2006 CHEVROLET EQUINOX light

If the LATCH system was being used during a more
severe crash, you may need new LATCH system parts.
If belts are cut or damaged, replace them. Collision
damage also may mean you will need to have LATCH
system, safety belt or seat parts repaired or replaced.
New parts and repairs may be necessary even if the belt
or LATCH system was not being used at the time of
the collision.
If an airbag inates, you will need to replace airbag
system parts. See the part on the airbag system earlier
in this section.If the frontal airbags inate you will also need to replace
the driver and front passenger’s safety belt retractor
assembly. Be sure to do so. Then the new retractor
assembly will be there to help protect you in a collision.
After a crash you may need to replace the driver and
front passenger’s safety belt retractor assemblies, even
if the frontal airbags have not deployed. The driver
and front passenger’s safety belt retractor assemblies
contain the safety belt pretensioners. Have your
safety belt pretensioners checked if your vehicle has
been in a collision, or if your airbag readiness light stays
on after you start your vehicle or while you are driving.
SeeAirbag Readiness Light on page 3-26.
1-67

Remote Keyless Entry System
Operation
With this feature, you can lock and unlock the doors
from about 26 feet (8 m) away using the remote keyless
entry transmitter supplied with your vehicle.
Q(Lock):Press this
button on the remote
keyless entry transmitter
one time to lock the doors.
The headlamps will
ash once. This also
arms the content
theft-deterrent system.
Pressing the lock button two times within three seconds
will lock the doors. The headlamps will ash twice
and the horn chirps.
K(Unlock): Press this button on the remote keyless
entry transmitter one time to unlock the driver’s
door. The interior lights will go on and the headlamps
will ash three times. The interior lights will stay on
for 20 seconds or until the key is turned in the ignition.
Press the button again within ve seconds to unlock
the rest of the doors. The unlock button also disarms the
content theft-deterrent system.
L(Panic Alarm):Press the button with the horn
symbol when the ignition is turned off. The horn
will sound and the parking lamps and dome lamp will
ash for up to two minutes. To stop the panic alarm,
press this button again.
The remote keyless entry transmitter is used to
arm/disarm the content theft-deterrent system. Your
vehicle’s theft-deterrent system can be programmed to
three different modes. SeeContent Theft-Deterrent
on page 2-13
If you accidentally set off the alarm when entering or
exiting the vehicle, you can shut it off by pressing
the lock or unlock button once or the panic alarm
button twice.
2-4

Theft-Deterrent Systems
Vehicle theft is big business, especially in some cities.
Although your vehicle has a number of theft-deterrent
features, we know that nothing we put on it can make it
impossible to steal.
Content Theft-Deterrent
Your vehicle has a
content theft-deterrent
alarm system.
The remote keyless entry transmitter is used to
arm/disarm the content theft-deterrent system.
SeeRemote Keyless Entry System Operation on
page 2-4. Your vehicle’s theft-deterrent system can be
programmed to three different modes.Active Arming:The system will arm when the lock
button on the remote keyless entry transmitter is
pressed. The security system light will come on steady
for thirty seconds. During this time you can still get
back into the vehicle without triggering the alarm.
Once the light starts ashing the system is armed.
The system will disarm when the unlock button on the
transmitter is pressed.
Passive Arming:The system will arm itself one minute
after the ignition is turned off and the driver’s door
has been opened and closed. If the lock button on the
transmitter is pressed before the minute has passed,
the system will arm immediately. The system will disarm
when the unlock button is pressed.
Security System Disable:The system will not arm.
2-13

Content Theft-Deterrent Personalization
To change the mode that your vehicle is programmed to,
do the following:
1. Turn the ignition to RUN or ACC (Accessory).
2. Press the panic alarm button on the transmitter
slowly four times within ve seconds.
3. You must complete one of the following within
three seconds to change the mode.
To select the active arming mode, press the
lock button on the transmitter once within
three seconds. A chime will sound two times to
acknowledge that the active arming mode
has been selected.
To select the passive arming mode, press the
lock button on the transmitter twice within
three seconds. A chime will sound three times to
acknowledge that the passive arming mode
has been selected.
To select the security system disable mode,
press the unlock button on the transmitter
once within three seconds. A chime will sound
one time to acknowledge that the security system
disabled mode has been selected.If you accidentally set off the alarm when entering or
exiting the vehicle, you can shut it off by pressing either
the lock or unlock button once on the remote keyless
entry transmitter. The panic alarm button needs to
be pressed twice to turn off the alarm. There is
a ten second pre-alarm grace period indicated by a
rapid beeping. By pressing the transmitter buttons as
indicated above, you can disarm the system before
the horn begins to sound and the exterior lights begin
to ash.
If you hear three horn chirps when you press the unlock
button on the transmitter, that means the vehicle’s
alarm was triggered while you were away.
2-14

