
Black plate (10,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2012
2-10 Keys, Doors, and Windows
Power Liftgate
On vehicles with a power liftgate,
the vehicle must be in P (Park) to
operate. 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.
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 mounted cargo during power
operation. The liftgate can still be
fully opened manually.
OFF:
The liftgate only operates
manually in this position.
Manual operation of a liftgate that
also has power operation requires
more effort than a standard manual
liftgate.
In either the MAX or the 3/4 mode,
the liftgate can be power opened
and closed by:
.First pressingKand then
pressing and holding
Von the
RKE transmitter until the liftgate
starts moving. See Remote
Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation on page 2‑3.
.Pressing the power liftgate
button in the center of the mode
switch on the overhead console,
with the driver door unlocked.

Black plate (8,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2012
3-8 Seats and Restraints
Recalling Button Memory
Positions
To recall the manually saved Button
Memory positions, press and hold
“1”or“2.” The driver seat and
outside mirrors move to the
positions stored to those buttons
when pressed. Releasing “1”or“2”
before the stored positions are
reached stops the recall.
If something has blocked the driver
seat while recalling a memory
position, the recall may stop.
Remove the obstruction; then press
and hold the appropriate manual
control for the memory item that is
not recalling for two seconds. Try
recalling the memory position again
by pressing the appropriate memory
button. If the memory position is still
not recalling, see your dealer for
service. Recalling RKE Memory Positions
(Memory Remote Recall)
The Memory Remote Recall feature
can recall the driver seat and
outside mirrors to previously stored
RKE Memory positions when
entering the vehicle.
Every time the ignition is turned off,
the positions of the driver seat and
outside mirrors are automatically
stored to the RKE transmitter that
was used to start the vehicle. These
positions are called RKE Memory
positions and may be different than
the previously mentioned Button
Memory positions saved to the
“1”
or“2” buttons. To automatically
recall RKE Memory positions,
unlock the driver door with the RKE
transmitter and open the driver door.
If the driver door is already open,
pressing the RKE transmitter K
button will also activate the RKE
Memory recall. The driver seat and
outside mirrors will move to the
previously saved RKE Memory
positions. This feature is turned on or off using
the vehicle personalization menu.
See
Vehicle Personalization on
page 5‑34 for more information.
To stop recall movement, press any
of the memory, power mirror,
or power seat controls.
If something has blocked the driver
seat while recalling a memory
position, the recall may stop.
Remove the obstruction; then press
and hold the appropriate manual
control for the memory item that is
not recalling for two seconds. Try
recalling the memory position again
by opening the driver door and
pressing the RKE Kbutton. If the
memory position is still not recalling,
see your dealer for service.

Black plate (10,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2012
3-10 Seats and Restraints
The passenger seat may take
longer to heat up.
Remote Start Heated Seats
When it is cold outside, the heated
seats can be programmed to turn on
automatically during a remote
vehicle start. The heated seats will
be canceled when the ignition is
turned on. Press the heated seat
button to use the heated seats after
the vehicle is started.
The heated seat button lights will
not turn on during a remote start.
The temperature of an unoccupied
seat may be reduced.
To program the heated seat feature
to enabled, seeVehicle
Personalization on page 5‑34 for
more information.Rear Seats
Split Folding Seatbacks
With this feature, either side of the
rear seatback can be folded down
for more cargo space.
{WARNING
If either seatback is not locked, it
could move forward in a sudden
stop or crash. That could cause
injury to the person sitting there.
Always push and pull on the
seatbacks to be sure they are
locked.
{WARNING
A safety belt that is improperly
routed, not properly attached,
or twisted will not provide the
protection needed in a crash. The
person wearing the belt could be
seriously injured. After raising the
rear seatback, always check to be
sure that the safety belts are
properly routed and attached, and
are not twisted.

Black plate (28,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2012
3-28 Seats and Restraints
.Let only qualified technicians
work on the airbag systems.
Improper service can mean that
an airbag system will not work
properly. See your dealer for
service.
Passenger Sensing
System
The vehicle has a passenger
sensing system for the right front
passenger position. The passenger
airbag status indicator will be visible
on the overhead console when the
vehicle is started.
United States
Canada
The words ON and OFF, or the
symbol for on and off, are visible
during the system check. If you are
using remote start, if equipped, to
start the vehicle from a distance,
you may not see the system check.
When the system check is
complete, either the word ON or
OFF, or the symbol for on or off, will
be visible. See Passenger Airbag
Status Indicator on page 5‑13.
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.

Black plate (13,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-13
The airbag readiness light comes on
and stays on for several seconds
when the vehicle is started. Then
the light goes out.
{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. SeePassenger
Sensing System on page 3‑28 for
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.
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.

