Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9918169) - 2017 - CRC - 3/23/16
Instruments and Controls 129
Vehicle Locator Lights
This allows the vehicle locator lights
to be turned on or off.
Select to enable or disable.
Exit Lighting
This allows the selection of how
long the exterior lamps stay on
when leaving the vehicle when it is
dark outside.
Select Off, 30 Seconds, 1 Minute,
or 2 Minutes.
Power Door Locks
Select and depending on the radio
the following may display:
.Auto Door Unlock
. Delayed Door Lock
Auto Door Unlock
This allows selection of which doors
will automatically unlock when the
vehicle is shifted into P (Park).
Select All Doors, Driver Door, or Off. Delayed Door Lock
When on, this feature will delay the
locking of the doors. See
Delayed
Locking 031.
Select to enable or disable.
Remote Lock/Unlock/Start
Select and depending on the radio
the following may display:
. Remote Unlock Feedback
. Remote Unlock Light Feedback
. Remote Lock Feedback
. Remote Door Unlock
Remote Unlock Feedback or
Remote Unlock Light Feedback
When on, the exterior lamps will
flash when unlocking the vehicle
with the RKE transmitter.
Depending on the radio select Flash
Lights or Off, or select to enable or
disable. Remote Lock Feedback
This allows selection of what
feedback is provided when
unlocking the vehicle with the RKE
transmitter.
Select Lights and Horn, Lights Only,
Horn Only, or Off.
Remote Door Unlock
This allows selection of which doors
will unlock on the first press of
Kon
the RKE transmitter.
Select Driver Door or All Doors.
If Driver Door is selected, all doors
will unlock on the second press of
Kwithin five seconds of the prior
press.
Return to Factory Settings?
This returns all of the vehicle
personalization settings to the
factory settings.
Select Yes or No.
Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9918169) - 2017 - CRC - 3/23/16
Lighting 137
Lighting Features
Entry Lighting
Some exterior lamps and interior
lamps turn on briefly at night, or in
areas with limited lighting, when
K
is pressed on the Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) transmitter. When a
door is opened, the interior lamps
come on. They stay on for about
20 seconds. When all of the doors
have been closed or the ignition is
turned to ON/RUN, they gradually
fade out.
This feature can be changed. See
“Vehicle Locator Lights”under
Vehicle Personalization 0123.
Exit Lighting
Some exterior lamps and interior
lamps come on at night, or in areas
with limited lighting, when the key is
removed from the ignition. The
dome lamp comes on after the
ignition is changed to the OFF
position. The exterior lamps and dome lamp remain on for a set
amount of time, then automatically
turn off.
The exterior lamps turn off
immediately by turning the exterior
lamp control off.
This feature can be changed. See
Vehicle Personalization
0123.
Battery Load
Management
The vehicle has Electric Power
Management (EPM) that estimates
the battery's temperature and state
of charge. It then adjusts the voltage
for best performance and extended
life of the battery.
When the battery's state of charge
is low, the voltage is raised slightly
to quickly bring the charge back up.
When the state of charge is high,
the voltage is lowered slightly to
prevent overcharging. If the vehicle
has a voltmeter gauge or a voltage
display on the Driver Information
Center (DIC), you may see the voltage move up or down. This is
normal. If there is a problem, an
alert will be displayed.
The battery can be discharged at
idle if the electrical loads are very
high. This is true for all vehicles.
This is because the generator
(alternator) may not be spinning fast
enough at idle to produce all of the
power needed for very high
electrical loads.
A high electrical load occurs when
several of the following are on, such
as: headlamps, high beams, rear
window defogger, climate control fan
at high speed, heated seats, engine
cooling fans, trailer loads, and loads
plugged into accessory power
outlets.
EPM works to prevent excessive
discharge of the battery. It does this
by balancing the generator's output
and the vehicle's electrical needs.
It can increase engine idle speed to
generate more power whenever
needed. It can temporarily reduce
the power demands of some
accessories.
Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9918169) - 2017 - CRC - 3/23/16
138 Lighting
Normally, these actions occur in
steps or levels, without being
noticeable. In rare cases at the
highest levels of corrective action,
this action may be noticeable to the
driver. If so, a DIC message might
be displayed and it is recommended
that the driver reduce the electrical
loads as much as possible. See
Battery Voltage and Charging
Messages0117.
Battery Power Protection
The exterior lamps turn off about
10 minutes after the ignition is
turned off, if the parking lamps or
headlamps have been manually left
on. This protects against draining
the battery. To restart the 10-minute
timer, turn the exterior lamp control
to the
Oposition and then back to
the
;or2position.
To keep the lamps on for more than
10 minutes, the ignition must be in
the ACC/ACCESSORY or ON/RUN/
START position.
Exterior Lighting Battery
Saver
The battery saver feature is
designed to protect the vehicle's
battery.
If some interior lamps are left on
and the ignition is turned off, the
battery rundown protection system
automatically turns the lamp off after
some time.
Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9918169) - 2017 - CRC - 3/23/16
Climate Controls 143
setting is displayed. Functions not
manually set will continue to be
automatically controlled, even if the
AUTO indicator is not lit.
For automatic operation:1. Press AUTO.
2. Set the temperature to 22° C (72° F) and allow the system
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
hto
select recirculation; press it
again to select outside air.
Manual Operation
O: Press to turn the climate control
system on or off.
A: 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: 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 :Air is directed to the instrument
panel outlets.
* :Air is directed to the instrument
panel outlets and the floor outlets.
7 :Air is directed to the floor outlets
with some air directed to the
windshield and the side window
outlets.
W: Clears the windows of fog or
moisture. Air is directed to the
windshield with some air directed to
the floor and side window outlets.
