
Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13566834) -
2020 - CRC - 10/4/19
272 Vehicle Care
Interior Glass
To clean, use a terry cloth fabric
dampened with water. Wipe droplets
left behind with a clean dry cloth.
If necessary, use a commercial
glass cleaner after cleaning with
plain water.
Caution
To prevent scratching, never use
abrasive cleaners on automotive
glass. Abrasive cleaners or
aggressive cleaning may damage
the rear window defogger.
Cleaning the windshield with water
during the first three to six months
of ownership will reduce tendency
to fog.
Speaker Covers
Vacuum around a speaker cover
gently, so that the speaker will not
be damaged. Clean spots with water
and mild soap.
Coated Moldings
Coated moldings should be cleaned.
. When lightly soiled, wipe with a
sponge or soft, lint-free cloth
dampened with water.
. When heavily soiled, use warm
soapy water.
Fabric/Carpet/Suede
Start by vacuuming the surface
using a soft brush attachment. If a
rotating vacuum brush attachment is
being used, only use it on the floor
carpet. Before cleaning, gently
remove as much of the soil as
possible:
.
Gently blot liquids with a paper
towel. Continue blotting until no
more soil can be removed.
. For solid soils, remove as much
as possible prior to vacuuming.
To clean: 1. Saturate a clean, lint-free colorfast cloth with water.
Microfiber cloth is
recommended to prevent lint
transfer to the fabric or carpet. 2. Remove excess moisture by
gently wringing until water does
not drip from the cleaning cloth.
3. Start on the outside edge of the soil and gently rub toward the
center. Fold the cleaning cloth
to a clean area frequently to
prevent forcing the soil in to the
fabric.
4. Continue gently rubbing the soiled area until there is no
longer any color transfer from
the soil to the cleaning cloth.
5. If the soil is not completely removed, use a mild soap
solution followed only by plain
water.
If the soil is not completely
removed, it may be necessary to
use a commercial upholstery
cleaner or spot lifter. Test a small
hidden area for colorfastness before
using a commercial upholstery
cleaner or spot lifter. If ring
formation occurs, clean the entire
fabric or carpet.
After cleaning, use a paper towel to
blot excess moisture.

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13566834) -
2020 - CRC - 10/4/19
284 Service and Maintenance
Additional
Maintenance and Care
Your vehicle is an important
investment and caring for it properly
may help to avoid future costly
repairs. To maintain vehicle
performance, additional
maintenance services may be
required.
It is recommended that your dealer
perform these services—their
trained dealer technicians know
your vehicle best. Your dealer can
also perform a thorough
assessment with a multi-point
inspection to recommend when your
vehicle may need attention.
The following list is intended to
explain the services and conditions
to look for that may indicate
services are required. Battery
The battery supplies power to start
the engine and operate any
additional electrical accessories.
.
To avoid break-down or failure to
start the vehicle, maintain a
battery with full cranking power.
. Trained dealer technicians have
the diagnostic equipment to test
the battery and ensure that the
connections and cables are
corrosion-free.
Belts
. Belts may need replacing if they
squeak or show signs of
cracking or splitting.
. Trained dealer technicians have
access to tools and equipment
to inspect the belts and
recommend adjustment or
replacement when necessary.
. A message may indicate when
scheduled maintenance on the
timing belt and other
components is required. Brakes
Brakes stop the vehicle and are
crucial to safe driving.
.
Signs of brake wear may include
chirping, grinding, or squealing
noises, or difficulty stopping.
. Trained dealer technicians have
access to tools and equipment
to inspect the brakes and
recommend quality parts
engineered for the vehicle.
Fluids
Proper fluid levels and approved
fluids protect the vehicle’s systems
and components. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0287 for GM approved
fluids.
. Engine oil and windshield
washer fluid levels should be
checked at every fuel fill.
. Instrument cluster lights may
come on to indicate that fluids
may be low and need to be
filled.

