maintenance schedule CHEVROLET SONIC 2012 2.G Owners Manual

Black plate (2,1)Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual - 2012
2012 Chevrolet Sonic Owner ManualM
Driving and Operating. . . . . . . . 9-1
Driving Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Starting and Operating . . . . . . . 9-15
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-22
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 9-23
Manual Transmission . . . . . . . . . 9-26
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-27
Ride Control Systems . . . . . . . . 9-29
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-32
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-35
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-39
Conversions and Add-Ons . . . 9-39 Vehicle Care
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-1
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
Vehicle Checks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-4
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . 10-29
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-29
Electrical System . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-33
Wheels and Tires . . . . . . . . . . . 10-39
Jump Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-74
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-77
Appearance Care . . . . . . . . . . . 10-80
Service and Maintenance . . . 11-1
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 11-1
Maintenance Schedule . . . . . . . 11-3
Special Application
Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-9 Additional Maintenance
and Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-9
Recommended Fluids, Lubricants, and Parts . . . . . . 11-13
Maintenance Records . . . . . . . 11-16
Technical Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-1
Vehicle Identification . . . . . . . . . 12-1
Vehicle Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-2
Customer Information . . . . . . . 13-1
Customer Information . . . . . . . . 13-1
Reporting Safety Defects . . . . 13-12
Vehicle Data Recording and Privacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-14
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-1
OnStar Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-1
OnStar Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-2
OnStar Additional Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-5
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i-1

Black plate (20,1)Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual - 2012
1-20 In Brief
to highlight YES or NO. Press
the SET/CLEAR button to
confirm.
Be careful not to reset the oil life
display accidentally at any time
other than after the oil is changed.
It cannot be reset accurately.
See Engine Oil Life System on
page 10‑12.
Hood Release
To open the hood:
1. Pull the hood release handle
inside the vehicle. It is located
on the lower left side of the
instrument panel.
2. Go the front of the vehicle, move the secondary hood release
lever to the right, located under
the front center of the vehicle.
3. Lift the hood and securely place the hood prop into the slot on
the underside of the hood.
See Hood on page 10‑4.
Driving for Better Fuel
Economy
Driving habits can affect fuel
mileage. Here are some driving
tips to get the best fuel economy
possible.
.Avoid fast starts and accelerate
smoothly.
.Brake gradually and avoid
abrupt stops.
.Avoid idling the engine for long
periods of time.
.When road and weather
conditions are appropriate,
use cruise control.
.Always follow posted speed
limits or drive more slowly when
conditions require.
.Keep vehicle tires properly
inflated.
.Combine several trips into a
single trip.
.Replace the vehicle's tires with
the same TPC Spec number
molded into the tire's sidewall
near the size.
.Follow recommended scheduled
maintenance.
Roadside Assistance
Program
U.S.: 1-800-243-8872
TTY Users: 1-888-889-2438
Canada: 1-800-268-6800
As the owner of a new Chevrolet,
you are automatically enrolled in the
Roadside Assistance program.
See Roadside Assistance Program
on page 13‑5 for more information.

Black plate (32,1)Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual - 2012
3-32 Seats and Restraints
Airbag System Check
The airbag system does not need
regularly scheduled maintenance or
replacement. Make sure the airbag
readiness light is working. See
Airbag Readiness Light on
page 5‑11for more information.
Notice: If an airbag covering is
damaged, opened, or broken, the
airbag may not work properly. Do
not open or break the airbag
coverings. If there are any
opened or broken airbag covers,
have the airbag covering and/or
airbag module replaced. For the
location of the airbags, see
Where Are the Airbags? on
page 3‑21. See your dealer for
service.
Replacing Airbag System
Parts after a Crash
{WARNING
A crash can damage the airbag
systems in the vehicle.
A damaged airbag system
may not work properly and
may not protect you and your
passenger(s) in a crash, resulting
in serious injury or even death. To
help make sure the airbag
systems are working properly
after a crash, have them
inspected and any necessary
replacements made as soon as
possible. If an airbag inflates, you will need to
replace airbag system parts. See
your dealer for service.
If the airbag readiness light stays on
after the vehicle is started or comes
on when you are driving, the airbag
system may not work properly. Have
the vehicle serviced right away. See
Airbag Readiness Light on
page 5‑11
for more information.

