Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9918169) - 2017 - CRC - 3/23/16
110 Instruments and Controls
The traction off light comes on when
the Traction Control System (TCS)
has been turned off by pressing and
releasing the TCS/StabiliTrak
button.
This light and the StabiliTrak OFF
light come on when StabiliTrak is
turned off.
If the TCS is off, wheel spin is not
limited. Adjust driving accordingly.
SeeTraction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0175.
StabiliTrak®OFF Light
This light comes on briefly while
starting the vehicle. If it does not,
have the vehicle serviced by your
dealer. This light comes on when the
StabiliTrak system is turned off.
If StabiliTrak is off, the Traction
Control System (TCS) is also off.
If the StabiliTrak and TCS are off,
the system does not assist in
controlling the vehicle. Turn on the
TCS and the StabiliTrak systems
and the warning light turns off.
See
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0175.
Traction Control System
(TCS)/StabiliTrak®Light
This light comes on briefly when the
engine is started.
If the light does not come on, have
the vehicle serviced by your dealer.
If the system is working normally,
the indicator light turns off. If the light is on and not flashing, the
TCS and potentially the StabiliTrak
system have been disabled.
A Driver Information Center (DIC)
message may display. Check the
DIC messages to determine which
feature(s) is no longer functioning
and whether the vehicle requires
service. See
Ride Control System
Messages 0120.
If the light is on and flashing, the
TCS and/or the StabiliTrak system
is actively working.
See Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0175.
Tire Pressure Light
For vehicles with the Tire Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS), this light
comes on briefly when the engine is
started. It provides information
about tire pressures and the TPMS.
Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Instruments and Controls 111
When the Light Is On Steady
This indicates that one or more of
the tires are significantly
underinflated.
A Driver Information Center (DIC)
tire pressure message may also
display. SeeTire Messages 0122.
Stop as soon as possible, and
inflate the tires to the pressure value
shown on the Tire and Loading
Information label. See Tire
Pressure 0240.
When the Light Flashes First and
Then Is On Steady
If the light flashes for about a minute
and then stays on, there may be a
problem with the TPMS. If the
problem is not corrected, the light
will come on at every ignition cycle.
See Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation 0242.
Engine Oil Pressure Light
Oil pressure can vary with engine
speed, outside temperature, and oil
viscosity. On some models, the oil pump will
vary engine oil pressure according
to engine needs. Oil pressure may
change quickly as the engine speed
or load varies. This is normal. If the
oil pressure warning light or Driver
Information Center (DIC) message
indicates oil pressure outside the
normal operating range, check the
vehicle's oil as soon as possible.
See
Engine Oil Messages 0118.
Caution
Lack of proper engine oil
maintenance can damage the
engine. Driving with the engine oil
low can also damage the engine.
The repairs would not be covered
by the vehicle warranty. Check
the oil level as soon as possible.
Add oil if required, but if the oil
level is within the operating range
and the oil pressure is still low,
have the vehicle serviced. Always
follow the maintenance schedule
for changing engine oil.
This light should come on briefly as
the engine is started. If it does not
come on, have the vehicle serviced
by your dealer.
If the light comes on and stays on, it
means that oil is not flowing through
the engine properly. The vehicle
could be low on oil and might have
some other system problem. See
your dealer.
Fuel Economy Light
For vehicles with the Fuel Economy
Mode light, it comes on when the
eco (economy) button near the shift
lever is pressed. For vehicles with a
Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9918169) - 2017 - CRC - 3/23/16
112 Instruments and Controls
Driver Information Center (DIC) an
ECO MODE ON message displays.
SeeFuel System Messages 0119.
Press the button again to turn off
the light and exit the fuel
saver mode.
Low Fuel Warning Light
English Shown, Metric Similar
This light comes on for a few
seconds when the ignition is turned
on as a check to indicate it is
working. If it does not come on,
have it fixed.
The low fuel warning light is a circle
located on the fuel gauge. This light
comes on and a chime sounds periodically when the vehicle is low
on fuel. The light goes off when fuel
is added to the fuel tank.
For vehicles with a Driver
Information Center (DIC), see
Fuel
System Messages 0119 for more
information.
