heating CHEVROLET EQUINOX 2011 2.G Owners Manual

Black plate (16,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2011
1-16 In Brief
Climate Controls
The vehicle's heating, cooling, defrosting, and ventilation can be controlled
with these systems.
Climate Control System
A. Fan Control
B. Air Delivery Mode Controls
C. Temperature Control
D. Outside Air E. Defrost
F. Rear Window Defogger
G. Recirculation
H. Air Conditioning

Black plate (5,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2011
Keys, Doors and Windows 2-5
Remote Vehicle Start
The vehicle may have this feature
that allows you to start the engine
from outside the vehicle.
/(Remote Vehicle Start):
This button will be on the
RKE transmitter if the vehicle
has remote start.
Vehicles with an automatic climate
control system will default to a
heating or cooling mode depending
on the outside temperature during a
remote start. Once the key is turned
to ON/RUN, the system will turn on
at the setting the vehicle was last
set to. If the vehicle has heated
seats, they may come on during a
remote start. See Heated Front
Seats on page 3‑9 for more
information.
Laws in some local communities
may restrict the use of remote
starters. For example, some laws
require a person using remote start
to have the vehicle in view.
Check local regulations for any
requirements. There are other conditions which
can affect the performance of the
transmitter. See
Remote Keyless
Entry (RKE) System on page 2‑3 for
additional information.
Starting the Engine Using Remote
Start
To start the engine using the remote
start feature:
1. Press
Qon the RKE transmitter.
2. Press and hold /for about
two seconds. The turn signal
lamps will briefly flash to confirm
the vehicle has been started.
The parking lamps will turn on
and remain on as long as the
engine is running. The vehicle's
doors will be locked.
3. The key must be inserted and turned to ON/RUN before
driving.
The engine will shut off after
10 minutes unless a time
extension is done or the key is
inserted and turned to ON/RUN. Extending Engine Run Time
For a 10-minute extension, repeat
Steps 1 and 2 while the engine is
still running. The remote start can
be extended once.
When the remote start is extended,
the second 10 minutes will start
immediately.
For example, if the engine has been
running for 5 minutes, and
10 minutes are added, the engine
will run for a total of 15 minutes.
A maximum of two remote starts or
remote start attempts are allowed
between ignition cycles.
The vehicle's ignition switch must
be turned to ON/RUN and then back
to LOCK/OFF using the key, before
the remote start procedure can be
used again.

Black plate (28,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2011
5-28 Instruments and Controls
COOLANT LEVEL LOW ADD
COOLANT
This message will display if the
coolant is low. SeeEngine Coolant
on page 10‑18.
ENGINE OVERHEATED —
IDLE ENGINE
This message displays when the
engine coolant temperature is too
hot. Stop and allow the vehicle to
idle until it cools down.
ENGINE OVERHEATED —
STOP ENGINE
This message displays and a
continuous chime sounds if the
engine cooling system reaches
unsafe temperatures for operation.
Stop and turn off the vehicle as
soon as it is safe to do so to avoid
severe damage. This message
clears when the engine has cooled
to a safe operating temperature.
HIGH COOLANT
TEMPERATURE
This message displays if the coolant
temperature is hot. See Engine
Overheating on page 10‑22.
Engine Oil Messages
CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON
This message displays when the
engine oil needs to be changed.
When you change the engine oil, be
sure to reset the Oil Life System.
See Engine Oil Life System on
page 10‑14 andDriver Information
Center (DIC) on page 5‑22 for
information on how to reset the
system. See Engine Oil on
page 10‑10 andScheduled
Maintenance on page 11‑2 for more
information.
ENGINE OIL HOT, IDLE
ENGINE
This message displays when the
engine oil temperature is too hot.
Stop and allow the vehicle to idle
until it cools down.
ENGINE OIL LOW —ADD OIL
This message displays when the
engine oil level is too low. Check the
oil level. See Engine Oil on
page 10‑10.
OIL PRESSURE LOW —STOP
ENGINE
This message displays if low oil
pressure levels occur. Stop the
vehicle as soon as safely possible
and do not operate it until the cause
of the low oil pressure has been
corrected. Check the oil as soon as
possible and have the vehicle
serviced by your dealer.

