tow CHEVROLET SONIC 2019 Owner's Guide

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12461769) -
2019 - crc - 5/23/18
Driving and Operating 187
2. Brake using firm and steadypressure. Do not pump the
brakes repeatedly. This may
deplete power assist, requiring
increased brake pedal force.
3. Shift the vehicle to N (Neutral). This can be done while the
vehicle is moving. Continue
braking and steer the vehicle to
a safe location.
4. Come to a complete stop.
5. Shift to P (Park) with an automatic transmission,
or Neutral with a manual
transmission.
6. Continue to hold the brake pedal, then set the parking
brake. See Parking Brake
0 202.
7. Push the key all the way in toward the steering column,
then turn the ignition to
LOCK/OFF.
8. Remove the key.
9. Release the brake pedal.Caution
Use the correct key, make sure it
is all the way in —or pushed all
the way in toward the steering
column when turning off the
vehicle —and turn it only with
your hand.
1 (ACC/ACCESSORY) : This
position allows features such as the
infotainment system to operate
while the vehicle is off. It also
unlocks the steering column,
if equipped with a locking steering
column. Use this position if the
vehicle must be pushed or towed.
See Retained Accessory Power
(RAP) 0192.
From ON/RUN, push the key all the
way in toward the steering column,
then turn the key to ACC/
ACCESSORY.
If the key is left in ACC/
ACCESSORY with the engine off,
the battery could drain and the
vehicle may not start. A warning chime will sound when
the driver door is opened and the
key is in the ignition.
2 (ON/RUN) :
This position can be
used to operate the electrical
accessories and to display some
instrument cluster warning and
indicator lights. This position can
also be used for service and
diagnostics, and to verify the proper
operation of the malfunction
indicator lamp as may be required
for emission inspection purposes.
The switch stays in this position
when the engine is running. The
transmission is also unlocked in this
position on automatic transmission
vehicles.
If the key is left in ON/RUN with the
engine off, the battery could drain
and the vehicle may not start.
3 (START) : This is the position that
starts the engine. When the engine
starts, release the key. The ignition
returns to ON/RUN for driving.

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12461769) -
2019 - crc - 5/21/18
Driving and Operating 193
Shifting Into Park
(Automatic Transmission)
1. Hold the brake pedal down andset the parking brake. See
Parking Brake 0202.
2. Move the shift lever into P (Park) by pressing the button
on the shift lever and pushing
the lever all the way toward the
front of the vehicle.
3. Push the ignition key in, towards the steering column
and then turn the ignition off.
4. If equipped, remove the key and take it with you. If you can
leave the vehicle with the
ignition key in your hand, the
vehicle is in P (Park).
Leaving the Vehicle with the
Engine Running (Automatic
Transmission)
{Warning
It can be dangerous to leave the
vehicle with the engine running.
It could overheat and catch fire.
It is dangerous to get out of the
vehicle if the shift lever is not fully
in P (Park) with the parking brake
firmly set. The vehicle can roll.
Do not leave the vehicle when the
engine is running. If you have left
the engine running, the vehicle
can move suddenly. You or others
could be injured. To be sure the
vehicle will not move, even when
you are on fairly level ground,
always set the parking brake and
move the shift lever to P (Park).
See Shifting Into Park (Automatic
Transmission) 0193. If you have to leave the vehicle with
the engine running, be sure the
vehicle is in P (Park) and the
parking brake is firmly set before
you leave it. After you have moved
the shift lever into P (Park), hold the
brake pedal down. Then see if you
can move the shift lever away from
P (Park) without first pressing the
button on the shift lever. If you can,
it means that the shift lever was not
fully locked into P (Park).
Torque Lock (Automatic
Transmission)
If you are parking on a hill and you
do not shift the transmission into
P (Park) properly, the weight of the
vehicle may put too much force on
the parking pawl in the
transmission. You may find it difficult
to pull the shift lever out of P (Park).
This is called
“torque lock.”
To prevent torque lock, set the
parking brake and then shift into
P (Park) properly before you leave
the driver seat. To find out how, see
“Shifting Into Park” previously in this
section.

