2007 CHEVROLET EQUINOX brake

{CAUTION:
If you do not shift down, your brakes
could get so hot that they would not work
well. You would then have poor braking or
even none going down a hill. You could
crash. Shift down to let your engine assist
your brakes on a steep downhill slope.
{CAUTION:
Coasting downhill in NEUTRAL (N) or with
the ignition off is dangerous. Your brakes
will have to do all the work of slowing
down. They could get so hot that they
would not work well. You would then have
poor braking or even none going down a
hill. You could crash. Always have your
engine running and your vehicle in gear
when you go downhill.
Know how to go down hills. The most important
thing to know is this: let your engine do some of
the slowing down. Shift to a lower gear when
you go down a steep or long hill.
Know how to go uphill. You may want to shift
down to a lower gear. The lower gears help
cool your engine and transaxle, and you can
climb the hill better.
Stay in your own lane when driving on two-lane
roads in hills or mountains. Do not swing wide
or cut across the center of the road. Drive at
speeds that let you stay in your own lane.
As you go over the top of a hill, be alert. There
could be something in your lane, like a stalled
car or an accident.
You may see highway signs on mountains that
warn of special problems. Examples are long
grades, passing or no-passing zones, a falling
rocks area, or winding roads. Be alert to these
and take appropriate action.
309

The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) improves your
vehicle’s stability when you make a hard stop
on a slippery road. Even though you have ABS,
you will want to begin stopping sooner than
you would on dry pavement. SeeAnti-Lock Brake
System (ABS) on page 289.
Allow greater following distance on any
slippery road.
Watch for slippery spots. The road might be
ne until you hit a spot that is covered with
ice. On an otherwise clear road, ice patches
may appear in shaded areas where the
sun cannot reach, such as around clumps of
trees, behind buildings, or under bridges.
Sometimes the surface of a curve or an
overpass may remain icy when the
surrounding roads are clear. If you see a
patch of ice ahead of you, brake before you
are on it. Try not to brake while you are
actually on the ice, and avoid sudden steering
maneuvers.
If You Are Caught in a Blizzard
If you are stopped by heavy snow, you could be in
a serious situation. You should probably stay
with your vehicle unless you know for sure that you
are near help and you can hike through the
snow. Here are some things to do to summon
help and keep yourself and your passengers safe:
Turn on your hazard ashers.
Tie a red cloth to your vehicle to alert police
that you have been stopped by the snow.
Put on extra clothing or wrap a blanket around
you. If you do not have blankets or extra
clothing, make body insulators from
newspapers, burlap bags, rags, oor
mats — anything you can wrap around
yourself or tuck under your clothing to
keep warm.
312

Dolly Towing
If you have a two-wheel-drive vehicle, it can be
towed with two of its wheels on the ground.
To dolly tow your vehicle, do the following:
1. Put the front wheels on a dolly.
2. Put the vehicle in PARK (P).
3. Set the parking brake and then remove
the key.
4. Clamp the steering wheel in a straight-ahead
position with a clamping device designed
for towing.
5. Release the parking brake.
Notice:Towing an all-wheel-drive vehicle with
all four wheels on the ground, or even with
only two of its wheels on the ground, will
damage drivetrain components. Do not tow
an all-wheel-drive vehicle if any of its wheels
will be on the ground.
If you have an all-wheel-drive vehicle, it cannot
be towed with any of its wheels on the ground.
It can be towed with car carrier equipment.
Towing a Trailer
{CAUTION:
If you do not use the correct equipment
and drive properly, you can lose control
when you pull a trailer. For example, if the
trailer is too heavy, the brakes may not
work well — or even at all. You and your
passengers could be seriously injured.
Pull a trailer only if you have followed all
the steps in this section. Ask your dealer
for advice and information about towing
a trailer with your vehicle.
Notice:Pulling a trailer improperly can
damage your vehicle and result in costly repairs
that would not be covered by your warranty.
Always follow the instructions in this section
and check with your dealer for more information
about towing a trailer with your vehicle.
322

Hitches
It is important to have the correct hitch equipment.
Crosswinds, large trucks going by and rough
roads are a few reasons why you will need the
right hitch. Here are some rules to follow:
If you will be pulling a trailer that, when
loaded, will weigh more than 2,000 lbs
(900 kg), be sure to use a properly mounted,
weight-carrying hitch and sway control of
the proper size. This equipment is very
important for proper vehicle loading and
good handling when you’re driving.
Will you have to make any holes in the
body of your vehicle when you install a
trailer hitch?
If you do, remember to seal the holes when
you remove the hitch. If you do not seal
them, deadly carbon monoxide (CO) from
your exhaust can get into your vehicle.
SeeEngine Exhaust on page 127. Dirt and
water can, too.
Safety Chains
You should always attach chains between your
vehicle and your trailer. Cross the safety
chains under the tongue of the trailer to help
prevent the tongue from contacting the road if it
becomes separated from the hitch. Instructions
about safety chains may be provided by the hitch
manufacturer or by the trailer manufacturer.
Follow the manufacturer’s recommendation for
attaching safety chains and do not attach them to
the bumper. Always leave just enough slack so
you can turn with your rig. Never allow safety
chains to drag on the ground.
Trailer Brakes
If your trailer weighs more than 1,000 lbs (450 kg)
loaded, then it needs its own brakes — and they
must be adequate. Be sure to read and follow the
instructions for the trailer brakes so you will be able
to install, adjust and maintain them properly.
Because your vehicle may have anti-lock brakes, do
not try to tap into your vehicle’s brake system. If you
do, both brake systems will not work well, or at all.
326

