Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12145779) - 2019 - CRC - 7/30/18
Driving and Operating 267
Always back up slowly and,
if possible, have someone
guide you.
Making TurnsCaution
Turn more slowly and make wider
arcs when towing a trailer to
prevent damage to your vehicle.
Making very sharp turns could
cause the trailer to contact the
vehicle.
Make wider turns than normal when
towing, so trailer will not go over soft
shoulders, over curbs, or strike road
signs, trees, or other objects.
Always signal turns well in advance.
Do not steer or brake suddenly.
Driving on Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower
gear before starting down a long or
steep downhill grade. If the
transmission is not shifted down, the
brakes may overheat and result in
reduced braking efficiency. The vehicle can tow in D (Drive).
Shift the transmission to a lower
gear if the transmission shifts too
often under heavy loads and/or hilly
conditions.
When towing at higher altitudes,
engine coolant will boil at a lower
temperature than at lower altitudes.
If the engine is turned off
immediately after towing at high
altitude on steep uphill grades, the
vehicle could show signs similar to
engine overheating. To avoid this,
let the engine run, preferably on
level ground, with the transmission
in P (Park) for a few minutes before
turning the engine off. If the
overheat warning comes on, see
Engine Overheating
0296.
Parking on Hills
{Warning
To prevent serious injury or death,
always park your vehicle and
trailer on a level surface when
possible. When parking your vehicle and your
trailer on a hill:
1. Press the brake pedal, but do not shift into P (Park) yet. Turn
the wheels into the curb if
facing downhill or into traffic if
facing uphill.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, gradually release the
brake pedal to allow the chocks
to absorb the load of the trailer.
4. Reapply the brake pedal. Then apply the parking brake and
shift into P (Park).
5. Release the brake pedal.
Leaving After Parking on a Hill
1. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
.Start the engine.
. Shift into a gear.
. Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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294 Vehicle Care
Warning (Continued)
there would not be an overheat
warning. The engine could catch
fire and you or others could be
burned.
Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
coolant. If using this mixture,
nothing else needs to be added.
This mixture:
. Gives freezing protection down
to−37 °C (−34 °F), outside
temperature.
. Gives boiling protection up to
129 °C (265 °F), engine
temperature.
. Protects against rust and
corrosion.
. Will not damage aluminum parts.
. Helps keep the proper engine
temperature.
Caution
Do not use anything other than a
mix of DEX-COOL coolant that
meets GM Standard
GMW3420 and clean, drinkable
water. Anything else can cause
damage to the engine cooling
system and the vehicle, which
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.
Never dispose of engine coolant by
putting it in the trash, pouring it on
the ground, or pouring into sewers,
streams, or bodies of water. Have
the coolant changed by an
authorized service center, familiar
with legal requirements regarding
used coolant disposal. This will help
protect the environment and your
health.
Checking Coolant
The vehicle must be on a level
surface when checking the coolant
level.
Check to see if coolant is visible in
the coolant surge tank. If the coolant
inside the coolant surge tank is
boiling, do not do anything else until
it cools down. If coolant is visible
but the coolant level mark is not
visible, add a 50/50 mixture of
clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL coolant at the coolant
surge tank to the top rib on the
middle of the tank, but be sure the
cooling system is cool before this is
done. See Engine Overheating
0 296.
Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12145779) - 2019 - CRC - 7/30/18
296 Vehicle Care
Caution
If the pressure cap is not tightly
installed, coolant loss and engine
damage may occur. Be sure the
cap is properly and tightly
secured.
Engine Overheating
The vehicle has an engine coolant
temperature gauge on the
instrument cluster and overheat
messages in the Driver Information
Center (DIC) to warn of engine
overheating. SeeEngine Coolant
Temperature Gauge 0129. The DIC
also displays overheat messages.
The decision may be made not to lift
the hood when the engine coolant
temperature gauge is in the
overheat zone or an engine
overheat DIC message displays, but
instead to get service help right
away. See Roadside Assistance
Program 0391. If the decision to lift the hood is
made, make sure the vehicle is
parked on a level surface. Then
check to see if the engine cooling
fan is running. If the engine is
overheating, the fan should be
running. If it is not, do not continue
to run the engine, and have the
vehicle serviced.Caution
Do not run the engine if there is a
leak in the engine cooling system.
This can cause a loss of all
coolant and can damage the
system and vehicle. Have any
leaks fixed right away.
If Steam Is Coming from the
Engine Compartment
{Warning
Steam and scalding liquids from a
hot cooling system are under
pressure. Turning the pressure
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
cap, even a little, can cause them
to come out at high speed and
you could be burned. Never turn
the cap when the cooling system,
including the pressure cap, is hot.
Wait for the cooling system and
pressure cap to cool.
If No Steam Is Coming from
the Engine Compartment
If the engine coolant temperature
gauge is in the overheat zone or an
engine overheat DIC message is
displayed but no steam can be seen
or heard, the problem may not be
too serious. Sometimes the engine
can get a little too hot when the
vehicle:
.Climbs a long hill on a hot day
. Stops after high-speed driving
. Idles for long periods in traffic
. Tows a trailer
Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12145779) - 2019 - CRC - 7/30/18
Vehicle Care 297
If the engine coolant temperature
gauge is in the overheat zone and
an overheat DIC message is
displayed with no sign of steam:1. Turn the air conditioning off.
2. Turn the heater on to the highest temperature and to the
highest fan speed. Open the
windows as necessary.