Black plate (34,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2012
5-34 Instruments and Controls
Vehicle Reminder
Messages
ICE POSSIBLE DRIVE
WITH CARE
This message is displayed when ice
conditions are possible.
TURN WIPER CONTROL TO
INTERMITTENT FIRST
This message is displayed when
attempting to adjust the intermittent
wiper speed without intermittent
selected on the wiper control. See
Windshield Wiper/Washer on
page 5‑3.
Vehicle
Personalization
The audio system controls are used
to access the personalization
menus for customizing vehicle
features.
CONFIG (Configuration):Press to
access the Configuration
Settings Menu.
MENU/SELECT Knob: Press the
center of this knob to enter the
menus and select menu items. Turn
the knob to scroll through the
menus.
EBACK: Press to exit or move
backwards in a menu.
Entering the Personalization
Menus
1. Turn the infotainment system on and press the CONFIG button to
access the Configuration
Settings menu. 2. Turn the MENU/SELECT knob to
highlight Vehicle Settings.
3. Press the center of the MENU/ SELECT knob to select the
Vehicle Settings menu.
The following list of menu items will
be available:
.Climate and Air Quality
.Comfort and Convenience
.Collision/Detection Systems
.Languages
.Lighting
.Power Door Locks
.Remote Lock/Unlock/Start
.Return to Factory Settings
Turn the MENU/SELECT knob to
highlight the menu. Press the knob
to select it. Each of the menus is
detailed in the following information.
All of the menus may not be
available. Only those tied to the
features on your vehicle will be
shown.

Black plate (35,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-35
Climate and Air Quality
Select the Climate and Air Quality
menu and the following will be
displayed:
.Auto Fan Speed
.Air Conditioning Mode
.Remote Start Auto Heat Seats
Auto Fan Speed
This selection is available on
vehicles with the Automatic Climate
Control System. Choose from the
following blower speed settings:
High: Increased speed.
Low: Reduced speed.
Normal: Moderate speed.
Press the MENU/SELECT knob
when Auto Fan Speed is
highlighted. Turn the knob to
highlight “High,” “Normal,” or“Low.”
Press the knob to confirm the
selection and go back to the
last menu. Air Conditioning Mode
This will allow you to select whether
or not the air conditioning comes on
automatically the next time the
vehicle is started.
“On”means that
the air conditioning will be on at
start up, regardless of whether it
was on or off the last time the
vehicle was turned off. “Off”means
the air conditioning will be off at the
next start up, regardless of whether
it was on or off the last time the
vehicle was turned off. “Last
Setting” means that when the
vehicle is started, the air
conditioning will resume whichever
setting it was at the last time the
vehicle was turned off.
Press the MENU/SELECT knob
when Air Conditioning Mode is
highlighted. Turn the knob to
highlight “On,” “Off,” or“Last
Setting.” Press the knob to confirm
the selection and go back to the
last menu. Remote Start Auto Heat Seats
When on, this feature will turn the
heated seats on when using remote
start on cold days.
Press the MENU/SELECT knob
when
“Remote Start Auto Heat
Seats” is highlighted to toggle
between “On”or“Off.” PressE
BACK to confirm the selection and
go back to the last menu.
Comfort and Convenience
Select the Comfort and
Convenience menu and the
following will be displayed:
.Easy Exit Driver Seat
.Chime Volume
.Reverse Tilt Mirror

Black plate (38,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2012
5-38 Instruments and Controls
Remote Lock/Unlock/Start
Select Remote Lock/Unlock/Start
and the following will be displayed:
.Remote Unlock Light Feedback
.Remote Lock Feedback
.Remote Door Unlock
.Memory Remote Recall
Remote Unlock Light Feedback
When on, the exterior lamps will
flash when unlocking the vehicle
with the RKE transmitter.
Press the MENU/SELECT knob
when “Remote Unlock Light
Feedback” is highlighted. Turn the
knob to select “Flash Lights”or
“Off.” Press the knob to confirm and
go back to the last menu.
Remote Lock Feedback
This allows selection of what type of
feedback is given when unlocking
the vehicle with the RKE transmitter.
Press the MENU/SELECT knob
when “Remote Lock Feedback” is
highlighted. Turn the knob to select “Lights and Horn,” “Lights Only,”
“Horn Only,”
or“Off. ”Press the knob
to confirm and go back to the
last menu.
Remote Door Unlock
This allows selection of which doors
will unlock when pressing the unlock
button on the RKE transmitter.
Press the MENU/SELECT knob
when “Remote Door Unlock” is
highlighted. Turn the knob to select
“All Doors” or“Driver Door.” Press
the knob to confirm and go back to
the last menu.
Memory Remote Recall
This allows the Memory Remote
Recall feature to be turned on or off.
When on, this feature will recall the
current driver's last seat, outside
mirrors upon unlocking the driver
door with the RKE, and opening that
door. The current driver is identified
when the RKE transmitter is used to
unlock the driver door. See “MemoryRemote Recall”
underPower Seat
Adjustment on page 3‑4 for more
information.
Memory Remote Recall is when the
memorized settings will be recalled
as you unlock the vehicle.
Press the MENU/SELECT knob
when “Memory Remote Recall” is
highlighted to toggle between “On”
or “Off.” Press
EBACK to confirm
the selection and go back to the
last menu.
Return to Factory Settings
Select “Return to Factory Settings”
to return all of the vehicle
personalization to the default
settings. Turn the knob to select
“Yes” or“No.” Press the knob to
confirm and go back to the
last menu.