Security Light
The security light should come on
briefly as the engine is started. If it
does not come on, have the vehicle
serviced by your dealer. If the
system is working normally, the
indicator light turns off.
If the light stays on and the engine
does not start, there could be a
problem with the theft-deterrent
system. See Immobilizer
Operation 038.
High-Beam On Light
The high‐beam on light comes on
when the high-beam headlamps are
in use.
See Headlamp High/Low-Beam
Changer 0133 for more information.
Front Fog Lamp Light
The fog lamp light comes on when
the fog lamps are in use.
The light goes out when the fog
lamps are turned off. See Fog
Lamps 0135 for more information.
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Instruments and Controls 113
Lamps On Reminder
For vehicles with the lamps on
reminder light, it comes on when the
lights are in use.
Cruise Control Light
For vehicles with cruise control, the
cruise control light is white when the
cruise control is on and ready, and
turns green when the cruise control
is set and active.
The light turns off when the cruise
control is turned off. SeeCruise
Control 0177.
Information Displays
Driver Information
Center (DIC)
The vehicle may have a DIC.
It displays information about the
vehicle and warning messages if
there is a system problem detected.
DIC messages display in the center
of the instrument cluster. See
Vehicle Messages 0116.
The vehicle may also have features
that can be customized through the
controls on the radio. See Vehicle
Personalization 0123.
DIC Operation and Displays
Use the DIC buttons in the center of
the instrument panel to access
different displays. The DIC displays
trip, fuel, vehicle system information,
and warning messages. It also
shows the shift lever position, the
odometer, and the direction the
vehicle is driving. DIC Buttons
MENU :
Press this button to get to
the Trip/Fuel Menu and the Vehicle
Information Menu.
QorR: Use these buttons to scroll
through the items in each menu.
A small marker will move along the
page as you scroll through the
items. This shows where each page
is in the menu.
SET/CLR : Use this button to set or
clear the menu item when it is
displayed.
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122 Instruments and Controls
Service Vehicle Messages
SERVICE POWER STEERING
This message displays and a chime
may sound when there may be a
problem with the power steering
system. If this message displays
and a reduction in steering
performance or loss of power
steering assistance is noticed, see
your dealer.
SERVICE VEHICLE SOON
This message is displayed if there is
a problem with the vehicle. Take the
vehicle to your dealer for service.
Tire Messages
SERVICE TIRE MONITOR
SYSTEM
This message displays if there is a
problem with the Tire Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS). SeeTire
Pressure Monitor Operation 0242.
TIRE LEARNING ACTIVE
This message displays when the
system is learning new tires. See
Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation 0242.
TIRE PRESSURE LOW ADD
AIR TO TIRE
This message displays when the
pressure in one or more of the tires
is low.
This message also displays LEFT
FRONT, RIGHT FRONT, LEFT
REAR, or RIGHT REAR to indicate
the location of the low tire.
The low tire pressure warning light
will also come on. See Tire
Pressure Light 0110.
If a tire pressure message appears
on the DIC, stop as soon as
possible. Inflate the tires by adding
air until the tire pressure is equal to
the values shown on the Tire and
Loading Information label. See Tires
0 232, Vehicle Load Limits 0159,
and Tire Pressure 0240. More than one tire pressure
message can appear at a time. The
DIC also shows the tire pressure
values. See
Driver Information
Center (DIC) 0113.
Transmission Messages
SERVICE TRANSMISSION
This message displays if there is a
problem with the transmission. See
your dealer.
SHIFT TO PARK
This message displays when the
transmission needs to be shifted to
P (Park). This may appear when
attempting to remove the key from
the ignition or from the vehicle if the
vehicle is not in P (Park).
TRANSMISSION HOT —IDLE
ENGINE
This message displays and a chime
sounds if the transmission fluid in
the vehicle gets hot. Driving with the
transmission fluid temperature high
can cause damage to the vehicle.
Stop the vehicle and let it idle to
Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Lighting 133
Lighting
Exterior Lighting
Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . 133
Headlamp High/Low-BeamChanger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Automatic Headlamp System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Hazard Warning Flashers . . . . . 135
Turn and Lane-Change Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Interior Lighting
Instrument Panel Illumination Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Dome Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Reading Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Lighting Features
Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Battery Load Management . . . 137
Battery Power Protection . . . . . 138
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Exterior Lighting
Exterior Lamp Controls
The exterior lamp control is on the
turn signal lever.
