2009 Chevrolet Equinox Owners Manual

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Services Not Included in Roadside Assistance Impound towing caused by violation of any laws. Legal ﬁnes. (cid:129) Mounting, dismounting or changing of snow tires, chains, or other traction devices. Towing or services for vehicles driven on a non-public road or highway. 7-9 (cid:129) (cid:129) (cid:129) (cid:129) (cid:129) (cid:129) Services Speciﬁc to Canadian Purchased Vehicles Fuel delivery: Reimbursement is approximately $5 Canadian. Diesel fuel delivery may be restricted. Propane and other fuels are not provided through this service. Lock-Out Service: Vehicle registration is required. Trip Routing Service: Detailed maps of North America are provided when requested either with the most direct route or the most scenic route. There is a limit of six requests per year. Additional travel information is also available. Allow three weeks for delivery. Trip Interruption Beneﬁts and Assistance: Must be over 250 kilometres from where your trip was started to qualify. General Motors of Canada Limited requires pre-authorization, original detailed receipts, and a copy of the repair orders. Once authorization has been received, the Roadside Assistance advisor will help you make arrangements and explain how to receive payment. (cid:129) Alternative Service: If assistance cannot be provided right away, the Roadside Assistance advisor may give you permission to get local emergency road service. You will receive payment, up to $100, after sending the original receipt to Roadside Assistance. Mechanical failures may be covered, however any cost for parts and labor for repairs not covered by the warranty are the owner responsibility. 7-10 (cid:129) (cid:129) (cid:129) (cid:129) Scheduling Service Appointments When your vehicle requires warranty service, contact your dealer/retailer and request an appointment. By scheduling a service appointment and advising your service consultant of your transportation needs, your dealer/retailer can help minimize your inconvenience. If your vehicle cannot be scheduled into the service department immediately, keep driving it until it can be scheduled for service, unless, of course, the problem is safety-related. If it is, please call your dealership/retailer, let them know this, and ask for instructions. If the dealer/retailer requests you to bring the vehicle for service, you are urged to do so as early in the work day as possible to allow for the same day repair. Courtesy Transportation Program To enhance your ownership experience, we and our participating dealers are proud to offer Courtesy Transportation, a customer support program for vehicles with the Bumper to Bumper (Base Warranty Coverage period in Canada) and extended powertrain, and hybrid speciﬁc warranty in both the U.S. and Canada. Several courtesy transportation options are available to assist in reducing your inconvenience when warranty repairs are required. Courtesy Transportation is not a part of the New Vehicle Limited Warranty. A separate booklet entitled “Warranty and Owner Assistance Information” furnished with each new vehicle provides detailed warranty coverage information. 7-11 Transportation Options Warranty service can generally be completed while you wait. However, if you are unable to wait, GM helps to minimize your inconvenience by providing several transportation options. Depending on the circumstances, your dealer can offer you one of the following: Shuttle Service Shuttle service is the preferred means of offering Courtesy Transportation. Dealers may provide you with shuttle service to get you to your destination with minimal interruption of your daily schedule. This includes one-way or round trip shuttle service within reasonable time and distance parameters of the dealer’s area. Public Transportation or Fuel Reimbursement If your vehicle requires overnight warranty repairs, and public transportation is used instead of the dealer’s shuttle service, the expense must be supported by original receipts and can only be up to the maximum amount allowed by GM for shuttle service. In addition, for U.S. customers, should you arrange transportation through a friend or relative, limited reimbursement for reasonable fuel expenses may be available. Claim amounts should reﬂect actual costs and be supported by original receipts. See your dealer for information regarding the allowance amounts for reimbursement of fuel or other transportation costs. 7-12 Courtesy Rental Vehicle Your dealer may arrange to provide you with a courtesy rental vehicle or reimburse you for a rental vehicle that you obtain if your vehicle is kept for an overnight warranty repair. Rental reimbursement will be limited and must be supported by original receipts. This requires that you sign and complete a rental agreement and meet state/ provincial, local, and rental vehicle provider requirements. Requirements vary and may include minimum age requirements, insurance coverage, credit card, etc. You are responsible for fuel usage charges and may also be responsible for taxes, levies, usage fees, excessive mileage, or rental usage beyond the completion of the repair. It may not be possible to provide a like-vehicle as a courtesy rental. Additional Program Information All program options, such as shuttle service, may not be available at every dealer. Please contact your dealer for speciﬁc information about availability. All Courtesy Transportation arrangements will be administered by appropriate dealer personnel. General Motors reserves the right to unilaterally modify, change or discontinue Courtesy Transportation at any time and to resolve all questions of claim eligibility pursuant to the terms and conditions described herein at its sole discretion. Collision Damage Repair If your vehicle is involved in a collision and it is damaged, have the damage repaired by a qualiﬁed technician using the proper equipment and quality replacement parts. Poorly performed collision repairs diminish your vehicle’s resale value, and safety performance can be compromised in subsequent collisions. Collision Parts Genuine GM Collision parts are new parts made with the same materials and construction methods as the parts with which your vehicle was originally built. Genuine GM Collision parts are your best choice to ensure that your vehicle’s designed appearance, durability, and safety are preserved. The use of Genuine GM parts can help maintain your GM New Vehicle Warranty. Recycled original equipment parts may also be used for repair. These parts are typically removed from vehicles that were total losses in prior crashes. In most cases, the parts being recycled are from undamaged sections of the vehicle. A recycled original equipment GM part, may be an acceptable choice to maintain your vehicle’s originally designed appearance and safety performance, however, the history of these parts is not known. Such parts are not covered by your GM New Vehicle Limited Warranty, and any related failures are not covered by that warranty. Aftermarket collision parts are also available. These are made by companies other than GM and may not have been tested for your vehicle. As a result, these parts may ﬁt poorly, exhibit premature durability/corrosion problems, and may not perform properly in subsequent collisions. Aftermarket parts are not covered by your GM New Vehicle Limited Warranty, and any vehicle failure related to such parts are not covered by that warranty. Repair Facility We recommend that you choose a collision repair facility that meets your needs before you ever need collision repairs. Your dealer/retailer may have a collision repair center with GM-trained technicians and state of the art equipment, or be able to recommend a collision repair center that has GM-trained technicians and comparable equipment. Insuring Your Vehicle Protect your investment in your GM vehicle with comprehensive and collision insurance coverage. There are signiﬁcant differences in the quality of coverage afforded by various insurance policy terms. Many insurance policies provide reduced protection to your GM vehicle by limiting compensation for damage repairs by using aftermarket collision parts. Some insurance companies will not specify aftermarket collision parts. 7-13 When purchasing insurance, we recommend that you assure your vehicle will be repaired with GM original equipment collision parts. If such insurance coverage is not available from your current insurance carrier, consider switching to another insurance carrier. If your vehicle is leased, the leasing company may require you to have insurance that assures repairs with Genuine GM Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts or Genuine Manufacturer replacement parts. Read your lease carefully, as you may be charged at the end of your lease for poor quality repairs. If a Crash Occurs Here is what to do if you are involved in a crash. (cid:129) Check to make sure that you are all right. If you are uninjured, make sure that no one else in your vehicle, or the other vehicle, is injured. If there has been an injury, call emergency services for help. Do not leave the scene of a crash until all matters have been taken care of. Move your vehicle only if its position puts you in danger or you are instructed to move it by a police officer. (cid:129) Give only the necessary and requested information to police and other parties involved in the crash. Do not discuss your personal condition, mental frame of mind, or anything unrelated to the crash. This will help guard against post-crash legal action. If you need roadside assistance, call GM Roadside Assistance. See Roadside Assistance Program on page 7-7 for more information. If your vehicle cannot be driven, know where the towing service will be taking it. Get a card from the tow truck operator or write down the driver’s name, the service’s name, and the phone number. (cid:129) Remove any valuables from your vehicle before it is towed away. Make sure this includes your insurance information and registration if you keep these items in your vehicle. (cid:129) Gather the important information you will need from the other driver. Things like name, address, phone number, driver’s license number, vehicle license plate, vehicle make, model and model year, Vehicle Identiﬁcation Number (VIN), insurance company and policy number, and a general description of the damage to the other vehicle. 