General Cobalt General Cobalt, Pursuit, and Ion talk. Post specific discussions in the forums below

Where to begin...

Old Jul 17, 2005 | 03:59 AM
  #1  
3fo893013L's Avatar
Thread Starter
Banned
 
Joined: 03-30-05
Posts: 6,980
Likes: 0
Where to begin...*Details on A/C Paperwork included*

I've had this car since the end of March. It's now mid July and I've already racked 12k miles on it, I bought it for fun and to show what I get with the hard earned money I make.

I've waited 3 years to buy a new car because this car was coming out and I wanted it since I remember hearing about it. Now, I've got a different tune about the vehicle.

Since I've had this car I've had nothing but issues with it. ...

1. Day 1 when I got the car the Catalyst Converter needed to be replaced because of an exhaust leak.

2. Taken the car to the dealership for an oil change and they stractched the **** out of it and didn't have it for almost half a week till they fixed it. (had to get real pissy for them to fix a problem they caused)

3. Drive shaft snapped (just like someones on here did) and had to be replaced at 5k miles on the drivers side (see a pattern?)

4. Just as of this weekend two more things are now wrong with the car, it pisses water out of the vents when the air conditioning is at full blast for less than 5 minutes going all over the dash and radio and I experienced wheel hop tonight taking off from a light after dropping my girlfriend off because it was slick/raining outside and the damn sunroof casing around the button popped off and landed in my lap, now the button is loose and the casing won't go back on (back to the dealership I go again, wee!)

5. One of the coolant hoses was not on properly from the factory and became loose pissing coolant all down I-75 the one day. Didn't know till my CEL and temp dummy gauge came on.

I'm sure more is to come . Suggestions are welcome.
Reply
Old Jul 17, 2005 | 04:12 AM
  #2  
DC52NV's Avatar
Senior Member
Platinum Member
 
Joined: 06-24-05
Posts: 14,265
Likes: 1
From: California
damn man, that just sucks bad. your new car experience shouldn't be like this. maybe you just got a freakishly bad car. just get rid of it and get another car. i've had my car for a year and 7 months (22,000 miles) and never once have i had a problem with it. good luck with whatever you decide to do.
Reply
Old Jul 17, 2005 | 04:28 AM
  #3  
CobaltSS132's Avatar
Junior Member
 
Joined: 05-06-05
Posts: 477
Likes: 0
From: california - LA
Hum ive had my car for 2 months now and i have had no problems with it, im lucky i guess, your car might be a lemon i mean it is the first year for the car and problems are bound to happen, you were unlucky i guess
Reply
Old Jul 17, 2005 | 08:30 AM
  #4  
mken's Avatar
Premium Member
 
Joined: 02-23-05
Posts: 863
Likes: 0
From: Florida
You said you got your car at the end of March, I got mine the first week of April and I too have had a long list of problems. I wonder if our cars went down the assembly line the same week after a foreman pissed off a bunch of employees.
Reply
Old Jul 17, 2005 | 09:32 AM
  #5  
alleycat58's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: 06-08-05
Posts: 18,529
Likes: 1
From: Pittsburgh
Originally Posted by mken
You said you got your car at the end of March, I got mine the first week of April and I too have had a long list of problems. I wonder if our cars went down the assembly line the same week after a foreman pissed off a bunch of employees.
WOW guys, that sucks. Wonder if it's just a matter of refining the manufacturing process. I have 1500 on my car now, it was built in May and haven't had nearly as many problems as other people have. I have some e-brake issues and problems with the automatic light sensor but that's about it.
Reply
Old Jul 17, 2005 | 09:35 AM
  #6  
fifasf's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: 04-14-05
Posts: 353
Likes: 0
From: nj
The onlyproblem I have had was the seal around the moonroof, which I might add has been a common problem the dealership when I clled them knew what it was right away. That was a small problem no big deal. My xm was not programmed right and they had to replace a piece when I first got the car. Knock on wood, that has been the only problems I have had. It sucks bro it just sounds like you got a bad one out of a bunch. That is why there are warranties.
Reply
Old Jul 17, 2005 | 11:09 AM
  #7  
3fo893013L's Avatar
Thread Starter
Banned
 
