CHEVROLET EQUINOX 2007 1.G Owners Manual

Traction Control System (TCS)
Warning Light
Your vehicle has
a Traction Control
System (TCS)
and StabiliTrak
®
warning light.
This light will come on when the TCS is limiting
wheel spin or when the StabiliTrak
®system
is active. You may feel or hear the system working,
but this is normal.
If the TCS warning light comes on and stays on
for an extended period of time when the system
is turned on, your vehicle needs service. See
Traction Control System (TCS) on page 291
andStabiliTrak
®System on page 292for more
information.
Engine Coolant Temperature
Warning Light
The engine coolant
temperature warning
light will come on
when the engine has
overheated.
If this happens you should pull over and turn off
the engine as soon as possible. SeeEngine
Overheating on page 355for more information.
Notice:Driving with the engine coolant
temperature warning light on could cause your
vehicle to overheat. SeeEngine Overheating
on page 355. Your vehicle could be damaged,
and it might not be covered by your warranty.
Never drive with the engine coolant
temperature warning light on.
This light will also come on when starting your
vehicle. If it does not, have your vehicle serviced.
181

Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
This gage measures
the temperature of
the vehicle’s engine.
If the indicator needle moves into the shaded
area, the engine is too hot. A temperature indicator
light will turn on.
If you have been operating your vehicle under
normal driving conditions, and the temperature
indicator light comes on, you should pull off
the road, stop your vehicle and turn off the
engine as soon as possible.
Tire Pressure Light
This light will come on
briey when you turn
the ignition to RUN.
This light will also come on when one or more of
your tires are signicantly underinated.
A CHECK TIRE PRESSURE DIC message will
accompany the light.
Stop and check your tires as soon as it is safe to do
so. If underinated, inate to the proper pressure.
SeeTires on page 382for more information.
This light will ash for 60 seconds and then turn
on solid if a problem is detected with the Tire
Pressure Monitor system.
SeeTire Pressure Monitor System on page 391
for more information.
182

Malfunction Indicator Lamp
Check Engine Light
Your vehicle has
a computer which
monitors operation
of the fuel, ignition,
and emission
control systems.
This system is called OBD II (On-Board
Diagnostics-Second Generation) and is intended
to assure that emissions are at acceptable
levels for the life of the vehicle, helping to produce
a cleaner environment. The check engine light
comes on to indicate that there is a problem and
service is required. Malfunctions often will be
indicated by the system before any problem is
apparent. This may prevent more serious damage
to your vehicle. This system is also designed
to assist your service technician in correctly
diagnosing any malfunction.Notice:If you keep driving your vehicle with
this light on, after awhile, your emission
controls may not work as well, your fuel
economy may not be as good, and your engine
may not run as smoothly. This could lead to
costly repairs that may not be covered by
your warranty.
Notice:Modications made to the engine,
transaxle, exhaust, intake, or fuel system
of your vehicle or the replacement of the
original tires with other than those of the same
Tire Performance Criteria (TPC) can affect
your vehicle’s emission controls and may
cause this light to come on. Modications to
these systems could lead to costly repairs not
covered by your warranty. This may also
result in a failure to pass a required Emission
Inspection/Maintenance test. SeeAccessories
and Modifications on page 333.
183

This light should come on, as a check to show
you it is working, when the ignition is on and the
engine is not running. If the light does not
come on, have it repaired. This light will also
come on during a malfunction in one of two ways:
Light Flashing— A misre condition has
been detected. A misre increases vehicle
emissions and may damage the emission
control system on your vehicle. Diagnosis
and service may be required.
Light On Steady— An emission control
system malfunction has been detected on
your vehicle. Diagnosis and service may
be required.
If the Light is Flashing
The following may prevent more serious damage
to your vehicle:
Reducing vehicle speed
Avoiding hard accelerations
Avoiding steep uphill grades
If you are towing a trailer, reduce the
amount of cargo being hauled as soon
as it is possible
If the light stops ashing and remains on steady,
see “If the Light Is On Steady” following.
If the light continues to ash, when it is safe to
do so, stop the vehicle. Find a safe place to park
your vehicle. Turn the key off, wait at least
10 seconds and restart the engine. If the light
remains on steady, see “If the Light Is On Steady”
following. If the light is still ashing, follow the
previous steps, and see your dealer for service
as soon as possible.
184

If the Light Is On Steady
You may be able to correct the emission system
malfunction by considering the following:
Did you recently put fuel into your vehicle?
If so, reinstall the fuel cap, making sure to fully
install the cap. SeeFilling the Tank on page 337.
The diagnostic system can determine if the
fuel cap has been left off or improperly installed.
A loose or missing fuel cap will allow fuel to
evaporate into the atmosphere. A few driving trips
with the cap properly installed should turn the
light off.
Did you just drive through a deep puddle of water?
If so, your electrical system may be wet. The
condition will usually be corrected when the
electrical system dries out. A few driving trips
should turn the light off.Have you recently changed brands of fuel?
If so, be sure to fuel your vehicle with quality fuel.
SeeGasoline Octane on page 335. Poor fuel
quality will cause your engine not to run as
efficiently as designed. You may notice this as
stalling after start-up, stalling when you put
the vehicle into gear, misring, hesitation on
acceleration, or stumbling on acceleration.
(These conditions may go away once the engine
is warmed up.) This will be detected by the
system and cause the light to turn on.
If you experience one or more of these conditions,
change the fuel brand you use. It will require at
least one full tank of the proper fuel to turn the
light off.
If none of the above steps have made the light
turn off, your dealer can check the vehicle.
Your dealer has the proper test equipment and
diagnostic tools to x any mechanical or electrical
problems that may have developed.
185

