CHEVROLET EQUINOX 2008 1.G Owners Manual

Notice:The engine is designed to work with the
electronics in your vehicle. If you add electrical parts
or accessories, you could change the way the engine
operates. Before adding electrical equipment, check
with your dealer/retailer. If you do not, your engine
might not perform properly. Any resulting damage
would not be covered by your vehicle’s warranty.
Engine Coolant Heater
The engine coolant heater, if available, can help in cold
weather conditions at or below 0°F (−18°C) for easier
starting and better fuel economy during engine warm-up.
Plug in the coolant heater at least four hours before
starting your vehicle. An internal thermostat in the
plug-end of the cord may exist which will prevent
engine coolant heater operation at temperatures.
To Use the Engine Coolant Heater
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Open the hood and unwrap the electrical cord.
The cord is located on the passenger’s side of
the engine compartment, near the radiator.
3. Plug it into a normal, grounded 110-volt AC outlet.
{CAUTION:
Plugging the cord into an ungrounded outlet
could cause an electrical shock. Also, the
wrong kind of extension cord could overheat
and cause a re. You could be seriously
injured. Plug the cord into a properly grounded
three-prong 110-volt AC outlet. If the cord
will not reach, use a heavy-duty three-prong
extension cord rated for at least 15 amps.
4. Before starting the engine, be sure to unplug and
store the cord as it was before to keep it away
from moving engine parts. If you do not, it could
be damaged.
How long should you keep the coolant heater plugged
in? The answer depends on the outside temperature,
the kind of oil you have, and some other things.
Instead of trying to list everything here, we ask that
you contact your dealer/retailer in the area where you
will be parking your vehicle. The dealer/retailer can
give you the best advice for that particular area.
2-23

Automatic Transmission Operation
(3.4L V6 with 5-Speed)
The shift lever is located on the center console.
When you change gears, the different shift positions
will display on the instrument panel cluster.
There are several different positions for the automatic
transmission.
PARK (P):This position locks your front wheels.
It is the best position to use when you start your
engine because your vehicle cannot move easily.
{CAUTION:
It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake rmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Do not leave your vehicle when the engine
is running unless you have to. If you have
left the engine running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be injured.
To be sure your vehicle will not move, even
when you are on fairly level ground, always
set your parking brake and move the shift
lever to PARK (P). SeeShifting Into PARK (P)
on page 2-32. If you are pulling a trailer, see
Towing a Trailer on page 4-33.
2-24

Make sure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) before
starting the engine. Your vehicle has an automatic
transmission shift lock control system. You must fully
apply your regular brakes rst and then press the
shift lever button before you can shift from PARK (P)
when the ignition key is in ON/RUN. If you cannot
shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on the shift lever
and push the shift lever all the way into PARK (P)
as you maintain brake application. Then press the shift
lever button and move the shift lever into another
gear. SeeShifting Out of PARK (P) on page 2-34.
REVERSE (R):Use this gear to back up.
Notice:Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle
is moving forward could damage the transmission.
The repairs would not be covered by your warranty.
Shift to REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle is
stopped.
To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow,
ice, or sand without damaging your transmission,
seeIf Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice, or
Snow on page 4-21.
NEUTRAL (N):In this position, your engine does
not connect with the wheels. To restart when you
are already moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only.
{CAUTION:
Shifting into a drive gear while the engine is
running at high speed is dangerous. Unless
your foot is rmly on the brake pedal, your
vehicle could move very rapidly. You could
lose control and hit people or objects. Do not
shift into a drive gear while your engine is
running at high speed.
Notice:Shifting out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N)
with the engine running at high speed may damage
the transmission. The repairs would not be covered
by your warranty. Be sure the engine is not running
at high speed when shifting your vehicle.
Notice:Shifting to a drive gear from NEUTRAL (N)
while the vehicle is moving could damage the
transmission. Make sure the vehicle is stopped
before shifting from NEUTRAL (N) into a drive gear.
2-25

