2017 CHEVROLET SONIC Transmission

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10122660) -2017 - crc - 5/13/16
Driving and Operating 193
2. Press the + (plus) end of thebutton on the side of the shiftlever to upshift, or press the✓(minus) end of the button todownshift.
The Driver Information Center (DIC)in the instrument cluster will changefrom the currently displayedmessage to the letter M, for Manualposition, and a number indicatingthe requested gear.
While using manual mode, thetransmission will have firmer shiftingand sportier performance. You canuse this for sport driving or whenclimbing hills to stay in gear longeror to downshift for more power orengine braking.
The transmission will only allow youto shift into gears appropriate for thevehicle speed and enginerevolutions per minute (rpm):
.The transmission will notautomatically shift to the nexthigher gear if the vehicle speedor engine rpm is too low.
.The transmission will not allowshifting to the next lower gear ifthe vehicle speed or engine rpmis too high.
Manual Transmission
The vehicle may be equipped with a5-speed or 6-speed manualtransmission.
Caution
Shifting the vehicle initially into
any gear other than 1 (First) or
R(Reverse) can damage the
clutch. Shift the manual
transmission in the proper
sequence, and time the gear
(Continued)

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10122660) -2017 - crc - 5/13/16
194 Driving and Operating
Caution (Continued)
shifting with the accelerator to
avoid revving the engine and
damaging the clutch.
1(First) :Press the clutch pedaland shift into 1 (First). Then, slowlylet up on the clutch pedal as youpress the accelerator pedal.
Yo u c a n s h i f t i n t o 1 ( F i r s t ) w h e ngoing less than 32 km/h (20 mph).If you have come to a complete stopand it is hard to shift into 1 (First),put the shift lever in Neutral and letup on the clutch. Press the clutchpedal back down. Then shift into1(First).
2(Second) :Press the clutch pedalas you let up on the acceleratorpedal and shift into 2 (Second).Then, slowly let up on the clutchpedal as you press the acceleratorpedal.
3(Third), 4(Fourth), 5(Fifth), and6(Sixth) :Shift into 3 (Third),4(Fourth), 5(Fifth), and 6(Sixth) (ifequipped) the same way as for
2(Second). Slowly let up on theclutch pedal as you press theaccelerator pedal.
To s t o p , l e t u p o n t h e a c c e l e r a t o rpedal and press the brake pedal.Just before the vehicle stops, pressthe clutch pedal and the brakepedal, and shift to Neutral.
Neutral :Use this position whenyou start or idle the engine.
R(Reverse) :To b a c k u p , p r e s sdown the clutch pedal, lift up thereverse lockout ring on the shift
lever, and shift into R (Reverse). Letup on the clutch pedal slowly whilepressing the accelerator pedal.
Caution
Shifting to R (Reverse) while the
vehicle is moving forward could
damage the transmission. The
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Shift to
R(Reverse) only after the vehicle
is stopped.
Shift Speeds
{Warning
If you skip a gear when
downshifting, you could lose
control of the vehicle. You could
injure yourself or others. Do not
shift down more than one gear at
atimewhendownshifting.

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10122660) -2017 - crc - 5/13/16
Driving and Operating 195
Up-Shift Light
Vehicles equipped with a manualtransmission have an up-shift light.This light indicates when to shift tothe next higher gear for better fueleconomy.
For the best fuel economy,accelerate slowly and shift when thelight comes on, and if the weather,road, and traffic conditions allow.
It is normal for the light to go on andoff if the accelerator positionchanges quickly. Ignore the lightduring downshifts.
Brakes
Antilock Brake
System (ABS)
This vehicle has an Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS), an advancedelectronic braking system that helpsprevent a braking skid.
When the vehicle begins to driveaway, ABS checks itself.Amomentarymotororclickingnoisemay be heard while this test is goingon, and it may even be noticed thatthe brake pedal moves a little. Thisis normal.
If there is a problem with ABS, thiswarning light stays on. SeeAntilockBrake System (ABS) WarningLight011 5.
If driving safely on a wet road and itbecomes necessary to slam on thebrakes and continue braking toavoid a sudden obstacle, acomputer senses the wheels areslowing down. If one of the wheelsis about to stop rolling, the computerwill separately work the brakes ateach wheel.
ABS can change the brake pressureto each wheel, as required, fasterthan any driver could. This can helpyou steer around the obstacle whilebraking hard.
As the brakes are applied, thecomputer keeps receiving updateson wheel speed and controlsbraking pressure accordingly.
Remember: ABS does not changethe time needed to get a foot up tothe brake pedal or always decreasestopping distance. If you get tooclose to the vehicle in front of you,there will not be enough time toapply the brakes if that vehiclesuddenly slows or stops. Alwaysleave enough room up ahead tostop, even with ABS.