7-14 (cid:129) (cid:129) (cid:129) If possible, call your insurance company from the scene of the crash. They will walk you through the information they will need. If they ask for a police report, phone or go to the police department headquarters the next day and you can get a copy of the report for a nominal fee. In some states/provinces with “no fault” insurance laws, a report may not be necessary. This is especially true if there are no injuries and both vehicles are driveable. (cid:129) Choose a reputable collision repair facility for your vehicle. Whether you select a dealer/retailer or a private collision repair facility to ﬁx the damage, make sure you are comfortable with them. Remember, you will have to feel comfortable with their work for a long time. (cid:129) Once you have an estimate, read it carefully and make sure you understand what work will be performed on your vehicle. If you have a question, ask for an explanation. Reputable shops welcome this opportunity. Managing the Vehicle Damage Repair Process In the event that your vehicle requires damage repairs, GM recommends that you take an active role in its repair. If you have a pre-determined repair facility of choice, take your vehicle there, or have it towed there. Specify to the facility that any required replacement collision parts be original equipment parts, either new Genuine GM parts or recycled original GM parts. Remember, recycled parts will not be covered by your GM vehicle warranty. Insurance pays the bill for the repair, but you must live with the repair. Depending on your policy limits, your insurance company may initially value the repair using aftermarket parts. Discuss this with your repair professional, and insist on Genuine GM parts. Remember if your vehicle is leased you may be obligated to have the vehicle repaired with Genuine GM parts, even if your insurance coverage does not pay the full cost. If another party’s insurance company is paying for the repairs, you are not obligated to accept a repair valuation based on that insurance company’s collision policy repair limits, as you have no contractual limits with that company. In such cases, you can have control of the repair and parts choices as long as cost stays within reasonable limits. 7-15 (cid:129) Reporting Safety Defects Reporting Safety Defects to the United States Government If you believe that your vehicle has a defect which could cause a crash or could cause injury or death, you should immediately inform the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in addition to notifying General Motors. If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may open an investigation, and if it ﬁnds that a safety defect exists in a group of vehicles, it may order a recall and remedy campaign. However, NHTSA cannot become involved in individual problems between you, your dealer/retailer, or General Motors. To contact NHTSA, you may call the Vehicle Safety Hotline toll-free at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); go to safercar.gov; or write to: Administrator, NHTSA 1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E. Washington D.C., 20590 You can also obtain other information about motor vehicle safety from safercar.gov. 7-16 Reporting Safety Defects to the Canadian Government If you live in Canada, and you believe that your vehicle has a safety defect, notify Transport Canada immediately, in addition to notifying General Motors of Canada Limited. Call them at 1-800-333-0510 or write to: Transport Canada Road Safety Branch 2780 Sheffield Road Ottawa, Ontario K1B 3V9 Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors In addition to notifying NHTSA (or Transport Canada) in a situation like this, please notify General Motors. Call 1-800-222-1020, or write: Chevrolet Motor Division Chevrolet Customer Assistance Center P.O. Box 33170 Detroit, MI 48232-5170 In Canada, call 1-800-263-3777 (English) or 1-800-263-7854 (French), or write: General Motors of Canada Limited Customer Communication Centre, CA1-163-005 1908 Colonel Sam Drive Oshawa, Ontario L1H 8P7 Service Publications Ordering Information Service Manuals Service Manuals have the diagnosis and repair information on engines, transmission, axle suspension, brakes, electrical, steering, body, etc. Service Bulletins Service Bulletins give additional technical service information needed to knowledgeably service General Motors cars and trucks. Each bulletin contains instructions to assist in the diagnosis and service of your vehicle. Owner Information Owner publications are written speciﬁcally for owners and intended to provide basic operational information about the vehicle. The owner manual includes the Maintenance Schedule for all models. In-Portfolio: Includes a Portfolio, Owner Manual, and Warranty Booklet. RETAIL SELL PRICE: $35.00 (U.S.) plus processing fee Without Portfolio: Owner Manual only. RETAIL SELL PRICE: $25.00 (U.S.) plus processing fee Current and Past Model Order Forms Technical Service Bulletins and Manuals are available for current and past model GM vehicles. To request an order form, specify year and model name of the vehicle. ORDER TOLL FREE: 1-800-551-4123 Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM Eastern Time For Credit Card Orders Only (VISA-MasterCard-Discover), visit Helm, Inc. on the World Wide Web at: helminc.com Or you can write to: Helm, Incorporated P.O. Box 07130 Detroit, MI 48207 Prices are subject to change without notice and without incurring obligation. Allow ample time for delivery. Note to Canadian Customers: All listed prices are quoted in U.S. funds. Canadian residents are to make checks payable in U.S. funds. 7-17 Vehicle Data Recording and Privacy Your GM vehicle has a number of sophisticated computers that record information about the vehicle’s performance and how it is driven. For example, your vehicle uses computer modules to monitor and control engine and transmission performance, to monitor the conditions for airbag deployment and deploy airbags in a crash and, if so equipped, to provide antilock braking to help the driver control the vehicle. These modules may store data to help your dealer/retailer technician service your vehicle. Some modules may also store data about how you operate the vehicle, such as rate of fuel consumption or average speed. These modules may also retain the owner’s personal preferences, such as radio pre-sets, seat positions, and temperature settings. Event Data Recorders This vehicle has an Event Data Recorder (EDR). The main purpose of an EDR is to record, in certain crash or near crash-like situations, such as an airbag deployment or hitting a road obstacle, data that will assist in understanding how a vehicle’s systems performed. The EDR is designed to record data related to vehicle dynamics and safety systems for a short period of time, typically 30 seconds or less. The EDR in this vehicle is designed to record such data as: (cid:129) How various systems in your vehicle were operating (cid:129) Whether or not the driver and passenger safety belts were buckled/fastened (cid:129) How far, if at all, the driver was pressing the accelerator and/or brake pedal (cid:129) How fast the vehicle was traveling This data can help provide a better understanding of the circumstances in which crashes and injuries occur. 7-18 Important: EDR data is recorded by your vehicle only if a non-trivial crash situation occurs; no data is recorded by the EDR under normal driving conditions and no personal data (e.g., name, gender, age, and crash location) is recorded. However, other parties, such as law enforcement, could combine the EDR data with the type of personally identifying data routinely acquired during a crash investigation. To read data recorded by an EDR, special equipment is required, and access to the vehicle or the EDR is needed. In addition to the vehicle manufacturer, other parties, such as law enforcement, that have the special equipment, can read the information if they have access to the vehicle or the EDR. GM will not access this data or share it with others except: with the consent of the vehicle owner or, if the vehicle is leased, with the consent of the lessee; in response to an official request of police or similar government office; as part of GM’s defense of litigation through the discovery process; or, as required by law. Data that GM collects or receives may also be used for GM research needs or may be made available to others for research purposes, where a need is shown and the data is not tied to a speciﬁc vehicle or vehicle owner. OnStar® If your vehicle has OnStar and you subscribe to the OnStar services, please refer to the OnStar Terms and Conditions for information on data collection and use. See also OnStar® System on page 2-39 in this manual for more information. Navigation System If your vehicle has a navigation system, use of the system may result in the storage of destinations, addresses, telephone numbers, and other trip information. Refer to the navigation system operating manual for information on stored data and for deletion instructions. Radio Frequency Identiﬁcation (RFID) RFID technology is used in some vehicles for functions such as tire pressure monitoring and ignition system security, as well as in connection with conveniences such as key fobs for remote door locking/unlocking and starting, and in-vehicle transmitters for garage door openers. RFID technology in GM vehicles does not use or record personal information or link with any other GM system containing personal information. 7-19 ✍ NOTES 7-20 A Accessories and Modiﬁcations ............................ 5-3 Accessory Power ............................................ 2-21 Accessory Power Outlets ................................. 3-18 Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle ............................... 1-68 Additional Required Services, Scheduled Maintenance ................................. 6-7 Additives, Fuel ................................................. 5-6 Add-On Electrical Equipment ............................ 5-96 Adjustments Headlamp Range .......................................... 1-7 Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine ................................. 5-19 Air Conditioning .............................................. 3-19 Air Filter, Passenger Compartment .................... 3-23 Airbag Readiness Light .......................................... 3-28 Airbag System ................................................ 1-55 Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle ............................ 1-68 How Does an Airbag Restrain? ...................... 1-61 Passenger Sensing System ........................... 1-63 Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle .......... 1-68 What Makes an Airbag Inﬂate? ...................... 1-61 What Will You See After an Airbag Inﬂates? ..... 1-62 When Should an Airbag Inﬂate? .................... 1-60 Where Are the Airbags? ............................... 1-58 Airbags Passenger Status Indicator ........................... 3-29 All-Wheel Drive ............................................... 5-41 All-Wheel Drive Disabled Light .......................... 3-39 All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) System ........................... 4-9 All-Wheel-Drive Service Light ............................ 3-39 Antilock Brake System (ABS) ............................. 4-5 ............................................. 3-31 Warning Light Appearance Care Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels .............. 5-94 Care of Safety Belts .................................... 5-91 Chemical Paint Spotting ............................... 5-95 Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses .................... 5-92 Fabric/Carpet .............................................. 