Black plate (20,1)Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual - 2012
5-20 Instruments and Controls
This indicates that the engine is not
receiving enough oil. The engine
could be low on oil, or could have
some other oil problem. Have it
fixed immediately by your dealer.
The oil light could also come on in
other situations:
.When the ignition is on but the
engine is not running, the light
will come on as a test to show it
is working. The light will go out
when the ignition is turned on.
If it does not come on with the
ignition on, there may be a
problem with the fuse or bulb.
Have it fixed right away.
.If the vehicle comes to a hard
stop, the light may come on for a
moment. This is normal.
{WARNING
Do not keep driving if the oil
pressure is low. The engine can
become so hot that it catches fire.(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
Someone could be burned. Check
the oil as soon as possible and
have the vehicle serviced.
Notice: Lack of proper engine oil
maintenance can damage the
engine. The repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Always follow the maintenance
schedule for changing engine oil.
Low Fuel Warning Light
This light comes on when the
vehicle is low on fuel. The low fuel warning light comes on
when there are approximately 6.0 L
(1.7 gal) of fuel remaining in
the tank.
To turn the light off, add fuel to the
fuel tank. See
Filling the Tank on
page 9‑37.
Immobilizer Light
The immobilizer light should come
on briefly as the engine is started.
If it does not come on, have the
vehicle serviced by your dealer.
If the system is working normally,
the indicator light turns off.
If the light stays on and the engine
does not start, there could be a
problem with the theft-deterrent
system. See Vehicle Security on
page 2‑11 for more information.

Black plate (25,1)Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-25
the average fuel economy, press
and hold the SET/CLR button while
the average fuel economy is
displayed.
Timer
This display can be used as a timer.
To start the timer, press SET/CLR
while the timer is displayed. The
display will show the amount of time
that has passed since the timer was
last reset, not including time the
ignition is off. The timer will record
up to 99:59 hours, after which the
display will return to zero. To stop
the timer, press SET/CLR briefly
while the timer is displayed. To reset
the timer to zero, press and hold
SET/CLR.Remaining Oil Life
Press MENU to show the remaining
oil life display. This display shows
an estimate of the oil's remaining
useful life. If 99
:% is displayed,
that means 99% of the current oil
life remains.
When the remaining oil life is low,
the Code 82 message will appear
on the display. The oil should be
changed as soon as possible. See
Engine Oil on page 10‑9. In addition
to the engine oil life system
monitoring the oil life, additional
maintenance is recommended in the
Maintenance Schedule in this
manual. See Maintenance Schedule
on page 11‑3 for more information.
Remember, the oil life display
must be reset after each oil change.
It will not reset itself. Also, be
careful not to reset the oil life
display accidentally at any time
other than when the oil has just
been changed. It cannot be reset
accurately until the next oil change. To reset the engine oil life system,
press the SET/CLR button while the
oil life display is active. See
Engine
Oil Life System on page 10‑12.
Units
Press MENU to show the unit
display. Press SET/CLR and move
w xto change units when UNIT
SET is displayed. Press SET/CLR to
confirm the setting. You will have to
select 1, 2, or 3 for the unit display.
1 is Imperial units, 2 is US units,
and 3 is metric units. This will
change the displays on the cluster
and DIC to the type of
measurements you select.
Language
Press MENU to show the language
display. Press SET/CLR and move
w xto change the language of
the displays when LANG SET is
displayed. You will have to select 1
or 2 for the language display. 1 is
Alphabet and 2 is Arabic Numeral.
Press SET/CLR to confirm the
setting.

Black plate (4,1)Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual - 2012
8-4 Climate Controls
Maintenance
Air Intake
Clear away any ice, snow, or leaves
from the air intake at the base of the
windshield that can block the flow of
air into the vehicle.
Passenger Compartment
Air Filter
The filter removes dust, pollen, and
other airborne irritants from outside
air that is pulled into the vehicle.
The filter should be replaced as part
of routine scheduled maintenance,
seeMaintenance Schedule on
page 11‑3. To find out what type of
filter to use, see Maintenance
Replacement Parts on page 11‑15.
1. Open the glove box completely and pull it to remove.2. Remove the filter cover byunscrewing both sides of the
cover.3. Install the new air filter.
4. Reinstall the air filter cover andglove box in reverse order.
See your dealer if additional
assistance is needed.

