service CHEVROLET SONIC 2013 2.G Owner's Manual

Black plate (18,1)Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual - 2013 - 2nd PrintReady - 10/11/12
5-18 Instruments and Controls
If the indicator/warning light is on
and flashing, the TCS and/or the
StabiliTrak system is actively
working.
SeeStabiliTrak
®System on
page 9‑29 andTraction Control
System (TCS) on page 9‑28.
Engine Coolant
Temperature Warning
Light
This light comes on briefly while
starting the vehicle.
If it does not, have the vehicle
serviced by the dealer. If the system
is working normally the indicator
light goes off. Notice:
The engine coolant
temperature warning light
indicates that the vehicle has
overheated. Driving with this light
on can damage the engine and it
may not be covered by the
vehicle warranty. See Engine
Overheating on page 10‑19.
The engine coolant temperature
warning light comes on when the
engine has overheated.
If this happens, pull over and turn
off the engine as soon as possible.
See Engine Overheating on
page 10‑19.
Tire Pressure Light
For vehicles with the Tire Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS), this light
comes on briefly when the engine is
started. It provides information
about tire pressures and the TPMS.
When the Light Is On Steady
This indicates that one or more of
the tires are significantly
underinflated.
Stop as soon as possible, and
inflate the tires to the pressure value
shown on the Tire and Loading
Information label. See Tire Pressure
on page 10‑47.
When the Light Flashes First and
Then Is On Steady
If the light flashes for about a minute
and then stays on, there may be a
problem with the TPMS. If the
problem is not corrected, the light
will come on at every ignition cycle.
See Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation on page 10‑49.

Black plate (19,1)Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual - 2013 - 2nd PrintReady - 10/11/12
Instruments and Controls 5-19
Engine Oil Pressure Light
The oil pressure light should come
on briefly as the engine is started.
If it does not come on, have the
vehicle serviced by your dealer.
Notice:Lack of proper engine oil
maintenance can damage the
engine. Driving with the engine
oil low can also damage the
engine. The repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Check the oil level as soon as
possible. Add oil if required, but
if the oil level is within the
operating range and the oil
pressure is still low, have the
vehicle serviced. Always follow
the maintenance schedule for
changing engine oil. If the vehicle has low engine oil
pressure, this light will stay on after
the engine is started, or come on
while driving.
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 pressure 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.
Low Fuel Warning Light
This light comes on for a few
seconds when the ignition is turned
on as a check to indicate it is
working. If it does not come on,
have it fixed.
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 9‑36.

Black plate (20,1)Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual - 2013 - 2nd PrintReady - 10/11/12
5-20 Instruments and Controls
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 immobilizer
system. SeeImmobilizer Operation
on page 2‑11.
Reduced Engine Power
Light
The reduced engine power light
should come on briefly as the
engine is started. If it does not come
on, have the vehicle serviced by
your dealer.
This light, along with the malfunction
indicator lamp, displays when a
noticeable reduction in the vehicle's
performance occurs. Stop the
vehicle and turn off the ignition. Wait
10 seconds and restart the vehicle.
This might correct the condition. The vehicle can be driven at a
reduced speed when the reduced
engine power light is on but
acceleration and speed might be
reduced. The performance could be
reduced until the next time the
vehicle is driven. If this light stays
on, see your dealer as soon as
possible for diagnosis and repair.High-Beam On Light
This light comes on when the
high-beam headlamps are in use.
See
Headlamp High/Low-Beam
Changer on page 6‑2.

Black plate (25,1)Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual - 2013 - 2nd PrintReady - 10/11/12
Instruments and Controls 5-25
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. SeeEngine Oil
Life System on page 10‑11.Vehicle Messages
DIC messages display when the
status of the vehicle has changed
and action may be needed to
correct the condition. Multiple
messages appear one after another.
Press any of the DIC buttons on the
turn signal lever to acknowledge
and clear them from the display.
More urgent messages cannot be
cleared from the DIC display. All
messages should be taken
seriously. Clearing messages will
not correct the problem.
Vehicle messages appear as code
numbers.
15: Center High Mounted Brake
Lamp Failure
16: Service Brake Lamps
21: Left Front Position Lamp
Failure
22: Right Front Position Lamp
Failure
23: Reversing Lamp Failure 24:
License Plate Lamp Failure
25: Left Front Turn Indicator Failure
26: Left Rear Turn Indicator Failure
27: Right Front Turn Indicator
Failure
28: Right Rear Turn Indicator
Failure
52: Change Timing Belt
82: Change Engine Oil Soon
84: Engine Power Is Reduced
89: Service Vehicle Soon