5-89 Finish Care ................................................. 5-92 Finish Damage ............................................ 5-95 Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic Surfaces ....................................... 5-90 Interior Cleaning .......................................... 5-88 Leather ...................................................... 5-90 Sheet Metal Damage ................................... 5-95 Tires .......................................................... 5-94 Underbody Maintenance ............................... 5-95 Washing Your Vehicle ................................... 5-91 Weatherstrips .............................................. 5-91 Windshield and Wiper Blades ........................ 5-93 Ashtray ......................................................... 3-18 Assistance Program, Roadside ........................... 7-7 Audio System ................................................. 3-64 Audio Steering Wheel Controls .................... 3-117 Navigation/Radio System, see Navigation Manual .............................. 3-97 Setting the Clock ......................................... 3-65 Audio System(s) ............................................. 3-67 Audio Systems Radio Reception ........................................ 3-118 Theft-Deterrent Feature ............................... 3-117 Automatic Headlamp System ............................ 3-14 Automatic Transmission Fluid .......................................................... 5-21 Operation ........................................... 2-24, 2-27 Battery .......................................................... 5-35 Electric Power Management .......................... 3-17 Run-Down Protection ................................... 3-17 Belt Routing, Engine ....................................... 6-16 Bluetooth® ..................................................... 3-97 Brake Emergencies ................................................ 4-5 Brake Fluid .................................................... 5-32 Brakes .......................................................... 5-32 Antilock ....................................................... 4-5 Parking ...................................................... 2-31 System Warning Light .................................. 3-30 Braking ........................................................... 4-4 Braking in Emergencies ..................................... 4-5 Break-In, New Vehicle ..................................... 2-19 Bulb Replacement ........................................... 5-49 Fog Lamp .................................................. 3-15 Halogen Bulbs ............................................ 5-44 Headlamp Aiming ........................................ 5-43 Headlamps ................................................. 5-44 Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker, and Parking Lamps .................................. 5-44 License Plate Lamps .................................... 5-48 Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and Back-up Lamps ........................................ 5-47 Buying New Tires ........................................... 5-68 Calibration ..................................................... 3-47 California Perchlorate Materials Requirements ................. 5-4 California Fuel .................................................. 5-6 California Proposition 65 Warning ....................... 5-4 Canadian Owners ................................................ ii Capacities and Speciﬁcations .......................... 5-103 Carbon Monoxide Engine Exhaust ........................................... 2-35 Liftgate ...................................................... 2-12 Winter Driving ............................................. 4-17 Care of Safety Belts ................................................ 5-91 Cargo Lamp ......................................................... 3-16 Tie Downs .................................................. 2-48 CD, MP3 ............................................... 3-86, 3-91 Center Console Storage ................................... 2-42 Chains, Tire ................................................... 5-74 Charging System Light .................................... 3-30 Check Engine Lamp .............................................. 3-34 Checking Things Under the Hood ...................... 5-10 Chemical Paint Spotting ................................... 5-95 Child Restraints Infants and Young Children ........................... 1-34 Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children .......... 1-42 Older Children ............................................. 1-31 Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat Position ................................... 1-49 Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position .......................... 1-52 Systems ..................................................... 1-37 Where to Put the Restraint ........................... 1-40 Cigarette Lighter ............................................. 3-18 Circuit Breakers .............................................. 5-97 Cleaning Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels .............. 5-94 Exterior Lamps/Lenses ................................. 5-92 Fabric/Carpet .............................................. 5-89 Finish Care ................................................. 5-92 Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic Surfaces ....................................... 5-90 Interior ....................................................... 5-88 Cleaning (cont.) Leather ...................................................... 5-90 Tires .......................................................... 5-94 Underbody Maintenance ............................... 5-95 Washing Your Vehicle ................................... 5-91 Weatherstrips .............................................. 5-91 Windshield and Wiper Blades ........................ 5-93 Climate Control System ................................... 3-19 Outlet Adjustment ........................................ 3-23 Clock, Setting ................................................. 3-65 Collision Damage Repair .................................. 7-13 Compact Spare Tire ........................................ 5-87 Compass ....................................................... 3-47 Content Theft-Deterrent .................................... 2-17 Control of a Vehicle .......................................... 4-4 Convenience Net ............................................ 2-48 Coolant Engine ....................................................... 5-23 Engine Temperature Gage ............................ 3-33 Engine Temperature Warning Light ................. 3-32 Cooling System .............................................. 5-22 Courtesy Transportation Program ...................... 7-11 Cruise Control ................................................ 3-10 Cruise Control Light ........................................ 3-38 Cupholders .................................................... 2-42 Customer Assistance ......................................... 7-6 Offices ......................................................... 7-6 Text Telephone (TTY) Users ........................... 7-6 Customer Information Service Publications Ordering Information ........ 7-17 Customer Satisfaction Procedure ........................ 7-2 D Damage Repair, Collision ................................. 7-13 Data Recorders Event ......................................................... 7-18 Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) ......................... 3-14 Defensive Driving ............................................. 4-2 Delayed Locking ............................................. 2-10 DIC Compass ................................................. 3-47 Disc, MP3 ............................................. 3-86, 3-91 Doing Your Own Service Work ........................... 5-4 Dome Lamp ................................................... 3-16 Door Ajar Light ................................................... 3-40 Delayed Locking .......................................... 2-10 Locks ........................................................ 2-10 Power Door Locks ....................................... 2-10 Programmable Automatic Door Locks ............. 2-11 Rear Door Security Locks ............................. 2-11 All-Wheel Drive ........................................... 5-41 Drive Systems Driver Seat Height Adjuster ...................................... 1-3 Driver Information Center (DIC) ......................... 3-42 DIC Operation and Displays .......................... 3-42 DIC Vehicle Personalization .......................... 3-57 DIC Warnings and Messages ........................ 3-49 Driving At Night ..................................................... 4-14 Before a Long Trip ...................................... 4-15 Defensive ..................................................... 4-2 Drunk .......................................................... 4-3 Highway Hypnosis ....................................... 4-16 Hill and Mountain Roads .............................. 4-16 In Rain and on Wet Roads ........................... 4-14 Loss of Control ........................................... 4-12 Off-Road Recovery ...................................... 4-12 Rocking Your Vehicle to Get it Out ................. 4-21 Winter ........................................................ 4-17 Driving for Better Fuel Economy ......................... 4-2 DVD Rear Seat Entertainment System .................. 3-108 EDR ............................................................. 7-18 Electrical Equipment Add-On Equipment ...................................... 5-96 Electrical System Engine Compartment Fuse Block ................... 5-99 Fuses and Circuit Breakers ........................... 5-97 Instrument Panel Fuse Block ......................... 5-97 Windshield Wiper Fuses ............................... 5-97 Electronic Immobilizer PASS-Key® III+ ........................................... 2-17 Electronic Immobilizer Operation PASS-Key® III+ ........................................... 2-18 Engine Air Cleaner/Filter ......................................... 5-19 Change Engine Oil Light ............................... 3-37 Check and Service Engine Soon Lamp ........... 3-34 Compartment Overview ................................ 5-12 Coolant ...................................................... 5-23 Coolant Heater ............................................ 2-23 Coolant Temperature Gage ........................... 3-33 Coolant Temperature Warning Light ................ 3-32 Cooling System ........................................... 5-22 Drive Belt Routing ....................................... 6-16 Exhaust ..................................................... 2-35 Oil ............................................................. 5-15 Oil Life System ........................................... 5-18 Overheated Protection Operating Mode ........... 