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12461769) -
2019 - crc - 5/21/18
194 Driving and Operating
When you are ready to drive, move
the shift lever out of P (Park) before
you release the parking brake.
If torque lock does occur, you may
need to have another vehicle push
yours a little uphill to take some of
the pressure from the parking pawl
in the transmission, so you can pull
the shift lever out of P (Park).
Shifting out of Park
(Automatic Transmission)
This vehicle is equipped with a shift
lock control. The shift lock control is
designed to:
.Prevent ignition key removal,
if equipped, unless the shift lever
is in P (Park) with the shift lever
button fully released.
. Prevent movement of the shift
lever out of P (Park) unless the
ignition is on and the brake
pedal is applied.
The shift lock control is always
functional except in the case of an
uncharged or low voltage (less than
9-volt) battery. If the vehicle has an uncharged
battery or a battery with low voltage,
try charging or jump starting the
battery. See
Jump Starting - North
America 0279.
To shift out of P (Park):
1. Apply the brake pedal.
2. Turn the ignition on.
3. Press the shift lever button.
4. Move the shift lever to the desired position.
If still unable to shift out of P (Park): 1. Fully release the shift lever button.
2. Hold the brake pedal down and press the shift lever button
again.
3. Move the shift lever to the desired position.
If you still cannot move the shift
lever from P (Park), consult your
dealer or a professional towing
service. The doors may lock when shifting
from P (Park). See
Automatic Door
Locks 041.
Parking (Manual
Transmission)
{Warning
If the vehicle has a manual
transmission, never get out of the
vehicle without first moving the
shift lever into 1st or R (Reverse),
setting the parking brake and
turning the ignition off. The
vehicle can roll, which could
cause serious injury or death.

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12461769) -
2019 - crc - 5/21/18
206 Driving and Operating
control will automatically disengage.
SeeTraction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0203. If a collision
alert occurs when cruise control is
activated, cruise control is
disengaged. See Forward Collision
Alert (FCA) System 0212. When
road conditions allow you to safely
use it again, the cruise control can
be turned back on.
If the brakes are applied, cruise
control disengages.o: Press to turn the cruise control
system on and off. A white indicator
comes on in the instrument cluster
when cruise is turned on.
RES/+ : If there is a set speed in
memory, move the thumbwheel up
briefly to resume to that speed or
hold upward to accelerate. If cruise
control is already active, use to
increase vehicle speed.
SET/− :Move the thumbwheel down
briefly to set the speed and activate
cruise control. If cruise control is
already active, use to decrease
speed.
n: Press to disengage cruise
control without erasing the set
speed from memory.
Setting Cruise Control
If
ois on when not in use, SET/−
or RES/+ could get bumped and
go into cruise when not desired.
Keep
ooff when cruise control is
not being used. To set cruise control:
1. Press
oto turn the cruise
system on.
2. Get to the speed desired.
3. Move the thumbwheel down to SET/− and release it.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
The cruise control indicator on the
instrument cluster turns green after
cruise control has been set to the
desired speed. See Instrument
Cluster 0111.
Resuming a Set Speed
If the cruise control is set at a
desired speed and then the brakes
or clutch for manual transmissions
are applied or
nis pressed, the
cruise control is disengaged without
erasing the set speed from memory.
Once the vehicle reaches about
40 km/h (25 mph) or more, move the
thumbwheel up toward RES/+
briefly. The vehicle returns to the
previous set speed.

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12461769) -
2019 - crc - 5/21/18
Driving and Operating 207
Increasing Speed While Using
Cruise Control
If the cruise control system is
already activated:
.Move the thumbwheel up toward
RES/+ and hold it until the
desired speed is reached, then
release it.
. To increase the vehicle speed in
small increments, move the
thumbwheel up toward RES/+
briefly and then release it. For
each press, the vehicle goes
about 1 km/h (1 mph) faster.
The speedometer reading can be
displayed in either English or metric
units. See Driver Information Center
(DIC) 0126. The increment value
used depends on the units
displayed. Reducing Speed While Using
Cruise Control
If the cruise control system is
already activated:
.
Move the thumbwheel toward
SET/− and hold until the desired
lower speed is reached, then
release it.
. To decrease the vehicle speed in
smaller increments, move the
thumbwheel toward SET/−
briefly. For each press, the
vehicle goes about 1 km/h
(1 mph) slower.
The speedometer reading can be
displayed in either English or metric
units. See Driver Information Center
(DIC) 0126. The increment value
used depends on the units
displayed.
Passing Another Vehicle While
Using Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to
increase the vehicle speed. When
you take your foot off the pedal, the
vehicle slows down to the previous
set cruise control speed. While pressing the accelerator pedal or
shortly following the release to
override cruise control, briefly
moving the thumbwheel toward
SET/- will result in cruise control set
to the current vehicle speed.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well cruise control works on
hills depends on the vehicle speed,
load, and the steepness of the hills.
When going up steep hills, you
might have to step on the
accelerator pedal to maintain the
vehicle speed. When going
downhill, you might have to brake or
shift to a lower gear to keep your
speed down. If the brake pedal is
applied, cruise control will
disengage.
Ending Cruise Control
There are five ways to end cruise
control:
.
To disengage cruise control,
step lightly on the brake pedal.
. Press the clutch pedal for
several seconds or shift to
Neutral (manual transmissions).

