A/c Power loss - Sticky Gears

[TheFallenAngel12]

Not every vehicle is going to be the same or act the same. Some will have problems with certain items in the car, and some wont. If your Sonic is not acting up and is not giving you any problems while the A/c is on then good for you. Glad to hear it!

But this Thread was started for those that ARE HAVING PROBLEMS with their vehicle bogging down and not accelerating like it should. We are not talking about your average drop in power once the a/c is turned on and so forth. We are talking a significant drop in power, more than you should lose. Yes, it is a small engine, and it dont have much power to start with. We All know that people. The complaint is that it boggs down the engine MORE than it Should already. This thread is for those that are having these same issues and want to discuss it with eachother and figure a way to get the vehicle to run better.

If this topic does not pertain to you, Do Us all a favor that are having a problem and stop posting saying "I'm not having any problems" and so forth and respect the ones who are having the issues and let them have their chance to talk about it without having everyone post un-needed posts that dont have anything to do with them!! This forum is so people can start a thread and talk with eachother that have the same interests or concerns. That is the purpose of this thread. People who ARE having Troubles with their sonic's Bogging down more than usual with the A/c On.

 

[TheFallenAngel12]

That's very true. I am having the same problems that FallenAngel is having I'm nowhere near 5k. on my sonic and I also have transmission slips up/down shifting at 2nd and 3rd gear. I don't drive my sonic like I stole it just normal driving.

I baby mine mostly, usually im under 3000 rpms most of the time when i accel. Thats the whole point of saving gas and getting better gas mileage, not hot rodding it around and flooring it up to 4000-5000 rpms all the time. But i have experienced my tranny sticking many times from 2nd to 3rd and 3rd to 4th. But a little trick that helps is as the rpms rise up towards 2500-3000rpms to the shift point, just ease off the gas slightly and back on it and the tranny should shift to the next gear and not stick. It works in mine and i havent had hardly any problems with it sticking since i started doing that. just takes a little practice to get it down pact. Best of luck to ya

 

[bmiles]

Everyones 1.8L should bog down whether they realise it or not. I know mine does, but i also drive mine like a mad man so i usually always keep the a/c off when im wanting the power, but if im going to drive normal and it is extremely hot i will turn it on and just drive the car easy, cause yes it does have significant power loss and bog, but just be easy with it, u cant be tryin to just mesh through the gears or put the pedal to the floor, it takes more of a response to the engine because there are more porcesses running. Alot of people do not reconginize the problem because either they drive normal and or are easy, or they have always used the A/C since they bought it or they are just use to it. It happens.

 

[TheFallenAngel12]

Everyones 1.8L should bog down whether they realise it or not. I know mine does, but i also drive mine like a mad man so i usually always keep the a/c off when im wanting the power, but if im going to drive normal and it is extremely hot i will turn it on and just drive the car easy, cause yes it does have significant power loss and bog, but just be easy with it, u cant be tryin to just mesh through the gears or put the pedal to the floor, it takes more of a response to the engine because there are more porcesses running. Alot of people do not reconginize the problem because either they drive normal and or are easy, or they have always used the A/C since they bought it or they are just use to it. It happens.

all true and i understand where your coming from. I Dont mash it with the a/c on. i take it easy and so forth and it still boggs way down to where it takes Forever to go up in speed at times. it doesnt do it as bad as it use to when i started this thread but still does it. usually at the wrong times when i do need to accelerate into an intersection. i am just trying to say that not everyone is going to want to take the time to turn off their a/c just to accelerate.

I just didnt expect this base engine to be as weak as it is. I get that the a/c compressor takes alot out of an engine. but to cause someone to have to actually turn off the system just to get a decent power to move the car is just pathetic honestly. Now i understand why the Cruze was given the 1.4L Turbo as the standard engine on everything but the LS model. I wish i would have paid a little more now for the 1.4L Turbo Engine.

 

[mattd390]

I had a 2.2L 5 speed in my 99 s10 and I think that thing bogged down worse then my 1.4L Sonic does with the A/C on. I just turn it off for a second if I have to merge on the E-way. If I have it on around town, I will just give it a little more go pedal to compensate.

