CHEVROLET EQUINOX 2010 2.G Owners Manual

Vehicle Care 9-23
.A fluid leak in the brake
hydraulic system can also cause
a low fluid level. Have the brake
hydraulic system fixed, since a
leak means that sooner or later
the brakes will not work well.
Do not top off the brake fluid.
Adding fluid does not correct a leak.
If fluid is added when the linings are
worn, there will be too much fluid
when new brake linings are
installed. Add or remove brake fluid,
as necessary, only when work is
done on the brake hydraulic system.
{WARNING
If too much brake fluid is added, it
can spill on the engine and burn,
if the engine is hot enough. You
or others could be burned, and
the vehicle could be damaged.
Add brake fluid only when work is
done on the brake hydraulic
system. When the brake fluid falls to a low
level, the brake warning light comes
on. See
Brake System Warning
Light on page 4‑19.
What to Add
Use only new DOT 3 brake fluid
from a sealed container. See
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 10‑7.
Always clean the brake fluid
reservoir cap and the area around
the cap before removing it. This
helps keep dirt from entering the
reservoir.{WARNING
With the wrong kind of fluid in the
brake hydraulic system, the
brakes might not work well. This
could cause a crash. Always use
the proper brake fluid. Notice:
.Using the wrong fluid can
badly damage brake
hydraulic system parts. For
example, just a few drops of
mineral-based oil, such as
engine oil, in the brake
hydraulic system can
damage brake hydraulic
system parts so badly that
they will have to be replaced.
Do not let someone put in
the wrong kind of fluid.
.If brake fluid is spilled on the
vehicle's painted surfaces,
the paint finish can be
damaged. Be careful not to
spill brake fluid on the
vehicle. If you do, wash it off
immediately.

9-24 Vehicle Care
Battery
Refer to the replacement number on
the original battery label when a
new battery is needed.
{DANGER
Battery posts, terminals, and
related accessories contain lead
and lead compounds, chemicals
known to the State of California to
cause cancer and reproductive
harm. Wash hands after handling.
Vehicle Storage
{WARNING
Batteries have acid that can burn
you and gas that can explode.
You can be badly hurt if you are
not careful. SeeJump Starting
on
page 9‑69
for tips on working
around a battery without
getting hurt. Infrequent Usage: Remove the
black, negative (−) cable from the
battery to keep the battery from
running down.
Extended Storage: Remove the
black, negative (−) cable from the
battery or use a battery trickle
charger.
All-Wheel Drive
Transfer Case
When to Check and Change
Lubricant
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule
to determine how often to check the
lubricant and when to change it.
See
Scheduled Maintenance
on
page 10‑2. How to Check Lubricant
To get an accurate reading, the
vehicle should be on a level
surface.
If the level is below the bottom of
the filler plug hole, located on the
transfer case, you will need to add
some lubricant. Add enough
lubricant to raise the level to the
bottom of the filler plug hole. A fluid
loss could indicate a problem; check
and have it repaired, if needed.

Vehicle Care 9-25
What to Use
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule
to determine what kind of lubricant
to use. SeeRecommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 10‑7.
Starter Switch Check
{WARNING
When you are doing this
inspection, the vehicle could
move suddenly. If the vehicle
moves, you or others could be
injured.
1. Before starting this check, be sure there is enough room
around the vehicle.
2. Firmly apply both the parking brake and the regular brake.
See Parking Brake
on
page 8‑40.
Do not use the accelerator
pedal, and be ready to turn off
the engine immediately if it
starts. 3. Try to start the engine in each
gear. The vehicle should start
only in P (Park) or N (Neutral).
If the vehicle starts in any other
position, contact your dealer for
service.
Automatic Transmission
Shift Lock Control
System Check
{WARNING
When you are doing this
inspection, the vehicle could
move suddenly. If the vehicle
moves, you or others could be
injured.
1. Before starting this check, be sure there is enough room
around the vehicle. It should be
parked on a level surface.
2. Firmly apply the parking brake. See Parking Brake
on
page 8‑40. Be ready to apply the regular
brake immediately if the vehicle
begins to move.
3. With the engine off, turn the ignition to ON/RUN, but do not
start the engine. Without
applying the regular brake, try to
move the shift lever out of
P (Park) with normal effort. If the
shift lever moves out of P (Park),
contact your dealer for service.
Ignition Transmission
Lock Check
While parked, and with the parking
brake set, try to turn the ignition to
LOCK/OFF in each shift lever
position.
.The ignition should turn to
LOCK/OFF only when the shift
lever is in P (Park).
.The ignition key should come
out only in LOCK/OFF.
Contact your dealer if service is
required.

