2010 CHEVROLET EQUINOX warning

Instruments and Controls 4-11
Notice:Adding any electrical
equipment to the vehicle can
damage it or keep other
components from working as
they should. The repairs would
not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Do not use equipment
exceeding maximum amperage
rating of 20 amperes. Check with
your dealer before adding
electrical equipment.
When adding electrical equipment,
be sure to follow the installation
instructions included with the
equipment.
Notice: Improper use of the
power outlet can cause damage
not covered by the vehicle
warranty. Do not hang any type of
accessory or accessory bracket
from the plug because the power
outlets are designed for
accessory power plugs only.Warning Lights,
Gauges, and
Indicators
Warning lights and gauges can
signal that something is wrong
before it becomes serious enough
to cause an expensive repair or
replacement. Paying attention to the
warning lights and gauges could
prevent injury.
Warning lights come on when there
could be a problem with a vehicle
function. Some warning lights come
on briefly when the engine is started
to indicate they are working. Gauges can indicate when there
could be a problem with a vehicle
function. Often gauges and warning
lights work together to indicate a
problem with the vehicle.
When one of the warning lights
comes on and stays on while
driving, or when one of the gauges
shows there may be a problem,
check the section that explains what
to do. Follow this manual's advice.
Waiting to do repairs can be costly
and even dangerous.

4-14 Instruments and Controls
Engine Coolant
Temperature Gauge
United StatesCanada
This gauge measures the
temperature of the vehicle's engine.
If the indicator needle moves to the
hot side of the gauge towards the
colored line, the engine is too hot.
A temperature indicator light will
turn on.
If the vehicle has been operated
under normal driving conditions, and
the temperature indicator light
comes on, pull off the road, stop the
vehicle and turn off the engine as
soon as possible.
Safety Belt Reminders
Driver Safety Belt Reminder
Light
There is a driver safety belt
reminder light on the instrument
panel cluster.
When the engine is started this light
and a chime come on and stay on
for several seconds to remind
drivers to fasten their safety belts.
The light also begins to flash.
This cycle repeats if the driver
remains unbuckled and the vehicle
is moving.
If the driver safety belt is already
buckled, neither the light nor chime
come on.
Passenger Safety Belt
Reminder Light
The passenger safety belt reminder
light is by the passenger airbag
status indicator.
When the engine is started this light
and the chime come on and stay on
for several seconds to remind the
passenger to fasten their safety belt.
The light also begins to flash.
This cycle repeats if the passenger
remains unbuckled and the vehicle
is moving.
If the passenger safety belt is
buckled, neither the chime nor the
light comes on.
The front passenger safety belt
warning light and chime may turn on
if an object is put on the seat such
as a briefcase, handbag, grocery

Instruments and Controls 4-15
bag, laptop or other electronic
device. To turn off the warning light
and or chime, remove the object
from the seat or buckle the
safety belt.
Airbag Readiness Light
This light shows if there is an
electrical problem. The system
check includes the airbag sensor,
the pretensioners, the airbag
modules, the wiring and the crash
sensing and diagnostic module. For
more information on the airbag
system, seeAirbag System
on
page 2‑22.
The airbag readiness light comes on
and stays on for several seconds
when the vehicle is started. Then
the light turns off.
{WARNING
If the airbag readiness light stays
on after the vehicle is started or
comes on while driving, it means
the airbag system might not be
working properly. The airbags in
the vehicle might not inflate in a
crash, or they could even inflate
without a crash. To help avoid
injury, have the vehicle serviced
right away.
Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator
The vehicle has a passenger
sensing system. See Passenger
Sensing System
on page 2‑30for
important safety information. The
overhead console has a passenger
airbag status indicator.
United States
Canada
When the vehicle is started, the
passenger airbag status indicator
will light ON and OFF, or the symbol
for on and off, for several seconds
as a system check. If you are using
remote start to start the vehicle from
a distance, if equipped, you may not
see the system check. Then, after
several more seconds, the status
indicator will light either ON or OFF,
or either the on or off symbol to let
you know the status of the right front
passenger frontal airbag.

