Page 271 of 428

Black plate (55,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2012
Driving and Operating 9-55
The tethered fuel cap is behind the
fuel door on the vehicle's passenger
side. To open the fuel door, push the
rearward center edge in and release
and the door will open. Turn the fuel
cap counterclockwise to remove. Do
not release the cap too soon or it
will spring back. Reinstall the cap by
turning it clockwise until it clicks.
If the cap is not properly installed,
the malfunction indicator lamp will
come on. SeeMalfunction Indicator
Lamp on page 5‑14 for more
information.
{WARNING
Fuel can spray out on you if you
open the fuel cap too quickly.
If you spill fuel and then
something ignites it, you could be
badly burned. This spray can
happen if the tank is nearly full,
and is more likely in hot weather.
Open the fuel cap slowly and wait
for any hiss noise to stop. Then
unscrew the cap all the way.
Do not top off or overfill the tank.
Wait a few seconds before removing
the nozzle. Clean fuel from painted
surfaces as soon as possible. See
Exterior Care on page 10‑81.
{WARNING
If a fire starts while you are
refueling, do not remove the
nozzle. Shut off the flow of fuel by
shutting off the pump or by
notifying the station attendant.
Leave the area immediately.
Notice: If a new fuel cap is
needed, be sure to get the right
type of cap from your dealer. The
wrong type of fuel cap might not
fit properly, might cause the
malfunction indicator lamp to
light, and could damage the fuel
tank and emissions system. See
Malfunction Indicator Lamp on
page 5‑14.
Page 299 of 428

Black plate (19,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-19
{WARNING
Adding only plain water or some
other liquid to the cooling system
can be dangerous. Plain water
and other liquids, can boil before
the proper coolant mixture will.
The coolant warning system is set
for the proper coolant mixture.
With plain water or the wrong
mixture, the engine could get too
hot but you would not get the
overheat warning. The engine
could catch fire and you or others
could be burned. Use a 50/
50 mixture of clean, drinkable
water and DEX-COOL coolant.
{WARNING
You can be burned if you spill
coolant on hot engine parts.
Coolant contains ethylene glycol
and it will burn if the engine parts
are hot enough. Do not spill
coolant on a hot engine.
Notice: In cold weather, water
can freeze and crack the engine,
radiator, heater core and other
parts. Use the recommended
coolant and the proper coolant
mixture.
1. Remove the coolant surge tank pressure cap when the cooling
system, including the coolant
surge tank pressure cap and
upper radiator hose, is no
longer hot.
Turn the pressure cap slowly
counterclockwise about
one-quarter of a turn. If you hear
a hiss, wait for that to stop. This
will allow any pressure still left to
be vented out the
discharge hose.
2. Keep turning the pressure cap slowly, and remove it.
Page 311 of 428

Black plate (31,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-31
3. Measure the distance from theground to the aim dot on the
low‐beam headlamp. Record the
distance.
4. At the wall measure from the
ground upward (A) to the
recorded distance from
Step 3 and mark it.
5. Draw or tape a horizontal line (B) on the wall the width of the
vehicle at the height of the mark
in Step 4.
Notice: Do not cover a headlamp
to improve beam cut-off when
aiming. Covering a headlamp may
cause excessive heat build-up
which may cause damage to the
headlamp. 6. Turn on the low-beam
headlamps and place a piece of
cardboard or equivalent in front
of the headlamp not being
adjusted. This allows only the
beam of light from the headlamp
being adjusted to be seen on the
flat surface.
7. Locate the vertical headlamp
aiming screws, which are under
the hood near each headlamp
assembly. 8. Turn the vertical aiming screw
until the headlamp beam is
aimed to the horizontal tape line.
Turn it clockwise or
counterclockwise to raise or
lower the angle of the beam.
9. Make sure that the light from theheadlamp is positioned at the
bottom edge of the horizontal
tape line. The lamp on the
left (A) shows the correct
headlamp aim. The lamp on the
right (B) shows the incorrect
headlamp aim.
10. Repeat Steps 7 through 9 for the opposite headlamp.
Page 312 of 428
Black plate (32,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2012
10-32 Vehicle Care
Bulb Replacement
For the proper type of replacement
bulbs, seeReplacement Bulbs on
page 10‑36.
For any bulb changing procedure
not listed in this section, contact
your dealer.
Headlamps, Front Turn
Signal, Sidemarker, and
Parking Lamps
A. Low Beam Headlamp
B. High Beam headlamp
C. Park/Turn Signal Lamp
D. Side Marker Lamp To replace:
1. Turn the tire to reach the access
port cap located on front of
wheel well cover.A. Screw
B. Access Port Cap
2. Remove screw (A) and turn access port cap (B)
counterclockwise to remove.
Page 313 of 428