5-30 Overheating ................................................ 5-28 Reduced Power Light ................................... 3-38 Starting ...................................................... 2-21 Entry Lighting ................................................. 3-16 Event Data Recorders ..................................... 7-18 Extender, Safety Belt ....................................... 1-30 Filter Engine Air Cleaner ...................................... 5-19 Finish Damage ............................................... 5-95 Flashers, Hazard Warning .................................. 3-6 Flash-to-Pass ................................................... 3-8 Flat Tire ........................................................ 5-75 Flat Tire, Changing ......................................... 5-76 Flat Tire, Storing ............................................. 5-85 Fluid Automatic Transmission ................................ 5-21 Power Steering ........................................... 5-30 Windshield Washer ...................................... 5-31 Fog Lamp Fog ........................................................... 3-15 Fog Lamp Light .............................................. 3-37 Folding Rear Seat ........................................... 1-10 Folding Seatback, Passenger ............................. 1-8 ............................................................... 5-5 Fuel Additives ...................................................... 5-6 California Fuel .............................................. 5-6 Economy Driving ........................................... 4-2 Fuel (cont.) Filling a Portable Fuel Container .................... 5-10 Filling the Tank ............................................. 5-8 Fuels in Foreign Countries .............................. 5-7 Gage ......................................................... 3-40 Gasoline Octane ........................................... 5-5 Gasoline Speciﬁcations .................................. 5-6 Low Fuel Warning Light ................................ 3-41 Engine Compartment Fuse Block ................... 5-99 Fuses and Circuit Breakers ........................... 5-97 Instrument Panel Fuse Block ......................... 5-97 Windshield Wiper ......................................... 5-97 Fuses Gage Gages Gasoline Speedometer .............................................. 3-26 Tachometer ................................................. 3-26 Engine Coolant Temperature ......................... 3-33 Fuel .......................................................... 3-40 Trip Odometer ............................................. 3-26 Octane ........................................................ 5-5 Speciﬁcations ............................................... 5-6 Gate Ajar Light ............................................... 3-40 Glove Box ..................................................... 2-42 GM Mobility Reimbursement Program .................. 7-7 Halogen Bulbs ................................................ 5-44 Hazard Warning Flashers ................................... 3-6 Head Restraints ............................................... 1-7 Headlamp Aiming ....................................................... 5-43 Headlamps .................................................... 3-13 Bulb Replacement ....................................... 5-44 Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) ..................... 3-14 Flash-to-Pass ............................................... 3-8 Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker, and Parking Lamps .................................. 5-44 High/Low Beam Changer ................................ 3-8 On Reminder .............................................. 3-13 Range Adjustment ......................................... 1-7 Heated Seats ................................................... 1-4 Heater ........................................................... 3-19 Engine Coolant ........................................... 2-23 Height Adjuster, Driver Seat ............................... 1-3 Highbeam On Light ......................................... 3-38 High-Speed Operation, Tires ............................. 5-60 Highway Hypnosis ........................................... 4-16 Hill and Mountain Roads .................................. 4-16 Hood Checking Things Under ................................ 5-10 Release ..................................................... 5-11 Horn ............................................................... 3-6 How to Wear Safety Belts Properly ................... 1-17 I Ignition Positions ............................................. 2-20 Infants and Young Children, Restraints ............... 1-34 Inﬂation - Tire Pressure ................................... 5-58 Instrument Panel Brightness .................................................. 3-15 Cluster ....................................................... 3-25 Overview ..................................................... 3-4 Introduction ...................................................... 6-2 Jump Starting ................................................. 5-36 Keyless Entry, Remote Operation ........................ 2-5 Keyless Entry System ....................................... 2-4 Keys ............................................................... 2-3 Labeling, Tire Sidewall ..................................... 5-52 Lamp Malfunction Indicator .................................... 3-34 Lamps Cargo ........................................................ 3-16 Daytime Running (DRL) ................................ 3-14 Dome ........................................................ 3-16 License Plate .............................................. 5-48 Map .......................................................... 3-16 Lap-Shoulder Belt ........................................... 1-25 LATCH System for Child Restraints ................... 1-42 Liftgate Carbon Monoxide ........................................ 2-12 Lighting Entry ......................................................... 3-16 Lights ............................................................ 3-13 Airbag Readiness ........................................ 3-28 All-Wheel Drive Disabled .............................. 3-39 Antilock Brake System (ABS) Warning ............ 3-31 Lights (cont.) Brake System Warning ................................. 3-30 Change Engine Oil ...................................... 3-37 Charging System ......................................... 3-30 Cruise Control ............................................. 3-38 Door Ajar ................................................... 3-40 Engine Coolant Temperature Warning ............. 3-32 Flash-to-Pass ............................................... 3-8 Fog Lamp .................................................. 3-37 Gate Ajar ................................................... 3-40 Highbeam On ............................................. 3-38 High/Low Beam Changer ................................ 3-8 Low Fuel Warning ....................................... 3-41 Oil Pressure ............................................... 3-36 On Reminder .............................................. 3-13 Passenger Airbag Status Indicator .................. 3-29 Reduced Engine Power ................................ 3-38 Safety Belt Reminders .................................. 3-27 Security ..................................................... 3-37 Service All-Wheel-Drive ................................ 3-39 Service Vehicle Soon ................................... 3-40 Tire Pressure .............................................. 3-33 Traction Control System (TCS) Warning .......... 3-32 Loading Your Vehicle ....................................... 4-21 Locks Delayed Locking .......................................... 2-10 Door .......................................................... 2-10 Lockout Protection ....................................... 2-12 Power Door ................................................ 2-10 Programmable Automatic Door Locks ............. 2-11 Rear Door Security Locks ............................. 2-11 Loss of Control ............................................... 4-12 Low Fuel Warning Light ................................... 3-41 Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children ............. 1-42 Luggage Carrier .............................................. 2-43 Lumbar Manual Controls ............................................ 1-4 Maintenance Maintenance Schedule Footnotes ..................................................... 6-8 Additional Required Services ........................... 6-7 At Each Fuel Fill ......................................... 6-10 At Least Once a Month ................................ 6-11 At Least Once a Year .................................. 6-11 Maintenance Record .................................... 6-17 Maintenance Replacement Parts .................... 6-15 Maintenance Schedule (cont.) Maintenance Requirements ............................. 6-2 Owner Checks and Services ......................... 6-10 Recommended Fluids and Lubricants ............. 6-13 Scheduled Maintenance ................................. 6-4 Using .......................................................... 6-2 Your Vehicle and the Environment ................... 6-2 Malfunction Indicator Lamp ............................... 3-34 Manual Lumbar Controls .................................... 1-4 Manual Reclining Seatbacks ............................... 1-5 Manual Seats ................................................... 1-2 Map Lamps .................................................... 3-16 Message DIC Warnings and Messages ........................ 3-49 Mirrors Automatic Dimming Rearview ........................ 2-37 Manual Rearview Mirror ................................ 2-37 Outside Convex Mirrors ................................ 2-38 Outside Power Mirrors .................................. 2-38 MP3 ..................................................... 3-86, 3-91 Navigation System, Privacy .............................. 7-19 Navigation/Radio System, see Navigation Manual ................................. 3-97 Net Convenience ............................................... 2-48 New Vehicle Break-In ...................................... 2-19 Odometer ...................................................... 3-26 Odometer, Trip ............................................... 3-26 Off-Road Recovery .................................................... 4-12 Oil Change Engine Oil Light ............................... 3-37 Engine ....................................................... 5-15 Engine Oil Life System ................................. 5-18 Pressure Light ............................................. 3-36 Older Children, Restraints ................................ 1-31 Online Owner Center ........................................ 7-5 OnStar, Privacy .............................................. 7-19 OnStar® System, see OnStar® Manual ............... 