Interior CHEVROLET SONIC 2018 User Guide

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11373973) -
2018 - crc - 10/9/17
Lighting 137
Lighting Features
Entry Lighting
Some exterior lamps and interior
lamps turn on briefly at night, or in
areas with limited lighting, when
K
is pressed on the Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) transmitter. When a
door is opened, the interior lamps
come on if the dome lamp control is
in the Door position. They stay on
for about 20 seconds. When all of
the doors have been closed or the
ignition is turned on, they gradually
fade out.
This feature can be changed. See
“Vehicle Locator Lights”under
Vehicle Personalization 0129.
Exit Lighting
Some exterior lamps and interior
lamps come on at night, or in areas
with limited lighting, when the key is
removed from the ignition. The
exterior lamps and dome lamp
remain on for a set amount of time,
then automatically turn off. If equipped with Keyless Access,
the exterior lamps automatically turn
on when a door is opened after the
ignition is turned off. The dome
lamps also come on after the
ignition is turned off.
See
Ignition Positions (Key Access)
0 181 orIgnition Positions (Keyless
Access) 0183.
The exterior lamps turn off
immediately by turning the exterior
lamps control off.
This feature can be changed. See
Vehicle Personalization 0129.
Battery Load
Management
The vehicle has Electric Power
Management (EPM) that estimates
the battery's temperature and state
of charge. It then adjusts the voltage
for best performance and extended
life of the battery.
When the battery's state of charge
is low, the voltage is raised slightly
to quickly bring the charge back up.
When the state of charge is high,
the voltage is lowered slightly to prevent overcharging. If the vehicle
has a voltmeter gauge or a voltage
display on the Driver Information
Center (DIC), you may see the
voltage move up or down. This is
normal. If there is a problem, an
alert will be displayed.
The battery can be discharged at
idle if the electrical loads are very
high. This is true for all vehicles.
This is because the generator
(alternator) may not be spinning fast
enough at idle to produce all the
power needed for very high
electrical loads.
A high electrical load occurs when
several of the following are on, such
as: headlamps, high beams, fog
lamps, rear window defogger,
climate control fan at high speed,
heated seats, engine cooling fans,
trailer loads, and loads plugged into
accessory power outlets.
EPM works to prevent excessive
discharge of the battery. It does this
by balancing the generator's output
and the vehicle's electrical needs.
It can increase engine idle speed to
generate more power, whenever

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11373973) -
2018 - crc - 10/9/17
138 Lighting
needed. It can temporarily reduce
the power demands of some
accessories.
Normally, these actions occur in
steps or levels, without being
noticeable. In rare cases at the
highest levels of corrective action,
this action may be noticeable to the
driver.
Battery Power Protection
The battery saver feature is
designed to protect the vehicle's
battery.
If some interior lamps are left on
and the ignition is turned off, the
battery rundown protection system
automatically turns the lamp off after
some time.
Exterior Lighting Battery
Saver
The exterior lamps turn off about
10 minutes after the ignition is
turned off, if the parking lamps or
headlamps have been manually left
on. This protects against draining
the battery. To restart the 10-minute
timer, turn the exterior lamp control
to the off position and then back to
the parking lamp or headlamp
position.
To keep the lamps on for more than
10 minutes, the ignition must be on
or in ACC/ACCESSORY.

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11373973) -
2018 - crc - 10/9/17
Vehicle Care 215
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Compact Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . 276
Jump Starting
Jump Starting - NorthAmerica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Towing the Vehicle
Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Recreational VehicleTowing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Appearance Care
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
General Information
For service and parts needs, visit
your dealer. You will receive
genuine GM parts and GM-trained
and supported service people.
Genuine GM parts have one of
these marks:
California Proposition
65 Warning
{Warning
Most motor vehicles, including
this one, as well as many of its
service parts and fluids, contain
and/or emit chemicals known to
the State of California to cause
cancer and birth defects or other
reproductive harm. Engine
exhaust, many parts and
systems, many fluids, and some
component wear by-products
contain and/or emit these
chemicals. For more information
go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/
passenger-vehicle.
See Battery - North America 0235
and Jump Starting - North America
0 277 and the back cover.

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11373973) -
2018 - crc - 10/12/17
288 Vehicle Care
Sheet Metal Damage
If the vehicle is damaged and
requires sheet metal repair or
replacement, make sure the body
repair shop applies anti-corrosion
material to parts repaired or
replaced to restore corrosion
protection.
Original manufacturer replacement
parts will provide the corrosion
protection while maintaining the
vehicle warranty.
Finish Damage
Quickly repair minor chips and
scratches with touch-up materials
available from your dealer to avoid
corrosion. Larger areas of finish
damage can be corrected in your
dealer's body and paint shop.
Chemical Paint Spotting
Airborne pollutants can fall upon
and attack painted vehicle surfaces
causing blotchy, ring-shaped
discolorations, and small, irregular
dark spots etched into the paint
surface. See“Finish Care”
previously in this section.
Interior Care
To prevent dirt particle abrasions,
regularly clean the vehicle's interior.
Immediately remove any soils.
Newspapers or dark garments can
transfer color to the vehicle’s
interior.
Use a soft bristle brush to remove
dust from knobs and crevices on the
instrument cluster. Using a mild
soap solution, immediately remove
hand lotions, sunscreen, and insect
repellent from all interior surfaces or
permanent damage may result.
Use cleaners specifically designed
for the surfaces being cleaned to
prevent permanent damage. Apply
all cleaners directly to the cleaning
cloth. Do not spray cleaners on any
switches or controls. Remove
cleaners quickly.
Before using cleaners, read and
follow all safety instructions on the
label. While cleaning the interior,
open the doors and windows to get
proper ventilation. To prevent damage, do not clean
the interior using the following
cleaners or techniques:
.
Never use a razor or any other
sharp object to remove soil from
any interior surface.
. Never use a brush with stiff
bristles.
. Never rub any surface
aggressively or with too much
pressure.
. Do not use laundry detergents or
dishwashing soaps with
degreasers. For liquid cleaners,
use approximately 20 drops per
3.8 L (1 gal) of water.
A concentrated soap solution will
create streaks and attract dirt.
Do not use solutions that contain
strong or caustic soap.
. Do not heavily saturate the
upholstery when cleaning.
. Do not use solvents or cleaners
containing solvents.

