2007 CHEVROLET EQUINOX Owners Manual

Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people
drive in spurts — heavy acceleration followed
by heavy braking — rather than keeping pace
with traffic. This is a mistake. The brakes may
not have time to cool between hard stops.
The brakes will wear out much faster if you do
a lot of heavy braking. If you keep pace with
the traffic and allow realistic following distances,
you will eliminate a lot of unnecessary braking.
That means better braking and longer brake life.
If your vehicle’s engine ever stops while you
are driving, brake normally but do not pump the
brakes. If you do, the pedal may get harder
to push down. If the engine stops, you will still
have some power brake assist. But you will use
it when you brake. Once the power assist is
used up, it may take longer to stop and the
brake pedal will be harder to push.
Adding non-GM accessories can affect your
vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories and
Modications on page 333.Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
Your vehicle has the Anti-Lock Brake
System (ABS), an advanced electronic braking
system that will help prevent a braking skid.
When you start your engine and begin to drive
away, ABS will check itself. You may hear a
momentary motor or clicking noise while this test
is going on, and you may even notice that
your brake pedal moves a little. This is normal.
If there is a problem
with ABS, this warning
light will stay on.
SeeAnti-Lock Brake
System Warning
Light on page 180.
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Let us say the road is wet and you are driving
safely. Suddenly, an animal jumps out in front of
you. You slam on the brakes and continue braking.
Here is what happens with ABS:
A computer senses that wheels are slowing down.
If one of the wheels is about to stop rolling, the
computer will separately work the brakes at
each wheel.ABS can change the brake pressure faster than
any driver could. The computer is programmed
to make the most of available tire and road
conditions. This can help you steer around the
obstacle while braking hard.
As you brake, your computer keeps receiving
updates on wheel speed and controls braking
pressure accordingly.
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Remember: ABS does not change the time you
need to get your foot up to the brake pedal
or always decrease stopping distance. If you get
too close to the vehicle in front of you, you will not
have time to apply your brakes if that vehicle
suddenly slows or stops. Always leave enough
room up ahead to stop, even though you
have ABS.
Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the brake
pedal down rmly and let anti-lock work for you.
You may hear the anti-lock pump or motor
operate, and feel the brake pedal pulsate, but
this is normal.
Braking in Emergencies
With ABS, you can steer and brake at the same
time. In many emergencies, steering can help
you more than even the very best braking.
Traction Control System (TCS)
Your vehicle has a traction control system that
limits wheel spin. This is especially useful in
slippery road conditions. The system operates
only if it senses that one or more of the wheels
are spinning or beginning to lose traction.
When this happens, the system works the brakes
and reduces engine power to limit wheel spin.
This light will come
on when your traction
control system is
limiting wheel spin.
You may feel or hear the system working, but this
is normal.
The traction control system automatically comes
on whenever you start your vehicle. To limit wheel
spin, especially in slippery road conditions, you
should always leave the system on. But you
can turn the traction control system off if you
ever need to.
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You should turn the system off if your vehicle ever
gets stuck in sand, mud, ice or snow and rocking
the vehicle is required. SeeRocking Your Vehicle
to Get It Out on page 315.
The traction control
system can be turned
off by pressing the
traction control button,
located next to the
gear shift lever.
The traction control system can be activated again
by pressing the traction control button.
If the system is limiting wheel spin when you press
the button, the traction control off light will appear
on the instrument panel cluster. The system will not
turn off until there is no longer a current need to limit
wheel spin. You can turn the system back on at any
time by pressing the button again. If the light does
not come on, you may not have traction control and
your vehicle should be serviced by a dealer.
Adding non-GM accessories can affect your
vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories and
Modications on page 333for more information.StabiliTrak®System
Your vehicle has this feature. The StabiliTrak®
system is an advanced computer controlled system
that helps the driver maintain directional control
of the vehicle in difficult driving conditions. This is
accomplished by selectively applying any one
of the vehicle’s brakes and reducing engine power.
The StabiliTrak
®system comes on automatically
whenever you start your vehicle.
The STABILITRAK NOT READY message may
be displayed in the DIC and the traction control
system and StabiliTrak
®warning light on the
instrument panel cluster will be on after rst driving
the vehicle and exceeding 30 mph 48 (km/h) for
30 seconds. The StabiliTrak
®system is off until
the light has turned off. This could take up to
15 minutes. SeeDIC Warnings and Messages
on page 198for more information.
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The traction control system and StabiliTrak®
warning light on the instrument panel cluster will
ash when the system is operating. You may also
feel or hear the system working. This is normal.
StabiliTrak
®can be turned off using the
traction control button. To disable StabiliTrak®,
press and hold the traction control button for
ve seconds. StabiliTrak
®can be activated
again by pressing the traction control button.
