Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11373973) -
2018 - crc - 10/9/17
128 Instruments and Controls
70 :Service Leveling System
75 : Service AC System
77 : Service Front Camera System
78 : Service Pedestrian Protection
79 : Engine Oil Low –Add Oil
81 : Service Transmission
82 : Change Engine Oil Soon
84 : Engine Power Is Reduced
88 : Use Transmitter Pocket to Start
89 : Service Vehicle Soon
91 : No Remote Detected
92 : No Remote Detected, Press
Brake To Restart
93 : Press Button Again To Turn
Engine Off
94 : Shift to Park
95 : Service Airbag
99 : Pedestrian Protection System
Disabled
120 : Reduce Speed For Hill
Descent Control
136 : Service Parking Assist 145 :
Washer Fluid Low —Add
Fluid
151 : Press Clutch to Start
174 : Low Battery
258 : Park Assist Off
:% CHANGE
This message displays when the
engine oil needs to be changed.
When changing the engine oil, be
sure to reset the Oil Life System.
See Engine Oil Life System 0224,
Engine Oil 0222, and Maintenance
Schedule 0295.
LF XX, RF XX, LR XX,
or RR XX
A message displays when the tire
pressure is low. It shows the
location of the low tire and the
approximate pressure of the low tire.
If a tire pressure message appears,
stop as soon as you can. Inflate the
tires by adding air until the tire
pressure is equal to the values
shown on the Tire and Loading Information label. See
Tires0251,
Vehicle Load Limits 0177, and Tire
Pressure 0258.
Uplevel Cluster
Messages that do not require
immediate action can be
acknowledged and cleared by
pressing SET/CLR.
Messages that require immediate
action cannot be cleared until that
action is performed. Clearing
messages does not correct the
problem.
Engine Power Messages
ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED
This message displays when the
vehicle's propulsion power is
reduced. Reduced propulsion power
can affect the vehicle's ability to
accelerate. If this message is on,
but there is no observed reduction
in performance, proceed to your
destination. The performance may
Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11373973) -
2018 - crc - 10/9/17
Driving and Operating 181
Starting and
Operating
New Vehicle Break-In
Caution
The vehicle does not need an
elaborate break-in. But it will
perform better in the long run if
you follow these guidelines:. Do not drive at any one
constant speed, fast or slow,
for the first 805 km (500 mi).
Do not make full-throttle
starts. Avoid downshifting to
brake or slow the vehicle.
. Avoid making hard stops for
the first 322 km (200 mi) or
so. During this time the new
brake linings are not yet
broken in. Hard stops with
new linings can mean
premature wear and earlier
replacement. Follow this
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
breaking-in guideline every
time you get new brake
linings.
Following break-in, engine speed
and load can be gradually
increased.
Ignition Positions (Key
Access)
The ignition switch has four different
positions. To shift out of P (Park), the ignition
must be in ON/RUN and the regular
brake pedal applied.
0 (STOPPING THE ENGINE/LOCK/
OFF) :
When the vehicle is stopped,
turn the ignition switch to LOCK/
OFF to turn the engine off.
This position locks the ignition and
transmission. The steering wheel
may also lock, if equipped.
Do not turn the engine off when the
vehicle is moving. This will cause a
loss of power assist in the brake
and steering systems and disable
the airbags.
If the vehicle must be shut off in an
emergency:
1. Brake using a firm and steady pressure. Do not pump the
brakes repeatedly. This may
deplete power assist, requiring
increased brake pedal force.
2. Shift the vehicle to N (Neutral). This can be done while the
vehicle is moving. After shifting
Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11373973) -
2018 - crc - 10/9/17
182 Driving and Operating
to N (Neutral), firmly apply the
brakes and steer the vehicle to
a safe location.
3. Come to a complete stop. Shift to P (Park) with an automatic
transmission, or Neutral with a
manual transmission. Turn the
ignition to LOCK/OFF.
4. Set the parking brake. See Parking Brake 0196.
{Warning
Turning off the vehicle while
moving may cause loss of power
assist in the brake and steering
systems and disable the airbags.
While driving, only shut the
vehicle off in an emergency.
If the vehicle cannot be pulled over,
and must be shut off while driving,
turn the ignition to ACC/
ACCESSORY.
Caution
Using a tool to force the key to
turn in the ignition could cause
damage to the switch or break the
key. Use the correct key, make
sure it is all the way in, and turn it
only with your hand. If the key
cannot be turned by hand, see
your dealer.
1 (ACC/ACCESSORY) : This is the
position in which things like the
radio and the windshield wipers can
be operated when the engine is off.
