1.4T check engine woes...

[SourKandi]

Huh! Frizodanizzo, are you talking about the Sonic or another car?

I checked my Owner's Manual for my 2012 Chevy Sonic 1.4L Turbo and it states to use 87 octane (or higher).



Copied word-for-word Per "Driving and Operating" page 9-35 below:



"Recommended Fuel

Use regular unleaded gasoline with a posted octane rating of 87 or higher. If the octane rating is less than 87, an audible knocking noise,

commonly referred to as spark knock, might be heard when driving. If this occurs, use a gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher as soon as

possible. If heavy knocking is heard when using gasoline rated at

87 octane or higher, the engine needs service."



I've never had to use anything higher than Unleaded Regular (87 Octane), year round for my turbo and it runs great. Hasn't pinged or knocked once. Are models later than 2012 now say to run 89 (Midgrade)?

The foreman told me if I wanted to run a higher grade I should use 89, and nothing higher. I have yet been able to even find in my owners manual where it states that! Was anyone else provided with a paper copy or only the online copy?

On Friday they told me that the catalytic converter that had been replaced was bad, like it was bad from the factory. So it's getting another one. And now it's been another week in the shop.

 

[laborsmith]

The cat could be the problem and likely is.

Octane level is often subject to heated discussion but in the case of this engine only the uninformed such as your dealership would be so stupid. Chevy recognizes this inadequacy but limits its response to the Corvette vehicle line by requiring techs working on it be Chevy certified. Does not help your situation but should let you know competence is a surprise not an expectation, at least for me.

Laborsmith

 

[LorbeerTLC]

2013 Chevrolet Sonic 87 Octane (Regular Unleaded)

The foreman told me if I wanted to run a higher grade I should use 89, and nothing higher. I have yet been able to even find in my owners manual where it states that! Was anyone else provided with a paper copy or only the online copy?

On Friday they told me that the catalytic converter that had been replaced was bad, like it was bad from the factory. So it's getting another one. And now it's been another week in the shop.

If you own a 2013 Sonic, it say's on page 9-33 under "Driving and Operating" to use 87 Octane (Regular Unleaded) or higher in the Owners Manual.
http://www.chevrolet.com/content/dam/Chevrolet/northamerica/usa/nscwebsite/en/Home/Ownership/Manuals_and_Videos/02_pdf/2k13sonic.pdf

I bought my 2012 Sonic brand-new so I have a paper copy, but all Sonic manuals are available on-line through Chevrolet.
Chevy Vehicle Manuals and Videos | Owners Manuals | Chevrolet

Ask your Foreman if he has a Service Bulletin that reflects this. If he doesn't ask him where did he hear about this and whether it's his or GM's opinion.
Print out page 9-33, show it to him. Ask him why does the Owners Manual recommend 87 octane (Regular Unleaded) or higher but it doesn't say anything about not to exceed 89 octane (Mid-Grade Unleaded). Usually GM will send a Service Bulletin out if things change after the manual has been put to print.

 

[SourKandi]

If you own a 2013 Sonic, it say's on page 9-33 under "Driving and Operating" to use 87 Octane (Regular Unleaded) or higher in the Owners Manual.

http://www.chevrolet.com/content/da...rship/Manuals_and_Videos/02_pdf/2k13sonic.pdf



I bought my 2012 Sonic brand-new so I have a paper copy, but all Sonic manuals are available on-line through Chevrolet.

Chevy Vehicle Manuals and Videos | Owners Manuals | Chevrolet



Ask your Foreman if he has a Service Bulletin that reflects this. If he doesn't ask him where did he hear about this and whether it's his or GM's opinion.

Print out page 9-33, show it to him. Ask him why does the Owners Manual recommend 87 octane (Regular Unleaded) or higher but it doesn't say anything about not to exceed 89 octane (Mid-Grade Unleaded). Usually GM will send a Service Bulletin out if things change after the manual has been put to print.

Thank you for all this info, Lorbeer- I bought my sonic brand new 2013 (in October 2012) and did not get a paper copy. So far I've only reviewed the version on my phone. Time for me to sit in front of a real computer I suppose.

