
Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S/Canada-9085902) -
2016 - CRC - 5/27/15
Service and Maintenance 309
Lamps
Properly working headlamps,
taillamps, and brake lamps are
important to see and be seen on
the road.
.Signs that the headlamps need
attention include dimming, failure
to light, cracking, or damage.
The brake lamps need to be
checked periodically to ensure
that they light when braking.
. With a multi-point inspection,
your dealer can check the lamps
and note any concerns.
Shocks and Struts
Shocks and struts help aid in control
for a smoother ride.
. Signs of wear may include
steering wheel vibration, bounce/
sway while braking, longer
stopping distance, or uneven
tire wear.
. As part of the multi-point
inspection, trained dealer
technicians can visually inspect
the shocks and struts for signs of leaking, blown seals,
or damage, and can advise
when service is needed.
Tires
Tires need to be properly inflated,
rotated, and balanced. Maintaining
the tires can save money and fuel,
and can reduce the risk of tire
failure.
. Signs that the tires need to be
replaced include three or more
visible treadwear indicators; cord
or fabric showing through the
rubber; cracks or cuts in the
tread or sidewall; or a bulge or
split in the tire.
. Trained dealer technicians can
inspect and recommend the right
tires. Your dealer can also
provide tire/wheel balancing
services to ensure smooth
vehicle operation at all speeds.
Your dealer sells and services
name brand tires.
Vehicle Care
To help keep the vehicle looking like
new, vehicle care products are
available from your dealer. For information on how to clean and
protect the vehicle’s interior and
exterior, see
Interior Care 0297 and
Exterior Care 0292.
Wheel Alignment
Wheel alignment is critical for
ensuring that the tires deliver
optimal wear and performance.
. Signs that the alignment may
need to be adjusted include
pulling, improper vehicle
handling, or unusual tire wear.
. Your dealer has the required
equipment to ensure proper
wheel alignment.
Windshield
For safety, appearance, and the
best viewing, keep the windshield
clean and clear.
. Signs of damage include
scratches, cracks, and chips.
. Trained dealer technicians can
inspect the windshield and
recommend proper replacement
if needed.

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S/Canada-9085902) -
2016 - CRC - 5/27/15
Customer Information 323
Services Provided
.Emergency Fuel Delivery:
Delivery of enough fuel for the
vehicle to get to the nearest
service station.
. Lock-Out Service: Service to
unlock the vehicle if you are
locked out. A remote unlock may
be available if you have OnStar.
For security reasons, the driver
must present identification
before this service is given.
. Emergency Tow from a Public
Road or Highway: Tow to the
nearest Chevrolet dealer for
warranty service, or if the vehicle
was in a crash and cannot be
driven. Assistance is not given
when the vehicle is stuck in the
sand, mud, or snow.
. Flat Tire Change: Service to
change a flat tire with the spare
tire. The spare tire, if equipped,
must be in good condition and
properly inflated. It is the owner's
responsibility for the repair or
replacement of the tire if it is not
covered by the warranty. .
Battery Jump Start: Service to
jump start a dead battery.
. Trip Interruption Benefits and
Assistance: If your trip is
interrupted due to a warranty
event, incidental expenses may
be reimbursed within the
Powertrain warranty period.
Items considered are reasonable
and customary hotel, meals,
rental car, or a vehicle being
delivered back to the customer,
up to 805 km (500 mi).
Services Not Included in
Roadside Assistance
. Impound towing caused by
violation of any laws.
. Legal fines.
. Mounting, dismounting,
or changing of snow tires,
chains, or other traction devices.
Service is not provided if a vehicle
is in an area that is not accessible
to the service vehicle or is not a
regularly traveled or maintained
public road, which includes ice and
winter roads. Off-road use is not
covered.
Services Specific to
Canadian-Purchased Vehicles
. Fuel Delivery: Reimbursement
is up to 7 liters. If available,
diesel fuel delivery may be
restricted. Propane and other
fuels are not provided through
this service.
. Lock-Out Service: Vehicle
registration is required.
. Trip Interruption Benefits and
Assistance: Must be over
150 km from where your trip was
started to qualify. General
Motors of Canada Limited
requires pre-authorization,
original detailed receipts, and a
copy of the repair orders. Once
authorization has been received,
the Roadside Assistance advisor
will help to make arrangements
and explain how to receive
payment.
. Alternative Service: If
assistance cannot be provided
right away, the Roadside
Assistance advisor may give
permission to get local
emergency road service. You will

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S/Canada-9085902) -
2016 - CRC - 5/27/15
342 Index
IndexA
Accessories andModifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Accessory Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . 217
Additional Information OnStar
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 336
Additional Maintenance and Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
Agreements
Trademarks and License . . . . . 174
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine . . . . . . . 230
Air Filter, Passenger Compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Air Intake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Air Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Airbag System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
How Does an AirbagRestrain? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Passenger Sensing System . . . . 62
What Makes an Airbag Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
What Will You See after an
Airbag Inflates? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
When Should an Airbag Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Where Are the Airbags? . . . . . . . . 58 Airbags
Adding Equipment to the
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Passenger Status Indicator . . . . . 99
Readiness Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Servicing Airbag-Equipped Vehicles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Alarm Vehicle Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
AM-FM Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Antenna
Multi-band . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Satellite Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . 202
Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Appearance Care Exterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
Interior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
Armrest
Front Seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Assistance Program, Roadside . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
Audio
Bluetooth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Theft-Deterrent Feature . . . . . . . 128

