Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12145779) - 2019 - CRC - 7/30/18
Vehicle Care 295
The coolant surge tank is located in
the engine compartment on the
driver side of the vehicle. See
Engine Compartment Overview
0280.
How to Add Coolant to the
Surge Tank
{Warning
Spilling coolant on hot engine
parts can burn you. Coolant
contains ethylene glycol and it will
burn if the engine parts are hot
enough.
{Warning
Steam and scalding liquids from a
hot cooling system are under
pressure. Turning the pressure
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,
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
including the pressure cap, is hot.
Wait for the cooling system and
pressure cap to cool.
Caution
Failure to follow the specific
coolant fill procedure could cause
the engine to overheat and could
cause system damage. If coolant
is not visible in the surge tank,
contact your dealer.
The coolant surge tank pressure
cap can be removed when the
cooling system, including the surge
tank pressure cap and upper
radiator hose, is no longer hot. 1. Turn the pressure cap slowly
counterclockwise. If a hiss is
heard, wait for that to stop.
A hiss means there is still
some pressure left.
2. Keep turning the pressure cap slowly and remove it.
3. Fill the coolant surge tank with the proper mixture to the mark
pointed to on the front of the
coolant surge tank.
4. With the coolant surge tank pressure cap off, start the
engine and let it run until you
can feel the upper radiator
hose getting hot. Watch out for
the engine cooling fans. By this
time, the coolant level inside
the coolant surge tank may be
lower. If the level is lower, add
more of the proper mixture to
the coolant surge tank until the
level reaches the mark pointed
to on the front of the coolant
surge tank.
5. Replace the pressure cap tightly.
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
Vehicle Care 309
Headlamp Wiring
An electrical overload may cause
the lamps to go on and off, or in
some cases to remain off. Have the
headlamp wiring checked right away
if the lamps go on and off or
remain off.
Windshield Wipers
If the wiper motor overheats due to
heavy snow or ice, the windshield
wipers will stop until the motor cools
and will then restart.
Although the circuit is protected
from electrical overload, overload
due to heavy snow or ice may
cause wiper linkage damage.
Always clear ice and heavy snow
from the windshield before using the
windshield wipers.
If the overload is caused by an
electrical problem and not snow or
ice, be sure to get it fixed.
Fuses and Circuit
Breakers
The wiring circuits in the vehicle are
protected from short circuits by a
combination of fuses and circuit
breakers. This greatly reduces the
chance of damage caused by
electrical problems.
{Danger
Fuses and circuit breakers are
marked with their ampere rating.
Do not exceed the
specified amperage rating when
replacing fuses and circuit
breakers. Use of an oversized
fuse or circuit breaker can result
in a vehicle fire. You and others
could be seriously injured or
killed.
To check a fuse, look at the
silver-colored band inside the fuse.
If the band is broken or melted,
replace the fuse. Be sure to replace
a bad fuse with a new one of the
identical size and rating. Fuses of the same amperage can
be temporarily borrowed from
another fuse location, if a fuse goes
out. Replace the fuse as soon as
possible.
There is a fuse puller in the engine
compartment fuse block. It can be
used to easily remove fuses from
the fuse block.
Engine Compartment
Fuse Block
Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12145779) - 2019 - CRC - 7/30/18
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
420 Index
N
NavigationConnected Services . . . . . . . . . . 409
Net, Convenience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . . 194
O
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127 Trip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Off-Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182 Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Oil Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 289
Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Older Children, Restraints . . . . . . . 89
Online Owner Center . . . . . . . . . . . 390
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 400
OnStar Additional Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403
OnStar Emergency . . . . . . . . . . . . . 402
OnStar Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 401
OnStar Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 403
Operation Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Outlets Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115 Overheating, Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
P
Park
Shifting Into . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Shifting Out of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Park Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Parking
Brake and P (Park)Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 301
Extended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Over Things That Burn . . . . . . . 202
Parking or Backing Assistance Systems . . . . . . . . . . 236
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Passenger Compartment Air
Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Passenger Sensing System . . . . . 83
Pedestrian Ahead Indicator . . . . . 136
Perchlorate Materials Requirements, California . . . . . . 277
Personalization Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Power Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115 Power (cont'd)
Protection, Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Retained Accessory (RAP) . . . 201
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts . . . . 75
Privacy Vehicle Data Recording . . . . . . . 399
Program
Courtesy Transportation . . . . . . 393
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Proposition 65 Warning,
California . . . . . . . . . . . .276, 300, 351, Back Cover
Publication Ordering Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 397
R
Radio Frequency Statement . . . . 397
Reading Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Rear Compartment/StoragePanel Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Heated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . . . 236
Rear Window Washer/Wiper . . . . 113
Rearview Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51