2012 Sonic LT Sedan 1.8L Questions

[Ponchoguy]

New member here, but have been lurking for a while . Some questions:

1) What's the trick to getting the coil pack plug off? I looked at "Paul's Travel Pictures" and that's got some excellent views, but the plug removal is hanging me up and as other have mentioned, it looks very fragile. I looked at both my GM and Mitchell information and I don't see a very good depiction of how to release the connector and I know I'm missing something here .

2) Has anyone had a P0303 trouble code resolved with a coil pack replacement? I was driving to work on Tuesday and I got about six blocks away from home when I got the flashing CEL and a bucking/surging/rough idle. I had gotten gas on Sunday and drove 44 miles on Monday with no issue, I don't think it's a fuel issue.

3) Have any of you had issues with coolant loss? I took a look at the thermostat housing and it seems dry. Every so often, I would have to add coolant to the reservoir, and this week, the reservoir is empty. Any known water pump issues with these 1.8L engines?

4) I've been through two sets of stabilizer bar links which have been changed under warranty by the dealer. I have a contact at Delco in MI and he tells me that Delco will be coming out with a better part as a replacement (it appears that the Delco part is aftermarket sourced from perhaps Moog or someone like that). I actually found a mistake in their catalog that they had a part listed for a Sonic, but it didn't actually fit it .

5) I know this one has been beat to death, but I'll ask again . You need a reset tool for a 2012 model Sonic for the TPMS, correct? My 2009 Pontiac G6 allows you to lose the "air loss" method to reset the TPMS when you do a tire rotation. Seems that GM has gone away from that method between 2009 and 2012.....

Thanks for any and all feedback.

A few warranty issues here and there over time, but overall, the Sonic has been a pretty good little car. I bought it as I am a GM loyalist (all my family has owned since 1977), and I wanted a small American made car (and this is about it in that price and size class).

 

[Luv2xlr8]

Well for question 3, I had coolant loss and smell of coolant as I would drive but the dealer could not find the leak, even after they did a pressure test and added dye. This issue had me going crazy as I could smell it while I was driving and there was no leak on the ground. So I inspected every hose part that the coolant travels and found the leak by the lower heater hose that goes to the fire wall. The reason it never leaked to the ground is the fire wall has a insulation so it kept getting soaked and never reached the ground.

So there is a plastic piece that connects the hose and the firewall that has a rubber O-ring gasket that was all deteriorated so it leaked from their. I ordered and replaced it and don't got a leak anymore. I would checked those two hoses, just rub your finger around it and see if it's wet.

 

[Ponchoguy]

Thanks

Will check that out. My coworker found a good video of how to release the clip for the coil pack, so I will try that out (and wait for any other feedback from here).

 

[Palmaris]

There is also a huge thread on the stabilizer bar links and suggestions on which part # to order.

 

[Ponchoguy]

There is also a huge thread on the stabilizer bar links and suggestions on which part # to order.

I will get the part # from the person I know at Delco's HQ and post it for everyone.

Thanks again.

 

[Luv2xlr8]

I used moog k750519 end links. Here is the thread

http://www.sonicownersforum.com/for...losest-oe-moog-k750519-k80252-stab-links.html

 

[WyrTwister]

Chevrolet Sonic Engine Spark Plugs Replacement Guide - 2012 To 2014 Model Years - Picture Illustrated Automotive Maintenance DIY Instructions

Do not know if this will help ? We bought our Sonic in June , so it has less than 4000 miles on it . So far I have only installed cruise control , added wind shield washer fluid and changed the oil .

Do not have much experience . Still a newbie .

God bless
Wyr

 

[kevjam79]

The corrected end links is good news!

I have yet to replace a pack. It could be a bad coil pack to plug spring. Also check your plug gaps. Mine were way off.

And yes you will need a TPMS tool to reset your sensors.


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[$ub$onic]

I had a coil pack go bad on my 1.8, would not call it a uncommon problem but it's also not as common as 1.4 water pumps or end links

I used moog k80252 and k750012 links on my sonics

 

[Ponchoguy]

Yikes, Found My Problem!

Yikes, found my problem...blown head gasket! I pulled the coil pack out (thanks guys, the clip was just a little tight and I was just being extra careful) and I noticed the "milkshake" on one of the spark plug boots and then I looked down into the plug wells, and yikes, two of them are half way filled with coolant!