There are four positions.
O: Briefly turn to this position to
turn the automatic light control off or
on again.
AUTO : Turns the exterior lamps on
and off automatically depending on
the exterior light. The vehicle will
default to the AUTO setting when it
is first started.
;: Turns on the parking lamps
including all lamps, except the
headlamps.
5: Turns on the headlamps,
together with the parking lamps and
instrument panel lights.
Headlamp High/
Low-Beam Changer
2 3
: Push the turn signal lever
away from you and release, to turn
the high beams on. To return to low
beams, push the lever again or pull
it toward you and release.
This indicator light turns on in the
instrument cluster when the
high-beam headlamps are on.
Flash-to-Pass
The flash-to-pass feature works with
the low beams or Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL) on or off.
To flash the high beams, pull the
turn signal lever all the way toward
you, then release it.
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Lighting 135
Lights On with Wipers
If the windshield wipers are
activated in daylight with the engine
on, and the exterior lamp control is
in AUTO, the headlamps, parking
lamps, and other exterior lamps
come on. The transition time for the
lamps coming on varies based on
wiper speed. When the wipers are
not operating, these lamps turn off.
Move the exterior lamp control to
P
or;to disable this feature.
Hazard Warning Flashers
|:Press to make the front and
rear turn signal lamps flash on and
off. This warns others that you are
having trouble.
Press
|again to turn the
flashers off.
Turn and Lane-Change
Signals
Move the lever all the way up or
down to signal a turn.
An arrow on the instrument cluster
will flash in the direction of the turn
or lane change.
Raise or lower the lever until the
arrow starts to flash to signal a lane
change. Hold it there until the lane
change is complete. If the lever is
briefly pressed and released, the
turn signal flashes three times. The lever returns to its starting
position when it is released.
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 any burned out bulbs
replaced. If a bulb is not burned out,
check the fuse; see
Fuses0227.
Fog Lamps
If equipped with fog lamps, the
control is on the turn signal lever.
Use the fog lamps for better vision
in foggy or misty conditions.
#FOG : Turn the fog lamp band on
the lever to
#FOG and release it,
to turn the fog lamps on or off. The
band will return to its original
position.
Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 153
Driving on Hills
Driving safely on hills requires good
judgment and an understanding of
what the vehicle can and cannot do.
{Warning
Many hills are simply too steep
for any vehicle. Driving up hills
can cause the vehicle to stall.
Driving down hills can cause loss
of control. Driving across hills can
cause a rollover. You could be
injured or killed. Do not drive on
steep hills.
Before driving on a hill, assess the
steepness, traction, and
obstructions. If the terrain ahead
cannot be seen, get out of the
vehicle and walk the hill before
driving further.
When driving on hills:
. Use a low gear and keep a firm
grip on the steering wheel.
. Maintain a slow speed. .
When possible, drive straight up
or down the hill.
. Slow down when approaching
the top of the hill.
. Use headlamps even during the
day to make the vehicle more
visible.
{Warning
Driving to the top of a hill at high
speed can cause an accident.
There could be a drop-off,
embankment, cliff, or even
another vehicle. You could be
seriously injured or killed. As you
near the top of a hill, slow down
and stay alert.
. Never go downhill forward or
backward with the transmission
in N (Neutral). The brakes could
overheat and you could lose
control.
. When driving down a hill, keep
the vehicle headed straight
down. Use a low gear because
the engine will work with the brakes to slow the vehicle and
help keep the vehicle under
control.
{Warning
Heavy braking when going down
a hill can cause your brakes to
overheat and fade. This could
cause loss of control and you or
others could be injured or killed.
Apply the brakes lightly when
descending a hill and use a low
gear to keep vehicle speed under
control.
If the vehicle stalls on a hill: 1. Apply the brakes to stop the vehicle, and then apply the
parking brake.
2. Shift into P (Park) and then restart the engine.
.If driving uphill when the
vehicle stalls, shift to
R (Reverse), release the
parking brake, and back
straight down.