Chevrolet Cobalt Owners Manual: Radio(s)

Radio with CD (Base)

Radio with CD (MP3) and USB Port shown, Radio with CD (MP3) similar

The vehicle has one of these radios as its audio system.

Radio Data System (RDS)

The radio may have RDS. The RDS feature is available for use only on FM stations that broadcast RDS information. This system relies upon receiving specific information from these stations and only works when the information is available.

While the radio is tuned to an FM-RDS station, the station name or call letters display. In rare cases, a radio station could broadcast incorrect information that causes the radio features to work improperly. If this happens, contact the radio station.

Playing the Radio

(Power/Volume): Press to
turn the system on and
off. Turn to increase or decrease the volume.

Speed Compensated Volume (SCV): Radios with the Speed Compensated Volume (SCV) feature automatically adjust the radio volume to compensate for road and wind noise as the vehicle speeds up or slows down, so that the volume level is consistent.

To activate SCV:
1. Set the radio volume to the desired level.

2. Press MENU to display the radio setup menu.

3. Press the softkey under the AUTO VOLUM tab on the radio display.

4. Press the softkey under the desired Speed Compensated Volume setting (OFF, Low, Med, or High) to select the level of radio volume compensation. The display times out after approximately 10 seconds. Each higher setting allows for more radio volume compensation at faster vehicle speeds.

Finding a Station

BAND: Press to choose between FM1, FM2, AM, or XM™ (if equipped) on the Radio with CD (Base).

Press to choose between FM, AM, XM (if equipped) on the Radio with CD (MP3) and USB Port or the Radio with CD (MP3).

(Tune): Turn to select radio
stations.

: Press to seek or scan
stations with a strong
signal in the selected band.

- To seek stations, press and release
to
go to the previous station and stay there.

- To scan stations, press and hold
for a
few seconds until the radio beeps once. The radio goes to a station, plays for a few seconds, then goes to the next station. Press
again to
stop scanning.

- To scan preset stations in the selected band, press and hold for four seconds
until a double
beep sounds. The radio goes to a stored preset, plays for a few seconds, then goes to the next stored preset. Press again to
stop
scanning preset stations.

: Press to seek or scan
stations with a strong
signal in the selected band.

- To seek stations, press and release
to
go to the next station and stay there.

- To scan stations, press and hold for a
few seconds until the radio beeps once. The radio goes to a station, plays for a few seconds, then goes to the next station. Press
again to
stop scanning.

- To scan preset stations in the selected band, press and hold for four seconds
until a double
beep sounds. The radio goes to a stored preset, plays for a few seconds, then goes to the next stored preset. Press again to
stop
scanning preset stations.

(Information): For vehicles
with the Radio with CD
(Base), press to switch the display between the radio station frequency and the time. While the ignition is off, press to display the time.

For vehicles with XM, MP3, WMA, or RDS features, press to display additional
text information related to the current FM-RDS or XM station; or CD, MP3, WMA song. Song title information will be displayed on the top line of the display while the artist information will be displayed on the bottom line, it the information is available during XM, CD, MP3, or WMA playback.

When information is not available, “No Info” displays.

line of the display while the artist information will be displayed on the bottom line, it the information is available during XM, CD, MP3, or WMA playback.

When information is not available, “No Info” displays.

Storing Radio Stations

Depending on which radio the vehicle has, radio stations are stored as either favorites or presets.

Storing a Radio Station as a Favorite

Radio that have a FAV button store radio stations as favorites.

Drivers are encouraged to set up radio station favorites while the vehicle is in P (Park). Tune to favorite stations using the softkeys, favorites button, and steering wheel controls. See Defensive Driving.

FAV (Favorites): A maximum of 36 stations can be stored as favorites using the six softkeys located below the radio station frequency tabs and by using the radio favorites page button (FAV button). Press FAV to go through up to six pages of favorites, each having six favorite stations available per page. Each page of favorites can contain any combination of AM, FM, or XM stations. The current balance/fade and tone settings are also stored with the favorite stations.

To store a station as a favorite: 1. Tune to the desired radio station and set the balance/fade and tone settings to the desired levels.

2. Press FAV to display the page where to store the station.

3. Press and hold one of the six softkeys until a beep sounds.

4. Repeat the steps for each radio station to be stored as a favorite.

To setup the number of favorites pages: 1. Press MENU to display the radio setup menu.

2. Press the softkey located below the FAV 1-6 tab.

3. Select the desired number of favorites pages by pressing the softkey located below the displayed page numbers.

4. Press FAV, or let the menu time out, to return to the original main radio screen showing the radio station frequency tabs and to begin programming favorites.

Auto Text (Satellite Radio Service, CD, MP3, and WMA features): If additional information is available for the current song being played, Auto Text will automatically page/scroll the information every three seconds above the FAV presets on the radio display. By default, Auto Text is enabled.

To change the Auto Text setting: 1. Press MENU to display the radio setup menu.

2. Press the softkey under AUTO TXT tab on the radio display.

3. Press the softkey under the ON or OFF tab on the radio display.

If is pressed and the song
title or artist information is longer than what can be displayed, the extra information will page every three seconds when Auto Text is activated.

