Hard to handle in the wind

[houser]

I was just wondering if anyone but me was having handling issues with their Sonic Sedans on windy days.
IF its windy and Im driving over 55 my car is all over the road. It drives like a damn bread truck. If I hold the stabilitrac button down for a count of seven
and disable the stabilitrac the car handles fine. I took it to the dealership and they were unable find a problem. Ive been driving it this way for 25K miles now hoping someone would eventually come up with a fix.
Any Ideas.
Im going to take it back to the dealership next week if its windy enough to get a good test drive.

Mike
Palmer

 

[Chevy2012sonic]

I was just wondering if anyone but me was having handling issues with their Sonic Sedans on windy days.
IF its windy and Im driving over 55 my car is all over the road. It drives like a damn bread truck. If I hold the stabilitrac button down for a count of seven
and disable the stabilitrac the car handles fine. I took it to the dealership and they were unable find a problem. Ive been driving it this way for 25K miles now hoping someone would eventually come up with a fix.
Any Ideas.
Im going to take it back to the dealership next week if its windy enough to get a good test drive.

Mike
Palmer

I have the same problem. I even have it following a semi


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[SONIC1.4]

Just how the car is I'm sure, I've been driving that way since I got the car. Get some lowering springs and the rear brace and thatll help cure it I bet I've just gotten use to it.

 

[Insanika]

Yep you're stuck with it. I have the hatch and live in KS, it's always windy here and the car is damn near unmanageable unless you shut off the nannies. It also hydroplanes awfully when there is wind and wet conditions. ST and TC are basically fighting you for control of the car.

I've adopted the same routine as many here: get in, turn key, buckle up, disable ST/TC and hit the road.

I giggle every so often as I remember asking my sales lady what that button was for. Her answer was "that's what keeps you on the road". I giggle because turning it OFF is what keeps me on the road. I doubt that's what she meant.

 

[houser]

That's the way described it to the service department last time I took it in. Its like someone is trying to help me steer. As soon as I turn the TC/ST off the car drives fine. I don't think there is a mechanical fix. I think it is a defective of uncallibrated sensor.
Thanks for the feed back.

 

[Insanika]

Wait til you take off too fast for the nannies' liking. If you try to jump out into traffic and get the slightest breath of a spin, it'll cut power on you. That's not fun at all. It's just best for me to shut it off.

 

[laborsmith]

My first sub-compact was a 1974 SAAB Sonett III. Its highway handling was exactly as the above Sonic's. Here is a link to the Wikipedia article: Saab Sonett - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and the III series is in the last third of the article.

If I remember correctly my Sonett III had a .31CD. Try to find that is a non-race track built vehicle today for less than $250,000!


Laborsmith

 

[mitdr774]

Or when you try to make a left hand turn into a subdivision and the TC thinks you tried a little to hard. On more than a couple occasions I have found myself NOT moving while across a lane of oncoming traffic. Thats always fun. TC/SC is turned off most of the time due to its inability to function properly.

TC shuts me down before I can even attempt to get wheel spin. SC sends me wide in a turn even though I have perfect control and no tire squeal or slippage to worry about.

 

[Opticon]

Lose the fat sidewalls and get it aligned. Then lower it to reduce the airflow under the car. My sedan was super squirly on the highway in stock form. Now it rides straight as an arrow.

 

[cndctrdj]

I've heard the underbody tray that used to come with the car helped out a lot with that problem

 

[mitdr774]

Lowered, running 225/45/17 tires, and have the engine belly pan. Still all over when the wind kicks up. Just seems to be a condition that you have to learn to deal with.

 

[Insanika]

Lowering helped, but it's still an issue. You get used to it.

 

[sx sonic]

I'm curious if anyone that thinks the sonic is squirrely at speed has tried driving a short stretch without driver input?

As in hands off the wheel (obviously done in a safe manner and prepared to intervene if necessary).

Is the sensation stil there?

 

[laborsmith]

I went from a lowered Sonic LT to a Sonic RS and in my first post describing the RS and said the RS steering algorithm helped a lot a I recommended Chevy consider making that a consumer selectable option.

Once you go below 3000 lbs the wind whether in general or when passing a semi at highway speeds will have more of an effect than when the vehicle is over 3000 lbs. It is something small cars owners learn to expect and it is definitely something a driver can adjust to.

I still get a little bit on particularly windy rides, and I am driving a lowered RS with a limited slip differential, which items have drastically reduced blowback when passing semis.


Laborsmith

 

[Insanika]

I've never done it in the wind.. The recovery process would probably be catastrophic..

Do you mean WITH TC and ST on?

 

[mitdr774]

I'm curious if anyone that thinks the sonic is squirrely at speed has tried driving a short stretch without driver input?

As in hands off the wheel (obviously done in a safe manner and prepared to intervene if necessary).

Is the sensation stil there?

I tried on a windy day. The steering wheel turned on me as soon as a slight gust hit the car. I also get the same issue with unever road surface or the ruts in lanes. The electronic steering system is a huge culprit for this happening. As soon as it sees any input in steering, from the steering wheel or the tires being forced due to road or weather, the electronic system wants to assist in turning. This is one of my biggest issues with electronic steering assist.

 

[houser]

I found a link while googling the steering
Issue that noted a calibration error in sensor
#48 associated with Onstar memory
Battery. No relevant tsb #.

 

[houser]

Also some of you who are suggesting mechanical
Adjustments to the suspension are missing
The part where I say the problem goes away
With the tc/st disabled.

 

[chivalryder]

I have a '12 LT HB with the original underbody panel.

I have to say this is by far the most stable and easy to drive car in the wind I have ever had the pleasure to drive.

It barely even notices the big semis around me.

I really have no idea what it is you guys are all talking about.

that being said, I had a '13 Cruze without the underbody panel and it was he worst car I've ever driven on the highway! My recommendation: get the underbody tray. It makes the front end feel extremely planted, and it never moves around in any gust of wind. I can spend my entire time on the highway with one finger on the wheel.

 

[houser]

Yes I believe you. That's why idont think my
Car has any faulty design issues. Most sonic
Owners love the way their cars drive. With the
Tc/st disabled my car also drives great.
I can steer curvy roads with my finger tips.
However, with the tc/st enabled its hard to
Hold the between the lines with a white
Knuckled death grip.