2018 CHEVROLET EQUINOX climate control

Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
10446639) - 2018 - CRC - 8/18/17
200 Driving and Operating
same as a vehicle with a lower
center of gravity, like a car, in similar
situations.
Safe driver behavior and
understanding of the environment
can help avoid a rollover crash in
any type of vehicle, including utility
vehicles.
Distracted Driving
Distraction comes in many forms
and can take your focus from the
task of driving. Exercise good
judgment and do not let other
activities divert your attention away
from the road. Many local
governments have enacted laws
regarding driver distraction. Become
familiar with the local laws in
your area.
To avoid distracted driving, keep
your eyes on the road, keep your
hands on the steering wheel, and
focus your attention on driving..
Do not use a phone in
demanding driving situations.
Use a hands-free method to
place or receive necessary
phone calls.
. Watch the road. Do not read,
take notes, or look up
information on phones or other
electronic devices.
. Designate a front seat
passenger to handle potential
distractions.
. Become familiar with vehicle
features before driving, such as
programming favorite radio
stations and adjusting climate
control and seat settings.
Program all trip information into
any navigation device prior to
driving.
. Wait until the vehicle is parked
to retrieve items that have fallen
to the floor.
. Stop or park the vehicle to tend
to children.
. Keep pets in an appropriate
carrier or restraint. .
Avoid stressful conversations
while driving, whether with a
passenger or on a cell phone.
{Warning
Taking your eyes off the road too
long or too often could cause a
crash resulting in injury or death.
Focus your attention on driving.
Refer to the infotainment section for
more information on using that
system and the navigation system,
if equipped, including pairing and
using a cell phone.
Defensive Driving
Defensive driving means “always
expect the unexpected.” The first
step in driving defensively is to wear
the seat belt. See Seat Belts071.
. Assume that other road users
(pedestrians, bicyclists, and
other drivers) are going to be
careless and make mistakes.
Anticipate what they might do
and be ready.

Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
10446639) - 2018 - CRC - 8/18/17
Driving and Operating 209
Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Snow or ice between the tires and
the road creates less traction or
grip, so drive carefully. Wet ice can
occur at about 0 °C (32 °F) when
freezing rain begins to fall. Avoid
driving on wet ice or in freezing rain
until roads can be treated.
For Slippery Road Driving:
.Accelerate gently. Accelerating
too quickly causes the wheels to
spin and makes the surface
under the tires slick.
. Turn on Traction Control. See
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0238.
. The Antilock Brake System
(ABS) improves vehicle stability
during hard stops, but the
brakes should be applied sooner
than when on dry pavement.
See Antilock Brake System
(ABS) 0235. .
Allow greater following distance
and watch for slippery spots. Icy
patches can occur on otherwise
clear roads in shaded areas.
The surface of a curve or an
overpass can remain icy when
the surrounding roads are clear.
Avoid sudden steering
maneuvers and braking while
on ice.
. Turn off cruise control.
Blizzard Conditions
Stop the vehicle in a safe place and
signal for help. Stay with the vehicle
unless there is help nearby.
If possible, use Roadside
Assistance. See Roadside
Assistance Program 0393. To get
help and keep everyone in the
vehicle safe:
. Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
. Tie a red cloth to an outside
mirror.
{Warning
Snow can trap engine exhaust
under the vehicle. This may
cause exhaust gases to get
inside. Engine exhaust contains
carbon monoxide (CO), which
cannot be seen or smelled. It can
cause unconsciousness and even
death.
If the vehicle is stuck in snow:
. Clear snow from the base of
the vehicle, especially any
blocking the exhaust pipe.
. Open a window about 5 cm
(2 in) on the vehicle side
that is away from the wind,
to bring in fresh air.
. Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel.
. Adjust the climate control
system to circulate the air
inside the vehicle and set
(Continued)

Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
10446639) - 2018 - CRC - 8/18/17
210 Driving and Operating
Warning (Continued)
the fan speed to the highest
setting. See“Climate
Control Systems.”
For more information about CO,
see Engine Exhaust 0224.
To save fuel, run the engine for
short periods to warm the vehicle
and then shut the engine off and
partially close the window. Moving
about to keep warm also helps.
If it takes time for help to arrive,
when running the engine, push the
accelerator pedal slightly so the
engine runs faster than the idle
speed. This keeps the battery
charged to restart the vehicle and to
signal for help with the headlamps.
Do this as little as possible, to
save fuel.
If the Vehicle Is Stuck
Slowly and cautiously spin the
wheels to free the vehicle when
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow. If stuck too severely for the traction
system to free the vehicle, turn the
traction system off and use the
rocking method. See
Traction
Control/Electronic Stability Control
0 238.
{Warning
If the vehicle's tires spin at high
speed, they can explode, and you
or others could be injured. The
vehicle can overheat, causing an
engine compartment fire or other
damage. Spin the wheels as little
as possible and avoid going
above 56 km/h (35 mph).
Rocking the Vehicle to Get
it Out
Turn the steering wheel left and
right to clear the area around the
front wheels. Turn off any traction
system. Shift back and forth
between R (Reverse) and a low
forward gear, spinning the wheels
as little as possible. To prevent
transmission wear, wait until the wheels stop spinning before shifting
gears. Release the accelerator
pedal while shifting, and press
lightly on the accelerator pedal
when the transmission is in gear.
Slowly spinning the wheels in the
forward and reverse directions
causes a rocking motion that could
free the vehicle. If that does not get
the vehicle out after a few tries, it
might need to be towed out. If the
vehicle does need to be towed out,
see
Towing the Vehicle 0357.
Vehicle Load Limits
It is very important to know how
much weight the vehicle can
carry. This weight is called the
vehicle capacity weight and
includes the weight of all
occupants, cargo, and all
nonfactory-installed options.
Two labels on the vehicle may
show how much weight it may
properly carry, the Tire and
Loading Information label and
the Certification/Tire label.

Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
10446639) - 2018 - CRC - 8/18/17
220 Driving and Operating
brake pedal is released or the
accelerator pedal is pressed, the
engine may restart.
The engine may restart even if the
brake pedal is applied.
Auto Stop may be deactivated if:
.A minimum vehicle speed is not
reached.
. The engine or transmission is
not at the required operating
temperature.
. The outside temperature is not
in the required operating range,
typically between −10 °C (14 °F)
and 50 °C (122 °F).
. The shift lever is in any gear
other than D (Drive).
. The battery has been recently
disconnected.
. The battery charge is low.
. The interior comfort level has not
reached the required level for
the climate control system or
defog settings. See Dual
Automatic Climate Control
System 0192. .
The Auto Stop time is greater
than two minutes.
Engine Heater
{Warning
Do not plug in the engine block
heater while the vehicle is parked
in a garage or under a carport.
Property damage or personal
injury may result. Always park the
vehicle in a clear open area away
from buildings or structures. The engine heater, if available, can
help in cold weather conditions at or
below
−18 °C (0 °F) for easier
starting and better fuel economy
during engine warm-up. Plug in the
engine heater at least four hours
before starting the vehicle. An
internal thermostat in the plug end
of the cord will prevent engine
coolant heater operation at
temperatures above −18 °C (0 °F).
To Use the Engine Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Remove the heater cord from
the rear compartment.
3. Check the heater cord for damage. If it is damaged, do
not use it. See your dealer for
a replacement. Inspect the
cord for damage yearly.
4. Plug the cord into the receptacle in the front fascia.
5. Plug the other end of the cord into a normal, grounded
110-volt AC outlet.

Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
10446639) - 2018 - CRC - 8/18/17
Driving and Operating 271
Trailer Towing
General Towing
Information
Only use towing equipment that has
been designed for the vehicle.
Contact your dealer or trailering
dealer for assistance with preparing
the vehicle for towing a trailer. Read
the entire section before towing a
trailer.
For towing a disabled vehicle, see
Towing the Vehicle0357. For
towing the vehicle behind another
vehicle such as a motor home, see
Recreational Vehicle Towing 0358.
Driving Characteristics
and Towing Tips
Driving with a Trailer
When towing a trailer:
.
Become familiar with the state
and local laws that apply
specifically to trailer towing. .
Do not tow a trailer during the
first 800 km (500 mi), to prevent
damage to the engine, axle,
or other parts.
. Then, during the first 800 km
(500 mi) of trailer towing, do not
drive over 80 km/h (50 mph) and
do not make starts at full throttle.
. The vehicle can tow in D (Drive).
Use a lower gear if the
transmission shifts too often.
. Turn off Parking Assist when
towing.
. Do not use the compact spare
while towing.
{Warning
When towing a trailer, exhaust
gases may collect at the rear of
the vehicle and enter if the
liftgate, trunk/hatch, or rear-most
window is open.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
When towing a trailer:
. Do not drive with the
liftgate, trunk/hatch,
or rear-most window open.
. Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel.
. Also adjust the climate
control system to a setting
that brings in only outside
air. See “Climate Control
Systems” in the Index.
For information about carbon
monoxide, see Engine Exhaust
0 224.
Towing a trailer requires a certain
amount of experience. The
combination you are driving is
longer and not as responsive as the
vehicle itself. Get acquainted with
the handling and braking of the rig
before setting out for the open road.

Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
10446639) - 2018 - CRC - 8/18/17
Vehicle Care 337
Warning (Continued)
tires not recommended for those
wheels are selected. This
increases the chance of a crash
and serious injury. Only use GM
specific wheel and tire systems
developed for the vehicle, and
have them properly installed by a
GM certified technician.
See Buying New Tires 0335 and
Accessories and Modifications
0 280.
Uniform Tire Quality
Grading
The following information relates
to the system developed by the
United States National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA), which grades tires by
treadwear, traction, and
temperature performance. This
applies only to vehicles sold in
the United States. The grades
are molded on the sidewalls of most passenger car tires. The
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
(UTQG) system does not apply
to deep tread, winter tires,
compact spare tires, tires with
nominal rim diameters of
10 to 12 inches (25 to 30 cm),
or to some limited-production
tires.
While the tires available on
General Motors passenger cars
and light trucks may vary with
respect to these grades, they
must also conform to federal
safety requirements and
additional General Motors Tire
Performance Criteria (TPC)
standards.
Quality grades can be found
where applicable on the tire
sidewall between tread shoulder
and maximum section width. For
example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA
Temperature A
All Passenger Car Tires Must
Conform to Federal Safety
Requirements In Addition To
These Grades.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a
comparative rating based on the
wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a
specified government test
course. For example, a tire
graded 150 would wear one and
one-half (1½) times as well on
the government course as a tire
graded 100. The relative
performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of
their use, however, and may
depart significantly from the
norm due to variations in driving
habits, service practices and
differences in road
characteristics and climate.

Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
10446639) - 2018 - CRC - 8/18/17
Index 417
Center Console Storage . . . . . . . . 108
Chains, Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 339
ChargingWireless . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Charging System Light . . . . . . . . . 130
Check Engine Light (Malfunction
Indicator) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Child Restraints Infants and Young Children . . . . . 92
Lower Anchors and Tethersfor Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Older Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Securing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103, 105
Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312
Cleaning
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 361
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 366
Climate Control Systems . . . . . . . 190 Air Conditioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Dual Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Heating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Cluster, Instrument . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Cold Weather Operation . . . . . . . . 262
Collision Damage Repair . . . . . . . 396
Compact Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . 353 Compartments
Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Compressor Kit, Tire Sealant . . . 341
Connections OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 406
Control
Traction and ElectronicStability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Convex Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Coolant Engine Temperature Gauge . . 127
Cooling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190, 192
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
Courtesy Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Courtesy Transportation Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 395
Cover Cargo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Cupholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Customer Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . 392 Offices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 391
Text Telephone (TTY)
Users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 392 Customer Information
Service Publications
Ordering Information . . . . . . . . 398
Customer Satisfaction Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 389
D
Damage Repair, Collision . . . . . . . 396
Danger, Warning, and Caution . . . . 3
Data CollectionInfotainment System . . . . . . . . . . 402
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 402
Data Recorders, Event . . . . . . . . . 401
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Devices Auxiliary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Diagnostics OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 408
Diesel Exhaust Fluid . . . . . . . . 30, 226
Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Diesel Particulate Filter . . . . . . . . . 225
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Dome Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162

Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
10446639) - 2018 - CRC - 8/18/17
418 Index
DoorDelayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Power Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Drive Belt Routing, Engine . . . . . . 388
Drive Systems All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . 234, 303
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . 244
Driver Behavior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Driver Information Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Driving Assistance Systems . . . . . . . . . . 248
Characteristics andTowing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
Defensive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Drunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
For Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . 29
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . 208
If the Vehicle is Stuck . . . . . . . . . 210
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Off-Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Driving the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Dual Automatic Climate
Control System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
E
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . 236
Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . 133
Electrical Equipment,
Add-On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Electrical System Engine Compartment FuseBlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 312
Instrument Panel Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .311
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318
Emergency OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 404
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Check Light (Malfunction
Indicator) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Compartment Overview . . . . . . . 283
Coolant Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
Drive Belt Routing . . . . . . . . . . . . 388 Engine (cont'd)
Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
Oil Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
Power Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Running While Parked . . . . . . . . 224
Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Engines Diesel Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Equipment, Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
Event Data Recorders . . . . . . . . . . 401
Exhaust Fluid Diesel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Extender, Seat Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . . . 157
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
F
FeaturesMemory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225 Replacement (Fuel) . . . . . . . . . . . 266