An FYI For Those With Similar Concerns with their Sonic...

[TheFallenAngel12]

Hi everyone! I wanted to share my results i got for when i took in my Sonic to have some things checked out that had been starting to really bug me about my 2012 Sonic. Ive at times been experiencing my Sonic Unlocking itself through out the night after ive locked it for the evening and went to bed. only to find it in the morning unlocked after i know for a fact i locked it and never touched the keyfob. This has happened countless times to me. Even when im at work, and my keys are locked up in a locker, i go out for lunch and find my car either unlocked or the trunk had become ajar aka popped open. So i addressed this to my dealership for further review. Results in the Attatched Sheet...

Also i have been hearing like almost every morning in my sonic, right after i would start it, put it in gear to move, i would hear this Gurgeling/slurshing water sound for a few seconds as it slowy moved forward and then nothing after that once i got moving along and so forth. only when i first moved the car in the morning or it had been sitting for a good while. Addressed this issue with the dealership also and the Results are in the Attatched Sheet...

Hope this information helps out anyone that had similar things happen with their sonic and couldnt get a straight answer when asked about it.

(if for whatever reason you cant get the Picture to load let me know and i will write out what the sheet says instead. thanks)

 

[sx sonic]

Good to know.

So a simple Body Control Module reprogram fixed the ghost doors, not bad

 

[SUPER SONIC BOOM]

I knew that liquid sloshing sound was normal cuz too many of us have it, now if I could get a definitive answer on the first 3-4 shift slippage I'd be a happy man!

 

[Chevrolet Customer Care]

I am so glad to read that you have an answer to the issues that you were experiencing. As always let me know by private message if you even have any questions or need my assistance.

Jackie
Chevrolet Customer Care

 

[SuperFudd]

It seems to me the problem is not water in the heater core but rather air in the heater core / cooling system. Conceivably this could become a real problem.

 

[qwed94]

I wonder if the certified ASE tech. at that dealer even knows that the heater core is supposed to have water (actually anti-freeze) in it. I have read here that some have heard this swishing sound. Personally my Sonic does not make this sound. If some Sonics do and some dont, I have to question - what is NORMAL for the Sonic? I mean, since mine does NOT make the noise, is there a problem with mine? Obviously, both conditions can not be normal. It should either swish around, OR be silent, certainly not BOTH.

My guess is, if your coolant system is properly pressureized. There probably shouldnt be any swishing noise. The coolant system should not have any air in it. If there is no air, there is no swishing noise. I think I would question that tech's knowledge.

 

[SciroccoTDI]

I wonder if the certified ASE tech. at that dealer even knows that the heater core is supposed to have water (actually anti-freeze) in it. I have read here that some have heard this swishing sound. Personally my Sonic does not make this sound. If some Sonics do and some dont, I have to question - what is NORMAL for the Sonic? I mean, since mine does NOT make the noise, is there a problem with mine? Obviously, both conditions can not be normal. It should either swish around, OR be silent, certainly not BOTH.

My guess is, if your coolant system is properly pressureized. There probably shouldnt be any swishing noise. The coolant system should not have any air in it. If there is no air, there is no swishing noise. I think I would question that tech's knowledge.

Here is my take on this - yes mine does it, does it bug me? No, my coolant lvls are fine and no leaks. I believe this complaint stems from the simple fact of how damn quiet these cars are for a "budget" car - you compare a Sonic to a Fiat 500 back to back (and why I bought the Sonic) you are immediately impressed with the sound deadening in the Sonic...sucker is darn near Buick levels of silence - this - is a good thing. So yeah, you don't hear really any engine noise, nothing from outside...so a little coolant moving through the lines sounds super loud...when you'd never notice it in a similar class car (think Fit, Versa, all the other cheaply interiored cars in this segment (cannot vouch for Fiesta, never drove one)).

 

[Natesriv]

I think on the sloshing sound you should check to make sure your coolant level is at the max mark (mine did it, was below the max line)... I've read on here it's pretty sensitive to that line and below it will give a sloshing sound on take off.
BTW...check on level surface, cold engine.