2-39 Outlet Adjustment ............................................ 3-23 Outlets Accessory Power ......................................... 3-18 Outside Convex Mirrors ............................................ 2-38 Power Mirrors ............................................. 2-38 Overheated Engine Protection Operating Mode .... 5-30 Owner Checks and Services ............................. 6-10 Owners, Canadian ............................................... ii P Paint, Damage ............................................... 5-95 Park Shifting Into ................................................ 2-32 Shifting Out of ............................................ 2-33 Program Parking Over Things That Burn ................................. 2-34 Parking Brake ................................................ 2-31 Passenger Airbag Status Indicator ..................... 3-29 Passenger Compartment Air Filter ..................... 3-23 Passenger Sensing System .............................. 1-63 Passing ......................................................... 4-12 PASS-Key® III+ Electronic Immobilizer ............... 2-17 PASS-Key® III+ Electronic Immobilizer Operation ................................................... 2-18 Perchlorate Materials Requirements, California ...... 5-4 Phone Bluetooth® .................................................. 3-97 Power Door Locks ................................................. 2-10 Reduced Engine Light .................................. 3-38 Retained Accessory (RAP) ............................ 2-21 Seat ............................................................ 1-3 Steering Fluid ............................................. 5-30 Windows .................................................... 2-15 Pregnancy, Using Safety Belts .......................... 1-30 Privacy .......................................................... 7-18 Navigation System ....................................... 7-19 OnStar ....................................................... 7-19 Radio Frequency Identiﬁcation (RFID) ............. 7-19 Courtesy Transportation ................................ 7-11 Programmable Automatic Door Locks ................. 2-11 Proposition 65 Warning, California ....................... 5-4 Radio Frequency Identiﬁcation (RFID), Privacy ..... 7-19 Radio(s) ........................................................ 3-67 Radios Navigation/Radio System, see Navigation Manual .............................. 3-97 Reception ................................................. 3-118 Setting the Clock ......................................... 3-65 Theft-Deterrent .......................................... 3-117 Range Adjustment, Headlamps ........................... 1-7 Rear Compartment Storage Panel/Cover ............ 2-45 Rear Door Security Locks ................................ 2-11 Rear Seat Armrest .......................................... 2-47 Rear Seat Entertainment System ..................... 3-108 Rear Window Washer/Wiper ............................. 3-10 Rearview Mirror, Automatic Dimming .................. 2-37 Rearview Mirrors ............................................. 2-37 10 Reclining Seatbacks, Manual .............................. 1-5 Recommended Fluids and Lubricants ................. 6-13 Recreational Vehicle Towing ............................. 4-27 Reduced Engine Power Light ............................ 3-38 Reimbursement Program, GM Mobility ................. 7-7 Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System .................. 2-4 Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System, Operation ... 2-5 Remote Vehicle Start ........................................ 2-7 Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the Spare Tire .................................................. 5-79 Removing the Spare Tire and Tools ................... 5-77 Replacement Bulbs ......................................... 5-49 Replacement Parts, Maintenance ...................... 6-15 Reporting Safety Defects to General Motors ....... 7-16 Reporting Safety Defects to the Canadian Government .................................. 7-16 Reporting Safety Defects to the U.S. Government ......................................... 7-16 Restraint System Check Checking the Restraint Systems .................... 1-70 Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash .......................................... 1-71 Retained Accessory Power (RAP) ...................... 2-21 Roadside Assistance Program ............................ 7-7 Rocking Your Vehicle to Get it Out .................... 4-21 Roof Sunroof ...................................................... 2-49 Running the Vehicle While Parked ..................... 2-36 Safety Belt Reminders ..................................... 3-27 Safety Belts Care of ...................................................... 5-91 Extender .................................................... 1-30 How to Wear Safety Belts Properly ................ 1-17 Lap-Shoulder Belt ........................................ 1-25 Safety Belts Are for Everyone ....................... 1-12 Use During Pregnancy ................................. 1-30 Safety Defects Reporting to Canadian Government ................ 7-16 Reporting to General Motors ......................... 7-16 Reporting to the U.S. Government ................. 7-16 Safety Warnings and Symbols .............................. iii Scheduled Maintenance ..................................... 6-4 Additional Required Services ........................... 6-7 Scheduling Appointments ................................. 7-11 Seatback, Folding Passenger ............................. 1-8 Seats Driver Seat Height Adjuster ............................. 1-3 Heated Seats ............................................... 1-4 Manual Lumbar ............................................. 1-4 Manual Reclining Seatbacks ........................... 1-5 Passenger Folding Seatback ........................... 1-8 Power Seat .................................................. 1-3 Split Folding Rear Seat ................................ 1-10 11 Securing a Child Restraint Rear Seat Position ...................................... 1-49 Right Front Seat Position .............................. 1-52 Security Light ................................................. 3-37 Service ........................................................... 5-3 Accessories and Modiﬁcations ......................... 5-3 Adding Equipment to the Outside of the Vehicle ..................................................... 5-5 All-Wheel-Drive Light .................................... 3-39 Doing Your Own Work ................................... 5-4 Engine Soon Lamp ...................................... 3-34 Publications Ordering Information ................... 7-17 Scheduling Appointments .............................. 7-11 Vehicle Soon Light ....................................... 3-40 Service Parts Identiﬁcation Label ....................... 5-96 Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle .............. 1-68 Setting the Clock ............................................ 3-65 Sheet Metal Damage ....................................... 5-95 Shifting Out of Park ................................................ 2-33 Shifting Into Park ............................................ 2-32 Signals, Turn and Lane-Change .......................... 3-7 Spare Tire Compact .................................................... 5-87 Installing .................................................... 5-79 Removing ................................................... 5-77 Storing ....................................................... 5-85 Speciﬁcations and Capacities .......................... 5-103 Speedometer .................................................. 3-26 Split Folding Rear Seat .................................... 1-10 StabiliTrak® System .......................................... 4-6 Start Vehicle, Remote ....................................... 2-7 Starting the Engine ......................................... 2-21 Steering ........................................................ 4-10 Steering Wheel Controls, Audio ....................... 3-117 Steering Wheel, Tilt Wheel ................................. 3-6 Storage Areas Center Console ........................................... 2-42 Convenience Net ......................................... 2-48 Cupholders ................................................. 2-42 Glove Box .................................................. 2-42 Luggage Carrier .......................................... 2-43 Rear Compartment Storage Panel/Cover ......... 2-45 Rear Seat Armrest ....................................... 2-47 Table ......................................................... 2-47 Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snow ..................... 4-20 Sun Visors ..................................................... 2-16 Sunroof ......................................................... 2-49 Table ............................................................ 2-47 Tachometer .................................................... 3-26 Taillamps Turn Signal, Stoplamps and Back-up Lamps .... 5-47 Text Telephone (TTY) Users ............................... 7-6 Theft-Deterrent Feature .................................. 3-117 12 Theft-Deterrent Systems ................................... 2-16 Content Theft-Deterrent ................................ 2-17 PASS-Key® III+ Electronic Immobilizer ............ 2-17 PASS-Key® III+ Electronic Immobilizer Operation ................................................ 2-18 Tilt Wheel ........................................................ 3-6 Time, Setting .................................................. 3-65 Tire Pressure Light ............................................. 3-33 Tires ............................................................. 5-51 Aluminum or Chrome-Plated Wheels, Cleaning ................................................. 5-94 Buying New Tires ........................................ 5-68 Chains ....................................................... 5-74 Changing a Flat Tire .................................... 5-76 Cleaning .................................................... 5-94 Compact Spare ........................................... 5-87 Different Size .............................................. 5-70 High-Speed Operation .................................. 5-60 If a Tire Goes Flat ....................................... 5-75 Inﬂation - Tire Pressure ................................ 5-58 Inspection and Rotation ................................ 5-66 Installing the Spare Tire ................................ 5-79 Pressure Monitor Operation ........................... 5-62 Pressure Monitor System .............................. 5-61 Removing the Flat Tire ................................. 5-79 Removing the Spare Tire and Tools ............... 5-77 Sidewall Labeling ......................................... 5-52 Tires (cont.) Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools ............ 5-85 Terminology and Deﬁnitions ........................... 