tow CHEVROLET EQUINOX 2013 2.G Owners Manual

Black plate (2,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 5/21/12
2013 Chevrolet Equinox Owner ManualM
Driving and Operating. . . . . . . . 9-1
Driving Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Starting and Operating . . . . . . . 9-19
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-25
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 9-26
Drive Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-29
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-30
Ride Control Systems . . . . . . . . 9-32
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-35
Object Detection Systems . . . . 9-37
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-46
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-51
Conversions and Add-Ons . . . 9-57
Vehicle Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-1
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
Vehicle Checks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . 10-26
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-27
Electrical System . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-30 Wheels and Tires . . . . . . . . . . . 10-36
Jump Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-65
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-68
Appearance Care . . . . . . . . . . . 10-71
Service and Maintenance . . . 11-1
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 11-1
Maintenance Schedule . . . . . . . 11-3
Special Application Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-8
Additional Maintenance
and Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-9
Recommended Fluids, Lubricants, and Parts . . . . . . 11-12
Maintenance Records . . . . . . . 11-15
Technical Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-1
Vehicle Identification . . . . . . . . . 12-1
Vehicle Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-2 Customer Information
. . . . . . . 13-1
Customer Information . . . . . . . . 13-1
Reporting Safety Defects . . . . 13-12
Vehicle Data Recording and
Privacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-13
OnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-1
OnStar Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-1
OnStar Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-2
OnStar Additional
Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-5
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i-1

Black plate (12,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 5/21/12
1-12 In Brief
For more information on interior
lighting, SeeInstrument Panel
Illumination Control on page 6‑4.
Exterior Lighting
The exterior lamp control is located
on the turn signal lever.
O: Turn to operate the exterior
lamps.
O: Briefly turn to this position to
turn the automatic light control off or
on again.
AUTO: Turns the exterior lamps on
and off automatically depending on
the exterior light.
;: Turns on the parking lamps,
together with the sidemarker lamps,
taillamps, license plate lamps, and
instrument panel lights.
5: Turns on the headlamps,
together with the parking lamps,
sidemarker lamps, taillamps, license
plate lamps, and instrument panel
lights.
For more information, see:
.Exterior Lamp Controls on
page 6‑1.
.Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
on page 6‑2.
.Fog Lamps on page 6‑4.
Windshield Wiper/Washer
The windshield wiper/washer lever
is located on the right side of the
steering column. With the ignition in
ACC/ACCESSORY or ON/RUN/
START, move the windshield wiper
lever to select the wiper speed. HI:
Use for fast wipes.
LO: Use for slow wipes.
INT: Move the lever up to INT for
intermittent wipes, then turn the
3INT band up for more frequent
wipes or down for less frequent
wipes.
OFF: Use to turn the wipers off.
8:For a single wipe, briefly move
the wiper lever down. For several
wipes, hold the wiper lever down.
n LFRONT: Pull the windshield
wiper lever toward you to spray
windshield washer fluid and activate
the wipers.

Black plate (15,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 5/21/12
In Brief 1-15
Transmission
Electronic Range Select
(ERS) Mode
ERS or manual mode allows for the
selection of the range of gear
positions. Use this mode when
driving down hill or towing a trailer
to limit the top gear and vehicle
speed.
To use this feature:
1. Move the shift lever toM (Manual Mode).
2. Press the plus/minus button on the shift lever, to increase or
decrease the gear range
available.
See Manual Mode on page 9‑28 for
more information.
Fuel Economy Mode
Vehicles with a 2.4L engine have a
Fuel Economy Mode. When
engaged, fuel economy mode can
improve the vehicle's fuel economy.
Press the “eco”(economy) button by
the shift lever to turn this feature on
or off. The “eco”light in the
instrument cluster will come on
when engaged, and a Driver
Information Center (DIC) message
“ECO MODE ON” displays. See
Fuel Economy Mode on page 9‑29.
Vehicle Features
Radio(s)
VOL/O: Press to turn the system
on and off. Turn to increase or
decrease the volume.
RADIO/BAND: Press to choose
between FM and AM.
MENU/SEL: Turn to select radio
stations.
Press to show available information
about the current station or track.
gSEEK: Press to seek the
previous station or track.
lSEEK: Press to seek the next
station or track.
Buttons 1–6: Press to save and
select favorite stations
For more information about these
and other radio features, see
Operation on page 7‑4.

