
Black plate (5,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 5/21/12
Keys, Doors, and Windows 2-5
If the vehicle has heated seats, they
may come on during a remote start.
SeeHeated Front Seats on
page 3‑8 for more information.
Laws in some local communities
may restrict the use of remote
starters. For example, some laws
require a person using remote start
to have the vehicle in view. Check
local regulations for any
requirements.
There are other conditions which
can affect the performance of the
transmitter. See Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) System on page 2‑2 for
additional information.
Starting the Engine Using Remote
Start
To start the engine using the remote
start feature:
1. Press and release
Qon the
RKE transmitter. 2. Immediately press and hold
/
for at least two seconds or until
the turn signal lamps flash. The
turn signal lamps flashing
confirms the request to remote
start the vehicle has been
received.
The parking lamps will turn on
and remain on as long as the
engine is running. The vehicle's
doors will be locked.
3. The key must be inserted and turned to ON/RUN before
driving.
The engine will shut off after
10 minutes unless a time
extension is done or the key is
inserted and turned to ON/RUN.
Extending Engine Run Time
For a 10-minute extension, repeat
Steps 1 and 2 while the engine is
still running. The remote start can
be extended once.
When the remote start is extended,
the second 10 minutes will start
immediately. For example, if the engine has been
running for 5 minutes, and
10 minutes are added, the engine
will run for a total of 15 minutes.
A maximum of two remote starts or
remote start attempts are allowed
between ignition cycles.
The vehicle's ignition switch must
be turned to ON/RUN and then back
to LOCK/OFF using the key, before
the remote start procedure can be
used again.
Shutting the Engine Off After a
Remote Start
To shut off the engine:
.Press
/until the parking lamps
turn off.
.Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
.Insert the key and turn it to ON/
RUN and then back to
LOCK/OFF.

Black plate (6,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 5/21/12
2-6 Keys, Doors, and Windows
Conditions in Which Remote Start
Will Not Work
The remote vehicle start feature will
not operate if:
.The key is in the ignition.
.The hood or doors are not
closed.
.The hazard warning flashers
are on.
.There is an emission control
system malfunction.
.The engine coolant temperature
is too high.
.The oil pressure is low.
.Two remote vehicle starts have
already been used.
.The vehicle is not in P (Park).
Remote Start Ready
If the vehicle does not have the
remote vehicle start feature, it may
have the remote start ready feature.
This feature allows your dealer to
add the manufacturer's remote
vehicle start feature. See your
dealer to add the manufacturer's
remote vehicle start feature to the
vehicle.
Door Locks
{WARNING
Unlocked doors can be
dangerous.
.Passengers, especially
children, can easily open the
doors and fall out of a moving
vehicle. The chance of being
thrown out of the vehicle in a
crash is increased if the
doors are not locked. So, all
passengers should wear
safety belts properly and the(Continued)
WARNING (CONTINUED)
doors should be locked
whenever the vehicle is
driven.
.Young children who get into
unlocked vehicles may be
unable to get out. A child can
be overcome by extreme heat
and can suffer permanent
injuries or even death from
heat stroke. Always lock the
vehicle whenever leaving it.
.Outsiders can easily enter
through an unlocked door
when slowing or stopping the
vehicle. Lock the doors to
help prevent this from
happening.
To lock or unlock a door from the
outside of the vehicle, use the
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
transmitter. Pull the handle once
from the inside to unlock the door,
and a second time to open it.

Black plate (7,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 5/21/12
Keys, Doors, and Windows 2-7
Power Door Locks
Base Radio Shown, UplevelSimilar
There is a power door lock switch
on the instrument panel.
There are power door lock switches
on the front door panels.
Q: Press to lock the doors.
K: Press to unlock the doors.
When locking the doors with a
power door lock switch and a door
or the liftgate is open, the doors will
lock five seconds after the last door
is closed. Three chimes sound to
signal the delayed locking feature is
in use. Pressing the power lock switch
twice or
Qon the RKE transmitter
twice will override the delayed
locking feature and immediately lock
all doors.
This feature can be programmed.
See “Delayed Door Lock” under
Vehicle Personalization on
page 5‑32.

Black plate (8,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 5/21/12
2-8 Keys, Doors, and Windows
Safety Locks
Base Radio Shown, UplevelSimilar
The rear door safety locks switch is
on the instrument panel.
Rear door safety locks prevent
passengers from opening the rear
doors from inside the vehicle. Press
{to activate the safety locks.
When activated, the indicator light in
the switch changes to amber.
Press
{again to deactivate the
safety locks.
If a rear door handle is pulled when
the safety lock is deactivated, that
door will remain locked and the
indicator light may flash. Release
the handle, then press the safety
lock twice to deactivate the safety
locks.
Doors
Liftgate
{WARNING
Exhaust gases can enter the
vehicle if it is driven with the
liftgate or trunk/hatch open,
or with any objects that pass
through the seal between the
body and the trunk/hatch or
liftgate. Engine exhaust contains
carbon monoxide (CO) which
cannot be seen or smelled. It can
cause unconsciousness and even
death.
If the vehicle must be driven with
the liftgate or trunk/hatch open:
.Close all of the windows.
.Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel.
(Continued)

