Black plate (19,1)Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual - 2012
In Brief 1-19
Tire Pressure Monitor
This vehicle may have a Tire
Pressure Monitor System (TPMS).
The TPMS warning light alerts you
to a significant loss in pressure of
one of the vehicle's tires. If the
warning light comes on, stop as
soon as possible and inflate the
tires to the recommended pressure
shown on the Tire and Loading
Information label. SeeVehicle Load
Limits on page 9‑11. The warning
light will remain on until the tire
pressure is corrected.
During cooler conditions, the low tire
pressure warning light may appear
when the vehicle is first started and
then turn off. This may be an early indicator that the tire pressures are
getting low and the tires need to be
inflated to the proper pressure.
The TPMS does not replace normal
monthly tire maintenance. It is the
driver
’s responsibility to maintain
correct tire pressures.
See Tire Pressure Monitor System
on page 10‑46.Tire Sealant and
Compressor Kit
This vehicle may come with a spare
tire and tire changing equipment or
a tire sealant and compressor kit.
The kit can be used to temporarily
seal small punctures in the tread
area of the tire.
See Tire Sealant and Compressor
Kit on page 10‑60 for complete
operating information.
If the vehicle came with a spare tire
and tire changing equipment, see If
a Tire Goes Flat on page 10‑58.
Engine Oil Life System
The engine oil life system calculates
engine oil life based on vehicle use
and displays the Code 82 DIC
message when it is necessary to
change the engine oil and filter.
Remember, the oil life display must
be reset after each oil change. It will
not reset itself. Also, be careful not
to reset the oil life display
accidentally at any time other than
when the oil has just been changed.
It cannot be reset accurately until
the next oil change. To reset the
engine oil life system press the
SET/CLR button while the oil life
display is active.
Resetting the Oil Life System
1. Using the DIC MENU button and thumbwheel, scroll until you
reach Remaining Oil Life on
the DIC.
2. Press the SET/CLR button to reset the oil life at 100%. When
prompted, use the thumbwheel
Black plate (20,1)Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual - 2012
1-20 In Brief
to highlight YES or NO. Press
the SET/CLEAR button to
confirm.
Be careful not to reset the oil life
display accidentally at any time
other than after the oil is changed.
It cannot be reset accurately.
See Engine Oil Life System on
page 10‑12.
Hood Release
To open the hood:
1. Pull the hood release handle
inside the vehicle. It is located
on the lower left side of the
instrument panel.
2. Go the front of the vehicle, move the secondary hood release
lever to the right, located under
the front center of the vehicle.
3. Lift the hood and securely place the hood prop into the slot on
the underside of the hood.
See Hood on page 10‑4.
Driving for Better Fuel
Economy
Driving habits can affect fuel
mileage. Here are some driving
tips to get the best fuel economy
possible.
.Avoid fast starts and accelerate
smoothly.
.Brake gradually and avoid
abrupt stops.
.Avoid idling the engine for long
periods of time.
.When road and weather
conditions are appropriate,
use cruise control.
.Always follow posted speed
limits or drive more slowly when
conditions require.
.Keep vehicle tires properly
inflated.
.Combine several trips into a
single trip.
.Replace the vehicle's tires with
the same TPC Spec number
molded into the tire's sidewall
near the size.
.Follow recommended scheduled
maintenance.
Roadside Assistance
Program
U.S.: 1-800-243-8872
TTY Users: 1-888-889-2438
Canada: 1-800-268-6800
As the owner of a new Chevrolet,
you are automatically enrolled in the
Roadside Assistance program.
See Roadside Assistance Program
on page 13‑5 for more information.
Black plate (15,1)Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual - 2012
Keys, Doors, and Windows 2-15
Manual Windows
If equipped, use the window crank
to open and close each window.
The rear windows do not open fully.
Power Windows
{WARNING
Leaving children in a vehicle with
the keys is dangerous for many
reasons. Children or others could
be badly injured or even killed.
