Gas mileage drop

gauthiju

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I have had my Colbalt 2007 LT for almost 3 years now, and basically had nothing by problems. It's got just under 90,000 km's (just under 60,000 miles) and has various issues.

Currently, the main issue is the gas mileage. I went from getting 700-750 km's per tank to now just barely over 300. I am currently at 149 km's on half a tank. I am a student living away from home and I cannot afford 50$ a week on gas when it should be 20-25$. What is the issue here? I have done nothing different to the car, no new tires; I actually drive slower now and accelerating less quickly. My car recently had calculated 15.7 L/100 km's. I just had an oil change and new air filter put in a couple weeks ago with no improvement. Could it be the O2 sensor? Do they go that early and make that much of a difference in gas mileage?

Anyways, these are some of the problems I've had...

First was the key in the ignition problem many others had. Shifter got stuck in drive, dealer said it was because pennies fell into the shifter, causing it to brake, blah blah blah bunch of crap so they wouldn't have to cover it under warranty. The steering column rattles lots for the past many1000 km's, mainly when I am braking from 50 mp/h but now whenever it feels like. Windshield wipers don't listen to me and do their own thing, no big deal. Engine is loud, no big deal. Weather sealent on the passenger door broke, when the dealer fixed it, they broke the door panel so its rips off partially when I open the door. When they said they fixed it again, they really didn't and it still rips off.

Someone help me out, or give me a recomendation as to how I can get out of this lease with a year left on the contract without getting another GM, because there's no way I want another one after this piece of crap.
 

Beamer

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Tune up, plugs, wires, change fuel filter. Those may help, I know some people say plugs and such can go longer but for example, I changed my plugs on my balt at like 18K miles and they were bad. As for the other stuff, things happen, steering may be needed to be looked at, not sure if you knew there was a recall, that issue could be part of your problem
 

CFCobalt

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Tune up, plugs, wires, change fuel filter. Those may help, I know some people say plugs and such can go longer but for example, I changed my plugs on my balt at like 18K miles and they were bad. As for the other stuff, things happen, steering may be needed to be looked at, not sure if you knew there was a recall, that issue could be part of your problem

this....i would check your plugs first and foremost....sorry to hear about your problems...that sucks
 

YelloEye

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Proper tire inflation? You can always stick a block of wood under the gas pedal.
 

Tuner923

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plugs, alignment, air filter, clogged catalytic converter <-- big thing. tire pressure,
 

RedDead

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yeah the fuel filter might be the problem i think ur supposed to have changed it by now......but ur not the only one i haven't changed mine and i have dropped gas mileage too i went from around 28 mpg to 24 mpg
 

gauthiju

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You think those problems could be the reason it has dropped to about half of what it should be? I have checked the tire pressure regularly, and it's fine. I'm hoping to get a tune-up done and change the plugs in a week or 2.

I am mainly wondering if this is a problem which is possible to all cars, or just Cobalts. I just have never heard of a car with only 90K dropping its mileage in half; seems a little unreasonable even if it needs new plugs and some other simple things. My buddy has a 94 Dodge Neon with more problems than a gramma at an old folks home, and it gets about 600-650 km/ on a 40 L tank. But if you guys think it could be due to those things you listed, ill give it a shot and try not to hate on it so much haha

Anyways, thanks for all the feedback.
And i also heard somewhere that GM issued an apology for making the Cobalt so cheap and so many, is that true? Just because from what I heard, it sounded like they needed to pump out a tonne of cheap cars at a time when they were going down the drain and in bankruptcy so they needed to sell lots of something cheap; bring on the Cobalt. True? or load of crap from a hater?
 

Lenny

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90,000.....supposedly, platinum plugs only go about 100,000 miles, so I would start there. Replace the wires too as they dry out and become porous. Air Filter, and air in tires. Gas filter ? I have a 2009 and as I couldn't find one called the Dealer to find out there is NOT one on it, but just a screen in the gas tank. Not sure when or if that should be serviced.
 

YelloEye

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90,000.....supposedly, platinum plugs only go about 100,000 miles, so I would start there. Replace the wires too as they dry out and become porous. Air Filter, and air in tires. Gas filter ? I have a 2009 and as I couldn't find one called the Dealer to find out there is NOT one on it, but just a screen in the gas tank. Not sure when or if that should be serviced.

Yes there is, I changed mine on my 2006. I'll have a look under my 2009 SS today and ring back but pretty sure its still there.

Other/Misc Fuel Filter Change How-To with pictures - Cobalt SS Network
 

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