I have been searching everywhere and I am striking out. I have a 2005 Cavalier Coupe.
I rotated my tires today, and it was more of a chore then it should have been. I used the jack points which the owners manual shows. Not only is this tedious because you can only jack one corner of the car, but I don't like the way it twists the car. Anyway...the idea was to jack the front of the car up. I should be able to jack on the sub-frame, but the only place I saw was behind the engine (around the firewall somewhere. This car is too low to the ground so it is hard to look under it, but I didn't see any part of the sub-frame in front of the engine. Closest thing I saw appeared to be a lower radiator support, which I don't imagine is strong enough. Where are you guys jacking up your car when you do oil changes and what not?
Second, I need a service manual. I am having a hard time finding on that covers the 2005 model year for j-bodies. I am guessing this is because of the mid-year change over to the cobalt? If someone could point me in the right direction that would be great.
Thanks a lot.
"The Blue Bullet"
look on ebay for a manual.
the jacking points are on the pinch weld of the rocker panels. You know the 1 inch lip that hangs down on the sides below the door. Just in front of the rear wheels and just behind the front. The v in the factory jack, well the pinch weld goes in the v.
The factory jack is kind of not what Id use to change the oil though, Its not too strong. I wouldnt jack it up and lay under it. Get a regular floor jack or spend the 20 bucks or so and take it some where to get the oil done.
01 cav w/01 3400 gam gt 4t45e
or get some ramps and drive your car up on them to do an oil change
Im a Xbox 360 fanboy...and damn proud of it!!
I have ramps, which I can't even get my sisters grand am up on...I have no idea how I could get my cavi on them.
I know where the jack points are that are in the owners manual. They suck. There must be a place that I can jake the front of the car up from. Every other car I have worked on clearly has a piece of the subframe between the bumper and the oil pan.
Is that lower radiator support the part of the subframe? It appears this is where part of the control arm attaches, so it must be pretty strong. Strong enough to jack on?
"The Blue Bullet"
I don't need a service manual when I jack.....it's all stored in my noggin'
Jack it up on the subframe. Where the lower suspension bolts on.
DO NOT JACK UP ON THE RADIATOR SUPPORT. It will crush the mountsthat are welded to the frame rails.
Subframe and rockers is the only placees in the front. Thats why I suggested the floor jack, you just cant do a whole lot with the factory jack but change a flat.
01 cav w/01 3400 gam gt 4t45e
I did use a floor jack...I was just looking for a better place to use it.
"The Blue Bullet"
well then use some boards to drive on so you can get up the ramps. im lowered on eibach sportlines and i drive on ramps to do an oil change
Im a Xbox 360 fanboy...and damn proud of it!!
Nope not a good place that you can pick up the front both sides at the same time. Gotta have two jacks or 1 jack stand.
01 cav w/01 3400 gam gt 4t45e
Ok. I jacked on the previously noted jack point. Put the jack stand on the control arm?
"The Blue Bullet"
stand the Subframe or rocker pinch weld. Make sure that you block the back wheels or set the e brake.
01 cav w/01 3400 gam gt 4t45e