2 (ON/RUN) : This position can be
used to operate the electrical
accessories and to display some
instrument cluster warning and
indicator lights. This position can
also be used for service and
diagnostics, and to verify the proper
operation of the malfunction
indicator lamp as may be required
for emission inspection purposes.
The switch stays in this position
when the engine is running. If you leave the key in the ACC/
ACCESSORY or ON/RUN position
with the engine off, the battery could
be drained. You may not be able to
start the vehicle if the battery is
allowed to drain for an extended
period of time.
3 (START) :
This is the position that
starts the engine. When the engine
starts, release the key. The ignition
switch returns to ON/RUN for
driving.
A warning tone will sound when the
driver door is opened, the ignition is
in ACC/ACCESSORY or LOCK/
OFF, and the key is in the ignition.
If the ignition becomes difficult to
turn, see Keys026.
Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11373973) -
2018 - crc - 10/9/17
Driving and Operating 183
Ignition Positions
(Keyless Access)
The vehicle may be equipped with
an electronic keyless ignition with
pushbutton start.
The transmitter must be in the
vehicle for the system to operate.
If the pushbutton start is not
working, the vehicle may be near a
strong radio antenna signal causing
interference to the Keyless Access
system.
SeeRemote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation (Key Access) 0
29 orRemote Keyless Entry
(RKE) System Operation (Keyless
Access) 031.
To shift out of P (Park), the ignition
must be turned on or in ACC/
ACCESSORY, and the brake pedal
must be applied.
Stopping the Engine/OFF (No
Indicator Lights) : When the
vehicle is stopped, press ENGINE
START/STOP once to turn the
engine off.
If the vehicle is in P (Park), the
ignition will turn off, and Retained
Accessory Power (RAP) will remain
active. See Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) 0187.
If the vehicle is not in P (Park), the
ignition will return to ACC/
ACCESSORY and the Driver
Information Center (DIC) will display
the message SHIFT TO PARK.
When the vehicle is shifted into
P (Park), the ignition system will
switch to OFF. Do not turn the engine off when the
vehicle is moving. This will cause a
loss of power assist in the brake
and steering systems and disable
the airbags.
If the vehicle must be shut off in an
emergency:
1. Brake using a firm and steady pressure. Do not pump the
brakes repeatedly. This may
deplete power assist, requiring
increased brake pedal force.
2. Shift the vehicle to N (Neutral). This can be done while the
vehicle is moving. After shifting
to N (Neutral), firmly apply the
brakes and steer the vehicle to
a safe location.
3. Come to a complete stop. Shift to P (Park) with an automatic
transmission, or Neutral with a
manual transmission. Turn the
ignition off.
4. Set the parking brake. See Parking Brake 0196.
Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11373973) -
2018 - crc - 10/9/17
184 Driving and Operating
{Warning
Turning off the vehicle while
moving may cause loss of power
assist in the brake and steering
systems and disable the airbags.
While driving, only shut the
vehicle off in an emergency.
If the vehicle cannot be pulled over,
and must be shut off while driving,
press and hold ENGINE START/
STOP for longer than two seconds,
or press twice in five seconds.
ACC/ACCESSORY (Amber
Indicator Light) : This mode allows
you to use some electrical
accessories when the engine is off.
For a manual transmission, set the
parking brake before putting the
ignition in ACC/ACCESSORY.
With the ignition off, pressing the
button one time without the brake
pedal applied will place the ignition
system in ACC/ACCESSORY. The ignition will switch from ACC/
ACCESSORY to OFF after
five minutes to prevent battery
rundown.
ON/RUN/START (Green Indicator
Light) :
This mode is for driving and
starting. With the ignition off and the
brake pedal applied, pressing
ENGINE START/STOP once will
place the ignition system in ON/
RUN/START. Once engine cranking
begins, release the button. Engine
cranking will continue until the
engine starts. See Starting the
Engine 0184. The ignition will then
remain in ON/RUN.
Service Mode
This power mode is available for
service and diagnostics, and to
verify the proper operation of the
malfunction indicator lamp as may
be required for emission inspection
purposes. With the vehicle off, and
the brake pedal not applied,
pressing and holding ENGINE
START/STOP for more than
five seconds will place the vehicle in
Service Mode. The instruments and
audio systems will operate as they do in ON/RUN, but the vehicle will
not be able to be driven. The engine
will not start in Service Mode. Press
ENGINE START/STOP again to turn
the vehicle off.
Starting the Engine
Automatic Transmission
Move the shift lever to P (Park) or
N (Neutral). To restart the engine
when the vehicle is already moving,
use N (Neutral) only.
