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You can take it to any dealer. These days most dealers are hungry for work to do, even the lower pay work they do for warranty. It's better than idle mechanics or laying them off.
>dealership because water was leaking from under the dashboard onto the passenger floorboard whenever I ran the A/C....later they figured out the problem (the heater core) and fixed it.
Heater core leaking coolant would have had the smell of engine coolant, sort of sweet. Did that water have that smell or was it water from the AC core that collects water from the air and drips that--which is supposed to go out a drain tube below the car? That water has no smell (unless wet carpet and pads have gotten musty).
>Fan running
I notice the coolant fan on my Cobalt starts running on startup sitting in the garage and turns off after a time, even though the motor is cold. I'd ask the other dealership if what you're seeing is normal. If short trips are overheating the car in 40-50 degree weather, there may be something else not right in the coolant, heater setup.
>slow heating
The only check here for me is under the hood after the car has run from a cold start for 3-4 minutes and that's to turn off motor and reach hand to touch hoses going to heater through the firewall. I'd have to locate them in advance and wear heavy long-sleeved shirt to avoid burns from hot motor. Both hoses should be warm after 2-3 minutes.My Cobalt is exremely quick to warm up compared to leSabres I own and past cars.
I'd make a list of concerns based on symtoms and visit another dealership service guy, under warranty, and tell them your concerns. Make copies of the service records you were given on each visit and hand them to the service manager. They should also be able to see them by computer if GM is set up the way I think they are by checking your VIN in the computer.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Is this true for all models? Where is it located in the trunk? Is it covered so as not to come in contact with luggage, etc. stored in the trunk? For what reason is it located there? Aren't there some safety concerns for having it there?
i have found no photos on the Internet that would answer any of my questions.
No, actually it's covered. I'd have to go look at mine to determine what is around it. I suspect it's a lot less likely to suffer damage than a battery under the hood sitting where most accidents will mangle the metal around the battery under the hood. I can't count the number of accident I've seen with the firemen having to rip into the hood to get at the battery because it's shorted out and there's smoke coming from that area.
A battery under the rear seat also is a safe location.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Years ago a friend owned a Chrysler made car that had the battery located under the driver's seat. One day we pulled into an unpaved parking lot next to a swimming pool where we were headed. Suddenly there came smoke from under the driver's seat. There was a short where the battery cable had failed. With no extinguisher at hand we ended up sloshing mud from the parking lot onto the short to put out the fire.
Hence my being sensitive to the location of the battery in a car I am thinking of buying !
Do the hood and trunk struts not "pop up" the hood and trunk lids? Mine only hold the lids up once they have been manually raised.
Is the 1 1/2 inch diameter plastic disk right above my head the inside temperature sensor?
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Every car I've owned (starting in 1951) has had 5-lug wheels.
And very few cars today have 4-lug wheels.
I have a 2010 LT and it has a trunk leak too. Not to mention that I noticed many of the seals around the door windows are not installed properly. I imagine that this car is going to leak like a sive when it downpours for the first time since owning it today.
My dealer will have a lot to answer to and work on.
Off topic: She's in the St. Louis-area got bought it from Johnny Londoff Chevrolet. She can't recommend them enough.
It's probably shown also in the owners manual in the glovebox.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I have previously used this exact plug with great success in my 2005 Cavalier (and an SD-2 plug in my 2002 Mazda)
Since my new 2010 Cobalt has an Ecotec engine very similar to the 2005 Cavalier, I assumed that the SD4 plug could be used in my Cobalt
However, Amazon.com says "This product does not fit your 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt"
Since Fram has sold the Fram Oil Drain Plug business to another party, Fram no longer gives advice on this product
The Fram SD4 is described as a size M12 x 1.75
Here's a link to the page that concerns me about whether I should try to use the SD4 Fram oil drain plug in my 2010 Cobalt :
Amazon.com: Fram SD4 SureDrain Fast Access Oil Change Drain Plug System: Automotive: Reviews, Prices & more
Notes:
The Fram system includes (1) drain plug with an internal valve, (2) "valve opener" that screws on to open the valve, (3) 8 inch long piece of tubing to direct the oil flow into a container of your choice and (4) cap that screws onto the plug, providing a seal against the very unlikely event that the valve should leak. The valve opener is removed before you put the cap on.
Since the valve opener must make several rotations to open the valve, there is a real possibility that the tubing (being rather stiff) may pop off the valve opener and cause a spill. To avoid this you might want to use more flexible tubing. For myself, I do not attach the tubing until I have the valve opener screwed on and I can see a tiny amount of oil beginning to escape.
This product, along with the up-top oil filter, makes Ecotec engine oil changing especially easy and without a mess. I've used this product for 8 years on two cars, and I recommend it highly.
To avoid the expense and weight, they likely grounded it to the chassis nearby at the trunk.
But the positive cable is a different story. I doubt they used a very heavy gauge of copper cable for the run from the positive terminal to the starter of the engine. Starters have an extremely high amperage demand while starting the engine. More than every other electrical component all added together at the same time.
So they are prone to slow or no-starts on cold winter mornings (if they cheaped out on a light cable).
The idea being that the longer the length of a wire, more resistant loss builds up, so voltage and amperage loss happens. Just like using too long and light gauge extension cord at home will get hot and not perform properly on big draw items like lawnmowers or heaters.
With the car scenario, cold wx temps lowers the efficiency of a battery's crank capacity.
Has anyone had a problem with battery being in the trunk ?
I would recommend having your vehicle looked at by an authorized GM dealer. Please keep me updated on your progress with this issue.
Christina
GM Customer Service
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
After I removed the filter I looked inside the cavity. There I was surprised to see some raised sheet metal on the right side, half the height of the opening, a seemingly impassable object in the way of inserting the new filter. In fact, the only way to insert the filter was to angle it upwards at about 45 degrees.
This is the worst designed item I have yet to see on my Cobalt. There appears to be no ledge for the filter to sit on. Therefore, I believe it is impossible for the filter perimeter to be adequately sealed so as to direct the blower air thru it. Most of the air will bypass the filter.
At least its easier to install than on the Impala
I buy a Micron air filter now instead of the GM one, it has a better filter on it. You should see the crap it collects! I change it every year
Please email pr@edmunds.com Friday, April 29, 2011 to share your story.
Thanks,
Jeannine
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I had no trouble closing the filter door and the glove box. I have 30k miles on my 09 (bought new in Sept. 08) and the filter was absolutely filthy -couldn't see the sun through it. I'll replace it at 15k from now on. We are in Eastern NM and have a lot of dust and blowing dirt out here. Perhaps in Scarsdale one could get away with changing it at 30k.
I like the 4 speed transmission. My new Malibu has a 6 speed and it feels slushy. The car also feels light. The Cobalt actually feels like a heavier car. Mileage on my last trip back from Albuquerque (214 miles) averaged 43,1 and I drove 70-75 on most of the trip. I usually get 23-25 around town and normally the high 30's on the road. It is not a sports car but looks sporty unlike the Cruze which replaced it. If GM coes out with a Cruze coupe or convertible I'll trade the Cobalt in but I'll probably keep it for years if it stays dependable. It is a great car and I've owned everything from Jags to Fiats.
Thank you :confuse:
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Think this leaves a bad taste in my mouth after having put $1400 into this POS over the past month? I'm spitting blood right now
I can't control what members of the media want to do a story about, but I WILL remember your comment if there's an opportunity that fits.
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