CHEVROLET SONIC 2020 Owner's Guide

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13566834) -
2020 - CRC - 10/4/19
20 Keys, Doors, and Windows
2. Separate the two halves of thetransmitter by inserting a flat
tool into the recess of the
transmitter.
3. Remove the battery with asmall tool by pushing it toward
the top of the transmitter.
4. Insert the new battery, positive side facing up. Replace with a
CR2032 or equivalent battery.
5. Snap the battery cover back on to the transmitter.
Remote Vehicle Start
If equipped, this feature allows the
engine to be started from outside
the vehicle.
/:This button will be on the RKE
transmitter if the vehicle has remote
start.
The climate control system will use
the previous settings during a
remote start. The rear window
defogger may come on during
remote start based on cold ambient
conditions. The rear window
defogger indicator light does not
come on during remote start.
If the vehicle has heated seats, they
may come on during a remote start.
See Heated Front Seats 041.
Laws in some local communities
may restrict the use of remote
starters. For example, some laws
require a person using remote start
to have the vehicle in view. Check
local regulations for any
requirements. If your vehicle is low on fuel, do not
use the remote start feature. The
vehicle may run out of fuel.
Other conditions can affect the
performance of the transmitter. See
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System
010.
Starting the Vehicle
To start the engine using the remote
start feature:
1. Press and release
Q.
2. Immediately after completing Step 1, press and hold
/for at
least four seconds or until the
turn signal lamps flash. The
turn signal lamps flashing
confirms the request to remote
start the vehicle has been
received.
When the engine starts, the parking
lamps will turn on and remain on as
long as the engine is running. The
doors will be locked and the climate
control system may come on.

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13566834) -
2020 - CRC - 10/4/19
Keys, Doors, and Windows 21
The engine will continue to run for
15 minutes. After 30 seconds,
repeat the steps if a 15-minute
extension is desired. Remote start
can be extended only once.
Turn the ignition on before driving.
Extending Engine Run Time
The engine run time can also be
extended by another 15 minutes,
if during the first 15 minutes
Steps 1 and 2 are repeated while
the engine is still running. An
extension can be requested
30 seconds after starting. This
provides a total of 30 minutes.
When the remote start is extended,
the second 10-minute period is
added on to the first 15 minutes for
a total of 30 minutes.
A maximum of two remote starts,
or a single start with an extension,
are allowed between ignition cycles.
After this, the ignition must be
turned on then off before the remote
start procedure can be used again.Canceling a Remote Start
To cancel a remote start, do one of
the following:
.
Press and hold
/until the
parking lamps turn off.
. Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
. Turn the vehicle on and then off.
Conditions in Which Remote Start
Will Not Work
The remote vehicle start feature will
not operate if:
. The vehicle is not off.
. The key is in the ignition (Key
Access).
. A transmitter is in the vehicle
(Keyless Access).
. The hood is not closed.
. The hazard warning flashers
are on.
. The malfunction indicator lamp
is on.
. The engine coolant temperature
is too high. .
The oil pressure is low.
. Two remote vehicle starts, or a
single remote start with an
extension, have already
been used.
. The vehicle is not in P (Park).
Door Locks
{Warning
Unlocked doors can be
dangerous.
. Passengers, especially
children, can easily open
the doors and fall out of a
moving vehicle. The doors
can be unlocked and
opened while the vehicle is
moving. The chance of
being thrown out of the
vehicle in a crash is
increased if the doors are
not locked. So, all
passengers should wear
seat belts properly and the
(Continued)

