traction control CHEVROLET SONIC 2018 Owner's Guide

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11373973) -
2018 - crc - 10/9/17
266 Vehicle Care
vehicle, including brake system
performance, ride and handling,
traction control, and tire
pressure monitoring
performance. GM's TPC Spec
number is molded onto the tire's
sidewall near the tire size. If the
tires have an all-season tread
design, the TPC Spec number
will be followed by MS for mud
and snow. SeeTire Sidewall
Labeling 0253.
GM recommends replacing worn
tires in complete sets of four.
Uniform tread depth on all tires
will help to maintain the
performance of the vehicle.
Braking and handling
performance may be adversely
affected if all the tires are not
replaced at the same time.
If proper rotation and
maintenance have been done,
all four tires should wear out at
about the same time. See Tire
Rotation 0264. However, if it is necessary to replace only one
axle set of worn tires, place the
new tires on the rear axle.
Winter tires with the same speed
rating as the original equipment
tires may not be available for H,
V, W, Y and ZR speed rated
tires. Never exceed the winter
tires’
maximum speed capability
when using winter tires with a
lower speed rating.
{Warning
Tires could explode during
improper service. Attempting
to mount or dismount a tire
could cause injury or death.
Only your dealer or authorized
tire service center should
mount or dismount the tires.
{Warning
Mixing tires of different sizes,
brands, or types may cause
loss of control of the vehicle,
resulting in a crash or other
vehicle damage. Use the
correct size, brand, and type
of tires on all wheels.
{Warning
Using bias-ply tires on the
vehicle may cause the wheel
rim flanges to develop cracks
after many miles of driving.
A tire and/or wheel could fail
suddenly and cause a crash.
Use only radial-ply tires with
the wheels on the vehicle.
If the vehicle tires must be
replaced with a tire that does not
have a TPC Spec number, make
sure they are the same size,

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11373973) -
2018 - crc - 10/9/17
Vehicle Care 267
load range, speed rating, and
construction (radial) as the
original tires.
Vehicles that have a tire
pressure monitoring system
could give an inaccurate
low-pressure warning if non-TPC
Spec rated tires are installed.
SeeTire Pressure Monitor
System 0259.
The Tire and Loading
Information label indicates the
original equipment tires on the
vehicle. See Vehicle Load Limits
0 177.
Different Size Tires and
Wheels
If wheels or tires are installed that
are a different size than the original
equipment wheels and tires, vehicle
performance, including its braking,
ride and handling characteristics,
stability, and resistance to rollover
may be affected. If the vehicle has
electronic systems such as antilock
brakes, rollover airbags, traction control, electronic stability control,
or All-Wheel Drive, the performance
of these systems can also be
affected.
{Warning
If different sized wheels are used,
there may not be an acceptable
level of performance and safety if
tires not recommended for those
wheels are selected. This
increases the chance of a crash
and serious injury. Only use GM
specific wheel and tire systems
developed for the vehicle, and
have them properly installed by a
GM certified technician.
See Buying New Tires 0265 and
Accessories and Modifications
0 216.
Uniform Tire Quality
Grading
The following information relates
to the system developed by the
United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA), which grades tires by
treadwear, traction, and
temperature performance. This
applies only to vehicles sold in
the United States. The grades
are molded on the sidewalls of
most passenger car tires. The
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
(UTQG) system does not apply
to deep tread, winter tires,
compact spare tires, tires with
nominal rim diameters of
10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm),
or to some limited-production
tires.
While the tires available on
General Motors passenger cars
and light trucks may vary with
respect to these grades, they
must also conform to federal
safety requirements and
additional General Motors Tire
Performance Criteria (TPC)
standards.

