light CHEVROLET COBALT 2007 1.G Manual Online

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

Brakes
Brake Fluid
The brake master
cylinder and, on manual
transmission vehicles,
the clutch hydraulic
system use the same
reservoir. The reservoir
is lled with DOT-3
brake uid.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 290
for 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
the brake and/or clutch system xed, since a leak
means that sooner or later the brakes and/or clutch
will not work well.So, it is not a good idea to top off the brake/clutch
uid. Adding uid will not correct a leak. If you
add uid when the brake linings are worn, you
will have too much uid when you get new brake
linings. You should add or remove uid, as
necessary, only when work is done on the
brake/clutch hydraulic system.
{CAUTION:
If your vehicle has too much brake uid, it
can spill on the engine. The uid will burn
if the engine is hot enough. You or others
could be burned, and your vehicle could
be damaged. Add brake uid only when
work is done on the brake and/or clutch
hydraulic system.
When the brake uid falls to a low level, the brake
warning light will come on. SeeBrake System
Warning Light on page 171.
318

Brake Wear
Your vehicle has front disc brakes and could have
rear drum brakes or rear disc brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that
make a high-pitched warning sound when the
brake pads are worn and new pads are needed.
The sound can come and go or be heard all
the time your vehicle is moving, except when
you are pushing on the brake pedal rmly.
{CAUTION:
The brake wear warning sound means that
soon the brakes will not work well. That
could lead to an accident. When you hear
the brake wear warning sound, have your
vehicle serviced.
Notice:Continuing to drive with worn-out
brake pads could result in costly brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climates can cause
a brake squeal when the brakes are rst applied or
lightly applied. This does not mean something is
wrong with the brakes.Properly torqued wheel nuts are necessary to help
prevent brake pulsation. When tires are rotated,
inspect brake pads for wear and evenly tighten
wheel nuts in the proper sequence to torque
specications inCapacities and Specications
on page 390.
If your vehicle has rear drum brakes, they do
not have wear indicators, but if you ever hear a
rear brake rubbing noise, have the rear brake
linings inspected immediately. Also, the rear brake
drums should be removed and inspected each
time the tires are removed for rotation or changing.
When you have the front brake pads replaced,
have the rear brakes inspected, too.
Brake linings should always be replaced as
complete axle sets.
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer/retailer if the brake pedal does
not return to normal height, or if there is a rapid
increase in pedal travel. This could be a sign that
brake service might be required.
320

Trying to start your vehicle by pushing or
pulling it will not work, and it could damage
your vehicle.
1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a
12-volt battery with a negative ground system.
Notice:If the other vehicle’s system is not
a 12-volt system with a negative ground, both
vehicles can be damaged. Only use vehicles
with 12-volt systems with negative grounds to
jump start your vehicle.
2. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper
cables can reach, but be sure the vehicles are
not touching each other. If they are, it could
cause a ground connection you do not want.
You would not be able to start your vehicle, and
the bad grounding could damage the electrical
systems.
To avoid the possibility of the vehicles rolling,
set the parking brake rmly on both vehicles
involved in the jump start procedure. Put
an automatic transaxle in PARK (P) or
a manual transaxle in NEUTRAL before
setting the parking brake.Notice:If you leave your radio or other
accessories on during the jump starting
procedure, they could be damaged. The repairs
would not be covered by your warranty. Always
turn off your radio and other accessories when
jump starting your vehicle.
3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Unplug
unnecessary accessories plugged into the
cigarette lighter or the accessory power outlet.
Turn off the radio and all lamps that are not
needed. This will avoid sparks and help save
both batteries. And it could save the radio!
4. Open the hood on the other vehicle and
locate the positive (+) and negative (−)
terminal locations on that vehicle.
You will not see the battery of your vehicle
under the hood. It is located in the trunk.
You will not need to access your battery for
jump starting. Your vehicle has a remote
positive (+) and a remote negative (−) jump
starting terminal.
323

{CAUTION:
Using a match near a battery can cause
battery gas to explode. People have been
hurt doing this, and some have been
blinded. Use a ashlight if you need
more light.
Be sure the battery has enough water.
You do not need to add water to the battery
installed in your new vehicle. But if a
battery has ller caps, be sure the right
amount of uid is there. If it is low, add
water to take care of that rst. If you don’t,
explosive gas could be present.
Battery uid contains acid that can
burn you. Do not get it on you. If you
accidentally get it in your eyes or on your
skin, ush the place with water and get
medical help immediately.
{CAUTION:
Fans or other moving engine parts can
injure you badly. Keep your hands away
from moving parts once the engine is
running.
5. Check that the jumper cables do not have
loose or missing insulation. If they do, you
could get a shock. The vehicles could
be damaged too.
Before you connect the cables, here are some
basic things you should know. Positive (+) will
go to positive (+) or to a remote positive (+)
terminal if the vehicle has one. Negative (−) will
go to a heavy, unpainted metal engine part or
to a remote negative (−) terminal if the vehicle
has one.
Do not connect positive (+) to negative (−)or
you will get a short that would damage the
battery and maybe other parts too. And do
not connect the negative (−) cable to the
negative (−) terminal on the dead battery
because this can cause sparks.
325