DRIVE (D):This position is for normal driving with
the automatic transmission. It provides the best
fuel economy for your vehicle. If you need more
power for passing, and you are:
Going less than about 35 mph (55 km/h),
push your accelerator pedal about halfway down.
Going about 35 mph (55 km/h), push your
accelerator all the way down.
Downshifting the transmission in slippery road conditions
could result in skidding, see “Skidding” underLoss of
Control on page 4-13.
INTERMEDIATE (I):This position is also used for
normal driving. However, it reduces vehicle speed without
using your brakes for slight downgrades where the
vehicle would otherwise accelerate due to steepness
of grade. If constant upshifting or downshifting occurs
while driving up steep hills, this position can be used to
prevent repetitive types of shifts. You might choose
INTERMEDIATE (I) instead of DRIVE (D) when driving
on hilly, winding roads and when towing a trailer, so that
there is less shifting between gears.
LOW (L):This position reduces vehicle speed more
than INTERMEDIATE (I) without actually using
your brakes. You can use it on very steep hills, or in
deep snow or mud. If the shift lever is put in LOW (L),
the transmission will not shift into LOW (L) until the
vehicle is going slowly enough.Notice:Spinning the tires or holding the vehicle
in one place on a hill using only the accelerator
pedal may damage the transmission. The repair will
not be covered by your warranty. If you are stuck,
do not spin the tires. When stopping on a hill,
use the brakes to hold the vehicle in place.Transmission Overheating
If the transmission uid temperature rises above 284°F
(140°C) or rises rapidly, the Engine Coolant
Temperature Warning Light will ash. SeeEngine
Coolant Temperature Warning Light on page 3-33for
more information. When the transmission overheats
it will go into a protection mode and will default shift into
fth gear if in the DRIVE (D) position, or second gear
if in the LOW (L) position. Continue driving the vehicle in
either position depending on the required vehicle
speed and load. Once the uid temperature lowers to
the normal temperature range, the transmission will
return to the normal shift patterns. Towing or driving on
long hills can cause the transmission uid temperature
to be higher than normal. If the transmission uid
temperature will not cool, you may need to pull over and
check the transmission uid level. You should also
check the engine coolant temperature. If it is hot, see
Engine Overheating on page 5-24.
2-26

Automatic Transmission Operation
(3.6L V6 with 6-Speed)
The shift lever for the automatic transmission is located
on the console between the seats.
Maximum engine speed is limited when the vehicle is in
PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) to protect driveline
components from improper operation.
There are several different positions for the shift lever.
When using the Manual Shift Mode (MSM), a number
indicating the gear selected will appear on the instrument
cluster below the shift position display. For more
information on the manual shift option see “Manual Shift
Mode” in this section.PARK (P):This position locks the front wheels. It is the
best position to use when the engine is started because
the vehicle cannot move easily.
{CAUTION:
It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the
shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake rmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Do not leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly.
You or others could be injured. To be sure
your vehicle will not move, even when you are
on fairly level ground, always set your parking
brake and move the shift lever to PARK (P).
SeeShifting Into PARK (P) on page 2-32.
If you are pulling a trailer, seeTowing a Trailer
on page 4-33.
Make sure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) before
starting the engine. The vehicle has an automatic
transmission shift lock control system. You must
fully apply the regular brakes rst and then press
the shift lever button, before you can shift from
PARK (P) when the ignition is in ON/RUN.
2-27

If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift lever and push the shift lever all way into
PARK (P) as you maintain brake application. Then
press the shift lever button and move the shift lever
into another gear. SeeShifting Out of PARK (P)
on page 2-34.
REVERSE (R):Use this gear to back up.
Notice:Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle
is moving forward could damage the transmission.
The repairs would not be covered by your warranty.
Shift to REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle is
stopped.
To rock the vehicle back and forth to get out of snow,
ice, or sand without damaging the transmission,
seeIf Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice,
or Snow on page 4-21.
NEUTRAL (N):In this position, the engine does not
connect with the wheels. To restart when the vehicle
is already moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only.
{CAUTION:
Shifting into a drive gear while the engine is
running at high speed is dangerous. Unless
your foot is rmly on the brake pedal, your
vehicle could move very rapidly. You could
lose control and hit people or objects. Do not
shift into a drive gear while your engine is
running at high speed.
Notice:Shifting out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N)
with the engine running at high speed may
damage the transmission. The repairs would not
be covered by your warranty. Be sure the engine
is not running at high speed when shifting your
vehicle.
2-28