 

[mitdr774]

If the cooling system is at the proper level and functioning correctly there should not be any air in any part of the system. the heater core is part of this system. every vehicle that i have been around that made any noise from the heater core, was low on coolant of had some other issue resulting in air getting into the cooling system.

i am guessing that if the tech is certified, he/she just does not want to deal with it. if i am not mistaken i think a question about this problem was on my recert test.

 

[TheFallenAngel12]

Thanks Everyone for the information. Unforunately The Unlocking issue i have been having was not resolved with the first visit. (surpise)... So after reading all your thoughts on the matter and having the Unlock Ghost strike again yesterday morning made me contact the dealership back and demand they take the car and thoroughly go thru the car and figure out why it is making the gurgeling/swooshing water sound (to which in my sonic is coming from the rear of the car not the front or so it sounds that way) and i wanted a definitive answer as to why my car is all the sudden unlocking itself overnight. I have another appointment setup for monday to drop my sonic off and get a rental so they can have the car for a week to try and figure out whats going on with it. I stressed i was not pleased with there first attempt and want better results this time around. Lets see where it gets me...

 

[Chevrolet Customer Care]

TheFallenAngel12,

I hope the dealership is able to resolve your concerns this time around. Please keep us posted on your service visit.

Amber N.
Chevrolet Customer Care

 

[qwed94]

Im sorry. I didnt catch you saying "it was coming from rear of car" in the first post. (If you said that in the first post). If it is coming from the rear. It is likely the gas tank. The gas tank is under the rear seats. If it is just at the right level, it will swoosh around. Mine does that too. If it is full it does not, when it gets alot lower it stops. The point in between, I hear it somewhat. Seems like it swooshes around the 1/2 full mark. (If memory serves me).

 

[TheFallenAngel12]

Its ok man. i dont think i wrote it in as i forgot to mention it was sounding like it was coming from the rear of the car. Its not really bothering anything other than its annoying to hear every morning when i move the car. doesnt matter where the fuel level is and so forth. I myself dont think its the heater core nor the gas in the gas tank moving around making the noise. its definetly not coming from the dash, and ive heard gas sloshing before and it dont sound like that. Its hard to explain. but like i said, its not really bothering anything or causing any issues, just annoying at best.

But i guess we shall see if they can figure it out when i drop it off tomorrow afternoon so they can start looking it over. The thing im more concerned about is damn doors unlocking themselves! how and why is beyond me. and no its not me forgetting to lock them and forgetting i didnt lock them. I lock the car, door lock pins drop, lights flash outside, and the little red light comes on. keys in hand i go inside and put them on my dresser to which they stay for the night. i wake up, walk outside with keys in hand, walk up to the car and find the little red light is not blinking, and all the door lock pins are in the UP position, to which i had yet to hit the keyfob to unlock them! Thats what im having them look into more than anything. why/how the car is unlocking itself. I nor anyone needs that kind of crap. I dont trust to take my sonic anywhere because of it. I for sure, didnt pay $17k+ for a new car only to have it unlock itself whenever it feels fit and leave it open for theft.

But thanks everyone for all your thoughts and information on my issues. once i know more i will let you guys know. Thanks

 

[Yosemite Sam]

I had a gurgling sound in my HHR at cold start up and it turned out to be an air pocket in the heater core. I fixed it myself because I wanted it done right the first time. For your unlocking ghost, did the dealer check out your remote? Take out the battery after locking the car and see if that cures the problem.

 

[qwed94]

One more thought. Just by any chance do you carry any water in the back? Also relating to your sound. You described it as a gurgling/swooshing sound. Could it be kind of a rumbling maybe like "rum-rum-rum"? Just a thought after reading this post again. If it could be the rum-rum sound, it might be dry wheel bearings in the rear. I dont pretend to know, just trying to help you out a bit.

 

[TheFallenAngel12]

One more thought. Just by any chance do you carry any water in the back? Also relating to your sound. You described it as a gurgling/swooshing sound. Could it be kind of a rumbling maybe like "rum-rum-rum"? Just a thought after reading this post again. If it could be the rum-rum sound, it might be dry wheel bearings in the rear. I dont pretend to know, just trying to help you out a bit.

