2012 CHEVROLET SONIC infotainment

Black plate (10,1)Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual - 2012
7-10 Infotainment System
FAV 1‐2‐3:Press to open the
favorites list and select the
favorites page.
1 to 6: Press to select preset
stations.
RDS (Radio Data System)
The radio may have RDS. The RDS
feature is available for use only on
FM stations that broadcast RDS
information. This feature only works
when the information from the radio
station is available. 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.
While the radio is tuned to an
FM-RDS station, the station name
or call letters display.
Radio Menus
Radio menus are available for AM
and FM.
Turn the MENU/TUNE knob to open
the main radio menu for that band.
Selecting a Band
Press the RADIO/BAND button to
choose AM, FM, or XM, if equipped.
The last station that was playing
starts playing again.
Selecting a Station
Seek Tuning
If the radio station is not known:
Briefly press SEEK
¨or©SEEK to
automatically search for the next
available station. If a station is not
found, the radio switches to a more
sensitive search level. If a station
still is not found, the frequency that
was last active begins to play.
If the radio station is known:
Press and hold SEEK
¨or©SEEK
until the station on the display is
reached, then release the button.
Favorites List
1. Turn the MENU/TUNE knob.
2. Select Favorites List.
3. Select the station. Station Lists
1. Turn the MENU/TUNE knob.
2. Select AM or FM Station List. All
receivable stations in the current
reception area are displayed. If a
station list has not been created,
an automatic station search
is done.
3. The first station in the list will play.
Category Lists
Most stations that broadcast an
RDS program type code specify the
type of programming transmitted.
Some stations change the program
type code depending on the
content. The system stores the RDS
stations sorted by program type in
the FM category list.
To search for a programming type
determined by station:
1. Turn the MENU/TUNE knob.
2. Select FM category list. A list of all programming types available
displays.

Black plate (11,1)Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual - 2012
Infotainment System 7-11
3. Select the programming type.A list of stations that transmit
programming of the selected
type displays.
4. Select the station. The category lists are updated
when the station lists are
updated.
Updating Station and Category
Lists
If stations stored in the station list
can no longer be received:
1. Turn the MENU/TUNE knob.
2. Select Update AM or FM Station List, if the stations stored in the
station list are no longer
received. A station search will be
completed and the first station in
the updated list will play.
To cancel the station search, press
the MENU/TUNE button.Storing a Station as a Favorite
Stations from all bands can be
stored in any order in the favorite
pages.
Up to six stations can be stored in
each favorite page and the number
of available favorite pages can
be set.
Storing Stations
To store the station to a position in
the list, press the corresponding
button 1 to 6 until a beep is heard.
Retrieving Stations
Press the FAV 1‐2‐3 button to open
a favorite page or to switch to
another favorite page. Briefly press
one of the 1 to 6 buttons to retrieve
the station.
Satellite Radio
XM Satelite Radio Service
XM is a satellite radio service 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
1-800-929-2100 in the U.S. and
www.xmradio.ca or
1-877-438-9677 in Canada.
Finding a Channel
BAND: Press to choose FM, AM,
or XM. The display will show the
selection.
SEEK
¨: Press to seek the next
XM channel.
©SEEK: Press to seek the
previous XM channel.

Black plate (12,1)Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual - 2012
7-12 Infotainment System
MENU/TUNE:Turn to go to the
next XM channel.
Storing an XM Channel
Drivers are encouraged to set up
XM channel favorites while the
vehicle is not moving. Tune to
favorite stations using the
pushbuttons, favorites button, and
steering wheel controls. See
Defensive Driving on page 9‑3.
A maximum of 36 stations can be
programmed as favorites using the
six pushbuttons positioned below
the radio station frequency labels
and by using the radio favorites
page button (FAV 1‐2‐3 button).
Press the FAV 1‐2‐3 button to go
through up to six pages of favorites,
each having six favorite stations
available per page. If Automatic
Store is used, then four pages of
favorites are available. Each page
of favorites can contain any
combination of AM, FM, or XM
channels. To store an XM channel
as a favorite:
1. Tune in the desired channel. 2. Press and release the FAV 1‐2‐3
button to display the page where
the channel is to be stored.
3. Press and hold one of the six numbered pushbuttons until a
beep sounds. When the
pushbutton is pressed and
released, the channel that was
set will return.
4. Repeat Steps 1 through 3 for each XM channel to be stored
as a favorite.
To set up the number of favorites
pages:
1. Press and hold FAV 1‐2‐3 until the radio setup menu displays.
2. Select the desired number of favorites pages by pressing the
pushbutton located below the
displayed page numbers.
3. Press FAV 1‐2‐3 to return to the original main radio screen
showing the radio frequency
tabs and to begin the process of programming favorites for the
chosen number of numbered
pages.XM Radio Messages
UPDATING:
The encryption code
in the receiver is being updated, and
no action is required. This process
should take no longer than
30 seconds.
NO SIGNAL: The system is
functioning correctly, but the vehicle
is in a location that is blocking the
XM signal. When the vehicle is
moved into an open area, the signal
should return.
LOADING: The audio system is
acquiring and processing audio and
text data. No action is needed. This
message should disappear shortly.
OFF AIR: This channel is not
currently in service. Tune in to
another channel.
CH UNAVAILABLE: This
previously assigned channel is no
longer assigned. Tune to another