Black plate (2,1)Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual - 2012
9-2 Driving and Operating
Driving Information
Driving for Better Fuel
Economy
Driving habits can affect fuel
mileage. Here are some driving
tips to get the best fuel economy
possible.
.Avoid fast starts and accelerate
smoothly.
.Brake gradually and avoid
abrupt stops.
.Avoid idling the engine for long
periods of time.
.When road and weather
conditions are appropriate,
use cruise control.
.Always follow posted speed
limits or drive more slowly when
conditions require.
.Keep vehicle tires properly
inflated.
.Combine several trips into a
single trip.
.Replace the vehicle's tires with
the same TPC Spec number
molded into the tire's sidewall
near the size.
.Follow recommended scheduled
maintenance.
Distracted Driving
Distraction comes in many forms
and can take your focus from the
task of driving. Exercise good
judgment and do not let other
activities divert your attention away
from the road. Many local
governments have enacted laws
regarding driver distraction. Become
familiar with the local laws in
your area.To avoid distracted driving, always
keep your eyes on the road, hands
on the wheel, and mind on the drive.
.Do not use a phone in
demanding driving situations.
Use a hands-free method to
place or receive necessary
phone calls.
.Watch the road. Do not read,
take notes, or look up
information on phones or other
electronic devices.
.Designate a front seat
passenger to handle potential
distractions.
.Become familiar with vehicle
features before driving, such as
programming favorite radio
stations and adjusting climate
control and seat settings.
Program all trip information into
any navigation device prior to
driving.

Black plate (13,1)Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-13
Automatic Transmission
Fluid
How to Check Automatic
Transmission Fluid
It is not necessary to check
the transmission fluid level. A
transmission fluid leak is the only
reason for fluid loss. If a leak
occurs, take the vehicle to your
dealer and have it repaired as soon
as possible.
There is a special procedure for
checking and changing the
transmission fluid. Because this
procedure is difficult, you should
have this done at your dealer.Change the fluid and filter at the
intervals listed in
Maintenance
Schedule on page 11‑3, and be
sure to use the fluid listed in
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 11‑13.
Manual Transmission
Fluid
It is not necessary to check the
manual transmission fluid level.
A transmission fluid leak is the only
reason for fluid loss. If a leak
occurs, take the vehicle to your
dealer and have it repaired as soon
as possible. See Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants on page 11‑13
for the proper fluid to use.
Hydraulic Clutch
For vehicles with a manual
transmission, it is not necessary to
regularly check brake/clutch fluid
unless there is a leak suspected.
Adding fluid will not correct a leak.
A fluid loss in this system could
indicate a problem. Have the
system inspected and repaired.
When to Check and What
to Use
The common hydraulic clutch and
brake master cylinder fluid reservoir
is filled with DOT 3 brake fluid as
indicated on the reservoir cap. See
Engine Compartment Overview on
page 10‑6 for reservoir location.

Black plate (14,1)Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual - 2012
10-14 Vehicle Care
How to Check and Add Fluid
Visually check the brake/clutch fluid
reservoir to make sure the fluid level
is at the MIN (minimum) line on the
side of the reservoir. The brake/
hydraulic clutch fluid system should
be closed and sealed.
Do not remove the cap to check the
fluid level or to top‐off the fluid level.
Remove the cap only when
necessary to add the proper fluid
until the level reaches the MIN line.
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
The engine air cleaner/filter is
located in the engine compartment
on the passenger side of the
vehicle. SeeEngine Compartment
Overview on page 10‑6 for more
information on location.
When to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter
Inspect the air cleaner/filter at the
scheduled maintenance intervals.
See Maintenance Schedule on
page 11‑3 for more information.
If you are driving in dusty/dirty
conditions, inspect the filter at
each engine oil change.
How to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter
To inspect the engine air cleaner/
filter, remove the filter from the
vehicle and lightly shake the filter to
release loose dust and dirt. If the
filter remains covered with dirt, a
new filter is required.
To inspect or replace the air cleaner/
filter:
1.4L L4 Engine

Black plate (15,1)Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-15
1.8L L4 Engine
1. Remove the two screws, tilt the cover, and slide it out of the
assembly.
2. Inspect or replace the engine air cleaner/filter.
3. Lower the cover, slide it into the assembly, then secure with the
two screws.
See Maintenance Schedule on
page 11‑3 for replacement intervals.
{WARNING
Operating the engine with the air
cleaner/filter off can cause you or
others to be burned. The air
cleaner not only cleans the air; it
helps to stop flames if the engine
backfires. Use caution when
working on the engine and do not
drive with the air cleaner/filter off.
Notice: If the air cleaner/filter is
off, dirt can easily get into the
engine, which could damage it.
Always have the air cleaner/filter
in place when you are driving.
Cooling System
The cooling system allows the
engine to maintain the correct
working temperature.
1.4L L4 Engine
A. Engine Electric Cooling Fan (Out of View)
B. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap