Code 82 Chevy Spark and Sonic - Meaning, Causes, and Reset • Road Sumo

If you drive a Chevy Spark or Chevy Sonic, Code 82 is one of the most common codes that can come up on the dashboard. Is this a severe engine issue? In this article, I’ll discuss Code 82 Chevy Spark and Sonic – meaning, causes, and reset.

When you see Code 82 on your Chevy Spark or Sonic dashboard, it tells you that you need to change your engine oil soon. Specifically, this means the oil life has already reached its 5% or less limitation.

Once you have changed your Chevy Spark or Sonic motor oil, you must reset Code 82. This Code 82 must be reset so that the oil life monitoring system in the ECU will again measure the life of the oil before it reaches the minimum threshold.

Read on to learn more about Code 82 of Chevy Spark and Sonic, its meaning, causes, and how you can reset it.

Is a Chevy Spark the Same as a Chevy Sonic?

Chevrolet, an American automobile division of General Motors, manufactures the Chevy Spark and the Chevy Sonic. Both vehicles are classified as sub-compact cars. You need to know some essential information about these two cars So that you can better appreciate our topic today:

Chevy Spark

Small Hatchback Designed for the City

The Chevy Spark is a small hatchback that is designed for the city. As a sub-compact car, it can easily fit into tight spaces and navigate crowded lanes effortlessly. The infotainment of this small car is very user-friendly.

Has an Option for a CVT Transmission

As a small car, there isn’t much you can expect about its power. But that’s okay since it is designed for easy commuting in the city. On the highway, however, you will see that it is underpowered. It has an option for a CVT transmission which is adequate for driving around town.

Equipped with a 1.4 Liter Four-cylinder

The Chevy Spark has a 1.4 liter four-cylinder naturally aspirated gasoline engine that can deliver 98 horsepower. As most modern cars are, it is a front-wheel drive car. The standard transmission is a five-speed manual. But as I mentioned before, you have an option to get a CVT transmission.

Chevy Sonic

Entry-level Sub-compact Car

The Chevy Sonic is another sub-compact car best used for driving around town. It is the entry-level sub-compact offering from Chevrolet. The design emphasis of this car is basic transportation.

Available as a Sedan or Hatchback

The cabin space of the Chevy Sonic is big for its class. It is available as a sedan or a hatchback. When it was first launched, power was delivered by a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine. However, a few iterations later, all Chevy Sonic is now equipped with a 1.4-liter turbocharged engine.

Power from the Turbocharged Engine Can Reach up to 138 Horsepower

The previous manual transmission also gave way to the upgraded six-speed automatic transmission. Power from the turbocharged engine can reach up to 138 horsepower, which is more than adequate for everyday driving in the city.

Chevy Spark vs. Chevy Sonic’s Reliability Rating

Both the Chevy Spark and the Chevy Sonic are reliable cars. The predicted reliability score of Chevy Spark is 85 out of 100. As per J.D. Power, this rating is considered ‘Great.’

A reliability score of 91 to 100 is considered the Best. The Chevy Sonic, on the other hand, has a reliability rating of 4.0 out of 5.0. This rating ranks it 14th out of 21 subcompact cars.

Code 82 Chevy Spark

Most owners of a new Chevy Spark will encounter ‘Code 82’ on the dashboard. If they have not read the car manual carefully, they will not know what this code means.

What Does Code 82 Mean on a Chevy Spark?

Simply put, Code 82 means you need to change the motor oil inside the engine. Technically, it means the old motor oil has already reached its limits, which is 5% or less of the threshold.

If the car were brand new when you bought it, it would be the first time you would see it. But if your Chevy Spark is a used car, it might mean that the mechanic forgot to reset the oil life meter the last time it was changed.

So, if you see this code on your dashboard, you must immediately have an oil change. You can reset the code if you don’t want to change the oil. But that will be unsafe for the engine of your Chevy Spark.

Not an Emergency Code

But don’t get me wrong. Getting a Code 82 on your car doesn’t mean it is an emergency. You can still drive your vehicle. But you are advised to change its motor oil as soon as possible for the health of your engine.