They could operate the power
windows or other controls or even
make the vehicle move. The
windows will function and they
could be seriously injured or killed
if caught in the path of a closing
window. Do not leave keys in a
vehicle with children.
When there are children in the
rear seat use the window lockout
button to prevent unintentional
operation of the windows.
If equipped, push the switch down
to open the window. Pull the front of
the switch up to close it.
The switches work when the vehicle
is in ON/RUN, ACC/ACCESSORY,
or when Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) is active. See
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
on page 9‑19.
Express Window Operation
Windows with an express-down or
express-up feature allow the window
to be lowered or raised without
holding the switch. The driver
window has express-down and
express-up. Pull a window switch up
or push it down all the way, release
it, and the window goes up or down
automatically. Stop the window by
pushing or pulling the switch in the
same direction a second time or
briefly operating the switch to the
first detent in either direction.
Safety Function
If any object is in the path of the
window when the Express-Up
feature is active, the window will
stop and auto-reverse to a preset
position. Weather conditions may
cause the window to auto-reverse.
The window switch may be held up
to the second position to close the
window. The window will return to
normal operation once the
obstruction or condition is removed.
Black plate (9,1)Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-9
Speedometer
The speedometer shows the
vehicle's speed in either kilometers
per hour (km/h) or miles per
hour (mph).
Odometer
The odometer shows how far the
vehicle has been driven, in either
kilometers or miles.
Trip Odometer
The trip odometer measures the
distance the vehicle has been
driven since the function was last
reset.
To reset the trip odometer to zero,
press and hold the reset button on
the lower right of the tachometer.
The reset button resets only the trip
odometer that is being displayed.
Tachometer
The tachometer displays the
engine speed in revolutions
per minute (rpm).
Fuel Gauge
The fuel gauge indicates about how
much fuel is left when the ignition is
turned to ON/RUN.
When the tank nears empty, the low
fuel warning light will come on.
There is still a little fuel left, but the
vehicle's fuel tank should be filled
soon. SeeLow Fuel Warning Light
on page 5‑20 for more information.
Black plate (16,1)Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual - 2012
5-16 Instruments and Controls
Brake System Warning
Light
The vehicle brake system consists
of two hydraulic circuits. If one
circuit is not working, the remaining
circuit can still work to stop the
vehicle. For normal braking
performance, both circuits need to
be working
If the warning light comes on, there
is a brake problem. Have the brake
system inspected right away.
{WARNING
The brake system might not be
working properly if the brake
system warning light is on.
Driving with the brake system
warning light on can lead to a
crash. If the light is still on after
the vehicle has been pulled off
the road and carefully stopped,
have the vehicle towed for
service.
MetricEnglish
This light should come on briefly
when the ignition is turned to ON.
If it does not come on then, have it
fixed so it will be ready to warn if
there is a problem.
When the ignition is on, the brake
system warning light will also come
on when the parking brake is set.
The light will stay on if the parking
brake does not fully release. If it
stays on after the parking brake is
fully released, it means there is a
brake problem.
If the light comes on while driving,
carefully pull off the road and stop.
The pedal may be harder to push or
may go closer to the floor. It may
take longer to stop. If the light is still on, have the vehicle towed for
service. See
Towing the Vehicle on
page 10‑77.
Antilock Brake System
(ABS) Warning Light
For vehicles with the Antilock Brake
System (ABS), this light comes on
briefly when the engine is started.
If the light stays on, turn the ignition
to LOCK/OFF or if the light comes
on, stop as soon as possible and
turn the ignition off. Then start the
engine again to reset the system.
If the light still stays on, or comes
on again while driving, the vehicle
needs service. See your dealer.
If the regular brake system warning
light is not on, the brakes will still
work, but the antilock brakes will not
Black plate (23,1)Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-23
Information Displays
Driver Information
Center (DIC)
The DIC displays information about
your vehicle. It also displays
warning messages if a system
problem is detected. SeeVehicle
Messages on page 5‑26 for more
information. All messages appear in
the DIC display located in the center
of the instrument panel cluster.
