Hey all, I am new to the forum (first post) I just got a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt SS/SC. I got the "Low Coolant" message on the Driver Information display so I decided to take the car to a Chevy service center and have them check it out. The guy working there said he used to own a Cobalt SS and he seemed to really know his stuff. He tested the sensor in my coolant resevoir (tank on the drivers side) he said the sensor was bad and causing the light to come on for no reason. He also said that the sensor is built into the tank so I have to buy a whole tank. Now I know I can replace this myself, although I'm still learning about these cars because all I've ever really worked on is older muscle cars, but he said bleeding the coolant system would be a pita. He quoted me 290 dollars for them to order the tank and replace it. Does this seem fair? Seems high to me. I dropped my car off 2 days ago and he calls me today to tell me that the part came in today but it's the wrong part. He said my VIN is a turbo vin and it must be one of those weird in between years of the car? How is this I wasn't aware they even had a turbo ss in 06 or 07? So he is ordering the "correct" part and it won't be here until next week. He told me I could come get my car and bring it back next week when the part arrives. Someone tell me if this guy is shooting straight with me please.

Thanks

 

You'd need to find out what he's charging for the reservoir. Bleeding is kind of a pain, but not $290 of a pain. You just have to fill from the upper rad hose and top off at the reservoir, then run it till warm with the cap off. Fill as necessary. It may burp once or twice after that but that's about it.

 

Okay thank you for your reply. I've seen two different methods for bleeding one of which is the one where you fill through the radiator hose and the other where you fill the coolant tank and run till hot then let cool and remove cap and squeeze radiator hose to get air out and add fluid if needed. Is this correct? What is a fair price for the resevoir? I take it he's not lying when he says the sensor is indeed made into the tank correct? I believe I'll just tackle this myself and save myself the money lol. I didn't think it was worth 290 bucks.

 

Well that's parts and labor price. Labor at a dealer isn't cheap either so you should save a good amount plus part tend to be over priced by them

 

So I went and picked my car up and informed the service manager that I am just gonna do the labor myself. The part cost 51-52? dollars from them and I have to pay them 40 some odd bucks for diagnosing the issue. So I owe them 90 bucks and they were gonna charge me 200 dollars to install the tank and bleed the system and 20 dollars for the coolant. So I'm gonna say myself 200 bucks and do it myself. Something cool the service manager pointed out to me is that my car has a turbo car VIN but it's a super charger car. He said that it came like that from factory and said that they're are probably not very many of them like that at all. Anyone ever heard of another one like that before?

 

Haha you see its all about labor with them

 

So does anyone have a write up on how to remove the coolant tank, and replace it? Also is this forum on Tapatalk or does it have an app?

Thanks,

Cameron

 

it's pretty simple. a couple nuts or clamps, two hoses, and a harness plug.

 

Yeah I see the two hoses and the sensor plug at the bottom. Looks like the tank has some kind of clip thing that holds it in? Any trick to removing this? Sorry for making something relatively easy more complicated than it probably is lol.

 

Maybe someone can chime in, but i took needle nosed pliers and unscrewed it. It was a bit of a pain.