Joined: 03-30-05
Posts: 6,980
Likes: 0
Upon further look up, my car was built in November of 04. I love the car, hate the problems it keeps having.
Reply
Old Jul 17, 2005 | 11:23 AM
  #8  
2K2CamaroSS's Avatar
New Member
 
Joined: 06-21-05
Posts: 192
Likes: 0
From: CO
How do you tell when your car was built? I got a brith certificate for my camaro that gave me all the details but I'm clue less on my Cobalt?
Reply
Old Jul 17, 2005 | 12:51 PM
  #9  
alleycat58's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: 06-08-05
Posts: 18,529
Likes: 1
From: Pittsburgh
Originally Posted by 2K2CamaroSS
How do you tell when your car was built? I got a brith certificate for my camaro that gave me all the details but I'm clue less on my Cobalt?
Inside the driver's side door there should be a little sticker that says when it was made, it's just a month/year thing...for example mine is 05/05
Reply
Old Jul 17, 2005 | 03:09 PM
  #10  
Adirondack_Cobalt's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: 07-01-05
Posts: 1,847
Likes: 0
From: Northeastern New York
Weird. You guys remember the stories about Monday-Friday cars. Maybe you got stuck with one. My friend Flem's mom bought a 2001 Grand Am GT coupe. This thing had everything!!! But, unfortunately, it was a lemon. What was even funnier was that this other guy had a Grand Am GT with the VIN #'s one off of hers (you know the consecutive unit number) and he had his car up through 200,000 miles with no problems at all! Sometimes it happens. It's funny until it starts happening to you!

So far, my base coupe has clocked 2200 miles in 3 weeks and I have no bitch other than the damn hubcaps rattling. I hate hubcaps!!! Oh and the other bitch was that I finally had to let my 87 Z24 wheels go on the 98 Cavalier I traded in. That kinda sucked. I'd had those wheels for years!

Good luck!

Scott
Reply
Old Jul 17, 2005 | 08:20 PM
  #11  
ExHondaMan's Avatar
Domestics Pwn
 
Joined: 07-17-05
Posts: 1,409
Likes: 1
From: Phoenix AZ
Well Im sorry to hear about your problems... BUT
Although this wont make you feel any better ...
Your list of problems sounds like 1 visit for my last car..
02 SVT Focus ... Atleast you arent driving a ford..
Reply
Old Jul 17, 2005 | 08:58 PM
  #12  
NJBLUESS's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: 06-27-05
Posts: 592
Likes: 0
From: NEW JERSEY
Originally Posted by Adirondack_Cobalt
Weird. You guys remember the stories about Monday-Friday cars. Maybe you got stuck with one. My friend Flem's mom bought a 2001 Grand Am GT coupe. This thing had everything!!! But, unfortunately, it was a lemon. What was even funnier was that this other guy had a Grand Am GT with the VIN #'s one off of hers (you know the consecutive unit number) and he had his car up through 200,000 miles with no problems at all! Sometimes it happens. It's funny until it starts happening to you!

So far, my base coupe has clocked 2200 miles in 3 weeks and I have no bitch other than the damn hubcaps rattling. I hate hubcaps!!! Oh and the other bitch was that I finally had to let my 87 Z24 wheels go on the 98 Cavalier I traded in. That kinda sucked. I'd had those wheels for years!

Good luck!

Scott

Your dealership can apply felt pads on the inside of the hubcaps. There is a service bulletin for this with a part # for the pads.
Reply
Old Jul 18, 2005 | 12:20 AM
  #13  
3fo893013L's Avatar
Thread Starter
Banned
 
Joined: 03-30-05
Posts: 6,980
Likes: 0
Car goes into the dealership tomorrow at 7am. I will let you know what they come up with. Definitly leaving it with them for a few days to get some things done to it like a 12k checkup and various other things.

Any more problems and I think I am going to get sick

Hopefully they don't stick me with a Cobalt Sedan again like they did the last time. They gave me a base. It had green mesh seating in the cloth seats and NO options. Maybe they will let me borrow an equinox.
Reply
Old Jul 18, 2005 | 01:10 AM
  #14  
Adirondack_Cobalt's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: 07-01-05
Posts: 1,847
Likes: 0
From: Northeastern New York
lol... the last time I got a loaner from a dealership was when they were replacing the headgasket on my 96 Cavalier under warranty. It was a ratted out 92 Lumina Euro 3.1 sedan with the damn trunklid bungee-d down. Going down the Northway at 70mph, the engine quits... Just POOF!... I throw it to neutral and it refires, no problem. The brakes were shot, the transmission had the 4 seasons shifting pattern meaning the seasons went by quicker than this thing decided to shift. The odometer was stuck at 215,000 miles... this thing was a heap!

When I hit a deer a year and a half ago, my 98 Cavalier went in the shop and my insurance got me a 2003 Mazda Protege DX as a rental from Enterprise. Oh god... to say that this car had been ****-pounded was an understatement! At 23,000 miles, the tires were gone, the engine making ominous noises and the transmission was pretty much on its way out. The interior was a mess, there was 'stuff' stuck to the windshield and would not come off with Simple Green! It smelled like an ashtray and there were coffee stains everywhere. Even the steering wheel and gearshift were sticky!
I had called these people 3 weeks earlier to reserve a Cavalier and was assured there would be one. Instead, I got stuck with this piece of ****. The day that my car was finished, I headed out for their rental office in Plattsburgh NY (50 miles one way from the shop). Heading up to the Interstate, the transmission started to slip in OD. Not good. On I-87, i could go no faster than 70mph in OD. I'd shut the OD off and try driving it in 3rd and the damn engine was pulling like 5000 RPM... So as I get off the Interstate, I'm in midday traffic and 3rd gear says 'adios'! Not good! It's about a mile, mile and a half to their office off the exit. I was in sight of their place when 2nd gear said see ya. I got that piece of **** Mazda up to the parking lot with the gas to the floor as 1st gear said forget it. Believe it or not, Enterprise actually refunded my money because of this car and the fact that they did not have the car I had reserved.

Anyways, long story short... I hate loaners. I always get stuck with the beaters.

Scott
Reply
Old Jul 18, 2005 | 11:02 AM
  #15  
3fo893013L's Avatar
Thread Starter
Banned
 
Joined: 03-30-05
Posts: 6,980
Likes: 0
They were being stupid this morning when I gave them my car, they were like "You don't have an appointment for dropping your car off" and I was like you told me to bring it in whenever and this stuff just happened on Saturday .

They asked what the problems were and I said the sunroof and they were like yeah ok you don't need a rental for that, I mentioned the AC sucking really bad and pissing water out of the vents. They were like OK! we will give you a rental! I told them to change the oil too.

They better give me a rental. thinking to myself. Anyways, they did. I got a Cobalt Sedan again. It's like a light blue or something. No options again.
Reply
Old Jul 18, 2005 | 03:40 PM
  #16  
3fo893013L's Avatar
Thread Starter
Banned
 
Joined: 03-30-05
Posts: 6,980
Likes: 0
Dealer called me, they said the screen for the a/c unit has a bulletin that's not out yet from GM to the public (thanks for telling us ). It affects all Cobalts since they use the same screen. The screen has micro fiber holes that allow cold air rather then vapor to enter the cabin. In my situation, the screen has developed somewhat of a hole so it explains the vapor all over my interior. They figure it relates to the fact that the mechnical fan that pushes the air through the screen is too powerful and put the hole there since the screen is sensative.

Meantime, they have to take apart my dash to get to it. They will have to call there technical department and find out how to take it apart. They will have to hold my car overnight at the dealership.

The Sunroof issue they have to remove the whole liner on the roof of my interior to get to the button. They have to replace the assembly. Ugh, . I just want my car back.

