tow CHEVROLET EQUINOX 2005 1.G Owner's Manual

5. Press and hold one of the six numbered
pushbuttons until you hear a beep. Whenever that
numbered pushbutton is pressed, the station
that was set will return and the equalization that
was selected will be stored for that pushbutton.
6. Repeat the steps for each pushbutton.
Setting the Tone
(Bass/Midrange/Treble)
P
/Q(Bass/Treble):Press this button until BASS, MID,
or TREBLE appears on the display. Turn the ADJ
knob to increase or to decrease. The display will show
the bass, mid, or treble level. If a station is weak or
noisy, decrease the treble.
To adjust bass, midrange, or treble to the middle
position, select BASS, MID, or TREBLE. Then press
and hold this button for more than two seconds. You will
hear one beep and the tone control will be adjusted to
the middle position.
To adjust all tone controls to the middle position, push
and hold the tone button when no tone control is
displayed. ALL CENTERED will appear on the display
and you will hear one beep. The bass, midrange,
and treble will be adjusted to the middle position.
AUTO EQ (Automatic Equalization):Press this button
to select customized equalization settings designed
for country, jazz, talk, pop, rock, and classical.To return to the manual mode, press and release the
AUTO EQ button until TONE Custom appears on
the display. You can also manually adjust the bass,
midrange, and treble using the tone button.
Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade)
S
(Balance/Fade):To adjust the balance
between the right and the left speakers, push and
release the balance and fade button until BAL appears
on the display. Turn the ADJ knob to move the
sound toward the right or the left speakers.
To adjust the fade between the front and the rear
speakers, push and release the balance and fade button
until FADE appears on the display. Turn the ADJ
knob to move the sound toward the front or the rear
speakers.
To adjust the balance and the fade to the middle
position, select BAL or FADE. Then press and hold this
button for more than two seconds. You will hear a
beep and the speaker control will be adjusted to the
middle position.
To adjust both speaker controls to the middle position,
push and hold the tone button when no speaker
control is displayed. ALL CENTERED will appear on the
display and you will hear a beep. The balance and
fade will be adjusted to the middle position.
3-43

Setting the Tone
(Bass/Midrange/Treble)
P
/Q(Bass/Treble):Press this button until BASS, MID,
or TREBLE appears on the display. Turn the ADJ
knob to increase or to decrease. The display will show
the bass, mid, or treble level. If a station is weak or
noisy, decrease the treble.
To adjust bass, midrange, or treble to the middle
position, select BASS, MID, or TREBLE. Then press
and hold this button for more than two seconds. You will
hear one beep and the tone control will be adjusted to
the middle position.
To adjust all tone controls to the middle position, push
and hold the tone button when no tone control is
displayed. ALL CENTERED will appear on the display
and you will hear one beep. The bass, midrange,
and treble will be adjusted to the middle position.
AUTO EQ (Automatic Equalization):Press this button
to select customized equalization settings designed
for country, jazz, talk, pop, rock, and classical.
To return to the manual mode, press and release the
AUTO EQ button until TONE Custom appears on
the display. Manually adjust the bass, midrange, and
treble using the tone button.
Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade)
S
(Balance/Fade):To adjust the balance
between the right and the left speakers, push and
release the balance and fade button until BAL appears
on the display. Turn the ADJ knob to move the
sound toward the right or the left speakers.
To adjust the fade between the front and the rear
speakers, push and release the balance and fade button
until FADE appears on the display. Turn the ADJ
knob to move the sound toward the front or the rear
speakers.
To adjust the balance or the fade to the middle position,
select BAL or FADE. Then press and hold this button
for more than two seconds. You will hear one beep and
the speaker control will be adjusted to the middle
position.
To adjust both speaker controls to the middle position,
push and hold the tone button when no speaker
control is displayed. ALL CENTERED will appear on the
display and you will hear one beep. The balance and
the fade will be adjusted to the middle position.
3-53

