
Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2012
2012 Chevrolet Equinox Owner ManualM
In Brief. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
Instrument Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Initial Drive Information . . . . . . . . 1-4
Vehicle Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-19
Performance and Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-25
Keys, Doors, and Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
Keys and Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
Doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9
Vehicle Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-13
Exterior Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-14
Interior Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-17
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-18
Roof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-20
Seats and Restraints . . . . . . . . . 3-1
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10
Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-12
Airbag System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-21
Child Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-35 Storage
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Storage Compartments . . . . . . . . 4-1
Additional Storage Features . . . 4-2
Roof Rack System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2
Instruments and Controls . . . . 5-1
Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Warning Lights, Gauges, and
Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8
Information Displays . . . . . . . . . . 5-24
Vehicle Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-27
Vehicle Personalization . . . . . . . 5-34
Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Exterior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Interior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4
Lighting Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Infotainment System . . . . . . . . . 7-1
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1
Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-14
Audio Players . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-23
Rear Seat Infotainment . . . . . . . 7-34
Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-36
Trademarks and License Agreements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-48 Climate Controls
. . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1
Climate Control Systems . . . . . . 8-1
Air Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-5
Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-6
Driving and Operating . . . . . . . . 9-1
Driving Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Starting and Operating . . . . . . . 9-20
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-28
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 9-29
Drive Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-32
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-32
Ride Control Systems . . . . . . . . 9-35
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-38
Object Detection Systems . . . . 9-40
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-51
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-56
Conversions and Add-Ons . . . 9-64
Vehicle Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-1
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
Vehicle Checks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-4
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . 10-30
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-32
Electrical System . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-36
Wheels and Tires . . . . . . . . . . . 10-42 

Black plate (3,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2012
In Brief 1-3
A.Air Vents on page 8‑5.
B. Turn and Lane‐Change Lever. See Turn and Lane-Change
Signals on page 6‑3.
Exterior Lamp Controls on
page 6‑1.
Fog Lamps on page 6‑4 (If
Equipped).
C. Instrument Cluster on page 5‑9.
D. Windshield Wiper/Washer on
page 5‑3.
Rear Window Wiper/Washer on
page 5‑4.
E. Power Door Locks on page 2‑7.
F. Instrument Panel Storage on
page 4‑1 (If Equipped).
Forward Collision Alert (FCA)
Display (If Equipped). See
Forward Collision Alert (FCA)
System on page 9‑40.
Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
Indicator (If Equipped). See
Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
on page 9‑48. G. Navigation Screen (If
Equipped).
H. Safety Locks on page 2‑8.
I. Infotainment on page 7‑1.
Navigation System (If
Equipped). See Navigation
System Manual.
J. Hood Release. See Hood on
page 10‑5.
K. Data Link Connector (DLC) (Out of View). See Malfunction
Indicator Lamp on page 5‑14.
L. Cruise Control on page 9‑38.
Forward Collision Alert (FCA)
System on page 9‑40 (If
Equipped).
Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
on page 9‑48 (If Equipped).
M. Instrument Panel Illumination
Control on page 6‑4.
N. Steering Wheel Adjustment on
page 5‑2.
O. Horn on page 5‑3. P.
Steering Wheel Controls on
page 5‑2.
Q. Ignition Positions on page 9‑21.
R. Climate Control Systems on
page 8‑1 (If Equipped).
Automatic Climate Control
System on page 8‑3 (If
Equipped).
S. Shift Lever. See Shifting Into
Park on page 9‑26.
T. Fuel Economy Mode on
page 9‑31 (If Equipped).
U. StabiliTrak
®System on
page 9‑36.
V. Power Outlets on page 5‑7.
W. CD Player on page 7‑23.
X. Driver Information Center Buttons (If Equipped). See
Driver Information Center (DIC)
on page 5‑24.
Y. Hazard Warning Flashers on
page 6‑3. 

