
Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10122660) -2017 - crc - 5/13/16
28 Keys, Doors, and Windows
Key Access with Remote Start
Shown
The key that is part of the RemoteKeyless Entry (RKE) transmitter canbe used for the ignition and alllocks.
Press the button on the RKEtransmitter to extend the key. Pressthe button and the key blade toretract the key.
Keyless Access with Remote Start
Shown
The key that is part of the RemoteKeyless Entry (RKE) transmitter canbe used for all locks.
See your dealer if a new key isneeded.
If the vehicle has an ignition, and itbecomes difficult to turn the key,inspect the key blade for debris.
If you are locked out of the vehicle,seeRoadside AssistanceProgram0311.
Remote Keyless Entry
(RKE) System
SeeRadio FrequencyStatement0317.
If there is a decrease in the RemoteKeyless Entry (RKE) operatingrange:
.Check the distance. Thetransmitter may be too far fromthe vehicle.
.Check the location. Othervehicles or objects may beblocking the signal.
.Check the transmitter's battery.See“Battery Replacement”laterin this section.
.If the transmitter is still notworking correctly, see yourdealer or a qualified technicianfor service.

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10122660) -2017 - crc - 5/13/16
Keys, Doors, and Windows 31
Battery Replacement
The battery is not rechargeable. Toreplace the battery:
Caution
When replacing the battery, do
not touch any of the circuitry on
the transmitter. Static from your
body could damage the
transmitter.
1. Press the button on thetransmitter to extend the key.
2. Remove the battery cover byprying with a finger.
3. Remove the old battery.
4. Insert the new battery, positiveside facing up. Replace with aCR2032 or equivalent battery.
5. Snap the battery cover back onto the transmitter.
Remote Keyless Entry
(RKE) System Operation
(Keyless Access)
The Keyless Access system allowsfor vehicle entry when thetransmitter is within range. See“Keyless Access Operation”following.
The transmitter functions may workup to 60 m (197 ft) away from thevehicle.
Other conditions can impact theperformance of the transmitter.
With Remote Start Shown
Q:Press once to lock all doors andthe liftgate or trunk.
The turn signal indicators may flashand/or the horn may sound toindicate locking.
If any door is open whenQis
pressed, all doors will lock,if disabled through vehiclepersonalization. If enabled, only thedriver door unlocks. SeeVehiclePersonalization0127.
PressingQmay also arm the alarm
system. SeeVehicle AlarmSystem044.

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10122660) -2017 - crc - 5/13/16
36 Keys, Doors, and Windows
2. With the vehicle in P (Park) orN(Neutral), press the brakepedal and press ENGINESTART/STOP. SeeStarting theEngine0185.
Replace the transmitter batteryas soon as possible.
Battery Replacement
Replace the battery if the REPLACEBATTERY IN REMOTE KEYmessage displays in the DIC. SeeVehicle Messages0126.
Caution
When replacing the battery, do
not touch any of the circuitry on
the transmitter. Static from your
body could damage the
transmitter.
The battery is not rechargeable. Toreplace the battery:
1. Press the button on the side ofthe transmitter near the bottomand pull the key out.
2. Separate the two halves of thetransmitter using the key or aflat tool inserted into the areanear the key slot.

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10122660) -2017 - crc - 5/13/16
112 Instruments and Controls
Charging System Light
This light will come on briefly whenthe ignition is turned on, and theengine is not running, as a check toshow it is working.
It should go out when the engine isstarted. If it stays on, or comes onwhile driving, there may be aproblem with the electrical chargingsystem. Have it checked by yourdealer. Driving while this light is oncould drain the battery. If a shortdistance must be driven with thelight on, turn off all accessories,such as the radio and airconditioner, to help reduce the drainon the battery.
Malfunction Indicator
Lamp (Check Engine
Light)
This light is part of the vehicle’semission control on-boarddiagnostic system. If this light is onwhile the engine is running, amalfunction has been detected andthe vehicle may require service. Thelight should come on to show that itis working when the ignition is inON/RUN with the engine notrunning. SeeIgnition Positions (KeyAccess)0182orIgnition Positions(Keyless Access)0183.
Malfunctions are often indicated bythe system before any problem isnoticeable. Being aware of the lightand seeking service promptly whenit comes on may prevent damage.
Caution
If the vehicle is driven continually
with this light on, the emission
control system may not work as
well, the fuel economy may be
lower, and the vehicle may not
run smoothly. This could lead to
costly repairs that might not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Caution
Modifications to the engine,
transmission, exhaust, intake,
or fuel system, or the use of
replacement tires that do not
meet the original tire
specifications, can cause this light
to come on. This could lead to
costly repairs not covered by the
vehicle warranty. This could also
affect the vehicle’sabilitytopass
an Emissions Inspection/
Maintenance test. See
Accessories and
Modifications0214.