4-16 Instruments and Controls
If the word ON or the on symbol is
lit on the passenger airbag status
indicator, it means that the right
front passenger frontal airbag is
enabled (may inflate).
If the word OFF or the off symbol is
lit on the passenger airbag status
indicator, it means that the
passenger sensing system has
turned off the right front passenger
frontal airbag.
If, after several seconds, both status
indicator lights remain on, or if there
are no lights at all, there may be a
problem with the lights or the
passenger sensing system. See
your dealer for service.
{WARNING
If the airbag readiness light ever
comes on and stays on, it means
that something may be wrong
with the airbag system. To help
avoid injury to yourself or others,
have the vehicle serviced right(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
away. SeeAirbag Readiness
Light
on page 4‑15for more
information, including important
safety information.
Charging System Light
The charging system light comes on
briefly when the ignition is turned
on, but the engine is not running, as
a check to show the light is working.
The light turns off when the engine
is started. If it does not, have the
vehicle serviced by your dealer.
If the light stays on, or comes on
while driving, there may be a
problem with the electrical charging system. Have it checked by your
dealer. Driving while this light is on
could drain the battery.
When this light comes on, the Driver
Information Center (DIC) also
displays a message.
See
Battery Voltage and Charging
Messages on page 4‑28.
This light and a Transport Mode On
message display when the vehicle
is in Transport Mode. For more
information, see Key and Lock
Messages on page 4‑31.
If a short distance must be driven
with the light on, be sure to turn off
all accessories, such as the radio
and air conditioner.
Malfunction
Indicator Lamp
A computer system called OBD II
(On-Board Diagnostics-Second
Generation) monitors operation of
the fuel, ignition, and emission
control systems. It ensures that

Instruments and Controls 4-19
down. The diagnostic system is
designed to evaluate critical
emission control systems during
normal driving. This can take
several days of routine driving.
If this has been done and the
vehicle still does not pass the
inspection for lack of OBD II
system readiness, your dealer
can prepare the vehicle for
inspection.
Brake System Warning
Light
The vehicle brake system consists
of two hydraulic circuits. If one
circuit is not working, the remaining
circuit can still work to stop the
vehicle. For normal braking
performance, both circuits need to
be working
United StatesCanada
The brake indicator light should
come on briefly as the engine is
started. If it does not come on have
the vehicle serviced by your dealer.
When the ignition is on, the brake
system warning light comes on
when the parking brake is set. The
light stays on if the parking brake
does not fully release. If it stays on
after the parking brake is fully
released, there is a brake problem.
Have the brake system inspected
immediately.
{WARNING
The brake system might not be
working properly if the brake
system warning light is on.
Driving with the brake system
warning light on can lead to a
crash. If the light is still on after
the vehicle has been pulled off
the road and carefully stopped,
have the vehicle towed for
service.
If the light comes on while driving, a
chime sounds. Pull off the road and
stop. The pedal might be harder to
push or go closer to the floor.
It might also take longer to stop.
If the light is still on, have the
vehicle towed for service. See
Towing the Vehicle on page 9‑72.