Black plate (16,1)Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual - 2013 - 2nd PrintReady - 10/11/12
7-16 Infotainment System
Satellite Radio
SiriusXM®Satelite Radio
Service
SiriusXM is a satellite radio service
based in the 48 contiguous United
States and 10 Canadian provinces.
SiriusXM Satellite Radio has a wide
variety of programming and
commercial-free music, coast to
coast, and in digital-quality sound.
A service fee is required to receive
the SiriusXM service. For more
information, contact SiriusXM at
www.siriusxm.com or
1-866-635-2349 (U.S.), and
www.xmradio.ca or 1-877-209-0079
(Canada).
Finding a Channel
RADIO/BAND: Press to choose
XM. The display will show the
selection.
SEEK
¨: Press to seek the next
XM channel.
©SEEK: Press to seek the
previous XM channel. MENU/TUNE:
Turn to go to the
next XM channel.
Storing an SiriusXM Channel
Drivers are encouraged to set up
XM channel favorites while the
vehicle is not moving. Tune to
favorite stations using the
pushbuttons, favorites button, and
steering wheel controls. See
Defensive Driving on page 9‑2.
A maximum of 36 stations can be
programmed as favorites using the
six pushbuttons positioned below
the radio station frequency labels
and by using the radio favorites
page button (FAV 1-2-3 button).
Press the FAV 1-2-3 button to go
through up to six pages of favorites,
each having six favorite stations
available per page. Each page of
favorites can contain any
combination of AM, FM, or XM
channels. To store an XM channel
as a favorite:
1. Tune in the desired channel. 2. Press and release the FAV 1-2-3
button to display the page where
the channel is to be stored.
3. Press and hold one of the six numbered pushbuttons until a
beep sounds. When the
pushbutton is pressed and
released, the channel that was
set will return.
4. Repeat Steps 1−3 for each XM channel to be stored as a
favorite.
To set up the number of favorites
pages:
1. Press and hold FAV 1-2-3 until the radio setup menu displays.
2. Select the desired number of favorites pages by pressing the
pushbutton located below the
displayed page numbers.
3. Press FAV 1-2-3 to return to the original main radio screen
showing the radio frequency
tabs and to begin the process of

Black plate (17,1)Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual - 2013 - 2nd PrintReady - 10/11/12
Infotainment System 7-17
programming favorites for the
chosen number of numbered
pages.
SiriusXM Radio Messages
UPDATING:The encryption code
in the receiver is being updated, and
no action is required. This process
should take no longer than
30 seconds.
NO SIGNAL: The system is
functioning correctly, but the vehicle
is in a location that is blocking the
SiriusXM signal. When the vehicle is
moved into an open area, the signal
should return.
LOADING: The audio system is
acquiring and processing audio and
text data. No action is needed. This
message should disappear shortly.
OFF AIR: This channel is not
currently in service. Tune in to
another channel.
CH UNAVAILABLE: This
previously assigned channel is no
longer assigned. Tune to another station. If this station was one of the
presets, choose another station for
that preset button.
RADIO ID:
If tuned to channel 0,
this message alternates with the
SiriusXM Radio eight-digit radio ID
label. This label is needed to
activate the service.
CHECK XM TUNER: If this
message does not clear within a
short period of time, the receiver
could have a fault. Consult with your
dealer.
Radio Reception
Frequency interference and static
can occur during normal radio
reception if items such as cell phone
chargers, vehicle convenience
accessories, and external electronic
devices are plugged into the
accessory power outlet. If there is
interference or static, unplug the
item from the accessory power
outlet.
AM
The range for most AM stations is
greater than for FM, especially at
night. The longer range can cause
station frequencies to interfere with
each other. For better radio
reception, most AM radio stations
boost the power levels during the
day, and then reduce these levels
during the night. Static can also
occur when things like storms and
power lines interfere with radio
reception. When this happens, try
reducing the treble on the radio.
FM Stereo
FM signals only reach about 16 to
65 km (10 to 40 mi). Although the
radio has a built-in electronic circuit
that automatically works to reduce
interference, some static can occur,
especially around tall buildings or
hills, causing the sound to fade in
and out.