9-26 Vehicle Care
Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check
{WARNING
When you are doing this check,
the vehicle could begin to move.
You or others could be injured
and property could be damaged.
Make sure there is room in front
of the vehicle in case it begins to
roll. Be ready to apply the regular
brake at once should the vehicle
begin to move.
Park on a fairly steep hill, with the
vehicle facing downhill. Keeping
your foot on the regular brake, set
the parking brake.
.To check the parking brake's
holding ability: With the engine
running and the transmission in
N (Neutral), slowly remove foot
pressure from the regular brake
pedal. Do this until the vehicle is
held by the parking brake only.
.To check the P (Park)
mechanism's holding ability:
With the engine running, shift to
P (Park). Then release the
parking brake followed by the
regular brake.
Contact your dealer if service is
required.
Wiper Blade Replacement
Windshield wiper blades should be
inspected for wear and cracking.
See Scheduled Maintenance
on
page 10‑2for more information.
Replacement blades come in
different types and are removed in
different ways. For proper type and
length, see Maintenance
Replacement Parts on page 10‑9.
Notice: Allowing the wiper blade
arm to touch the windshield when
no wiper blade is installed could
damage the windshield. Any
damage that occurs would not be
covered by your warranty. Do not
allow the wiper blade arm to
touch the windshield.
Front Wiper Blade
Replacement
To replace the front wiper blades:
1. Lift the wiper arm from the windshield until no further
movement is possible.
2. Press the square button on thetop side, at the end of the wiper
arm, and pull the wiper blade out
of the end of the wiper arm.
3. Install the wiper blade connector by sliding into the end of the
wiper arm until the square button
on the wiper blade clicks into
place with the wiper arm.
4. Place the wiper arm with the wiper blade in place back on the
windshield.

Vehicle Care 9-27
Rear Wiper Blade Replacement
To replace the rear wiper blade:
1. Lift the wiper arm from theliftgate glass until no further
movement is possible.
2. Hold the wiper arm at the tip with one hand and hold the wiper
blade at the tip with the
other hand.
3. Pull down on the wiper blade. The blade will pull away from
the arm.
4. Place the wiper blade into thewiper arm aligning the blade
attachment rivet with the arm
attachment.
5. Align the wiper blade with the arm and hold both ends of the
arm while gently squeezing until
the blade snaps into place.
Do not apply excessive force
during this operation.
Reposition the blade in the arm
and repeat, if blade is not
correctly positioned.
6. Place the wiper arm with the wiper blade attached back on
the liftgate glass.Headlamp Aiming
The headlamp aiming system has
been preset at the factory.
If the vehicle is damaged in an
accident, the aim of the headlamps
may be affected and adjustment
may be necessary.
It is recommended that a dealer
adjust the headlamps. To re-aim the
headlamps yourself, use the
following procedure.
The vehicle should be properly
prepared as follows. The vehicle:
.Should be placed so the
headlamps are 7.6 m (25 ft) from
a light colored wall.
.Must have all four tires on a
level surface which is level all
the way to the wall.
.Should be placed so it is
perpendicular to the wall or other
flat surface.

