
Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9918169) - 2017 - CRC - 3/23/16
36 Keys, Doors, and Windows
Manual Operation of Power
Liftgate
To change the liftgate to manual
operation, turn the mode switch to
the OFF position.
Caution
Attempting to move the liftgate
too quickly and with excessive
force may result in damage to the
vehicle.
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 under the liftgate handle and lift
up. 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.
IfYon 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.
The indicator light, on the
instrument panel near the
windshield, indicates the status of
the system:
Off : Alarm system is disarmed.

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
Driving and Operating 165
3 (START) :This position starts the
engine. When the engine starts,
release the key. The ignition switch
will return to ON/RUN for normal
driving.
A warning tone sounds when the
driver door is opened if the ignition
is still in ACC/ACCESSORY and the
key is in the ignition. If the ignition
becomes difficult to turn, see
Keys 024.
Starting the Engine
Move the shift lever to P (Park) or
N (Neutral). To restart the vehicle
when it is already moving, use
N (Neutral) only.
Caution
Do not try to shift to P (Park) if the
vehicle is moving. If you do, you
could damage the transmission.
Shift to P (Park) only when the
vehicle is stopped.
Caution
If you add electrical parts or
accessories, you could change
the way the engine operates. Any
resulting damage would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
See Add-On Electrical
Equipment 0199.
Caution
If the steering wheel is turned
until it reaches the end of its
travel, and is held in that position
while starting the vehicle, damage
may occur to the hydraulic power
steering system and there may be
loss of power steering assist.
Starting Procedure 1. With your foot off the accelerator pedal, turn the
ignition key to START. When
the engine starts, let go of the
key. The idle speed will go
down as the engine warms. Do not race the engine
immediately after starting it.
Operate the engine and
transmission gently to allow the
oil to warm up and lubricate all
moving parts.
Caution
Cranking the engine for long
periods of time, by returning the
ignition to the START position
immediately after cranking has
ended, can overheat and damage
the cranking motor, and drain the
battery. Wait at least 15 seconds
between each try, to let the
cranking motor cool down.
2. If the engine does not start after five to 10 seconds,
especially in very cold weather
(below −18 °C or 0 °F), it could
be flooded with too much
gasoline. Push the accelerator
pedal all the way to the floor
and hold it there as you hold
the key in START for a
maximum of 15 seconds. Wait
at least 15 seconds between

Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9918169) - 2017 - CRC - 3/23/16
320 Index
G
Garage Door Opener . . . . . . . . . . . 130Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Gauges Engine Coolant
Temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Warning Lights and Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
General Information Service and Maintenance . . . . . 275
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Vehicle Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Glove Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
H
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Hazard Warning Flashers . . . . . . . 135
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Headlamps
Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 225 Headlamps (cont'd)
Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . .112
High/Low Beam Changer . . . . . 133
Lamps On Reminder . . . . . . . . . .113
Heated Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Heated Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Heater Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Heating and Air Conditioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140, 142
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . 156
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . . . 175
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
How to Wear Safety Belts
Properly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54I
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Ignition Transmission LockCheck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Indicator Vehicle Ahead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109 Infants and Young Children,
Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Infotainment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Infotainment System . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Instrument Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Interior Rearview Mirrors . . . . . . . . . 40
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
J
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
K
Key and Lock Messages . . . . . . . . 119
Keyless EntryRemote (RKE) System . . . . . . . . . 26
Keys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
L
Labeling, Tire Sidewall . . . . . . . . . . 234
Lamps
Daytime Running (DRL) . . . . . . 134
Dome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Exterior Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Exterior Lighting BatterySaver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
License Plate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Malfunction Indicator . . . . . . . . . 106
On Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113

Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
9918169) - 2017 - CRC - 3/23/16
Index 321
Lamps (cont'd)Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Lane Departure Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
LATCH System Replacing Parts after a
Crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
LATCH, Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Liftgate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Lighting Entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Exit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Illumination Control . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Airbag Readiness . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Antilock Brake System(ABS) Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Brake System Warning . . . . . . . 108
Charging System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113
Engine Oil Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Front Fog Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112
Fuel Economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111 Lights (cont'd)
High-Beam On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112
High/Low Beam Changer . . . . . 133
Lane Departure Warning . . . . . . 109
Low Fuel Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . .112
Safety Belt Reminders . . . . . . . . 103
Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112
StabiliTrak
®OFF . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110
Traction Control System
(TCS)/StabiliTrak
®. . . . . . . . . . .110
Traction Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Locks Automatic Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Lockout Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Power Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . . . . 112
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH
System) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Lumbar Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
M
MaintenanceRecords . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
Maintenance and Care Additional . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Maintenance Schedule . . . . . . . . . 276 Recommended Fluids andLubricants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Malfunction Indicator Lamp . . . . . 106
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Memory Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Memory Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Messages Airbag System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Battery Voltage and
Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117
Brake System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117
Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117
Door Ajar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117
Engine Cooling System . . . . . . . .118
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118
Engine Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119
Fuel System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119
Key and Lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119
Object Detection System . . . . . .119
Ride Control System . . . . . . . . . . 120
Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Service Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122