5-55 Uniform Tire Quality Grading ......................... 5-71 Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance ................. 5-72 Wheel Replacement ..................................... 5-72 When It Is Time for New Tires ...................... 5-67 Recreational Vehicle ..................................... 4-27 Towing a Trailer .......................................... 4-34 Your Vehicle ............................................... 4-27 Towing Traction Control System (TCS) .................................... 4-7 Control System Warning Light ....................... 3-32 StabiliTrak® System ....................................... 4-6 Transmission Fluid, Automatic ........................................... 5-21 Transmission Operation, Automatic ............ 2-24, 2-27 Transportation Program, Courtesy ...................... 7-11 Trip Odometer ................................................ 3-26 Turn and Lane-Change Signals .......................... 3-7 Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever ........................... 3-7 Uniform Tire Quality Grading ............................ 5-71 13 V Vehicle Control ........................................................ 4-4 Loading ...................................................... 4-21 Running While Parked .................................. 2-36 Service Soon Light ...................................... 3-40 Symbols ......................................................... iii Vehicle Data Recording and Privacy .................. 7-18 Vehicle Data Recording, Radio Frequency (RFID) ............................... 7-19 Vehicle Identiﬁcation Number (VIN) ............................................. 5-96 Service Parts Identiﬁcation Label ................... 5-96 Vehicle Personalization DIC ........................................................... 3-57 Vehicle, Remote Start ....................................... 2-7 Ventilation Adjustment ...................................... 3-23 Visors ........................................................... 2-16 Wheels Alignment and Tire Balance .......................... 5-72 Different Size .............................................. 5-70 Replacement ............................................... 5-72 When It Is Time for New Tires .......................... 5-67 Where to Put the Child Restraint ....................... 1-40 Windows ....................................................... 2-14 Power ........................................................ 2-15 Windshield Washer ........................................................ 3-9 Washer Fluid .............................................. 5-31 Wiper Blade Replacement ............................. 5-49 Wiper Blades, Cleaning ................................ 5-93 Wiper Fuses ............................................... 5-97 Wipers ......................................................... 3-8 Winter Driving ................................................ 4-17 Wipers Rear Washer .............................................. 3-10 Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators ............... 3-24 Warnings DIC Warnings and Messages ........................ 3-49 Hazard Warning Flashers ............................... 3-6 Safety and Symbols ......................................... iii XM Radio Messages ....................................... 3-96 Your Vehicle and the Environment ....................... 6-2 14 2009 Chevrolet Equinox Owner Manual M Seats and Restraint System ............................. 1-1 Front Seats ............................................... 1-2 Rear Seats .............................................. 1-10 Safety Belts ............................................. 1-12 Child Restraints ....................................... 1-31 Airbag System ......................................... 1-55 Restraint System Check ............................ 1-70 Features and Controls ..................................... 2-1 ........................................................ 2-3 ...................................... 2-10 ................................................. 2-14 ............................ 2-16 ........... 2-19 .................................................... 2-37 ...................................... 2-39 ......................................... 2-42 .................................................. 2-49 Instrument Panel ............................................. 3-1 .......................... 3-4 ...................................... 3-19 ........ 3-24 .................. 3-42 ....................................... 3-64 Keys Doors and Locks Windows Theft-Deterrent Systems Starting and Operating Your Vehicle Mirrors OnStar® System Storage Areas Sunroof Instrument Panel Overview Climate Controls Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators Driver Information Center (DIC) Audio System(s) Your Driving, the Road, and the Vehicle Towing Driving Your Vehicle ....................................... 4-1 ....... 4-2 ................................................... 4-27 Service and Appearance Care .......................... 5-1 Service ..................................................... 5-3 Fuel ......................................................... 5-5 Checking Things Under the Hood ............... 5-10 All-Wheel Drive ........................................ 5-41 Headlamp Aiming ..................................... 5-43 Bulb Replacement .................................... 5-44 Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement ......... 5-49 Tires ...................................................... 5-51 Appearance Care ..................................... 5-88 Vehicle Identiﬁcation ................................. 5-96 Electrical System ...................................... 5-96 Capacities and Speciﬁcations ................... 5-103 Maintenance Schedule ..................................... 6-1 ................................ 6-2 Customer Assistance Information .................... 7-1 ........... 7-2 ........................... 7-16 ........... 7-18 Index ................................................................ 1 Customer Assistance and Information Reporting Safety Defects Vehicle Data Recording and Privacy Maintenance Schedule Canadian Owners Canadian Owners (Propriétaires Canadiens) A French language copy of this manual can be obtained from your dealer/retailer or from: On peut obtenir un exemplaire de ce guide en français auprès du concessionnaire ou à l’adresse suivante: Helm, Incorporated P.O. Box 07130 Detroit, MI 48207 1-800-551-4123 Numéro de poste 6438 de langue française www.helminc.com Index To quickly locate information about the vehicle, use the index in the back of the manual. It is an alphabetical list of what is in the manual and the page number where it can be found. ©2008 General Motors Corporation. All Rights Reserved. GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem, CHEVROLET, the CHEVROLET Emblem, and the name EQUINOX are registered trademarks of General Motors Corporation. This manual includes the latest information at the time it was printed. GM reserves the right to make changes after that time without notice. For vehicles ﬁrst sold in Canada, substitute the name “General Motors of Canada Limited” for Chevrolet Motor Division wherever it appears in this manual. This manual describes features that may or may not be on your speciﬁc vehicle. Read this manual from beginning to end to learn about the vehicle’s features and controls. Pictures, symbols, and words work together to explain vehicle operation. Keep this manual in the vehicle for quick reference. Litho in U.S.A. Part No. 15910163 B Second Printing ii Safety Warnings and Symbols A circle with a slash through it is a safety symbol which means “Do Not,” “Do not do this,” or “Do not let this happen.” A box with the word CAUTION is used to tell about things that could hurt you or others if you were to ignore the warning. { CAUTION: These mean there is something that could hurt you or other people. Cautions tell what the hazard is and what to do to avoid or reduce the hazard. Read these cautions. A notice tells about something that can damage the vehicle. Notice: These mean there is something that could damage your vehicle. Many times, this damage would not be covered by the vehicle’s warranty, and it could be costly. The notice tells what to do to help avoid the damage. There are also warning labels on the vehicle which use the same words, CAUTION or Notice. Vehicle Symbols The vehicle has components and labels that use symbols instead of text. Symbols are shown along with the text describing the operation or information relating to a speciﬁc component, control, message, gage, or indicator. M : This symbol is shown when you need to see your owner manual for additional instructions or information. * : This symbol is shown when you need to see a service manual for additional instructions or information. iii Vehicle Symbol Chart Here are some additional symbols that may be found on the vehicle and what they mean. For more information on the symbol, refer to the index. 9 : Airbag Readiness Light # : Air Conditioning ! : Antilock Brake System (ABS) g : Audio Steering Wheel Controls or OnStar® $ : Brake System Warning Light " : Charging System I : Cruise Control B : Engine Coolant Temperature O : Exterior Lamps # : Fog Lamps . : Fuel Gage + : Fuses i : Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer j : LATCH System Child Restraints * : Malfunction Indicator Lamp : : Oil Pressure } : Power / : Remote Vehicle Start > : Safety Belt Reminders 7 : Tire Pressure Monitor F : Traction Control M : Windshield Washer Fluid iv Section 1 Seats and Restraint System Front Seats ......................................................1-2 Manual Seats ................................................1-2 Seat Height Adjuster .......................................1-3 Power Seat ...................................................1-3 Manual Lumbar ..............................................1-4 Heated Seats .................................................1-4 Manual Reclining Seatbacks .............................1-5 Head Restraints .............................................1-7 Passenger Folding Seatback ............................1-8 Rear Seats .....................................................1-10 .................................1-10 Safety Belts ...................................................1-12 Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone ................1-12 How to Wear Safety Belts Properly .................1-17 Lap-Shoulder Belt .........................................1-25 Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy ..................1-30 Safety Belt Extender .....................................1-30 Child Restraints .............................................1-31 Older Children ..............................................1-31 Infants and Young Children ............................1-34 Child Restraint Systems .................................1-37 Split Folding Rear Seat Where to Put the Restraint .............................1-40 Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) ......................................1-42 Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat Position ....................................1-49 Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position ............................1-52 Airbag System ...............................................1-55 Where Are the Airbags? ................................1-58 When Should an Airbag Inﬂate? .....................1-60 What Makes an Airbag Inﬂate? .......................1-61 How Does an Airbag Restrain? .......................1-61 What Will You See After an Airbag Inﬂates? .....1-62 Passenger Sensing System ............................1-63 Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle ...........1-68 Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle .............................1-68 Restraint System Check ..................................1-70 Checking the Restraint Systems ......................1-70 Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash ............................................1-71 1-1 Front Seats Manual Seats { CAUTION: If the vehicle has a manual seat, it can be moved forward or rearward. 