Engine starting by itself---no I am not psycho...

[SimonMci]

Hi,

I was sitting in my 2012 Sonic LTZ tonight waiting for a friend to come home. My key was in the ignition, but in the off position, and the radio was still on, so it hadn't been 10 minutes yet to turn it off automatically.

The car attempted to start while I was playing solitaire on my phone, spluttered, died, and after a few seconds, did the same thing again. I didn't have the app up to remote start the car (and haven't in several days), the buttons to remote start the car haven't been used since it was cold several days ago, and I wasn't anywhere near touching the key remote, either.

I assume it is an issue with either the battery in the remote, the starter or ignition switch, or possibly a person with a remote on the same frequency?

Has anyone else ever heard of this? I've read a few things on the internet but wondered if there were any particular problem associated with the Sonic.

Thanks so much...I really am not crazy!

Cam

 

[allstarchris]

2012 sonic lt....i've had in the past were the key was in the ignition and it would crank.Hasn't happened recently though.

 

[Ponchoguy]

My sister has a new Equinox and she had programmed the garage door opener into the car. Well, she only had the car two weeks and one night we were coming home from Walmart and she was backing into the garage and we heard this groan and creak and thump. She said, "Oh the coolant you bought must have flipped over in the back". She then realized the car wouldn't move. When I got out to take a look, the car was impaled under the garage door. LOL.

I wound up having to take the whole door apart and replace the lower section (it cost her $250 for a new lower section, she saved on labor since I installed it myself).

I told her to take off that link to the car and just use the correct OEM garage door opener remotes that came with it. No problems since.

Too many connected things in the word today---things are bound to cross up. I roll old school, better off. The remotes on my 1979 Sears Craftsman garage door opener aren't sold anymore (you have to buy conversion kits) since they use a restricted frequency. LOL.

 

[jimmy18sonic2013]

Hi,

I was sitting in my 2012 Sonic LTZ tonight waiting for a friend to come home. My key was in the ignition, but in the off position, and the radio was still on, so it hadn't been 10 minutes yet to turn it off automatically.

The car attempted to start while I was playing solitaire on my phone, spluttered, died, and after a few seconds, did the same thing again. I didn't have the app up to remote start the car (and haven't in several days), the buttons to remote start the car haven't been used since it was cold several days ago, and I wasn't anywhere near touching the key remote, either.

I assume it is an issue with either the battery in the remote, the starter or ignition switch, or possibly a person with a remote on the same frequency?

Has anyone else ever heard of this? I've read a few things on the internet but wondered if there were any particular problem associated with the Sonic.

Thanks so much...I really am not crazy!

Cam

Cam, no you are not crazy. I drive a 2013 Sonic 1.8l... I was just in the process of cleaning the rest of my house out during a move and I had left the key in the ignition completely OFF AND IN PARK in my driveway. I it's summer time and it's about 1:30am and I'm squatting down 5ft from the car (with the passenger side door open as well btw) organizing some fishing poles to take with me and all of the sudden my Sonic fires up as if it's going to start with a half ass crank with lights on and everything for about 5secs and then dies as it would if you didn't fully commit to an ignition turn. So yeah this scared the heck out of me bc it's late and I'm the only one moving around my neighborhood this time of night. So who knows why this would happen? Weirder thing is I don't have remote start installed on this vehicle! Never used it never had it. Just as an FYI I did have the other set of keys in my pocket but I don't see how thar could have any merit bc like I said I don't have remote start! Very very weird but you have no idea how big of a relief it is to read you having the same problem. My best guess is it's some sort of computer can bus bug that happens when all the right variables align? I'm stumped on this one but relieved lol