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Jammer · 09-28-2009, 01:50 AM

I am no expert at this stuff, and in fact I am new to this site. However I would like to share what I have learned in hopes it might help another newbie out.

My car is a 2009 Chevy Cobalt LS Coupe XFE, and so far I'm getting just above 45 MPG and climbing higher every time I drive.

At first my attempt at driving EOC in this car made it difficult for me to steer, and it spooked me. Latter I discovered my own stupidity was the reason- I had a radar detector wire wrapped around my steering column which resulting in it being very hard to steer in manual. The wire had got hung up and pinched in the steering column. So I had to take care of that fast because manual steering was just about impossible.

Ok, most of my spare time is now after dark. I think night time makes it double scary for a newbie to try driving EOC down hills and mountains. But I now find it's becoming natural.

Most important thing I found when driving after dark in EOC is to TURN MY LIGHTS TO ALWAYS ON. Otherwise all of my headlights and taillights would turn OFF until I turned the key back to the ON position, and that is an attention getter for the police that we likely need to avoid. So one of the first things I do at night time is to turn my lights to all-on. This way the lights are all on even when my key is in "Off" (and the brake and signal lights work).

The next problem I noticed with my Cobalt was that if I used the KEY to restart that all of my lights would blink off/on. So before I even read about it here, I started bump starting as I have done this for many years anyway, as I have almost always drove a stick shift. So by bump starting my lights do not shut off/on when I re-start, everything is as smooth as I can get it.

However, due to my battery not getting the charge that it used to get my lights do get a little bit brighter when I restart. It's not a big deal though. I had a real good test today as I was driving EOC right past a cop parked in a parking lot (speed trap) that pulled out behind me and followed me in town. I was sure to keep the motor ON while he was behind me. I think I got his attention because I was going a little slow for the 45 zone I was in. So I brought the car up to the PS. And when I bumped started right in front of the cop and my lights got a little brighter likely caught his attention as well. But after a couple miles of following he went on past me and drove on down the road. So, I guess all of the lights are working fine in EOC or this police officer likely would of told me, as they do not hesitate to let pull you over here.

I have discovered a situation when it is better for me to bump start in a lower gear as opposed to 5th gear. If I am going EOC down a steep hill and then start to go UP HILL a bump-start works much better by shifting to 4th or even 3rd gear depending on speed and how steep the incline upwards is. I feel this needs to be pointed out here in the Bump-Start sticky. 5th gear is not going to work well if you have already started going up a steep hill in EOC, you will kill your engine FAST.

It seems everything electrical works fine after dark in EOC (in my car) as long as the key is turned to "On". My CD player does not skip a beat, I manage to run a cb radio (high power), GPS, radar detector, stereo turned up high and a cell phone charger while running with high beam headlights on! But, as one can imagine, all of this pull on the battery while running the engine half as much takes a big toll on the battery. In cold weather, and/or and old battery, it would be easy to deplete a full charge in no time at all. So, it may be obvious, but it should be noted that when running EOC after dark it's a good idea to turn off all electrical things that are not in use or needed. I guess that is common sense, but I thought it should be noted. Of course if one is trying to start a manual and it does not have enough power to start with the key then a bump start will do the trick, even if you have to open the driver's door and push! (I have done it before)

Otherwise things are going smoothly and I have gone right past many cops parked in speed traps while in EOC. Unless they are listening for a motor or are looking for slow drivers (such as intoxicated drivers) it seems driving after dark in EOC in these hills and mountains and in the small towns works out pretty well. The biggest challenge is keeping a good charge on the battery and keeping the lights on the same constant level of brightness to keep from drawing attention from the police that may not approve of such tactics. I find that it's best to ride in neutral as much as possible and sometimes it seems best to leave the engine ON until a steeper hill is topped.

Well, that's all I have for now. I hope something I said here is of help to somebody.

Peace.

