Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
16540728) - 2023 - crc - 6/16/22
186 Driving and Operating
Assistance. SeeRoadside Assistance Program
0 330. To get help and keep everyone in the
vehicle safe:
.Turn on the hazard warning flashers.
.Tie a red cloth to an outside mirror.
{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 the fan speed to the highest
setting. See “Climate Control Systems.”
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
For more information about CO, see
Engine Exhaust 0197.
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
0 204.
{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).
If equipped, select All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
Mode. See All-Wheel Drive 0201.
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
wheels stop spinning before shifting gears.
Release the accelerator pedal while shifting,
and press lightly on the accelerator pedal
when the transmission is in gear. Slowly
spinning the wheels in the forward and
reverse directions causes a rocking motion
that could free the vehicle. If that does not
get the vehicle out after a few tries, it
Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
16540728) - 2023 - crc - 6/16/22
Driving and Operating 239
The following information has many
time-tested, important trailering tips and
safety rules. Many of these are important
for your safety and that of your passengers.
Read this section carefully before pulling a
trailer.
When towing a trailer:
.Become familiar with, and follow all state
and local laws that apply to trailer
towing. These requirements vary from
state to state.
.State laws may require the use of
extended side view mirrors. If your
visibility is limited or restricted while
towing, install extended side view mirrors
on your vehicle, even if not required.
.Do not tow a trailer during the first 800
km (500 mi) of vehicle use to prevent
damage to the engine, axle, or other
parts.
.Perform the first oil change before heavy
towing.
.Do not drive over 80 km/h (50 mph) and
do not make starts at full throttle during
the first 800 km (500 mi) of trailer
towing.
.Tow in D (Drive). If the transmission
downshifts too often, a lower gear may
be selected using Manual Mode See
Manual Mode0200.
If equipped, the following driver assistance
features should be turned off when towing
a trailer:
.Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
.Super Cruise Control
.Park Assist
.Automatic Parking Assist (APA)
.Reverse Automatic Braking (RAB)
If equipped, the following driver assistance
features should be turned to alert or off
when towing a trailer:
.Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB)
.Intelligent Brake Assist (IBA)
.Front Pedestrian Braking (FPB)
If equipped with Lane Change Alert (LCA),
the LCA detection zones that extend back
from the side of the vehicle do not move
further back when a trailer is towed. Use
caution while changing lanes when towing a
trailer.
If equipped with Rear Cross Traffic Alert
(RCTA), use caution while backing up when
towing a trailer, as the RCTA detection zones that extend out from the back of the vehicle
do not move further back when a trailer is
towed.
{Warning
To prevent serious injury or death from
carbon monoxide (CO), when towing a
trailer:
.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 0197.
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
Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
16540728) - 2023 - crc - 6/16/22
Vehicle Care 247
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
California Perchlorate MaterialsRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . 248
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your Own Service Work . . . . . . . . 248
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . 251
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . 255
Engine Air Filter Life System . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Battery - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
Windshield Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Gas Strut(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Headlamp Aiming
Front Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
LED Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Headlamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
Front Turn Signal and Fog Lamps . . . . . 268
Taillamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . 271
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Rear Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . 275
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Tire Terminology and Definitions . . . . . 280
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Tire Pressure Monitor System . . . . . . . . . 283
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . 284 Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . 288
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . 290
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . 290
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance . . . . 292
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294
Compact Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
Jump Starting
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . 300
Towing the Vehicle
Transporting a Disabled Vehicle . . . . . . . 302
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . . . . . . . . 304
Appearance Care
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 306
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
16540728) - 2023 - crc - 6/16/22
Vehicle Care 249
If doing some of your own service work, use
the proper service manual. It tells you much
more about how to service the vehicle than
this manual can. To order the proper service
manual, seePublication Ordering
Information 0334.
This vehicle has an airbag system. Before
attempting to do your own service work,
see Servicing the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
0 56.
If equipped with remote vehicle start, open
the hood before performing any service
work to prevent remote starting the vehicle
accidentally. See Remote Vehicle Start 014.
Keep a record with all parts receipts and list
the mileage and the date of any service
work performed. See Maintenance Records
0 322.
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 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-
16540728) - 2023 - crc - 6/16/22
Vehicle Care 273
FusesUsage
F33 –
F34 Horn F35 –
F36 Headlamps/Daytime Running Lamps Right
F37 –
F38 Automatic Headlamp Leveling
F39 –
F40 –
F41 Transmission Range Control Module
F42 Motorized Headlamp
F43 –
F44 Interior Rearview Mirror F45 Passenger Side Ventilated Seat
F46 Driver Side Ventilated Seat
F47 Steering Column Lock Assembly
F48 Rear Wiper Fuses
Usage
F49 –
F50 Heated Steering Wheel F51 –
F52 Engine Control Module/ Transmission Control
F53 –
F54 –
F55 Front Wiper Speed/ Control
F56 –
F57 Headlamps/Daytime Running Lamps Left
Relays Usage
K01 Starter Solenoid
K02 Air Conditioning Control
K03 Engine Control Module
K04 Front Wiper Control K05 Starter Solenoid 2
K06 –
K07 – Relays
Usage
K08 –
K09 Front Wiper Speed K10 –
K11 –
K12 Headlamps/Daytime Running Lamps Right
K13 Headlamps/Daytime Running Lamps Left
K14 Run/Crank K15 Rear Window Defogger
Instrument Panel Fuse Block
Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
16540728) - 2023 - crc - 6/16/22
274 Vehicle Care
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.