The dealership called today and of course, just like the last cat, they received the part without "the gasket" and have to wait another day for that to arrive before they can put it together.

Thanks again everyone for your support. I would be a complete raging b if I couldn't vent about this. The hubby stays out of the car care in our house and leaves it to me. So I have no one to talk about this with lol.

 

[Frizodanizzo]

Huh! Frizodanizzo, are you talking about the Sonic or another car?
I checked my Owner's Manual for my 2012 Chevy Sonic 1.4L Turbo and it states to use 87 octane (or higher).

Copied word-for-word Per "Driving and Operating" page 9-35 below:

"Recommended Fuel
Use regular unleaded gasoline with a posted octane rating of 87 or higher. If the octane rating is less than 87, an audible knocking noise,
commonly referred to as spark knock, might be heard when driving. If this occurs, use a gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher as soon as
possible. If heavy knocking is heard when using gasoline rated at
87 octane or higher, the engine needs service.


I've never had to use anything higher than Unleaded Regular (87 Octane), year round for my turbo and it runs great. Hasn't pinged or knocked once. Are models later than 2012 now say to run 89 (Midgrade)?

I got mine late 2012 it says you can use 87 in mine but it's definitely not recommended even the dealership won't put in 87. It says 89 is the recommended in mine for sure lol. Read it the first fill up to be certain too. Didn't want to put lower grade fuel in if it wasn't going to utilize it very well. I had low power at one point before the dealer looked at it the first thing they asked me too was have you been running lower than 89 I said no I use 91 because there's no station in my town that has it. They found out the turbocharger died of course and that was the cause of the low power, one of those bent oil lines that came from the factory. Mine never ran well with 87 I put a few gallons in a couple times in fort thompson as emergency fuel.

 

[SourKandi]

Oh hey what do you know. Dealership didn't call and now my car has been there for 7 days. 8 tmrw. This is fun.

 

[Hawkdsl]

Oh hey what do you know. Dealership didn't call and now my car has been there for 7 days. 8 tmrw. This is fun.

This is why I do all my own repairs and service. There are more horror stories about dealer service departments then actual problems with the car. I beginning to think GM took the bankruptcy as an opportunity to close some seriously bad dealers... and had nothing to do with getting back to black.

Warranty is a good thing... but it shouldn't evoke fear when you need to use it.

 

[SourKandi]

This is why I do all my own repairs and service. There are more horror stories about dealer service departments then actual problems with the car. I beginning to think GM took the bankruptcy as an opportunity to close some seriously bad dealers... and had nothing to do with getting back to black.



Warranty is a good thing... but it shouldn't evoke fear when you need to use it.

Unfortunately the extent of my knowledge of vehicles doesn't exceed 1996- havent worked on anything newer yet. Once there is a Bentley (Haynes whichever) I'll be more into it. And once my warranty is expired. There's a reason to buy a new vehicle, and that is so I don't have to do any repairs to a 2 yo vehicle. I'm about to enroll in mechanic school just so I have a better background. I don't have daddy close to help me learn but thank goodness I always sat on the engine bay whenever it was opened and being worked on when I was little. Cars were just a wee bit different without all this emissions crap.

Oh well. I can complain all I want but it doesn't do anyone any good. It certainly doesn't get my car repaired any quicker lol

 

[LorbeerTLC]

I got mine late 2012 it says you can use 87 in mine but it's definitely not recommended even the dealership won't put in 87. It says 89 is the recommended in mine for sure lol. Read it the first fill up to be certain too. Didn't want to put lower grade fuel in if it wasn't going to utilize it very well. I had low power at one point before the dealer looked at it the first thing they asked me too was have you been running lower than 89 I said no I use 91 because there's no station in my town that has it. They found out the turbocharger died of course and that was the cause of the low power, one of those bent oil lines that came from the factory. Mine never ran well with 87 I put a few gallons in a couple times in fort thompson as emergency fuel.