 

[TheFallenAngel12]

I had a 2.2L 5 speed in my 99 s10 and I think that thing bogged down worse then my 1.4L Sonic does with the A/C on. I just turn it off for a second if I have to merge on the E-way. If I have it on around town, I will just give it a little more go pedal to compensate.

Ummm... That was my point above when i said i should have bought the 1.4 Turbo Engine. It can Handle the A/c being on and still power the car at the same time. A Way better engine the 1.4 Turbo is compared to the 1.8L N/a. That Turbo makes a huge difference.

As for the comment about the 2.2 in your S/10 bogging worse than the 1.4 Turbo. IDk what to say. I had a 2000 Pontiac Sunfire Modified 2.2L Inline-4cyl Before i traded it in and bought my Sonic and it ran Way better than this 1.8 ever could with the A/c on. I Never had any issues with the Sunfire bogging down. Granted yes it was a bigger engine with significant mods done to it. but still, the 1.8 is pretty bad with the a/c on reguardless of its size.

 

[SuperFudd]

My "box stock" '94 2.2L Plymouth Sundance, my DD for 15 years, Has never had any hesitation resulting from the A/C being on.
However my Daughter's 2000 Chevy Prizm engine totally stops when she turns on tha A/C, probably because the compresor has siezed and the belt won't slip. ;> It is now an anti-theft feature. She leaves the A/C "on" when parked.
Too bad she lives in the desert.

 

[TheFallenAngel12]

My "box stock" '94 2.2L Plymouth Sundance, my DD for 15 years, Has never had any hesitation resulting from the A/C being on.
However my Daughter's 2000 Chevy Prizm engine totally stops when she turns on tha A/C, probably because the compresor has siezed and the belt won't slip. ;> It is now an anti-theft feature. She leaves the A/C "on" when parked.
Too bad she lives in the desert.

wow, thats never good to have happen. sounds like she needs to get rid of that thing and get something else!

 

[LS1notFOUND]

did you send messages to our Chevrolet Customer Service rep? Some have reported that being very helpful.

I have the 1.8L and manual transmission. Mine doesn't or what not and isn't effected as poorly as you describe.

With that said you certainly have something wrong, because last time I checked, Cruise 1.8L vehicles do not have this issue, and its a heavier car. Hopefully you can find a dealer who is more switched on and even contact GM to see what you can do.

When you took the tech for a drive, did he even have anything plugged into the car to have a look at the sensors and what not, data logging etc?

 

[TheFallenAngel12]

did you send messages to our Chevrolet Customer Service rep? Some have reported that being very helpful.

I have the 1.8L and manual transmission. Mine doesn't or what not and isn't effected as poorly as you describe.

With that said you certainly have something wrong, because last time I checked, Cruise 1.8L vehicles do not have this issue, and its a heavier car. Hopefully you can find a dealer who is more switched on and even contact GM to see what you can do.

When you took the tech for a drive, did he even have anything plugged into the car to have a look at the sensors and what not, data logging etc?

I have contacted a Customer service person just not on here. If it starts to act up again, and i have any issues about the car i will be contacting that Customer Service Person again to have something setup with GM to look at my car. This last week it has been behaving and not acting up. but, then again, it hasnt been 90-110 degrees either.

And to answer your question about the Tech guy that rode along with me. He had a log booklet with him he was writing in. but as for actually plugging something into my car and so forth, No he did not. They had my car in the shop for an hour while i waited, so to be honest with you one could say that they could have not even looked at it as far as i know, how would i even know? You wouldnt think they would pull something like that. But its a dealership so anything is possible. im just keeping tabs on the car and if it acts up, im contacting that customer service rep again.

 

[sonic_boom]

Lol so I'm not the only one who turns off the a/c to pass another vehicle.

 

[mattd390]

Ummm... That was my point above when i said i should have bought the 1.4 Turbo Engine. It can Handle the A/c being on and still power the car at the same time. A Way better engine the 1.4 Turbo is compared to the 1.8L N/a. That Turbo makes a huge difference.

As for the comment about the 2.2 in your S/10 bogging worse than the 1.4 Turbo. IDk what to say. I had a 2000 Pontiac Sunfire Modified 2.2L Inline-4cyl Before i traded it in and bought my Sonic and it ran Way better than this 1.8 ever could with the A/c on. I Never had any issues with the Sunfire bogging down. Granted yes it was a bigger engine with significant mods done to it. but still, the 1.8 is pretty bad with the a/c on reguardless of its size.

