So I had my SS/SC in for it sfirst oil change yesterday. I took it to the dealer because i wanted them to look at the clutch and fix the idle thing. These are pretty common problems in the cobalt community.

Problem: Clutch slippage between 3k and 4k.
Them: There are input and output sensors - if the clutch is slipping he tells me I'd be getting CELs.

Problem: at stops, car often idles as low as 400, bounces past 1k, back down to 400.
Them: This is normal, as long as the engine doesn't shut down or the CELs show up, it's fine.

No its not, its effing annoying. This morning I discovered a loud squeek driving across the PSB into work. Are they gonna tell me i'm making that noise up or just tell me to deal with it without fixing it? Unacceptable.

 

Yeah, That's BS. What dealership are you taking it to?

 

Call Chevy customer service and let them know.

 

They should at least test drive it. That's the thing, many mechanics solely rely on CELs and "codes" and don't do any actual diagnostics or hands-on.

 

This came out of Weber Chevrolet in Columbia, IL.

I called customer service and complained when another dealership wouldnt let me test drive the car. Is there a number on customer servce that they actually DO something with our complaints?

 

Oh jeez. Weber has always been a pain. Creve Coeur and In Granite City.

 

Nate, where in STL can I take the car to get it fixed without fighting them?

 

Hmm, It's a little far, But Try Don Brown Chevy at The Hill. Or Feld Chevy in St. Ann.

 

try this # 1-800-GM-Trucks let me know what they say

 

I work at a dealership myself and own a cobalt as for the clutch slipping I have not yet encountered that problem with my car or a customers. I idleing problem I have yes it does not trip the MIL but it creates a drivablity problem as far as i'm concerned and you don't need a light for that. My cobalt did it not more than a mile after I pulled it off the showroom floor. I imediatly read up on it since there was no bullitins I went to the net supposivly the ecu suppose to compensate for this after the first 200 miles and if its not gone by 1000 miles have it reflashed. Mine car seems to only do it when I boost over 10 pounds and then come to a stop. I'm at 900 miles and didn't want to take it in for service and start a service record on it at very low milage. So if it doesn't clear up by 1000 miles guess i'm gunna do the reflash as far as anyother problem that I see cobalts come in with I'll keep you posted.
thanks guys
Brad

 

My idle does the same thing goes up and down when I'm stopped and mine has 400 miles on it. So do you think that hurts the performance when it does that?

 

My car definatly has been improving since I first got it. I know most of it has to do with the adaptive learning the computer system runs on, thats why some people run different boost then others. Since I hit 1000 miles it has only done the surging idle about 3 times. At around 1000 miles my boost also went from 10 lbs to 12 lbs.
hope this helps
Brad

 

force them to test drive it. or have a tech ride with you while you drive it. they won't do anything unless you really make em. anymore they just run codes and don't test drive, i have to force action everytime i take my car in cause they refuse to do anything "because we can't replicate the problem"

 

I'm pretty luck... my brother works at Adirondack Chevrolet in Elizabethtown NY as a technician... and the garage I bought the car at (Hometown Chevrolet- Whitehall NY) is really good. If they can't find the problem, they'll ride along with you to see what you're seeing. ****, the techs love to go for a joyride get them out of the shop!

18,400 miles so far and no problems...

Scott

 

with the idleing issue you should be able to get a reflash and it should be all good the and the slippage there has been one or two RL's that found that there was oil seeping into the clutch causing slippage.