1. Lift the bar to unlock the seat. 2. Slide the seat to the desired position and release the bar. You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to adjust a manual driver’s seat while the vehicle is moving. The sudden movement could startle and confuse you, or make you push a pedal when you do not want to. Adjust the driver’s seat only when the vehicle is not moving. Try to move the seat with your body to be sure the seat is locked in place. 1-2 Seat Height Adjuster Power Seat To manually raise or lower the seat, move the lever repeatedly upward or downward. To adjust the seat: (cid:129) Slide the control forward or rearward to move the seat forward or rearward. (cid:129) Move the front and rear of the control up or down to raise or lower the front and rear part of the seat cushion. 1-3 Manual Lumbar Heated Seats On vehicles with this feature, the knob is located on the front of the driver seat lower cushion on the inboard side. On vehicles with heated seats, the switches are located on the instrument panel near the climate controls. Turn the knob clockwise or counterclockwise to increase or decrease the lumbar support. The vehicle must be on for the heated seats to operate. Press the switch, nearest to the seat, once to turn the heated seat on to the high setting. Both indicator lights will be lit. Press the switch a second time to turn the heated seat to the low setting. One indicator light will be lit. Press the switch a third time to turn the heated seat off. 1-4 Manual Reclining Seatbacks { CAUTION: You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to adjust a manual driver’s seat while the vehicle is moving. The sudden movement could startle and confuse you, or make you push a pedal when you do not want to. Adjust the driver’s seat only when the vehicle is not moving. { CAUTION: 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. Driver’s Seat shown, Passenger Seat similar To adjust the seatback, lift the lever on the outboard side of the seat and move the seatback to the desired position. Then release the lever to lock the seatback in place. If the passenger’s seat is a ﬂat folding seat, fully raise the lever to disengage the seatback. 1-5 { CAUTION: Sitting in a reclined position when the vehicle is in motion can be dangerous. Even when buckled up, the safety belts cannot do their job when reclined like this. The shoulder belt cannot do its job because it will not be against your body. Instead, it will be in front of you. In a crash, you could go into it, receiving neck or other injuries. The lap belt cannot do its job either. In a crash, the belt could go up over your abdomen. The belt forces would be there, not at your pelvic bones. This could cause serious internal injuries. For proper protection when the vehicle is in motion, have the seatback upright. Then sit well back in the seat and wear the safety belt properly. Do not have a seatback reclined if your vehicle is moving. 1-6 Head Restraints Pull the head restraint up to raise it. To lower the head restraint, press the button, located on the top of the seatback, and push the restraint down. Adjust the head restraint so that the top of the restraint is at the same height as the top of the occupant’s head. This position reduces the chance of a neck injury in a crash. 1-7 On vehicles with this feature, to fold the seatback: 1. Lower the head restraint all the way. 2. Lift the bar under the front of the seat to unlock it. Slide the seat as far back as it will go and release the bar. Try to move the seat back and forth to make sure it is locked into place. Passenger Folding Seatback { CAUTION: If you fold the seatback forward to carry longer objects, such as skis, be sure any such cargo is not near an airbag. In a crash, an inﬂating airbag might force that object toward a person. This could cause severe injury or even death. Secure objects away from the area in which an airbag would inﬂate. For more information, see Where Are the Airbags? on page 1-58 and Loading the Vehicle on page 4-21. { CAUTION: Things you put on this seatback can strike and injure people in a sudden stop or turn, or in a crash. Remove or secure all items before driving. 3. Lift up fully on the recliner lever, located on the outboard side of the seat, and fold the seatback forward until it disengages. 1-8 4. Continue to fold the seat forward until it locks in the folded position. 5. Pull up on the seatback to be sure it is locked. To raise the seatback, do the following: 1. Lift up fully on the recliner lever, located on the outboard side of the seat, and push up on the seatback. 2. Continue raising the seatback until the seatback re-engages. { CAUTION: 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. 3. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is locked in place. The recliner lever is also used to recline the seatback while a passenger is seated. See Manual Reclining Seatbacks on page 1-5. 1-9 Rear Seats Split Folding Rear Seat The rear split bench seatbacks have three available positions — folded forward, upright, or partially reclined. Both of the seatbacks can be moved to any of the three positions independent of the other seatback position. The rear bench seat can also be moved forward and rearward. { CAUTION: 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. { CAUTION: 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 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, do the following: 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. Ensure all three of the safety belts are unbuckled and the front seatbacks are not reclined. 1-10 To recline the seatback, do the following: 1. Lift and hold the lever located on top of the seatback. 2. Tilt the seatback rearward, then release the lever when the seatback is in the desired position. To slide the entire seat forward or rearward, do the following: 1. Lift and hold the release bar located under the front of the seat cushion to unlock the seat. 2. Slide the seat to the desired position. 3. Release the bar. 4. Try to move the seat back and forth to ensure the seat is locked in place. 2. Lift the lever located on the top of the seatback to release the seatback. 3. Fold the seatback forward to the desired position. 1-11 Safety Belts Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone This section of the manual describes how to use safety belts properly. It also describes some things not to do with safety belts. { CAUTION: Do not let anyone ride where a safety belt cannot be worn properly. In a crash, if you or your passenger(s) are not wearing safety belts, the injuries can be much worse. You can hit things inside the vehicle harder or be ejected from the vehicle. You and your passenger(s) can be seriously injured or killed. In the same crash, you might not be, if you are buckled up. Always fasten your safety belt, and check that your passenger(s) are restrained properly too. 1-12 { CAUTION: It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo area, inside or outside of a vehicle. In a collision, people riding in these areas are more likely to be seriously injured or killed. Do not allow people to ride in any area of your vehicle that is not equipped with seats and safety belts. Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a seat and using a safety belt properly. This vehicle has indicators as a reminder to buckle the safety belts. See Safety Belt Reminders on page 3-27 for additional information. In most states and in all Canadian provinces, the law requires wearing safety belts. Here is why: You never know if you will be in a crash. If you do have a crash, you do not know if it will be a serious one. A few crashes are mild, and some crashes can be so serious that even buckled up, a person would not survive. But most crashes are in between. In many of them, people who buckle up can survive and sometimes walk away. Without safety belts, they could have been badly hurt or killed. After more than 40 years of safety belts in vehicles, the facts are clear. In most crashes buckling up does matter... a lot! Why Safety Belts Work When you ride in or on anything, you go as fast as it goes. Put someone on it. Take the simplest vehicle. Suppose it is just a seat on wheels. 1-13 Get it up to speed. Then stop the vehicle. The rider does not stop. The person keeps going until stopped by something. In a real vehicle, it could be the windshield... 1-14 or the instrument panel... or the safety belts! With safety belts, you slow down as the vehicle does. You get more time to stop. You stop over more distance, and your strongest bones take the forces. That is why safety belts make such good sense. 1-15 Q: If I am a good driver, and I never drive far from home, why should I wear safety belts? A: You may be an excellent driver, but if you are in a crash — even one that is not your fault — you and your passenger(s) can be hurt. Being a good driver does not protect you from things beyond your control, such as bad drivers. Most accidents occur within 25 miles (40 km) of home. And the greatest number of serious injuries and deaths occur at speeds of less than 40 mph (65 km/h). Safety belts are for everyone. Questions and Answers About Safety Belts Q: Will I be trapped in the vehicle after a crash if I am wearing a safety belt? A: You could be — whether you are wearing a safety belt or not. But your chance of being conscious during and after an accident, so you can unbuckle and get out, is much greater if you are belted. And you can unbuckle a safety belt, even if you are upside down. Q: If my vehicle has airbags, why should I have to wear safety belts? A: Airbags are supplemental systems only; so they work with safety belts — not instead of them. Whether or not an airbag is provided, all occupants still have to buckle up to get the most protection. That is true not only in frontal collisions, but especially in side and other collisions. 