
2010 Chevrolet Equinox Owner ManualM
Keys, Doors and Windows. . . 1-1
Keys and Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-8
Vehicle Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12
Exterior Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-14
Interior Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16
Roof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-18
Seats and Restraints . . . . . . . . . 2-1
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3
Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8
Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9
Airbag System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-22
Child Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-37 Storage
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1
Storage Compartments . . . . . . . . 3-1
Additional Storage Features . . . 3-1
Roof Rack System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Instruments and Controls . . . . 4-1
Instrument Panel Overview . . . . 4-4
Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-6
Warning Lights, Gauges, and Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-11
Information Displays . . . . . . . . . . 4-24
Vehicle Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-27
Vehicle Personalization . . . . . . . 4-34
OnStar
®System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-39 Lighting
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1
Exterior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1
Interior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4
Lighting Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4
Infotainment System . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-11
Audio Players . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-19
Rear Seat Infotainment . . . . . . . 6-33
Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-42
Climate Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1
Climate Control Systems . . . . . . 7-1
Air Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-6
Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-6

Keys, Doors and Windows 1-1
Keys, Doors and
Windows
Keys and Locks
Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System Operation . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3
Remote Vehicle Start . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
Power Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7
Safety Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7
Doors
Liftgate (Manual) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-8
Liftgate (Power) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-8
Vehicle Security
Vehicle Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-12
Anti-Theft Alarm System . . . . . 1-12
Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-13
Immobilizer Operation . . . . . . . 1-13
Exterior Mirrors
Convex Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-14
Power Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-14
Heated Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-14
Park Tilt Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15
Interior Mirrors
Manual Rearview Mirror . . . . . . 1-15
Automatic Dimming Rearview Mirror . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-15
Windows
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16
Power Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16
Sun Visors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-18
Roof
Sunroof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-18

Keys, Doors and Windows 1-9
WARNING (Continued)
If the vehicle must be driven with
the liftgate, or trunk/hatch open:
.Close all of the windows.
.Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel.
.Adjust the Climate Control
system to a setting that
brings in only outside air and
set the fan speed to the
highest setting. See Climate
Control System in the Index.
.If the vehicle is equipped with
a power liftgate, disable the
power liftgate function.
For more information about
carbon monoxide, see Engine
Exhaust on page 8‑34.
On vehicles with a power liftgate,
the switch is located on the
overhead console. The vehicle must be in P (Park) to use the power
feature. The taillamps flash when
the power liftgate moves.
{WARNING
You or others could be injured if
caught in the path of the power
liftgate. Make sure there is no one
in the way of the liftgate as it is
opening and closing.
Notice: If you open the liftgate
without checking for overhead
obstructions such as a garage
door, you could damage the
liftgate or the liftgate glass.
Always check to make sure the
area above and behind the liftgate
is clear before opening it.
The power liftgate has three modes
of operation. Mode selection is
controlled by the interior mode
switch.
Choose the power liftgate mode by
turning the dial on the switch until
the indicator lines up with the
desired position. The vehicle must
be in P (Park).
The three modes are:
MAX : The liftgate power opens to
the full open height.
3/4 : The liftgate power opens to a
reduced open height that can be set
by the vehicle operator. Use this
setting to prevent the liftgate from
opening into overhead obstructions
such as a garage door or roof

1-18 Keys, Doors and Windows
Window Lockout
o(Window Lockout): The window
lockout switch is located on the
driver door. This feature prevents
the rear passenger windows from
operating, except from the driver
position. Press the switch to turn
the lockout feature on or off. An
indicator light shows the feature
is on.
Sun Visors
Pull the sun visor down to block
glare. Detach the sun visor from the
center mount and slide it along the
rod from side-to-side to cover the
driver or passenger side of the front
window. Swing the sun visor to the
side to cover the side window. It can
be moved along the rod from
side-to-side in this position also.
Roof
Sunroof
On vehicles with a sunroof, the
switches used to operate it are
located on the headliner above the
rearview mirror. The ignition must be
in ON/RUN, ACC/ACCESSORY,
or in Retained Accessory Power
(RAP) to operate the sunroof. See
Ignition Positions
on page 8‑28and
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
on page 8‑29.
.Press and hold the front or
rear of the driver side switch to
open or close the sunroof. The
sunshade automatically opens
with the sunroof, but must be
closed manually.
.Press and hold the front of the
passenger side switch to vent
the sunroof. Press and hold the
rear of the switch to close.

Keys, Doors and Windows 1-19
Express-open/Express-close
Press and release the front or rear
of the driver side switch to
express-open or express-close the
sunroof.
Anti-Pinch Feature
If an object is in the path of the
sunroof when it is closing, the
anti-pinch feature detects the object
and stops the sunroof from closing
at the point of the obstruction. The
sunroof then returns to the full-open
position.Dirt and debris may collect on the
sunroof seal or in the tracks that
could cause an issue with sunroof
operation, noise or plug the water
drainage system. Periodically open
the sunroof and remove any
obstacles or loose debris. Wipe the
sunroof seal and roof sealing area
using a clean cloth, mild soap, and
water. Do not remove grease from
sunroof.