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13566834) -
2020 - CRC - 10/4/19
Service and Maintenance 285
Hoses
Hoses transport fluids and should
be regularly inspected to ensure
that there are no cracks or leaks.
With a multi-point inspection, your
dealer can inspect the hoses and
advise if replacement is needed.
Lamps
Properly working headlamps,
taillamps, and brake lamps are
important to see and be seen on
the road.
.Signs that the headlamps need
attention include dimming, failure
to light, cracking, or damage.
The brake lamps need to be
checked periodically to ensure
that they light when braking.
. With a multi-point inspection,
your dealer can check the lamps
and note any concerns. Shocks and Struts
Shocks and struts help aid in control
for a smoother ride.
.
Signs of wear may include
steering wheel vibration, bounce/
sway while braking, longer
stopping distance, or uneven
tire wear.
. As part of the multi-point
inspection, trained dealer
technicians can visually inspect
the shocks and struts for signs
of leaking, blown seals,
or damage, and can advise
when service is needed.
Tires
Tires need to be properly inflated,
rotated, and balanced. Maintaining
the tires can save money and fuel,
and can reduce the risk of tire
failure. .
Signs that the tires need to be
replaced include three or more
visible treadwear indicators; cord
or fabric showing through the
rubber; cracks or cuts in the
tread or sidewall; or a bulge or
split in the tire.
. Trained dealer technicians can
inspect and recommend the right
tires. Your dealer can also
provide tire/wheel balancing
services to ensure smooth
vehicle operation at all speeds.
Your dealer sells and services
name brand tires.
Vehicle Care
To help keep the vehicle looking like
new, vehicle care products are
available from your dealer. For
information on how to clean and
protect the vehicle’s interior and
exterior, see Interior Care 0271 and
Exterior Care 0266.

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13566834) -
2020 - CRC - 10/4/19
308 OnStar
OnStar
OnStar Overview
OnStar Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
OnStar Services
Emergency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
OnStar Additional Information
OnStar AdditionalInformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
OnStar Overview
=Voice Command Button
QBlue OnStar Button
>Red Emergency Button
This vehicle may be equipped with a
comprehensive, in-vehicle system
that can connect to an OnStar
Advisor for Emergency, Security,
Navigation, Connections, and
Diagnostics Services. OnStar
services may require a paid service
plan and data plan. OnStar requires
the vehicle battery and electrical
system, cellular service, and GPS
satellite signals to be available and
operating. OnStar acts as a link to
existing emergency service providers. OnStar may collect
information about you and your
vehicle, including location
information. See OnStar User
Terms, Privacy Statement, and
Software Terms for more details
including system limitations at
www.onstar.com (U.S.) or
www.onstar.ca (Canada).
The OnStar system status light is
next to the OnStar buttons. If the
status light is:
.
Solid Green: System is ready.
. Flashing Green: On a call.
. Red: Indicates a problem.
. Off: System is off. Press
Qtwice
to speak with an OnStar Advisor.
Press
Qor call 1-888-4ONSTAR
(1-888-466-7827) to speak to an
Advisor.
Functionality of the Voice Command
button may vary by vehicle and
region.