1-16 How to Wear Safety Belts Properly This section is only for people of adult size. Be aware that there are special things to know about safety belts and children. And there are different rules for smaller children and infants. If a child will be riding in the vehicle, see Older Children on page 1-31 or Infants and Young Children on page 1-34. Follow those rules for everyone’s protection. It is very important for all occupants to buckle up. Statistics show that unbelted people are hurt more often in crashes than those who are wearing safety belts. Occupants who are not buckled up can be thrown out of the vehicle in a crash. And they can strike others in the vehicle who are wearing safety belts. First, before you or your passenger(s) wear a safety belt, there is important information you should know. Sit up straight and always keep your feet on the ﬂoor in front of you. The lap part of the belt should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching the thighs. In a crash, this applies force to the strong pelvic bones and you would be less likely to slide under the lap belt. If you slid under it, the belt would apply force on your abdomen. This could cause serious or even fatal injuries. The shoulder belt should go over the shoulder and across the chest. These parts of the body are best able to take belt restraining forces. The shoulder belt locks if there is a sudden stop or crash. 1-17 Q: What is wrong with this? { CAUTION: You can be seriously hurt if your shoulder belt is too loose. In a crash, you would move forward too much, which could increase injury. The shoulder belt should ﬁt snugly against your body. A: The shoulder belt is too loose. It will not give as much protection this way. 1-18 Q: What is wrong with this? { CAUTION: You can be seriously hurt if your lap belt is too loose. In a crash, you could slide under the lap belt and apply force on your abdomen. This could cause serious or even fatal injuries. The lap belt should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching the thighs. A: The lap belt is too loose. It will not give nearly as much protection this way. 1-19 Q: What is wrong with this? { CAUTION: You can be seriously injured if your belt is buckled in the wrong place like this. In a crash, the belt would go up over your abdomen. The belt forces would be there, not on the pelvic bones. This could cause serious internal injuries. Always buckle your belt into the buckle nearest you. A: The belt is buckled in the wrong buckle. 1-20 Q: What is wrong with this? A: The belt is over an armrest. { CAUTION: You can be seriously injured if your belt goes over an armrest like this. The belt would be much too high. In a crash, you can slide under the belt. The belt force would then be applied on the abdomen, not on the pelvic bones, and that could cause serious or fatal injuries. Be sure the belt goes under the armrests. 1-21 Q: What is wrong with this? { CAUTION: You can be seriously injured if you wear the shoulder belt under your arm. In a crash, your body would move too far forward, which would increase the chance of head and neck injury. Also, the belt would apply too much force to the ribs, which are not as strong as shoulder bones. You could also severely injure internal organs like your liver or spleen. The shoulder belt should go over the shoulder and across the chest. A: The shoulder belt is worn under the arm. It should be worn over the shoulder at all times. 1-22 Q: What is wrong with this? A: The belt is behind the body. { CAUTION: You can be seriously injured by not wearing the lap-shoulder belt properly. In a crash, you would not be restrained by the shoulder belt. Your body could move too far forward increasing the chance of head and neck injury. You might also slide under the lap belt. The belt force would then be applied right on the abdomen. That could cause serious or fatal injuries. The shoulder belt should go over the shoulder and across the chest. 1-23 Q: What is wrong with this? { CAUTION: You can be seriously injured by a twisted belt. In a crash, you would not have the full width of the belt to spread impact forces. If a belt is twisted, make it straight so it can work properly, or ask your dealer/retailer to ﬁx it. A: The belt is twisted across the body. 1-24 Lap-Shoulder Belt All seating positions in the vehicle have a lap-shoulder belt. The following instructions explain how to wear a lap-shoulder belt properly. 1. Adjust the seat, if the seat is adjustable, so you can sit up straight. To see how, see “Seats” in the Index. 2. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you. Do not let it get twisted. The lap-shoulder belt may lock if you pull the belt across you very quickly. If this happens, let the belt go back slightly to unlock it. Then pull the belt across you more slowly. If the shoulder portion of a passenger belt is pulled out all the way, the child restraint locking feature may be engaged. If this happens, let the belt go back all the way and start again. 3. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks. Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure. If the belt is not long enough, see Safety Belt Extender on page 1-30. Position the release button on the buckle so that the safety belt could be quickly unbuckled if necessary. 4. If equipped with a shoulder belt height adjuster, move it to the height that is right for you. See “Shoulder Belt Height Adjustment” later in this section for instructions on use and important safety information. 1-25 5. To make the lap part tight, pull up on the shoulder belt. It may be necessary to pull stitching on the safety belt through the latch plate to fully tighten the lap belt on smaller occupants. To unlatch the belt, just push the button on the buckle. For outboard seating positions, slide the latch plate up the safety belt webbing when the safety belt is not in use. The latch plate should rest on the stitching on the safety belt, near the guide loop. Before a door is closed, be sure the safety belt is out of the way. If a door is slammed against a safety belt, damage can occur to both the safety belt and the vehicle. 1-26 Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster The vehicle has a shoulder belt height adjuster for the driver and right front passenger seating positions. Adjust the height so that the shoulder portion of the belt is centered on the shoulder. The belt should be away from the face and neck, but not falling off the shoulder. Improper shoulder belt height adjustment could reduce the effectiveness of the safety belt in a crash. Squeeze the release buttons (A) together and move the height adjuster to the desired position. Safety Belt Pretensioners This vehicle has safety belt pretensioners for front outboard occupants. Although the safety belt pretensioners cannot be seen, they are part of the safety belt assembly. They can help tighten the safety belts during the early stages of a moderate to severe frontal and near frontal crash if the threshold conditions for pretensioner activation are met. Pretensioners work only once. If the pretensioners activate in a crash, they will need to be replaced, and probably other new parts for the vehicle’s safety belt system. See Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash on page 1-71. Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides Rear shoulder belt comfort guides may provide added safety belt comfort for older children who have outgrown booster seats and for some adults. When installed on a shoulder belt, the comfort guide positions the belt away from the neck and head. After the height adjuster is set to the desired position, try to move it up or down without squeezing the release buttons to make sure it has locked into position. 1-27 There is one guide for each outside passenger position in the rear seat. Here is how to install a comfort guide to the safety belt: 1. Remove the guide from its storage clip on the back of the seatback. 2. Place the guide over the belt, and insert the two edges of the belt into the slots of the guide. 1-28 3. Be sure that the belt is not twisted and it lies ﬂat. The elastic cord must be under the belt and the guide on top. { CAUTION: A safety belt that is not properly worn may not provide the protection needed in a crash. The person wearing the belt could be seriously injured. The shoulder belt should go over the shoulder and across the chest. These parts of the body are best able to take belt restraining forces. 4. Buckle, position, and release the safety belt as described previously in this section. Make sure that the shoulder belt crosses the shoulder. To remove and store the comfort guide, squeeze the belt edges together so that the safety belt can be removed from the guide. Slide the guide back onto its storage clip located on the seatback. 1-29 Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy Safety belts work for everyone, including pregnant women. Like all occupants, they are more likely to be seriously injured if they do not wear safety belts. The best way to protect the fetus is to protect the mother. When a safety belt is worn properly, it is more likely that the fetus will not be hurt in a crash. For pregnant women, as for anyone, the key to making safety belts effective is wearing them properly. Safety Belt Extender If the vehicle’s safety belt will fasten around you, you should use it. But if a safety belt is not long enough, your dealer/retailer will order you an extender. When you go in to order it, take the heaviest coat you will wear, so the extender will be long enough for you. To help avoid personal injury, do not let someone else use it, and use it only for the seat it is made to ﬁt. The extender has been designed for adults. Never use it for securing child seats. To wear it, attach it to the regular safety belt. For more information, see the instruction sheet that comes with the extender. A pregnant woman should wear a lap-shoulder belt, and the lap portion should be worn as low as possible, below the rounding, throughout the pregnancy. 1-30 Child Restraints Older Children Older children who have outgrown booster seats should wear the vehicle’s safety belts. The manufacturer’s instructions that come with the booster seat state the weight and height limitations for that booster. Use a booster seat with a lap-shoulder belt until the child passes the below ﬁt test: (cid:129) Sit all the way back on the seat. Do the knees bend at the seat edge? If yes, continue. If no, return to the booster seat. (cid:129) Buckle the lap-shoulder belt. Does the shoulder belt rest on the shoulder? If yes, continue. If no, try using the rear safety belt comfort guide. See “Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides” under Lap-Shoulder Belt on page 1-25 for more information. If the shoulder belt still does not rest on the shoulder, then return to the booster seat. (cid:129) Does the lap belt ﬁt low and snug on the hips, touching the thighs? If yes, continue. If no, return to the booster seat.

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2009 Chevrolet Equinox Owners Manual