Setting the Tone
(Bass/Midrange/Treble)
P
/Q(Bass/Treble):Press this button until BASS, MID,
or TREBLE appears on the display. Turn the ADJ
knob to increase or to decrease. The display will show
the bass, mid, or treble level. If a station is weak or
noisy, decrease the treble.
To adjust bass, midrange, or treble to the middle
position, select BASS, MID, or TREBLE. Then press
and hold this button for more than two seconds. You will
hear one beep and the tone control will be adjusted to
the middle position.
To adjust all tone controls to the middle position, push
and hold the tone button when no tone control is
displayed. ALL CENTERED will appear on the display,
you will hear one beep and the tone controls will be
adjusted to the middle position.
AUTO EQ (Automatic Equalization):Press this button
to select customized equalization settings designed
for country, jazz, talk, pop, rock, and classical.
To return to the manual mode, press and release the
AUTO EQ button until TONE Custom appears on
the display. Then manually adjust the bass, midrange,
and treble using the tone button.
Adjusting the Speakers (Balance/Fade)
S
(Balance/Fade):To adjust the balance
between the right and the left speakers, press and
release the balance and fade button until BAL appears
on the display. Turn the ADJ knob to move the
sound toward the right or the left speakers.
To adjust the fade between the front and the rear
speakers, press and release the balance and fade
button until FADE appears on the display. Turn the ADJ
knob to move the sound toward the front or the rear
speakers.
To adjust the balance or the fade to the middle position,
select BAL or FADE. Then press and hold this button
for more than two seconds. You will hear one beep and
the speaker control will be adjusted to the middle
position.
To adjust both speaker controls to the middle position,
push and hold the tone button when no speaker
control is displayed. ALL CENTERED will appear on the
display, you will hear one beep and the speaker
controls will be adjusted to the middle position.
3-68

Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle..........4-2
Defensive Driving...........................................4-2
Drunken Driving.............................................4-2
Control of a Vehicle........................................4-5
Braking.........................................................4-5
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS).........................4-6
Braking in Emergencies...................................4-8
Traction Control System (TCS).........................4-8
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) System.........................4-9
Steering......................................................4-10
Off-Road Recovery.......................................4-12
Passing.......................................................4-12
Loss of Control.............................................4-13
Driving at Night............................................4-15
Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads..................4-16City Driving..................................................4-19
Freeway Driving...........................................4-20
Before Leaving on a Long Trip.......................4-21
Highway Hypnosis........................................4-22
Hill and Mountain Roads................................4-22
Winter Driving..............................................4-24
If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud,
Ice or Snow..............................................4-28
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out.................4-28
Loading Your Vehicle....................................4-29
Towing..........................................................4-34
Towing Your Vehicle.....................................4-34
Recreational Vehicle Towing...........................4-34
Towing a Trailer...........................................4-36
Section 4 Driving Your Vehicle
4-1

If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand,
Mud, Ice or Snow
In order to free your vehicle when it is stuck, you will
need to spin the wheels, but you do not want to
spin your wheels too fast. The method known as rocking
can help you get out when you are stuck, but you
must use caution.
{CAUTION:
If you let your tires spin at high speed, they
can explode, and you or others could be
injured. And, the transaxle or other parts of the
vehicle can overheat. That could cause an
engine compartment re or other damage.
When you are stuck, spin the wheels as little
as possible. Do not spin the wheels above
35 mph (55 km/h) as shown on the
speedometer.Notice:Spinning your wheels can destroy parts of
your vehicle as well as the tires. If you spin the
wheels too fast while shifting your transaxle back
and forth, you can destroy your transaxle. See
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out on page 4-28.
For information about using tire chains on your vehicle,
seeTire Chains on page 5-62.
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out
First, turn your steering wheel left and right. That
will clear the area around your front wheels. If your
vehicle has traction control, you should turn your traction
control system off. SeeTraction Control System (TCS)
on page 4-8. Then shift back and forth between
REVERSE (R) and a forward gear, spinning the wheels
as little as possible. Release the accelerator pedal
while you shift, and press lightly on the accelerator pedal
when the transaxle is in gear. By slowly spinning your
wheels in the forward and reverse directions, you
will cause a rocking motion that may free your vehicle. If
that does not get you out after a few tries, you may
need to be towed out. If you do need to be towed out,
seeTowing Your Vehicle on page 4-34.
4-28