Emissions Inspection and
Maintenance Programs
Some state/provincial and local governments have
or may begin programs to inspect the emission
control equipment on your vehicle. Failure to pass
this inspection could prevent you from getting a
vehicle registration.
Here are some things you need to know to help
your vehicle pass an inspection:
Your vehicle will not pass this inspection if the
check engine light is on or not working properly.
Your vehicle will not pass this inspection if
the OBD (on-board diagnostic) system determines
that critical emission control systems have not
been completely diagnosed by the system.
The vehicle would be considered not ready for
inspection. This can happen if you have recently
replaced your battery or if your battery has
run down. The diagnostic system is designed
to evaluate critical emission control systems
during normal driving. This may take several days
of routine driving. If you have done this and
your vehicle still does not pass the inspection
for lack of OBD system readiness, your dealer
can prepare the vehicle for inspection.
Oil Pressure Light
If you have a low engine
oil pressure problem,
this light will stay on after
you start your engine,
or come on when you
are driving.
This indicates that your engine is not receiving
enough oil.
The engine could be low on oil, or could have
some other oil problem. Have it xed immediately.
The oil light could also come on in three other
situations:
When the ignition is on but the engine is not
running, the light will come on as a test to
show you it is working, but the light will go
out when you turn the ignition to START.
If it does not come on with the ignition on,
you may have a problem with the fuse or bulb.
Have it xed right away.
186

If the vehicle is idling at a stop sign, the light
may blink on and then off.
If you make a hard stop, the light may come
on for a moment. This is normal.
{CAUTION:
Do not keep driving if the oil pressure is
low. If you do, your engine can become so
hot that it catches re. You or others could
be burned. Check your oil as soon as
possible and have your vehicle serviced.
Notice:Lack of proper engine oil maintenance
may damage the engine. The repairs would
not be covered by your warranty. Always follow
the maintenance schedule in this manual for
changing engine oil.
Change Engine Oil Light
If this light comes
on and stays on for
30 seconds, it means
that service is required
for your vehicle.
After having the oil changed you will need to
reset the light. SeeEngine Oil on page 344
andScheduled Maintenance on page 439for
more information.
187

Security Light
Your vehicle is equipped
with a theft-deterrent
system. With this
system, the security
light will ash as
you open the door if
your ignition is off.
This light will come on briey when the vehicle
is turned on.
For more information, seePASS-Key
®III+
Operation on page 113.
Fog Lamp Light
The fog lamp light will
come on when the fog
lamps are in use.
The light will go out when the fog lamps are
turned off. SeeFog Lamps on page 160for
more information.
Cruise Control Light
This light comes on
whenever you set the
cruise control.
The light goes out when the cruise control is
turned off. SeeCruise Control on page 155for
more information.
Reduced Engine Power Light
This light will come on
briey when you start
the engine.
188

This light, along with the service vehicle soon
light, will be displayed when a noticeable reduction
in the vehicle’s performance may occur. Stop
the vehicle and turn off the ignition. Wait for
10 seconds and restart your vehicle. This may
correct the condition. SeeService Vehicle
Soon Light on page 191for more information.
The vehicle may be driven at a reduced speed
when the reduced engine power light is on,
but acceleration and speed may be reduced.
The performance may be reduced until the next
time you drive your vehicle. If this light stays
on, see your dealer as soon as possible for
diagnosis and repair.
Highbeam On Light
This light comes on
when the high-beam
headlamps are in use.
SeeHeadlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
on page 152.
Service All-Wheel Drive Light
This light is located in
the center of your
instrument panel cluster.
This light and the SERVICE ALL WHEEL DRIVE
message in the Driver Information Center (DIC)
will come on and stay on to indicate that there may
be a problem with the drive system and service
is required. SeeAll-Wheel Drive (AWD) System
on page 293andDIC Warnings and Messages
on page 198for more information.
189

All-Wheel Drive Disabled Light
This light will come on
when the rear drive
system is overheating.
An ALL WHEEL DRIVE OFF message will appear
in the Driver Information Center (DIC) too. This
light will turn off when the rear drive system
cools down. If this light stays on for a while, you
need to reset the light. To reset the light, turn
the ignition off and then back on again. If the
light stays on, see your dealer right away.
SeeAll-Wheel Drive on page 374and
DIC Warnings and Messages on page 198
for more information.
Gate Ajar Light
If this light comes on,
your liftgate is not
completely closed.
Driving with the liftgate
open can cause
carbon monoxide (CO)
to enter the vehicle.
SeeEngine Exhaust on page 127for more
information.
Door Ajar Light
This light will come on
when a door is ajar.
Do not drive with a door ajar.
190