So after getting assraped by the dealer on my last oil change, I decided to do it myself. I used to do it all the time on my 2.2 ecotec cavalier, and its really no different on the 2.0 LSJ. So I successfully changed the oil... but heres the problem...
Because the space to get the socket down to the oil filter is so small (way smaller than the 2.2 in my cavalier), i unplugged the sensor thats directly above it so that i could get some extra space to lower the socket down to the filter. Well, after my oil change was over, i completly forgot i had unplugged it, and started the car with it unplugged. I was immediatly reminded that it was unplugged when the car ran like crap and gave me a message on the dash readout saying "power decreased". So i plugged it back in, and ran the car again. It appears to be running alright.... except for 2 things. One, it threw a CEL. I imagine this is just b/c of starting it the one time with the sensor out, and will eventually reset, but i thought i'd ask here to be sure. and Two... i could just be being paranoid here, but i swear i remember my boost gauge ranging from -20 to +12 psi... But i noticed that now its going all the way down to -22, and I was only able to get it up to +10 on the 2 miles of freeway between my parents house (where i did the oil) and my apartment. Now, i didnt exactly go hog wild on it to get to 12psi, but i did hit full throttle in 4th going about 75mph and didnt hit 12. I didnt want to go all the way to 100 to see if it would make it to 12, so i might have, but i dont remember having such a hard time hitting 12, as i've done it before. Do i need to reset the computer by unplugging the battery? or did i screw something up?


Also... is there a way to reset the oil percentage on the dash readout? because the reset button wasnt doing anything, and i dont want it going down to 0% even tho i have fresh oil in it.

 

i dont know about the boost.... dont have that car.

the CEL prob just needs to be reset. bring it to autozone and they will read it and clear the code.

put the key in the ignition to the "on" position but dont start it. hold on both buttons together for a second or two and then release. here you get ther option of resetting the oil, changing metric to standard, locking and unlcoking the horn and a couple other things.

 

ok number 1 to reset the CEL unplugged the battery and leave it for like 30 seconds or soo.

number 2, 75 in fourth gear is not a high enugh RPM to hit 12PSI try looking at it close to your redline,

and vaccumm at 22 doesnt sound to wereid it could have just been that the car wasent completly warmed up

and what year is your cobalt?
so I can tell you how to reset the oil life percentage. =)

I dont think you messed it up at all, just threw it out of wack for a lil,

 

yeah im probably just being paranoid, but wanted to make sure. its a 96.

 

A 96, eh?

It should say in the manual how to reset the oil life meter. It did in my 2.2.

 

a 96? did you mean 06? I have an 06, just do like I said and you will be fine with the oil life. its just a BS gauge anyway, but I know what you mean about not wanting it to hit 0%

As for the CEL... don't unplug the battery. just take it and have it deleted the right way. It's just like your reg computer. You could stop a program by unplugging the whole damn thing by why would you do that? plus... you don't know the cel is because of the oil change and leaving the sensor out. It could just be a coincidence that it happened at the same time, although likely not. If you unplug the system it is gonna come back on if it was something else anyway and then you still need to go get it read. Autozone will read and delete it for free. or for like $40 you could pick up your own reader.

 

lol yeah my bad, 06... guess i didnt catch that typo.


But anyways, i think i got it all fixed up. So thanks for the help everybody.

 

not only did you say 96 but the guy who responded reiterated it. LOL.

 

hahaha thats awesome!

 

Also to get the computer to delete the code itself without unplugging the battery is you turn the car on, then off for 20 seconds. Repeat for about 5 times and it should go away. The dealer forgot to put that on mine too and thats all that they did.