Black plate (18,1)Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual - 2013 - 2nd PrintReady - 10/11/12
7-18 Infotainment System
SiriusXM®Satellite Radio
Service
SiriusXM Satellite Radio Service
gives digital radio reception from
coast to coast in the 48 contiguous
United States, and in Canada. Just
as with FM, tall buildings or hills can
interfere with satellite radio signals,
causing the sound to fade in and
out. In addition, traveling or standing
under heavy foliage, bridges,
garages, or tunnels may cause loss
of the SiriusXM signal for a period
of time.
Cellular Phone Usage
Cellular phone usage may cause
interference with the vehicle's radio.
This interference may occur when
making or receiving phone calls,
charging the phone's battery,
or simply having the phone on. This
interference causes an increased
level of static while listening to the
radio. If static is received while
listening to the radio, unplug the
cellular phone and turn it off.
Satellite Radio Antenna
The XM Satellite Radio antenna is
located on the roof of the vehicle.
Keep the antenna clear of
obstructions for clear radio
reception.
If the vehicle has a sunroof, the
performance of the XM system (if
equipped) may be affected if the
sunroof is open.
Multi-Band Antenna
The multi-band antenna is on the
roof of the vehicle. The antenna is
used for the AM-FM radio, OnStar,
the SiriusXM Satellite Radio Service
System, and GPS (Global
Positioning System), if the vehicle
has these features. Keep the
antenna clear of obstructions for
clear reception.
Audio Players
CD Player
The CD player can play audio CDs
and MP3 CDs.
The CD player will not play
8 cm (3 in) CDs.
Care of CDs
Sound quality can be reduced due
to disc quality, recording method,
quality of the music recorded, and
how the disc has been handled.
Handle discs carefully and store
them in their original cases or other
protective cases away from direct
sunlight and dust. If the bottom
surface of a disc is damaged, the
disc may not play properly or at all.
Do not touch the bottom surface of
a disc while handling it; this could
damage the surface. Pick up discs
by grasping the outer edges or the
edge of the hole and the outer edge.
If the bottom surface of a disc is
dirty, take a soft, lint-free cloth,
or dampen a clean, soft cloth in a

Black plate (30,1)Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual - 2013 - 2nd PrintReady - 10/11/12
7-30 Infotainment System
See your cell phone's owner's guide
or contact your wireless provider to
find out if this feature is supported
by your phone.
When a cell phone supports the
phone book feature, the Phone
Book and Call Lists menus are
automatically available.
The Phone Book menu allows you
to access the phone book stored in
the cell phone to make a call.
The Call Lists menu allows you to
access the phone numbers from the
Incoming Calls, Outgoing Calls, and
Missed Calls menus on your cell
phone to make a call.
To make a call using the Phone
Book menu:
1. Press
5/>once or twice
(depending on the radio).
2. Select Phone Book.
3. Search through the list by selecting the letter group the
phone book entry begins with,
or press the MENU/TUNE button to scroll through the entire list of
names/numbers in the
phone book.
4. Select the name or number you want to call.
To make a call using the Call
Lists menu:
1. Press
5/>once or twice
(depending on the radio).
2. Select Call Lists.
3. Select the Incoming Calls, Outgoing Calls, or Missed
Calls list.
4. Select the name or number you want to call.
Making a Call
To make a call:
1. Press
5/>once or twice
(depending on the radio).
2. Enter the character sequence. See “Entering a Character
Sequence” inOperation on
page 7‑8. 3. Select Call to start dialing the
number.
Accepting or Declining a Call
When an incoming call is received,
the infotainment system mutes and
a ring tone is heard in the vehicle.
Accepting a Call
Turn the MENU/TUNE knob to
“Answer” and press the MENU/
TUNE knob to accept the call.
Declining a Call
Turn the MENU/TUNE knob to
“Decline” and press the MENU/
TUNE knob to decline the call.
Call Waiting
Call waiting must be supported on
the Bluetooth phone and enabled by
the wireless service carrier to work.
Accepting a Call
Turn the MENU/TUNE knob to
“Answer” and press the MENU/
TUNE knob to accept the call.

