
Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S/Canada-9085902) -
2016 - CRC - 5/27/15
Vehicle Care 259
(4) Construction Code:A letter
code is used to indicate the type
of ply construction in the tire.
The letter R means radial ply
construction; the letter D means
diagonal or bias ply
construction; and the letter B
means belted-bias ply
construction.
(5) Rim Diameter
:Diameter of
the wheel in inches.
(6) Service Description
:These
characters represent the load
index and speed rating of the
tire. The load index represents
the load carrying capacity a tire
is certified to carry. The speed
rating is the maximum speed a
tire is certified to carry a load.
Tire Terminology and
Definitions
Air Pressure:The amount of
air inside the tire pressing
outward on each square inch of the tire. Air pressure is
expressed in kPa (kilopascal)
or psi (pounds per square inch).
Accessory Weight
:The
combined weight of optional
accessories. Some examples of
optional accessories are
automatic transmission, power
windows, power seats, and air
conditioning.
Aspect Ratio
:The relationship
of a tire's height to its width.
Belt
:A rubber coated layer of
cords between the plies and the
tread. Cords may be made from
steel or other reinforcing
materials.
Bead
:The tire bead contains
steel wires wrapped by steel
cords that hold the tire onto
the rim.
Bias Ply Tire
:A pneumatic tire
in which the plies are laid at
alternate angles less than
90 degrees to the centerline of
the tread. Cold Tire Pressure
:The
amount of air pressure in a tire,
measured in kPa (kilopascal)
or psi (pounds per square inch)
before a tire has built up heat
from driving. See Tire Pressure
0 261.
Curb Weight
:The weight of a
motor vehicle with standard and
optional equipment including the
maximum capacity of fuel, oil,
and coolant, but without
passengers and cargo.
DOT Markings
:A code molded
into the sidewall of a tire
signifying that the tire is in
compliance with the U.S.
Department of Transportation
(DOT) Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards. The DOT code
includes the Tire Identification
Number (TIN), an alphanumeric
designator which can also
identify the tire manufacturer,
production plant, brand, and
date of production.

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S/Canada-9085902) -
2016 - CRC - 5/27/15
Vehicle Care 285
Caution
Wheel covers will not fit on the
vehicle's compact spare. If you try
to put a wheel cover on the
compact spare, the cover or the
spare could be damaged.
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire
and Tools
{Warning
Storing a jack, a tire, or other
equipment in the passenger
compartment of the vehicle could
cause injury. In a sudden stop or
collision, loose equipment could
strike someone. Store all these in
the proper place.
Storing the Flat Tire and Tools 1. Return the jack and tools to their original storage location.
2. Replace the trim cover. 3. Place the flat tire, lying flat, in
the rear storage compartment.
If the vehicle is a sedan the flat
tire should be against the back
of the rear seats.
If the vehicle is a hatchback
the flat tire should be against
the back of the trunk.
4. Attach one end of the strap to
a cargo tie-down in the rear of
the vehicle.
Sedan
Hatchback
5. Route the strap through the wheel, as shown.
6. Attach the other end of the strap to the other cargo
tie-down in the rear of the
vehicle.
7. Tighten the strap.

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S/Canada-9085902) -
2016 - CRC - 5/27/15
Index 345
Electrical System (cont'd)Instrument Panel Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Emergency OnStar
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 333
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Check and Service EngineSoon Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Compartment Overview . . . . . . . 223
Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Coolant Temperature Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Drive Belt Routing . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Oil Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Oil Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Reduced Power Light . . . . . . . . . 107
Running While Parked . . . . . . . . 197
Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17, 192
Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Event Data Recorders . . . . . . . . . . 330
Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125 Extender, Safety Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . . . 120
Exterior Lighting Battery
Saver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126F
Filter,Engine Air Cleaner . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Flashers, Hazard Warning . . . . . . 122
Flat Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273 Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Fluid Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 229
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Fog Lamps Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . 123, 245
Folding Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . 104
Frequency Statement Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328
Front Fog Lamp Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Front Seat Armrest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Front Seats
Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Heated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213 Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Economy Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Filling a Portable FuelContainer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Foreign Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . . 107
Requirements, California . . . . . 214
Fuses Engine Compartment FuseBlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 248
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
G
GaugesFuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Warning Lights andIndicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S/Canada-9085902) -
2016 - CRC - 5/27/15
346 Index
General InformationService and Maintenance . . . . . 301
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Vehicle Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Glove Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
H
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Hands-Free Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Hazard Warning Flashers . . . . . . . 122
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Headlamps
Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Daytime RunningLamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) Indicator Light . . . . . . . . 108
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . 108
High/Low Beam Changer . . . . . 121
Lamps On Reminder . . . . . . . . . 108
Heated Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Heated Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Heater
Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193 Heating and Air Conditioning . . . 176
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . 185
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . . . 203
Home Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
How to Wear Safety Belts
Properly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Hydraulic Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
I
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Ignition Transmission Lock Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Indicator Owner Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Vehicle Ahead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Infants and Young Children,
Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Infotainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Instrument Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Instrument Panel Storage Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
J
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
K
Keyless EntryRemote (RKE) System . . . . . . . . . 27
Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
L
Labeling, Tire Sidewall . . . . . . . . . . 256
Lamps Courtesy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Daytime Running (DRL) . . . . . . 121
Dome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Exterior Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Exterior Lighting BatterySaver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, and Parking
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
License Plate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Malfunction Indicator . . . . . . . . . 100
On Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Lane Departure Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104

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