3. When it is safe to do so, pull off the road, shift to P (Park) or
N (Neutral), and let the
engine idle.
If the engine coolant temperature
gauge is no longer in the overheat
zone or an overheat DIC message
no longer displays, the vehicle can
be driven. Continue to drive the
vehicle slowly for about 10 minutes.
Keep a safe distance from the
vehicle in front. If the engine coolant
temperature gauge does not go
back to the overheat zone or an
overheat DIC message does not
display, continue to drive normally
and have the cooling system
checked for proper fill and function. If the engine coolant temperature
gauge is still in the overheat zone or
an overheat DIC message still
displays, pull over, stop, and park
the vehicle right away. If overheat
messages appear repeatedly, see
your dealer.
If there is no sign of steam, idle the
engine for three minutes while
parked. If the engine coolant
temperature gauge is still in the
overheat zone or an overheat DIC
message displays, turn off the
engine until it cools down.
Washer Fluid
What to Use
When windshield washer fluid is
needed, be sure to read the
manufacturer's instructions before
use. If operating the vehicle in an
area where the temperature may fall
below freezing, use a fluid that has
sufficient protection against
freezing.
Adding Washer Fluid
Open the cap with the washer
symbol on it. Add washer fluid until
the tank is full. See
Engine
Compartment Overview 0280 for
reservoir location.
Caution
. Do not use washer fluid that
contains any type of water
repellent coating. This can
cause the wiper blades to
chatter or skip.
. Do not use engine coolant
(antifreeze) in the
windshield washer. It can
damage the windshield
washer system and paint.
(Continued)
Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12145779) - 2019 - CRC - 7/30/18
Index 415
Child Restraints (cont'd)Securing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102, 104
Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
Cleaning
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 363
Climate Control Systems . . . . . . . 169 Air Conditioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Dual Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Heating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Cluster, Instrument . . . . . . . . 120, 124
Cold Weather Operation . . . . . . . . 255
Collision Damage Repair . . . . . . . 394
Compact Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . 350
Compartments Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Compressor Kit, Tire Sealant . . . 338
Connected Services Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 410
Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 412
Navigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 409
Connections Connected Services . . . . . . . . . . 410 Control
Traction and Electronic
Stability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Convenience Net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Convex Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Coolant Engine Temperature Gauge . . 129
Cooling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169, 171
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
Courtesy Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Courtesy Transportation Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 393
Cover Cargo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Covers
Rear Compartment/StoragePanel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222 Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Cruise Control, Adaptive . . . . . . . . 224
Cupholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Customer Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . 390
Offices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 389
Text Telephone (TTY)Users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 390 Customer Information
Publications Ordering
Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 397
Customer Satisfaction Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 387
D
Damage Repair, Collision . . . . . . . 394
Danger, Warning, and Caution . . . . 3
Data CollectionInfotainment System . . . . . . . . . . 400
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 400
Data Recorders, Event . . . . . . . . . 399
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Diagnostics Connected Services . . . . . . . . . . 412
Diesel Exhaust Fluid . . . . . . . . 28, 205
Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Diesel Particulate Filter . . . . . . . . . 204
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Dome Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Door Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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416 Index
Door (cont'd)Power Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Drive Belt Routing, Engine . . . . . . 386
Drive Systems All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . 214, 301
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . 234
Driver Behavior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Driver Information Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141, 146
Driving Assistance Systems . . . . . . . . . . 240
Characteristics andTowing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Defensive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Drunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Environment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
For Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . 27
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . 187
If the Vehicle is Stuck . . . . . . . . . 189
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Off-Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Driving the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Dual Automatic Climate Control System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171E
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . 216
Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . 134
Electrical Equipment,Add-On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Electrical System Engine Compartment FuseBlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 309
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312
Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
Emergency OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 402
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Check Light (MalfunctionIndicator) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Compartment Overview . . . . . . . 280
Coolant Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
Drive Belt Routing . . . . . . . . . . . . 386
Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289 Engine (cont'd)
Oil Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Power Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Running While Parked . . . . . . . . 204
Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Engines Diesel Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Equipment, Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
Event Data Recorders . . . . . . . . . . 399
Exhaust Fluid
Diesel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Extender, Seat Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . . . 160
Exterior Lighting Battery
Saver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
F
FeaturesMemory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Replacement (Fuel) . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Filter, Engine Air Cleaner . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12145779) - 2019 - CRC - 7/30/18
Index 417
Flashers, Hazard Warning . . . . . . 163
Flat Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 337Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 345
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 367
Fluid Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 290
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
Diesel Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Folding Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Forward Automatic Braking . . . . . 242
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Frequency Statement Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 397
Front Fog Lamp Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Front Pedestrian Braking (FPB) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Front Seats
Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Heated and Ventilated . . . . . . . . . . 64
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Biodiesel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Cold Weather Operation . . . . . . 255
Diesel Engines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252 Fuel (cont'd)
Economy Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Filling a Portable Fuel
Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . 259, 261
Filter Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Foreign Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . . 139
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Recommended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Running out of Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Top Tier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250, 251
Water in Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Fuel for Diesel Engines . . . . . . . . . 252
Fuses Engine Compartment FuseBlock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 309
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
G
Garage Door Opener . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303 Gauges
Engine Coolant
Temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Warning Lights and Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119
General Information
Service and Maintenance . . . . . 368
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Vehicle Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
Glove Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 391
H
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Hazard Warning Flashers . . . . . . . 163
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Headlamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Daytime RunningLamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162