The SERVICE STABILITRAK message will
be displayed and the traction control system and
StabiliTrak
®warning light on the instrument
panel cluster will come on if there is a problem
with the system. When this light and the SERVICE
STABILITRAK message are on, the system is
not operational. Adjust your driving accordingly.
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) System
If your vehicle has all-wheel drive (AWD), the
AWD system operates automatically without
any action required by the driver. If the front
drive wheels begin to slip, the rear wheels will
automatically begin to drive the vehicle as
required. Torque is also applied to the rear
wheels during launches. There may be a slight
engagement noise during hard use but this
is normal.
This light is located
on the instrument
panel cluster.
This light and the SERVICE ALL WHEEL DRIVE
message in the DIC will come on and stay on
to indicate there may be a problem with the drive
system and service is required.
SeeService All-Wheel Drive Light on page 189
andDIC Warnings and Messages on page 198
for more information.
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This light will come
on along with the
ALL WHEEL DRIVE
OFF message when
the rear drive system
is overheating.
This light will turn off when the rear drive system
cools down. If this light stays on, it must be
reset. To reset the light, turn the ignition off
and then back again. If the light stays on, see
your dealer for service.
See “All Wheel Drive Off” underDIC Warnings
and Messages on page 198for more information.Steering
Electric Power Steering
If the engine stalls while you are driving, the
power steering assist system will continue
to operate until you are able to stop your vehicle.
If you lose power steering assist because the
electric power steering system is not functioning,
you can steer, but it will take more effort.
If you turn the steering wheel in either direction
several times until it stops, or hold the steering
wheel in the stopped position for an extended
amount of time, you may notice a reduced amount
of power steering assist. The normal amount of
power steering assist should return shortly after
a few normal steering movements.
The electric power steering system does not
require regular maintenance. If you suspect
steering system problems, such as abnormally
high steering effort for a prolonged period of time,
contact your dealer for service repairs.
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Steering Tips
It is important to take curves at a reasonable speed.
A lot of the “driver lost control” accidents mentioned
on the news happen on curves. Here is why:
Experienced driver or beginner, each of us is
subject to the same laws of physics when driving on
curves. The traction of the tires against the road
surface makes it possible for the vehicle to change
its path when you turn the front wheels. If there is
no traction, inertia will keep the vehicle going in the
same direction. If you have ever tried to steer a
vehicle on wet ice, you will understand this.
The traction you can get in a curve depends on
the condition of your tires and the road surface,
the angle at which the curve is banked, and
your speed. While you are in a curve, speed is
the one factor you can control.
Suppose you are steering through a sharp curve.
Then you suddenly accelerate. Both control
systems — steering and acceleration — have
to do their work where the tires meet the road.
Adding the sudden acceleration can demand
too much of those places. You can lose control.SeeTraction Control System (TCS) on page 291
Traction Control System (TCS) andStabiliTrak
®
System on page 292.
What should you do if this ever happens? Ease
up on the brake or accelerator pedal, steer
the vehicle the way you want it to go, and
slow down.
Speed limit signs near curves warn that you
should adjust your speed. Of course, the posted
speeds are based on good weather and road
conditions. Under less favorable conditions you
will want to go slower.
If you need to reduce your speed as you approach
a curve, do it before you enter the curve, while
your front wheels are straight ahead.
Try to adjust your speed so you can “drive”
through the curve. Maintain a reasonable, steady
speed. Wait to accelerate until you are out of
the curve, and then accelerate gently into
the straightaway.
Adding non-GM accessories can affect your
vehicle’s performance. SeeAccessories and
Modications on page 333.
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Steering in Emergencies
There are times when steering can be more
effective than braking. For example, you come
over a hill and nd a truck stopped in your lane, or
a car suddenly pulls out from nowhere, or a
child darts out from between parked cars and
stops right in front of you. You can avoid these
problems by braking — if you can stop in time. But
sometimes you cannot; there is not room. That
is the time for evasive action — steering around
the problem.
Your vehicle can perform very well in emergencies
like these. First apply your brakes.
SeeBraking on page 288. It is better to remove
as much speed as you can from a possible
collision. Then steer around the problem, to the
left or right depending on the space available.An emergency like this requires close attention
and a quick decision. If you are holding the
steering wheel at the recommended 9 and 3 o’clock
positions, you can turn it a full 180 degrees very
quickly without removing either hand. But you
have to act fast, steer quickly, and just as quickly
straighten the wheel once you have avoided
the object.
The fact that such emergency situations are always
possible is a good reason to practice defensive
driving at all times and wear safety belts properly.
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