Under the hood is my car missing . . .?

[jchasp59]

So what is the actual part called... do you have a part number? Where did you purchase the part? It only stands to reason they may discontinue making the part, right?

Also, I've heard from others the AC sucks eggs in the Sonic. If true, that's a disappointment because my current daily driver is a Honda Fit and the AC isn't anything to brag about. It's actually good as long as you're moving... but get stuck in an hour or more of medium to heavy stop-and-go traffic and it's not nearly as good!

I was hoping to get better AC performance from a Sonic because GM has always made great AC. Maybe they skipped the "great AC" in the Sonic? Typical "too small" compressor... 4 cylinder style? MAJOR bummer, if so!

The part is called, "air deflector/underbody cover; part # 95016301.
I purchased it at my dealership. Also, was told that my Freon was low when I took mine in. Said they added Freon, but I can't tell that it works as I think it should, and no evidence of any work being done under the hood around the A/C lines, or on the paperwork (lines/caps still dusty and in the same postion as before I went to the dealership.) GM says that they're 'checking into this' for me. But, I highly recommend the airdeflector. Easy to put on/take off.

 

[jchasp59]

Hey Fit4Sonic, it has been a while. The part is commonly known as an undercarriage belly pan and there are pictures of it both installed and not probably in this thread.

I do not know about others but the air conditioning unit in my turbo Sonic works very well; I usually have it at the 9 or 10 o'clock position and the fan on 1. If the temperature is over the mid nineties I will turn it to eight o'clock. I understand there have been some complaints, but the unit is working as it should for me.

Chevy stopped using the belly pan after the winter break. Chevy, like every other car maker no matter where in this world (with the obvious exception of Ferrari) sometimes makes decisions that defy common sense. Dropping the installation of the belly pan appears to be one such decision. The continued existence of Ferrari defies common sense but warms my heart.

Laborsmith

Wow! I'm envious! Wish my A/C performed this well. On an 84 degree day (or pretty much any day), I have my A/C on 4, recirculate, and the temp set on 'blue' or as cold as possible and the car just never cools off. The air coming out of the vents just feels cool (is about 58 degrees). I have a 2012 Honda Civic. Honda has long been known for putting 'just adequate' A/C in their cars, and it cools better than my Sonic. I also thought that the Sonic would have a good ole GM freeze-me-out A/C (when I test drove my car, it came out of the showroom and it was 72 degrees outside), but I'm gonna have to get my windows tinted just to survive the remainder of out admittedely hot, Southern summer!

 

[J T]

Wow! I'm envious! Wish my A/C performed this well. On an 84 degree day (or pretty much any day), I have my A/C on 4, recirculate, and the temp set on 'blue' or as cold as possible and the car just never cools off. The air coming out of the vents just feels cool (is about 58 degrees). I have a 2012 Honda Civic. Honda has long been known for putting 'just adequate' A/C in their cars, and it cools better than my Sonic. I also thought that the Sonic would have a good ole GM freeze-me-out A/C (when I test drove my car, it came out of the showroom and it was 72 degrees outside), but I'm gonna have to get my windows tinted just to survive the remainder of out admittedely hot, Southern summer!

My AC gets to be ice cold and during the the recent spell of 100-degree days here, I even had to back it off a bit because I was getting cold. Oh, and that was with a black car sans tint (but now tinted). With my job, I'm in and out of the car all day and have to "re-cool" it over and over again between appointments. I can confidently say that I've never been happier with the AC in a car as I'm with the Sonic. I guess I'm one of the lucky ones.

 

[Fit4Sonic]

My AC gets to be ice cold and during the the recent spell of 100-degree days here, I even had to back it off a bit because I was getting cold. ...I can confidently say that I've never been happier with the AC in a car as I'm with the Sonic. I guess I'm one of the lucky ones.

Curious question! How long has it been since you purchased your Sonic?

