
Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13566834) -
2020 - CRC - 10/4/19
170 Driving and Operating
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
(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. See
Remote
Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation (Keyless Access) 010 or
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation (Key Access)
0 16.
To shift out of P (Park), the ignition
must be turned on or in Service
Mode, 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) 0177.
If the vehicle is not in P (Park), the
ignition will return to ACC/
ACCESSORY and the Driver

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13566834) -
2020 - CRC - 10/4/19
Driving and Operating 175
3. If the engine still will not start,or starts but then stops, it could
be flooded with too much
gasoline. Try pushing the
accelerator pedal all the way to
the floor and holding it there as
you hold the key in START for
about three seconds. If the
vehicle starts briefly but then
stops again, do the same thing,
but this time keep the pedal
down for five or six seconds.
This clears the extra gasoline
from the engine.
Keyless Access 1. With the Keyless Access system, the RKE transmitter
must be in the vehicle. Press
ENGINE START/STOP with the
brake pedal applied. When the
engine begins cranking, let go
of the button.
The idle speed will go down as
the engine gets warm. Do not
race the engine immediately
after starting it. If the RKE transmitter is not in
the vehicle, if there is
interference, or if the RKE
battery is low, a Driver
Information Center (DIC)
message will display.
See
Driver Information Center
(DIC) 0109 and
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation (Keyless
Access) 010 or
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation (Key
Access) 016.
Caution
Cranking the engine for long
periods of time, by trying to start
the engine immediately after
cranking has ended, can overheat
and damage the cranking motor,
and drain the battery. Wait at
least 15 seconds between each
try, to let the cranking motor
cool down. 2. If the engine does not start
after five to 10 seconds,
especially in very cold weather
(below −18 °C or 0 °F), it could
be flooded with too much
gasoline. Try pushing the
accelerator pedal all the way to
the floor and holding it there as
you press ENGINE START/
STOP, for up to a maximum of
15 seconds. Wait at least
15 seconds between each try,
to allow the cranking motor to
cool down. When the engine
starts, let go of the button and
the accelerator. If the vehicle
starts briefly but then stops
again, do the same thing. This
clears the extra gasoline from
the engine. Do not race the
engine immediately after
starting it. Operate the engine
and transmission gently until
the oil warms up and lubricates
all moving parts.

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13566834) -
2020 - CRC - 10/4/19
Driving and Operating 179
Parking over Things
That Burn
{Warning
Things that can burn could touch
hot exhaust parts under the
vehicle and ignite. Do not park
over papers, leaves, dry grass,
or other things that can burn.
Extended Parking
(Keyless Access)
It is best not to park with the vehicle
running. If the vehicle is left running,
be sure it will not move and there is
adequate ventilation. SeeShifting
Into Park 0177 and
Engine Exhaust 0179. If the vehicle is left parked and
running with the Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) transmitter outside the
vehicle, it will continue to run for up
to half an hour.
If the vehicle is left parked and
running with the RKE transmitter
inside the vehicle, it will continue to
run for up to an hour.
The vehicle could turn off sooner if it
is parked on a hill, due to lack of
available fuel.
The timer will reset if the vehicle is
taken out of P (Park) while it is
running.
Engine Exhaust
{Warning
Engine exhaust contains carbon
monoxide (CO), which cannot be
seen or smelled. Exposure to CO
can cause unconsciousness and
even death.
Exhaust may enter the vehicle if:
. The vehicle idles in areas
with poor ventilation
(parking garages, tunnels,
deep snow that may block
underbody airflow or tail
pipes).
. The exhaust smells or
sounds strange or different.
. The exhaust system leaks
due to corrosion or damage.
. The vehicle exhaust system
has been modified,
damaged, or improperly
repaired.
(Continued)

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13566834) -
2020 - CRC - 10/4/19
Index 321
FusesEngine Compartment Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 229
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
G
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
GaugesFuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Warning Lights andIndicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
General Information Service and Maintenance . . . . . 276
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Vehicle Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Glove Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298
H
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Hazard Warning Flashers . . . . . . . 121
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 Headlamps
Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . 108
High/Low Beam Changer . . . . . 120
Lamps On Reminder . . . . . . . . . 108
Heated
Steering Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Heated Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Heated Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Heater Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Heating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . 163
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . . . 184
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Hood Ajar Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
How to Wear Seat Belts Properly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
HVAC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
I
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . 170, 172
Ignition Transmission Lock Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Indicator Owner Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Vehicle Ahead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Infants and Young Children,
Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Information Publication Ordering . . . . . . . . . . 303
Instrument Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Instrument Panel
Storage Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Instrument Panel Overview . . . . . . . 5
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2, 126
J
Jack Auxiliary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
K
Keyless Entry
Remote (RKE) System . . . . . 10, 16
Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13566834) -
2020 - CRC - 10/4/19
324 Index
Power (cont'd)Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Protection, Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Reduced Engine Light . . . . . . . . 107
Retained Accessory (RAP) . . . 177
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Power Steering Warning Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts . . . . 50
Privacy Vehicle Data Recording . . . . . . . 306
Program Courtesy Transportation . . . . . . 300
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Proposition 65 Warning,
California . . . . . . . . . . . .203, 220, 260, Back Cover
Publication Ordering Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303
R
Radio Frequency Statement . . . . 304
Radio Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Radios
AM-FM Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131 Radios (cont'd)
Satellite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Reading Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . . . 191
Rear Window Washer/Wiper . . . . . 92
Rearview Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Reclining Seatbacks . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Recommended Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
Records Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . 263
Reduced Engine Power Light . . . 107
Reimbursement Program, GM Mobility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10, 16
Remote Vehicle Start . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Replacement Parts
Airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288
Replacing Airbag System . . . . . . . . 64
Replacing LATCH System Parts after a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 Replacing Seat Belt System
Parts after a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Reporting Safety Defects Canadian Government . . . . . . . . 305
General Motors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
U.S. Government . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304
Restraints
Where to Put . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Roads
Driving, Wet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Roadside Assistance Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298
Roof Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Rotation, Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Routing, Engine Drive Belt . . . . . . 293
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
S
Safety Defects ReportingCanadian Government . . . . . . . . 305
General Motors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
U.S. Government . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304