Driving with a Trailer
{CAUTION:
If you have the liftgate open and you pull
a trailer with your vehicle, carbon
monoxide (CO) could come into your
vehicle. You cannot see or smell CO. It can
cause unconsciousness or death. See
Engine Exhaust on page 127. To maximize
your safety when towing a trailer:
Have your exhaust system inspected
for leaks, and make necessary repairs
before starting on your trip.
Keep the liftgate closed.
If exhaust does come into your vehicle
through a window in the rear or another
opening, drive with your front, main
heating or cooling system on and with
the fan on any speed. This will bring
fresh, outside air into your vehicle.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
Do not use the climate control setting for
maximum air because it only recirculates
the air inside your vehicle. SeeClimate
Control System on page 165.
Towing a trailer requires a certain amount of
experience. Before setting out for the open road,
you will want to get to know your rig. Acquaint
yourself with the feel of handling and braking with
the added weight of the trailer. And always keep in
mind that the vehicle you are driving is now a good
deal longer and not nearly as responsive as your
vehicle is by itself.
Before you start, check all trailer hitch parts and
attachments, safety chains, electrical connector,
lamps, tires and mirror adjustment. If the trailer has
electric brakes, start your vehicle and trailer moving
and then apply the trailer brake controller by hand
to be sure the brakes are working. This lets you
check your electrical connection at the same time.
During your trip, check occasionally to be sure that
the load is secure, and that the lamps and any
trailer brakes are still working.
327

When towing a trailer, the arrows on your
instrument panel will ash for turns even if the
bulbs on the trailer are burned out. Thus, you
may think drivers behind you are seeing
your signal when they are not. It’s important to
check occasionally to be sure the trailer bulbs
are still working.
Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before
you start down a long or steep downgrade. If you
do not shift down, you might have to use your
brakes so much that they would get hot and
no longer work well.
If you are towing a trailer that weighs more than
1,000 lbs (450 kg), drive in INTERMEDIATE (I)
instead of DRIVE (D) or, as you need to, a lower
gear. This will minimize heat build-up and extend
the life of your transaxle.
Parking on Hills
{CAUTION:
You really should not park your
vehicle, with a trailer attached, on a hill.
If something goes wrong, your rig could
start to move. People can be injured,
and both your vehicle and the trailer can
be damaged.
But if you ever have to park your rig on a hill,
do the following:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but do not shift
into PARK (P) yet.
2. Have someone place chocks under the
trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release
the regular brakes until the chocks absorb
the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your
parking brake, and then shift to PARK (P).
5. Release the regular brakes.
329

When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal
down while you do the following:
Start your engine.
Shift into a gear.
Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of
the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and
store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when
you are pulling a trailer. See the Maintenance
Schedule for more on this. Things that are
especially important in trailer operation are
automatic transaxle uid, engine oil, belts, cooling
system and brake system. Each of these is
covered in this manual, and the Index will help
you nd them quickly. If you are trailering, it is a
good idea to review these sections before you
start your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and
bolts are tight.
330

Service........................................................ 333
Accessories and Modications................... 333
California Proposition 65 Warning.............. 334
Doing Your Own Service Work.................. 334
Adding Equipment to the Outside
of Your Vehicle...................................... 335
Fuel............................................................. 335
Gasoline Octane........................................ 335
Gasoline Specications.............................. 335
California Fuel........................................... 336
Additives................................................... 336
Fuels in Foreign Countries........................ 337
Filling the Tank......................................... 337
Filling a Portable Fuel Container............... 339
Checking Things Under the Hood.............. 340
Hood Release........................................... 340
Engine Compartment Overview.................. 342
Engine Oil................................................. 344
Engine Oil Life System.............................. 347
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter............................ 349
Automatic Transaxle Fluid......................... 352
Engine Coolant.......................................... 352
Engine Overheating................................... 355Overheated Engine Protection
Operating Mode..................................... 357
Cooling System......................................... 358
Windshield Washer Fluid........................... 364
Brakes...................................................... 365
Battery...................................................... 368
Jump Starting............................................ 368
All-Wheel Drive........................................... 374
Bulb Replacement....................................... 375
Halogen Bulbs........................................... 376
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal,
Sidemarker, and Parking Lamps............. 376
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps
and Back-up Lamps............................... 378
License Plate Lamp................................... 380
Replacement Bulbs................................... 380
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement....... 380
Tires............................................................ 382
Tire Sidewall Labeling............................... 383
Tire Terminology and Denitions............... 387
Ination - Tire Pressure............................. 390
Tire Pressure Monitor System................... 391
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
331