However, if you know that you have already changed the oil recently and you still got this code on your dashboard, it is more likely that the mechanic who changed the oil didn’t reset the code. That’s the reason why it still showed up on your dashboard.

Causes

As you can glean from the information I have given you above, there are two primary reasons why you will get Code 82 on your dash:

The motor oil inside the engine has already reached the end of its life. It needs to be changed, and Code 82 is the warning that you must do it as soon as possible.
The mechanic or whoever did the oil change in your Chevy Spark did not perform a Code 82 reset after they performed the oil change. So, Code 82, in this case, is a false alarm.

How to Reset Code 82 on a Chevy Spark

It is essential to reset Code 82 after changing the engine’s motor oil. Otherwise, this code will appear on your dashboard and give you a false alarm. In resetting this code, you need to follow the procedure below:

Turn on the ignition key of your Chevy Spark.
Press the menu button of the head unit until the screen shows “Oil Life.” The oil life will appear as 0%.
You will see ‘Reset’ on the screen.
Press and hold down the SET/CLR button until the oil life returns to 100%. Once it reaches 100%, you will hear a beep.
If all is well, you have reset Code 82.
Press the menu button to get to the home screen of your head unit.

Chevy Sonic Code 82

What Does Code 82 Mean on a Chevy Sonic?

Code 82 commonly shows up on the Chevy Sonic model years 2012 and 2013. What does Code 82 mean on a Chevy Sonic?

Usually Appears When Mileage Is 5,000 to 10,000 Miles

This code usually appears when the odometer of your Chevy Sonic reads from 5,000 to 10,000 miles. The actual mileage will depend on the total mileage and the driving conditions you subject your car in.

Chevy Sonic Needs an Oil Change

There is no need to panic if you have a Chevy Sonic model of any of these years. When this code shows up on your dashboard, it only means that you have to change the engine oil because it has already reached its limit of 5% or less of its oil life.

You can still drive your car. But you must schedule an oil change with your trusted mechanic to ensure continuous problem-free operation of the engine.

Failure to Reset the Code After an Oil Change

However, if you know that you have recently changed the engine oil, this Code 82 showing up on your dashboard is just a false alarm.

This Code 82 will also show up on your head unit if the person who did the last oil change in your car did not reset the code. Every time the oil is changed, Code 82 must be reset, or you will always get a false alarm.

How to Reset Code 82 on a Chevy Sonic

Resetting Code 82 of a Chevy Sonic is the same as that of the Chevy Spark. You only need to follow this procedure:

Turn on the ignition key of your Chevy Sonic.
Press the menu button and toggle until you reach the ‘Oil Life’ section. The oil life will appear as 0%.
The word ‘Reset’ will appear on the screen.
Press and hold down the SET/CLR button. Continue doing so until the oil life returns to 100%. You will hear a beeping sound once it reaches 100%.
If you followed these steps correctly, you have successfully reset Code 82 off your Chevy Sonic.
To return to the home screen, press the menu button again.

Again, what does code 82 on Chevy Spark and Sonic mean? An error code 82 means you must change your car’s oil soon since its service is only 5%. Failing to do so would lead to severe engine issues.

How to Change the Motor Oil of your Chevy Spark or Sonic

Before resetting Code 82 on your Chevy Spark or Sonic, you must first change its engine oil. Changing your Chevy Spark or Sonic’s motor oil is not that difficult.

Many DIYers have done it successfully every time; their cars need an oil change. You can do it yourself and save money if you have decent DIY skills and the right tools.

Even if you ask a car service shop to do the job, it will also be good for you to know how to perform an oil change.

Tools

Car jacks, at least two
Fresh engine oil at an amount that the Chevrolet requires for your Chevy Spark or Sonic
New oil filter – you should also replace the old oil filter
Oil pan – to catch the old oil as you drain it out from the engine
Socket wrench of the right size for loosening and tightening the oil drain plug.
Oil filter wrench
Hand gloves
Rags clean the area after you have finished changing your car’s oil.