Black plate (33,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-33
3. If replacing low/high headlampbulb, remove the dust cover cap
from the back of the headlamp
housing by turning the cap
counterclockwise.
4. Turn the bulb socket counterclockwise to remove from
lamp assembly.
5. Remove the bulb from the socket or disconnect bulb
assembly from harness
connector.
6. Install new bulb.
7. Reinstall the lamp socket to lamp assembly turning
clockwise.
8. Replace the dust cover cap on headlamps.
9. Reinstall the wheel well cover access port cap and secure by
installing screw.Fog Lamps
To replace one of these bulbs:
1. Locate the fog lamp assembly
under the front facia.
2. Disconnect the bulb socket from the electrical connector, turn and
pull out the bulb assembly. 3. Remove the old bulb from the
bulb socket and push the new
bulb straight into the bulb socket
until it connects.
4. Push the bulb socket into the fog lamp assembly and turn
clockwise to lock it into place.
5. Reconnect the bulb socket to the electrical connector.
Page 314 of 428
Black plate (34,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2012
10-34 Vehicle Care
Taillamps, Turn Signal,
Sidemarker, Stoplamps,
and Back-Up Lamps
A. Sidemarker
B. Stoplamp/Turn Signal Lamp/Taillamp
C. Back-up Lamp To replace one of these lamps:
1. Open the liftgate. See
Liftgate
on page 2‑9.
2. Remove the two screw covers from the taillamp assembly.
3. Remove the two screwssecuring the taillamp assembly.
4. Pull taillamp assembly out of vehicle body.
5. Disconnect the lamp wiring harness.
6. Turn the bulb socketcounterclockwise and pull it out.
7. Pull the bulb straight out of the socket.
8. Install the new bulb.
9. Push the bulb socket in and turn it clockwise.
10. Reverse steps 2 through 5 to reinstall lamp assembly.
Page 315 of 428
Black plate (35,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-35
License Plate Lamp
To replace one of these bulbs:
1. Open the liftgate partway. SeeLiftgate on page 2‑9 for more
information.
Passenger side shown, driver side
similar
2. Push the left end of the lamp assembly towards the right. 3. Pull the lamp assembly down to
remove from liftgate.
A. Bulb Socket
B. Bulb
C. Lamp Assembly
4. Turn the bulb socket (A) counterclockwise to remove from
lamp assembly (C).
5. Pull the bulb (B) straight out of the bulb socket. 6. Push the replacement bulb
straight into the bulb socket and
turn the bulb socket clockwise to
install into lamp assembly.
7. Turn the lamp assembly into the liftgate engaging the clip side
first.
8. Push on the lamp side opposite the clip until the lamp assembly
snaps into place.
Page 346 of 428
Black plate (66,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2012
10-66 Vehicle Care
Coin/Pierce Jack with One-PieceWrench
A. Extension
B. Wheel Wrench
C. JackHex-Head Jack with Three-Piece Wrench
A. Wheel Wrench
B. Jack
3. If you have a coin/pierce jack and one-piece wrench, remove
the extension (A), wheel
wrench (B) and jack (C).
If you have a hex-head jack and
three-piece wrench, remove the
wheel wrench (A) and jack (B).
Place the tools next to the tire
being changed.4. Turn the retainer nutcounterclockwise and remove
the spare tire.
5. Place the spare tire next to the tire being changed.