- #73 of 107
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2005 Chevolet Cobalt instant death trap
by allenlynn
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Sep 19, 2008 (3:15 pm)
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We recently got a 2005 Cobalt sedan(Chev. certified used car) for daughter. It has about 45,000 miles. She was driving to school and the panel lit up with TC warning light(enhanced traction system) and Check engine light. Alert bells were sounding, and she lost power steering, and the car wanted to speed up and then slow down without giving it any gas.. Down below the shifter panel(automatic transmission) there were clicking noises through all the gears, even though it was in drive. She managed to get it pulled over on the side of the road and I had a tow truck come and take it to the dealer we got it from in July. If my daughter had been passing another car when that happened, she could of been killed. As of today, and the dealer has had the car for two days they do not have a clue what is wrong with it. Anyone had the same experience . I done told them if the problems cannot be fixed they can ship the car back to Chevolet, the death trap is not coming home with me.
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- #74 of 107
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Re: 2005 Chevolet Cobalt instant death trap [allenlynn]
by poncho167
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Sep 20, 2008 (9:51 am)
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Replying to: allenlynn (Sep 19, 2008 3:15 pm)
I haven't heard anything about the traction control error but there have been some cars including Toyota with the electric steering that have had issues such as you describe. I have only heard about this with the early model Cobalts.
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- #75 of 107
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Re: 2005 Chevolet Cobalt instant death trap [poncho167]
by allenlynn
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Sep 20, 2008 (10:16 am)
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Replying to: poncho167 (Sep 20, 2008 9:51 am)
Do you know what year they started making Cobalts? Since our car was a 3 year lease before we bought it and I made a copy of the first title for reasons of getting ahold of original owners, to check to see what repairs they had done. I have yet to locate them, and was wondering, since it was a lease, if a person could check through GM or Chevolet to see if any background there on same problems before we got it.? Thanks for any info.
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- #76 of 107
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Re: UPDATED COBALT ISSUES [leannemarie]
by kuhl
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Sep 22, 2008 (9:16 pm)
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Replying to: leannemarie (Jun 17, 2008 7:51 am)
As the owner of a 2005 cobalt, I can tell you that these problems are all very similar to what I have experienced. The lights will go completely out when turn signal, brights or reg beam are switched to, stereo will unlock if you can leave it sit for at least an hour, running but not moving, the pin in the shifter is likely to dislodge, leaving you to be unable to take your key out, and there is a throttle relay valve on the engine that burns up quickly, leaving your car without proper circulation of gas, oil and power steering fluid. I have now had to replace my engine with a newer 2007 engine, the shifter column is still all taken apart, and am hoping the engine will solve the electrical problems as well, altho the chances of this are only so so. This was the first car I ever paid for in full, and it is a mess! I have become much stronger in walking the mile and 1/2 to work each way!
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- #77 of 107
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Re: Crazy Door locking..? [jane28]
by kuhl
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Sep 22, 2008 (9:24 pm)
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Replying to: jane28 (Jul 08, 2008 11:45 am)
The only solution is to keep a set of entry buttons or keys in your pocket at all times! one set for the car, one set in your pocket, this way, you can start the car on early mornings and then not have to stand out and freeze until "it decides" to unlock and let you back in. Sounds crazy but this car is a trip!
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- #78 of 107
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Re: cobalt 06 [tcliff]
by kuhl
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Sep 22, 2008 (9:26 pm)
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Replying to: tcliff (Jul 23, 2008 10:07 am)
This problem is the throttle relay valve on the engine. While you are not getting gas, neither is your engine getting it's needed oil (or power steering fluid!). Take it from a new engine buyer!
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- #79 of 107
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Re: 2005 Chevolet Cobalt instant death trap [allenlynn]
by poncho167
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Sep 24, 2008 (3:41 pm)
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Replying to: allenlynn (Sep 20, 2008 10:16 am)
It came out in 2004 as a 2005 model.
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- #80 of 107
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Re: I wanted to ask you pvanhouse [kmpa08]
by pvanhouse
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Nov 25, 2008 (6:15 pm)
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Replying to: kmpa08 (Nov 29, 2007 6:23 pm)
Finally got the problem fixed. BTW this is an '05 Cobalt with about 66k miles...but the stalling problem has been around almost since I bought it. Other symptoms. Occasionally when vehicle is started the windshield wipers come on very slowly and can't be turned off...and the rear defrost is turned on and won't turn off.
I tried everything at the dealer from a lengthy typed summary of the symptoms and what I was doing at the time to offering to show the mechanic videos of the malfunction. With just a couple-thousand miles left on the extended warranty it finally misbehaved for a service tech. I asked if he had time to hook up equipment to see what the problem was and was told no....they just figured it was the "Body Control Module." It was replaced and all has been good for a bit over 1000 miles.
This is the same diagnosis my wife got at a small Chevy dealership somewhere in the middle of Arkansas (they didn't see it happen...they just analyzed the symptoms). But they didn't have the part any my wife didn't have time to spend a day there waiting for it. Even with a diagnosis in hand nobody else would listen.
Kind of upsetting that all the mechanic had to do was see it happen in person when I offered a video showing the same thing. I was under the impression they had to both see it happen and hook up some analysis equipment.
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- #81 of 107
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Re: 2005 Chevolet Cobalt instant death trap [allenlynn]
by humphrey_mc
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Jan 13, 2009 (12:40 pm)
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Replying to: allenlynn (Sep 19, 2008 3:15 pm)
Yes! I have an 06 Cobalt and this same thing keeps happening to me with my two-year old in the car! Warning lights and random things are displayed, gauges shut off, and the car speeds up and wont stop easily. My gauges also click while this is happening. Please let me know if you ever found out what was wrong and how much to repair.
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- #82 of 107
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Re: 2005 Chevolet Cobalt instant death trap [humphrey_mc]
by pvanhouse
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Jan 13, 2009 (5:40 pm)
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Replying to: humphrey_mc (Jan 13, 2009 12:40 pm)
In my case it was the "Body Control Module." This was diagnosed by a mechanic in a small Chevy Dealer in Arkansas...but they didn't have the part and my wife didn't have time to wait. No other service people would listen to me (or to him.) I even had a movie on my cell phone of the car stalling out. They would not replace it until it happened to them. If yours is like mine it will take a long time for that to happen.
My daughter has an '08 HHR (same chassis..bigger engine) and has not had any mechanical problems at all through 10-months/15k miles
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