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11373973) -
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Vehicle Care 289
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-11373973) -
2018 - crc - 10/9/17
290 Vehicle Care
Cleaning High Gloss Surfaces
and Vehicle Information and
Radio Displays
Use a microfiber cloth on high gloss
surfaces or vehicle displays. First,
use a soft bristle brush to remove
dirt that can scratch the surface.
Then gently clean by rubbing with a
microfiber cloth. Never use window
cleaners or solvents. Periodically
hand wash the microfiber cloth
separately, using mild soap. Do not
use bleach or fabric softener. Rinse
thoroughly and air dry before
next use.
Caution
Do not attach a device with a
suction cup to the display. This
may cause damage and would
not be covered by the vehicle
warranty.
Instrument Panel, Leather,
Vinyl, Other Plastic Surfaces,
Low Gloss Paint Surfaces, and
Natural Open Pore Wood
Surfaces
Use a soft microfiber cloth
dampened with water to remove
dust and loose dirt. For a more
thorough cleaning, use a soft
microfiber cloth dampened with a
mild soap solution.
Caution
Soaking or saturating leather,
especially perforated leather, as
well as other interior surfaces,
may cause permanent damage.
Wipe excess moisture from these
surfaces after cleaning and allow
them to dry naturally. Never use
heat, steam, or spot removers. Do
not use cleaners that contain
silicone or wax-based products.
Cleaners containing these
solvents can permanently change(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
the appearance and feel of
leather or soft trim, and are not
recommended.
Do not use cleaners that increase
gloss, especially on the instrument
panel. Reflected glare can decrease
visibility through the windshield
under certain conditions.
Caution
Use of air fresheners may cause
permanent damage to plastics
and painted surfaces. If an air
freshener comes in contact with
any plastic or painted surface in
the vehicle, blot immediately and
clean with a soft cloth dampened
with a mild soap solution.
Damage caused by air fresheners
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11373973) -
2018 - crc - 10/9/17
302 Service and Maintenance
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 0288 and
Exterior Care 0283.
Wheel Alignment
Wheel alignment is critical for
ensuring that the tires deliver
optimal wear and performance.
. Signs that the alignment may
need to be adjusted include
pulling, improper vehicle
handling, or unusual tire wear.
. Your dealer has the required
equipment to ensure proper
wheel alignment.
Windshield
For safety, appearance, and the
best viewing, keep the windshield
clean and clear.
. Signs of damage include
scratches, cracks, and chips.

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11373973) -
2018 - crc - 10/9/17
Index 337
IndexA
Accessories andModifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Accessory Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . 213
Additional Information OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331
Additional Maintenance and Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Adjustments
Lumbar, Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Agreements Trademarks and License . . . . . 163
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine . . . . . . . 226
Air Conditioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Air Filter, Passenger
Compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Air Intake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Air Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Airbag System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
How Does an AirbagRestrain? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Passenger Sensing System . . . . 73
What Makes an Airbag
Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
What Will You See after an Airbag Inflates? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Airbag System (cont'd)
When Should an Airbag
Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Where Are the Airbags? . . . . . . . . 69
Airbags Adding Equipment to theVehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Passenger Status Indicator . . . .112
Readiness Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Servicing Airbag-Equipped Vehicles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Alarm Vehicle Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
AM-FM Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Antenna Backglass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Multi-band . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . 196 Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116
Appearance Care Exterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Interior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Armrest Front Seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

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Index 339
Child Restraints (cont'd)Lower Anchors and Tethers
for Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Older Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Securing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93, 95
Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Cleaning Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288
Climate Control Systems . . . . . . . 165 Air Conditioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Heating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Cluster, Instrument . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Clutch, Hydraulic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Collision Damage Repair . . . . . . . 318
Compact Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
Compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Load . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Compartments Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Connections
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328
Control Traction and ElectronicStability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198 Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Convex Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Coolant
Engine TemperatureWarning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119
Cooling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Courtesy Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Courtesy Transportation Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Cover
Cargo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200 Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Customer Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . 314 Offices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
Text Telephone (TTY)
Users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
Customer Information Service PublicationsOrdering Information . . . . . . . . 320
Customer Satisfaction Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311
D
Damage Repair, Collision . . . . . . . 318
Danger, Warning, and Caution . . . . 3 Data Collection
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324
Data Recorders, Event . . . . . . . . . 323
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Diagnostics OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Dome Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Door Ajar Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Drive Belt Routing, Engine . . . . . . 310
Driver Information
Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Driving Defensive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Drunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
For Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . 25
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . 175
If the Vehicle is Stuck . . . . . . . . . 176
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174