The Tire and Loading Information label also lists the tire
size of the original equipment tires (C) and the
recommended cold tire ination pressures (D). For more
information on tires and ination, seeTires on
page 5-49andInation - Tire Pressure on page 5-55.
There is also important loading information on the
Certication/Tire label. It tells you the Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating (GVWR) and the Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWR) for the front and rear axles. See
“Certication/Tire Label” later in this section.
Steps for Determining Correct Load Limit
1. Locate the statement “The combined weight of
occupants and cargo should never exceed
XXX kg or XXX pounds” on your vehicle’s placard.
2. Determine the combined weight of the driver and
passengers that will be riding in your vehicle.
3. Subtract the combined weight of the driver and
passengers from XXX kilograms or XXX pounds.4. The resulting gure equals the available amount of
cargo and luggage load capacity. For example, if
the “XXX” amount equals 1400 lbs and there will be
ve 150 lb passengers in your vehicle, the amount
of available cargo and luggage load capacity is
650 lbs (1400−750 (5 x 150) = 650 lbs).
5. Determine the combined weight of luggage and
cargo being loaded on the vehicle. That weight
may not safely exceed the available cargo
and luggage load capacity calculated in Step 4.
6. If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, the load from
your trailer will be transferred to your vehicle.
Consult this manual to determine how this reduces
the available cargo and luggage load capacity
for your vehicle.
If your vehicle can tow a trailer, seeTowing a Trailer on
page 4-36for important information on towing a
trailer, towing safety rules, and trailering tips.
4-30

Towing
Towing Your Vehicle
Consult your dealer or a professional towing service if
you need to have your disabled vehicle towed. See
Roadside Assistance Program on page 7-6.
If you want to tow your vehicle behind another vehicle
for recreational purposes (such as behind a motorhome),
see “Recreational Vehicle Towing” following.
Recreational Vehicle Towing
Recreational vehicle towing means towing your vehicle
behind another vehicle – such as behind a motorhome.
The two most common types of recreational vehicle
towing are known as “dinghy towing” (towing your
vehicle with all four wheels on the ground) and “dolly
towing” (towing your vehicle with two wheels on
the ground and two wheels up on a device known as
a “dolly”).With the proper preparation and equipment, many
vehicles can be towed in these ways. See “Dinghy
Towing” and “Dolly Towing,” following.
Here are some important things to consider before you
do recreational vehicle towing:
What’s the towing capacity of the towing vehicle?
Be sure you read the tow vehicle manufacturer’s
recommendations.
How far will you tow? Some vehicles have
restrictions on how far and how long they can tow.
Do you have the proper towing equipment?
See your dealer or trailering professional for
additional advice and equipment recommendations.
Is your vehicle ready to be towed? Just as you
would prepare your vehicle for a long trip, you’ll
want to make sure your vehicle is prepared to be
towed. SeeBefore Leaving on a Long Trip on
page 4-21.
4-34

