Ok so I am going to go pick up my new grey sonic on tues! I went to test drive today and it is a great car, however something really worries me. While I was at a stop light, stopped, the whole car just shut off. I had to put it into park, pull out the key, and restart it. I noted that the gas was on empty but the miles left said 40 so im not sure. Is this something to worry about? This is my first new car and I don't want anything to be wrong with it.
Issue with new sonic?
- Thread starter Primenay
- Start date
Kuntryboy865
New member
Yeah you might want to get that checked out. Mine doesn't do that.
Swordsmith
242hp/252 ft-lbs BNR EFI
That would be sweet, Nickm, I wonder if we can get that retrofit in to ours over here. Can't imagine it would be too hard, really, physically, some new parts would have to be shipped over and installed, but I have found the Chevy service people reluctant to do any reprogramming of the ECU and I bet some of that is necessary.
Primenay13, that isn't a feature or normal behavior for the car over here. Generally if you stall, turning the key starts it right back up. There is in some cases (I forget exactly what) a shut off timer that lasts a few seconds preventing restart attempts, but I think that's mostly to prevent you from busting the starter.
There's also a feature I think many don't know about, you don't have to keep the key turned until you get ignition, like on older cars, instead you just turn it to start and release, the car will handle the details.
Even if something along those lines happened, though, and you wouldn't have really needed to take the key out and put it back in to restart, that leaves the stall. That isn't usual behavior. Is it possible you stalled it?
It does sound possible that the car was very low on fuel and that it stuttered... but not really. I have run out of gas a couple times now in my Sonic, and have found when it's out, its out, not sort of, not sputtering, but nope, that's all there is to that and the answer is no, go get me some gas you lout and don't run out again. I don't believe, based on my experience, that you would have been able to restart and drive any distance at all. I used to be able to do that in several of my old Fords, but the Sonic? Not a chance.
I would make sure the dealership checks out the problem and that there's a note in the file when you accept the car saying that you are doing so on the condition that this problem doesn't reappear, that if it does and they can't fix it you expect them to bring in, at their expense, a replacement of the exact same trim and color. Don't sign off on something saying that you've inspected the car and it's fine, since you happen to know this particular problem might exist.
Could be it's just a fluke and never comes back, or that there's something easy they can find and fix before they give it to you. But make sure.
Primenay13, that isn't a feature or normal behavior for the car over here. Generally if you stall, turning the key starts it right back up. There is in some cases (I forget exactly what) a shut off timer that lasts a few seconds preventing restart attempts, but I think that's mostly to prevent you from busting the starter.
There's also a feature I think many don't know about, you don't have to keep the key turned until you get ignition, like on older cars, instead you just turn it to start and release, the car will handle the details.
Even if something along those lines happened, though, and you wouldn't have really needed to take the key out and put it back in to restart, that leaves the stall. That isn't usual behavior. Is it possible you stalled it?
It does sound possible that the car was very low on fuel and that it stuttered... but not really. I have run out of gas a couple times now in my Sonic, and have found when it's out, its out, not sort of, not sputtering, but nope, that's all there is to that and the answer is no, go get me some gas you lout and don't run out again. I don't believe, based on my experience, that you would have been able to restart and drive any distance at all. I used to be able to do that in several of my old Fords, but the Sonic? Not a chance.
I would make sure the dealership checks out the problem and that there's a note in the file when you accept the car saying that you are doing so on the condition that this problem doesn't reappear, that if it does and they can't fix it you expect them to bring in, at their expense, a replacement of the exact same trim and color. Don't sign off on something saying that you've inspected the car and it's fine, since you happen to know this particular problem might exist.
Could be it's just a fluke and never comes back, or that there's something easy they can find and fix before they give it to you. But make sure.
Chevrolet Customer Care
New member
Primenay13,
I agree with Kuntryboy865. I would have the dealership look at this and even ride along with you again to see if it happens again. Just so you know, if you have any questions or concerns during this, you can always reach out to us for assistance.
Erica Tiffany
Chevrolet Customer Service
Ok thanks so much!! Its awesome to see an official Chevrolet CS rep here! I will have them check it first before I buy it! Still wondering why it happened though...