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232 Driving and Operating
When this Collision Alert occurs, the
brake system may prepare for driver
braking to occur more rapidly which
can cause a brief, mild deceleration.
Continue to apply the brake pedal
as needed. Cruise control may be
disengaged when the Collision Alert
occurs.
Tailgating Alert
The vehicle ahead indicator will
display amber when you are
following a vehicle ahead much too
closely.
Selecting the Alert Timing
The Collision Alert control is on the
steering wheel. Press
[to set the
FCA timing to Far, Medium, or Near,
or on some vehicles, Off. The first
button press shows the current
setting on the DIC. Additional button
presses will change this setting. The chosen setting will remain until it is
changed and will affect the timing of
both the Collision Alert and the
Tailgating Alert features. The timing
of both alerts will vary based on
vehicle speed. The faster the
vehicle speed, the farther away the
alert will occur. Consider traffic and
weather conditions when selecting
the alert timing. The range of
selectable alert timings may not be
appropriate for all drivers and
driving conditions.
Following Distance Indicator
The following distance to a moving
vehicle ahead in your path is
indicated in following time in
seconds on the Driver Information
Center (DIC). See
Driver
Information Center (DIC) (Base
Level and Midlevel) 0123 or
Driver Information Center (DIC)
(Uplevel) 0129. The minimum
following time is 0.5 seconds away.
If there is no vehicle detected
ahead, or the vehicle ahead is out of
sensor range, dashes will be
displayed.
Unnecessary Alerts
FCA may provide unnecessary
alerts for turning vehicles, vehicles
in other lanes, objects that are not
vehicles, or shadows. These alerts
are normal operation and the
vehicle does not need service.
Cleaning the System
If the FCA system does not seem to
operate properly, this may correct
the issue:
. Clean the outside of the
windshield in front of the
rearview mirror.
. Clean the entire front of the
vehicle.
. Clean the headlamps.
Automatic Emergency
Braking (AEB)
If the vehicle has Forward Collision
Alert (FCA), it also has AEB, which
includes Intelligent Brake
Assist (IBA). When the system
detects a vehicle ahead in your path
that is traveling in the same
Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 233
direction that you may be about to
crash into, it can provide a boost to
braking or automatically brake the
vehicle. This can help avoid or
lessen the severity of crashes when
driving in a forward gear. Depending
on the situation, the vehicle may
automatically brake moderately or
hard. This automatic emergency
braking can only occur if a vehicle is
detected. This is shown by the FCA
vehicle ahead indicator being lit.
SeeForward Collision Alert (FCA)
System 0230.
The system works when driving in a
forward gear between 8 km/h
(5 mph) and 80 km/h (50 mph).
It can detect vehicles up to
approximately 60 m (197 ft).
{Warning
AEB is an emergency crash
preparation feature and is not
designed to avoid crashes. Do
not rely on AEB to brake the
vehicle. AEB will not brake (Continued)
Warning (Continued)
outside of its operating speed
range and only responds to
detected vehicles.
AEB may not:
. Detect a vehicle ahead on
winding or hilly roads.
. Detect all vehicles,
especially vehicles with a
trailer, tractors, muddy
vehicles, etc.
. Detect a vehicle when
weather limits visibility, such
as in fog, rain, or snow.
. Detect a vehicle ahead if it
is partially blocked by
pedestrians or other objects.
Complete attention is always
required while driving, and you
should be ready to take action
and apply the brakes and/or steer
the vehicle to avoid crashes. AEB may slow the vehicle to a
complete stop to try to avoid a
potential crash. If this happens, AEB
may engage the Electric Parking
Brake (EPB) to hold the vehicle at a
stop. Release the EPB or firmly
press the accelerator pedal.
{Warning
AEB may automatically brake the
vehicle suddenly in situations
where it is unexpected and
undesired. It could respond to a
turning vehicle ahead, guardrails,
signs, and other non-moving
objects. To override AEB, firmly
press the accelerator pedal, if it is
safe to do so.
Intelligent Brake Assist (IBA)
IBA may activate when the brake
pedal is applied quickly by providing
a boost to braking based on the
speed of approach and distance to
a vehicle ahead.
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Driving and Operating 237
Warning (Continued)
provide alerts when changing
lanes under all driving conditions.
Failure to use proper care when
changing lanes may result in
injury, death, or vehicle damage.
Before making a lane change,
always check mirrors, glance over
your shoulder, and use the turn
signals.