To reinstall the cover, reverse the steps.
The vehicle may not be equipped with all of
the fuses and relays shown.
FusesUsage
F01 DC AC Inverter
F02 Front Windows Fuses
Usage
F03 Trailer Brake
F04 Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Blower
F05 –
F06 Central Gateway Module F07 –
F08 Body Control Module 3
F09 Amplifier F10 –
F11 –
F12 –
F13 –
F14 –
F15 Transmission Control Module
F16 Front Heated Seats F17 Left Data Link Connector
F18 Body Control Module 7
F19 Exterior Mirror
F20 –
Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
16540728) - 2023 - crc - 6/16/22
Vehicle Care 275
FusesUsage
F21 Body Control Module 4
F22 –
F23 –
F24 Sensing and Diagnostic Module
F25 Occupancy Sensor
F26 –
F27 Power Seats
F28 Rear Windows
F29 –
F30 –
F31 Steering Wheel Controls
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 Fuses
Usage
F38 OnStar
F39 Instrument Panel USB
F40 Camera Module/Liftgate Module
F41 Park Assist Module/ Center Stack Display/
Heating, Ventilation and
Air Conditioner Display/
Universal Garage Door
Opener/Overhead Control
Switchbank
F42 Radio
Relays Usage
K01 –
K02 Retained Accessory Power
K03 Liftgate
K04 –
K05 –
Circuit Breakers Usage CB1 –
CB2 –Rear Compartment Fuse Block
The rear compartment fuse block is behind a
trim panel on the side of the rear
compartment.
Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-
16540728) - 2023 - crc - 6/16/22
312 Vehicle Care
Fabric/Carpet/Suede
Start by vacuuming the surface using a soft
brush attachment. If a rotating vacuum
brush attachment is being used, only use it
on the floor carpet. Before cleaning, gently
remove as much of the soil as possible:
.Gently blot liquids with a paper towel.
Continue blotting until no more soil can
be removed.
.For solid soils, remove as much as
possible prior to vacuuming.
To clean: 1. Saturate a clean, lint-free colorfast cloth with water. Microfiber cloth is
recommended to prevent lint transfer to
the fabric or carpet.
2. Remove excess moisture by gently wringing until water does not drip from
the cleaning cloth.
3. Start on the outside edge of the soil and gently rub toward the center. Fold the
cleaning cloth to a clean area frequently
to prevent forcing the soil into the
fabric.
4. Continue gently rubbing the soiled area until there is no longer any color
transfer from the soil to the cleaning
cloth. 5. If the soil is not completely removed,
use a mild soap solution followed only
by plain water.
If the soil is not completely removed, it may
be necessary to use a commercial upholstery
cleaner or spot lifter. Test a small hidden
area for colorfastness before using a
commercial upholstery cleaner or spot lifter.
If ring formation occurs, clean the entire
fabric or carpet.
After cleaning, use a paper towel to blot
excess moisture.
Cleaning High Gloss Surfaces and Vehicle
Information and Radio Displays
Use a microfiber cloth on high gloss surfaces
or vehicle displays. First, use a soft bristle
brush to remove dirt that can scratch the
surface. Then gently clean by rubbing with a
microfiber cloth. Never use window cleaners
or solvents. Periodically hand wash the
microfiber cloth separately, using mild soap.
Do not use bleach or fabric softener. Rinse
thoroughly and air dry before next use.
Caution
Do not attach a device with a suction cup
to the display. This may cause damage
and would not be covered by the vehicle
warranty.
Instrument Panel, Leather, Vinyl, Other
Plastic Surfaces, Low Gloss Paint
Surfaces, and Natural Open Pore Wood
Surfaces
Use a soft bristle brush to remove dust from
knobs and crevices on the instrument
cluster. Use a soft microfiber cloth
dampened with water to remove dust and
loose dirt. For a more thorough cleaning,
use a soft microfiber cloth dampened with a
mild soap and water solution.
Caution
Soaking or saturating leather, especially
perforated leather, as well as other
interior surfaces, may cause permanent
damage. Wipe excess moisture from
these surfaces after cleaning and allow
them to dry naturally. Never use heat,
steam, or spot removers. Do not use
liquids that contain alcohol or solvents on
(Continued)