Procedure

The typical oil change procedure is as follows:

1. Disconnect the Battery

Open the hood of your car, and disconnect the battery. Remove the battery’s negative (black) terminal first before removing the positive (red) terminal. This is for safety reasons.

2. Locate the Oil Tank Cap

Locate the oil tank cap or cover on top of the engine. This is where you will pour in the fresh engine oil after you have drained the old oil.

3. Lift the Chevy Spark or Chevy Sonic

You need at least two jacks two lift your car to access the spot where the oil drain plug is located. This plug is located below the engine of your vehicle.

4. Position the Oil Pan Directly Below the Drain Plug

Loosen the oil drain plug with the socket wrench. Do it gradually and carefully so that the old oil inside the engine will drain out smoothly and not in spurts. Ensure that all the old oil is drained out from the engine.

5. Reinstall the Oil Plug

Once you are sure that all of the old oil has drained out, reinstall the oil plug into its place. Tighten it enough so there will be no oil leak once you pour in the new engine oil.

6. Loosen the Old Oil Filter

Loosen the old oil filter from its place using the oil filter wrench tool. Do it carefully as some of the old oil will lodge there. Let the old oil remnants pour out into the oil pan.

7. Put Some Engine Oil into the New Oil Filter’s Gasket

And then install it where the old oil filter was before. Use the oil filter wrench to tighten the oil filter in its place. You can also tighten it using your hand. Just be sure it is tight enough not to allow any oil leaks.

8. Open the Oil Cap

Open the oil cap located on the top of the engine. Pour in the required amount of fresh motor oil inside the engine.

9. Reconnect the Battery

You have completed the task and have changed the oil in your Chevy Spark or Chevy Sonic. You need to reconnect the battery, starting with the positive and negative terminals. Then start the engine so the new oil can begin circulating inside the engine.

Frequently Asked Questions

Code 82 is not a subject that most owners of Chevy Spark or Chevy Sonic are considering. They will only think about it when they see it on their dashboard.

So, you may have some questions about it that you want to be answered. Keep on reading because the answer you are looking for may be one of those listed below:

What Is the Meaning of Code 82 in a Chevy Spark or Chevy Sonic?

Code 82 in a Chevy Spark or a Chevy Sonic means you must change the engine’s motor oil as soon as possible.

More specifically, this code is warning you that the oil inside the engine is nearing the end of its life. This code usually appears on the dashboard when the oil life is already 5% or less of its limit.

How Can I Fix This Code 82 Issue?

There are two basic ways you can fix this Code 82 if it appears on your dashboard.

You can reset the code, or
You can change the oil and then reset the code.

If you know that you have just changed your car’s oil, there is no reason for Code 82 to appear on your dash. Perhaps, it showed up because the person who changed the oil did not reset it back to 100%.

However, if you know that it’s been more than a year that you’ve had the oil changed in your car, then it’s high time that you have it changed, either by you (if you know how) or by your trusted mechanic.

What’s the Best Way to Fix Code 82 in My Chevy Spark?

The best way to fix this code is to examine why it showed up on your dashboard in the first place. If it is just a false alarm, just reset the code. But if it is a legitimate warning that your engine oil is nearing the end of its life, don’t just reset the code. Change the oil and then reset the code.

Why Does Code 82 Show up on My Dash?

There are two primary reasons why Code 82 will appear on your dash:

The mechanic or person who performed the oil change in your Chevy Spark did not reset the code after they did the job. So, Code 82 on your dash is a false alarm.
The oil inside the engine has already reached the end of its service life. It’s time for you to change it. Code 82 serves as a warning – it tells you that you need to change the oil as soon as possible.

In Closing: Meaning, Causes, and How to Reset Code 82 Chevy Spark and Sonic

When Code 82 appears on your Chevy Spark or Sonic dashboard, it is a warning that the motor oil inside the engine must be changed immediately. Specifically, this code means the life of the engine oil has already reached 5% or less of its service life.

You need to reset this code once you change your car’s oil. You have to do this so that the ECU’s oil monitoring system can track the oil’s life before it reaches its threshold limit.