LCA Detection Zones
1. SBZA Detection Zone
2. LCA Detection Zone
The LCA sensor covers a zone of
approximately one lane over from
both sides of the vehicle, or 3.5 m (11 ft). The height of the zone is
approximately between 0.5 m (1.5 ft)
and 2 m (6 ft) off the ground. The
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA)
warning area starts at approximately
the middle of the vehicle and goes
back 5 m (16 ft). Drivers are also
warned of vehicles rapidly
approaching from up to 25 m (82 ft)
behind the vehicle.
How the System Works
The LCA symbol lights up in the
side mirrors when the system
detects a moving vehicle in the next
lane over that is in the side blind
zone or rapidly approaching that
zone from behind. A lit LCA symbol
indicates it may be unsafe to
change lanes. Before making a lane
change, check the LCA display,
check mirrors, glance over your
shoulder, and use the turn signals.
Left Side Mirror
DisplayRight Side Mirror Display
When the vehicle is started, both
outside mirror LCA displays will
briefly come on to indicate the
system is operating. When the
vehicle is in a forward gear, the left
or right side mirror display will light
up if a moving vehicle is detected in
the next lane over in that blind zone
or rapidly approaching that zone.
If the turn signal is activated in the
same direction as a detected
vehicle, this display will flash as an
extra warning not to change lanes.
LCA can be disabled through
vehicle personalization. See
“Collision/Detection Systems” under
Vehicle Personalization 0134.
If LCA is disabled by the driver, the
LCA mirror displays will not light up.
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Driving and Operating 239
{Warning
The LKA system does not
continuously steer the vehicle.
It may not keep the vehicle in the
lane or give a Lane Departure
Warning (LDW) alert, even if a
lane marking is detected.
The LKA and LDW systems
may not:. Provide an alert or enough
steering assist to avoid a
lane departure or crash.
. Detect lane markings under
poor weather or visibility
conditions. This can occur if
the windshield or
headlamps are blocked by
dirt, snow, or ice; if they are
not in proper condition; or if
the sun shines directly into
the camera.
. Detect road edges.
. Detect lanes on winding or
hilly roads.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
If LKA only detects lane markings
on one side of the road, it will
only assist or provide an LDW
alert when approaching the lane
on the side where it has detected
a lane marking. Even with LKA
and LDW, you must steer the
vehicle. Always keep your
attention on the road and
maintain proper vehicle position
within the lane, or vehicle
damage, injury, or death could
occur. Always keep the
windshield, headlamps, and
camera sensors clean and in
good repair. Do not use LKA in
bad weather conditions or on
roads with unclear lane markings,
such as construction zones.
{Warning
Using LKA while towing a trailer
or on slippery roads could cause
loss of control of the vehicle and
a crash. Turn the system off.
How the System Works
LKA uses a camera sensor installed
on the windshield ahead of the
rearview mirror to detect lane
markings. It may provide brief
steering assist if it detects an
unintended lane departure. It may
further provide an audible alert or
the driver seat may pulse indicating
that a lane marking has been
crossed.
To turn LKA on and off, press
A
on the steering wheel. If equipped,
the indicator light on the button
comes on when LKA is on and turns
off when LKA is disabled.
When on,
Ais white, if equipped,
indicating that the system is not
ready to assist.
Ais green if LKA
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Driving and Operating 245
Caution
Do not use blends containing
more than 20% biodiesel. Any
engine, fuel system, or exhaust
after-treatment system damage
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty.
As a renewable fuel, biodiesel
provides some environmental
benefits. However, biodiesel has
unique properties and needs to be
handled differently than diesel fuel.
Its use presents additional risks and
may not be appropriate in all
situations. Certain vehicle operating
modes increase these risks and
should be avoided.
Biodiesel fuel quality degrades with
time and exposure to high
temperature quicker than Ultra Low
Sulfur Diesel fuel. More frequent
refueling provides the best
opportunity to have a supply of fresh
fuel. Storage at hot ambient
temperatures will accelerate
biodiesel degradation. If the vehicle is not driven often and
uses little fuel, or if it is stored for
extended periods of time, avoid the
use of biodiesel blended fuels
above 5% by volume. When the
vehicle is stored for longer than one
month, it should be run out of
biodiesel to below one-quarter tank,
refueled with biodiesel-free fuel, and
driven several kilometers (miles)
before storage.
Cold Weather Operation
(Diesel)
In cold weather, the fuel filter may
become clogged by wax naturally
present in the fuel. To unclog it,
move the vehicle to a warm garage
area and allow the filter to warm up.