0FRONT : Press to clear the
windshield of fog or frost more
quickly. Air is directed to the
windshield and side window outlets. The system allows outside air into
the vehicle and the air conditioning
compressor will run, unless the
outside temperature is below
freezing.
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 0172.
Air Conditioning
A/C : Press to turn the air
conditioning on or off. An indicator
light comes on to show that the air
conditioning is enabled. If the fan is
turned off, the air conditioner will not
run. The A/C indicator light will stay
on even if the outside temperature
is below freezing.
Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9918169) - 2017 - CRC - 3/23/16
164 Driving and Operating
This is the only position from which
the key can be removed. If the key
cannot be removed, make sure the
shift lever is in P (Park).
The ignition switch can bind in the
LOCK/OFF position with the wheels
turned off center. If this happens,
move the steering wheel from right
to left while turning the key to ACC/
ACCESSORY. If this does not work,
then the vehicle needs service.
Do not turn the engine off when the
vehicle is moving. This will cause a
loss of power assist in the brake
and steering systems and disable
the airbags.
If the vehicle must be shut off in an
emergency:1. Brake using a firm and steady pressure. Do not pump the
brakes repeatedly. This may
deplete power assist, requiring
increased brake pedal force.
2. Shift the vehicle to N (Neutral). This can be done while the
vehicle is moving. After shifting to N (Neutral), firmly apply the
brakes and steer the vehicle to
a safe location.
3. Come to a complete stop, shift to P (Park), and turn the
ignition to LOCK/OFF. On
vehicles with an automatic
transmission, the shift lever
must be in P (Park) to turn the
ignition switch to the LOCK/
OFF position.
4. Set the parking brake. See Parking Brake 0174.
{Warning
Turning off the vehicle while
moving may cause loss of power
assist in the brake and steering
systems and disable the airbags.
While driving, only shut the
vehicle off in an emergency.
If the vehicle cannot be pulled over,
and must be shut off while driving,
turn the ignition to ACC/
ACCESSORY. 1 (ACC/ACCESSORY) :
This
position provides power to some of
the electrical accessories. It unlocks
the steering wheel and ignition. To
move the key from ACC/
ACCESSORY to LOCK/OFF, push
in the key and then turn it to
LOCK/OFF.
2 (ON/RUN) : The ignition switch
stays in this position when the
engine is running. This position can
be used to operate the electrical
accessories, including the
ventilation fan and 12-volt power
outlets, as well as to display some
warning and indicator lights. This
position can also be used for
service and diagnostics, and to
verify the proper operation of the
malfunction indicator lamp as may
be required for emission inspection
purposes. The transmission is also
unlocked in this position on
automatic transmission vehicles.
The battery could be drained if the
key is left in the ACC/ACCESSORY
or ON/RUN position with the engine
off. The vehicle might not start if the
battery is allowed to drain for an
extended period of time.
Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9918169) - 2017 - CRC - 3/23/16
172 Driving and Operating
Operating Modes
The transmission may operate in a
lower gear than normal to improve
vehicle performance. The engine
speed may be higher and there may
be an increase in noise during the
following conditions:
.When climbing a grade.
. When driving downhill.
. When driving in hot
temperatures or at high altitude.
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)
0 113 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.
Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9918169) - 2017 - CRC - 3/23/16
Driving and Operating 173
Press the eco (economy) button to
turn this feature on or off. The eco
light in the instrument cluster will
come on when engaged. SeeFuel
Economy Light 0111. A Driver
Information Center (DIC) message
is also displayed. See Fuel System
Messages 0119.
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 0259.
Brakes
Antilock Brake
System (ABS)
This vehicle has an Antilock Brake
System (ABS), an advanced
electronic braking system that helps
prevent a braking skid.
When the vehicle begins to drive
away, ABS checks itself.
A momentary motor or clicking noise
may be heard while this test is going
on, and it may even be noticed that
the brake pedal moves a little. This
is normal.
If there is a problem with ABS, this
warning light stays on. See Antilock
Brake System (ABS) Warning
Light 0108.
Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9918169) - 2017 - CRC - 3/23/16
176 Driving and Operating
vehicle wheel brakes to assist the
driver in keeping the vehicle on the
intended path.
If cruise control is being used and
traction control or StabiliTrak begins
to limit wheel spin, cruise control will
disengage. Cruise control may be
turned back on when road
conditions allow.
Both systems come on
automatically when the vehicle is
started and begins to move. The
systems may be heard or felt while
they are operating or while
performing diagnostic checks. This
is normal and does not mean there
is a problem with the vehicle.
It is recommended to leave both
systems on for normal driving
conditions, but it may be necessary
to turn TCS off if the vehicle gets
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow.
SeeIf the Vehicle Is Stuck 0158
and “Turning the Systems Off and
On” later in this section.
The indicator light for both systems
is in the instrument cluster. This
light will:
.
Flash when TCS is limiting
wheel spin.
. Flash when StabiliTrak is
activated.
. Turn on and stay on when either
system is not working.
If either system fails to turn on or to
activate, a message displays in the
Driver Information Center (DIC), and
dcomes on and stays on to
indicate that the system is inactive
and is not assisting the driver in
maintaining control. The vehicle is
safe to drive, but driving should be
adjusted accordingly. If
dcomes on and stays on:
1. Stop the vehicle.
2. Turn the engine off and wait 15 seconds.
3. Start the engine.
Drive the vehicle. If
dcomes on
and stays on, the vehicle may need
more time to diagnose the problem.
If the condition persists, see your
dealer.
Turning the Systems Off
and On
The button for TCS and StabiliTrak
is on the center console.