Black plate (20,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2012
1-20 In Brief
5. Press the MENU/SEL knob toselect the next value.
6. To save the time or date and return to the Time and Date
Settings menu, press the
E
BACK button at any time or
press the MENU/SEL knob after
adjusting the minutes or year.
Setting the 12/24 Hour Format
1. Press the CONFIG button.
2. Select Time and Date Settings.
3. Highlight 12/24 Hour Format.
4. Press the MENU/SEL button to select the 12 hour or 24 hour
display format.
Setting the Month & Day Format
1. Press the CONFIG button.
2. Select Time and Date Settings.
3. Highlight Month & Day Format.
4. Press the MENU/SEL knob to select MM/DD (month/day) or
DD/MM (day/month). Setting the Auto Time Adjust
1. Press the CONFIG button.
2. Select Time and Date Settings.
3. Highlight Auto Time Adjust.
4. Press the MENU/SEL knob to
turn Auto Time Adjust on or off.
Satellite Radio
Vehicles with an XM™ satellite radio
tuner and a valid XM satellite radio
subscription can receive XM
programming.
XM Satellite Radio Service
XM is a satellite radio service based
in the 48 contiguous United States
and 10 Canadian provinces. XM
satellite radio has a wide variety of
programming and commercial-free
music, coast to coast, and in
digital-quality sound. A fee is
required to receive the XM service. For more information refer to:
.www.xmradio.com or call
1-800-929-2100 (U.S.).
.www.xmradio.ca or call
1-877-438-9677 (Canada).
For more information, see Satellite
Radio on page 7‑19.
Portable Audio Devices
Some vehicles have a 3.5 mm
(1/8 in) auxiliary input and a USB
port located in the center console.
External devices such as iPods
®,
laptop computers, MP3 players, CD
changers, and USB storage devices
may be connected, depending on
the audio system.
For more information, see Auxiliary
Devices on page 7‑28. 

Black plate (22,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2012
1-22 In Brief
Cruise Control
ON/OFF5CRUISE :Press to turn
the cruise control system on and off.
*CANCEL : Press to disengage
cruise control without erasing the
set speed from memory.
RES/+: Move the thumbwheel up to
make the vehicle resume to a
previously set speed or to
accelerate. SET/−
:Move the thumbwheel
down toward SET/- to set a speed
and activate cruise control, or to
make the vehicle decelerate.
See Cruise Control on page 9‑38.
Navigation System
If the vehicle has a navigation
system, there is a separate
navigation system manual that
includes information on the radio,
audio players, and navigation
system.
The navigation system provides
detailed maps of most major
freeways and roads. After a
destination has been set, the
system provides turn-by-turn
instructions for reaching the
destination. In addition, the system
can help locate a variety of points of
interest (POIs), such as banks,
airports, restaurants, and more.
See the navigation system manual
for more information.
Driver Information
Center (DIC)
The DIC display is located in the
center of the instrument panel
cluster. It shows the status of many
vehicle systems.
The DIC buttons are located below
the climate control system.
MENU: Press this button to get to
the Trip/Fuel Menu and the Vehicle
Information Menu. 

Black plate (24,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2012
1-24 In Brief
Rear Vision
Camera (RVC)
If available, the rear vision camera
displays a view of the area behind
the vehicle when the vehicle is
shifted into R (Reverse). The
display will appear on the radio
screen.
To clean the camera lens, located
above the license plate, rinse it with
water and wipe it with a soft cloth.
SeeRear Vision Camera (RVC) on
page 9‑45.
Ultrasonic Parking Assist
If available, Ultrasonic Rear Parking
Assist (URPA) system uses sensors
on the rear bumper to assist with
parking and avoiding objects while
in R (Reverse). It operates at
speeds less than 8 km/h (5 mph).
URPA uses audible beeps to
provide distance and system
information. Keep the sensors on the vehicle's
rear bumper clean to ensure proper
operation.
See
Ultrasonic Parking Assist on
page 9‑43 for more information.
Roof Rack System
The roof rack cross rails can be
locked in four positions along the
roof rack side rails. Lift the lever to
release and move the cross rail.
Push the lever down to completely
engage into the side rail holes. Slide
the cross rails back and forth until
the lock pins engage in the holes
and a click is heard.
When the roof rack is not in use,
lock one cross rail at the furthest
forward position and lock the other
cross rail at the furthest rearward
position to reduce wind noise. See
Roof Rack System on page 4‑2.
Power Outlets
The accessory power outlets can be
used to connect electrical
equipment, such as a cell phone or
MP3 player.
There are four accessory power
outlets in the following locations:
below the CD slot, inside the center
console storage, on the rear of the
center console storage, and in the
rear cargo compartment.
To use the outlets, remove the cover
and close when not in use.
SeePower Outlets on page 5‑7. 