Black plate (13,1)Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual - 2012
Infotainment System 7-13
station. If this station was one of the
presets, choose another station for
that preset button.
RADIO ID:If tuned to channel 0,
this message alternates with the XM
Radio eight‐digit radio ID label. This
label is needed to activate the
service.
CHECK XM TUNER: If this
message does not clear within a
short period of time, the receiver
could have a fault. Consult with your
dealer.
Radio Reception
Frequency interference and static
can occur during normal radio
reception if items such as cell phone
chargers, vehicle convenience
accessories, and external electronic
devices are plugged into the
accessory power outlet. If there is
interference or static, unplug the
item from the accessory power
outlet.
AM
The range for most AM stations is
greater than for FM, especially at
night. The longer range can cause
station frequencies to interfere with
each other. For better radio
reception, most AM radio stations
boost the power levels during the
day, and then reduce these levels
during the night. Static can also
occur when things like storms and
power lines interfere with radio
reception. When this happens, try
reducing the treble on the radio.
FM Stereo
FM signals only reach about 16 to
65 km (10 to 40 mi). Although the
radio has a built-in electronic circuit
that automatically works to reduce
interference, some static can occur,
especially around tall buildings or
hills, causing the sound to fade in
and out.
XM Satellite Radio Service
XM Satellite Radio Service gives
digital radio reception from coast to
coast in the 48 contiguous United
States, and in Canada. Just as
with FM, tall buildings or hills can
interfere with satellite radio signals,
causing the sound to fade in and
out. In addition, traveling or standing
under heavy foliage, bridges,
garages, or tunnels may cause loss
of the XM signal for a period of time.
Cellular Phone Usage
Cellular phone usage may cause
interference with the vehicle's radio.
This interference may occur when
making or receiving phone calls,
charging the phone's battery, or
simply having the phone on. This
interference causes an increased
level of static while listening to the
radio. If static is received while
listening to the radio, unplug the
cellular phone and turn it off.

Black plate (14,1)Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual - 2012
7-14 Infotainment System
Fixed Mast Antenna
Vehicles without OnStar have a
fixed mast antenna that can
withstand most car washes without
being damaged. If the mast should
ever become slightly bent,
straighten it out by hand. If the
mast is badly bent, replace it.
Check occasionally to make sure
the mast is still tightened to the
antenna base located on the roof of
the vehicle. If tightening is required,
tighten by hand.
Satellite Radio Antenna
The XM Satellite Radio antenna is
located on the roof of the vehicle.
Keep the antenna clear of
obstructions for clear radio
reception.
If the vehicle has a sunroof, the
performance of the XM system
(if equipped) may be affected if
the sunroof is open.
Audio Players
CD Player
The CD player can play audio CDs
and MP3 CDs.
The CD player will not play 8 cm
(3 in) CDs.
Care of CDs
Sound quality can be reduced due
to disc quality, recording method,
quality of the music recorded, and
how the disc has been handled.
Handle discs carefully and store
them in their original cases or other
protective cases away from direct
sunlight and dust. If the bottom
surface of a disc is damaged, the
disc may not play properly or at all.
Do not touch the bottom surface of
a disc while handling it; this could
damage the surface. Pick up discs
by grasping the outer edges or the
edge of the hole and the outer edge.
If the bottom surface of a disc is
dirty, take a soft, lint‐free cloth,
or dampen a clean, soft cloth in amild neutral detergent solution
mixed with water, and clean it. Wipe
the disc from the center to the
outer edge.
Care of the CD Player
Do not add a label to a disc, as it
could get caught in the CD player.
If a label is needed, label the top of
the recorded disc with a
marking pen.
Do not use disc lens cleaners
because they could contaminate the
lens of the disc optics and damage
the CD player.
Notice:
If a label is added to a
CD, 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.