Just my .02 bro

 

[Eric Smit]

Please take a video of the sticky gears and bogging. I know it doesn't seem like its common, but your definition of sticking or bogging might be completely different than mine. Not trying to insult, just trying to better understand.


-Eric Smit

 

[TheFallenAngel12]

Please take a video of the sticky gears and bogging. I know it doesn't seem like its common, but your definition of sticking or bogging might be completely different than mine. Not trying to insult, just trying to better understand.


-Eric Smit

want a video, that can be arranged. Just give me time to put one together. Not sure when i will have the free time to do 1 though. Not today at least. But i just want to say that the gears are still sticking/failing to shift at proper point, but as for the bogging, it has been far inbetween lately since i had the ecu engine calibration software updated on my last dealership visit. But if i can capture it doing it i will record it and show you and everyone else. Just be patient and i will get a video for you guys. I planned on doing one anyhow to show my dealership that it is doing it! the sticking of the gears is not as much of a bothersome as the bogging. Ive figured out how to get around it. Its just annoying at times. My gripe is i bought a NEW car only to have it be not as smooth and so forth as i expected a new car to be. I know its an economy car and i bought the weaker of the 2 engines(highly regret by the way) but im just surprised at just how poorly this setup has turned out. I personally think the ecu trys too hard to be fuel efficiant. Thus why its always "adjusting" as ive heard many others say their dealerships tell them. Just give me some time and i will get that video made.

 

[Eric Smit]

Thanks for the future video.


-Eric Smit

 

[Serendipity]

I'm having the same problem! I have to either lay on the gas or turn off the A/C to get moving or I'll stall, and even then my "turbo" doesn't get me moving. In addition I noticed the loud road and window noise right away. This is after driving a 89 Honda hatchback for many years. I have recently noticed ringing in my ears. Am I really getting hearing damage from my new car?

 

[ahtoxa]

Interesting.

I'm currently in a loaner Cruize while my 1.4 6MT is getting fixed. The loaner is a 1.8 6AT and I've noticed the same things original poster mentioned. The trans shifting is pretty terrible with all sorts of lag. Sometimes when I attempt to gently accelerate via slowly applying small amount of throttle, the trans will kick down a bunch of gears, send the RPMs into 4k+ territory only to drop down into a higher gear 1.387 seconds later. Quite annoying.

I want my turbo Sonic back. It's been a week!

 

[TheFallenAngel12]

Interesting.

I'm currently in a loaner Cruize while my 1.4 6MT is getting fixed. The loaner is a 1.8 6AT and I've noticed the same things original poster mentioned. The trans shifting is pretty terrible with all sorts of lag. Sometimes when I attempt to gently accelerate via slowly applying small amount of throttle, the trans will kick down a bunch of gears, send the RPMs into 4k+ territory only to drop down into a higher gear 1.387 seconds later. Quite annoying.

I want my turbo Sonic back. It's been a week!

THANK YOU!!! Yes, it is Very Annoying say to least. It acts like it wants to go, High revvs to like 3-4k then the RPM's just drop down to 1.5k-2k and then the car just CREEPS up in speed and i mean Slowly. almost like its saying, "I Think i can, i think i can, i think i can"! Its really pathetic honestly, esp for a new car. Finally someone else that has seen for themselves what i have been experiencing with this 1.8 6spd Automatic.

@ahtoxa ~ So does this mean with your 1.4 Turbo, you dont experience this kind of lag and sticking of the gears? Makes me regret more and more getting the 1.8 instead of the 1.4 engine. Sh** Happens, Live and Learn. Terrible transmission honestly, the 6sp auto. So unpredictable. Never runs the same twice. Its always changing how it opperates.

 

[Eric Smit]

The six speed auto is a "smart" transmission and is designed to learn your driving habits.

Poster with the loaner Cruze- I am willing to bet that car had the piss driven out of it, which made the tranny learn to shift aggressively.


-Eric Smit

 

[SuperFudd]

Here is an idea. How good? Don't know.
Modify the "progaming" to fixed (as in unchanging) pre learned code that can be turned be switched in and out as needed.
Or not.