Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14420010) - 2021 - CRC - 11/10/20
Seats and Restraints 55
Servicing the Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle
Airbags affect how the vehicle should be
serviced. There are parts of the airbag
system in several places around the vehicle.
Your dealer and the service manual have
information about servicing the vehicle and
the airbag system. To purchase a service
manual, seePublication Ordering
Information 0345.
{Warning
For up to 10 seconds after the vehicle is
turned off and the battery is
disconnected, an airbag can still inflate
during improper service. You can be
injured if you are close to an airbag
when it inflates. Avoid yellow connectors.
They are probably part of the airbag
system. Be sure to follow proper service
procedures, and make sure the person
performing work for you is qualified to
do so.
Adding Equipment to the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
Adding accessories that change the vehicle's
frame, bumper system, height, front end,
or side sheet metal may keep the airbag
system from working properly.
The operation of the airbag system can also
be affected by changing, including
improperly repairing or replacing, any parts
of the following:
.Airbag system, including airbag modules,
front or side impact sensors, sensing and
diagnostic module, or airbag wiring
.Front seats, including stitching, seams or
zippers
.Seat belts
.Steering wheel, instrument panel,
overhead console, ceiling trim, or pillar
garnish trim
.Inner door seals, including speakers
Your dealer and the service manual have
information about the location of the airbag
modules and sensors, sensing and diagnostic
module, and airbag wiring along with the
proper replacement procedures. In addition, the vehicle has a passenger
sensing system for the front outboard
passenger position, which includes sensors
that are part of the passenger seat. The
passenger sensing system may not operate
properly if the original seat trim is replaced
with non-GM covers, upholstery, or trim; or
with GM covers, upholstery, or trim
designed for a different vehicle. Any object,
such as an aftermarket seat heater or a
comfort-enhancing pad or device, installed
under or on top of the seat fabric, could
also interfere with the operation of the
passenger sensing system. This could either
prevent proper deployment of the passenger
airbag(s) or prevent the passenger sensing
system from properly turning off the
passenger airbag(s). See
Passenger Sensing
System 051.
If the vehicle has rollover roof-rail airbags,
see Different Size Tires and Wheels 0293 for
additional important information.
If the vehicle must be modified because you
have a disability and have questions about
whether the modifications will affect the
vehicle's airbag system, or if you have
questions about whether the airbag system
Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14420010) - 2021 - CRC - 11/12/20
Instruments and Controls 95
.Poor fuel quality can cause inefficient
engine operation and poor driveability,
which may go away once the engine is
warmed up. If this occurs, change the fuel
brand. It may require at least one full
tank of the proper fuel to turn the light
off. SeeRecommended Fuel (LYX - 1.5L L4
Turbo Engine) 0239.
If the light remains on, see your dealer.
Emissions Inspection and Maintenance
Programs
If the vehicle requires an Emissions
Inspection/Maintenance test, the test
equipment will likely connect to the
vehicle's Data Link Connector (DLC).
The DLC is under the instrument panel to
the left of the steering wheel. Connecting
devices that are not used to perform an
Emissions Inspection/Maintenance test or to
service the vehicle may affect vehicle operation. See
Add-On Electrical Equipment
0 249. See your dealer if assistance is
needed.
The vehicle may not pass inspection if:
.The light is on when the engine is
running.
.The light does not come on when the
ignition is in Service Mode.
.Critical emission control systems have not
been completely diagnosed. If this
happens, the vehicle would not be ready
for inspection and might require
several days of routine driving before the
system is ready for inspection. This can
happen if the 12-volt battery has recently
been replaced or run down, or if the
vehicle has been recently serviced.
See your dealer if the vehicle will not pass
or cannot be made ready for the test.
Brake System Warning Light
MetricEnglish This light should come on briefly when the
vehicle is turned on. If it does not come on
then, have it fixed so it will be ready to
warn you if there is a problem.
If the light comes on and stays on at start
up, there is a brake problem. Have the brake
system inspected right away.
If the light comes on while driving, pull off
the road and stop carefully. The brake pedal
might be harder to push, or the brake pedal
may go closer to the floor. It could take
longer to stop. If the light is still on, have
the vehicle towed for service. See
Towing
the Vehicle 0310.
{Warning
The brake system might not be working
properly if the brake system warning
light is on. Driving with the brake system
warning light on can lead to a crash.
