2014 CHEVROLET EQUINOX ECO mode

Black plate (30,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
6081479) - 2014 - crc2 - 10/23/13
5-30 Instruments and Controls
Fuel System Messages
ECO MODE ON
On some models, this message
displays when the Fuel Economy
Mode has been turned on by
pressing the eco button near the
shift lever. SeeFuel Economy Mode
on page 9-28.
FUEL LEVEL LOW
This message displays when the
vehicle is low on fuel. Refuel as
soon as possible.
TIGHTEN GAS CAP
This message displays when the
fuel cap is not on tight. Tighten the
fuel cap.
Key and Lock Messages
REPLACE BATTERY IN
REMOTE KEY
This message displays when the
battery in the Remote Keyless Entry
(RKE) transmitter needs to be
replaced.
Object Detection System
Messages
FORWARD COLLISION
ALERT OFF
If your vehicle has the Forward
Collision Alert (FCA) system, this
message may display if the FCA
system cannot activate due to a
temporary condition. See Forward
Collision Alert (FCA) System on
page 9-37.
FRONT CAMERA BLOCKED,
CLEAN WINDSHIELD
This message displays when the
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and
Forward Collision Alert (FCA)
systems are disabled because the
camera view is blocked and cannot
operate properly. It may also
activate during heavy rain or due to
road spray. To clean the system,
clean the outside of the windshield
area in front of the LDW/FCA
camera sensor.
LANE DEPARTURE SYSTEM
UNAVAILABLE
If your vehicle has the Lane
Departure Warning (LDW) system,
this message may display if the
LDW system cannot activate due to
a temporary condition. See Lane
Departure Warning (LDW) on
page 9-43 for more information.
PARK ASSIST OFF
This message displays when the
park assist system has been turned
off or when there is a temporary
condition causing the system to be
disabled. See Ultrasonic Parking
Assist on page 9-39.
SERVICE FRONT CAMERA
This message displays when the
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and
Forward Collision Alert (FCA)
systems are disabled and need
service. See your dealer.

Black plate (22,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
6081479) - 2014 - crc2 - 10/23/13
7-22 Infotainment System
Phone
Bluetooth (Overview)
See the infotainment manual for
more information.
For vehicles equipped with
Bluetooth capability, the system can
interact with many cell phones,
allowing:
.Placement and receipt of calls in
a hands-free mode.
.Sharing of the cell phone’s
address book or contact list with
the vehicle.
To minimize driver distraction,
before driving, and with the vehicle
parked:
.Become familiar with the
features of the cell phone.
Organize the phone book and
contact lists clearly and delete
duplicate or rarely used entries.
If possible, program speed dial
or other shortcuts.
.Review the controls and
operation of the infotainment
system.
.Pair cell phone(s) to the vehicle.
The system may not work with
all cell phones. See “Pairing”in
this section.
.If the cell phone has voice
dialing capability, learn to use
that feature to access the
address book or contact list. See
“Voice Pass-Thru” in this
section.
.See “Storing and Deleting Phone
Numbers” in this section.
{Warning
When using a cell phone, it can
be distracting to look too long or
too often at the screen of the
phone or the infotainment system.
Taking your eyes off the road too
long or too often could cause a
crash resulting in injury or death.
Focus your attention on driving. Vehicles with a Bluetooth system
can use a Bluetooth-capable cell
phone with a Hands-Free Profile to
make and receive phone calls. The
infotainment system and voice
recognition are used to control the
system. The system can be used
while in ON/RUN or ACC/
ACCESSORY. The range of the
Bluetooth system can be up to 9.1 m
(30 ft). Not all phones support all
functions and not all phones work
with the Bluetooth system. See
www.gm.com/bluetooth for more
information about compatible
phones.
Bluetooth Controls
Use the buttons located on the
infotainment system and the
steering wheel to operate the
Bluetooth system.
Steering Wheel Controls
b/g(Push To Talk):
Press to
answer incoming calls, confirm
system information, and start voice
recognition.