The fuel filter may need to be
replaced. See
Fuel Filter
Replacement (Diesel) 0249.
At temperatures below 0 °C (32 °F),
it is recommended to avoid using
biodiesel blends above 5% blend.
This blend may cause fuel filter
plugging, system gelling, and
freezing that may affect vehicle
starting. You may need to turn the ignition on and off a few times
before the vehicle will start. Also,
idle the vehicle for a couple of
minutes before accelerating.
It is recommended to use Ultra Low
Sulfur No. 1-D diesel fuel or a blend
of No. 1-D and No. 2-D diesel fuel to
enhance vehicle operation in cold
weather at temperatures below 0 °C
(32 °F). Use of No. 1-D diesel fuel
may lower the fuel economy. For
additional information for better cold
weather operation, see
Engine
Heater 0187.Water in Fuel (Diesel)
Improper fuel tank inspection or
cleaning, or contaminated fuel from
suppliers, can cause water to be
pumped into the fuel tank along with
the diesel fuel. If a WATER IN FUEL
- CONTACT SERVICE message
displays, the water must be drained
immediately.
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248 Driving and Operating
FWD Shown, AWD Similar
3. Turn the drain plug counterclockwise using a
suitable tool.
4. With the engine off, press and hold ENGINE START/STOP
without applying the brake for
five seconds to place the
vehicle in Service Mode. See
Ignition Positions 0180. Wait
approximately five seconds,
and then press ENGINE
START/STOP again to turn it
off. This operation will enhance
water flow out of the filter. The filter is drained as soon as
diesel fuel emerges from
the port.
5. Retighten the drain plug by turning it clockwise.
6. Properly dispose of the water contaminated fuel.
7. Start the engine and let it run for a few minutes. During the
draining process, air may have
entered the fuel system. If the
engine stalls, the fuel system
may need to be primed. See
“Fuel Priming” following.
Fuel Priming
For the fuel system to work properly,
air cannot be in the fuel lines. If air
gets in, the engine may not start
and the fuel lines will need to be
primed before operating the vehicle.
If air is present, the following may
have happened:
. The vehicle ran out of fuel.
. The fuel filter was removed.
. The fuel lines were removed or
disconnected. .
The fuel filter water drain valve
was opened while the engine
was running.
To prime the fuel lines: 1. With the engine off, press and hold ENGINE START/STOP
without applying the brake for
five seconds to place the
vehicle in Service Mode. See
Ignition Positions 0180. Wait
approximately five seconds
and press ENGINE START/
STOP again to turn it off. Do
this step three times or more
while the engine is off.
2. Press and hold ENGINE START/STOP while applying
the brake for a maximum of
40 seconds at a time, with
five seconds between attempts,
until the engine starts. If the
engine tries to run, but does
not run smoothly, increase the
rpm’s slightly by using the
accelerator pedal. This will help
force air through the system.
3. Repeat Step 2 if the engine stalls and will not restart.
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Driving and Operating 249
4. After a few attempts, if theengine still does not start, see
your dealer.
Running Out of Fuel
(Diesel)
{Warning
Diesel fuel is flammable. It could
start a fire if something ignites it,
and people could be burned. Do
not let it get on hot engine parts,
and keep matches or other
ignition sources away.
If the engine has stalled due to
running out of fuel, add at least
7.6 L (2 gal) of fuel if parked on a
level surface, or up to 18.9 L (5 gal)
of fuel if parked on a slope, and
perform the procedure under “Fuel
Priming” previously in this section.
Fuel Filter Replacement
(Diesel)
{Warning
Diesel fuel is flammable. It could
start a fire if something ignites it,
and people could be burned. Do
not let it get on hot engine parts,
and keep matches or other
ignition sources away.
The fuel filter is on the passenger
side, in front of the rear tire. 1. Drain any water from the filter. See “Removing Water from the
Fuel Filter” inWater in Fuel
(Diesel) 0245.
Keep the engine off until the
procedure is completed.
2. Apply the parking brake.
FWD Shown, AWD Similar
3. Remove the filter element cap by turning it counterclockwise.
4. Remove the filter element and o-rings. If there is any dirt on
the filter sealing surface, clean
it off.
5. Install the new filter element and o-rings.
6. Reinstall and tighten the filter cap to the housing.
7. Use the fuel filter priming procedure to prime the fuel
filter. See “Fuel Priming” in
Water in Fuel (Diesel) 0245.
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Driving and Operating 257
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
0286.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.