Storing a Radio Station as a Preset

Radios that have numbered pushbuttons store radio stations as presets.

Up to 18 stations (six FM1, six FM2, and six AM), can be programmed on the six numbered buttons.

To store preset stations: 1. Tune in the desired station.

2. Press and hold one of the six numbered buttons for three seconds until a beep sounds.

3. Repeat the Steps 1 and 2 for each numbered button.

Setting the Tone (Bass/Midrange/Treble)

BASS/MID/TREB (Bass, Midrange, or Treble): The radio may display some or all tones such as BASS, MID, and TREB.

To adjust the tone settings on the Radio with CD (Base):
Press until the tone control
labels display, then
turn to change the setting.

To adjust the tone settings on the Radio with CD (MP3) and USB Port or the Radio with CD (MP3): 1. Press until the tone
control tabs display.

2. Press the softkey below the desired tab to be adjusted.

3. To increase the level of the bass, midrange, or treble:
- Press .

- Turn clockwise.

4. To decrease the level of the bass, midrange, or treble:
- Press    
- Turn counterclockwise.

The radio may be capable of adjusting bass, midrange, or treble to the middle position by pressing the softkey below the BASS, MID, or TREB tab for more than two seconds. The radio beeps once and the level adjusts to the middle position.

The radio may also be capable of adjusting all tone and speaker controls to the middle position by pressing for more than two
seconds until the radio
beeps once.

If a station's frequency is weak, or has static, decrease the treble.

EQ (Equalization): Press this button to select preset equalization settings.

To return to the manual mode, press EQ until Manual displays or start to manually adjust the bass, midrange, or treble by pressing .

Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade)

Depending on which radio the vehicle has, the Balance/Fade can be adjusted using or
.

To adjust balance or fade using :
1. Press until the speaker
control tabs display.

2. Press the softkey under the desired tab, or continue pressing to
highlight the desired tab.

3. Turn to adjust the
highlighted setting.

The highlighted setting can also be adjusted by pressing either SEEK arrow.

On some radios, can also
be used to adjust the highlighted level.

To adjust balance or fade using :
1. Press until the speaker
control labels display.

2. Continue pressing 
until the desired speaker control label displays.

3. Turn to adjust the
setting. The setting can also be adjusted by pressing either SEEK arrow, .

The radio may be capable of adjusting balance or fade to the middle position by pressing the softkey below the BAL or FADE tab for more than two seconds. The radio beeps once and the level adjusts to the middle position.

The radio may also be capable of adjusting all tone and speaker controls to the middle position by pressing for more than two
seconds until the radio
beeps once.

Finding a Category (CAT) Station (XM Satellite Radio Service Only)

CAT (Category): The radio may have the CAT button feature.

To select and find a desired category: 1. Press BAND until the XM frequency displays.

2. Press CAT to display the category tabs on the radio display. Continue pressing the CAT button until the desired category name displays.

3. Press either of the two softkeys below the desired category tab to immediately tune to the first XM station associated with that category.

4. To go to the previous or to the next XM station within the selected category, do one of the following:
- Turn .

- Press the softkeys below the right or left arrows on the radio display.

- Press .

5. To exit the category search mode, press the FAV button or BAND button to display the favorites again.

Undesired XM categories can be removed through the setup menu. To remove an undesired category: 1. Press MENU to display the radio setup menu.

2. Press the softkey below the XM CAT tab.

3. Turn to display the
category to be removed.

4. Press the softkey below the Remove tab until the category name along with the word Removed displays.

5. Repeat the steps to remove additional categories.

Removed categories can be restored by pressing the softkey under the Add tab when a removed category displays or by pressing the softkey below the Restore All tab.

Categories cannot be removed or added while the vehicle is moving faster than 5 mph (8 km/h).

Radio Messages

Calibration Error: Displays if the radio is no longer calibrated properly for the vehicle. The vehicle must be returned to your dealer/retailer for service.

Loc or Locked: Displays when the THEFTLOCK® system has activated. Take the vehicle to your dealer/retailer for service.

If any error occurs repeatedly or if an error cannot be corrected, contact your dealer/retailer.

XM Satellite Radio Service

XM is a satellite radio service that is based in the 48 contiguous United States and 10 Canadian provinces. XM Satellite Radio has a wide variety of programming and commercial-free music, coast-to-coast, and in digital-quality sound. A service fee is required to receive the XM service. For more information, contact XM at www.xmradio.com or call 1-800-929-2100 in the U.S. and www.xmradio.ca or call 1-877-438-9677 in Canada.

Radio Messages for XM Only

See XM Radio Messages for more information.

Loading a CD

Insert a CD partway into the slot, label side up.

The player pulls it in and the CD begins playing.

When the CD is inserted, the CD symbol displays. As each new track starts to play, the track number displays.

The CD player can play the smaller 3 inch (8 cm) single CDs with an adapter ring. Full-size CDs and the smaller CDs are loaded in the same manner.

Ejecting a CD

EJECT: Press to eject the
CD. If the CD is not
removed, after several seconds, the CD automatically pulls back into the player.