If the light is still on after the vehicle has
been pulled off the road and carefully
stopped, have the vehicle towed for
service.
Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14420010) - 2021 - CRC - 11/10/20
116 Lighting
Lighting
Exterior Lighting
Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer . . . . 117
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . 118
Automatic Headlamp System . . . . . . . . . . 118
Hazard Warning Flashers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Turn and Lane-Change Signals . . . . . . . . . 119
Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Interior Lighting
Instrument Panel IlluminationControl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Courtesy Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Dome Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Reading Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Lighting Features
Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Battery Load Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Battery Power Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver . . . . . . . . . 122
Exterior Lighting
Exterior Lamp Controls
The exterior lamp control is on the
instrument panel to the left of the steering
column.
There are four positions.
O: Turns the exterior lamps off and
deactivates the AUTO mode. Turn to
O
again to reactivate the AUTO mode.
In Canada, the headlamps will automatically
reactivate when the vehicle is shifted out of
P (Park). AUTO :
Turns the exterior lamps on and off
automatically depending on outside lighting.
;: Turns on the parking lamps including
all lamps, except the headlamps.
5: Turns on the headlamps together with
the parking lamps and instrument panel
lights.
IntelliBeam®System
If equipped, this system turns the vehicle's
high-beam headlamps on and off according
to surrounding traffic conditions.
The system turns the high-beam headlamps
on when it is dark enough and there is no
other traffic present.
This light
bcomes on in the instrument
cluster when the IntelliBeam system is
enabled.
Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14420010) - 2021 - CRC - 11/10/20
118 Lighting
This indicator light turns on in the
instrument cluster when the high-beam
headlamps are on.
Flash-to-Pass
The flash-to-pass feature works with the low
beams or Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) on
or off.
To flash the high beams, pull the turn signal
lever toward you momentarily and then
release it.
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
DRL can make it easier for others to see the
front of your vehicle during the day.
The DRL system comes on in daylight when
the following conditions are met:
.The ignition is on.
.The exterior lamp control is in AUTO.
.The light sensor determines it is daytime.When the DRL are on, the taillamps,
sidemarker lamps, instrument panel lights,
and other lamps will not be on. The
instrument cluster will be lit.
The DRL turn off when the ignition is off.
The regular headlamp system should be
turned on when needed.
Automatic Headlamp System
When the exterior lamp control is set to
AUTO and it is dark enough outside, the
headlamps come on automatically.
There is a light sensor on top of the
instrument panel. Do not cover the sensor;
otherwise the headlamps will come on when
they are not needed. The system may also turn on the headlamps
when driving through a parking garage or
tunnel.
When it is bright enough outside, the
headlamps will turn off or may change to
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL).
The automatic headlamp system turns off
when the exterior lamp control is turned to
Oor the ignition is off.
Lights On with Wipers
If the windshield wipers are activated in
daylight with the engine on, and the
exterior lamp control is in AUTO, the
headlamps, parking lamps, and other
exterior lamps come on. The transition time
for the lamps coming on varies based on
wiper speed. When the wipers are not
operating, these lamps turn off. Move the
exterior lamp control to
Oor;to disable
this feature.
Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14420010) - 2021 - CRC - 11/10/20
120 Lighting
Some localities have laws that require the
high beams to be off when the fog lamps
are on.
Interior Lighting
Instrument Panel Illumination
Control
This feature adjusts the brightness of all
illuminated controls. The instrument panel
illumination control is next to the exterior
lamp control.
Push the knob in all the way until it extends
out and then turn the knob clockwise or
counterclockwise to brighten or dim the
lights. Push the knob back in when finished.
The knob is functional at night, or when the
headlamps or parking lamps are ON.
Courtesy Lamps
The courtesy lamps come on when any door
is opened,
Kon the RKE transmitter is
pressed, or when the ignition is switched
off. See Dome Lamps 0120.
Dome Lamps
The dome lamp controls are in the overhead
console. To operate, press the following buttons:
jOFF :
Press to turn off the dome
lamps when any door is opened,
Kon the
RKE transmitter is pressed, or when the
ignition is switched off. An indicator light on
the button will turn on when the dome
lamp override is activated. Press
jOFF
again to deactivate this feature and the
indicator light will turn off. The dome lamps
will come on when any door is opened,
K
on the RKE transmitter is pressed, or when
the ignition is switched off.
+ ON/OFF : Press to turn the dome lamps
on manually.
