Page 6 of 446

Black plate (6,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2011
vi Introduction
Symbols
The vehicle has components and
labels that use symbols instead of
text. Symbols are shown along with
the text describing the operation or
information relating to a specific
component, control, message,
gauge, or indicator.
M:This symbol is shown when
you need to see your owner manual
for additional instructions or
information.
*: This symbol is shown when
you need to see a service manual
for additional instructions or
information. Vehicle Symbol Chart
Here are some additional symbols
that may be found on the vehicle
and what they mean. For more
information on the symbol, refer to
the Index.
9:
Airbag Readiness Light
#:Air Conditioning
!:Antilock Brake System (ABS)
g:Audio Steering Wheel Controls
or OnStar®
$: Brake System Warning Light
":Charging System
I:Cruise Control
B: Engine Coolant Temperature
O:Exterior Lamps
#:Fog Lamps
.: Fuel Gauge
+:Fuses
3: Headlamp High/Low-Beam
Changer
j: LATCH System Child
Restraints
*: Malfunction Indicator Lamp
::Oil Pressure
}:Power
/:Remote Vehicle Start
>:Safety Belt Reminders
7:Tire Pressure Monitor
d:Traction Control
M:Windshield Washer Fluid
Page 18 of 446

Black plate (12,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2011
1-12 In Brief
Sensing System for
Passenger Airbag
United States
Canada
The passenger sensing system will
turn off the right front passenger
frontal airbag under certain
conditions. The driver airbag,
seat‐mounted side impact airbags,
and roof‐rail airbags are not affected
by the passenger sensing system. The passenger airbag status
indicator will be visible on the
overhead console when the vehicle
is started. See
Passenger Sensing
System on page 3‑35 for more
information.
Mirror Adjustment
Exterior
Controls for the outside
power mirrors are on the
driver door. To adjust the mirrors:
1. Move the selector switch to
L (left) or R (right) to choose the
driver or passenger mirror.
2. Press the arrows on the control pad to move each mirror in the
desired direction.
3. Return the selector switch to the middle position.
See Power Mirrors on page 2‑15.
Interior
Manual inside rearview mirrors can
be adjusted by holding in the center
to move the mirror for a clearer view
of behind the vehicle. Adjust the
mirror to avoid glare from the
headlamps behind you. Push the
tab forward for daytime use and pull
it for nighttime use.
SeeManual Rearview Mirror on
page 2‑16.
Page 22 of 446
Black plate (16,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2011
1-16 In Brief
Climate Controls
The vehicle's heating, cooling, defrosting, and ventilation can be controlled
with these systems.
Climate Control System
A. Fan Control
B. Air Delivery Mode Controls
C. Temperature Control
D. Outside Air E. Defrost
F. Rear Window Defogger
G. Recirculation
H. Air Conditioning
Page 23 of 446
Black plate (17,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2011
In Brief 1-17
Automatic Climate Control System
A. Fan Control
B. AUTO (Automatic Operation)
C. Air Delivery Mode Controls
D. Defrost
E. Recirculation
F. Temperature Control
G. Power H. Driver and Passenger
Heated Seats
I. Rear Window Defogger
J. Air Conditioning
See Climate Control Systems on
page 8‑1 (If Equipped) or Automatic
Climate Control System on page 8‑3
(If Equipped).
Page 78 of 446

Black plate (22,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2011
3-22 Seats and Restraints
Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster
The vehicle has a shoulder belt
height adjuster for the driver and
right front passenger seating
positions.
Adjust the height so the shoulder
portion of the belt is on the shoulder
and not falling off of it. The belt
should be close to, but not
contacting, the neck. Improper
shoulder belt height adjustment
could reduce the effectiveness of
the safety belt in a crash. SeeHow
to Wear Safety Belts Properly on
page 3‑15.
Move the height adjuster up to the
desired position by pushing up on
the height adjuster.
After the height adjuster is set to the
desired position, try to move it down
without pressing the release
button (A) to make sure it has
locked into position. Press the
release button to lower the height
adjuster.
Safety Belt Pretensioners
This vehicle has safety belt
pretensioners for front outboard
occupants. Although the safety belt
pretensioners cannot be seen, they
are part of the safety belt assembly.
They can help tighten the safety
belts during the early stages of a
moderate to severe frontal and near
frontal crash if the threshold
conditions for pretensioner
activation are met. And, if the
vehicle has side impact airbags,
safety belt pretensioners can help
tighten the safety belts in a side
crash or a rollover event.
Pretensioners work only once. If the
pretensioners are activated in a
crash, the pretensioners and
possibly other parts of the safety
belt system will need to be replaced.
See Replacing Safety Belt System
Parts After a Crash on page 3‑26.
Page 92 of 446

