If No Steam Is Coming From
Your Engine
An engine coolant temperature warning can
indicate a serious problem. SeeEngine Coolant
Temperature Warning Light on page 174.
If you get an engine coolant temperature warning,
but see or hear no steam, the problem may not
be too serious. Sometimes the engine can
get a little too hot when you:
Climb a long hill on a hot day.
Stop after high-speed driving.
Idle for long periods in traffic.
Tow a trailer.If you get the engine coolant temperature warning
with no sign of steam, try this for a minute or so:
1. If you have an air conditioner and it is on,
turn it off.
2. In heavy traffic, let the engine idle in
NEUTRAL (N) for automatic transaxle
or NEUTRAL for manual transaxle, while
stopped. If it is safe to do so, pull off the road,
shift to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) and let
the engine idle.
3. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest fan
speed and open the windows as necessary.
If you no longer have the overheat warning,
you can drive. Just to be safe, drive slower for
about 10 minutes. If the warning does not
come back on, you can drive normally.
310