4-20 Instruments and Controls
Antilock Brake System
(ABS) Warning Light
For vehicles with the Antilock Brake
System (ABS), this light comes on
briefly when the engine is started.
If the light does not come on, have it
fixed so it will be ready to warn if
there is a problem.
If the ABS light stays on, turn the
ignition off. If the light comes on
while driving, stop as soon as it is
safely possible and turn the ignition
off. A chime may also sound when
the light comes on steady. Then
start the engine again to reset the
system. If the ABS light stays on,
or comes on again while driving, the
vehicle needs service. If the regular
brake system warning light is not
on, the vehicle still has brakes, butnot antilock brakes. If the regular
brake system warning light is also
on, the vehicle does not have
antilock brakes and there is a
problem with the regular brakes.
See
Brake System Warning Light
on page 4‑19.
For vehicles with a Driver
Information Center (DIC), see Driver
Information Center (DIC)
on
page 4‑24for all brake related DIC
messages.
Traction Off Light
This light comes on if the Traction
Control System (TCS) either has a
problem or is turned off. DIC
messages appear in the DIC display
to help explain. See Ride Control
System Messages
on page 4‑31for more information. See
Traction Control System (TCS)
on page 8‑41andStabiliTrak
Systemon page 8‑43for more
information.
StabiliTrak®OFF Light
This light comes on when the
StabiliTrak system is turned off.
If the Traction Control System (TCS)
is off, wheel spin is not limited. If the
StabiliTrak system is off, the system
does not assist in controlling the
vehicle. Turn on the TCS and the
StabiliTrak system and the warning
light turns off.
Check the DIC for applicable
messages. See Ride Control
System Messages
on page 4‑31for more information.

Instruments and Controls 4-21
SeeTraction Control System (TCS)on page 8‑41andStabiliTrak
Systemon page 8‑43for more
information.
Traction Control System
(TCS)/StabiliTrak®Light
The StabiliTrak®system or the
Traction Control System (TCS)
indicator/warning light comes on
briefly while starting the engine.
If it does not, have the vehicle
serviced by your dealer. If the
system is working normally the
indicator light then goes off.
The indicator/warning light flashes
while the StabiliTrak or TCS system
is working to control the vehicle on
a low traction surface. If the TCS warning light comes on
and stays on while driving, the
vehicle needs service.
Check the Driver Information Center
(DIC) for applicable messages. See
Ride Control System Messages
on
page 4‑31for more information.
See Traction Control System (TCS)
on page 8‑41andStabiliTrak
Systemon page 8‑43for more
information.
Tire Pressure Light
For vehicles with a tire pressure
monitoring system, this light comes
on briefly when the engine is
started. It provides information
about tire pressures and the Tire
Pressure Monitoring System. When the Light is On Steady
This indicates that one or more of
the tires are significantly
underinflated.
A tire pressure message in the
Driver Information Center (DIC), can
accompany the light. See
Tire
Messages
on page 4‑33for more
information. Stop as soon as
possible, and inflate the tires to the
pressure value shown on the tire
loading information label. See Tire
Pressure
on page 9‑46for more
information.
When the Light Flashes First and
Then is On Steady
This indicates that there may be a
problem with the Tire Pressure
Monitor System. The light flashes
for about a minute and stays on
steady for the remainder of the
ignition cycle. This sequence
repeats with every ignition cycle.
See Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation
on page 9‑49for more
information.

4-22 Instruments and Controls
Engine Oil Pressure Light
{WARNING
Do not keep driving if the oil
pressure is low. The engine can
become so hot that it catches fire.
Someone could be burned. Check
the oil as soon as possible and
have the vehicle serviced.
Notice: Lack of proper engine oil
maintenance can damage the
engine. The repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Always follow the maintenance
schedule in this manual for
changing engine oil.
The oil pressure light should come
on briefly as the engine is started.
If it does not come on have the
vehicle serviced by your dealer.
If the light comes on and stays on, it
means that oil is not flowing through
the engine properly. The vehicle
could be low on oil and might have
some other system problem. See
your dealer.
Fuel Economy Light
For vehicles with the fuel economy
mode light, it comes on when the
eco (economy) switch, located on the center console near the shifter,
is pressed. For vehicles with a
Driver Information Center (DIC) an
ECO Mode On message displays.
See
Fuel System Messages
on
page 4‑30for more information.
Press the switch again to turn off
the light and exit the fuel
saver mode.
Low Fuel Warning Light
United States Shown, Canada
Similar
This light comes on for a few
seconds when the ignition is turned
on as a check to indicate it is
working. If it does not come on,
have it fixed.
The low fuel warning light is a circle
located on the fuel gauge. This light
comes on and a chime sounds