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Index 317
IndexA
Accessories andModifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Accessory Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . 201
Additional Information OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
Additional Maintenance and Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
Agreements
Trademarks and License . . . . . 151
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine . . . . . . . 212
Air Conditioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Air Filter, Passenger Compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Air Intake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Air Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Airbag System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
How Does an Airbag
Restrain? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Passenger Sensing System . . . . 58
What Makes an Airbag Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
What Will You See after an Airbag Inflates? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
When Should an Airbag Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Airbag System (cont'd)
Where Are the Airbags? . . . . . . . . 54
Airbags Adding Equipment to theVehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Passenger Status Indicator . . . . . 99
Readiness Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Servicing Airbag-Equipped Vehicles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Alarm Vehicle Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
AM-FM Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Antenna Backglass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Multi-band . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . 183 Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Appearance Care Exterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Interior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Armrest Front Seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Assistance Program, Roadside . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13566834) -
2020 - CRC - 10/4/19
318 Index
AudioBluetooth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Automatic Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Headlamp System . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . .211
Automatic Transmission Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Shift Lock Control FunctionCheck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Auxiliary Jack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Avoiding Untrusted Media Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
B
Backglass Antenna . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
BatteryExterior Lighting BatterySaver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Load Management . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Power Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Battery - North America . . . . 220, 260
Blade Replacement, Wiper . . . . . 222
Bluetooth Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140, 141
Bluetooth Audio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138 Brake
System Warning Light . . . . . . . . 102
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218 Antilock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Break-In, New Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . 170
Bulb Replacement Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Headlamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Headlamps and Front Turn
Signal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
License Plate Lamps . . . . . . . . . 227
Taillamps, Turn Signal,
Stoplamps, and Back-up
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
C
Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
California Perchlorate MaterialsRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204 California
Proposition
65 Warning . . . . . . . . . .203, 220, 260,
Back Cover
Camera Rear Vision (RVC) . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Canadian Vehicle Owners . . . . . . . . 2
Capacities and
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Carbon Monoxide Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Liftgate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Trunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Cargo Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Caution, Danger, and Warning . . . . 2
Chains, Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Charging System Light . . . . . . . . . 100
Check Engine Light (Malfunction
Indicator) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Ignition Transmission Lock . . . 221
Child Restraints Infants and Young Children . . . . . 66
Lower Anchors and Tethers
for Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Older Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

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Index 319
Child Restraints (cont'd)Securing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80, 82
Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Cleaning Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
Climate Control Systems . . . . . . . 153 Air Conditioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Heating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Cluster, Instrument . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Collision Damage Repair . . . . . . . 301
Compact Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 Load . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Compartments Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Connected Services Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316
Navigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
Connections Connected Services . . . . . . . . . . 315
Control
Traction and ElectronicStability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185 Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Convex Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Coolant
Engine TemperatureWarning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Cooling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Courtesy Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Courtesy Transportation Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Cover
Cargo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187 Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Customer Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . 297 Offices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Text Telephone (TTY)
Users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
Customer Information Publications OrderingInformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303
Customer Satisfaction Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294
Cybersecurity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
D
Damage Repair, Collision . . . . . . . 301
Danger, Warning, and Caution . . . . 2 Data Collection
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
Data Recorders, Event . . . . . . . . . 306
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Diagnostics Connected Services . . . . . . . . . . 316
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Dome Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Door Ajar Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Drive Belt Routing, Engine . . . . . . 293
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . 190
Driver Information
Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Driving Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . . . 159
Defensive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Drunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . 163
If the Vehicle is Stuck . . . . . . . . . 165
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 166

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13566834) -
2020 - CRC - 10/4/19
320 Index
Driving (cont'd)Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
E
Electrical Equipment,
Add-On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Electrical System
Engine Compartment FuseBlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 229
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Emergency OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Check Light (MalfunctionIndicator) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Compartment Overview . . . . . . . 207
Coolant Temperature Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Drive Belt Routing . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210 Engine (cont'd)
Oil Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Power Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115
Reduced Power Light . . . . . . . . . 107
Running While Parked . . . . . . . . 180
Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Event Data Recorders . . . . . . . . . . 306
Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Extender, Seat Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . . . 119
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
F
Filter,Engine Air Cleaner . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Flashers, Hazard Warning . . . . . . 121
Flat Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253 Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Fluid Automatic Transmission . . . . . . .211
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217 Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Folding Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Forward Collision Alert
(FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . 104
Frequency Statement
Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304
Front Fog Lamp Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Front Seat Armrest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Front Seats
Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Heated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Economy, Driving for Better . . . 159
Filling a Portable Fuel
Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Foreign Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . . 107
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Recommended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Top Tier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197