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S/Canada-9085902) -
2016 - CRC - 5/27/15
Index 343
AutomaticDoor Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Headlamp System . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Automatic Transmission Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Shift Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Auxiliary Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
B
Battery
Exterior Lighting BatterySaver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Load Management . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Power Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Battery - North America . . . . 240, 287
Blade Replacement, Wiper . . . . . 242
Bluetooth Overview . . . . . . . . . . . 146, 147, 153
Bluetooth Audio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Brake System Warning Light . . . . . . . . 102
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Antilock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239 Brakes (cont'd)
Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Break-In, New Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . 190
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247 Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123, 245
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Headlamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Headlamps, Front TurnSignal, and Parking
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
License Plate Lamps . . . . . . . . . 246
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps, and Back-up
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
C
Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
California Fuel Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Perchlorate MaterialsRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
California Proposition
65 Warning . . . . . . . . . .220, 240, 287
Camera
Rear Vision (RVC) . . . . . . . . . . . . 208 Canadian Vehicle Owners . . . . . . . . 2
Capacities and
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
Carbon Monoxide Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Liftgate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Trunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Cargo Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Caution, Danger, and Warning . . . . 2
Chains, Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Charging System Light . . . . . . . . . 100
Check
Ignition Transmission Lock . . . 241
Malfunction IndicatorEngine Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Child Restraints Infants and Young Children . . . . . 69
Lower Anchors and Tethersfor Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Older Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Securing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80, 82
Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Cleaning
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S/Canada-9085902) -
2016 - CRC - 5/27/15
Index 349
Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . . . 208
Rear Window Washer/Wiper . . . . . 92
Rearview Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Reclining Seatbacks . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Recommended Fluids andLubricants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311
Records Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . 290
Reduced Engine Power Light . . . 107
Reimbursement Program, GM Mobility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Remote Vehicle Start . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Replacement Parts
Airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312
Replacing Airbag System . . . . . . . . 67
Replacing LATCH System
Parts after a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Replacing Safety Belt System Parts after a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Reporting Safety Defects Canadian Government . . . . . . . . 329
General Motors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329 Reporting Safety Defects (cont'd)
U.S. Government . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329
Restraints Where to Put . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Roads Driving, Wet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Roadside Assistance
Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
Roof Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Rotation, Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Routing, Engine Drive Belt . . . . . . 317
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
S
Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Extender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
How to Wear Safety BeltsProperly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Reminders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Replacing after a Crash . . . . . . . . 55
Use During Pregnancy . . . . . . . . . . 54
Safety Defects Reporting
Canadian Government . . . . . . . . 329 Safety Defects Reporting (cont'd)
General Motors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329
U.S. Government . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329
Safety Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Safety System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Satellite Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Satellite Radio Antenna . . . . . . . . . 142
Scheduling Appointments . . . . . . . 324
Sealant Kit, Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Seats
Adjustment, Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Heated Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Reclining Seatbacks . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Securing Child Restraints . . . . 80, 82
Security OnStar®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 333
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Vehicle Alarm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Service Accessories andModifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Climate Control System . . . . . . . 176
Doing Your Own Work . . . . . . . . 221
Engine Soon Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Maintenance Records . . . . . . . . 313

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S/Canada-9085902) -
2016 - CRC - 5/27/15
350 Index
Service (cont'd)Maintenance, General
Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Parts Identification Label . . . . . 314
Publications Ordering
Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327
Scheduling Appointments . . . . . 324
Vehicle Soon Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Services
Special Application . . . . . . . . . . . 307
Servicing the Airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Shift Lock Control Function Check, Automatic
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Signals, Turn and
Lane-Change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Smartphone Link . . . . .160, 162, 164
Spare Tire Compact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Special Application Services . . . . 307
Specifications and
Capacities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
StabiliTrak OFF Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 Start Assist, Hills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Start Vehicle, Remote . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . 17, 192
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Power, Warning Lights . . . . . . . . 104
Wheel Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Wheel Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Stoplamps and Back-up Lamps Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Storage
Load Compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Storage Areas Cargo Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Glove Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Instrument Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Storage Compartments . . . . . . . . . . 86
Storing the Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Stuck Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Summer Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Sun Visors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
System Forward CollisionAlert (FCA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Infotainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127T
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Taillamps Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Text Telephone (TTY) Users . . . . 321
Theft-Deterrent Systems . . . . . . . . . 37
Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254 All-Season . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Compact Spare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Different Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Pressure Monitor Operation . . 263
Pressure Monitor System . . . . . 262
Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Sealant and
Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Sealant and Compressor Kit, Storing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S/Canada-9085902) -
2016 - CRC - 5/27/15
Index 351
Tires (cont'd)Terminology and Definitions . . 259
Uniform Tire Quality
Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 272
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Towing General Information . . . . . . . . . . 217
Recreational Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . 290
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Traction Control System (TCS)/StabiliTrak
®Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Off Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Trademarks and License Agreements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Transmission
Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Fluid, Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Fluid, Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Transportation Program, Courtesy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324 Trip Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Trunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Turn and Lane-Change
Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Turn Signal Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
U
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . 270
Up-Shift Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
USB Port . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Using This Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
V
VehicleAlarm System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Canadian Owners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Identification Number (VIN) . . . 314
Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Personalization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113
Remote Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Service Soon Light . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Vehicle Ahead Indicator . . . . . . . . 104 Vehicle Care
Storing the Tire Sealant
and Compressor Kit . . . . . . . . . 281
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Vehicle Data Recording and Privacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330
Ventilation, Air . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Visors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
W
Warning Brake System Light . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Caution and Danger . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Lane Departure (LDW) . . . . . . . 212
Warning Light Forward CollisionAlert (FCA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Warning Lights, Gauges, and Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Warnings Hazard Flashers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Wheels Alignment and Tire Balance . . 272
Different Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Where to Put the Restraint . . . . . . 73

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S/Canada-9085902) -
2016 - CRC - 5/27/15
352 Index
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . 242
Wipers Rear Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92