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13566834) -
2020 - CRC - 10/4/19
22 Keys, Doors, and Windows
Warning (Continued)
doors should be locked
whenever the vehicle is
driven.
. Young children who get into
unlocked vehicles may be
unable to get out. A child
can be overcome by
extreme heat and can suffer
permanent injuries or even
death from heat stroke.
Always lock the vehicle
whenever leaving it.
. Outsiders can easily enter
through an unlocked door
when you slow down or stop
the vehicle. Locking the
doors can help prevent this
from happening.
To lock or unlock the doors from
outside the vehicle:
. Use the key in the driver door to
lock all doors or unlock the
driver door only. .
Press
QorKon the Remote
Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter.
See Remote Keyless Entry
(RKE) System Operation
(Keyless Access) 010 or
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation (Key Access)
0 16.
To lock the doors from inside the
vehicle:
.
Press
Qon the central locking
switch or on the driver door
switch. .
Press the lock knob on the driver
door to lock all doors and,
if equipped, the liftgate.
To unlock the doors from inside the
vehicle:
. Press
Kon the central locking
switch or on the driver door
switch.
. Pull the door handle. Pulling the
door handle again unlatches
the door.
. Lift the lock knob on the driver
door to unlock the driver door.
The central locking switch and
power door lock switch also lock
and unlock the trunk/liftgate.
Keyless Access
The RKE transmitter must be within
1 m (3 ft) of the door being opened.
Press the button on the door handle
to open. See “Keyless Access
Operation” underRemote Keyless
Entry (RKE) System Operation
(Keyless Access) 010 or

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2020 - CRC - 10/4/19
Keys, Doors, and Windows 23
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation (Key Access)
016.
Free-Turning Locks
The door key lock cylinder turns
freely when either the wrong key is
used, or the correct key is not fully
inserted. The free-turning door lock
feature prevents the lock from being
forced open. To reset the lock, turn
it to the vertical position with the
correct key fully inserted. Remove
the key and insert it again. If this
does not reset the lock, turn the key
halfway around in the cylinder and
repeat the reset procedure.
Delayed Locking
This feature delays the actual
locking of the doors until
five seconds after all doors are
closed. Delayed locking can only be
turned on when the Open Door
Anti-Lockout feature has been
turned off.
When
Qis pressed on the driver or
passenger door power lock switch
while the door is open, a chime will sound three times to indicate that
delayed locking is active. The doors
will then lock automatically
five seconds after all doors are
closed.
If a door is reopened before
five seconds have elapsed, the
five-second timer will reset once all
the doors are closed again. Press
Q
on the door lock switch again,
or press
Qon the RKE transmitter,
to override this feature and lock the
doors immediately.
Delayed locking can be
programmed. See Vehicle
Personalization 0115.
Automatic Door Locks
The vehicle is programmed so that
when the doors are closed, the
ignition is on, and the shift lever is
moved out of P (Park) the doors and
the trunk/liftgate will lock.
If a vehicle door is unlocked and
then opened and closed, the doors
will lock either when your foot is removed from the brake or the
vehicle speed becomes faster than
13 km/h (8 mph).
To unlock the doors and the trunk/
liftgate:
.
Press
Kon the center stack or
the driver door switch.
. Place the transmission in
P (Park).
This feature can be programmed.
See Vehicle Personalization 0115.
Lockout Protection
If the ignition is on or in ACC/
ACCESSORY and the power door
lock switch is pressed with the
driver door open, all the doors will
lock and only the driver door will
unlock.
Lockout Protection can be manually
overridden with the driver door open
by pressing and holding
Qon the
power door lock switch.

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13566834) -
2020 - CRC - 10/4/19
24 Keys, Doors, and Windows
Open Door Anti-Lockout
If Open Door Anti-Lockout has been
turned on and the vehicle is off, the
driver door is open, and locking is
requested, all the doors will lock and
the driver door will remain open.
The Open Door Anti-Lockout feature
can be turned on or off. SeeVehicle
Personalization 0115.
Safety Locks
The rear door safety locks prevent
passengers from opening the rear
doors from inside the vehicle.
Manual Safety Locks
If equipped, the safety lock is
located on the inside edge of the
rear doors. To use the safety lock:
1. Insert the key into the safety lock slot and turn it so the slot
is in the horizontal position.
2. Close the door.
3. Do the same for the other rear door.
To open a rear door when the safety
lock is on: 1. Unlock the door by activating the inside handle, by using the
power door lock switch, or by
using the Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) transmitter.
2. Open the door from the outside.
To cancel the safety lock: 1. Unlock the door and open it from the outside.
2. Insert the key into the safety lock slot and turn it so the slot
is in the vertical position. Do
the same for the other door.Doors
Trunk (Sedan)
{Warning
Exhaust gases can enter the
vehicle if it is driven with the
liftgate, hatch/trunk open, or with
any objects that pass through the
seal between the body and the
hatch/trunk or liftgate. Engine
exhaust contains carbon
monoxide (CO) which cannot be
seen or smelled. It can cause
unconsciousness and even death.
If the vehicle must be driven with
the liftgate or hatch/trunk open:
. Close all of the windows.
. Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel.
. Adjust the climate control
system to a setting that
brings in only outside air
(Continued)