Dinghy Towing
Your vehicle was not designed to be towed with all of its
wheels on the ground. If you have a two-wheel-drive
vehicle, it can be towed with two of its wheels on
the ground. See “Dolly Towing” following. If you have an
all-wheel-drive vehicle, it cannot be towed with any of
its wheels on the ground. It can be towed with the
car carrier equipment.
Notice:Towing an all-wheel-drive vehicle with all
four wheels on the ground, or even with only two of
its wheels on the ground, will damage drivetrain
components. Do not tow an all-wheel-drive vehicle if
any of its wheels will be on the ground.
Dolly Towing
If you have a two-wheel-drive vehicle, it can be towed
with two of its wheels on the ground. To dolly tow
your vehicle, do the following:
1. Put the front wheels on a dolly.
2. Put the vehicle in PARK (P).
3. Set the parking brake and then remove the key.
4. Clamp the steering wheel in a straight-ahead
position with a clamping device designed for towing.
5. Release the parking brake.
If you have an all-wheel-drive vehicle, it cannot be
towed with any of its wheels on the ground. It can be
towed with car carrier equipment.
Notice:Towing an all-wheel-drive vehicle with all
four wheels on the ground, or even with only two of
its wheels on the ground, will damage drivetrain
components. Do not tow an all-wheel-drive vehicle if
any of its wheels will be on the ground.
4-35

Towing a Trailer
{CAUTION:
If you do not use the correct equipment and
drive properly, you can lose control when you
pull a trailer. For example, if the trailer is too
heavy, the brakes may not work well — or even
at all. You and your passengers could be
seriously injured. Pull a trailer only if you have
followed all the steps in this section. Ask your
dealer for advice and information about towing
a trailer with your vehicle.
Notice:Pulling a trailer improperly can damage
your vehicle and result in costly repairs that would
not be covered by your warranty. Always follow
the instructions in this section and check with your
dealer for more information about towing a trailer
with your vehicle.Your vehicle can tow a trailer. To identify what the
vehicle trailering capacity is for your vehicle, you should
read the information in “Weight of the Trailer” that
appears later in this section. But trailering is different
than just driving your vehicle by itself. Trailering means
changes in handling, acceleration, braking, durability,
and fuel economy. Successful, safe trailering takes
correct equipment, and it has to be used properly.
That is the reason for this section. In it are many
time-tested, important trailering tips and safety rules.
Many of these are important for your safety and that of
your passengers. So please read this section carefully
before you pull a trailer.
Load-pulling components such as the engine, transaxle,
wheel assemblies and tires are forced to work harder
against the drag of the added weight. The engine
is required to operate at relatively higher speeds and
under greater loads, generating extra heat. The
trailer also adds considerably to wind resistance,
increasing the pulling requirements.
4-36

If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer
If you do, here are some important points:
There are many different laws, including speed limit
restrictions, having to do with trailering. Make sure
your rig will be legal, not only where you live
but also where you will be driving. A good source
for this information can be state or provincial police.
Consider using a sway control. See “Hitches” later in
this section.
Do not tow a trailer at all during the rst 500 miles
(800 km) your new vehicle is driven. Your engine,
axle or other parts could be damaged.
During the rst 500 miles (800 km) that you tow a
trailer, do not drive over 50 mph (80 km/h) and do
not make starts at full throttle. This helps your
engine and other parts of your vehicle wear in at
the heavier loads.
You can use L4 or, as you need to, a lower gear
when towing a trailer. Operating your vehicle in
L4 when towing a trailer will minimize heat buildup
and extend the life of your transaxle.
Three important considerations have to do with weight:
Weight of the trailer
Weight of the trailer tongue
Weight on your vehicle’s tires
Weight of the Trailer
How heavy can a trailer safely be?
If you have the trailer towing package, your vehicle can
tow up to 2,900 lbs (1 300 kg) with up to ve occupants
or up to 3,500 lbs (1 575 kg) with up to two occupants.
But even that can be too heavy.
It depends on how you plan to use your rig. For
example, speed, altitude, road grades, outside
temperature and how much your vehicle is used to pull
a trailer are all important. And, it can also depend
on any special equipment that you have on your vehicle.
You can ask your dealer for our trailering information
or advice, or you can write us at:
Chevrolet Customer Assistance
P.O. Box 33170
Detroit, MI 48232-5170
In Canada, write to:
General Motors of Canada Limited
Customer Communication Centre, 163-005
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario L1H 8P7
4-37