Headlamp Aiming
The optical headlamp aiming system has been
preset at the factory and should need no further
adjustment
However, If the vehicle is damaged in an accident,
the headlamp aim may be affected and adjustment
may be necessary.
If oncoming vehicles ash their high beams at
you, this may also mean the vertical aim needs to
be adjusted.
It is recommended that the vehicle is taken to
your dealer/retailer for service if the headlamps
need to be re-aimed. It is possible however,
to re-aim the headlamps as described.The vehicle should be properly prepared as
follows:The vehicle should be placed so the
headlamps are 25 ft. (7.6 m) from a light
colored wall.
The vehicle must have all four tires on a
perfectly level surface which is level all
the way to the wall.
The vehicle should be placed so it is
perpendicular to the wall.
The vehicle should not have any snow, ice,
or mud on it.
The vehicle should be fully assembled and
all other work stopped while headlamp
aiming is being done.
The vehicle should be normally loaded
with a full tank of fuel and one person or
160 lbs (75 kg) on the driver’s seat.
Tires should be properly inated.
Headlamp aiming is done with the vehicle’s
low-beam headlamps. The high-beam headlamps
will be correctly aimed if the low-beam headlamps
are aimed properly.
328

To adjust the vertical aim on the headlamps:
1. Open the hood. SeeHood Release on
page 289for more information.
2. Locate the aim dot on the lens of the
low-beam headlamp.
3. Record the distance from the ground to the
aim dot on the low-beam headlamp.4. At a wall, measure from the ground upward (A)
to the recorded distance from Step 3 and
mark it.
5. Draw or tape a horizontal line (B) on the wall
the width of the vehicle at the height of the
mark in Step 4.
Notice:Do not cover a headlamp to improve
beam cut-off when aiming. Covering a
headlamp may cause excessive heat build-up
which may cause damage to the headlamp.
6. Turn on the low-beam headlamps and place a
piece of cardboard or equivalent in front of the
headlamp not being adjusted. Do not place
it directly on the headlamp. This allows
only the beam of light from the headlamp
being adjusted to be seen on the at surface.
329

7. Locate the vertical headlamp aiming screws,
which are under the hood near each headlamp
assembly.
The adjustment screw can be turned with
a 6 mm socket wrench.8. Turn the vertical aiming screw until the
headlamp beam is aimed to the horizontal tape
line. Turn it clockwise or counterclockwise to
raise or lower the angle of the beam.
9. Make sure that the light from the headlamp is
positioned at the bottom edge of the horizontal
tape line. The lamp on the left (A) shows
the correct headlamp aim. The lamp on the
right (B) shows the incorrect headlamp aim.
10. Repeat Steps 7 through 9 for the opposite
headlamp.
330

Intended Outboard Sidewall:The side of an
asymmetrical tire, that must always face outward
when mounted on a vehicle.
Kilopascal (kPa):The metric unit for air pressure.
Light Truck (LT-Metric) Tire:A tire used on
light duty trucks and some multipurpose passenger
vehicles.
Load Index:An assigned number ranging
from 1 to 279 that corresponds to the load carrying
capacity of a tire.
Maximum Ination Pressure:The maximum air
pressure to which a cold tire may be inated.
The maximum air pressure is molded onto
the sidewall.
Maximum Load Rating:The load rating for a
tire at the maximum permissible ination pressure
for that tire.
Maximum Loaded Vehicle Weight:The sum of
curb weight, accessory weight, vehicle capacity
weight, and production options weight.
Normal Occupant Weight:The number of
occupants a vehicle is designed to seat multiplied
by 150 lbs (68 kg). SeeLoading Your Vehicle
on page 259.Occupant Distribution:Designated seating
positions.
Outward Facing Sidewall:The side of an
asymmetrical tire that has a particular side that
faces outward when mounted on a vehicle.
The side of the tire that contains a whitewall,
bears white lettering, or bears manufacturer,
brand, and/or model name molding that is
higher or deeper than the same moldings
on the other sidewall of the tire.
Passenger (P-Metric) Tire:A tire used on
passenger cars and some light duty trucks and
multipurpose vehicles.
Recommended Ination Pressure:Vehicle
manufacturer’s recommended tire ination
pressure as shown on the tire placard.
SeeInation - Tire Pressure on page 347
andLoading Your Vehicle on page 259.
Radial Ply Tire:A pneumatic tire in which the
ply cords that extend to the beads are laid at
90 degrees to the centerline of the tread.
Rim:A metal support for a tire and upon which
the tire beads are seated.
345

Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where applicable on
the tire sidewall between tread shoulder and
maximum section width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
The following information relates to the system
developed by the United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which
grades tires by treadwear, traction, and
temperature performance. This applies only to
vehicles sold in the United States. The grades are
molded on the sidewalls of most passenger car
tires. The Uniform Tire Quality Grading (UTQG)
system does not apply to deep tread, winter-type
snow tires, space-saver, or temporary use spare
tires, tires with nominal rim diameters of
10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm), or to some
limited-production tires.
While the tires available on General Motors
passenger cars and light trucks may vary with
respect to these grades, they must also conform
to federal safety requirements and additional
General Motors Tire Performance Criteria (TPC)
standards.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based
on the wear rate of the tire when tested under
controlled conditions on a specied government
test course. For example, a tire graded 150 would
wear one and a half (1.5) times as well on the
government course as a tire graded 100. The
relative performance of tires depends upon the
actual conditions of their use, however, and may
depart signicantly from the norm due to variations
in driving habits, service practices, and differences
in road characteristics and climate.
Traction – AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest,
are AA, A, B, and C. Those grades represent
the tire’s ability to stop on wet pavement as
measured under controlled conditions on specied
government test surfaces of asphalt and concrete.
A tire marked C may have poor traction
performance.
Warning:The traction grade assigned to this
tire is based on straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include acceleration, cornering,
hydroplaning, or peak traction characteristics.
354