Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13555863) - 2020 - CRC - 8/2/19
Climate Controls 157
Driver and Passenger
Temperature Control :The
temperature can be adjusted
separately for the driver and the
passenger. Turn the knob clockwise
or counterclockwise to increase or
decrease the temperature.
SYNC : Press to link all climate
zone settings to the driver setting.
The SYNC indicator light will turn
on. When the passenger settings
are adjusted, the SYNC indicator
light turns off.
Manual Operation
O: Press to turn the fan off or on.
When off, no air will flow into the
vehicle. Turning the fan on, pressing
any other button, or turning a knob
will turn the system back on using
the current setting.
^: Press to increase or decrease
the fan speed. The fan speed
setting appears on the main display.
Pressing either button cancels
automatic fan control and the fan is
controlled manually. Press AUTO to
return to automatic operation. Air Delivery Mode Controls :
Press any combination of
X,Y,
or
[to change the direction of the
airflow. The indicator light in the
button will turn on. The current
mode appears in the display screen.
Pressing any of the three buttons
cancels automatic air delivery
control and the direction of the
airflow is controlled manually. Press
AUTO to return to automatic
operation.
To change the current mode, select
one or more of the following:
X: Clears the windows of fog or
moisture. Air is directed to the
windshield.
Y: Air is directed to the instrument
panel outlets.
[: Air is directed to the floor
outlets.
0MAX : Air is directed to the
windshield and the fan runs at a
higher speed. Fog or frost is cleared
from the windshield more quickly. When the button is pressed again,
the system returns to the previous
mode setting.
For best results, clear all snow and
ice from the windshield before
defrosting.
A/C :
Press to turn the air
conditioning system on or off. If the
climate control system is turned off
or the outside temperature falls
below freezing, the air conditioner
will not run.
Pressing this button cancels
automatic air conditioning and turns
off the air conditioner. Press AUTO
to return to automatic operation and
the air conditioner runs
automatically as needed. When the
indicator light is on, the air
conditioner runs automatically to
cool the air inside the vehicle or to
dry the air needed to defog the
windshield faster.
@: Press to turn on recirculation.
An indicator light comes on. Air is
recirculated to quickly cool the
inside of the vehicle or to reduce the
entry of outside air and odors.
Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13555863) - 2020 - CRC - 8/2/19
Climate Controls 159
on during a remote start. See
Remote Vehicle Start015 and
Heated and Ventilated Front Seats
0 43.
Sensor
The solar sensor on top of the
instrument panel near the
windshield monitors the solar heat.
The climate control system uses the
sensor information to adjust the
temperature, fan speed,
recirculation, and air delivery mode
for best comfort.
Do not cover the sensor; otherwise
the automatic climate control system
may not work properly.
Air Vents
Use the louvers located on the air
vents to change the direction of the
airflow.
To open or close off the airflow:
.
On the center air vents, move
the slider knobs up or down.
. On the outer and rear air vents,
move the slider knobs right
or left.
Operation Tips
. Clear away any ice, snow,
or leaves from air inlets at the
base of the windshield that could
block the flow of air into the
vehicle.
. Clear snow off the hood to
improve visibility and help
decrease moisture drawn into
the vehicle, which may improve
long term system performance.
. Keep the path under the front
seats clear of objects to help
circulate the air inside of the
vehicle more effectively. .
Use of non-GM approved hood
deflectors can adversely affect
the performance of the system.
Check with your dealer before
adding equipment to the outside
of the vehicle.
. Do not attach any devices to the
air vent slats. This restricts
airflow and may cause damage
to the air vents.
Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13555863) - 2020 - CRC - 8/2/19
Driving and Operating 175
{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)
Warning (Continued)
the fan speed to the highest
setting. See“Climate
Control Systems.”
For more information about CO,
see Engine Exhaust 0190.
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
0 208.
{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
Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13555863) - 2020 - CRC - 8/2/19
256 Driving and Operating
Warning (Continued)
.Do not drive with the
liftgate, trunk/hatch,
or rear-most window open.
. Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel.
. Adjust the climate control
system to a setting that
brings in only outside air.
See “Climate Control
Systems” in the Index.
For more information about
carbon monoxide, see Engine
Exhaust 0190.
Towing a trailer requires experience.
The combination of the vehicle and
trailer is longer and not as
responsive as the vehicle itself. Get
used to the handling and braking of
the combination by driving on a
level road surface before driving on
public roads. The trailer structure, the tires, and
the brakes must be all be rated to
carry the intended cargo.
Inadequate trailer equipment can
cause the combination to operate in
an unexpected or unsafe manner.
Before driving, inspect all trailer
hitch parts and attachments, safety
chains, electrical connectors, lamps,
tires, and mirrors. See
Towing
Equipment 0261. If the trailer has
electric brakes, start the
combination moving and then
manually apply the trailer brake
controller to check that the trailer
brakes work. During the trip,
occasionally check that the cargo
and trailer are secure and that the
lamps and any trailer brakes are
working.
