thanks Jason, i know there was a thread about block heaters back in September i think but i just wanted to make sure that i'm not a complete moron and know that there is no block heater. I might consider buying one, dunno yet, damn check engine light keeps coming off and on, really annoying, don't think my dealership knows what their doing, spits out a code ( at least that's what they tell me) that it's not recognizing me using the clutch to change gears. I go for an oil change in 2 weeks, gonna get them to look at it again.

 

Just to help I checked my car and it seems to be set wright and I have been using chevron fuel exclusively. I did have some idling issues at some time in the beginning of ownership and took it in. The mechanic did a re flash with the cold start upgrade and I changed from costco gas to Chevron. Since then I do not have any cold start issues or idling issues.

I hope this helps.

 

I have a 2.0L SS/SC Cobalt and I have not had any problems with cold start. Mine starts up fine and runs fine. Maybe you all have garbage Cobalts and I have the only good one made. Idk. Feel sorry for you guyz though.

 

If anyone is buying a block heater from GM and installing it themselves, could you please check it and see how many watts or amps it is rated at? I asked before, but never got an answer. I live in an apartment building and there are some outside lights on the same circuit. I wouldn't want to trip the breaker and have to explain it to the manager.

 

YOU have no clue what your talking about! I have been using mine for the past 2 weeks, and trust me, it works as SOON as you plug it in. It could be 90 F outside and it would still work. There is no sensor, its just an electrical cord going into a metal element. Plug it in, it heats up, simple. And believe me, it makes a HUGE difference on startup. You idle lower, have heat sooner etc..

 

Also, NO SS/SC came with a block heater. It is going to be -17C here in the Toronto area tonight, -25C with the windchill and you better believe both my Cobalt SS/SC and the Grandparents 98 Lumina LS are both plugged in (rent out the basement from them).

I will post a picture of the Block heater, one sec..

Here it is before installation..

 

I have not yet seen a Canadian SS/SC with a block heater. We had like 15 of them lined up at a get together in october. Not one had one......

Actually, in the 05' Cobalt brochure, in Canada at least, for the SS/SC it was not available.

 

how do u know that being in the U.S. lol i mean seriously, our climates aren't that much different, unless ur living near the equator, i live in ontario and where i live we are on the same lateral line as northern california almost, there are how many states further north than i am, gotta be like a dozen

 

Yeah, I just deleted the post lol

 

lol ok

 

Hopefully it'll be fixed on friday. I'll post an update after I take it in.

 

It draws VERY little wattage. I would not be too concerned about it...

 

try yelling 'VTAK' before the cold start. works on my honda.

if that doesn't work try yelling 'ECOTEC'.

 

Vtak pwned me

 

I have the 05 base Cobalt... I have not had any cold start probs, does that only effect teh SS/SC! Or is it universal for the car... it was 10 degrees f, here in missouri this morning, and started like a charm!

 

I haven't had any cold start problems either. I too have a base model and it's been around -10Celcius here and even when I don't plug my block heater in over night the car has started for me everytime without a hitch.

When I plug the block heater in the coolant temp is already around 17Celcius so she starts up right away and almost instant heat!

 

Update:

Got the car home and took it into another dealer. They could not find anything wrong with the car. The car actually started fine when I filled up here in Warwick NY. This indicates that this problem may be fuel related.

 

I experienced this problem for the first time yesterday. I turned the key and it cranked about 10 times before I stopped. I hit the gas pedal a few times and tried to start again and it started right away... I am interested in buying a block heater, I think I will call my dealership and see what they would charge to have this put in, I also like the idea of having heat earlier then I do now. My sentra must have had a block heater, I had heat within a minute of the car being started, my SS/SC takes a while before good heat comes out.

 

I have the same type of problem on my ss you go and try to start it and it starts but ides for like 3 secs roughly and dies so i started buy pumping my gas pedal one time just once then start the car up and i have no problem with starting my car in the cold winters of wisconsin anymore she starts right up if you pump the gas once first.. silver SS 2.0 LSJ G85

 

if you never plugged it in, you didn't have a block heater.

 

the last few days have been frezzin where i am especially at night, yesterday mornin was the first time i started up my car since the weekend, and she started fine, 06 SS.

 

whoa, wait so a engine block heater has to be plugged in? I thought it just ran off the battery in your car? that is so stupid, I am not going to plug my damn car it to get the engine warm.

Wack...

 

You guys know there is a cold start /erratic idle PCM calibration update for the SS/SC right ?

 

Dont supose you have the upgrade #?

 

yeah, it plugs in. if it didn't, it would kill your battery in very little time, and then you still couldn't start the thing.