The reason I asked is when they were first released quite a few people were complaining about the AC. I know for a fact GM was aware of the multiple instances of AC-related complaints. With the exception of the person in this thread, I haven't heard many complaints from owners of newer Sonics like I was hearing late last year and early spring.

Maybe a few boneheads at the factory weren't charging the system adequately... or maybe Chevy found another minor problem and quietly corrected it?

 

[J T]

Curious question! How long has it been since you purchased your Sonic?

The reason I asked is when they were first released quite a few people were complaining about the AC. I know for a fact GM was aware of the multiple instances of AC-related complaints. With the exception of the person in this thread, I haven't heard many complaints from owners of newer Sonics like I was hearing late last year and early spring.

Maybe a few boneheads at the factory weren't charging the system adequately... or maybe Chevy found another minor problem and quietly corrected it?

You make a good point. I picked up mine two weeks ago. Not sure of the build date, but I'm somewhat confident it wasn't that old.

 

[AZMarine]

Wow! I'm envious! Wish my A/C performed this well. On an 84 degree day (or pretty much any day), I have my A/C on 4, recirculate, and the temp set on 'blue' or as cold as possible and the car just never cools off. The air coming out of the vents just feels cool (is about 58 degrees). I have a 2012 Honda Civic. Honda has long been known for putting 'just adequate' A/C in their cars, and it cools better than my Sonic. I also thought that the Sonic would have a good ole GM freeze-me-out A/C (when I test drove my car, it came out of the showroom and it was 72 degrees outside), but I'm gonna have to get my windows tinted just to survive the remainder of out admittedely hot, Southern summer!

Well i get it cold really quick out here in the AZ heat. even the other day when it was 122 outside it only took me a minute or two to get the car cooled down and i dont go past 3 on the dial

 

[Fit4Sonic]

Hey Fit4Sonic, it has been a while. The part is commonly known as an undercarriage belly pan and there are pictures of it both installed and not probably in this thread.

I do not know about others but the air conditioning unit in my turbo Sonic works very well; I usually have it at the 9 or 10 o'clock position and the fan on 1. If the temperature is over the mid nineties I will turn it to eight o'clock. I understand there have been some complaints, but the unit is working as it should for me.

Chevy stopped using the belly pan after the winter break. Chevy, like every other car maker no matter where in this world (with the obvious exception of Ferrari) sometimes makes decisions that defy common sense. Dropping the installation of the belly pan appears to be one such decision. The continued existence of Ferrari defies common sense but warms my heart.

Laborsmith

Hey, bud! Yeah, I've had so little extra time the last 6 months or so I barely have time for even viewing the forum, much less posting. I've obviously had some opportunities lately!

Regardless of reason, if it helps to create cooler air and other pluses, seems Chevy should come up with a way to keep the pan but lose the fire hazard. Then again, I suppose that could well create a dreaded "recall" on their part.

Good news about your AC though. The guy who's having problems in this particular thread is FAR from the only person I've heard complaining about the Sonic's AC. Although, like I said in another reply, those complaints seem to have diminished the last couple of months.

So, now that you've had yours for awhile... positives? Negatives?

BTW, I'm sorry I never got back to you on that audio item we were discussing awhile back. My friend -- who works at Crutchfield, if you'll remember -- took a leave of absence at the time, and never returned. He liked the job a lot, but was given an opportunity for more money elsewhere... so he never returned from his leave. He was a pretty valuable person to have around in regards to new audio items. Ah well!

I'm still enthused about a Sonic purchase. I've been waiting for blue models to become more readily available so dealerships don't have an excuse for ordering/charging me extra to get the ride. Plus, I was waiting for possible 2013 changes, waiting for the Turbo/AT model, and possibly waiting for the RS model. After some thought on the latter however, I decided the few extras aren't worth the added cost GM will likely place on the RS.

Also, as far as waiting for blue to become more readily available, I hate when getting a new car and some delivery stiff has to drive it 200-500 miles from another dealership. That's a no-dealer for me. I want to break my own ride in properly... not pay full [new] price and have some potential jerk run the livin' crap out of it before I get it. Roll that puppy in on the truck, or nothing. I know, picky! Hey, that's just me.