Passlock®
Your vehicle has the Passlock®theft-deterrent system.
This light will come on for
the theft-deterent system
and is located on the
instrument panel cluster.
Passlock
®is a passive theft-deterrent system.
Passlock®enables fuel if the ignition lock cylinder is
turned with a valid key. If a correct key is not used or the
ignition lock cylinder is tampered with, fuel is disabled.
If the engine stalls and the security light ashes,
wait until the light stops ashing before trying to restart
the engine. Remember to release the key from
START as soon as the engine starts.
If the engine is running and the security light comes on,
you will be able to restart the engine if you turn the
engine off. However, your Passlock
®system is
not working properly and must be serviced by your
dealer. Your vehicle is not protected by Passlock
®at this
time. You may also want to check the fuses. See your
dealer for service.
Starting and Operating Your
Vehicle
New Vehicle Break-In
Notice:Your vehicle does not need an elaborate
break-in. But it will perform better in the long run if
you follow these guidelines:
Do not drive at any one constant speed, fast or
slow, for the rst 500 miles (805 km). Do not
make full-throttle starts. Avoid downshifting to
brake, or slow, the vehicle.
Avoid making hard stops for the rst 200 miles
(322 km) or so. During this time your new brake
linings are not yet broken in. Hard stops with new
linings can mean premature wear and earlier
replacement. Follow this breaking-in guideline
every time you get new brake linings.
Do not tow a trailer during break-in. SeeTowing a
Trailer on page 4-38for the trailer towing
capabilities of your vehicle and more
information.
Following break-in, engine speed and load can be
gradually increased.
2-15

Ignition Positions
With the key in the ignition
switch, you can turn it to
four different positions.
A warning tone will sound
if you open the driver’s
door when the key has not
been removed from the
ignition.
Notice:Using a tool to force the key from the
ignition switch could cause damage or break the
key. Use the correct key and turn the key only with
your hand. Make sure the key is in all the way.
If none of this works, then your vehicle needs
service.
9(LOCK):You will only be able to remove your key
when the ignition is turned to LOCK.
The ignition switch cannot be turned to LOCK unless the
shift lever is in PARK (P).ACC (Accessory):This position operates some of your
electrical accessories.
R(RUN):This is the position the switch returns to
after you start your engine and release the switch.
The switch stays in the RUN position when the engine
is running. But even when the engine is not running,
you can use RUN to operate your electrical accessories
and to display some warning and indicator lights.
/(START):This position starts the engine. When the
engine starts, release the key. The ignition switch will
return to RUN for normal driving.
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
Your vehicle has a Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
feature which will allow the radio to continue to work up
to 10 minutes after the ignition is turned off.
Your radio will work when the ignition key is in RUN
or ACC. Once the key is turned off, the radio will
continue to work for up to 10 minutes or until any door
is opened.
2-16

LOW TWO (L2):This position gives you more
power but lower fuel economy than AUTOMATIC
OVERDRIVE (D). You can use LOW TWO (L2) on hills.
It can help control your speed as you go down steep
mountain roads, but then you would also want to
use your brakes off and on.
Notice:Do not drive in LOW TWO (L2) for more
than 25 miles (40 km), or at speeds over 55 mph
(90 km/h), or you can damage your transaxle.
Use AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D) or LOW
FOUR (L4) as much as possible. Do not shift into
LOW TWO (L2) unless you are going slower
than 65 mph (105 km/h) or you can damage
your engine.
Notice:Spinning the tires or holding the vehicle in
one place on a hill using only the accelerator pedal
may damage the transaxle. If you are stuck, do not
spin the tires. When stopping on a hill, use the brakes
to hold the vehicle in place.Transaxle Overheating
If the transaxle uid temperature rises above
284°F (140°C) or rises rapidly, the Engine Coolant
Temperature Warning Light will ash. SeeEngine
Coolant Temperature Warning Light on page 3-30for
more information. When the transaxle overheats it
will go into a protection mode and will default shift into
fth gear if in the AUTOMATIC OVERDRIVE (D)
position, or second gear if in the LOW TWO (L2)
position. Continue driving the vehicle in either position
depending on the required vehicle speed and load.
Once the uid temperature lowers to the normal
temperature range, the transaxle will return to the
normal shift patterns. Towing or driving on long hills
can cause the transaxle uid temperature to be higher
than normal. If the transaxle uid temperature will
not cool, you may need to pull over and check the
transaxle uid level. You should also check the engine
coolant temperature. If it is hot, seeEngine Overheating
on page 5-24.
2-21

Parking Brake
The parking brake lever is located to the right of the
driver’s seat.
To set the parking brake, hold the brake pedal down
and pull up on the parking brake lever. If the ignition
is on, the brake system warning light will come on.To release the parking brake, hold the brake pedal
down. Pull the parking brake lever up until you can press
the release button. Hold the release button in as you
move the brake lever all the way down.
Make sure to release the parking brake before driving
the vehicle.
If the parking brake is applied and the vehicle is moving
at least 4 mph (6 km/h), a chime will activate to
remind you to release the parking brake.
Notice:Driving with the parking brake on can
overheat the brake system and cause premature
wear or damage to brake system parts. Verify that
the parking brake is fully released and the brake
warning light is off before driving.
2-22