Black plate (7,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-7
To set the 12/24 hour format:
1. Turn the infotainment system on.
2. Press the CONFIG button andselect Time Settings, or press
the
Hbutton.
3. Highlight 12/24 Hour Format.
4. Press the MENU/SEL knob to select the 12 hour or 24 hour
display format.
Setting the Clock (Radio with
CD and Touchscreen)
To set the time:
1. Press the CONFIG button to
enter the menu options. Turn the
TUNE/MENU knob to scroll
through the available setup
features. Press the TUNE/MENU
knob or press the Time screen
button to display other options
within that feature. 2. Press + or
−to decrease or
increase the Hours and Minutes
displayed on the clock.
12/24 HR Format: Press the 12 HR
screen button for standard time;
press the 24 HR screen button for
military time.
Day + or Day −:Press the Day +
or Day −display buttons to increase
or decrease the day.
Display: Press Display to turn the
display of the time on the screen on
or off.
Power Outlets
The accessory power outlets can be
used to connect electrical
equipment, such as a cell phone or
MP3 player.
There are four accessory power
outlets in the following locations:
below the CD slot, inside the center
console storage, on the rear of the
center console storage, and in the
rear cargo compartment. To use the outlets, remove the cover
and close when not in use.
Notice:
Leaving electrical
equipment plugged in for an
extended period of time while the
vehicle is off will drain the
battery. Always unplug electrical
equipment when not in use and
do not plug in equipment that
exceeds the maximum 20 ampere
rating.
Certain accessory plugs may not be
compatible with the accessory
power outlets and could overload
vehicle and adapter fuses. If a
problem is experienced, see your
dealer. 

Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2012
Infotainment System 7-1
Infotainment
System
Introduction
Infotainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1
Theft-Deterrent Feature . . . . . . . 7-2
Overview (Radio with CD) . . . . . 7-3
Overview (Radio with CD andTouchscreen) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-5
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-10
Radio
AM-FM Radio (Radio with CD) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-14
AM-FM Radio (Radio with CD and Touchscreen) . . . . . . . . . . 7-16
Satellite Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-19
Radio Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-22
Multi-Band Antenna . . . . . . . . . . 7-23
Audio Players
CD Player . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-23
MP3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-26
Auxiliary Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-28
Rear Seat Infotainment
Rear Seat Audio (RSA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-34
Phone
Bluetooth (Overview) . . . . . . . . 7-36
Bluetooth (InfotainmentControls) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-38
Bluetooth (Voice Recognition) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-42
Trademarks and License
Agreements
Trademarks and LicenseAgreements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-48
Introduction
Infotainment
Read the following pages to
become familiar with the audio
system's features.
{WARNING
Taking your eyes off the road for
extended periods could cause a
crash resulting in injury or death
to you or others. Do not give
extended attention to
entertainment tasks while driving.
This system provides access to
many audio and non‐audio listings. 

Black plate (4,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2012
7-4 Infotainment System
E. Buttons 1 to 6
.Radio: Saves and selects
favorite stations.
F. AUX
.Selects a connected
external audio source.
G.
EBACK
.Menu: Moves one
level back.
.Character Input: Deletes
the last character.
H. INFO
.Radio: Shows available
information about the
current station.
.CD: Shows available
information about the
current track. I. MENU/SEL
.Press: Opens the menus
and selects menu items.
.Turn: Highlights menu
items or sets values while
in a menu. Manually
selects radio stations while
listening to the radio.
J.
k
.CD: Plays or pauses
the CD.
K. CD
.Selects the CD player
when listening to a
different audio source.
L.
5/?
.Opens the phone
main menu.
.Mutes the audio system. M.
lSEEK
.Radio: Seeks the next
station.
.CD: Selects the next track
or fast forwards within a
track.
N.
H
.Opens the clock menu.
O. CONFIG
.Opens the settings menu.
P.
X(CD Eject)
.Removes a disc from the
CD slot.
Q. TONE
.Opens the tone menu.