09-28-2009, 01:50 AM	#1 (permalink)
Jammer Chevy and CB Radio Lover Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: East Kentucky Posts: 302 Thanks: 13 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Perfecting Going EOC After Dark I am no expert at this stuff, and in fact I am new to this site. However I would like to share what I have learned in hopes it might help another newbie out. My car is a 2009 Chevy Cobalt LS Coupe XFE, and so far I'm getting just above 45 MPG and climbing higher every time I drive. At first my attempt at driving EOC in this car made it difficult for me to steer, and it spooked me. Latter I discovered my own stupidity was the reason- I had a radar detector wire wrapped around my steering column which resulting in it being very hard to steer in manual. The wire had got hung up and pinched in the steering column. So I had to take care of that fast because manual steering was just about impossible. Ok, most of my spare time is now after dark. I think night time makes it double scary for a newbie to try driving EOC down hills and mountains. But I now find it's becoming natural. Most important thing I found when driving after dark in EOC is to TURN MY LIGHTS TO ALWAYS ON. Otherwise all of my headlights and taillights would turn OFF until I turned the key back to the ON position, and that is an attention getter for the police that we likely need to avoid. So one of the first things I do at night time is to turn my lights to all-on. This way the lights are all on even when my key is in "Off" (and the brake and signal lights work). The next problem I noticed with my Cobalt was that if I used the KEY to restart that all of my lights would blink off/on. So before I even read about it here, I started bump starting as I have done this for many years anyway, as I have almost always drove a stick shift. So by bump starting my lights do not shut off/on when I re-start, everything is as smooth as I can get it. However, due to my battery not getting the charge that it used to get my lights do get a little bit brighter when I restart. It's not a big deal though. I had a real good test today as I was driving EOC right past a cop parked in a parking lot (speed trap) that pulled out behind me and followed me in town. I was sure to keep the motor ON while he was behind me. I think I got his attention because I was going a little slow for the 45 zone I was in. So I brought the car up to the PS. And when I bumped started right in front of the cop and my lights got a little brighter likely caught his attention as well. But after a couple miles of following he went on past me and drove on down the road. So, I guess all of the lights are working fine in EOC or this police officer likely would of told me, as they do not hesitate to let pull you over here. I have discovered a situation when it is better for me to bump start in a lower gear as opposed to 5th gear. If I am going EOC down a steep hill and then start to go UP HILL a bump-start works much better by shifting to 4th or even 3rd gear depending on speed and how steep the incline upwards is. I feel this needs to be pointed out here in the Bump-Start sticky. 5th gear is not going to work well if you have already started going up a steep hill in EOC, you will kill your engine FAST. It seems everything electrical works fine after dark in EOC (in my car) as long as the key is turned to "On". My CD player does not skip a beat, I manage to run a cb radio (high power), GPS, radar detector, stereo turned up high and a cell phone charger while running with high beam headlights on! But, as one can imagine, all of this pull on the battery while running the engine half as much takes a big toll on the battery. In cold weather, and/or and old battery, it would be easy to deplete a full charge in no time at all. So, it may be obvious, but it should be noted that when running EOC after dark it's a good idea to turn off all electrical things that are not in use or needed. I guess that is common sense, but I thought it should be noted. Of course if one is trying to start a manual and it does not have enough power to start with the key then a bump start will do the trick, even if you have to open the driver's door and push! (I have done it before) Otherwise things are going smoothly and I have gone right past many cops parked in speed traps while in EOC. Unless they are listening for a motor or are looking for slow drivers (such as intoxicated drivers) it seems driving after dark in EOC in these hills and mountains and in the small towns works out pretty well. The biggest challenge is keeping a good charge on the battery and keeping the lights on the same constant level of brightness to keep from drawing attention from the police that may not approve of such tactics. I find that it's best to ride in neutral as much as possible and sometimes it seems best to leave the engine ON until a steeper hill is topped. Well, that's all I have for now. I hope something I said here is of help to somebody. Peace.