Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10122660) -2017 - crc - 5/13/16
Instruments and Controls 111
{Warning
If the airbag readiness light stays
on after the vehicle is started or
comes on while driving, it means
the airbag system might not be
working properly. The airbags in
the vehicle might not inflate in a
crash, or they could even inflate
without a crash. To help avoid
injury, have the vehicle serviced
right away.
Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator
The vehicle has a passengersensing system. SeePassengerSensing System071for importantsafety information. The instrumentpanel has a passenger airbag statusindicator.
United States
Canada
When the vehicle is started, thepassenger airbag status indicatorwill light ON and OFF, or the symbolfor on and off, for several secondsas a system check. Then, afterseveral seconds, the statusindicator will light either ON or OFF,or the on or off symbol to let youknow the status of the frontoutboard passenger frontal airbagand knee airbag.
If the word ON or the on symbol islit on the passenger airbag statusindicator, it means that the front
outboard passenger frontal airbagand knee airbag are allowed toinflate.
If the word OFF or the off symbol islit on the passenger airbag statusindicator, it means that thepassenger sensing system hasturned off the front outboardpassenger frontal airbag and kneeairbag.
If, after several seconds, both statusindicator lights remain on, or if thereare no lights at all, there may be aproblem with the lights or thepassenger sensing system. Seeyour dealer for service.
{Warning
If the airbag readiness light ever
comes on and stays on, it means
that something may be wrong
with the airbag system. To help
avoid injury to yourself or others,
have the vehicle serviced right
away. SeeAirbag Readiness
Light011 0for more information,
including important safety
information.
Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10122660) -2017 - crc - 5/13/16
Instruments and Controls 113
If the light is flashing :Amalfunction has been detected thatcould damage the emission controlsystem and increase vehicleemissions. Diagnosis and servicemay be required.
To h e l p p r e v e n t d a m a g e , r e d u c evehicle speed and avoid hardaccelerations and uphill grades.
If the light continues to flash, find asafe place to park. Turn the vehicleoff and wait at least 10 secondsbefore restarting the engine. If thelight is still flashing, follow theprevious guidelines and see yourdealer for service as soon aspossible.
If the light is on steady :Amalfunction has been detected.Diagnosis and service may berequired.
Check the following:
.Alooseormissingfuelcapmaycause the light to come on. SeeFilling the Tank0209.Afewdriving trips with the capproperly installed may turn thelight off.
.Poor fuel quality can causeinefficient engine operation andpoor driveability, which may goaway once the engine is warmedup. If this occurs, change thefuel brand. It may require atleast one full tank of the properfuel to turn the light off. SeeFuel0207.
If the light remains on, see yourdealer.
Emissions Inspection and
Maintenance Programs
If the vehicle requires an EmissionsInspection/Maintenance test, thetest equipment will likely connect tothe vehicle's Data LinkConnector (DLC).
The DLC is under the instrumentpanel to the left of the steeringwheel. Connecting devices that are
not used to perform an EmissionsInspection/Maintenance test or toservice the vehicle may affectvehicle operation. SeeAdd-OnElectrical Equipment0211.Seeyour dealer if assistance is needed.
The vehicle may not passinspection if:
.The light is on when the engineis running.
.The light does not come onwhen the ignition is in ON/RUNwith the engine not running.
.Critical emission control systemshave not been completelydiagnosed. If this happens, thevehicle would not be ready forinspection and might requireseveral days of routine drivingbefore the system is ready forinspection. This can happen ifthe 12-volt battery has recentlybeen replaced or run down, or ifthe vehicle has been recentlyserviced.
See your dealer if the vehicle willnot pass or cannot be made readyfor the test.
Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10122660) -2017 - crc - 5/13/16
116 Instruments and Controls
Lane Departure Warning
(LDW) Light
If equipped, this light, located in thecenter of the instrument panel,comes on briefly while starting thevehicle.
If it does not come on, have thevehicle serviced.
This light is green if LDW is on andready to operate.
This light changes to amber andflashes to indicate that the lanemarking has been crossed withoutusing a turn signal in that direction.
SeeLane Departure Warning(LDW)0206.