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10122660) -2017 - crc - 5/13/16
200 Driving and Operating
RES/+ :If there is a set speed inmemory, move the thumbwheel upbriefly to resume to that speed orhold upward to accelerate. If cruisecontrol is already active, use toincrease vehicle speed.
SET/✓:Move the thumbwheel downbriefly to set the speed and activatecruise control. If cruise control isalready active, use to decreasespeed.
*:Press to disengage cruisecontrol without erasing the setspeed from memory.
Setting Cruise Control
If5is on when not in use, SET/- or
RES/+ could get bumped and gointo cruise when not desired. Keep5off when cruise control is notbeing used.
To s e t c r u i s e c o n t r o l :
1. Press5to turn the cruise
system on.
2. Get to the speed desired.
3. Move the thumbwheel down toSET/- and release it.
4. Take your foot off theaccelerator pedal.
The cruise control indicator on theinstrument cluster turns green aftercruise control has been set to thedesired speed. SeeInstrumentCluster0107.
Resuming a Set Speed
If the cruise control is set at adesired speed and then the brakesor clutch for manual transmissions
are applied or*is pressed, the
cruise control is disengaged withouterasing the set speed from memory.
Once the vehicle reaches about40 km/h (25 mph) or more, move thethumbwheel up toward RES/+briefly. The vehicle returns to theprevious set speed.
Increasing Speed While UsingCruise Control
If the cruise control system isalready activated:
.Move the thumbwheel up towardRES/+ and hold it until thedesired speed is reached, thenrelease it.
.To i n c r e a s e t h e v e h i c l e s p e e d i nsmall increments, move thethumbwheel up toward RES/+briefly and then release it. Foreach press, the vehicle goesabout 1.6 km/h (1 mph) faster.
The speedometer reading can bedisplayed in either English or metricunits. SeeDriver Information Center(DIC)0121.Theincrementvalueused depends on the unitsdisplayed.
Reducing Speed While UsingCruise Control
If the cruise control system isalready activated:
.Move the thumbwheel towardSET/✓and hold until the desiredlower speed is reached, thenrelease it.
.To d e c r e a s e t h e v e h i c l e s p e e d i nsmaller increments, move thethumbwheel toward SET/✓briefly. For each press, thevehicle goes about 1.6 km/h(1 mph) slower.

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10122660) -2017 - crc - 5/13/16
Driving and Operating 201
The speedometer reading can bedisplayed in either English or metricunits. SeeDriver Information Center(DIC)0121.Theincrementvalueused depends on the unitsdisplayed.
Passing Another Vehicle WhileUsing Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal toincrease the vehicle speed. Whenyou take your foot off the pedal, thevehicle slows down to the previousset cruise control speed. Whilepressing the accelerator pedal orshortly following the release tooverride cruise control, brieflymoving the thumbwheel towardSET/- will result in cruise control setto the current vehicle speed.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well cruise control works onhills depends on the vehicle speed,load, and the steepness of the hills.When going up steep hills, youmight have to step on theaccelerator pedal to maintain thevehicle speed. When goingdownhill, you might have to brake orshift to a lower gear to keep your
speed down. If the brake pedal isapplied, cruise control willdisengage.
Ending Cruise Control
There are four ways to end cruisecontrol:
.To d i s e n g a g e c r u i s e c o n t r o l ,step lightly on the brake pedal orclutch for manual transmission.
.Press*.
.Shift the transmission toN(Neutral).
.To t u r n o f f c r u i s e c o n t r o l ,
press5.
Erasing Speed Memory
The cruise control set speed is
erased from memory if5is pressed
or if the ignition is turned off.
Driver Assistance
Systems
Rear Vision
Camera (RVC)
This vehicle may have the RVCsystem. Read this entire sectionbefore using it.
The RVC system can assist thedriver when backing up bydisplaying a view of the area behindthe vehicle.
{Warning
The camera(s) do not display
children, pedestrians, bicyclists,
crossing traffic, animals, or any
other object outside of the
cameras’field of view, below the
bumper, or under the vehicle.
Shown distances may be different
from actual distances. Do not
drive or park the vehicle using
only these camera(s). Always
check behind and around the
(Continued)

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10122660) -2017 - crc - 5/13/16
212 Vehicle Care
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 213California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213California PerchlorateMaterials Requirements . . . . . 213Accessories andModifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215Engine CompartmentOverview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 222Automatic TransmissionFluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223Manual Transmission Fluid . . . 224Hydraulic Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 224Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 230Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Battery - North America . . . . . . 234Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 234Automatic Transmission ShiftLock Control FunctionCheck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235Ignition Transmission LockCheck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235Park Brake and P (Park)Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 236Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 236
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 238Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238Headlamps and Front TurnSignal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239Ta i l l a m p s , T u r n S i g n a l ,Stoplamps, and Back-UpLamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . 241Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . 242Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 242Engine Compartment FuseBlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Instrument Panel FuseBlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249Summer Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . 250Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256Tire Pressure MonitorSystem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257Tire Pressure MonitorOperation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261When It Is Time for NewTires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263Different Size Tires andWheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264Uniform Tire QualityGrading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264Wheel Alignment and TireBalance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 266Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . 267