Black plate (2,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
6081479) - 2014 - crc2 - 10/23/13
8-2 Climate Controls
A(Fan Control):Turn to increase
or decrease the fan speed. Turn the
knob completely to
Tto turn the
fan off.
Temperature Control: Turn to
increase or decrease the
temperature.
Air Delivery Mode Control: To
change the current mode, select
one of the following:
F (Vent): Air is directed to the
instrument panel outlets.
* (Bi-Level): Air is directed to the
instrument panel outlets and the
floor outlets.
7 (Floor): Air is directed to the
floor outlets.
W(Defog): Clears the windows of
fog or moisture. Air is directed to the
windshield and floor outlets.
0FRONT (Front Defrost): Clears
the windshield of fog or frost more
quickly. Air is directed to the
windshield and side window outlets. For best results, clear all snow and
ice from the windshield before
defrosting.
Do not drive the vehicle until all the
windows are clear.
If equipped with the Fuel Economy
Mode, the climate controls may take
longer to heat or cool the cabin and
the rear window defogger will turn
off sooner, when this feature is in
use. See
Fuel Economy Mode on
page 9-28.
Air Conditioning
A/C (Air Conditioning): Press to
turn the air conditioning on or off.
If the fan is turned off or the outside
temperature falls below freezing, the
air conditioning will not work.
h(Recirculation): Press to turn
on the recirculation. An indicator
light comes on. Air is recirculated
inside the vehicle. It helps to quickly
cool the air inside the vehicle or
prevent outside air and odors from
entering. The air conditioning may
come on under certain conditions. To improve fuel efficiency and to
cool the vehicle faster, recirculation
may be automatically selected in
warm weather. The recirculation
light will not come on. To override
this feature, select outside air.
%(Outside Air):
Press to turn
on the outside air. An indicator light
comes on. Outside air is circulated
throughout the vehicle.
Rear Window Defogger
1REAR (Rear Defogger): Press
to turn the rear window defogger on
or off. The rear window defogger
turns off after about 10 minutes.
It can also be turned off by turning
the ignition to ACC/ACCESSORY or
LOCK/OFF. If turned on again, it
runs for about five minutes before
turning off.
The ignition must be on to use the
rear window defogger.
Do not drive the vehicle until all the
windows are clear.

Black plate (4,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
6081479) - 2014 - crc2 - 10/23/13
8-4 Climate Controls
Automatic Operation
The system automatically controls
the fan speed, air delivery, air
conditioning, and recirculation to
heat or cool the vehicle to the
selected temperature.
When the AUTO indicator light is
on, the system is in full automatic
operation.
To place the system in
automatic mode:
1. Press AUTO.
2. Set the temperature. Allow thesystem time to stabilize. Then
adjust the temperature as
needed.
To improve fuel efficiency and to
cool the vehicle faster,
recirculation may be
automatically selected in warm
weather. The recirculation light
will not come on. Press the
h
to select recirculation; press it
again to select outside air. Manual Operation
O(Power):
Press to turn the
climate control system on or off.
A(Fan Control): Turn to increase
or decrease the fan speed.
Adjusting the fan speed while in
automatic mode places the fan
under manual control. The AUTO
indicator light turns off. The air
delivery mode remains in automatic
control.
Temperature Control: Turn to
increase or decrease the
temperature inside the vehicle.
H/G(Air Delivery Mode
Control): Press mode up or mode
down to cycle through the different
air delivery modes. The current
mode is shown on the display.
Select from the following:
F (Vent): Air is directed to the
instrument panel outlets.
* (Bi-Level): Air is directed to the
instrument panel outlets and the
floor outlets. 7
(Floor): Air is directed to the
floor outlets.
W(Defog): Clears the windows of
fog or moisture. Air is directed to the
windshield and floor outlets.
0FRONT (Front Defrost): Clears
the windshield of fog or frost more
quickly. Air is directed to the
windshield and side window outlets.
Selecting defrost disables the
automatic mode.
For best results, clear all snow and
ice from the windshield before
defrosting.
Do not drive the vehicle until all the
windows are clear.
For vehicles with Fuel Economy
Mode, the climate controls may take
longer to heat or cool the cabin and
the rear window defogger will turn
off sooner, when this feature is in
use. See Fuel Economy Mode on
page 9-28.

Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
6081479) - 2014 - crc2 - 10/23/13
Driving and Operating 9-1
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Off-Road Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . 9-10
Highway Hypnosis . . . . . . . . . . . 9-11
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 9-11
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-12
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 9-14
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . 9-14
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . 9-19
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-19
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . 9-21
Retained AccessoryPower (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-22
Engine Coolant Heater . . . . . . . 9-23 Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-23
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . 9-24
Parking over Things
That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-25
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-25
Running the Vehicle WhileParked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-26
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . 9-26
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-28
Fuel Economy Mode . . . . . . . . . 9-28
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-29
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-30
Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-31
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-31
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . 9-32
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-32
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-34
Driver Assistance Systems
Forward Collision Alert (FCA)System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-37
Ultrasonic Parking Assist . . . . 9-39
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-40
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-43
Fuel
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-45
Recommended Fuel . . . . . . . . . 9-45
Gasoline Specifications . . . . . . 9-46
California FuelRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-46
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . 9-47
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-47
E85 or FlexFuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-47
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-48
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-49
Trailer Towing
General TowingInformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-50
Driving Characteristics and Towing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-50

