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A rattling engine can be very disturbing. If your Chevy Sonic is experiencing this problem, we’ll cover the most common causes. A rattling engine can be caused be the exhaust, timing chain, loose accessories, and much more.

Engine Rattling Causes: Chevy Sonic

Here are the most common causes of a rattling sound in your Sonic:

Exhaust

The exhaust system is one of the most common culprits that can make it sound like your Chevy Sonic’s engine is rattling. While the exhaust is outside of the engine itself, it can often cause sounds that are confused for an internal engine rattle.

Heat Shield

The number one rattling culprit in your Sonic’s exhaust system is the heat shield. They can get a little loose as the vehicle ages and accumulates mileage. Once this happens, it’ll rattle all of the time. It’s particularly noticeable when you rev the engine in neutral and let off of the gas pedal. You should hear a rattle as the engine comes back down from the higher RPM.

If the heat shield is loose, you’ll need to take your Sonic into a good exhaust shop and have it welded back into place. The good news is that a loose heat shield is never going to leave you broken down on the side of the road.

Exhaust Leak

If your exhaust system is leaking, it will often make an aggressive ticking sound. Some folks have described it as a rattle. If it is leaking, the most common place that it leaks from is going to be where it bolts to the block at the exhaust manifolds. You can check and see if any of the exhaust manifold bolts have broken off. This is very common in all vehicles.

Catalytic Converter

The catalytic converter is responsible for scrubbing the majority of the pollutants out of your exhaust. As it ages, the metals inside can break down. When this happens, you can hear them rattle around.

When the catalytic converter does fail, it’ll often give you code P0420, or P0430. If your check engine light is on, you may want to see if you have an emissions related code. That would be very strong evidence that the catalytic converter is causing the problem.

Most auto parts stores are happy to scan your codes free of charge. Otherwise, scanners are really cheap.

Timing Chain

A loose timing chain can really make a rattling sound. This sound is particularly noticeable when you start the Sonic. A bad tensioner will leave the chain loose and ready to jump a tooth or fall off all of the way. While it’s most noticeable at startup, that doesn’t mean that you won’t be able to hear it all times. Sometimes you can, sometimes you can’t.

Loose Accessory

If something has worked its way loose on your engine, it can rattle and dance at different RPMs. If you’ve left your oil cap loose on top of the valve cover, that can cause a rattling sound. Or, if you’ve left a tool on top of the intake or valve cover it can cause a rattling sound. It doesn’t even need to be something loose, it can just be out of place.

Oil

This seems obvious, but it’s worth checking out. If there is no oil in the crankcase, the engine is going to sound like a rattling old buzzsaw. That rattling sound is the sound of your Sonic’s engine dying.

If you have a blown head gasket, you could be losing water that goes into the crankcase. When this happens the oil loses its viscosity as it is watered down. The oil will look orange and foamy when this is the case.

Internal Engine Issue

If you’ve been looking for all of the issues described above, it could be that there is something inside of the engine that is making it rattle. You could have a stuck lifter, a burnt valve, the wrong spark plugs, or more. Hopefully, one of the easier to fix and more common issues listed above though.

Conclusion: Sonic Engine Rattling

Good luck fixing the rattle coming from your Chevy Sonic. If there is anything that you would like to add, please leave a comment below.

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2016 Chevrolet Sonic

2016 Chevrolet Sonic Owner Comments

problem #10

Sonic

• miles

The heat doesnt work. Keeps blowing out cool air. This past summer the ac wouldn't work. When I took it to the dealership they said it was an electrical issue but they fixed it. I believe the two issues are related.

- Durham, NC, USA

problem #9

Sonic

• miles

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated while driving at 45 mph, the vehicle loss motive power and stalled without warning. The contact stated that several attempts were needed to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic but was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

- League City, TX, USA

problem #8

Sonic

• 100,000 miles

Car hesitated to start after getting gas. When it does finally start it sputters and have to rev motor some to make it stop. Idles high. After get started and start to drive it it's ok, but when stopped at a light it idles higher. I have had the purge valve replaced, but it's still doing it.