DRIVE (D):This position is for normal driving.
It provides the best fuel economy for your vehicle.
If the vehicle needs more power for passing, and it is:
Going less than 35 mph (55 km/h), push the
accelerator pedal about halfway down.
Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) or more,
push the accelerator pedal all the way down.
The vehicle will shift down to the next gear
and have more power.
Downshifting the transmission in slippery road conditions
could result in skidding, see Skidding underLoss of
Control on page 4-13.
Notice:Spinning the tires or holding the vehicle
in one place on a hill using only the accelerator
pedal may damage the transmission. The repair
will not be covered by your warranty. If you
are stuck, do not spin the tires. When stopping on
a hill, use the brakes to hold the vehicle in place.
MANUAL SHIFT MODE (M):This position, available
on the models with the Manual Shift Mode (MSM),
allows you to change gears similar to a manual
transmission. If your vehicle has this feature, see
“Manual Shift Mode (MSM)”.
Manual Shift Mode (MSM)
(Automatic Transmission)
To use this feature, do the following:
1. Move the shift lever from DRIVE (D) to the left into
the manual gate.
While driving in manual shift mode, the transmission
will remain in the driver gear selected. When coming
to a stop in the manual position, the vehicle will
automatically shift to FIRST (1) gear.
2. Push the shift lever forward toward the plus (+) to
upshift or rearward toward the minus (−) to downshift.
When using the Manual Shift Mode (MSM) the
number of the gear selected will appear on the
instrument cluster below the shift position display.
2-29

In manual shift mode all six forward gears can be
selected.
While using the MSM feature the vehicle will have
operation similar to a manual transmission. You can
use this for sport driving or when driving hilly roads to
stay in gear longer or to downshift for more power
or engine braking.
The transmission will only allow you to shift into gears
appropriate for the vehicle speed:
The transmission will not automatically shift to the
next higher gear without moving the shift lever.
The transmission will not allow shifting to the next
lower gear if the vehicle speed is too high.
If the vehicle does not respond to a gear change,
or detects a problem with the transmission, the range
of gears may be reduced and the Malfunction Indicator
Lamp will come on. SeeMalfunction Indicator Lamp
on page 3-34.
Transmission Overheating
If the transmission uid temperature rises above
270°F (132°C) or rises rapidly, the Engine Coolant
Temperature Warning Light will ash. SeeEngine
Coolant Temperature Warning Light on page 3-33for
more information. When the transmission overheats
it will go into a protection mode and will default into a
different shift sequence to help cool the transmission
uid. This shift sequence is the same for both DRIVE (D)
position and manual mode. Continue driving the
vehicle in either position depending on the required
vehicle speed and load. Once the uid temperature
lowers to the normal temperature range, the
transmission will return to the normal shift patterns.
Towing or driving on long hills can cause the
transmission uid temperature to be higher than
normal. If the transmission uid temperature will
not cool, you may need to pull over and check the
transmission uid level. You should also check
the engine coolant temperature. If it is hot, see
Engine Overheating on page 5-24.
2-30

SECOND (2) and THIRD (3) Gear
Start Feature
When accelerating your vehicle from a stop in snowy
and icy conditions, you may want to select SECOND (2)
and THIRD (3) gear. A higher gear, and light application
of the gas pedal, may allow you to gain more traction
on slippery surfaces.
With the Manual Shift Mode, the vehicle can accelerate
from a stop in SECOND (2) or THIRD (3).
1. Move the shift lever from DRIVE (D) into the
manual gate.
2. With the vehicle stopped, move the shift lever
forward to select SECOND (2) or THIRD (3).
The vehicle will start from a stop position in
SECOND (2) or THIRD (3).
3. Once the vehicle is moving select the desired
drive gear or move the shift lever to the
DRIVE (D) position.
Parking Brake
The parking brake lever is located to the right of the
driver’s seat.
To set the parking brake, hold the brake pedal down
and pull up on the parking brake lever. If the ignition is
on, the brake system warning light will come on.
2-31

To release the parking brake, hold the brake pedal
down. Pull the parking brake lever up until you can
press the release button. Hold the release button in
as you move the brake lever all the way down.
Make sure to release the parking brake before driving
the vehicle.
If the parking brake is applied and the vehicle is
moving at least 4 mph (6 km/h), a chime will activate
to remind you to release the parking brake.
Notice:Driving with the parking brake on can
overheat the brake system and cause premature
wear or damage to brake system parts. Make
sure that the parking brake is fully released and
the brake warning light is off before driving.Shifting Into PARK (P)
{CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake rmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
If you have left the engine running, the vehicle
can move suddenly. You or others could be
injured. To be sure your vehicle will not move,
even when you are on fairly level ground, use
the steps that follow. If you are pulling a trailer,
seeTowing a Trailer on page 4-33.
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your foot and set
the parking brake. SeeParking Brake on page 2-31
for more information.
2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) by pressing the
button on the shift lever and pushing the lever all
the way toward the front of the vehicle.
3. Turn the ignition key to LOCK/OFF.
4. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
leave your vehicle with the key, your vehicle is
in PARK (P).
2-32