Anway, I still enjoy stopping by... just haven't had time. Glad things are apparently going well for you. Will stop in whenever time allows.

Cheers!

 

[laborsmith]

I got a Kicker Bass Station and it improved the audio immensely. I did wonder for a while while continuing my research.

I have never done a dealer trade. I often do a retail order unless the dealer happens to have specifically what I want on hand. My acquaintance with this is that the persons driving are my age (born in 1946) so if insurance stats can be relied upon, are the least likely to overdrive.

I got the Sonic because it was the smallest GM car built in the US and because at the price I could afford to make adjustments to it as needed. Since then it now has a ZZP short ram intake, DDMWorks Solo Performance exhaust system, Pedders lowering coils, Seibon carbon fiber het extracting hood and Drag rims wearing Kumho tires. So I am quite happy with the Sonic but will be changing it out for the RS as I like the appearance improvements and know I can do the performance improvements.

No blue for the RS so if you go for a Sonic it will need to be other than an RS.

Laborsmith

 

[Fit4Sonic]

No blue for the RS so if you go for a Sonic it will need to be other than an RS.Laborsmith

Wow... that's kinda' weird in my opinion! That is, considering the original RS (The Aveo RS or "concept) was done in the blue color. Bummer for me!

Although I had pretty much made up my mind to not buy the RS [for reasons stated], if I changed my mind I would be out of luck because I just saw the blue on a Sonic LT a few days ago, live and in person, and it's gorgeous. My wife said at night the blue Sonic option is "delicious-looking"! And surprisingly, the blue is not considered a "special" color... which I thought would be one of those extra fees like the Red Metallic or the Orange.

Don't you think it odd them not offering the RS in that original RS blue?

Ah well... like you said in so many words, Chevy isn't exactly Ferrari... or even Lamborghini for that matter!


Speaking of which:

Twin Turbo Gallardo Flybys + FLAMES - YouTube

MAJOR Chills! :banana:

and...

Lamborghini Shooting Flames (Twin Turbo Gallardo) - YouTube

Lol! opcorn:

Enjoy, and eat your heart out... I am!

 

[Chevrolet Customer Care]

So what is the actual part called... do you have a part number? Where did you purchase the part? It only stands to reason they may discontinue making the part, right?

Also, I've heard from others the AC sucks eggs in the Sonic. If true, that's a disappointment because my current daily driver is a Honda Fit and the AC isn't anything to brag about. It's actually good as long as you're moving... but get stuck in an hour or more of medium to heavy stop-and-go traffic and it's not nearly as good!

I was hoping to get better AC performance from a Sonic because GM has always made great AC. Maybe they skipped the "great AC" in the Sonic? Typical "too small" compressor... 4 cylinder style? MAJOR bummer, if so!

If you certain concerns about your Sonic, I would suggest having the dealer take a look at your Sonic. Given the recent heat waves, I certainly understand your concern with the air. Please let me know how the appointment goes if you choose to take it in and are unsatisfied. Please reply through private message.

Matt of GM Customer Service

 

[wimpie]

under my hood is missing a big turbo

trade it in and buy a diesel

 

[CyberGreyTURBOZ]

If you did not take your Sonic in to have them check the AC I would definitely do that. You need it for your defroster if you live in the northern states like me. My Sonic had a leak in the AC lines when I got it and slowly started to not work at all. One of the connections wasn't tightened all the way i believe. As for the plastic engine shield my sonic (build in February) did not come with one, but my twin brothers did. He bought one from the lot and I ordered mine so the build dates were different months. I was being pushed all over the highway with out that shield on and took it to my dealership... they kindly put one on without me asking for one. Its much more stable now, and I feel safer in high winds on the highway. I feel it is a must and was a very poor decision on GM's part to remove it and say "It's no longer needed."