Black plate (18,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 5/21/12
1-18 In Brief
Cruise Control
ON/OFF5CRUISE:Press to turn
the cruise control system on and off.
*CANCEL: Press to disengage
cruise control without erasing the
set speed from memory.
RES/+: Move the thumbwheel up to
make the vehicle resume to a
previously set speed or to
accelerate. SET/−:
Move the thumbwheel down
toward SET/- to set a speed and
activate cruise control, or to make
the vehicle decelerate.
See Cruise Control on page 9‑35.
Infotainment System
See the infotainment manual for
information on the radio, audio
players, phone, navigation system,
and voice or speech recognition.
It also includes information on
settings and downloadable
applications (if equipped).
Driver Information
Center (DIC)
The DIC display is located in the
center of the instrument panel
cluster. It shows the status of many
vehicle systems.
The DIC buttons are located below
the climate control system.
MENU: Press this button to get to
the Trip/Fuel Menu and the Vehicle
Information Menu.
QorR: Use these buttons to
scroll through the items in each
menu. A small marker will move
along the page as you scroll through
the items. This shows where each
page is in the menu.
SET/CLR: Use this button to set or
clear the menu item when it is
displayed.

Black plate (4,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 5/21/12
2-4 Keys, Doors, and Windows
7(Vehicle Locator/Panic
Alarm): Press and release one
time to initiate vehicle locator. The
exterior lamps flash and the horn
chirps three times. Press and hold
7for at least three seconds to
sound the panic alarm. The horn
sounds and the turn signals flash
until
7is pressed again or the key
is placed in the ignition and turned
to ON/RUN.
/(Remote Vehicle Start): For
vehicles with this feature, first press
Qthen press and hold/to start
the engine from outside the vehicle
using the RKE transmitter. See
Remote Vehicle Start on page 2‑4
for additional information.
The buttons on the keys are
disabled when there is a key in the
ignition.
Programming Transmitters to
the Vehicle
Only RKE transmitters programmed
to this vehicle will work. If a
transmitter is lost or stolen, a replacement can be purchased and
programmed through your dealer.
When the replacement transmitter is
programmed to this vehicle, all
remaining transmitters must also be
reprogrammed. Any lost or stolen
transmitters will no longer work
once the new transmitter is
programmed.
Battery Replacement
Replace the battery if the REPLACE
BATTERY IN REMOTE KEY
message displays in the DIC. See
“Replace Battery in Remote Key”
under
Key and Lock Messages on
page 5‑28.
The battery is not rechargeable. To
replace the battery:
1. Push the button on the transmitter to extend the key.
2. Remove the battery cover by prying with a finger.
3. Remove the battery by pushing on the battery and sliding it
toward the key blade. 4. Insert the new battery, positive
side facing up. Push the battery
down until it is held in place.
Replace with a CR2032 or
equivalent battery.
5. Snap the battery cover back on to the transmitter.
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.
The climate control system will use
the previous settings during a
remote start. The rear defog may
come on during remote start based
on cold ambient conditions. The
rear defog indicator light does not
come on during remote start.

