Warning Lights Are Coming on All Over the Place

[Calculon]

So, I had to take a trip to the big town on Saturday, which is about 90 miles away. I did what I needed to do, but as soon as I started to head home, my oil light starts blinking and dinging. I pulled over and checked the oil. It was fine. I called GM Roadside and they gave me the number to the closest Chevrolet dealer. I roll in like seven minutes before they close and they were nice enough to take a look at it.

They started with clearing the light, but that lasted about 20 seconds. They took it into the shop to take a look at it. They topped off the oil and came to the conclusion that it was a bad sensor since the dinging went away when the car was revved, and it wasn't leaking any oil.

I had to drive it home, which went fine, with the car dinging the whole time. That was really annoying and I think I got a whiff of burning oil when I got out of the car. I went to work Saturday night being that it was just a bad sensor. On the way back the gas was low, so I decided to stop to fill up. When I started home, my check engine light comes, but the car seems to still run OK. Today, I had a couple errands to run, about few miles total, the check engine light is still on and oil light is still blinking dinging once warmed, but I hear tapping sounds coming from the engine like when you're low on oil. Yes, sadly I've been there. Again, I check the oil and it's fine.

I've no idea what's going on here. Like I said the car seems to run fine. Does anyone have a clue what's happening? I'd just like to know what I'm in for when I call the dealer tomorrow. Thanks for any help.

 

[Natesriv]

blockage internally? I'd be a dealership like yesterday. if they ask how long it's been doing it they might balk that you've driven it several days with the warning lights.

However, your earlier dealer visit might be the ace in your pocket....

the burning could have been just excess burning off the turbo from when they filled it.

Good luck amigo, hopefuly someone here has a similiar, solved problem

 

[ahtoxa]

Good luck, man. Doesn't sound good at all.

 

[xsonicLTZx]

Tapping sounds is not a good indication. I agree on the over oil fill, as maybe why your smelling burnt oil. Good luck with the dealer. Hope your issues are minor.

 

[Natesriv]

the injectors make a little more racket, but if your tapping isn't coming from that then it's lifters Id say.. Oil starvation...

you modded anything recently?

 

[mitdr774]

The style lifter in the 1.8 is noisy. Its basically a flat tappet that the cam lobe rides on.

 

[SuperFudd]

Perhaps an outside chance that the oil filter has gone bad, blocking the oil flow.

 

[sx sonic]

There was a bulletin for some 1.8 oil sensors being bad. Certainly sounds like your initial problem.Not sure about the rest.

 

[Calculon]

I just got back from the dealer. They said something in there broke and oil spayed everywhere. It's just been a brutally cold winter here. I was apparently down three quarts of oil, which is interesting because I checked it yesterday and it was full, and I only drove a few miles yesterday, but probably 100+ after it was topped off at the other dealer. I also parked it in the driveway the last few days, which is covered in white snow, but there was no oil on the ground. They need 3-4 days to fix it. Hopefully, it'll be good to go, but in the meantime, I've got a nice 2014 Impala to ride around in, though I keep trying to push in the non-existent clutch.

 

[Chrish051873]

i would be very concerned for the engine if it was drove around with just under 2 quarts of oil in it.

so what was broke ?

 

[attrapereves]

I just got back from the dealer. They said something in there broke and oil spayed everywhere. It's just been a brutally cold winter here. I was apparently down three quarts of oil, which is interesting because I checked it yesterday and it was full, and I only drove a few miles yesterday, but probably 100+ after it was topped off at the other dealer. I also parked it in the driveway the last few days, which is covered in white snow, but there was no oil on the ground. They need 3-4 days to fix it. Hopefully, it'll be good to go, but in the meantime, I've got a nice 2014 Impala to ride around in, though I keep trying to push in the non-existent clutch.

How does the Impala drive? My parents are wanting to buy an Accord, but I keep trying to convince them to buy an Impala or Malibu. They just look better.

 

[Stew]

I took my Sonic to the dealer to have something looked at a couple weeks ago and got a 2013 Impala loaner. I would not buy one. It's not that it was a bad car, it's just a car that I would never spend my money on, it was surprisingly quick though.

 

[stever525]

I took my Sonic to the dealer to have something looked at a couple weeks ago and got a 2013 Impala loaner. I would not buy one. It's not that it was a bad car, it's just a car that I would never spend my money on, it was surprisingly quick though.

The 2013 is the old (not good) model. The 2014 is the new (fantastic) model.

 

[Chevrolet Customer Care]

Hi Calculon,

I would suggest that you get your Sonic in to the dealership as soon as possible. If you want me to set up a dealership appointment for you or set up a service request to document this issue please send me a PM.

Jackie
Chevrolet Customer Care

 

[Nimda]

They gave you a 2014 Impala? Wow. Even the base models start at about $27k. That's quite the expensive loaner. When I had my car serviced they lent me a 2014 Malibu. They look fantastic IMO but I wasn't too impressed with the automatic tranny.

 

[ahtoxa]

How does the Impala drive? My parents are wanting to buy an Accord, but I keep trying to convince them to buy an Impala or Malibu. They just look better.

Had a few as loaners.

I'd opt for an Accord Sport all day. The Impala's not bad, but the Accord Sport is my preference by far.

 

[ahtoxa]

They gave you a 2014 Impala? Wow. Even the base models start at about $27k. That's quite the expensive loaner. When I had my car serviced they lent me a 2014 Malibu. They look fantastic IMO but I wasn't too impressed with the automatic tranny.

Last time I went in to fix a broken compass and bluetooth they gave asked me whether I wanted an Impala, a Tahoe or a Traverse. I took the Traverse LTZ for the weekend.

They could have easily sent me home and told me to come back in Monday when the new part arrives.

 

[Calculon]

The car is already done, but I couldn't make back to the dealer today, so I'll pick it up tomorrow.

The Impala's very nice, but not my thing. That's why I picked the Sonic over larger cars.

 

[Nimda]

The car is already done, but I couldn't make back to the dealer today, so I'll pick it up tomorrow.

The Impala's very nice, but not my thing. That's why I picked the Sonic over larger cars.

Yep. I know how you feel. I had the Malibu for a weekend and could not wait to get my Sonic back. It was cool to go back to a speedometer with a needle though... I enjoy the Sonic's unique cluster but needles will always be my favorite.