2016 CHEVROLET EQUINOX coolant temperature

Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234773) - 2016 - crc - 9/3/15
Vehicle Care 211
The following explains the cooling
system and how to check and add
coolant when it is low. If there is a
problem with engine overheating,
seeEngine Overheating 0214
ii.
What to Use
{Warning
Adding only plain water or some
other liquid to the cooling system
can be dangerous. Plain water
and other liquids, can boil before
the proper coolant mixture will.
The coolant warning system is set
for the proper coolant mixture.
With plain water or the wrong
mixture, the engine could get too
hot but you would not get the
overheat warning. The engine
could catch fire and you or others
could be burned. Use a 50/
50 mixture of clean, drinkable
water and DEX-COOL coolant. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
coolant. If using this mixture,
nothing else needs to be added.
This mixture:
.
Gives freezing protection down
to−37 °C (−34 °F), outside
temperature.
. Gives boiling protection up to
129 °C (265 °F), engine
temperature.
. Protects against rust and
corrosion.
. Will not damage aluminum parts.
. Helps keep the proper engine
temperature.
Caution
If improper coolant mixture,
inhibitors, or additives are used in
the vehicle cooling system, the
engine could overheat and be
damaged. Too much water in the
mixture can freeze and crack
engine cooling parts. The repairs
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty. Use only the
proper mixture of engine coolant
for the cooling system. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants0282
ii.
Never dispose of engine coolant by
putting it in the trash, pouring it on
the ground, or into sewers, streams,
or bodies of water. Have the coolant
changed by an authorized service
center, familiar with legal
requirements regarding used
coolant disposal. This will help
protect the environment and your
health.
Checking Coolant
The vehicle must be on a level
surface when checking the coolant
level.
Check to see if coolant is visible in
the coolant surge tank. If the coolant
inside the coolant surge tank is
boiling, do not do anything else until
it cools down. If coolant is visible

Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234773) - 2016 - crc - 9/3/15
214 Vehicle Care
Engine Overheating
The vehicle has an indicator to warn
of engine overheating. There is an
engine coolant temperature warning
light on the vehicle's instrument
panel. SeeEngine Coolant
Temperature Gauge 0100
ii.
The decision may be made not to lift
the hood when this warning
appears, but instead get service
help right away. See Roadside
Assistance Program 0293
ii.
If the decision to lift the hood is
made, make sure the vehicle is
parked on a level surface.
Then check to see if the engine
cooling fan(s) are running. If the
engine is overheating, the fan(s)
should be running. If they are not,
do not continue to run the engine
and have the vehicle serviced.
Caution
Running the engine without
coolant may cause damage or a
fire. Vehicle damage would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
If Steam is Coming from the
Engine Compartment
{Warning
Steam from an overheated engine
can burn you badly, even if you
just open the hood. Stay away
from the engine if you see or hear
steam coming from it. Just turn it
off and get everyone away from
the vehicle until it cools down.
Wait until there is no sign of
steam or coolant before you open
the hood.
If you keep driving when the
engine is overheated, the liquids
in it can catch fire. You or others
could be badly burned. Stop the
engine if it overheats, and get out
of the vehicle until the engine
is cool.
If No Steam is Coming from
the Engine Compartment
If an engine overheat warning is
displayed but no steam can be seen
or heard, the problem may not be too serious. Sometimes the engine
can get a little too hot when the
vehicle:
.
Climbs a long hill on a hot day.
. Stops after high-speed driving.
. Idles for long periods in traffic.
. Tows a trailer.
If the overheat warning is displayed
with no sign of steam: 1. Turn the air conditioning off.
2. Turn the heater on to the highest temperature and to the
highest fan speed. Open the
windows as necessary.
3. When it is safe to do so, pull off the road, shift to P (Park) or
N (Neutral) and let the
engine idle.
If the temperature overheat gauge is
no longer in the overheat zone or an
overheat warning no longer
displays, the vehicle can be driven.
Continue to drive the vehicle slowly
for about 10 minutes. Keep a safe
vehicle distance from the vehicle in
front. If the warning does not come

Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234773) - 2016 - crc - 9/3/15
216 Vehicle Care
Washer Fluid
What to Use
When windshield washer fluid is
needed, be sure to read the
manufacturer's instructions before
use. If operating the vehicle in an
area where the temperature may fall
below freezing, use a fluid that has
sufficient protection against
freezing.
Adding Washer Fluid
Open the cap with the washer
symbol on it. Add washer fluid until
the tank is full. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview 0201
iifor
reservoir location.
Caution
. Do not use washer fluid that
contains any type of water
repellent coating. This can
cause the wiper blades to
chatter or skip.
. Do not use engine coolant
(antifreeze) in the
windshield washer. It can
damage the windshield
washer system and paint.
. Do not mix water with
ready-to-use washer fluid.
Water can cause the
solution to freeze and
damage the washer fluid
tank and other parts of the
washer system.
. When using concentrated
washer fluid, follow the
manufacturer instructions for
adding water.
. Fill the washer fluid tank
only three-quarters full when
it is very cold. This allows
for fluid expansion if
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
freezing occurs, which could
damage the tank if it is
completely full.
Brakes
Disc brake pads have built-in wear
indicators that make a high-pitched
warning sound when the brake pads
are worn and new pads are needed.
The sound can come and go or can
be heard all the time when the
vehicle is moving, except when
applying the brake pedal firmly.
{Warning
The brake wear warning sound
means that soon the brakes will
not work well. That could lead to
a crash. When the brake wear
warning sound is heard, have the
vehicle serviced.

Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234773) - 2016 - crc - 9/3/15
Index 315
ConnectionsOnStar®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Control Traction and ElectronicStability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Convenience Net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Convex Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Coolant Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Engine Temperature Gauge . . 100
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209 Engine Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . .114
Courtesy Transportation Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
Cover
Cargo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174 Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114
Cupholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Customer Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . 292 Offices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Text Telephone (TTY)Users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292 Customer Information
Service Publications
Ordering Information . . . . . . . . 298
Customer Satisfaction Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
D
Damage Repair, Collision . . . . . . . 296
Danger, Warning, and Caution . . . . 2
Data Recorders, Event . . . . . . . . . 301
Daytime RunningLamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Diagnostics OnStar
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Dome Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Door
Ajar Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Power Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Drive Belt Routing, Engine . . . . . . 288
Drive Systems All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . 170, 219
Driver Information Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 Driving
Characteristics and
Towing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Defensive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Drunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
For Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . 22
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . 153
If the Vehicle is Stuck . . . . . . . . . 155
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Off-Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154E
E85 or FlexFuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
ECO Button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Economy Mode Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Electrical Equipment,
Add-On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Electrical System Engine Compartment FuseBlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Instrument Panel Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227

Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9234773) - 2016 - crc - 9/3/15
316 Index
EmergencyOnStar®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Check and Service EngineSoon Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Compartment Overview . . . . . . . 201
Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Coolant Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Coolant Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Cooling System Messages . . . .114
Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Drive Belt Routing . . . . . . . . . . . . 288
Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Oil Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115
Oil Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Power Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115
Running While Parked . . . . . . . . 166
Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Equipment, Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Event Data Recorders . . . . . . . . . . 301
Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Extender, Safety Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . . . 130F
Features
Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Filter, Engine Air Cleaner . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Flashers, Hazard Warning . . . . . . 132
Flat Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249 Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
FlexFuel
E85 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Fluid Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 208
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Power Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Fog Lamps Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . 133, 222
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . 106
Frequency Statement
Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
Front Fog Lamp Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109 Front Seats
Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Heated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185 Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Economy Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Economy Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Filling a Portable FuelContainer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Foreign Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . . 109
Requirements, California . . . . . 186
System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . .116
Fuel Economy Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Engine Compartment FuseBlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
G
Garage Door Opener . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Gauges
Engine CoolantTemperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99