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10122660) -2017 - crc - 5/13/16
Vehicle Care 223
the oil life system to work properly,the system must be reset every timethe oil is changed.
When the system has calculatedthat oil life has been diminished, itindicates that an oil change is
necessary. A:%CHANGE
message in the DIC comes on. SeeEngine Oil Messages0127.Change the oil as soon as possiblewithin the next 1 000 km (600 mi).It is possible that, if driving underthe best conditions, the oil lifesystem might indicate that an oilchange is not necessary for up to ayear. The engine oil and filter mustbe changed at least once a yearand, at this time, the system mustbe reset. Your dealer has trainedservice people who will perform thiswork and reset the system. It is alsoimportant to check the oil regularlyover the course of an oil draininterval and keep it at the properlevel.
If the system is ever resetaccidentally, the oil must bechanged at 5 000 km (3,000 mi)
since the last oil change.Remember to reset the oil lifesystem whenever the oil is changed.
How to Reset the Engine Oil
Life System
Reset the system whenever theengine oil is changed so that thesystem can calculate the nextengine oil change. To reset thesystem:
1. Press MENU to showRemaining Oil Life on thedisplay. This display shows anestimate of the oil’sremaininguseful life. If 99% is displayed,that means that 99% of thecurrent oil life remains.
2. To reset the engine oil lifesystem, press SET/CLR whilethe oil life display is active.Select YES and press and holdSET/CLR. After a few seconds,there will be a single chime andthe oil life will be resetto 100%.
Be careful not to reset the oil lifedisplay accidentally at any timeother than after the oil is changed.It cannot be reset accurately.
If the:%CHANGE message in
the DIC comes back on when thevehicle is started, the engine oil lifesystem has not reset. Repeat theprocedure.
Automatic Transmission
Fluid
How to Check Automatic
Transmission Fluid
It is not necessary to check thetransmission fluid level.Atransmissionfluidleakistheonlyreason for fluid loss. If a leakoccurs, take the vehicle to yourdealer and have it repaired as soonas possible.
There is a special procedure forchecking and changing thetransmission fluid. Because thisprocedure is difficult, you shouldhave this done at your dealer.

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10122660) -2017 - crc - 5/13/16
224 Vehicle Care
Change the fluid at the intervalslisted inMaintenance Schedule0290,andbesuretousethefluidlisted inRecommended Fluids andLubricants0300.
Manual Transmission
Fluid
It is not necessary to check themanual transmission fluid level.Atransmissionfluidleakistheonlyreason for fluid loss. If a leakoccurs, take the vehicle to yourdealer and have it repaired as soonas possible. SeeRecommendedFluids and Lubricants0300for theproper fluid to use.
Hydraulic Clutch
For vehicles with a manualtransmission, it is not necessary toregularly check brake/clutch fluidunless there is a leak suspected.Adding fluid will not correct a leak.Afluidlossinthissystemcouldindicate a problem. Have thesystem inspected and repaired.
When to Check and What
to Use
The common hydraulic clutch andbrake master cylinder fluid reservoiris filled with DOT 3 brake fluid asindicated on the reservoir cap. SeeEngine Compartment Overview0217for reservoir location.
How to Check and Add Fluid
Visually check the brake/clutch fluidreservoir to make sure the fluid levelis at the MIN (minimum) line on theside of the reservoir. The brake/hydraulic clutch fluid system shouldbe closed and sealed.
Do not remove the cap to check thefluid level or to top⇣off the fluid level.Remove the cap only whennecessary to add the proper fluiduntil the level reaches the MIN line.
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
The engine air cleaner/filter islocated in the engine compartmenton the passenger side of thevehicle. SeeEngine CompartmentOverview0217for more informationon location.
When to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter
For intervals on changing andinspecting the engine air cleaner/filter, seeMaintenanceSchedule0290.
How to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter
Do not start the engine or have theengine running with the engine aircleaner/filter housing open. Beforeremoving the engine air cleaner/filter, make sure that the engine aircleaner/filter housing and nearbycomponents are free of dirt anddebris. Remove the engine aircleaner/filter. Lightly tap and shakethe engine air cleaner/filter (awayfrom the vehicle), to release loosedust and dirt. Inspect the engine aircleaner/filter for damage, andreplace if damaged. Do not cleanthe engine air cleaner/filter orcomponents with water orcompressed air.