I just sent an e-mail with pictures to my dealership--should be covered under the 5/100 warranty.....according to GM there are labor ops in the 5/100for the cylinder head and gasket so they are covered items.

Also, the Delco part # for the link is probably sourced overseas (I want to say Turkey from what I remember) but it is a specific part for the Sonic. I had called Moog and they didn't show a part for it (not that it means anything, I was in the aftermarket for 10 years, applications are missed all the time).

The guy I deal with at Delco in Grand Blanc is out of the office on vacation and training, so I will follow-up with him on the part number next week and post it if anyone is interested.

Here are some of the pictures!

Thanks again.

 

[Ponchoguy]

Chevrolet Sonic Engine Spark Plugs Replacement Guide - 2012 To 2014 Model Years - Picture Illustrated Automotive Maintenance DIY Instructions

Do not know if this will help ? We bought our Sonic in June , so it has less than 4000 miles on it . So far I have only installed cruise control , added wind shield washer fluid and changed the oil .

Do not have much experience . Still a newbie .

God bless
Wyr

Yes, thanks I saw that. It was an online video that gave me a little more insight on the clip. You have to gently massage it off with a screwdriver while pushing the black retainer (after you've unlocked the orange terminal lock).

 

[kevjam79]

Crazy to see a blown head gasket at 30K. Have you driven all of those miles?


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[Ponchoguy]

Crazy to see a blown head gasket at 30K. Have you driven all of those miles?


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Kevin:

Yes, we bought the car brand new in February 2012. I keep receipts for every part I buy for it---it's only had full synthetic oil and Delco filters since day 1 and I change the oil and filter at no less than 50% oil life.

I'm easy on this car, as I am with all of my cars.

 

[Ponchoguy]

The corrected end links is good news!

I have yet to replace a pack. It could be a bad coil pack to plug spring. Also check your plug gaps. Mine were way off.

And yes you will need a TPMS tool to reset your sensors.


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Thanks on the TPMS question, I figured that. I have access to the GM Shop manual and it doesn't give the "air loss" method like it shows for my 2009 Pontiac G6.

 

[Ponchoguy]

OK guys and girls, the Sonic went on a flatbed this afternoon to the dealer. GM picks up the tow under the powertrain warranty. It did take them a few hours to come to get it and you get those annoying GM robo calls asking if the service request has been completed. LOL.

Will keep you posted.

 

[Ponchoguy]

Ok, kids a follow up

Got the car back yesterday. Blown head gasket (as suspected) and a warped head (as was also suspected). New head, new head gasket, intake/exhaust gaskets, thermostat O-ring and coil pack. They didn't indicate that they changed the oil, but it looks new and clean (but they didn't reset the oil life monitor). I'll change it to synthetic before the fall is out.

I was away on business when they called and said it was ready. Tried to pull a bit of a mickey by saying it needed the air intake snorkel/duct and that it was not covered.

I said bull biscuits and I called my GM contacts who promptly "goodwilled" the "$170 duct" (which is $40 new on Ebay, also genuine GM).

So, the repair was done at no charge and it seems to be running OK.....

 

[Ponchoguy]

Also had a charging system issue. I tested the battery with my load tester, which failed so I replaced it with the updated 47PG Delco battery with a higher CCA.

Still had problems, so the dealer did the alternator under warranty. So far, so good.

 

[ohio_grad_06]

Ouch. Just got our sonic a couple days ago, so not even 200 miles yet. But makes me glad we opted for the extended warranty. 7 years or 75,000 miles, 50 dollar deductible and it's fixed.

 

[ohio_grad_06]

Just makes me wonder if they had a known issue with the gasket or something? Seems like on carts I've owned in the past you didn't have those kind of issues until like 150,000+ miles.

 

[Ponchoguy]

Ouch. Just got our sonic a couple days ago, so not even 200 miles yet. But makes me glad we opted for the extended warranty. 7 years or 75,000 miles, 50 dollar deductible and it's fixed.

I have extended coverage through Geico, and the GM powertrain warranty covers up to 100k. I get 7 years with the Geico plan ($250 deductible). I plan to do most of the work myself on the car as I normally do.