2-22 Seats and Restraints
Safety Belt Care
Keep belts clean and dry.
{WARNING
Do not bleach or dye safety belts.
It may severely weaken them. In
a crash, they might not be able to
provide adequate protection.
Clean safety belts only with mild
soap and lukewarm water.
Replacing Safety Belt
System Parts After a
Crash
{WARNING
A crash can damage the safety
belt system in the vehicle.
A damaged safety belt system
may not properly protect the
person using it, resulting in
serious injury or even death in a
crash. To help make sure the(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
safety belt systems are working
properly after a crash, have them
inspected and any necessary
replacements made as soon as
possible.
After a minor crash, replacement of
safety belts may not be necessary.
But the safety belt assemblies that
were used during any crash may
have been stressed or damaged.
See your dealer to have the safety
belt assemblies inspected or
replaced.
New parts and repairs may be
necessary even if the safety belt
system was not being used at the
time of the crash.
Have the safety belt pretensioners
checked if the vehicle has been in a
crash, or if the airbag readiness light
stays on after you start the vehicle
or while you are driving. See Airbag
Readiness Light on page 4‑15.
Airbag System
The vehicle has the following
airbags:
.A frontal airbag for the driver.
.A frontal airbag for the right front
passenger.
.A seat-mounted side impact
airbag for the driver.
.A seat-mounted side impact
airbag for the right front
passenger.
.A roof-rail airbag for the driver
and the passenger seated
directly behind the driver.
.A roof-rail airbag for the right
front passenger and the
passenger seated directly
behind the right front passenger.
All of the airbags in the vehicle will
have the word AIRBAG embossed
in the trim or on an attached label
near the deployment opening.

Seats and Restraints 2-23
For frontal airbags, the word
AIRBAG will appear on the middle
part of the steering wheel for the
driver and on the instrument panel
for the right front passenger.
With seat-mounted side impact
airbags, the word AIRBAG will
appear on the side of the seatback
closest to the door.
With roof-rail airbags, the word
AIRBAG will appear along the trim.
Even if you do not have a right front
passenger seat in the vehicle there
is still an active frontal airbag in the
right side of the instrument panel.
Do not place cargo in front of this
airbag.
{WARNING
Be sure that cargo is not near an
airbag. In a crash, an inflating
airbag might force that object
toward a person. This could
cause severe injury or even(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
death. Secure objects away from
the area in which an airbag would
inflate. For more information, see
Where Are the Airbags?
on
page 2‑25
and Vehicle Load
Limits on page 8‑24.
Airbags are designed to supplement
the protection provided by safety
belts. Even though today's airbags
are also designed to help reduce
the risk of injury from the force of an
inflating bag, all airbags must inflate
very quickly to do their job.
Here are the most important things
to know about the airbag system:
{WARNING
You can be severely injured or
killed in a crash if you are not
wearing your safety belt —even if
you have airbags. Airbags are
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
designed to work with safety
belts, but do not replace them.
Also, airbags are not designed to
deploy in every crash. In some
crashes safety belts are your only
restraint. SeeWhen Should an
Airbag Inflate? on page 2‑26.
Wearing your safety belt during a
crash helps reduce your chance
of hitting things inside the vehicle
or being ejected from it. Airbags
are “supplemental restraints” to
the safety belts. Everyone in your
vehicle should wear a safety belt
properly —whether or not there is
an airbag for that person.

2-24 Seats and Restraints
{WARNING
Airbags inflate with great force,
faster than the blink of an eye.
Anyone who is up against, or very
close to, any airbag when it
inflates can be seriously injured
or killed. Do not sit unnecessarily
close to the airbag, as you would
be if you were sitting on the edge
of your seat or leaning forward.
Safety belts help keep you in
position before and during a
crash. Always wear your safety
belt, even with airbags. The driver
should sit as far back as possible
while still maintaining control of
the vehicle.
Occupants should not lean on or
sleep against the door or side
windows in seating positions with
seat-mounted side impact airbags
and/or roof-rail airbags.
{WARNING
Children who are up against,
or very close to, any airbag
when it inflates can be seriously
injured or killed. Airbags plus
lap-shoulder belts offer protection
for adults and older children, but
not for young children and infants.
Neither the vehicle's safety belt
system nor its airbag system is
designed for them. Young
children and infants need the
protection that a child restraint
system can provide. Always
secure children properly in your
vehicle. To read how, seeOlder
Children
on page 2‑37or Infants
and Young Children
on
page 2‑39
.
There is an airbag readiness light
on the instrument panel cluster,
which shows the airbag symbol.
The system checks the airbag
electrical system for malfunctions.
The light tells you if there is an
electrical problem. See Airbag
Readiness Light
on page 4‑15for
more information.