
Black plate (5,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2012
Introduction v
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)
$: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
J:OnStar®
}: Power
/:Remote Vehicle Start
>:Safety Belt Reminders
%: Steering Wheel Controls
7:Tire Pressure Monitor
d:Traction Control/StabiliTrak®
M:Windshield Washer Fluid 

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 (4,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2012
6-4 Lighting
If after signaling a turn or a lane
change the arrows flash rapidly or
do not come on, a signal bulb may
be burned out.
Have the bulbs replaced. If the bulb
is not burned out, check the fuse;
seeFuses on page 10‑36 for more
information.
Fog Lamps
For vehicles with fog lamps, the
control is located on the turn signal/
lane change lever.
Use the fog lamps for better vision
in foggy or misty conditions.
#FOG (Fog Lamps): Turn the fog
lamp band on the lever to
#and
release it, to turn the fog lamps on
or off. The band will return to its
original position.
The parking lamps or low‐beam
headlamps must be on to use the
fog lamps.
The fog lamps will go off whenever
the high-beam headlamps are
turned on. When the high‐beam
headlamps are turned off, the fog
lamps will come on again.
Some localities have laws that
require the headlamps to be on
along with the fog lamps.
Interior Lighting
Instrument Panel
Illumination Control
This control is located on the
instrument panel, to the left of the
steering column.
D(Instrument Panel
Brightness): Turn clockwise or
counterclockwise to brighten or dim
the lights.
Dome Lamps
There are front and rear dome
lamps.
The dome lamp controls are located
in the overhead console. To change
the settings, press the following:
*(Dome Lamp Override): Turns
the lamps off, even when a door
is open. 

Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-1
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . 10-3
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-4
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-5
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-6
Engine Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-9
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-10
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . 10-12
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-13
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . 10-14
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-15
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-17
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . 10-20
Power Steering Fluid (2.4L L4 Engine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-22 Power Steering Fluid (3.0L
V6 Engine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-22
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-23
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-23
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-24
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-26
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-26
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . 10-27
Automatic Transmission Shift Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-27
Ignition Transmission Lock Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-28
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . 10-28
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-28
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . 10-30
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-32
Headlamps, Front TurnSignal, Sidemarker, and
Parking Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-32
Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-33 Taillamps, Turn Signal,
Sidemarker, Stoplamps,
and Back-Up Lamps . . . . . . 10-34
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . 10-35
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . 10-36
Electrical System
Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-36
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-37
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-40
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-42
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . 10-43
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . 10-46
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-46
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-50
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-51
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-53
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-56
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-56
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-57
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . 10-58 

Black plate (36,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2012
10-36 Vehicle Care
Replacement Bulbs
Exterior LampBulb
Number
Back-Up Lamp 921
Fog Lamp Front H11
Headlamp
High Beam 9005LL
Headlamp
Low Beam H11
License Plate Lamp 168LL
Parking Lamp/Turn
Signal Front 7444NA
Sidemarker Front
and Rear 194
Taillamp/Turn Signal
Lamp/Stop Lamp 3157K
For replacement bulbs not listed
here, contact your dealer.
Electrical System
Fuses
The wiring circuits in the vehicle are
protected from short circuits by
fuses. This greatly reduces the
chance of damage caused by
electrical problems.
Look at the silver-colored band
inside the fuse. If the band is broken
or melted, replace the fuse. Be sure
to replace a bad fuse with a new
one of the identical size and rating.
Replace a bad fuse with a new one
of the identical size and rating. If there is a problem on the road and
a fuse needs to be replaced, the
same amperage fuse can be
borrowed. Choose some feature of
the vehicle that is not needed to use
and replace it as soon as possible.
There are two fuse blocks in the
vehicle: one in the engine
compartment and one in the
instrument panel.
There is a fuse puller located in the
engine compartment fuse block.
See
Engine Compartment Fuse
Block on page 10‑37. It can be used
to easily remove fuses from the fuse
block. 

Black plate (37,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-37
Engine Compartment
Fuse Block
To remove the fuse block cover,
squeeze the clips on the cover and
lift it straight up. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview on
page 10‑6.
Notice: Spilling liquid on any
electrical component on the
vehicle may damage it. Always
keep the covers on any electrical
component.
Engine Compartment Fuse Block
The vehicle may not be equipped
with all of the fuses, relays, and
features shown. J-CaseFuses Usage
1 Cool Fan 1
2 Cool Fan 2 J-Case
Fuses Usage
3 Brake Booster
4 Power Windows
–
Right
5 Memory Seat
Module 

Black plate (38,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2012
10-38 Vehicle Care
J-CaseFuses Usage
6 Power Seat –Left
7 Instrument Panel
Fuse Block 1
8 Rear Defogger
9 Starter
10 AIR Pump Motor
11 Instrument Panel
Fuse Block 2
12 Sunroof
13 Antilock Brake
System Pump
14 Instrument Panel
Fuse Block 3
15 Power
Windows
–Left
16 Antilock Brake
System Module Mini Fuses Usage
17 Transmission
Control Module
Battery
18 Trailer Parking Light
19 AIR Pump Solenoid
20 Engine Control
Module Battery
21 Canister Vent
22 Trailer Left Side
(If Equipped)
23 Lift Gate Module
24 Power Lumbar
25 Trailer Right Side
(If Equipped)
26 Rear Accessory
Power Outlet
27 Memory Mirror
Module
28 Regulated Voltage
Control Battery
Sensor Mini Fuses Usage
29 Front Wiper
30 Rear Wiper
31 Air Conditioning
Compressor
32 Rear Latch
33 Heated Mirrors
34 Horn
35 Right High‐Beam
Headlamp
36 Left High‐Beam
Headlamp
37 Ignition Even Coil
38 Ignition Odd Coil
39 Windshield Washer
40 Front Fog Lamps
41 Post Catalytic
Converter Oxygen
Sensor
42 Engine Control
Module 

Black plate (39,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-39
Mini Fuses Usage43 Pre–Catalytic
Converter Oxygen
Sensor
44 Transmission
Control Module
45 Mirror
46 Chassis Control
Module Ignition
47 Spare
48 Rear Drive Module
49 Lift Gate Module
Logic
50 Instrument Panel
Fuse Block Ignition
51 Heated Seat –Front
52 Chassis Control
Module
53 Engine Control
Module
54 Rear Vision Camera Midi Fuse Usage
55 Electric Power
Steering
Micro
Relays Usage
56 AIR Pump Solenoid
57 Brake Booster
58 Cooling Fan Low
59 Headlamp
High Beam
60 Cooling Fan Control
61 Wiper On/Off
Control
62 Air Conditioning
Compressor
63 Rear Defogger
64 Wiper Speed
65 Fog Lamp
66 Engine Control Micro
Relays Usage
67 Starter
68 Run/Crank
Mini Relays Usage 69 Cooling Fan High
70 AIR Pump Motor