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10122660) -2017 - crc - 5/13/16
186 Driving and Operating
2. If the engine does not start,wait about 15 seconds and tryagain. Wait about 15 secondsbetween each try.
When the engine has run about10 seconds to warm up, thevehicle is ready to be driven.Do not run the engine at highspeed when it is cold.
If the weather is below freezing(0 °C or 32 °F), let the enginerun for a few minutes towarm up.
3. If the engine still will not start,or starts but then stops, it couldbe flooded with too muchgasoline. Try pushing theaccelerator pedal all the way tothe floor and holding it there asyou hold the key in START forabout three seconds. If thevehicle starts briefly but thenstops again, do the same thing,but this time keep the pedaldown for five or six seconds.This clears the extra gasolinefrom the engine.
Engine Heater
The engine heater can provideeasier starting and better fueleconomy during engine warm-up incold weather conditions at or below✓18 °C (0 °F). Vehicles with anengine heater should be plugged inat least four hours before starting.
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap theelectrical cord. The cord islocated in the driver side of theengine compartment, near thebattery. It is shipped from thefactory with a tie holding it in
place. Use care in removingthe tie so that the cord is notdamaged.
Check the heater cord fordamage. If it is damaged, donot use it. See your dealer forareplacement.Inspectthecord for damage yearly.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded11 0 - v o l t A C o u t l e t .
{Warning
Improper use of the heater cord
or an extension cord can damage
the cord and may result in
overheating and fire.
.Plug the cord into athree-prong electrical utilityreceptacle that is protectedby a ground fault detectionfunction. An ungroundedoutlet could cause anelectric shock.
.Use a weatherproof,heavy-duty, 15 amp-ratedextension cord if needed.
(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
234 Vehicle Care
{Warning
The wrong or contaminated brake
fluid could result in damage to the
brake system. This could result in
the loss of braking leading to a
possible injury. Always use the
proper GM approved brake fluid.
Caution
If brake fluid is spilled on the
vehicle's painted surfaces, the
paint finish can be damaged.
Immediately wash off any painted
surface.
Battery - North America
The original equipment battery ismaintenance free. Do not removethe cap and do not add fluid.
Refer to the replacement numbershown on the original battery labelwhen a new battery is needed. SeeEngine Compartment Overview0217for battery location.
{Warning
WA R N I N G :Battery posts,
terminals, and related
accessories contain lead and lead
compounds, chemicals known to
the State of California to cause
cancer and birth defects or other
reproductive harm. Batteries also
contain other chemicals known to
the State of California to cause
cancer.WASH HANDS AFTER
HANDLING.
SeeCalifornia Proposition
65 Warning0213.
Vehicle Storage
{Warning
Batteries have acid that can burn
you and gas that can explode.
Yo u c a n b e b a d l y h u r t i f y o u a r e
not careful. SeeJump Starting -
North America0275for tips on
working around a battery without
getting hurt.
Infrequent Usage: Remove theblack, negative (✓)cablefromthebattery to keep the battery fromrunning down.
Extended Storage: Remove theblack, negative (✓)cablefromthebattery or use a battery tricklecharger.
Starter Switch Check
{Warning
When you are doing this
inspection, the vehicle could
move suddenly. If the vehicle
moves, you or others could be
injured.
1. Before starting this check, besure there is enough roomaround the vehicle.
2. Apply both the parking brakeand the regular brake.
Do not use the acceleratorpedal, and be ready to turn offthe engine immediately if itstarts.

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-10122660) -2017 - crc - 5/13/16
Service and Maintenance 297
Additional
Maintenance and Care
Yo u r v e h i c l e i s a n i m p o r t a n tinvestment and caring for it properlymay help to avoid future costlyrepairs. To maintain vehicleperformance, additionalmaintenance services may berequired.
It is recommended that your dealerperform these services—theirtrained dealer technicians knowyour vehicle best. Your dealer canalso perform a thoroughassessment with a multi-pointinspection to recommend when yourvehicle may need attention.
The following list is intended toexplain the services and conditionsto look for that may indicateservices are required.
Battery
The battery supplies power to startthe engine and operate anyadditional electrical accessories.
.To a v o i d b r e a k - d o w n o r f a i l u r e t ostart the vehicle, maintain abattery with full cranking power.
.Trained dealer technicians havethe diagnostic equipment to testthe battery and ensure that theconnections and cables arecorrosion-free.
Belts
.Belts may need replacing if theysqueak or show signs ofcracking or splitting.
.Trained dealer technicians haveaccess to tools and equipmentto inspect the belts andrecommend adjustment orreplacement when necessary.
.Amessagemayindicatewhenscheduled maintenance on thetiming belt and othercomponents is required.
Brakes
Brakes stop the vehicle and arecrucial to safe driving.
.Signs of brake wear may includechirping, grinding, or squealingnoises, or difficulty stopping.
.Trained dealer technicians haveaccess to tools and equipmentto inspect the brakes andrecommend quality partsengineered for the vehicle.
Fluids
Proper fluid levels and approvedfluids protect the vehicle’ssystemsand components. SeeRecommended Fluids andLubricants0300for GM approvedfluids.
.Engine oil and windshieldwasher fluid levels should bechecked at every fuel fill.
.Instrument cluster lights maycome on to indicate that fluidsmay be low and need to befilled.
Hoses
Hoses transport fluids and shouldbe regularly inspected to ensurethat there are no cracks or leaks.With a multi-point inspection, yourdealer can inspect the hoses andadvise if replacement is needed.