Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S/Canada-9085902) -
2016 - CRC - 5/27/15
Introduction 3
{Warning
Warning indicates a hazard that
could result in injury or death.
Caution
Caution indicates a hazard that
could result in property or vehicle
damage.
A circle with a slash through it is a
safety symbol which means“Do
Not,” “Do not do this,” or“Do not let
this happen.”
Symbols
The vehicle has components and
labels that use symbols instead of
text. Symbols are shown along with the text describing the operation or
information relating to a specific
component, control, message,
gauge, or indicator.
M:
Shown when the owner
manual has additional instructions
or information.
*: Shown when the service
manual has additional instructions
or information.
0: Shown when there is more
information on another page —
“see page.”
Vehicle Symbol Chart
Here are some additional symbols
that may be found on the vehicle
and what they mean. For more
information on the symbol, refer to
the Index.
9: Airbag Readiness Light
#:Air Conditioning
!:Antilock Brake System (ABS)
%:Audio Steering Wheel Controls
or OnStar®
$: Brake System Warning Light
":Charging System
I: Cruise Control
`:Do Not Puncture
^:Do Not Service
B:Engine Coolant Temperature
O:Exterior Lamps
_: Flame/Fire Prohibited
#:Fog Lamps
.:Fuel Gauge
+: Fuses
3:Headlamp High/Low-Beam
Changer
j: LATCH System Child Restraints
*:Malfunction Indicator Lamp
::Oil Pressure
}:Power
/:Remote Vehicle Start
>: Safety Belt Reminders
7:Tire Pressure Monitor
d:Traction Control/StabiliTrak®
a:Under Pressure
M: Windshield Washer Fluid
Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S/Canada-9085902) -
2016 - CRC - 5/27/15
12 In Brief
To return the seatback to the upright
position:1. Lift the lever fully without applying pressure to the
seatback, and the seatback will
return to the upright position.
2. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is locked.
See Reclining Seatbacks 046.
Second Row Seats
The rear seatbacks can be folded
down to increase cargo space.
See Rear Seats 048.
Head Restraint
Adjustment
Do not drive until the head restraints
for all occupants are installed and
adjusted properly.
To achieve a comfortable seating
position, change the seatback
recline angle as little as necessary
while keeping the seat and the head
restraint height in the proper
position. See
Head Restraints 043 and Seat
Adjustment 045.
Safety Belts
Refer to the following sections for
important information on how to use
safety belts properly:
.
Safety Belts 050.
. How to Wear Safety Belts
Properly 051.
. Lap-Shoulder Belt 052.
. Lower Anchors and Tethers for
Children (LATCH System) 074.
Passenger Sensing
System
United States
Canada
The passenger sensing system
turns off the front outboard
passenger frontal airbag and knee
airbag under certain conditions. No
other airbag is affected by the
passenger sensing system. See
Passenger Sensing System 062.
Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S/Canada-9085902) -
2016 - CRC - 5/27/15
Keys, Doors, and Windows 25
Keys, Doors, and
Windows
Keys and Locks
Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Remote Vehicle Start . . . . . . . . . . 29
Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Automatic Door Locks . . . . . . . . . 32
Lockout Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Safety Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Doors
Trunk (Sedan) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Liftgate (Hatchback) . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Vehicle Security
Vehicle Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Vehicle Alarm System . . . . . . . . . 36
Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Immobilizer Operation . . . . . . . . . 37
Exterior Mirrors
Convex Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Manual Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Power Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Folding Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Heated Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Interior Mirrors
Manual Rearview Mirror . . . . . . . . 39
Windows
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Manual Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Power Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Sun Visors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Roof
Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Keys and Locks
Keys
{Warning
Leaving children in a vehicle with
a Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter is dangerous and
children or others could be
seriously injured or killed. They
could operate the power windows
or other controls or make the
vehicle move. The windows will
function with the RKE transmitter
in the vehicle, and children or
others could be caught in the path
of a closing window. Do not leave
children in a vehicle with an RKE
transmitter.
Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S/Canada-9085902) -
2016 - CRC - 5/27/15
30 Keys, Doors, and Windows
When the engine starts, the parking
lamps will turn on and remain on as
long as the engine is running. The
doors will be locked and the climate
control system may come on.
The engine will continue to run for
10 minutes. After 30 seconds,
repeat the steps if a 10-minute
extension is desired. Remote start
can be extended only once.
Insert the key and turn it to ON/RUN
before driving.
Extending Engine Run Time
The engine run time can also be
extended by another 10 minutes,
if during the first 10 minutes
Steps 1–2 are repeated while the
engine is still running. An extension
can be requested, 30 seconds after
starting. This provides a total of
20 minutes.
When the remote start is extended,
the second 10-minute period is
added on to the first 10 minutes for
a total of 20 minutes.
A maximum of two remote starts,
or a single start with an extension,
are allowed between ignition cycles.After this, the vehicle's ignition
switch must be turned to ON/RUN
and then back to LOCK/OFF using
the key, before the remote start
procedure can be used again.
Canceling a Remote Start
To cancel a remote start, do one of
the following:
.
Press and hold
/until the
parking lamps turn off.
. Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
. Turn the vehicle on and then off.
Conditions in Which Remote Start
Will Not Work
The remote vehicle start feature will
not operate if:
. The key is in the ignition.
. The hood is not closed.
. The hazard warning flashers
are on.
. The malfunction indicator lamp
is on.
. The engine coolant temperature
is too high. .
The oil pressure is low.
. Two remote vehicle starts, or a
single remote start with an
extension, have already
been used.
. The vehicle is not in P (Park).
Door Locks
{Warning
Unlocked doors can be
dangerous.