9-28 Vehicle Care
.Should not have any snow, ice,
or mud on it.
.Should be fully assembled and
all other work stopped while
headlamp aiming is being
performed.
.Should be normally loaded with
a full tank of fuel and one person
or 75 kg (160 lbs) sitting on the
driver's seat.
.Tires should be properly inflated.
Headlamp aiming is done with the
vehicle's low-beam headlamps. The
high-beam headlamps will be
correctly aimed if the low-beam
headlamps are aimed properly. To adjust the vertical aim, do the
following:
1. Open the hood. See
Hood
on
page 9‑5for more information.
2. Locate the aim dot on the lens of the low‐beam headlamp.
3. Measure the distance from the ground to the aim dot on the
low‐beam headlamp. Record the
distance.
4. At the wall measure from the
ground upward (A) to the
recorded distance from
Step 3 and mark it.
5. Draw or tape a horizontal line (B) on the wall the width of the
vehicle at the height of the mark
in Step 4.

Vehicle Care 9-29
Notice:Do not cover a headlamp
to improve beam cut-off when
aiming. Covering a headlamp may
cause excessive heat build-up
which may cause damage to the
headlamp.
6. Turn on the low-beam
headlamps and place a piece of
cardboard or equivalent in front
of the headlamp not being
adjusted. This allows only the
beam of light from the headlamp
being adjusted to be seen on the
flat surface.
7. Locate the vertical headlampaiming screws, which are under
the hood near each headlamp
assembly.
The adjustment screw can be
turned with a E8 Torx
®socket.
8. Turn the vertical aiming screw until the headlamp beam is
aimed to the horizontal tape line.
Turn it clockwise or
counterclockwise to raise or
lower the angle of the beam.
9. Make sure that the light from theheadlamp is positioned at the
bottom edge of the horizontal
tape line. The lamp on the
left (A) shows the correct
headlamp aim. The lamp on the
right (B) shows the incorrect
headlamp aim.
10. Repeat Steps 7 through 9 for the opposite headlamp.

9-30 Vehicle Care
Bulb Replacement
For the proper type of replacement
bulbs, seeReplacement Bulbson
page 9‑34.
For any bulb changing procedure
not listed in this section, contact
your dealer.
Headlamps, Front Turn
Signal, Sidemarker, and
Parking Lamps
A. Low Beam Headlamp
B. High Beam headlamp
C. Park/Turn Signal Lamp
D. Side Marker Lamp To replace:
1. Turn the tire to reach the access
port cap located on front of
wheel well cover.A. Screw
B. Access Port Cap
2. Remove screw (A) and turn access port cap (B)
counterclockwise to remove.

Vehicle Care 9-31
3. If replacing low/high headlampbulb, remove the dust cover cap
from the back of the headlamp
housing by turning the cap
counterclockwise.
4. Turn the bulb socket counterclockwise to remove from
lamp assembly.
5. Remove the bulb from the socket or disconnect bulb
assembly from harness
connector.
6. Install new bulb.
7. Reinstall the lamp socket to lamp assembly turning
clockwise.
8. Replace the dust cover cap on headlamps.
9. Reinstall the wheel well cover access port cap and secure by
installing screw.Fog Lamps
To replace one of these bulbs:
1. Locate the fog lamp assembly
under the front facia.
2. Disconnect the bulb socket from the electrical connector, turn and
pull out the bulb assembly. 3. Remove the old bulb from the
bulb socket and push the new
bulb straight into the bulb socket
until it connects.
4. Push the bulb socket into the fog lamp assembly and turn
clockwise to lock it into place.
5. Reconnect the bulb socket to the electrical connector.

9-32 Vehicle Care
Taillamps, Turn Signal,
Sidemarker, Stoplamps,
and Back-Up Lamps
A. Sidemarker
B. Stoplamp/Turn Signal Lamp/Taillamp
C. Back-up Lamp To replace one of these lamps:
1. Open the liftgate. See
Liftgate
(Manual)
on page 1‑8or
Liftgate (Power) on page 1‑8.
A. Screw
B. Screw Cover
2. Remove the two screw covers (B) from the taillamp
assembly.
3. Remove the two screws (A) securing the taillamp assembly.
4. Pull taillamp assembly out of vehicle body. 5. Disconnect the lamp wiring
harness.
6. Turn the bulb socketcounterclockwise and pull it out.
7. Pull the bulb straight out of the socket.
8. Install the new bulb.
9. Push the bulb socket in and turn it clockwise.
10. Reverse steps 2 through 5 to reinstall lamp assembly.