- Dalton, GA, USA

problem #7

Sonic

• miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Vehicle began having trouble with acceleration and jerking when stopped in July 2019. Took vehicle to a shop where it was suggested I replace the battery and the oxygen sensors. Both were replaced. Vehicle still continues to jerk and not properly accelerate. Vehicle drives smooth so long as their is a full tank of gas and its going a steady at least 40 mph. When the gas gets below half tank, the vehicle will continue with the jerking and accelerating issue. Vehicle also has to be restarted numerous times after gas is put in.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #6

Sonic

• 65,000 miles

Purchased my car in October of 2018. In July of 2019, my check engine light came on, followed shortly afterward by the temperature overheat gauge. Took my car in and was told that my thermostat needed replaced and that this is common with my make/model. Replaced the thermostat. In January 2020, check engine light came on again, with a PO599 code. Took it to local auto shop to have it diagnosed; they said that the check engine light came on when starting the car, so likely wasn't an overheating issue. They thought it was the sensors/circuits. After running diagnostic check, again suggested replacing the thermostat. This is now the second time the thermostat has needed replaced in the year and three months that I have owned the vehicle. When at jiffy lube, I was told that they had seen at least four other Sonics come in with the same check engine code.

- Olympia, WA, USA

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problem #5

Sonic

• 50,000 miles

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Sonic. The contact stated that the valve cover gasket became defective, the check engine warning indicator persistently illuminated, and the turbo engine's fins were bent. The contact took the vehicle to two independent mechanics to be diagnosed. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

- Chester, PA, USA

problem #4

Sonic 4-cyl

• miles

Sonic Engine On Scratch

I purchased my car on March 9,2019. In may I took it to the dealership [xxx] in moultrie, Georgia where I purchased the car from and no one looked at it, it just sat out there. When I'm at a traffic light too long my car will cut off occasionally and always hesitate when accelerating even sometimes when I'M in reverse. I got my transmission looked at and nothing was wrong with it. One day after I stopped at the stop sign and accelerated my car cut off while I was already in drive and I almost got hit. I called the dealership where I got it from and told them that it was cutting while in traffic and he said all he could tell me was to keep driving it and he don't remember selling me no car, when I told him he did and his name is even on my paperwork listed [xxx]. took it to a local auto mechanic shop and a friend of the family mechanic shop and neither shops could figure out what was wrong. In September I called the Chevrolet manufacturing office and they told me to take it to the nearest Chevrolet place. They looked at and couldn'T find anything and my check engine light wasn't coming on but they test drove it and seen exactly what I was talking about. They tried doing an industrial flush and it didn't work. They suggested my alternator be replaced cause it was reading a 15, serpentine belt and belt tensioner be replaced, I did that and took it to an auto mechanic shop since I didn't have a warranty. The problem isn't fixed and it still jerks and cuts off to this day. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Thomasville, GA, USA

problem #3

Sonic

• 78,456 miles

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Sonic. While driving 15 mph, the vehicle shut off without warning. The contact also mentioned that the vehicle shut off without warning while at a complete stop. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic where they diagnosed the vehicle and replaced the oxygen sensor; however, the failure persisted. The contact took the vehicle back to the independent mechanic on numerous occasions and had the thermostat and intake main gasket set replaced, and an engine tune -up; however, the failure continued. The manufacturer and dealer were not notified of the failures. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 78,456.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #2

Sonic

• miles

Takata recall- the engine light is on I have taken it to auto shop they could not find any wrong took it to a Chevy dealer they cannot find anything wrong. But my car shakes and stalls on me. It's very frastrating spending on the vechile and one can find what's going on.

- Milwaukee, WI, USA

problem #1

Sonic Engine Scratch

Sonic

• 72,000 miles

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Sonic. While driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle overheated, stalled, and completely shut off. The vehicle was taken to jeff wyler dixie Chevrolet (5340 dixie hwy, louisville, ky 40216, (502) 448-2820) where the contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in a power train warranty. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 72,000.

Sonic Engine Game Maker

- Louisville, KY, USA