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13566834) -
2020 - CRC - 10/4/19
Keys, Doors, and Windows 25
Warning (Continued)
and set the fan speed to the
highest setting. See
“Climate Control Systems”
in the Index.
. If the vehicle is equipped
with a power liftgate, disable
the power liftgate function.
For more information about
carbon monoxide, see Engine
Exhaust 0179.
To lock or unlock the trunk from the
inside, press
QorKon the central
locking switch or on the driver door
lock switch.
To open the trunk from inside the
vehicle, press
V.
To open the trunk from outside of
the vehicle: .
Press
Kon the RKE transmitter
to unlock all doors, then use the
touch pad.
. Press
Xtwice on the RKE
transmitter.
See Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation (Keyless Access)
0 10 or
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation (Key Access)
0 16.
To lock the trunk from outside press
Qon the RKE transmitter.
Emergency Trunk Release
Handle
Caution
Do not use the emergency trunk
release handle as a tie-down or
anchor point when securing items
in the trunk as it could damage
the handle.

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13566834) -
2020 - CRC - 10/4/19
26 Keys, Doors, and Windows
There is a glow-in-the-dark
emergency trunk release handle on
the underside of the trunk lid. This
handle will glow following exposure
to light. Pull the release handle
down to open the trunk from the
inside.
After use, return to the stored
position.
Liftgate (Hatchback)
{Warning
Exhaust gases can enter the
vehicle if it is driven with the
liftgate, hatch/trunk open, or with
any objects that pass through the
seal between the body and the
hatch/trunk or liftgate. Engine
exhaust contains carbon
monoxide (CO) which cannot be
seen or smelled. It can cause
unconsciousness and even death.
If the vehicle must be driven with
the liftgate or hatch/trunk open:. Close all of the windows.
. Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel.
. Adjust the climate control
system to a setting that
brings in only outside air
and set the fan speed to the
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
highest setting. See
“Climate Control Systems”
in the Index.
. If the vehicle is equipped
with a power liftgate, disable
the power liftgate function.
For more information about
carbon monoxide, see Engine
Exhaust 0179.
To lock or unlock the liftgate from
the inside, press
QorKon the
central locking switch or on the
driver door switch.
The vehicle must be in P (Park).

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13566834) -
2020 - CRC - 10/4/19
Keys, Doors, and Windows 27
To open the liftgate from the
outside, press
Kon the RKE
transmitter to unlock all doors, then
use the touch pad.
See Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation (Keyless Access)
0 10 or
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation (Key Access)
0 16.
When closing the liftgate, close from
the center to ensure that it fully
latches.
Vehicle Security
This vehicle has theft-deterrent
features; however, they do not make
the vehicle impossible to steal.
Vehicle Alarm System
This vehicle has an anti-theft alarm
system.
The indicator light on the instrument
panel near the windshield indicates
the status of the system.
Off : Vehicle is disarmed.
On Solid : Vehicle is secured
during the delay to arm the system.
Fast Flash : Vehicle is unsecured.
A door, the hood, or the trunk/
liftgate is open. Slow Flash :
Alarm system is
armed.
Arming the Alarm System
1. Close all doors, the trunk/ liftgate, and the hood.
2. Lock the vehicle in one of two ways:
.Use the RKE transmitter.
. With a door open, press the
inside
Q.
3. After 30 seconds the alarm system will arm, and the
indicator light will begin to
slowly flash indicating the
alarm system is operating.
Pressing
Qon the RKE
transmitter a second time will
bypass the 30-second delay
and immediately arm the alarm
system.
The vehicle alarm system will not
arm if the doors are locked with
the key.
If the driver door is opened without
first unlocking with the RKE
transmitter, the horn will chirp and