Black plate (16,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 5/21/12
2-16 Keys, Doors, and Windows
vehicle. Check the blind spot
mirror for a vehicle in the blind
zone. Then, glance over your
shoulder to double check before
moving slowly into the
adjacent lane.
Park Tilt Mirrors
If the vehicle is equipped with
memory mirrors, there is an option
to have the mirrors tilt down, when
in R (Reverse), to more easily see
the ground near the vehicle.
When the vehicle is shifted to
R (Reverse), both the driver and
passenger mirrors will tilt downward.
They will return to their previous
position when the vehicle is shifted
out of R (Reverse), the ignition is
turned to OFF, or the vehicle is left
in R (Reverse) for an extended
period of time.
This feature can be turned on or off.
SeeVehicle Personalization on
page 5‑32.
Interior Mirrors
Manual Rearview Mirror
Hold the inside rearview mirror in
the center and move it for a clearer
view behind the vehicle. Adjust the
mirror to avoid glare from the
headlamps behind you. Push the
tab forward for daytime use and pull
it for nighttime use.
Vehicles with OnStar have three
control buttons at the bottom of the
mirror. See your dealer for more
information on the system and how
to subscribe to OnStar. See OnStar
Overview on page 14‑1.
Automatic Dimming
Rearview Mirror
The vehicle may have an automatic
dimming inside rearview mirror.
Automatic dimming reduces the
glare from the headlamps of the
vehicle behind you. The dimming feature comes on and the indicator
light comes on each time the vehicle
is started.
O:
Press to turn automatic
dimming on or off.
Vehicles with OnStar® have three
additional control buttons located at
the bottom of the mirror. See your
dealer for more information on the
system and how to subscribe to
OnStar. See OnStar Overview on
page 14‑1.
Cleaning the Mirror
Do not spray glass cleaner directly
on the mirror. Use a soft towel
dampened with water.

Black plate (9,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 5/21/12
Seats and Restraints 3-9
The passenger seat may take
longer to heat up.
Remote Start Heated Seats
When it is cold outside, the heated
seats can be programmed to turn on
automatically during a remote
vehicle start. The heated seats will
be canceled when the ignition is
turned on. Press the heated seat
button to use the heated seats after
the vehicle is started.
The heated seat button lights will
not turn on during a remote start.
The temperature of an unoccupied
seat may be reduced.
To program the heated seat feature
to enabled, seeVehicle
Personalization on page 5‑32.Rear Seats
Split Folding Seatbacks
With this feature, either side of the
rear seatback can be folded down
for more cargo space.
{WARNING
If either seatback is not locked, it
could move forward in a sudden
stop or crash. That could cause
injury to the person sitting there.
Always push and pull on the
seatbacks to be sure they are
locked.
{WARNING
A safety belt that is improperly
routed, not properly attached,
or twisted will not provide the
protection needed in a crash. The
person wearing the belt could be
(Continued)
WARNING (CONTINUED)
seriously injured. After raising the
rear seatback, always check to be
sure that the safety belts are
properly routed and attached, and
are not twisted.
To fold the seatback down:
Notice: Folding a rear seat with
the safety belts still fastened may
cause damage to the seat or the
safety belts. Always unbuckle the
safety belts and return them to
their normal stowed position
before folding a rear seat.
1. Unbuckle the rear safety belts and place the front seatbacks in
the upright position. See
Reclining Seatbacks on
page 3‑5.

Black plate (24,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 5/21/12
3-24 Seats and Restraints
moderate to severe side collisions,
even belted occupants can contact
the inside of the vehicle.
Airbags supplement the protection
provided by safety belts. Frontal
airbags distribute the force of the
impact more evenly over the
occupant's upper body, stopping the
occupant more gradually. Seat‐
mounted side impact and roof-rail
airbags distribute the force of the
impact more evenly over the
occupant's upper body.
Rollover capable roof-rail airbags
are designed to help contain the
head and chest of occupants in the
outboard seating positions in the
first and second rows. The rollover
capable roof-rail airbags are
designed to help reduce the risk of
full or partial ejection in rollover
events, although no system can
prevent all such ejections.
But airbags would not help in many
types of collisions, primarily
because the occupant's motion isnot toward those airbags. See
When
Should an Airbag Inflate? on
page 3‑22 for more information.
Airbags should never be regarded
as anything more than a supplement
to safety belts.
What Will You See after
an Airbag Inflates?
After the frontal airbags and
seat-mounted side impact airbags
inflate, they quickly deflate, so
quickly that some people may not
even realize an airbag inflated.
Roof-rail airbags may still be at least
partially inflated for some time after
they inflate. Some components of
the airbag module may be hot for
several minutes. For location of the
airbags, see Where Are the
Airbags? on page 3‑20.
The parts of the airbag that come
into contact with you may be warm,
but not too hot to touch. There may
be some smoke and dust coming
from the vents in the deflated
airbags. Airbag inflation does not prevent the driver from seeing out of
the windshield or being able to steer
the vehicle, nor does it prevent
people from leaving the vehicle.
{WARNING
When an airbag inflates, there
may be dust in the air. This dust
could cause breathing problems
for people with a history of
asthma or other breathing trouble.
To avoid this, everyone in the
vehicle should get out as soon as
it is safe to do so. If you have
breathing problems but cannot
get out of the vehicle after an
airbag inflates, then get fresh air
by opening a window or a door.
If you experience breathing
problems following an airbag
deployment, you should seek
medical attention.
The vehicle has a feature that may
automatically unlock the doors, turn
the interior lamps on, turn the