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11373973) -
2018 - crc - 10/9/17
268 Vehicle Care
Quality grades can be found
where applicable on the tire
sidewall between tread shoulder
and maximum section width. For
example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA
Temperature A
All Passenger Car Tires Must
Conform to Federal Safety
Requirements In Addition To
These Grades.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a
comparative rating based on the
wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a
specified government test
course. For example, a tire
graded 150 would wear one and
one-half (1½) times as well on
the government course as a tire
graded 100. The relative
performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of
their use, however, and may
depart significantly from thenorm due to variations in driving
habits, service practices and
differences in road
characteristics and climate.
Traction
The traction grades, from
highest to lowest, are AA, A, B,
and C. Those grades represent
the tire's ability to stop on wet
pavement as measured under
controlled conditions on
specified government test
surfaces of asphalt and
concrete. A tire marked C may
have poor traction performance.
Warning: The traction grade
assigned to this tire is based on
straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include
acceleration, cornering,
hydroplaning, or peak traction
characteristics.
Temperature
The temperature grades are A
(the highest), B, and C,
representing the tire's resistance
to the generation of heat and its
ability to dissipate heat when
tested under controlled
conditions on a specified indoor
laboratory test wheel. Sustained
high temperature can cause the
material of the tire to degenerate
and reduce tire life, and
excessive temperature can lead
to sudden tire failure. The grade
C corresponds to a level of
performance which all
passenger car tires must meet
under the Federal Motor Safety
Standard No. 109. Grades B and
A represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory
test wheel than the minimum
required by law. Warning: The
temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is
properly inflated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed,

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11373973) -
2018 - crc - 10/9/17
270 Vehicle Care
Used Replacement Wheels
{Warning
Replacing a wheel with a used
one is dangerous. How it has
been used or how far it has been
driven may be unknown. It could
fail suddenly and cause a crash.
When replacing wheels, use a
new GM original equipment
wheel.
Tire Chains
{Warning
If the vehicle has a tire size other
than 195/65R15 or 205/55R16, do
not use tire chains. There is not
enough clearance. Tire chains
used on a vehicle without the
proper amount of clearance can
cause damage to the brakes,
suspension, or other vehicle
parts. The area damaged by the(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
tire chains could cause loss of
control and a crash. Use another
type of traction device only if its
manufacturer recommends it for
the vehicle's tire size combination
and road conditions. Follow that
manufacturer's instructions. To
avoid vehicle damage, drive slow
and readjust or remove the
traction device if it contacts the
vehicle. Do not spin the wheels. If
traction devices are used, install
them on the front tires.
Caution
If the vehicle is equipped with
195/65R15 or 205/55R16 size
tires, use tire chains only where
legal and only when necessary.
Use low profile chains that add no
more than 10 mm thickness to the
tire tread and inner sidewall. Use
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
chains that are the proper size for
the tires. Install them on the tires
of the front axle. Do not use
chains on the tires of the rear
axle. Tighten them as tightly as
possible with the ends securely
fastened. Drive slowly and follow
the chain manufacturer's
instructions. If the chains contact
the vehicle, stop and retighten
them. If the contact continues,
slow down until it stops. Driving
too fast or spinning the wheels
with chains on will damage the
vehicle.
If a Tire Goes Flat
It is unusual for a tire to blow out
while driving, especially if the tires
are maintained properly. See Tires
0 251. If air goes out of a tire, it is
much more likely to leak out slowly.
But if there ever is a blowout, here
are a few tips about what to expect
and what to do:

