Driving it back 3 hours and after a testdrive of a similiar Cobalt I have a few questions.

Do foglights come on no matter what setting your normal lights are on?

I noticed 4 settins on normal lights, on, parking lights, something i didnt recognize, and off... Whats the setting before off?

Are the daytime running lights the normal headlights?

There is a small panel under the dash where the trunk release button is, some say this is for CDs, some say for change, what is it for?

What is the difference between the I button and the "strange arrow" button, think they have something to do with the driver info center?

And the big questoin! 3 hours on a highway in a new car is a big deal. Is there some type of engine break in period I need to know about before I read the manual at home on saturday night?

 

Light work automatically, you don't need to use the switch. You have to turn the foglights on manually with the button to the left of the steering wheel on the dash. Turning on the foglights during the day turns off the drl's

I don't think you can fit a CD into the little compartement next to the steering wheel. I use mine to put my cell phone and small digital camera in when I'm going somewhere. THere is a change holder in the center console area by the parking brake.

The "I" button is used for scrolling through the different info in teh DIC. Thet arrow button resets things like your two trip odometers. THe manual covers this thouroughly. It would be a good Idead to read up on it after you get your car as there are some programmable options.

The manual recommends a 500mi break in period. During this period you should have no full throttle runs through the gears. And you should vary your speed frequently. What this means is don't get on the highway and set your cruise at 70mph for any period of time.

 

If you hit the fog light button they come on no matter what, unlike past vehicles I have had where the fogs lights didn't come on unless the headlights were on.

The settings are:
1) Headlights on (top position)
2) Parking lights one
3) Auto- lights come on when it's dark and go off when it's light
4) The forth position lets you toggle the auto lights. It's like the mist function, push it down to turn the auto lights off and again to turn it back on. The DIC tells you if you just turned it on or off.

Far as I can tell their are no head lamp based DRL, the parking lights are on at all times if you are in auto light mode. So I guess the DRL are the parking lights now.

No idea, I figure it's just a place to store stuff. I dunno if it has a specific purpose.

The arrow is the reset button, lets you reset the trip odometers, avg speed and avg mpg.

Break in is 500 miles on the SS/SC. They want you to vary the engine speed (rpms). I had a 350 mile drive home in my SS/SC and I just shifted between 3rd/4th/5th a lot at hiway speeds and of course stayed clear of the cruise controll.

 

actually, its the turn signals that r the DRL's... when u hit the fog light switch, it turns the DRL's off, and turns on the normal parking lights with the fogs...

 

Thanks for the replies so far. Might add I am buying a manual so there may not be a change holder? confirm/deny (i know the armrest isnt included, might add it later)

edit - are the parking/turn lights the same bulb or not?

 

yeah, typical dual element bulb

 

My cobalt is a manual and it has a change thingy in the center. I don't call it a holder cause the way I drive nothing stays in that center change tray.

 

I know what you're talking about. No way in h*** change is going to stay in those little holders when I get my SS. By the way, I like the idea the one guy had to put a small digital camera and their cellphone in the storage compartment to the left.

 

DRL's have been mandatory in Canada since '89 or '90. At first they were using high beams at 6 volts instead of 12 volts. I think some still do this. DRL's on the Cobalt can be deactivated in the USA, but not in Canada.

EDIT:
Any car made on or after Dec. 1, 1989 to be sold in Canada, must have DRL's.
Most have switched away from high beam low voltage DRL's because of glare complaints.

 

I don't know the specifics, but I think parking lights can be considered DRLs in Canada. I see a lot of Chrysler products driving around with just the parking lights on, which I guess is how Chrysler implemented DRL here. I think the earlier post stated you could deactivate the DRLs, and it switched to fog lights + parking lights, which I'd assume is legal, if Chrysler can do it with just the parking lights.

 

Are you sure becuase in my 02' cavalier and my 02' grand am I cannot disconnect the DRL's and GM agrees with em that I cant without messing things up.

 

Where was your Salesperson on Delivery? Seems like someone didn't do their jobs, but for what it's worth - do NOT drive off the lot if you have questions. When someone say, "I'll look in the Owners Manual", I know I didn't do my job.

NEW CAR BREAK-IN ADVICE:

Okay, many people ask me, what's the break-in period. I have seen some comments here in this thread at 500 miles, but here's the truth and the best advice for the Cobalt break -in and it's what I do, and most Mechanics do the same.

Buy a Product at the GM Dealerships Parts counter called "EOS Assembly Lubricant". You can get it anywhere and I strongly advise everyone put this stuff in your new cars engine.

EOS Assembly Lubricant is specifically made for protection during BREAK-IN periods on new cars, and also cars that have had new engines put in. This stuff helps prevent Piston Scuffing, keeps things healthy.

Specifically formulated as an engine assembly lubricant. E.O.S. provides outstanding protection against run-in wear and piston scuffing, as well as run-in camshaft lobe and lifter scuffing resulting from insufficient lubrication.

Available at your GM Goodwrench Service Counter
Size:16 oz. Item #:1052367 Price: About $5.50

AC Delco also carries the EOS Assembly Lubricant

 

cobaltchris, is that just added to the engine oil?

 

Interesting that when I manually switch on my full lights, the instrumentaion lights don't come on. Seems the light sensor on the upper dash has complete control over them.

 

Great advice but could you be more specific... Add it to oil... Wont that cause the engine to have too much oil? Just one quart? One ounce? One ounce twice a week...LOL Feel free to give us the instructions on using it

EDIT

Sorry common sense.. yes you add it to your oil... my only concern would be over filling... I looked around and most places do indeed say it helps on break in

 

It tells me in my manual how to do it (it's in my car now though). It is done through the light control arm, if I remember correctly. You are turning them off though, not actually disconnecting them.

 

Your talking about the Cobalt SS rigth not an 02' cavy?

 

Just getting back from Lunch and saw there was some stuff I left out... (A hot dog from the corner store and a McDonalds Hot Carmel Sundae)!.. breaking out the breath mints now!

EOS Assembly Lubricant (sold at GM Goodwrench or AC Delco parts stores):

The product is sold by the Quart. One quart will do. Put it in where you put the Oil, and one quart, the entire quart is all you need. It's a ONE TIME DEAL. And it's strongly suggested and I think it's some good heads up advice actually.

Nothing will happen to t he car if you do not put it in the Oil when the car is new, but it's been designed specifically for Run In Wear ... in other words: Break in.

If you have under 10,000 miles on the car, you can still put it in, but I would do it right away.

 

I'm talking about my Cobalt base coupe.

 

Hey but if the Brand New car is full with Oil already which I would hope it is wouldnt that cause you to overfill it?

 

Chris if one qt. is put in a new (0 mile) engine, and you only need to use this one time, how many miles should be put on the engine before the FIRST oil change?

 

That's really easy to answer if you have a 2004 or 2005 or get a 2006 GM vehicle:

Just Wait until the Oil Light Come's on!!! The Oil Life Monitor will let you know, when to change your oil. For me, that was 5,645 miles when the light came on in my 2005 Malbu.

 

cobaltchris- I bought the car over the phone and will be picking it up tomorrow! I am excited so all these little things are bugging me. Thanks for your replies.