How to Inspect the Drivetrain in a Chevy Cobalt
- 1). Test drive your Chevy Cobalt, listening closely for any unusual noises such as a clicking or clunking when you're cruising at a low speed, a clicking noise when you turn or clunks when you round a corner. Any of these noises could indicate trouble with the drivetrain. If you experience any shaking, rattling, drift or pull while driving, you may have damage to the steering or suspension.
- 2). Look at the car's drivetrain. Raise the Cobalt on a hoist and look for any signs of breakage or wear on the axles that connect the driveshaft to the wheels. Look for seepage of fluids from the joints. Look for dry rot or cracking in any of the hard plastics that make up the boot covering of the axles.
- 3). Lower the car and check the fluid levels for the oil and the transmission. Both have metal sticks that you pull out, which have labels on the lids. Wipe the dipsticks with an old rag and reinsert them into their respective holes. Gauge the level of fluid in the container and add more, if it falls below the full mark.
- 4). Check all the hoses and clamps on the engine, because the warranty doesn't cover them and it could create bigger problems, if they're allowed to break. The Chevy Cobalt comes with a good 5-year/100,000 mile drivetrain warranty that covers the engine, transmission, axles and driveshaft.
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