Reading Lamps
There are reading lamps on the overhead
console and over the rear passenger doors.
These lamps come on when any door is
opened,
Kon the RKE transmitter is
pressed, or when the ignition is
switched off.
To operate, the ignition must be on, or in
ACC/ACCESSORY, or using Retained Accessory
Power (RAP).
Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14420010) - 2021 - CRC - 11/10/20
178 Climate Controls
^:Turn the knob clockwise or
counterclockwise to increase or decrease the
fan speed or turn the fan off.
TEMP : Turn the knob clockwise or
counterclockwise to increase or decrease the
temperature.
Air Delivery Mode Controls : Press
{,
z, and0or a combination of the
buttons to change the direction of the
airflow. The indicator light in the button will
turn on.
To change the current mode, select one or
more of the following:
0: Clears the windows of fog or moisture.
Air is directed to the windshield.
{: Air is directed to the instrument
panel outlets.
z: 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.
@: 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.
Rear Window Defogger
K: Press to turn the rear window defogger
on or off. An indicator light on the button
comes on to show that the rear window
defogger is on.
The defogger can be turned off by turning
the ignition off or to ACC/ACCESSORY.
The rear window defogger can be set to
automatic operation. See “Climate and Air
Quality” underVehicle Personalization 0108.
When Auto Rear Defog is selected, the rear
window defogger turns on automatically
when the interior temperature is cold and
the outside temperature is about 7 °C (44 °F)
and below. The auto rear defogger turns off
automatically. If the vehicle is equipped with heated
outside mirrors, they turn on when the rear
window defogger button is on and help to
clear fog or frost from the surface of the
mirror. See
Heated Mirrors 025.
Caution
Do not try to clear frost or other material
from the inside of the front windshield
and rear window with a razor blade or
anything else that is sharp. This may
damage the rear window defogger grid
and affect the radio's ability to pick up
stations clearly. The repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
MorL:If equipped, pressMorLto
heat the driver or passenger seat. See
Heated and Ventilated Front Seats 035.
Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14420010) - 2021 - CRC - 11/10/20
180 Climate Controls
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.
Auto Defog : The climate control system
may have a sensor to automatically detect
high humidity inside the vehicle. When high
humidity is detected, the climate control
system may adjust to outside air supply and
turn on the air conditioner. The fan speed
may slightly increase to help prevent
fogging. If the climate control system does
not detect possible window fogging, it
returns to normal operation.
To turn Auto Defog off or on, see “Climate
and Air Quality” underVehicle
Personalization 0108.
Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14420010) - 2021 - CRC - 11/10/20
Climate Controls 181
Rear Window Defogger
K:Press to turn the rear window defogger
on or off. An indicator light on the button
comes on to show that the rear window
defogger is on. The defogger only works
when the ignition is on.
The defogger can be turned off by turning
the ignition to off or ACC/ACCESSORY.
The rear window defogger can be set to
automatic operation. See “Climate and Air
Quality” underVehicle Personalization 0108.
When auto rear defog is selected, the rear
window defogger turns on automatically
when the interior temperature is cold and
the outside temperature is about 7 °C (44 °F)
and below. The Auto Rear Defogger turns off
automatically.
If the vehicle is equipped with heated
outside mirrors, they turn on when the rear
window defogger button is on and help to
clear fog or frost from the surface of the
mirror. See Heated Mirrors 025.
Caution
Do not try to clear frost or other material
from the inside of the front windshield
and rear window with a razor blade or
(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
anything else that is sharp. This may
damage the rear window defogger grid
and affect the radio's ability to pick up
stations clearly. The repairs would not be
covered by the vehicle warranty.
Driver and Passenger Heated and Ventilated
Front Seats : If equipped, press
LorMto
heat the driver or passenger seat.
If equipped, press
{orCto ventilate the
driver or passenger seat. See Heated and
Ventilated Front Seats 035.
Remote Start Climate Control Operation (If
Equipped) : If the vehicle is equipped with
the remote start feature, the climate control
system may run when the vehicle is started
remotely. The system uses the driver’s
previous settings to heat or cool the inside
of the vehicle. The rear defog may come on
during remote start based on cold ambient
conditions. If the vehicle has heated or
ventilated seats, they may come on during a
remote start. See Remote Vehicle Start 013
and
Heated and Ventilated Front Seats 035.
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.