Black plate (30,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2011
5-30 Instruments and Controls
Ride Control System
Messages
ALL WHEEL DRIVE OFF
If your vehicle has the All-Wheel
Drive (AWD) system, this message
displays when the rear drive system
is overheating. This message turns
off when the rear drive system cools
down. If the warning message stays
on for a while, you need to reset the
warning message. To reset the
warning message, turn the ignition
off and then back on again. If the
message stays on, see your dealer
right away. SeeAll-Wheel Drive on
page 9‑38 for more information.
SERVICE ALL WHEEL DRIVE
If your vehicle has the All-Wheel
Drive (AWD) system, this message
displays if a problem occurs with
this system. If this message
appears, stop as soon as possible
and turn off the vehicle. Restart the vehicle and check for
the message on the DIC display.
If the message is still displayed or
appears again when you begin
driving, the AWD system needs
service. See your dealer.
SERVICE TRACTION
CONTROL
This message displays when there
is a problem with the Traction
Control System (TCS). See
Traction
Control System (TCS) on
page 9‑41.
SERVICE STABILITRAK
This message displays if there is a
problem with the StabiliTrak system.
StabiliTrak
®System on page 9‑43.
STABILITRAK OFF
This message displays when the
StabiliTrak system is turned off. See
StabiliTrak
®System on page 9‑43
for more information.
TRACTION CONTROL OFF
This message displays when the
Traction Control System (TCS) is
turned off. Adjust your driving
accordingly.
TRACTION CONTROL ON
This message displays when the
Traction Control System (TCS) is
first turned on. See Traction Control
System (TCS) on page 9‑41 for
more information.
Airbag System Messages
SERVICE AIRBAG
This message displays if there is a
problem with the airbag system.
Take the vehicle to your dealer for
service.

Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2011
Climate Controls 8-1
Climate Controls
Climate Control Systems
Climate Control Systems . . . . . . 8-1
Automatic Climate ControlSystem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-3
Air Vents
Air Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-5
Maintenance
Passenger Compartment AirFilter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-6
Climate Control Systems
The vehicle's heating, cooling, defrosting, and ventilation can be controlled
with this system.
A. Fan Control
B. Air Delivery Mode Controls
C. Temperature Control
D. Outside Air
E. Defrost
F. Rear Window Defogger
G. Recirculation
H. Air ConditioningA(Fan Control): Turn to increase
or decrease the fan speed. Turn the
knob completely to
Tto turn the
fan off.
Temperature Control: Turn to
increase or decrease the
temperature.

Black plate (3,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2011
Climate Controls 8-3
Automatic Climate Control System
The vehicle's heating, cooling, defrosting, and ventilation can be controlled
with this system.
A. Fan Control
B. AUTO (Automatic Operation)
C. Air Delivery Mode Controls
D. Defrost
E. Recirculation
F. Temperature ControlG. Power
H. Driver and Passenger
Heated Seats
I. Rear Window Defogger
J. Air Conditioning Automatic Operation
The system automatically controls
the fan speed, air delivery, air
conditioning, and recirculation to
heat or cool the vehicle to the
selected temperature.
When the AUTO indicator light is
on, the system is in full automatic
operation.
To place the system in
automatic mode:
1. Press AUTO.
2. Set the temperature. Allow the
system time to stabilize. Then
adjust the temperature as
needed.

Black plate (63,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-63
Driving on Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower
gear before starting down a long or
steep downgrade. If the
transmission is not shifted down, the
brakes might have to be used so
much that they would get hot and no
longer work well.
The vehicle can tow in D (Drive).
Use a lower gear if the transmission
shifts too often.
When towing at high altitude on
steep uphill grades, engine coolant
will boil at a lower temperature than
at normal altitudes. If the engine is
turned off immediately after towing
at high altitude on steep uphill
grades, the vehicle may show signs
similar to engine overheating.To avoid this, let the engine run
while parked, preferably on level
ground, with the transmission in
P (Park) for a few minutes before
turning the engine off. If the
overheat warning comes on, see
Engine Overheating on page 10‑22.
Parking on Hills
{WARNING
Parking the vehicle on a hill with
the trailer attached can be
dangerous. If something goes
wrong, the rig could start to move.
People can be injured, and both
the vehicle and the trailer can be
damaged. When possible, always
park the rig on a flat surface.
If parking the rig on a hill:
1. Press the brake pedal, but do
not shift into P (Park) yet. Turn
the wheels into the curb if facing
downhill or into traffic if facing
uphill.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the brake pedal
until the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the brake pedal. Then apply the parking brake and shift
into P (Park).
5. Release the brake pedal.