Black plate (31,1)Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual - 2013 - 2nd PrintReady - 10/11/12
Infotainment System 7-31
Declining a Call
Turn the MENU/TUNE knob to
“Decline”and press the MENU/
TUNE knob to decline the call.
Switching Between Calls (Call
Waiting Calls Only)
To switch between calls:
1. Turn or press the MENU/ TUNE knob.
2. Select Switch Call from the menu.
Conference Calling
Conference calling and three-way
calling must be supported on the
Bluetooth phone and enabled by the
wireless service carrier to work.
To start a conference while in a
current call:
1. Turn or press the MENU/TUNE knob.
2. Select Enter Number. 3. Enter the character sequence
then select Call. See “Entering a
Character Sequence” in
Operation on page 7‑8.
4. After the call has been placed, turn or press the MENU/TUNE
knob and choose Merge Calls.
5. To add more callers to the conference call, repeat
Steps 1−4. The number of
callers that can be added is
limited by your wireless service
carrier.Ending a Call
Turn or press the MENU/TUNE
knob and select Hang Up.
Muting a Call
To Mute a Call
Turn or press the MENU/TUNE
knob and select Mute Call.
To Cancel Mute
Turn or press the MENU/TUNE
knob and select Mute Call.
Dual Tone Multi-Frequency
(DTMF) Tones
The in-vehicle Bluetooth system can
send numbers during a call. This is
used when calling a menu-driven
phone system.
1. Turn or press the MENU/TUNE
knob and select Enter Number.
2. Enter the character sequence. See “Entering a Character
Sequence” inOperation on
page 7‑8.
Pairing With Touchscreen
A Bluetooth-enabled cell phone
must be paired to the Bluetooth
system and then connected to the
vehicle before it can be used. See
your cell phone manufacturer's user
guide for Bluetooth functions before
pairing the cell phone. If a Bluetooth
phone is not connected, calls will be
made using OnStar Hands-Free
Calling, if available. See OnStar
Overview on page 14‑1.

Black plate (41,1)Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual - 2013 - 2nd PrintReady - 10/11/12
Infotainment System 7-41
Receiving a Call
When an incoming call is received,
the audio system mutes and a ring
tone is heard in the vehicle.
.Pressb/gto answer the call.
.Press$/ito ignore a call.
Call Waiting
Call waiting must be supported on
the cell phone and enabled by the
wireless service carrier.
.Pressb/gto answer an
incoming call when another call
is active. The original call is
placed on hold.
.Pressb/gagain to return to
the original call.
.To ignore the incoming call, no
action is required.
.Press$/ito disconnect the
current call and switch to the call
on hold.
Three-Way Calling
Three-way calling must be
supported on the cell phone and
enabled by the wireless service
carrier.
1. While on a call, press
b/g.
2. Say “Three-way call.”
3. Use the dial or call command to dial the number of the third party
to be called.
4. Once the call is connected, press
b/gto link all callers
together.
Ending a Call
Press$/ito end a call.
Muting a Call
During a call, all sounds from inside
the vehicle can be muted so that the
person on the other end of the call
cannot hear them.
To mute a call, press
b/g, and
then say “Mute Call.” To cancel mute, press
b/g, and
then say “Un-mute Call.”
Transferring a Call
Audio can be transferred between
the Bluetooth system and the cell
phone.
The cell phone must be paired and
connected with the Bluetooth
system before a call can be
transferred. The connection process
can take up to two minutes after the
ignition is turned to ON/RUN.
To Transfer Audio from the
Bluetooth System to a Cell Phone
During a call with the audio in the
vehicle:
1. Press
b/g.
2. Say “Transfer Call.”
To Transfer Audio to the Bluetooth
System from a Cell Phone
During a call with the audio on the
cell phone, press
b/g. The audio
transfers to the vehicle. If the audio