You guys are pure geniuses. I just finished installing my dome light in a 2009 Chevy Cobalt SS. Very pleased. Here is the trick to installing the lens cover without too much hassle. Remove the 3 clear lens from the lens cover. This gives you access to the light assembly when installing the cover. Now use a pair of needle-nose pliers and hold the inner locking tab while pressing the lens cover. There are 4 locking tabs. It took me 30 minutes to figure out to do this. Once I remove the clear lens from the cover assembly, I had the cover in place in 30 seconds. Another minute to put the clear lens back in place.

Now I have to to the same for my daughter's 2008 Cobalt LT.

 

Good tip, wish I had known that when I did mine.

 

where'd u get that blue led light? looks good

 

how did you switch the bulbs from the map light

 

Use something that can grasp the bulbs and pull them out.

 

with what though lol.. dont feel like breaking the glass

 

Well when I did it I used pliers, but I cut out some tiny pieces of the double sided foam tape (the **** you use to hold badges on) and stuck them on the tips. Then I just grabbed the bulb, tightened the grip a bit to let the tape stick, then yanked the bulb right out. If you try to grab the bulb and slowly pull it out it'll never come out, too much friction. Give it a good yank and it'll come loose.

 

sticky

 

You can use a small screwdriver (small jeweler's flathead screwdriver) and find the thinner base part of the 194/168 bulb. Pry against that area just before the glass becomes the bulb. It should pop right out.

 

Where do you get the LED lights for your mirror lights?

 

Sub'd

 

just installe my dome light but mine was different. Had only one bulbon one side and the switch on the other side. So if anyone else has this dome light like mine, it can be installed in the same way. Post pics later. To the op. What number light is the one that attaches at both ends?

 

The big bulb with the loops on the ends is a 561.

 

Thanks again and awesome how to.

I vote STICKY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

very nice how to bro. it really blows not being able to see in the back seat at night.

 

niceeeeeeee looks ultra bright at night

 

Sub'd I totally want to do this with mine because of the 9 month old baby its brutal getting him into the seat when light is scarce. Excellent write up and pics, thank you.

 

Very nice. I vote sticky. This is very informal to many people and a great creative idea for us sunroofed cobalt guys. This is why I love this site!

 

Sub'd...good stuff...damn you GM for only giving me these wimpy ass mirror lights.

 

For some reasons I can't get the full pics loaded. I am assuming the 3 wires are the same colors for the SS/TC as well? In the bundle of wires to the left of the sunroof, there seems to be 2 blue wires - one is a blue/white and the other one is shiny/reflective blue. Which blue is the correct one?
And for soldering in the black and the gray wire to the left of the housing looking down from the light bulb side right? Wish I can see from the pics.
TIA...

 

Pics work fine here, try from another computer maybe? I'm not familiar with the wiring on a TC, so I can't be sure which is which. Since you're in Ontario, you should come check out the OCC at www.ontariocobaltclub.com there's always people willing to help out and sometimes if people are close enough they'll just meet up.

 

awesome. I will try this soon i think.

 

I had it installed and working. Thanks for writing the How To's. I know someone had ask this before, would you have the parts #s for the 2 different dome lights? 561 is for the mirror lights?

For anyone who's looking into doing this, I used 2 nylon/plastic 5/8 x 1/4 x 3/8" spacers that I had on hand instead of the 10 washers. They sell these at Lowes in a pkg of 2. I think Home Depot may have these as well - no sure thought?

 

The dome light housings or just the bulbs? The 561 is used in the large light section of the dome and the small ones and the mirror lights use 194 bulbs.

 

An electrical engineer that uses duct tape..