Black plate (64,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2011
9-64 Driving and Operating
Leaving After Parking on a Hill
1. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
2. Start the engine.
3. Shift into a gear.
4. Release the parking brake.
5. Let up on the brake pedal.
6. Drive slowly until the trailer isclear of the chocks.
7. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer
Towing
The vehicle needs service more
often when pulling a trailer. See this
manual's Maintenance Schedule or
Index for more information. Things that are especially important
in trailer operation are automatic
transmission fluid, engine oil, axle
lubricant, belts, cooling system and
brake system. Inspect these before
and during the trip.
Check periodically to see that all
hitch nuts and bolts are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer
Towing
The cooling system may temporarily
overheat during severe operating
conditions. See
Engine Overheating
on page 10‑22.
Trailer Towing
Before pulling a trailer, there are
three important considerations that
have to do with weight:
.The weight of the trailer
.The weight of the trailer tongue
.The total weight on the vehicle's
tires
Weight of the Trailer
How heavy can a trailer safely be?
Speed, altitude, road grades,
outside temperature, special
equipment, and the amount of
tongue weight the vehicle can carry
must be considered. See “Weight of
the Trailer Tongue” later in this
section for more information.

Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-1
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . 10-3
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-4
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-4
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-6
Engine Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-10
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-10
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . 10-14
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-15
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . 10-15 Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-17
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-18
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . 10-22
Power Steering Fluid
(2.4L L4 Engine) . . . . . . . . . . 10-23
Power Steering Fluid (3.0L V6 Engine) . . . . . . . . . . 10-23
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-24
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-25
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-26
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-27
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-28
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . 10-29
Automatic Transmission Shift Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-29
Ignition Transmission Lock Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-30
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . 10-30
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-31
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . 10-33
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-35
Headlamps, Front TurnSignal, Sidemarker, and
Parking Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-35
Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-36
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Sidemarker, Stoplamps,
and Back-Up Lamps . . . . . . 10-36
License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . 10-38
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . 10-39
Electrical System
Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-39
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-40
Instrument Panel Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-43

Black plate (18,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2011
10-18 Vehicle Care
The coolant level should be at the
COLD FILL line. If it is not, the
vehicle may have a leak at the
radiator hoses, heater hoses,
radiator, water pump, or somewhere
else in the cooling system.
{WARNING
Heater and radiator hoses, and
other engine parts, can be very
hot. Do not touch them. If you do,
you can be burned.
Do not run the engine if there is a
leak. If you run the engine, it
could lose all coolant. That could
cause an engine fire, and you
could be burned. Get any leak
fixed before you drive the vehicle.If there seems to be no leak, with
the engine on, check to see if the
electric engine cooling fan is
running. If the engine is
overheating, the fan should be
running. If it is not, the vehicle
needs service. Turn off the engine.
Notice:
Using coolant other than
DEX-COOL
®can cause premature
engine, heater core, or radiator
corrosion. In addition, the engine
coolant could require changing
sooner, at 50 000 km
(30,000 miles) or 24 months,
whichever occurs first. Any
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Always use
DEX-COOL (silicate-free) coolant
in the vehicle.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in the vehicle is
filled with DEX-COOL®engine
coolant. This coolant is designed to
remain in the vehicle for 5 years or
240 000 km (150,000 mi), whichever
occurs first.
The following explains the cooling
system and how to check and add
coolant when it is low. If there is a
problem with engine overheating,
see Engine Overheating on
page 10‑22.
What to Use
{WARNING
Adding only plain water or some
other liquid to the cooling system
can be dangerous. Plain water
and other liquids, can boil before
the proper coolant mixture will.
The vehicle's coolant warning
system is set for the proper
coolant mixture.
(Continued)