Wow!
I've never had anyone tell me not to use 87 Octane Regular Unleaded in my Turbo Sonic. Now with that said, I've ONLY fill my car with Chevron 87 Octane Regular Unleaded since I bought my car brand-new. I don't know if the brand of gasoline makes any difference in performance
http://www.chevronwithtechron.com/products.aspx

And I've never had my engine ping or knock. My owner's manual recommends 87 Octane or higher.
Chevy Vehicle Manuals and Videos | Owners Manuals | Chevrolet

Even when I went cross-country during the summer of 2012 with 3 people and a dog, plus with a roof cargo carrier in temperatures above 105F driving in stop & go traffic. I drove from Washington State to the Toronto Canada area, down to Key West, Florida, then to Southern California, then back up I-5 to Washington. All on 87 Octane Regular Unleaded gasoline. That trip was just over 10,000 miles from start to finish.
Power has never been a problem either.

You mentioned that your owner's manual says it can use 87 Octane, but it doesn't recommend it. Does it really say that or is this a personal preference not to use anything under 89?

 

[SourKandi]

Ok. Got the call this morning. Sounds to me like I had a bad case of mechanic not doing his job properly. I'll detail it once I have the repair rundown in front of me. Oh and lucky me, the cover over the valve cover that previous dealer broke is not covered under warranty. So that's the one thing they couldn't replace lol.

 

[Hawkdsl]

Wow!
I've never had anyone tell me not to use 87 Octane Regular Unleaded in my Turbo Sonic. ..... That trip was just over 10,000 miles from start to finish.
Power has never been a problem either.

That wasn't a "Trip", That was an "Adventure"! Holy cow, that is cool.


SK:"Oh and lucky me, the cover over the valve cover that previous dealer broke is not covered under warranty. So that's the one thing they couldn't replace lol."

Oh that's just crap.. I guess they told ya to go down to the other dealer to replace it?.. ah the details... I guess they don't want you to buy your next new car form them.

 

[laborsmith]

My comment on GM using bankruptcy to close dealers who provided bad service: one of the dealerships closed was in Farmington, MI, a very small dealership (delivered a few hundred new Chevrolets a year not a month) but with a huge service department, one that would fit a dealership delivering several hundred new a month. Clearly this dealership (Friendly Chevrolet) was doing a lot of warranty work on vehicles other area dealers sold.

As far as I could tell, no area dealerships with less than good service reputations closed, and I live a quarter mile from one of them.

Do I believe internal politics determined who would be closed and who would stay open? I leave the answer to each individual reader. Incidentally, I am aware of other horror stories surrounding the closings, just to say this was not an isolated event.


Laborsmith

 

[Hawkdsl]

Do I believe internal politics determined who would be closed and who would stay open? I leave the answer to each individual reader.

I had a similar small dealer near me that I used for parts. Just the best guys ever behind the counter, and knew the parts and vehicles like the back of their hand. Experence like that is earned, and not taught.

I asked what their fate was when all that was going down, and one of the guys said they were fighting it hard.. but "The politics are insane right now". One can only imagine the horrors of those years. Sadly, the little parts department that could, was closed.

 

[SourKandi]

Oh hey guess what. 300 miles and the check engine lights back on. I'm so over this car now

 

[SourKandi]

I told the guy when I left it still didn't feel right but I would give it a week and see if it changes. I think the first dealership just really ****ed up my car and now I'm screwed. They did it on purpose they sent me out with a car that was in bad shape so that I would run out of warranty and they knew it **** **** ****!!!

 

[Sneakerfix]

I told the guy when I left it still didn't feel right but I would give it a week and see if it changes. I think the first dealership just really ****ed up my car and now I'm screwed. They did it on purpose they sent me out with a car that was in bad shape so that I would run out of warranty and they knew it **** **** ****!!!

Why would you think that? If it's for the same reason your still covered

 

[SourKandi]

Sorry for the anger. It's a P0299

 

[Sneakerfix]

Sorry for the anger. It's a P0299

Sorry I understand your anger. But did you happen to have a po171 the last time you were at the dealer? If you did the tech should have also checked the turbo wastegate pen for wear

 

[SourKandi]

I told them that it felt like the turbo wasn't properly working. But with all the other repairs they didn't look at the turbo.

 

[Sneakerfix]

I told them that it felt like the turbo wasn't properly working. But with all the other repairs they didn't look at the turbo.

If you told the service writer that you should be covered still since you told them to check it. If I were you I would make a claim with customer care