2018 CHEVROLET EQUINOX check engine light

Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
10446639) - 2018 - CRC - 8/18/17
Driving and Operating 269
The fuel cap is behind a hinged fuel
door on the driver side of the
vehicle. To open the fuel door, push
and release the rearward center
edge of the door.
Turn the fuel cap counterclockwise
to remove. Reinstall the cap by
turning it clockwise until it clicks.
{Warning
Overfilling the fuel tank by more
than three clicks of a standard fill
nozzle may cause:. Fuel spills
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.Potential fuel fires
Be careful not to spill fuel. Wait a
few seconds after you have finished
pumping before removing the
nozzle. Clean fuel from painted
surfaces as soon as possible. See
Exterior Care 0361.
{Warning
If a fire starts while you are
refueling, do not remove the
nozzle. Shut off the flow of fuel by
shutting off the pump or by
notifying the station attendant.
Leave the area immediately.
Caution
If a new fuel cap is needed, be
sure to get the right type of cap
from your dealer. The wrong type
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
of fuel cap may not fit properly,
may cause the malfunction
indicator lamp to light, and could
damage the fuel tank and
emissions system. See
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(Check Engine Light)0130.
Diesel fuel can foam when filling the
tank. This can cause the automatic
pump nozzle to shut off, even if the
tank is not full. If this happens, wait
for the foaming to stop, and then fill
the tank more slowly.
{Warning
Heat coming from the engine can
cause the fuel to expand and
force the fuel out of the tank.
If something ignites the fuel, a fire
could start. To help avoid this, fill
the tank slowly and only until the
nozzle shuts off. Do not top it off.
Clean up any spilled fuel.

Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
10446639) - 2018 - CRC - 8/18/17
Driving and Operating 277
Trailer Sway
Control (TSC)
The vehicle has a Trailer Sway
Control (TSC) feature as part of the
StabiliTrak system. If TSC detects
that the trailer is swaying, the
vehicle's brakes are automatically
applied.
When TSC is applying the brakes,
the TCS/StabiliTrak indicator light
flashes to notify the driver to reduce
speed. If the trailer continues to
sway, StabiliTrak will reduce engine
torque to help slow the vehicle.
TSC will not function if StabiliTrak is
turned off. SeeTraction Control/
Electronic Stability Control 0238.
Conversions and
Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical
Equipment
{Warning
The Data Link Connector (DLC) is
used for vehicle service
and Emission Inspection/
Maintenance testing. See
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(Check Engine Light) 0130.
A device connected to the DLC —
such as an aftermarket fleet or
driver-behavior tracking device —
may interfere with vehicle
systems. This could affect vehicle
operation and cause a crash.
Such devices may also access
information stored in the vehicle’s
systems.
Caution
Some electrical equipment can
damage the vehicle or cause
components to not work and
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty. Always check
with your dealer before adding
electrical equipment.
Add-on equipment can drain the
vehicle's 12-volt battery, even if the
vehicle is not operating.
The vehicle has an airbag system.
Before attempting to add anything
electrical to the vehicle, see
Servicing the Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle 088 and Adding Equipment
to the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
0 88.

Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
10446639) - 2018 - CRC - 8/18/17
278 Vehicle Care
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 279
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . 280
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 292
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 293
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 299
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Battery - North America . . . . . . 303
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303 Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 304
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304
Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 304
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 305
Windshield Replacement . . . . . 306
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
Headlamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
Front Turn Signal and Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
Taillamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . 311
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . 311
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 312
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312 Instrument Panel Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320
Summer Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 321
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . 321
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 328
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 333
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 333
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 334
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 335
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 336
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 337
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 338
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 338

Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
10446639) - 2018 - CRC - 8/18/17
Vehicle Care 293
3. Fully press and release theaccelerator pedal three times
within five seconds.
4. If the display changes to 100%, the system is reset.
If the CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
message comes back on when the
vehicle is started, the engine oil life
system has not reset. Repeat the
procedure.
Automatic Transmission
Fluid
How to Check Automatic
Transmission Fluid
It is not necessary to check the
transmission fluid level.
A transmission fluid leak is the only
reason for fluid loss. If a leak
occurs, take the vehicle to your
dealer and have it repaired as soon
as possible.
There is a special procedure for
checking and changing the
transmission fluid. Because this
procedure is difficult, this should be
done at your dealer. Contact your dealer for additional information or
the procedure can be found in the
service manual. To purchase a
service manual, see
Service
Publications Ordering Information
0 398.
Change the fluid at the intervals
listed in Maintenance Schedule
0 373, and be sure to use the fluid
listed in Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0381.
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
The engine air cleaner/filter is in the
engine compartment on the
passenger side of the vehicle. See
Engine Compartment Overview
0283.
When to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter
For intervals on changing and
inspecting the engine air cleaner/
filter, see Maintenance Schedule
0 373.
How to Inspect the Engine Air
Cleaner/Filter
Do not start the engine or have the
engine running with the engine air
cleaner/filter housing open. Before
removing the engine air cleaner/
filter, make sure that the engine air
cleaner/filter housing and nearby
components are free of dirt and
debris. Remove the engine air
cleaner/filter. Lightly tap and shake
the engine air cleaner/filter (away
from the vehicle), to release loose
dust and dirt. Inspect the engine air
cleaner/filter for damage, and
replace if damaged. Do not clean
the engine air cleaner/filter or
components with water or
compressed air.

Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
10446639) - 2018 - CRC - 8/18/17
302 Vehicle Care
Brake Fluid
The brake master cylinder reservoir
is filled with GM approved DOT 3
brake fluid as indicated on the
reservoir cap. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview 0283 for
the location of the reservoir.
Checking Brake Fluid
With the vehicle in P (Park) on a
level surface, the brake fluid level
should be between the minimum
and maximum marks on the brake
fluid reservoir.
There are only two reasons why the
brake fluid level in the reservoir may
go down:
. Normal brake lining wear. When
new linings are installed, the
fluid level goes back up. .
A fluid leak in the brake
hydraulic system. Have the
brake hydraulic system fixed.
With a leak, the brakes will not
work well.
Always clean the brake fluid
reservoir cap and the area around
the cap before removing it.
Do not top off the brake fluid.
Adding fluid does not correct a leak.
If fluid is added when the linings are
worn, there will be too much fluid
when new brake linings are
installed. Add or remove fluid, as
necessary, only when work is done
on the brake hydraulic system.
{Warning
If too much brake fluid is added, it
can spill on the engine and burn,
if the engine is hot enough. You
or others could be burned, and
the vehicle could be damaged.
Add brake fluid only when work is
done on the brake hydraulic
system. When the brake fluid falls to a low
level, the brake warning light comes
on. See
Brake System Warning
Light 0132.
Brake fluid absorbs water over time
which degrades the effectiveness of
the brake fluid. Replace brake fluid
at the specified intervals to prevent
increased stopping distance. See
Maintenance Schedule 0373.
What to Add
Use only GM approved DOT 3
brake fluid from a clean, sealed
container. See Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants 0381.
{Warning
The wrong or contaminated brake
fluid could result in damage to the
brake system. This could result in
the loss of braking leading to a
possible injury. Always use the
proper GM approved brake fluid.

Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
10446639) - 2018 - CRC - 8/18/17
Service and Maintenance 379
Battery
The 12-volt battery supplies power
to start the engine and operate any
additional electrical accessories.
.To avoid break-down or failure to
start the vehicle, maintain a
battery with full cranking power.
. Trained dealer technicians have
the diagnostic equipment to test
the battery and ensure that the
connections and cables are
corrosion-free.
Belts
. Belts may need replacing if they
squeak or show signs of
cracking or splitting.
. Trained dealer technicians have
access to tools and equipment
to inspect the belts and
recommend adjustment or
replacement when necessary. Brakes
Brakes stop the vehicle and are
crucial to safe driving.
.
Signs of brake wear may include
chirping, grinding, or squealing
noises, or difficulty stopping.
. Trained dealer technicians have
access to tools and equipment
to inspect the brakes and
recommend quality parts
engineered for the vehicle.
Fluids
Proper fluid levels and approved
fluids protect the vehicle’s systems
and components. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0381 for GM approved
fluids.
. Engine oil and windshield
washer fluid levels should be
checked at every fuel fill.
. Instrument cluster lights may
come on to indicate that fluids
may be low and need to be
filled. Hoses
Hoses transport fluids and should
be regularly inspected to ensure
that there are no cracks or leaks.
With a multi-point inspection, your
dealer can inspect the hoses and
advise if replacement is needed.
Lamps
Properly working headlamps,
taillamps, and brake lamps are
important to see and be seen on
the road.
.
Signs that the headlamps need
attention include dimming, failure
to light, cracking, or damage.
The brake lamps need to be
checked periodically to ensure
that they light when braking.
. With a multi-point inspection,
your dealer can check the lamps
and note any concerns.

Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
10446639) - 2018 - CRC - 8/18/17
Index 415
IndexA
About Driving the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . 3
Accessories andModifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Accessory Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . 277
Additional Information
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 409
Additional Maintenance and Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 378
Adjustments Lumbar, Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Agreements Trademarks and License . . . . . 188
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine . . . . . . . 293
Air Conditioning . . . . . . . . . . . 190, 192
Air Filter, Passenger Compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Air Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Airbag System
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
How Does an AirbagRestrain? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Passenger Sensing System . . . . 84
What Makes an Airbag
Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
What Will You See after an Airbag Inflates? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83 Airbag System (cont'd)
When Should an Airbag
Inflate? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Where Are the Airbags? . . . . . . . . 80
Airbags Adding Equipment to theVehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Passenger Status Indicator . . . 129
Readiness Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Servicing Airbag-Equipped Vehicles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Alarm Vehicle Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Alert Lane Change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Side Blind Zone (SBZA) . . . . . . 252
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . 234, 303
AM-FM Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Antenna
Multi-band . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . 235
Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Appearance Care Exterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 361
Interior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 366

Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
10446639) - 2018 - CRC - 8/18/17
416 Index
Apple CarPlay andAndroid Auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Assistance Program, Roadside . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 393
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Assistance Systems for
Parking and Backing . . . . . . . . . . 245
Audio Theft-Deterrent Feature . . . . . . . 166
Automatic
Dimming Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Forward Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Headlamp System . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Automatic Transmission Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Shift Lock Control FunctionCheck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304
Auxiliary Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Avoiding Untrusted Media Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173B
Battery
Exterior Lighting BatterySaver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Load Management . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Power Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Battery - North America . . . . 303, 354
Biodiesel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Blade Replacement, Wiper . . . . . 305
Bluetooth Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180, 181
Brake Parking, Electric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
System Warning Light . . . . . . . . 132
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301 Antilock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Automatic Forward . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Break-In, New Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . 215
Bulb Replacement Front Turn Signal and FogLamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
Headlamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308, 309 Bulb Replacement (cont'd)
High Intensity Discharge
(HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
License Plate Lamps . . . . . . . . . .311
Taillamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 335
C
Calibration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
California Fuel Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . 257
Perchlorate MaterialsRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
California
Proposition
65 Warning . . . . . . . . . .279, 303, 354, Back Cover
Canadian Vehicle Owners . . . . . . . . 2
Capacities and Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 386
Carbon Monoxide Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Liftgate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Cargo Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Tie-Downs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110
Caution, Danger, and Warning . . . . 3