Black plate (28,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
6081479) - 2014 - crc2 - 10/23/13
9-28 Driving and Operating
{Caution
Spinning the tires or holding the
vehicle in one place on a hill
using only the accelerator pedal
may damage the transmission.
The repair will not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. If you are
stuck, do not spin the tires. When
stopping on a hill, use the brakes
to hold the vehicle in place.
M (Manual Mode): Allows the
driver to select the range of gear
positions. See Manual Mode on
page 9-28.
Manual Mode
Electronic Range Select
(ERS) Mode
ERS or manual mode allows for the
selection of the range of gear
positions. Use this mode when
driving downhill or towing a trailer to
limit the top gear and vehicle speed.
The shift position indicator within the Driver Information Center (DIC) will
display a number next to the M
indicating the highest available gear
under manual mode and the driving
conditions when manual mode was
selected.
To use this feature:
1. Move the shift lever to
M (Manual Mode).
2. Press the plus/minus button on the shift lever, to increase or
decrease the gear range
available.
When shifting to M (Manual Mode),
the transmission will shift to a preset
lower gear range. For this preset
range, the highest gear available is
displayed next to the M in the DIC.
See Driver Information Center (DIC)
on page 5-23 for more information.
All gears below that number are
available to use. For example, when
4 (Fourth) is shown next to the M,
1 (First) through 4 (Fourth) gears are
shifted automatically. To shift to
5 (Fifth) gear, press the + (Plus)
button or shift into D (Drive). M (Manual Mode) will prevent
shifting to a lower gear range if the
engine speed is too high. If vehicle
speed is not reduced within the time
allowed, the lower gear range shift
will not be completed. Slow the
vehicle, then press the
−(Minus)
button to the desired lower gear
range.
While using the ERS, cruise control
can be used.
Fuel Economy Mode
Vehicles with a 2.4L engine have a
Fuel Economy Mode. When
engaged, Fuel Economy Mode can
improve the vehicle's fuel economy.

Black plate (29,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
6081479) - 2014 - crc2 - 10/23/13
Driving and Operating 9-29
Press the eco (economy) button
next to the shift lever to turn this
feature on or off. The eco light in the
instrument cluster will come on
when engaged. SeeFuel Economy
Light on page 5-21. A Driver
Information Center (DIC) message
is also displayed. See Fuel System
Messages on page 5-30.
When Fuel Economy Mode is on:
.The transmission will upshift
sooner and downshift later.
.The torque converter clutch will
apply sooner and stay on longer.
.The gas pedal will be less
sensitive.
.The vehicle's computer will more
aggressively shut off fuel to the
engine under deceleration.
.The engine idle speed will be
lower.
.Driving performance is more
conservative.
.The climate controls may take
longer to heat or cool the cabin.
.The rear defogger will stay on
for shorter periods of time.
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive
Vehicles with this feature transfer
engine power, as required, to all
four wheels. It is fully automatic, and
adjusts itself as needed for road
conditions.
When using a compact spare tire on
an AWD vehicle, the system
automatically detects the compact
spare and reduces AWD
performance to protect the system.
To restore full AWD operation and
prevent excessive wear on the
system, replace the compact spare
with a full-size tire as soon as
possible. See Compact Spare Tire
on page 10-66.

Black plate (50,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
6081479) - 2014 - crc2 - 10/23/13
9-50 Driving and Operating
Warning (Continued)
keep it in contact with the fill
opening until filling is
complete.
.Fill the container no more
than 95% full to allow for
expansion.
.Do not smoke, light matches,
or use lighters while
pumping fuel.
.Avoid using cell phones or
other electronic devices.
Trailer Towing
General Towing
Information
Only use towing equipment that has
been designed for the vehicle.
Contact your dealer or trailering
dealer for assistance with preparing
the vehicle for towing a trailer. Read
the entire section before towing a
trailer.
For towing a disabled vehicle, see
Towing the Vehicle on page 10-70.
For towing the vehicle behind
another vehicle such as a motor
home, seeRecreational Vehicle
Towing on page 10-70.
Driving Characteristics
and Towing Tips
Driving with a Trailer
When towing a trailer:
.Become familiar with the state
and local laws that apply
specifically to trailer towing.
.Do not tow a trailer during the
first 800 km (500 miles), to
prevent damage to the engine,
axle or other parts.
.Then, during the first 800 km
(500 miles) trailer towing, do not
drive over 80 km/h (50 mph) and
do not make starts at full throttle.
.The vehicle can tow in D (Drive).
Use a lower gear if the
transmission shifts too often.
.Do not use the Fuel Economy
Mode when towing.
.Turn off Park Assist when
towing.