Black plate (30,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 5/21/12
3-30 Seats and Restraints
The on indicator may be lit if an
object, such as a briefcase,
handbag, grocery bag, laptop or
other electronic device, is put on an
unoccupied seat. If this is not
desired remove the object from
the seat.
{WARNING
Stowing of articles under the
passenger seat or between the
passenger seat cushion and
seatback may interfere with the
proper operation of the passenger
sensing system.
Servicing the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
Airbags affect how the vehicle
should be serviced. There are parts
of the airbag system in several
places around the vehicle. Your
dealer and the service manual have
information about servicing the
vehicle and the airbag system. Topurchase a service manual, see
Service Publications Ordering
Information on page 13‑11.
{WARNING
For up to 10 seconds after the
vehicle is turned off and the
battery is disconnected, an airbag
can still inflate during improper
service. You can be injured if you
are close to an airbag when it
inflates. Avoid yellow connectors.
They are probably part of the
airbag system. Be sure to follow
proper service procedures, and
make sure the person performing
work for you is qualified to do so.
Adding Equipment to the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
Q: Is there anything I might add
to or change about the vehicle
that could keep the airbags
from working properly?
A: Yes. If you add things that
change the vehicle's frame,
bumper system, height, front end
or side sheet metal, they may
keep the airbag system from
working properly. Changing or
moving any parts of the front
seats, safety belts, the airbag
sensing and diagnostic module,
steering wheel, instrument
panel, roof-rail airbag modules,
ceiling headliner or pillar garnish
trim, overhead console, front
sensors, side impact sensors,
rollover sensor module, or airbag
wiring can affect the operation of
the airbag system.
In addition, the vehicle has a
passenger sensing system for
the right front passenger
position, which includes sensors

Black plate (43,1)Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual - 2013 - CRC - 5/21/12
Seats and Restraints 3-43
{WARNING
Children can be seriously injured
or strangled if a shoulder belt is
wrapped around their neck and
the safety belt continues to
tighten. Buckle any unused safety
belts behind the child restraint so
children cannot reach them. Pull
the shoulder belt all the way out
of the retractor to set the lock,
if the vehicle has one, after the
child restraint has been installed.
Notice: Do not let the LATCH
attachments rub against the
vehicle’ s safety belts. This may
damage these parts. If necessary,
move buckled safety belts to
avoid rubbing the LATCH
attachments. Do not fold the empty rear seat
with a safety belt buckled. This
could damage the safety belt or
the seat. Unbuckle and return the
safety belt to its stowed position,
before folding the seat.
If you need to secure more than one
child restraint in the rear seat, see
Where to Put the Restraint on
page 3‑38.
This system is designed to make
installation of child restraints easier.
When using lower anchors, do not
use the vehicle's safety belts.
Instead, use the vehicle's anchors
and child restraint attachments to
secure the restraints.
Some restraints also use another
vehicle anchor to secure a top
tether.
1. Attach and tighten the lower
attachments to the lower
anchors. If the child restraint
does not have lower
attachments or the desired
seating position does not have
lower anchors, secure the child
restraint with the top tether and
the safety belts. Refer to the
child restraint manufacturer
instructions and the instructions
in this manual.
1.1. Find the lower anchors for the desired seating
position.