Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14420010) - 2021 - CRC - 11/12/20
204 Driving and Operating
Warning (Continued)
.While in use, do not let the heater
cord touch vehicle parts or sharp
edges. Never close the hood on the
heater cord.
.Before starting the vehicle, unplug the
cord, reattach the cover to the plug,
and securely fasten the cord. Keep the
cord away from any moving parts.
The length of time the heater should remain
plugged in depends on several factors. Ask a
dealer in the area where you will be parking
the vehicle for the best advice on this.
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
When the ignition is turned from on to off,
the following features (if equipped) will
continue to function for up to 10 minutes,
or until the driver door is opened. These
features will also work when the ignition is
in RUN or ACC/ACCESSORY:
.Infotainment System
.Power Windows (during RAP this
functionality will be lost when any door
is opened)
.Sunroof (during RAP this functionality will
be lost when any door is opened)
.Auxiliary Power Outlet
.Audio System
.OnStar System
Shifting Into Park
{Warning
It can be dangerous to get out of the
vehicle if the shift lever is not fully in
P (Park) with the parking brake firmly set.
The vehicle can roll. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be injured.
To be sure the vehicle will not move,
even when you are on fairly level ground,
use the steps that follow. If you are
pulling a trailer, see Driving
Characteristics and Towing Tips 0242.
To shift into P (Park): 1. Hold the brake pedal down and set the parking brake. See Electric Parking Brake
0 210 for more information.
2. Hold the button on the shift lever and push the lever toward the front of the
vehicle into P (Park).
3. Turn the ignition off.
Leaving the Vehicle with the Engine
Running
{Warning
It can be dangerous to leave the vehicle
with the engine running. It could
overheat and catch fire.
It is dangerous to get out of the vehicle
if the shift lever is not fully in P (Park)
with the parking brake firmly set. The
vehicle can roll.
Do not leave the vehicle when the engine
is running. If you have left the engine
running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured. To be
sure the vehicle will not move, even
when you are on fairly level ground,
always set the parking brake and move
the shift lever to P (Park). See Shifting
Into Park 0204. If you are towing a
trailer, see Driving Characteristics and
Towing Tips 0242.
If you have to leave the vehicle with the
engine running, the vehicle must be in
P (Park) and the parking brake set.
Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14420010) - 2021 - CRC - 11/10/20
260 Vehicle Care
5. Verify that the wiring harness connectoris fully connected to the sensor on the
air cleaner/filter housing.
6. If equipped, reset the engine air filter life system after replacing the engine air
filter. See Engine Air Filter Life System
0 258.
{Warning
Operating the engine with the air
cleaner/filter off can cause you or others
to be burned. Use caution when working
on the engine. Do not start the engine or
drive the vehicle with the air cleaner/
filter off, as flames may be present if the
engine backfires.
Caution
If the air cleaner/filter is off, dirt can
easily get into the engine, which could
damage it. Always have the air cleaner/
filter in place when driving.
Cooling System
1. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View)
2. Engine Coolant Surge Tank and
Pressure Cap
{Warning
An underhood electric fan can start up
even when the engine is not running and
can cause injury. Keep hands, clothing,
and tools away from any underhood
electric fan.
If the coolant inside the coolant surge tank
is boiling, do not do anything else until it
cools down. The vehicle should be parked on
a level surface. The coolant level should be at the top rib on
the middle of the tank. If it is not, the
vehicle may have a leak at the radiator
hoses, heater hoses, radiator, water pump,
or somewhere else in the cooling system.
{Warning
Do not touch heater or radiator hoses,
or other engine parts. They can be very
hot and can burn you. Do not run the
engine if there is a leak; all coolant could
leak out. That could cause an engine fire
and can burn you. Fix any leak before
driving the vehicle.
If there seems to be no leak, with the
engine on, check to see if the electric engine
cooling fan is running. If the engine is
overheating, the fan should be running. If it
is not, the vehicle needs service. Turn off
the engine.
Engine Coolant
The engine cooling system in the vehicle is
filled with DEX-COOL engine coolant mixture.
This coolant needs to be checked and
Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14420010) - 2021 - CRC - 11/10/20
Vehicle Care 263
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 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
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.
Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14420010) - 2021 - CRC - 11/10/20
360 Index
Driving (cont'd)If the Vehicle is Stuck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Impaired . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Off-Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Driving the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Dual Automatic Climate Control System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
E
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Electrical Equipment, Add-On . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Electrical System
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . 274
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . 276
Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . 278
Emergency OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 350 Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Check Light (Malfunction Indicator) . . . . . 94
Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Coolant Temperature Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Drive Belt Routing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 337
Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
Oil Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Power Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Running While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Engine Air Filter Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Equipment, Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Event Data Recorders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 348
Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Extender, Seat Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver . . . . . . . . . . . 122
F
Filter,
Engine Air Cleaner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Flashers, Hazard Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Flat Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295 Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 321
Fluid Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Folding Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . 230
Frequency Statement Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 346
Front Fog Lamp Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Front Pedestrian Braking (FPB) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Front Seats Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Heated and Ventilated . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14420010) - 2021 - CRC - 11/10/20
Index 361
FuelAdditives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Economy, Driving for Better . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . 241
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Foreign Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Recommended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Top Tier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Fuses Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . 274
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . 276
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . 278
G
Garage Door Opener . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113Programming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Gauges
Engine Coolant Temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90 Gauges (cont'd)
Warning Lights and Indicators . . . . . . . . . . 85
General Information Service and Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Vehicle Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Global Positioning System (GPS) . . . . . . . . . .147
Glove Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
GM Mobility Reimbursement
Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .341
Guidance Problems with the Route . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
H
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Hazard Warning Flashers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
HD Radio Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Headlamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . 118
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Front Turn Signal and Fog Lamps . . . . . . . 271
High Intensity Discharge (HID)Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 Headlamps (cont'd)
High/Low Beam Changer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Lamps On Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Heated Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Steering Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Heated and Ventilated Front Seats . . . . . . . .35
Heated Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
Heater
Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Heating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177, 179
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
How to Wear Seat Belts Properly . . . . . . . . . 40
HVAC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177, 179
I
If the System Needs Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Indicator Pedestrian Ahead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Vehicle Ahead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Infants and Young Children, Restraints . . . . 58