. Passengers, especially
children, can easily open
the doors and fall out of a
moving vehicle. When a
door is locked, the handle
will not open it. The chance
of being thrown out of the
vehicle in a crash is
increased if the doors are
not locked. So, all
passengers should wear
safety belts properly and the
(Continued)
Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S/Canada-9085902) -
2016 - CRC - 5/27/15
Keys, Doors, and Windows 31
Warning (Continued)
doors should be locked
whenever the vehicle is
driven.
. Young children who get into
unlocked vehicles may be
unable to get out. A child
can be overcome by
extreme heat and can suffer
permanent injuries or even
death from heat stroke.
Always lock the vehicle
whenever leaving it.
. Outsiders can easily enter
through an unlocked door
when you slow down or stop
the vehicle. Locking the
doors can help prevent this
from happening.
To lock or unlock the doors from
outside the vehicle:
. Use the key in the driver door to
lock all doors or unlock the
driver door only. .
Press
QorKon the Remote
Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter.
See Remote Keyless Entry
(RKE) System Operation 027.
To lock the doors from inside the
vehicle:
.
Press
Qon the central locking
switch or on the driver door
switch.
. Press the lock knob on the driver
door to lock all doors and,
if equipped, the liftgate.
To unlock the doors from inside the
vehicle: .
Press
Kon the central locking
switch or on the driver door
switch.
. Pull the door handle. Pulling the
door handle again unlatches
the door.
. Lift the lock knob on the driver
door to unlock the driver door.
The central locking switch and
power door lock switch also lock
and unlock the liftgate/trunk.
Delayed Locking
This feature delays the actual
locking of the doors until
five seconds after all doors are
closed. Delayed locking can only be
turned on when the Unlocked Door
Anti Lockout feature has been
turned off.
When
Qis pressed on the driver or
passenger door power lock switch
while the door is open, a chime will
sound three times to indicate that
delayed locking is active. The doors
will then lock automatically
five seconds after all doors are
closed.
Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S/Canada-9085902) -
2016 - CRC - 5/27/15
40 Keys, Doors, and Windows
The vehicle aerodynamics are
designed to improve fuel economy
performance. This may result in a
pulsing sound when either rear
window is down and the front
windows are up. To reduce the
sound, open either a front window
or the sunroof, if equipped.
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(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
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, press the switch to
open the window. Pull the front of
the switch up to close it. The switches work when the vehicle
is in ON/RUN or ACC/
ACCESSORY, or when Retained
Accessory Power (RAP) is active.
See
Retained Accessory Power
(RAP) 0194.
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
Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S/Canada-9085902) -
2016 - CRC - 5/27/15
Seats and Restraints 51
Q: If my vehicle has airbags, whyshould I have to wear safety
belts?
A: Airbags are supplemental
systems only; so they work with
safety belts —not instead of
them. Whether or not an airbag
is provided, all occupants still
have to buckle up to get the
most protection.
Also, in nearly all states and in
all Canadian provinces, the law
requires wearing safety belts.
How to Wear Safety Belts
Properly
This section is only for people of
adult size.
There are special things to know
about safety belts and children. And
there are different rules for smaller
children and infants. If a child will be
riding in the vehicle, see Older
Children 068 orInfants and Young
Children 069. Follow those rules for
everyone's protection. It is very important for all occupants
to buckle up. Statistics show that
unbelted people are hurt more often
in crashes than those who are
wearing safety belts.
There are important things to know
about wearing a safety belt properly.
.
Sit up straight and always keep
your feet on the floor in front
of you.
. Always use the correct buckle
for your seating position.
. Wear the lap part of the belt low
and snug on the hips, just
touching the thighs. In a crash,
this applies force to the strong pelvic bones and you would be
less likely to slide under the lap
belt. If you slid under it, the belt
would apply force on your
abdomen. This could cause
serious or even fatal injuries.
. Wear the shoulder belt over the
shoulder and across the chest.
These parts of the body are best
able to take belt restraining
forces. The shoulder belt locks if
there is a sudden stop or crash.
{Warning
You can be seriously injured,
or even killed, by not wearing
your safety belt properly.
. Never allow the lap or
shoulder belt to become
loose or twisted.
. Never wear the shoulder
belt under both arms or
behind your back.
. Never route the lap or
shoulder belt over an
armrest.
Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S/Canada-9085902) -
2016 - CRC - 5/27/15
52 Seats and Restraints
Lap-Shoulder Belt
All seating positions in the vehicle
have a lap-shoulder belt.
The following instructions explain
how to wear a lap-shoulder belt
properly.1. Adjust the seat, if the seat is adjustable, so you can sit up
straight. To see how, see
“Seats” in the Index.
2. Pick up the latch plate and pull
the belt across you. Do not let
it get twisted. The lap-shoulder belt may lock
if you pull the belt across you
very quickly. If this happens, let
the belt go back slightly to
unlock it. Then pull the belt
across you more slowly.
If the shoulder portion of a
passenger belt is pulled out all
the way, the child restraint
locking feature may be
engaged. If this happens, let
the belt go back all the way
and start again.
For the driver and front
outboard passenger belts,
if the webbing locks in the latchplate before it reaches the
buckle, tilt the latch plate to flat
to unlock.
3. Push the latch plate into the
buckle until it clicks.
If the latch plate will not go fully
into the buckle, check if the
correct buckle is being used.
Pull up on the latch plate to
make sure it is secure. If the
belt is not long enough, see
Safety Belt Extender 055.
Position the release button on
the buckle so that the safety
belt could be quickly unbuckled
if necessary.