Forward Collision Alert
(FCA) Warning Light
If equipped, this light is on thecenter of the instrument panel.
The red forward collision alertcomes on and flashes when avehicle is being approached toorapidly.
The forward collision alert stays onwhen following a vehicle much tooclosely.
SeeForward Collision Alert (FCA)System0204.
Vehicle Ahead Indicator
This light is on the center of theinstrument panel.
If equipped, this indicator willdisplay green when a vehicle isdetected ahead
SeeForward Collision Alert (FCA)System0204.
Ultrasonic Parking
Sensor Light
If equipped, this light comes onbriefly while starting the vehicle. If itdoes not come on, have the vehicleserviced.
This light indicates a malfunction inthe system. See your dealer forservice.
Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10122660) -2017 - crc - 5/13/16
Instruments and Controls 121
Door Ajar Light
This light comes on when a door isopen or not securely latched. Beforedriving, check that all doors areproperly closed.
Trunk Ajar Light
This light comes on when the trunkis ajar.
Information Displays
Driver Information
Center (DIC)
The DIC displays information aboutthe vehicle. It also displays warningmessages if a system problem isdetected. SeeVehicle Messages0126.AllmessagesappearintheDIC display in the instrument panelcluster.
DIC Operation and Displays
On some models, the trip odometerreset stem is used to operate theDIC. On other models, the controlsfor the DIC are on the turn signallever.
DIC Buttons
1.SET/CLR:Press to set or clearthe menu item displayed.
2.w/x:Turn the band to
scroll through the menus.
3.MENU:Press to display theTrip/Fuel menu and the VehicleInformation menu. This buttonis also used to return to or exitthe last screen displayed onthe DIC.
Vehicle Information Menu
Items (Base Level DIC)
Press MENU to view the DIC menu.Some items display in the upperdisplay area, some in the lowerdisplay area, and others use boththe upper and lower display areas.
Usew/xto scroll through the
menu items. Not all items areavailable on every vehicle. Thefollowing is a list of possible menuitems:
.Remaining Oil Life
.Units
.Tire Learn
Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10122660) -2017 - crc - 5/13/16
134 Lighting
Lighting
Exterior Lighting
Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . 134Headlamp High/Low-BeamChanger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135Daytime RunningLamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135Automatic HeadlampSystem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135Hazard Warning Flashers . . . . . 136Turn and Lane-ChangeSignals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Interior Lighting
Instrument Panel IlluminationControl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137Courtesy Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138Dome Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138Reading Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Lighting Features
Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138Battery Load Management . . . 139Battery Power Protection . . . . . 139Exterior Lighting BatterySaver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Exterior Lighting
Exterior Lamp Controls
The exterior lamp control is on theinstrument panel to the outboardside of the steering column.
There are four positions:
O:Briefly turn to this position toturn the automatic light control off oron again.
AUTO :Turns the headlamps onautomatically at normal brightness,together with the following:
.Parking Lamps
.Ta i l l a m p s
.License Plate Lamps
.Instrument Panel Lights
.Sidemarker Lamps
;:Turns on the parking lampsincluding all lamps except theheadlamps.
5:Turns the headlamps ontogether with the parking lamps andinstrument panel lights. A warningchime sounds if the driver door isopened when the ignition switch isoff and the headlamps are on.
#:If equipped with fog lamps,press to turn the lamps on or off.
SeeFog Lamps0137.
When the lights are on,;will be
lit. SeeLamps On Reminder0120.
Headlamp High/
Low-Beam Changer
Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10122660) -2017 - crc - 5/13/16
Lighting 135
3:Push the turn signal lever awayfrom you to turn the high beams on.
Push the lever again or pull thelever toward you to return to lowbeams.
This indicator light turns on in theinstrument cluster when thehigh-beam headlamps are on.
Flash-to-Pass
To f l a s h t h e h i g h b e a m s , p u l l t h eturn signal lever all the way towardyou. Then release it.
Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL)
DRL can make it easier for others tosee the front of your vehicle duringthe day. Fully functional DRL arerequired on all vehicles first sold inCanada.
The DRL system makes thelow-beam headlamps come on at areduced brightness when thefollowing conditions are met:
.The ignition is in the ON/RUN mode.