DIC Operation and Displays
The DIC has different displays
which can be accessed by using the
DIC buttons on the turn signal lever
on the left side of the steering
wheel. The DIC displays trip, fuel,
and warning messages if a system
problem is detected. DIC Buttons
A.
SET/CLR: Press to set or clear
the menu item displayed.
B.
w x(Thumbwheel): Use to
scroll through the menus.
C. MENU: Press to display the DIC
menu. This button is also used
to return to or exit the last
screen displayed on the DIC.
DIC Menu Items
Press MENU on the turn signal
lever until the DIC menu displays.
Use
w xto scroll through the
menu items. Not all items are available on every vehicle. The
following is a list of all possible
menu items:
.Trip
.Average Speed
.Fuel Range
.Average Fuel Economy
.Timer
.Remaining Oil Life
.Units
.Language
.Tire Learn
Trip
This displays the current distance
traveled, in either kilometers (km) or
miles (mi), from the last reset for the
trip odometer. The trip odometer can
be reset to zero by pressing and
holding the SET/CLR button while
the trip odometer display is
showing.
Black plate (24,1)Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual - 2012
5-24 Instruments and Controls
Average Speed
Metric
English
This display shows the average
speed. To reset the average speed
to zero, press and hold the SET/
CLR button while the average
speed is displayed. Fuel Range
Metric shown, English similar
This displays the approximate
distance the vehicle can be driven
without refueling. The fuel range
estimate is based on an average of
the vehicle's fuel economy over
recent driving history and the
amount of fuel remaining in the
fuel tank. Average Fuel EconomyMetric
English
This display shows the approximate
average liters per 100 kilometers
(L/100 km) or miles per gallon
(mpg). This number is calculated
based on the number of L/100 km
(mpg) recorded since the last time
this menu item was reset. To reset
Black plate (25,1)Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-25
the average fuel economy, press
and hold the SET/CLR button while
the average fuel economy is
displayed.
Timer
This display can be used as a timer.
To start the timer, press SET/CLR
while the timer is displayed. The
display will show the amount of time
that has passed since the timer was
last reset, not including time the
ignition is off. The timer will record
up to 99:59 hours, after which the
display will return to zero. To stop
the timer, press SET/CLR briefly
while the timer is displayed. To reset
the timer to zero, press and hold
SET/CLR.Remaining Oil Life
Press MENU to show the remaining
oil life display. This display shows
an estimate of the oil's remaining
useful life. If 99
:% is displayed,
that means 99% of the current oil
life remains.
When the remaining oil life is low,
the Code 82 message will appear
on the display. The oil should be
changed as soon as possible. See
Engine Oil on page 10‑9. In addition
to the engine oil life system
monitoring the oil life, additional
maintenance is recommended in the
Maintenance Schedule in this
manual. See Maintenance Schedule
on page 11‑3 for more information.
Remember, the oil life display
must be reset after each oil change.
It will not reset itself. Also, be
careful not to reset the oil life
display accidentally at any time
other than when the oil has just
been changed. It cannot be reset
accurately until the next oil change. To reset the engine oil life system,
press the SET/CLR button while the
oil life display is active. See
Engine
Oil Life System on page 10‑12.
Units
Press MENU to show the unit
display. Press SET/CLR and move
w xto change units when UNIT
SET is displayed. Press SET/CLR to
confirm the setting. You will have to
select 1, 2, or 3 for the unit display.
1 is Imperial units, 2 is US units,
and 3 is metric units. This will
change the displays on the cluster
and DIC to the type of
measurements you select.
Language
Press MENU to show the language
display. Press SET/CLR and move
w xto change the language of
the displays when LANG SET is
displayed. You will have to select 1
or 2 for the language display. 1 is
Alphabet and 2 is Arabic Numeral.
Press SET/CLR to confirm the
setting.