I just got my Sonic a few weeks ago. It's winter time here in western PA (Altoonaish). During cold mornings(and by cold, I mean single digits to -20 degrees F), it sounds like my car turns over very slowy. When I'm driving and the ABS kicks on, the headlights will dim. The battery seems very weak. I haven't even checked it out yet, but how many cold cranking amps is the stock battery? Is there some sort of upgrade I can do to maybe the alternator, to put out more juice? The electrical system in this car just seems cheap and weak. Even my OBD2 port hangs out of the bottom of the dash on cables with some shoddy looking electrical tape wrapped around the harness. Not even a proper hard mount.
Weak ass battery?
- Thread starter Zuni
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The Champ
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Off the top of my head, the OE battery is 485 CCA - which is plenty to start a 4 cylinder engine. I live in MN where it gets much colder than PA and have no issues. CCA's were more important back in the days of carbureted V8's. With today's fuel injected 4 and 6 cylinder engines - 450 CCA's is normally plenty. Of more importance today is the reserve capacity of the battery - because of all the electronics in today's vehicles.
Not saying you aren't having an issue with your car, just that the issue isn't the CCA level.
ACDelco's top of the line replacement battery (type 47) have 525 CCA's (47PG part number).
Not saying you aren't having an issue with your car, just that the issue isn't the CCA level.
ACDelco's top of the line replacement battery (type 47) have 525 CCA's (47PG part number).
laborsmith
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485CCA
525CA
Laborsmith
525CA
Laborsmith
Speaking of cold weather…
I have a 2012 Sonic LT hatchback with the 1.8 liter automatic. I purchased it used-certified with 35,000 miles about a month ago to replace my poor Scion xA that was totaled when I stopped for a red light and the lady behind me didn’t.
The Sonic has been doing well and I was impressed with the mileage. I got 37.4 on a highway trip and over 29 driving around town. Not too shabby.
This morning it was very cold when I left for work (zero degrees). When I pushed the remote unlock button nothing happened. Tried again still zilch and took off my gloves to make sure that I was hitting the right button and still no joy.
Thinking maybe the battery in the remote is dead I try unlocking with the key. Although the key turns fine nothing happens; the doors do not unlock. Electrically actuated I guess. By now I’m getting a little worried. The car will not respond to either remote or key unlock. If the battery happened to die completely with the doors locked and you need electric to unlock the doors and hood release is inside the car so you can’t open the hood to charge/replace the battery what do you do?
I went to the back and pushed the hatch release and the lights blinked. Then the remote worked and everything was normal. The car started right up and there was no problem cranking it over like you would experience with a failing battery. Maybe it just didn’t want to get up; can’t blame it I didn’t want to get up either but I got bills to pay.
Has anyone else had this happen or is this some kind of known issue? I did some searches but could not find any similar references. Also, if the battery does tank completely how do you get into the car?
I have a 2012 Sonic LT hatchback with the 1.8 liter automatic. I purchased it used-certified with 35,000 miles about a month ago to replace my poor Scion xA that was totaled when I stopped for a red light and the lady behind me didn’t.
The Sonic has been doing well and I was impressed with the mileage. I got 37.4 on a highway trip and over 29 driving around town. Not too shabby.
This morning it was very cold when I left for work (zero degrees). When I pushed the remote unlock button nothing happened. Tried again still zilch and took off my gloves to make sure that I was hitting the right button and still no joy.
Thinking maybe the battery in the remote is dead I try unlocking with the key. Although the key turns fine nothing happens; the doors do not unlock. Electrically actuated I guess. By now I’m getting a little worried. The car will not respond to either remote or key unlock. If the battery happened to die completely with the doors locked and you need electric to unlock the doors and hood release is inside the car so you can’t open the hood to charge/replace the battery what do you do?
I went to the back and pushed the hatch release and the lights blinked. Then the remote worked and everything was normal. The car started right up and there was no problem cranking it over like you would experience with a failing battery. Maybe it just didn’t want to get up; can’t blame it I didn’t want to get up either but I got bills to pay.
Has anyone else had this happen or is this some kind of known issue? I did some searches but could not find any similar references. Also, if the battery does tank completely how do you get into the car?
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