Caution
Do not try to shift to P (Park) if the
vehicle is moving. If you do, you
could damage the transmission.
Shift to P (Park) only when the
vehicle is stopped.
Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11373973) -
2018 - crc - 10/9/17
342 Index
L
Labeling, Tire Sidewall . . . . . . . . . . 253
LampsCourtesy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Daytime Running (DRL) . . . . . . 133
Dome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Exterior Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Exterior Lighting BatterySaver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
License Plate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Malfunction Indicator
(Check Engine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113
On Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Lane Departure Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
LATCH System
Replacing Parts after aCrash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
LATCH, Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Liftgate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Lighting
Entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Exit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Illumination Control . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Lights Airbag Readiness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Antilock Brake System(ABS) Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116
Brake System Warning . . . . . . . .115
Charging System . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113
Check Engine (Malfunction Indicator) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Door Ajar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning . . . . . . . .119
Engine Oil Pressure . . . . . . . . . . 120
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Front Fog Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
High-Beam On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
High/Low Beam Changer . . . . . 133
Hood Ajar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Lane Departure Warning . . . . . . .117
Low Fuel Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Operate Pedal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116 Lights (cont'd)
Reduced Engine Power . . . . . . 121
Seat Belt Reminders . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Service Vehicle Soon . . . . . . . . . .115
StabiliTrak OFF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119
Traction Control System
(TCS)/StabiliTrak . . . . . . . . . . . . .119
Traction Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118
Ultrasonic Parking Sensor . . . . .118
Up-Shift . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117
Warning, Power Steering . . . . . .117
Load Compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Locks Automatic Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Lockout Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . . . . 120
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH
System) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Lumbar Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
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2018 - crc - 10/9/17
Index 343
M
MaintenanceRecords . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
Maintenance and Care Additional . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Maintenance Schedule . . . . . . . . . 295 Recommended Fluids andLubricants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304
Malfunction Indicator Lamp . . . . . 113
Manual Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Manual Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . 194 Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Manual Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Media
Avoiding Untrusted Devices . . 147
Messages Engine Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Vehicle Speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Mirrors Convex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Folding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Heated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Manual Rearview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Monitor System, Tire
Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Multi-band Antenna . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
N
Navigation OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . . 181
O
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 Trip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110
Off-Road
Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Oil Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 224
Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Older Children, Restraints . . . . . . . 79
Online Owner Center . . . . . . . . . . . 314
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324
OnStar Additional Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331
OnStar Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . 328
OnStar Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330
OnStar Emergency . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
OnStar Navigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327
OnStar Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325
OnStar Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327 OnStar System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Operate Pedal Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Operation
Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Ordering Service Publications . . . . . . . . . . 320
Outlets
Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Overheating, Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Owner Manual Indicator . . . . . . . . 115
P
Park Shifting Into . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Shifting Out of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Brake and P (Park)Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 237
Extended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Over Things That Burn . . . . . . . 189
Ultrasonic Sensor Light . . . . . . . .118
Parking Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Passenger Compartment Air Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
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2018 - crc - 10/9/17
Index 345
S
Safety Defects ReportingCanadian Government . . . . . . . . 322
General Motors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
U.S. Government . . . . . . . . . . . . . 321
Safety Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Safety System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Satellite Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Scheduling Appointments . . . . . . . 317
Seat Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Extender . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
How to Wear Seat BeltsProperly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Reminders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Replacing after a Crash . . . . . . . . 67
Use During Pregnancy . . . . . . . . . . 65
Seats
Adjustment, Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Heated Front . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Lumbar Adjustment, Front . . . . . . 56
Power Adjustment, Front . . . . . . . 56
Rear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Reclining Seatbacks . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Securing Child Restraints . . . . 93, 95 Security
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Vehicle Alarm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169 Accessories andModifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Climate Control System . . . . . . . 165
Doing Your Own Work . . . . . . . . 216
Maintenance Records . . . . . . . . 306
Maintenance, General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Parts Identification Label . . . . . 307
Publications Ordering Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320
Scheduling Appointments . . . . . 317
Vehicle Soon Light . . . . . . . . . . . . .115
Services Special Application . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Servicing the Airbag . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Shift Lock Control Function Check, Automatic
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Shifting
Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189 Signals, Turn and
Lane-Change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Spare Tire Compact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
Special Application Services . . . . 300
Specifications and Capacities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
StabiliTrak OFF Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118
Start Assist, Hill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Start Vehicle, Remote . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172 Heated Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Power, Warning Lights . . . . . . . . .117
Wheel Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Wheel Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Stoplamps and Back-up Lamps Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Storage Load Compartment . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Storage Areas Cargo Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Glove Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Instrument Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Storage Compartments . . . . . . . . . . 99