Black plate (15,1)Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual - 2012
Infotainment System 7-15
Control Buttons
The buttons used to control the CD
player are:
CD/AUX:Press to use the CD
player.
SEEK
¨or©SEEK: Press to
select tracks or to fast forward or
rewind within a track.
INFO: Press to display additional
information about the current track
that may be available.
MENU/TUNE: Turn to select tracks.
Turn to enter the menu. Press to
select the menu.
Z(Eject): Press to eject the disc.
Inserting a CD
With the printed side facing up,
insert a disc into the CD slot until it
is drawn in.
Removing a CD
PressZ.
The disc is pushed out of the
CD slot. If the disc is not removed after it is
ejected, it is pulled back in after a
few seconds.
Playing a CD or MP3 CD
Press the CD/AUX button. If there is
a disc in the player, it begins
playing.
Information about the disc and
current track is shown on the
display depending on the data
stored.
Selecting a CD Track
Using the control buttons:
.Press SEEK¨or©SEEK to
select the next or previous track.
.Turn the MENU/TUNE knob.
Using the CD Menu:
1. Turn the MENU/TUNE knob.
2. Select Tracks List.
3. Select the track. Playing Tracks in Random Order
Turn the MENU/TUNE knob and set
Shuffle Songs to On.
Fast Forward and Rewind
Press and hold SEEK
¨or©SEEK
to fast forward or rewind within the
current track.
Selecting an MP3 Track
Using the control buttons:
.Press SEEK¨or©SEEK to
select the next or previous track.
.Turn the MENU/TUNE knob.
Using the CD Menu:
1. Turn the MENU/TUNE knob.
2. Select Playlists/Folders.
3. Select the playlist or folder.
4. Select the track.

Black plate (16,1)Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual - 2012
7-16 Infotainment System
Searching for MP3 Tracks
The search feature may take some
time to display the information after
reading the disc due to the amount
of information stored on the disc.
FM automatically plays while the
disc is being read.
Tracks can be searched by:
.Playlists
.Artists
.Albums
.Song Titles
.Genres
.Folder View
To search for tracks:
1. Turn the MENU/TUNE knob.
2. Select Search.
3. Select: Playlists, Artists, Albums, Song Titles, Genres,
or Folder View.
4. Select the track.
Auxiliary Devices
The optional AUX input allows
portable devices to connect to the
vehicle using the 3.5 mm (1/8 in)
input jack or the USB port. The AUX
input jack, if equipped, is located in
the storage area to the right of the
infotainment system. A second AUX
input is located on the front of the
infotainment system. See Overview
(Radio with CD) on page 7‑3 or
Overview (Radio with CD/USB) on
page 7‑5 for more information.
Portable devices are controlled by
using the menu system described in
Operation on page 7‑6.
A. 3.5 mm (1/8 in) Auxiliary Input Jack
B. USB Port
3.5 mm Jack
Connect a 3.5 mm (1/8 in) cable to
the auxiliary input jack to use a
portable audio player.
Playback of an audio device that is
connected to the 3.5 mm (1/8 in)
jack can only be controlled using
the controls on the device.

Black plate (17,1)Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual - 2012
Infotainment System 7-17
Adjusting the Volume
Turn the
O/VOL knob to adjust the
volume of the infotainment system
after the volume level has been set
on the portable audio device.
USB Port
For vehicles with a USB port, the
following devices may be connected
and controlled by the infotainment
system:
.iPods
.PlaysForSure Devices (PFDs)
.USB Drives
.Zunes™
Not all iPods, PFDs, USB Drives,
and Zunes are compatible with the
infotainment system.
Connecting and Controlling
an iPod®
Not all iPods can be controlled by
the infotainment system.
Connecting an iPod
Connect the iPod to the USB port.
Searching for a Track
Tracks can be searched for by:
.Playlists
.Artists
.Albums
.Song Titles
.Podcasts
.Genres
.Audiobooks
.Composers To search for tracks:
1. Turn the MENU/TUNE knob.
2. Select Search.
3. Select: Playlists, Artists, Albums,
Song Titles, Podcasts, Genres,
Audiobooks, or Composers.
4. Select the track.
Shuffle
Turn the MENU/TUNE knob and set
Shuffle Songs (Random) to On or
Off, then press the
/BACK button
to return to the main screen.
On: Plays tracks in the current
folder in random order.
Off: Plays tracks in the current
folder in sequential order.
Repeat
Turn the MENU/TUNE knob and set
Repeat to On or Off, then press the
/BACK button to return to the main
screen.
On: Repeats the current track.