2008 Chevrolet Cobalt - CEL fails inspection

Maintenance/Repairs
1

failed inspection because of engine light and I have noticed a greater amount of gas consumption with my usual amount of driving…

2

Have mechanic look into it.

3 Likes
3

Do you have the tools and skills to repair the car?
If not, follow Cavell’s advice.
Use an independent shop to diagnose and repair your Chevy.
What shop do you use for routine maintenance?

1 Like
4

Do you smell gasoline? Cobalts are known to leak from the gas line near the rear driver’s side wheel. You can see a stain on the ground. This probably would not set the CEL but is worth looking at.

As for the CEL, get it read at an auto parts store or your favorite garage and report the codes here. Maybe we can help you figure out what is wrong.

1 Like
5

Yep, without you telling us the code(s) that caused your CEL we can’t really help you.
Here’s a list of the 200 or so different codes:
The Official DTC (CEL) List! | Chevy Cobalt Forum (yourcobalt.com)

1 Like
6

What sort of inspection? Emissions or safety? Or both? Here in Calif a car will usually automatically fail an emissions test if the CEL is on. That’s b/c the CEL usually indicates there’s a problem with some component of the emissions-control system. The car’s computer tests each component from time to time, and if one fails it turns on the CEL. Some owners think they can trick the emissions test process by disconnecting the battery to turn off the CEL. The CEL may turn off, and the diagnostic codes get erased, but the computer keeps a status list (often called a “readiness monitor”) of all its testing results, and when the battery is disconnected that list is set as “everything in the emissions systems is currently untested”, so the car fails the test b/c of that.

The moral of this story: most definitely don’t disconnect the battery and either take your car to a well-recommended repair shop to figure out the cause of the CEL, or ask a shop or parts store to give you the list of the stored diagnostic codes , and post the list here for some ideas what to do next. Don’t presume the worst. A very common reason for a CEL is a relatively minor problem with the fuel evaporation control system.