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11373973) -
2018 - crc - 10/9/17
Vehicle Care 277
If this vehicle has a compact spare
tire, it was fully inflated when new;
however, it can lose air over time.
Check the inflation pressure
regularly. It should be 420 kPa
(60 psi).
Stop as soon as possible and check
that the spare tire is correctly
inflated after being installed on the
vehicle. The compact spare tire is
designed for temporary use only.
The vehicle will perform differently
with the spare tire installed and it is
recommended that the vehicle
speed be limited to 80 km/h
(50 mph). To conserve the tread of
the spare tire, have the standard tire
repaired or replaced as soon as
convenient and return the spare tire
to the storage area.
When using a compact spare tire,
the AWD (if equipped), ABS, and
Traction Control systems may
engage until the spare tire is
recognized by the vehicle,
especially on slippery roads. Adjust
driving to reduce possible
wheel slip.Caution
When the compact spare is
installed, do not take the vehicle
through an automatic car wash
with guide rails. The compact
spare can get caught on the rails
which can damage the tire, wheel,
and other parts of the vehicle.
Do not use the compact spare on
other vehicles.
Do not mix the compact spare tire or
wheel with other wheels or tires.
They will not fit. Keep the spare tire
and its wheel together.
Caution
Tire chains will not fit the compact
spare. Using them can damage
the vehicle and the chains. Do not
use tire chains on the compact
spare.
Jump Starting
Jump Starting - North
America
For more information about the
vehicle battery, see Battery - North
America 0235.
If the battery has run down, try to
use another vehicle and some
jumper cables to start your vehicle.
Be sure to use the following steps to
do it safely.
{Warning
WARNING: Battery posts,
terminals, and related
accessories contain lead and lead
compounds, chemicals known to
the State of California to cause
cancer and birth defects or other
reproductive harm. Batteries also
contain other chemicals known to
the State of California to cause
cancer. WASH HANDS AFTER
(Continued)

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11373973) -
2018 - crc - 10/9/17
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

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11373973) -
2018 - crc - 10/9/17
342 Index
L
Labeling, Tire Sidewall . . . . . . . . . . 253
LampsCourtesy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Daytime Running (DRL) . . . . . . 133
Dome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Exterior Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Exterior Lighting BatterySaver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
License Plate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Malfunction Indicator
(Check Engine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113
On Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Lane Departure Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
LATCH System
Replacing Parts after aCrash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
LATCH, Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Liftgate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Lighting
Entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Exit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Illumination Control . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Lights Airbag Readiness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Antilock Brake System(ABS) Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116
Brake System Warning . . . . . . . .115
Charging System . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113
Check Engine (Malfunction Indicator) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Door Ajar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning . . . . . . . .119
Engine Oil Pressure . . . . . . . . . . 120
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Front Fog Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
High-Beam On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
High/Low Beam Changer . . . . . 133
Hood Ajar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Lane Departure Warning . . . . . . .117
Low Fuel Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Operate Pedal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116 Lights (cont'd)
Reduced Engine Power . . . . . . 121
Seat Belt Reminders . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Service Vehicle Soon . . . . . . . . . .115
StabiliTrak OFF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119
Traction Control System
(TCS)/StabiliTrak . . . . . . . . . . . . .119
Traction Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118
Ultrasonic Parking Sensor . . . . .118
Up-Shift . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117
Warning, Power Steering . . . . . .117
Load Compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Locks Automatic Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Lockout Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . . . . 120
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH
System) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Lumbar Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-11373973) -
2018 - crc - 10/9/17
346 Index
StrutsGas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Stuck Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Summer Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Sun Visors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
System Forward CollisionAlert (FCA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
T
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
TaillampsBulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Text Telephone (TTY) Users . . . . 314
Theft-Deterrent Systems . . . . . . . . . 46 Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251 All-Season . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Compact Spare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Different Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . 270 Tires (cont'd)
Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119
Pressure Monitor Operation . . 260
Pressure Monitor System . . . . . 259
Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Terminology and Definitions . . 256
Uniform Tire Quality
Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 269
When It Is Time for New
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Towing
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 212
Recreational Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . 280
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Traction Control System (TCS)/
StabiliTrak Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119
Off Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198 Trademarks and License
Agreements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Transmission Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Fluid, Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Fluid, Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Transportation Program,
Courtesy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 317
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Trunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Turn and Lane-Change Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Turn Signal Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
U
Ultrasonic Parking SensorLight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . 267
Up-Shift Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
USB Port . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Using the System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Using This Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
V
Vehicle Alarm System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Canadian Owners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172