Playing a CD

If the ignition or radio is turned off with a CD in the player it stays in the player. When the ignition or radio is turned on, the CD starts to play where it stopped, if it was the last selected audio source.

(Tune): Turn to select tracks
on the CD currently
playing.

: Press to go to the start of
the current track,
if more than ten seconds have played. Press and hold or press multiple times to continue moving backward through the tracks on the CD.

: Press to go to the next
track. Press and
hold or press multiple times to continue moving forward through the tracks on the CD.

(Reverse): Press and hold to
reverse
playback quickly within a track. Sound is heard at a reduced volume and the elapsed time of the track displays. Release to resume playing the track.

(Fast Forward): Press and
hold to advance
playback quickly within a track. Sound is heard at a reduced volume and the elapsed time of the track displays. Release to resume playing the track.

RDM (Random): Tracks can be listened to in random, rather than sequential order.

To use random:
1. Press the softkey below RDM tab until Random Current Disc displays.

2. Press the softkey again to turn off random play.

BAND: Press to listen to the radio while a CD is playing. The CD remains inside the radio for future listening.

CD/AUX (CD/Auxiliary): Press to play a CD while listening to the radio. The CD icon and a message showing the track number displays when a CD is in the player. Press this button again and the system automatically searches for an auxiliary input device, such as a portable audio player. If a portable audio player is not connected, No Aux Input Device Found may display.

Playing an MP3 CD-R or CD-RW Disc

The radio may have the ability to play an MP3 CD-R or CD-RW disc. See Using an MP3 for more information.

CD Messages

CHECK DISC: If an error message displays and/or the CD comes out, it could be for one of the following reasons:
- The CD player is very hot. When the temperature returns to normal, the CD should play.

- The road is very rough. When the road becomes smoother, the CD should play.

- The CD is dirty, scratched, wet, or upside down.

- The air is very humid. If so, wait about an hour and try again.

- A problem may have occurred while burning the CD.

- The label could be caught in the CD player.

If the CD is not playing correctly, for any other reason, try a known good CD.

If any error occurs repeatedly or if an error cannot be corrected, contact your dealer/retailer. If the radio displays an error message, write it down and provide it to your dealer/retailer when reporting the problem.

Care of CDs

Store CD(s) in their original cases or other protective cases and away from direct sunlight and dust. The CD player scans the bottom of the disc. If the bottom of a CD is damaged it may not play properly or at all. Do not touch the bottom of a CD while handling it. Pick up CDs by grasping the outer edges or the edge of the hole and the outer edge.

If the surface of a CD is dirty, take a soft, lint free cloth or dampen a clean, soft cloth in a mild, neutral detergent solution mixed with water, and clean it. Make sure the wiping process starts from the center to the edge.

Care of the CD Player

Do not add labels to a CD, it could get caught in the CD player. Use a marking pen to write on the top of the CD if a description is needed.

Do not use CD lens cleaners, they could damage the CD player.

Notice: If a label is added to a CD, or more than one CD is inserted into the slot at a time, or an attempt is made to play scratched or damaged CDs, the CD player could be damaged. While using the CD player, use only CDs in good condition without any label, load one CD at a time, and keep the CD player and the loading slot free of foreign materials, liquids, and debris.

If an error displays, see “CD Messages” earlier in this section.

Using the Auxiliary Input Jack

The radio system may have an auxiliary input jack located on the lower right side of the faceplate. This is not an audio output; do not plug the headphone set into the front auxiliary input jack. An external audio device such as an iPod®, laptop computer, MP3 player, CD changer, etc. can be connected to the auxiliary input jack for use as another audio source.

Drivers are encouraged to set up any auxiliary device while the vehicle is in P (Park). See Defensive Driving for more information on driver distraction.

To use a portable audio player, connect a 3.5mm (1/8 in) cable to the radio's front auxiliary input jack.

When a device is connected, press the radio CD/AUX button to begin playing audio from the device over the vehicle speakers.

(Power/Volume): Turn to
adjust the volume.

Additional volume adjustments may have to be made from the portable device if the volume is too quiet or not loud.

BAND: Press to listen to the radio while a portable audio device is connected to the auxiliary input.

The portable audio device continues playing until it is stopped or turned off.

CD/AUX (CD/Auxiliary): Press to play a CD while a portable audio device is connected to the auxiliary input. Press again and the system begins playing audio from the connected portable audio player. If a portable audio player is not connected, No Aux Input Device may display.

Using the USB Port

Radio's with a USB port can control a USB storage device or an iPod® using the radio buttons and knobs.

See Using an MP3 for information about how to connect and control a USB storage device or an iPod.

USB Support

The USB connector is located on the front of the radio and uses the USB 2.0 standard.

USB Supported Devices

- USB Flash Drives.

- Portable USB Hard Drives.

- Fifth generation or later iPod.

- iPod nano.

- iPod touch.

- iPod classic.

Not all iPods and USB Drives are compatible with the USB port.

Make sure the iPod has the latest firmware from Apple® for proper operation. iPod firmware can be updated using the latest iTunes® application.

See www.apple.com/itunes.

For help with identifying your iPod, go to www.apple.com/support.