Black plate (9,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 5/21/12
Keys, Doors, and Windows 2-9
WARNING (CONTINUED)
.Adjust the climate control
system to a setting that
brings in only outside air and
set the fan speed to the
highest setting. See“Climate
Control Systems” in the
Index.
.If the vehicle is equipped with
a power liftgate, disable the
power liftgate function.
See Engine Exhaust on
page 9‑25.
Notice: To avoid damage to the
liftgate or liftgate glass, make
sure the area above and behind
the liftgate is clear before
opening it.
Manual Liftgate
To unlock the liftgate, press the
power door lock switch or press
K
on the Remote Keyless Entry
(RKE) transmitter twice. See
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation on page 2‑3.
To open the liftgate, press the touch
pad under the liftgate handle and
lift up.
Use the pull cup to lower and close
the liftgate. Do not press the touch
pad while closing the liftgate. This
may cause the liftgate to be
unlatched.
Always close the liftgate before
driving.
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.

Black plate (10,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 5/21/12
2-10 Keys, Doors, and Windows
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. The liftgate can be opened manually
by pressing the touch pad under the
liftgate handle, with the doors
unlocked and lifting up.
In either the MAX or the 3/4 mode,
the liftgate can be power opened
and closed by:
.Pressing and holdingVon 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.Press and release8on the
liftgate adjacent to the latch to close
the liftgate.
Pressing any button, or the touch
pad switch, while the liftgate is
moving stops it. Pressing the button
or RKE transmitter again reverses
the direction. The touch pad switch
will stop the liftgate from moving.
There is a minimum distance that
the power liftgate must already be
open for the system to hold it open.
If movement is stopped below that
minimum, the liftgate closes.

Black plate (12,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 5/21/12
2-12 Keys, Doors, and Windows
If there is no audible and visual
feedback when setting the
intermediate stop position, the
liftgate height is being set below the
3/4 open height minimum
(approximately 1.5 m or 5 ft). The
liftgate cannot be set below that
minimum and the new setting will
not be recorded.
Manual Operation of Power
Liftgate
To change the liftgate to manual
operation, turn the mode switch to
the OFF position.
With the power liftgate disabled and
all of the doors unlocked, the liftgate
can be manually opened and
closed. Manual operation of a
liftgate that also has power
operation requires more effort than
a standard manual liftgate.To open the liftgate, press the touch
pad on the handle on the outside of
the liftgate, and lift the gate open. To
close the liftgate, use the pull cup to
lower the liftgate and close. With the
power liftgate disabled, the liftgate
electric latch will still power latch
once contact is made with the
striker. Always close the liftgate
before driving.
If
Von the RKE transmitter is
pressed while power operation is
disabled, the turn signals flash and
the liftgate will not move.
The liftgate has an electric latch.
If the battery is disconnected or has
low voltage, the liftgate will not
open. The liftgate will resume
operation when the battery is
reconnected and charged.
Vehicle Security
This vehicle has theft-deterrent
features; however, they do not make
the vehicle impossible to steal.
Vehicle Alarm System
This vehicle has an anti-theft alarm
system.
Arming the System
To arm the system, do one of the
following:
.PressQon the RKE transmitter.
.Lock the vehicle using the key in
the driver door.
The alarm automatically arms after
about 30 seconds. The security
light, located on the instrument
panel, flashes.
Press
Von the RKE transmitter to
open the liftgate without setting off
the alarm. The system rearms when
the liftgate is closed.

Black plate (13,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 5/21/12
Keys, Doors, and Windows 2-13
Disarming the System
To disarm the system, do one of the
following:
.PressKon the RKE transmitter.
.Turn the ignition to ON/RUN.
.Allow the alarm to time out after
about 30 seconds and reset
itself.
If the system is armed and any door
is unlocked without pressing
Kon
the RKE transmitter, the alarm
sounds.
How to Detect a Tamper
Condition
IfKis pressed and the horn
sounds, an attempted break-in has
occurred while the system was
armed. If the alarm has been activated, the
THEFT ATTEMPTED message will
appear on the DIC. See
Key and
Lock Messages on page 5‑28 for
additional information.
Immobilizer
See Radio Frequency Statement on
page 13‑15 for information
regarding Part 15 of the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC)
rules and Industry Canada
Standards RSS-GEN/210/220/310.
Immobilizer Operation
This vehicle has a passive
theft-deterrent system.
The system does not have to be
manually armed or disarmed.
The vehicle is automatically
immobilized when the key is
removed from the ignition. The system is automatically
disarmed when the vehicle is
started with the correct key. The key
uses a transponder that matches an
immobilizer control unit in the
vehicle and automatically disarms
the system. Only an authorized key
starts the vehicle. The vehicle may
not start if the key is damaged.The security light in the instrument
cluster comes on if there is a
problem with arming or disarming
the theft-deterrent system.
When trying to start the vehicle, the
security light comes on briefly when
the ignition is turned on.