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-13566834) -
2020 - CRC - 10/4/19
28 Keys, Doors, and Windows
the lights will flash to indicate
pre-alarm. If the vehicle is not
started, or the door is not unlocked
by pressing
Kon the RKE
transmitter during the 10-second
pre-alarm, the alarm will be
activated.
If a door, the hood, or the liftgate is
opened without first unlocking with
the RKE transmitter, the turn signals
will flash and the horn will sound for
about 30 seconds. The alarm
system will then re-arm to monitor
for the next unauthorized event.
Disarming the System
To disarm the system, either unlock
the doors using the RKE transmitter,
or start the vehicle with a
recognized transmitter in the
vehicle.
To avoid setting off the alarm by
accident:
. Press
Kon the RKE transmitter.
. Start the vehicle.
To avoid setting off the alarm by
accident: .
Lock the vehicle after all
occupants have left the vehicle
and all doors are closed.
. Always unlock a door with the
RKE transmitter.
Unlocking the driver door with the
key will not disarm the system or
turn off the alarm.
How to Detect a Tamper
Condition
IfKis pressed on the transmitter
and the horn chirps and the lights
flash three times, an alarm occurred
previously while the alarm system
was armed.
Immobilizer
See Radio Frequency Statement
0 304.
Immobilizer Operation
(Key Access)
This vehicle has a passive
theft-deterrent system.
The system does not have to be
manually armed or disarmed. The vehicle is automatically
immobilized when the key is
removed from the ignition.
The system is automatically
disarmed when the vehicle is
started with the correct key. The key
uses a transponder that matches an
immobilizer control unit in the
vehicle and automatically disarms
the system. Only an authorized key
starts the vehicle. The vehicle may
not start if the key is damaged.
The security light in the instrument
cluster comes on if there is a
problem with arming or disarming
the theft-deterrent system.
When trying to start the vehicle, the
security light comes on briefly when
the ignition is turned on.

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Keys, Doors, and Windows 29
If the engine does not start and the
security light stays on, there is a
problem with the system. Turn the
ignition off and try again.
If the engine still does not start, and
the key appears to be undamaged
or the light continues to stay on, try
another ignition key. If the engine
does not start with the other key, the
vehicle needs service. If the vehicle
does start, the first key may be
damaged. See your dealer who can
service the theft-deterrent system
and have a new key made.
Do not leave the transmitter or
device that disarms or deactivates
the theft-deterrent system in the
vehicle.
Immobilizer Operation
(Keyless Access)
This vehicle has a passive
theft-deterrent system.
The system does not have to be
manually armed or disarmed.The vehicle is automatically
immobilized when the transmitter
leaves the vehicle.
The immobilization system is
disarmed when ENGINE START/
STOP is pressed and a valid
transmitter is found in the vehicle.
The security light in the instrument
cluster comes on when there is a
problem with arming or disarming
the theft-deterrent system.
The system has one or more
transmitters matched to an
immobilizer control unit in your
vehicle. Only a correctly matched
transmitter will start the vehicle.
If the transmitter is ever damaged,
you may not be able to start your
vehicle.When trying to start the vehicle, the
security light comes on briefly when
the ignition is turned on.
If the engine does not start and the
security light stays on, there is a
problem with the system. Turn the
vehicle off and try again.
If the vehicle will not change ignition
modes (ACC/ACCESSORY, on, off),
and the RKE transmitter appears to
be undamaged, try another
transmitter. Or, you may try placing
the transmitter in the front
cupholder. See
“Starting the
Vehicle with a Low Transmitter
Battery” underRemote Keyless
Entry (RKE) System Operation
(Keyless Access) 010 or
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation (Key Access)
0 16.