Meantime, I get to drive the Cobalt Sedan rental they gave me. I call it "Sedanstein".
The 2.2L is much too powerful even for me , I think I will have to go back to my 2.0L SS/SC.
Reply
Old Jul 18, 2005 | 04:09 PM
  #17  
alleycat58's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: 06-08-05
Posts: 18,529
Likes: 1
From: Pittsburgh
Originally Posted by sneaky
Dealer called me, they said the screen for the a/c unit has a bulletin that's not out yet from GM to the public (thanks for telling us ). It affects all Cobalts since they use the same screen. The screen has micro fiber holes that allow cold air rather then vapor to enter the cabin. In my situation, the screen has developed somewhat of a hole so it explains the vapor all over my interior. They figure it relates to the fact that the mechnical fan that pushes the air through the screen is too powerful and put the hole there since the screen is sensative.
DAAAAMN, I have the same problem with mine. It's not TOO bad, tolerable at this point, but me thinks I'm going to wait a couple weeks to get it fixed till they know for sure what they're doing.
Reply
Old Jul 18, 2005 | 04:19 PM
  #18  
mafsu's Avatar
New Member
 
Joined: 05-01-05
Posts: 179
Likes: 0
From: Richmond VA
Taking mine (LS) in for the same problem. I was just waiting til an oil change was due. Do you have a number on the internal service bulletin?
Reply
Old Jul 18, 2005 | 04:27 PM
  #19  
3fo893013L's Avatar
Thread Starter
Banned
 
Joined: 03-30-05
Posts: 6,980
Likes: 0
I will try to obtain the bulletin on the problem. But, they didn't want to give me more information then what i've already gave you. Seems like it will be public information soon enough.

I thought it was a nice feature to have a cold shower while I drive. There was so much water on the dash from this problem I could lick it off like a dog.
Reply
Old Jul 18, 2005 | 07:46 PM
  #20  
mafsu's Avatar
New Member
 
Joined: 05-01-05
Posts: 179
Likes: 0
From: Richmond VA
Yeah mine too. I've been a little worried about it getting to the stereo. Don't worry about the bulletin # mines going in tomorrow or wednesday.
Reply
Old Jul 18, 2005 | 07:50 PM
  #21  
3fo893013L's Avatar
Thread Starter
Banned
 
Joined: 03-30-05
Posts: 6,980
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by mafsu
Yeah mine too. I've been a little worried about it getting to the stereo. Don't worry about the bulletin # mines going in tomorrow or wednesday.
Good luck and let me know how it goes. They have to tear my dash apart to fix the problem tomorrow and the sunroof button they have to put a new assembly in which means they have to take my headliner down too, they said that's another 1/2 day and then they still have to change my oil I'll get it by Wednesday or Thrusday. I better
Reply
Old Jul 18, 2005 | 07:58 PM
  #22  
phxSS's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: 06-20-05
Posts: 2,621
Likes: 0
From: Buckeye, Az
Hey Alleycat..my car was built on 5/05 also. Let me know what kinda probs you have. SDo far, mine is fine. A/C is cool and dry
Reply
Old Jul 19, 2005 | 04:58 PM
  #23  
xrecar's Avatar
New Member
 
Joined: 05-04-05
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: VA
There is a technical service bulletin on the cobalt for water leaking in the passenger floorboard related to the AC, I dont know if it applies to your problem specifically but the TSB# on that one is 050857002. You can look these up on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website at this url:
NHTSA TSB Search

Hope that helps,
/x
Reply
Old Jul 19, 2005 | 05:05 PM
  #24  
3fo893013L's Avatar
Thread Starter
Banned
 
Joined: 03-30-05
Posts: 6,980
Likes: 0
Good information but not extactly my issue.

mine deals with the vents for the top AND bottom. The water leaks outside the vents when on full blast for 10 minutes.
Reply
Old Jul 19, 2005 | 05:05 PM
  #25  
3fo893013L's Avatar
Thread Starter
Banned
 
Joined: 03-30-05
Posts: 6,980
Likes: 0
by the way, they have to hold on to my car for another day
Reply

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 11:30 AM.