Hi! New member with a problematic Sonic

[Endybajr]

Hi!
I have a 2014 Sonic RS with... problems.

Where to start... Well, we'll do a list!

Transmission:
- It’s still leaking from the transmission axle seal. This is the 3rd time I will be taking it to the dealer for this same problem. Previously, it wasn’t enough to make any puddle under the car, but now there’s about a nickel of red under the car and it’s discolored the support/mounting thing. I don’t know what that’s called.
- It SLAMS when downshifting (seems to be mostly from 2nd to 1st while coming to a stop). This is new after the transmission was claimed to be rebuilt by the second dealership.
- Sometimes slips while upshifting (not all of the time), usually between 2nd to 3rd. Again, it wasn’t doing this prior to the ‘rebuild’.
Engine:
- Check engine light came on
- Started running very, very rough
- Idles oddly; almost stalling sometimes
- Squealing belt
Air Conditioning:
- Sometimes, I have none.
- Sometimes, I do.
- It’s been recharged and worked … and then it didn’t.
MyLink:
- Occasionally locks up *HARD* while using the BringGo GPS app. Or Pandora.
To get it out of this state, I have to force-reboot it, which generally entails disconnecting the battery for a while *OR* parking somewhere, turning off the car, opening the door, closing the door, starting the car, turning off the car, opening the door, etc. EVENTUALLY, it will cease going to sleep and will do a fresh restart. The restart is the only way it will respond to … anything, really. Occasionally, I’m able to use other functions that aren’t app-related, but every so often, the entire unit will just hard-lock and show the clock, half-faded out like it’s in a stuck-boot state.

I stopped driving it as soon as I possibly could when the check engine light came on; I'm currently driving my STI. The Sonic has less than 44,000 miles. Is it normal to have *THIS* many problems so soon?

Thank you!

 

[Natesriv]

bought used? carfax (not always accurate)... ?

 

[Endybajr]

Yeah, bought used (with around 20,000 miles). Carfax stated it was clean, but after being under the car (oil changes and the like), I've noticed a couple *VERY* well-hidden welds that don't look factory, as well as missing cowl clip points and random things. I'm compiling pictures for that stuff, though, and I'm going to have a few clients that have the occasional Sonic in their shop check for those particular spots.

I dropped it back off at a dealer today with the full above list. This is my work car! I need it to, y'know, *WORK*! I *DO* put a ton of miles on, but I'm at (as of dropoff today) 43,955 miles. I had a 1997 Mitsubishi Mirage that I drove off of the lot with 23 miles. I got *THAT* guy up to nearly 180,000 before it was stolen -- and those were mostly pizza delivery miles! *NEVER* has a single major issue.

Well, I have confidence that it'll be all pimped up. Prolly not the MyLink as I've read posts with folks having similar issues, but I can live with that.

 

[Chevrolet Sonic LS]

Do you buy the car with a service history?

 

[Endybajr]

It was a repo car from Idaho; no service history. :-(

The codes pulled were related to MAP sensor, insufficient airflow, and running lean.
Unless it's a cracked intake manifold, the sensors aren't a big deal, really; they're fairly cheap through Worldpac. The transmission, though, *IS* a big issue. A slow leak without any way to reliably check the level (no dipstick).

 

[Chevrolet Sonic LS]

bummer good luck with your project! read up on my thread stealthdashcam install or check out my youtube channel http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw3kqRWjmTwprqQqq7T1NIw

 

[MORTIS]

Welcome to SOF!

That's quite a depressing list of problems. Hopefully your dealer will sort them out to your satisfaction.
I would never trust a Carfax report, and it gives buyers a false sense of security. Too often any damage or collisions are not officially reported.

 

[Endybajr]

The kind words are appreciated!
...aaaaaaaaand from the dealer 'We can't find a leak from your transmission anywhere; it must be oil'. Um, no. Oil is not red, it doesn't smell like burnt strawberries, and it's seeping from the transmission axle *SEAL*. 'Seal' implies something to keep fluid in (or out), though in this case, it may be a mammal that balances a ball on its' nose. I have pictures from the last couple of times I've been under the car. No leak? Not buying it. They haven't addressed the transmission's slamming or slipping yet, as they seem to be ignoring that all together.
The engine light, they say, was an EGR valve. Will that trigger a MAP code in the ECU? I think it was P1106, P1001, and ...I'll have to get my mechanic's notes. I honestly don't know if that *WILL* cause those codes, but they were relating to 'running lean', 'improper airflow', and 'MAP sensor error'.
The AC: just a hose. OK, I can deal with that -- but $650 for that? Nah. I'll do it myself. How is that not covered under warranty?
The squealing belt, they claim, is because of the AC hose. I highly doubt that as it's, well, not related to the AC at all. AC on or off, it still squeals like a piggy. Sounds like a belt slipping or a... tensioner? balancer? going bad. It's a sound I've had with other cars in the past, and that's a belt. Unless the compressor is seizing up and the belt is squealing over *THAT*, I'm not sure.

My query now is: if I get the car back and the axle seal is *STILL* leaking, how do I go about starting a lemon law? I've taken it into Riverside Chevy (formerly Singh) and they claimed that they'd replaced the seal; a month later when I did the oil change, it was still seeping). This is the second time it's been to Moss Chevrolet in Moreno Valley, CA for the same thing. The first time, they supposedly changed 'clutch threads 1, 2, 3, and 4', also documented. This time, still seeping from the same place (axle seal), but now it's leaving a small puddle after it sat a week and a half (I didn't have time to get it over to them).

I desperately need a reliable vehicle for work. My poor STI is nearly double average mileage for a 2015 -- I feel so bad for it! That's supposed to be my for-fun car!
I'm obsessive about maintenance of my vehicles and do the services early.

I'm at a loss here. I know the Sonic is pretty much a Daewoo, but were they that bad?

Please don't take any of the above as snark. I don't intend it that way -- the questions are actual questions.

Thank you.

 

[SmoothSonic]

I had a very rough idle over the summer. I thought it was a Mass Air Flow sensor because the trouble codes pointed at this. Turned out that the coil pack went bad at 50,000 miles.

Also I had a squealing belt/tensioner sound. It was caused by a bad valve cover. My mechanic found that GM is aware of a flaw in the cover that may affect some cars.

If I were you, inspect your valve cover or replace it and check your coil pack while you're at it. These are not warranty repairs according to my mechanic.