2009 Chevrolet Cobalt Owner's Manual - Page 293

Brakes Brake Fluid The brake master cylinder and, on manual transmission vehicles, the clutch hydraulic system use the same reservoir filled with DOT 3 brake fluid. Do not top off the brake/clutch fluid. Adding fluid does not correct a leak. If fluid is added when the brake linings are worn, there will be too much fluid when new brake linings are installed. Add or remove fluid, as necessary, only when work is done on the brake/clutch hydraulic system. { CAUTION: If too much brake fluid is added, it can spill on the engine and burn, if the engine is hot enough. You or others could be burned, and the vehicle could be damaged. Add brake fluid only when work is done on the brake and/or clutch hydraulic system. When the brake fluid falls to a low level, the brake warning light comes on. See Brake System Warning Light on page 3-29. See Engine Compartment Overview on page 5-12 for the location of the reservoir. There are only two reasons why the brake fluid level in the reservoir might go down: • The brake fluid level goes down because of normal brake lining wear. When new linings are installed, the fluid level goes back up. • A fluid leak in the brake and/or clutch hydraulic system can also cause a low fluid level. Have the brake and/or clutch hydraulic system fixed, since a leak means that sooner or later the brakes and/or clutch will not work well. 5-35