Towing with a Stability Control
System
When towing, the stability control
system might be heard. The system
reacts to vehicle movement caused
by the trailer, which mainly occurs
during cornering. This is normal
when towing heavier trailers.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the
vehicle ahead as you would when
driving without a trailer. This can
help to avoid heavy braking and
sudden turns.
Passing
More passing distance is needed
when towing a trailer. The
combination of the vehicle and
trailer will not accelerate as quickly
and is much longer than the vehicle
alone. It is necessary to go much
farther beyond the passed vehicle
before returning to the lane. Pass
on level roadways. Avoid passing
on hills if possible.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering
wheel with one hand. To move the
trailer to the left, move that hand to
the left. To move the trailer to the
right, move that hand to the right.
Always back up slowly and,
if possible, have someone
guide you.
Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13555863) - 2020 - CRC - 8/2/19
Vehicle Care 265
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 266
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . 267
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 279
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 280
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 286
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Battery - North America . . . . . . 290
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291 Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 291
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 292
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 292
Windshield Replacement . . . . . 293
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Headlamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Front Turn Signal and Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
Taillamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . 298
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . 298
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . 299
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299 Instrument Panel Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . 308
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
Tire Pressure Monitor
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 320
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 321
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 325
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 326
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13555863) - 2020 - CRC - 8/2/19
268 Vehicle Care
If equipped with remote vehicle
start, open the hood before
performing any service work to
prevent remote starting the vehicle
accidentally. SeeRemote Vehicle
Start 015.
Keep a record with all parts receipts
and list the mileage and the date of
any service work performed. See
Maintenance Records 0372.
Caution
Even small amounts of
contamination can cause damage
to vehicle systems. Do not allow
contaminants to contact the fluids,
reservoir caps, or dipsticks.
Hood
{Warning
For vehicles with auto engine
stop/start, turn the vehicle off
before opening the hood. If the
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
vehicle is on, the engine will start
when the hood is opened. You or
others could be injured.
{Warning
Components under the hood can
get hot from running the engine.
To help avoid the risk of burning
unprotected skin, never touch
these components until they have
cooled, and always use a glove or
towel to avoid direct skin contact.
Clear any snow from the hood
before opening.
To open the hood: 1. Pull the hood release lever with the
isymbol. It is on the
lower left side of the instrument
panel.
2. Go to the front of the vehicle and locate the secondary
release lever under the front
center of the hood. Push the
secondary hood release lever
to the right to release.
Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13555863) - 2020 - CRC - 8/2/19
302 Vehicle Care
FusesUsage
F54 –
F55 Front wiper speed/ Control
F56 –
F57 Left daytime running lamp
Relays Usage
K01 Starter solenoid
K02 Air conditioning control
K03 Engine control module
K04 Front wiper control
K05 Starter solenoid
K06 Fuel heater (diesel only)
K07 –
K08 –
K09 Front wiper speed
K10 –
K11 – Relays
Usage
K12 High-beam headlamps
K13 Headlamps/Daytime running lamps
K14 Run/Crank
K15 Rear window defogger
*K16 Horn
*K17 Selective catalytic reduction
(diesel only)
*K18 Fog lamps
*K19 Coolant pump
*K20 –
*K21 Rear washer pump
*K22 Front washer pump
*K23 Rear wiper control
* PCB relays are not serviceable.Instrument Panel Fuse
Block
The instrument panel fuse block is
under the instrument panel on the
driver side.
To access the fuses, press and
release the latch near the top center
square.
Apply pressure to the two retaining
tabs on the sides of the cover, until
the two retaining tabs clear the
sides of the instrument panel. Allow
the panel to move downward and
out of the way.
Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13555863) - 2020 - CRC - 8/2/19
304 Vehicle Care
FusesUsage
F18 Body control module 7
F19 Exterior mirror
F20 Body control module 1
F21 Body control module 4
F22 Body control module 6
F23 Electric steering column lock
F24 Sensing and diagnostic module
F25 Occupancy sensor
F26 –
F27 Power seats
F28 Rear windows
F29 –
F30 –
F31 Steering wheel controls Fuses
Usage
F32 Body control module 8
F33 Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning
F34 Passive entry, passive start
F35 Liftgate latch
F36 Wireless charger module/USB
accessory
F37 Cigarette lighter
F38 OnStar
F39 Instrument panel USB
F40 Camera module/ Liftgate module
F41 Park assist module
F42 Radio
Relays Usage
K01 –
K02 Retained accessory power Relays
Usage
K03 Liftgate
K04 –
K05 Logistics
Circuit
Breakers Usage
CB1 –
CB2 Auxiliary power outlet console