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12461769) -
2019 - crc - 5/21/18
Driving and Operating 219
Warning (Continued)
Contact should be
maintained until the filling is
complete.
. Do not smoke while
pumping fuel.
. Avoid using electronic
devices.
Trailer Towing
General Towing
Information
{Warning
Never tow a trailer with your
vehicle. It was not designed or
intended to tow a trailer.
Conversions and
Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical
Equipment
{Warning
The Data Link Connector (DLC) is
used for vehicle service and
Emission Inspection/Maintenance
testing. See Malfunction Indicator
Lamp (Check Engine Light) 0116.
A device connected to the DLC —
such as an aftermarket fleet or
driver-behavior tracking device —
may interfere with vehicle
systems. This could affect vehicle
operation and cause a crash.
Such devices may also access
information stored in the vehicle’s
systems.

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12461769) -
2019 - crc - 5/21/18
222 Vehicle Care
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 274
Compact Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . 278
Jump Starting
Jump Starting - NorthAmerica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
Towing the Vehicle
Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Recreational VehicleTowing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Appearance Care
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
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 0239
and Jump Starting - North America
0 279 and the back cover.

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12461769) -
2019 - crc - 5/21/18
224 Vehicle Care
If equipped with remote vehicle
start, open the hood before
performing any service work to
prevent remote starting the vehicle
accidentally. SeeRemote Vehicle
Start 038.
Keep a record with all parts receipts
and list the mileage and the date of
any service work performed. See
Maintenance Records 0308.
Caution
Even small amounts of
contamination can cause damage
to vehicle systems. Do not allow
contaminants to contact the fluids,
reservoir caps, or dipsticks.
Hood
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 to the front of the vehicleand move the secondary hood
release lever toward the right
side of the vehicle.

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12461769) -
2019 - crc - 5/21/18
Vehicle Care 227
1.Engine Air Cleaner/Filter 0231.
2. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine Oil 0227.
3. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling System
0 232.
4. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine Oil 0227.
5. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and Pressure Cap. See
Cooling System 0232.
6. Brake/Clutch Fluid Reservoir. See Brake Fluid 0238 and
Hydraulic Clutch 0231.
7. Battery - North America 0239.
8. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See Washer Fluid
0 237.
9. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block 0249.Engine Oil
To ensure proper engine
performance and long life, careful
attention must be paid to engine oil.
Following these simple, but
important steps will help protect
your investment:
.
Use engine oil approved to the
proper specification and of the
proper viscosity grade. See
“Selecting the Right Engine Oil”
in this section.
. Check the engine oil level
regularly and maintain the
proper oil level. See “Checking
Engine Oil” and“When to Add
Engine Oil” in this section.
. Change the engine oil at the
appropriate time. See Engine Oil
Life System 0229.
. Always dispose of engine oil
properly. See “What to Do with
Used Oil” in this section.
If the engine oil pressure light
comes on, check the engine oil level
right away. The oil pressure light is
on the instrument cluster. See
Engine Oil Pressure Light 0123.
Check the engine oil level regularly;
this is an added reminder.
Checking Engine Oil
Check the engine oil level regularly,
every 650 km (400 mi), especially
prior to a long trip. The engine oil
dipstick handle is a loop. See
Engine Compartment Overview
0 226 for the location.
{Warning
The engine oil dipstick handle
may be hot; it could burn you.
Use a towel or glove to touch the
dipstick handle.

Chevrolet Sonic Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-12461769) -
2019 - crc - 5/21/18
228 Vehicle Care
If a low oil Driver Information Center
(DIC) message displays, check the
oil level.
Follow these guidelines:
.To get an accurate reading, park
the vehicle on level ground.
Check the engine oil level after
the engine has been off for at
least two hours. Checking the
engine oil level on steep grades
or too soon after engine shutoff
can result in incorrect readings.
Accuracy improves when
checking a cold engine prior to
starting. Remove the dipstick
and check the level.
. If unable to wait two hours, the
engine must be off for at least
15 minutes if the engine is
warm, or at least 30 minutes if
the engine is not warm. Pull out
the dipstick, wipe it with a clean
paper towel or cloth, then push it
back in all the way. Remove it
again, keeping the tip down, and
check the level.When to Add Engine Oil
If the oil is below the cross-hatched
area at the tip of the dipstick and
the engine has been off for at least
15 minutes, add 1 L (1 qt) of the
recommended oil and then recheck
the level. See “Selecting the Right
Engine Oil” later in this section for
an explanation of what kind of oil to
use. For engine oil crankcase
capacity, see Capacities and
Specifications 0310.
Caution
Do not add too much oil. Oil
levels above or below the
acceptable operating range
shown on the dipstick are harmful
to the engine. If you find that you
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
have an oil level above the
operating range, i.e., the engine
has so much oil that the oil level
gets above the upper mark that
shows the proper operating
range, the engine could be
damaged. You should drain out
the excess oil or limit driving of
the vehicle and seek a service
professional to remove the
excess amount of oil.
See Engine Compartment Overview
0 226 for the location of the engine
oil fill cap.
Add enough oil to put the level
somewhere in the proper operating
range. Push the dipstick all the way
back in when through.
Selecting the Right Engine Oil
Selecting the right engine oil
depends on both the proper oil
specification and viscosity grade.
See Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0306.