.The exterior lamp control isin AUTO.
.The engine is running.
When the DRL are on, only thelow-beam headlamps, at a reducedlevel of brightness, will be on. Thetaillamps, sidemarker, instrumentpanel, and other lamps will notbe on.
The headlamps automaticallychange from DRL to the regularheadlamps depending on thedarkness of the surroundings. Theother lamps that come on with theheadlamps will also come on.
When it is bright enough outside,the headlamps go off and the DRLcome on.
To t u r n t h e D R L l a m p s o f f o r o nagain, turn the exterior lamp control
toOand then release. For vehicles
first sold in Canada, the DRL canonly be turned off when thetransmission is in P (Park).
Automatic Headlamp
System
When it is dark enough outside andthe exterior lamp control is in theautomatic position, the headlampscome on automatically. SeeExteriorLamp Controls0134.
The vehicle has a light sensor ontop of the instrument panel. Makesure it is not covered, or theheadlamps will be on when they arenot needed.
The system may also turn on theheadlamps when driving through aparking garage or tunnel.
Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10122660) -2017 - crc - 5/13/16
Lighting 137
Fog Lamps
If equipped with front fog lamps, thebutton is on the outboard side of theinstrument panel.
The ignition must be on to turn onthe fog lamps.
#:Press to turn the fog lamps onor off. An indicator light on theinstrument cluster comes on whenthe fog lamps are on.
The fog lamps come on togetherwith the parking lamps.
If the high-beam headlamps areturned on, the fog lamps will turn off.If the high-beam headlamps areturned off, the fog lamps will turnback on again.
Some localities have laws thatrequire the headlamps to be onalong with the fog lamps.
Interior Lighting
Instrument Panel
Illumination Control
This feature controls the brightnessof the instrument panel controls andinfotainment display screen. Thethumbwheel is to the left of thesteering column on the instrumentpanel.
D:Move the thumbwheel up ordown and hold, to brighten or dimthe instrument panel controls andinfotainment display screen.
Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10122660) -2017 - crc - 5/13/16
Climate Controls 167
fan control to 0 turns the fan off. Thefan must be turned on to run the airconditioning compressor.
Air Delivery Mode Control :Turnclockwise or counterclockwise tochange the current airflow mode.
Select from the following air deliverymodes:
Y:Air is directed to the instrumentpanel outlets.
\:Air is divided between theinstrument panel and floor outlets.
[:Air is directed to the flooroutlets, with some air directed to therear outlets.
W:This mode clears the windowsof fog or moisture. Air is directed tothe floor, windshield, and sidewindow outlets.
1:This mode clears thewindshield of fog or frost morequickly. Air is directed to thewindshield and side window outlets.
Do not drive the vehicle until allwindows are clear.
In defrost or defog mode, excessiveair conditioning use can cause thewindows to fog. If this happens,
change the air delivery mode toY
and reduce the fan speed.
#:If equipped with airconditioning, follow these steps to
use the system. TurnAto the
desired speed. The air conditioningdoes not operate when the fancontrol knob is in the off position.
Press#to turn the air conditioning
on and off. When#is pressed, an
indicator light comes on to showthat the air conditioning is on.
For quick cool down on hot days:
1. Open the windows to let hot airescape.
2. PressM.
3. Press#.
4. Select the coolest temperature.
5. Select the highestAspeed.
Using these settings together forlong periods of time may cause theair inside the vehicle to become too
dry. To prevent this from happening,after the air in the vehicle hascooled, turn the recirculationmode off.
M:This mode recirculates andhelps to quickly cool the air insidethe vehicle. It can be used to reducethe entry of outside air and odors.
Press the button to turn therecirculation mode on. An indicatorlight comes on to show that therecirculation is on. Press the buttonagain to return to outside air mode.
Using the recirculation mode forextended periods may cause thewindows to fog. If this happens,select the defrost mode.
Max#is available when the air
conditioning is selected and thetemperature is set to the coolestsetting while the outside air
temperature is warm. When Max#
is activated, the air inside thevehicle is automatically recirculated,which helps to quickly cool thevehicle. The recirculation indicatorwill not be lit.