Black plate (36,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2011
3-36 Seats and Restraints
The passenger sensing system
turns off the right front passenger
frontal airbag under certain
conditions. The driver airbag,
seat‐mounted side impact airbags
and the roof-rail airbags are not
affected by the passenger sensing
system.
The passenger sensing system
works with sensors that are part of
the right front passenger seat. The
sensors are designed to detect the
presence of a properly-seated
occupant and determine if the right
front passenger frontal airbag
should be enabled (may inflate)
or not.
According to accident statistics,
children are safer when properly
secured in a rear seat in the correct
child restraint for their weight
and size.
We recommend that children be
secured in a rear seat, including: an
infant or a child riding in a
rear-facing child restraint; a child
riding in a forward-facing child seat;an older child riding in a booster
seat; and children, who are large
enough, using safety belts.
A label on the sun visor says,
“Never put a rear-facing child seat in
the front.”
This is because the risk to
the rear-facing child is so great,
if the airbag deploys.
{WARNING
A child in a rear-facing child
restraint can be seriously
injured or killed if the right front
passenger airbag inflates.
This is because the back of the
rear-facing child restraint would
be very close to the inflating
airbag. A child in a forward-facing
child restraint can be seriously
injured or killed if the right front
passenger airbag inflates and the
passenger seat is in a forward
position.
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
Even if the passenger sensing
system has turned off the right
front passenger frontal airbag, no
system is fail-safe. No one can
guarantee that an airbag will not
deploy under some unusual
circumstance, even though the
airbag is turned off.
Secure rear-facing child
restraints in a rear seat, even if
the airbag is off. If you secure a
forward-facing child restraint in
the right front seat, always move
the front passenger seat as far
back as it will go. It is better to
secure the child restraint in a
rear seat.
Page 116 of 446

Black plate (60,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2011
3-60 Seats and Restraints
Armrest Retaining Strap
{WARNING
A rear center armrest that is not
properly stowed and secured
could fall forward during a sudden
stop or collision. The armrest
could contact an infant secured in
a rear‐facing child restraint in the
center seat position. Fasten the
retaining strap onto the stowed
armrest before installing a rear‐
facing child restraint in the rear
center seat position.
When new, the vehicle's glove box
materials included an armrest
retaining strap. Use it to secure thecenter armrest before installing a
rear‐facing child restraint in the
second row center seat position.
Stow the rear seat center armrest.
Attach the retaining strap to the
armrest loop (A) and to the center
top tether anchor on the
seatback (B). Make sure the
retaining strap's clips are firmly
attached.
Install the rear-facing child restraint
using the child restraint
manufacturer's instructions and the
instructions described previously.Remove the armrest retaining strap
before installing a forward facing
child restraint in the center seat
position, as it may interfere with the
attachment of the top tether to the
top tether anchor on the seatback.
Securing Child Restraints
(Front Passenger Seat)
This vehicle has airbags. A rear
seat is a safer place to secure a
forward-facing child restraint. See
Where to Put the Restraint on
page 3‑50.
In addition, the vehicle has a
passenger sensing system which is
designed to turn off the right front
passenger frontal airbag under
certain conditions. See
Passenger
Sensing System on page 3‑35 and
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator
on page 5‑12 for more information,
including important safety
information.
Page 135 of 446

Black plate (11,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-11
Engine Coolant
Temperature Gauge
EnglishMetric
This gauge measures the
temperature of the vehicle's engine.
If the indicator needle moves to the
hot side of the gauge toward the
colored line, the engine is too hot.
If the vehicle has been operated
under normal driving conditions, 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
comes 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.