The only thing i have in my trunk is my 12" Subwoofer box and amp. The sound is hard to really describe. Its a gurgeling/squeeking kind of sound. Not sure if i would be able to catch it with a video recorder or not. But the sound is definetly coming from the rear end somewhere. I myself think it has something to do with either the suspension system or within the wheel housing itself as it only makes the sound once i start moving the vehicle and ease off the brake after it sat all night. rarely does it do it during the daytime, usually 9/10 its after it sat all night then first moved. Hopefully when i take it in today they can figure this stuff out for me.

I have a question to other sonic owners, when do you think we would need to have the brakes changed on these cars? Just something that im curious about. and YosemiteSam, I dont know if they checked the keyfob battery or not but its something i am going to have them look at while it is in too. But it would suck if those keyfobs had to have the battery changed alot to keep it from doing random stuff. These things should have a strong long lasting battery in them i would think. seeing how its only used when unlocking or locking car the minimal use shouldnt zap that much from it. but who knows. hard telling these days. Overall i hope when i drop it off this time around they get the job done this time around and i get better results.

 

[muniorbust]

I've only had my new Sonic for a few days. Every night before I go to sleep I look out to my garage to make sure the garage is closed. Last night I found my Sonic's lights on. I hadn't driven it for about 4 hours. The key fob was in my pocket, and I had just stood up from sitting. So I think it's possible the unlock button got hit, but certainly not intentional.
Obviously my one data point isn't a pattern, but I'll keep an eye on things. At work I can see my car outside my office window. If it unlocks for no reason, or when I stand up, I'll likely notice.

 

[Dr. Eggman]

YosemiteSam, I dont know if they checked the keyfob battery or not but its something i am going to have them look at while it is in too. But it would suck if those keyfobs had to have the battery changed alot to keep it from doing random stuff. These things should have a strong long lasting battery in them i would think. seeing how its only used when unlocking or locking car the minimal use shouldnt zap that much from it. but who knows. hard telling these days. Overall i hope when i drop it off this time around they get the job done this time around and i get better results.

I think what YosemiteSam was getting at is that you may have a faulty remote.

 

[TheFallenAngel12]

UPDATE TO MY ISSUE First Posted!!

Hi Everyone! Just wanted to stop by and let everyone know how i made out with my dealership visit about my issue at hand. I was successful in getting results this time around. I am pleased to report that after doing some testing and some determination and willingness from the dealership to work with me and help me figure out this issue.

We were able to determine with the removal of the keyfob battery for a week and using it as a regular key, that the Reason my car was unlocking itself and/or trunk popping open on its own at random was soley due to a Faulty KeyFob. It had malfunctioned and was causing undesired electronic signal interuptions making the keyfob and car mis-communicate with eachother and thus the random Unlockings and Trunk openings.

So with that said, the dealership has agreed to order me a new Set of KeyFobs at no cost to me as it is considered as an "Under Warranty" issue. So once the new keyfobs come in i just have to go in and have them activated to my car and then im good to go! So i was able to work with the dealership and got positive results. A very happy Owner right now. Glad to get this issue figured out and taken care of. Hopefully with the new KeyFobs i dont run into this issue again (at least not for a good long while).

With this solved i can now start to enjoy my car and not have to worry about whether or not its going to unlock itself if i leave it unattended for a little while. Love my sonic. Just wanted to get this issue resolved. with that taken care of i have nothing to complain about at this time. So my suggestion to anyone else that has this kind of issue going on with your car, check the keyfob first, take the battery out and see if your issue resolves. Turned out for me it was the keyfob itself was the root of the problem. Once i have the new Fobs and have used them for a week or so i will post again to let everyone know if it for sure all cleared up with the new fobs.

Thanks Again To Everyone Who Commented to Help Out. Appreciate your feedback and help in this matter. :banana:

 

[Yosemite Sam]

:banana: