Chevrolet Equinox Owners Manual: Starting the Engine

Move the shift lever to P (Park) or N (Neutral). To restart the engine when the vehicle is already moving, use N (Neutral) only.

Gasoline Engine Starting Procedure

1.  With the Keyless Access system, the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter must be in the vehicle. Press ENGINE START/STOP with the brake pedal applied. When the engine begins cranking, let go of the button.

   The idle speed will go down as the engine gets warm. Do not race the engine immediately after starting it.

   If the RKE transmitter is not in the vehicle, if there is interference, or if the RKE battery is low, a Driver Information Center (DIC) will display a message. See Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System Operation.

2. If the engine does not start after five to 10 seconds, especially in very cold weather (below −18 C orF), it could be flooded with too much gasoline. Try pushing the accelerator pedal all the way to the floor and holding it there as you press ENGINE START/ STOP. Wait at least 15 seconds between each try, to allow the cranking motor to cool down.

   When the engine starts, release the accelerator. If the vehicle starts briefly but then stops again, do the same thing.

   This clears the extra gasoline from the engine. Do not race the engine immediately after starting it. Operate the engine and transmission gently until the oil warms up and lubricates all moving parts.

Diesel Engine Starting Procedure

The diesel engine starts differently than a gasoline engine.

1.  With the Keyless Access system, the RKE transmitter must be in the vehicle. Press ENGINE START/STOP and observe the wait-to-start light.

   See Wait-to-Start Light.

   This light may not come on if the engine is warm.

2.  As soon as the wait-to-start light goes off, immediately press ENGINE START/STOP with the brake pedal applied to start.

   The engine has a fast warm-up glow plug system. The wait-to-start light will illuminate for a much shorter time than most diesel engines, due to the rapid heating of the glow plug system.

3. If the engine does not start after 15 seconds of cranking, wait one minute for the cranking motor to cool, then try the same steps again.

If you are trying to start the engine after you have run out of fuel, follow the steps in Running Out of Fuel (Diesel).

When the engine is cold, let it run for a few minutes before driving.

This lets oil pressure build up. The engine will sound louder when it is cold.

Cold Weather Starting (Diesel Engine)

Use the recommended engine oil when the outside temperature drops below freezing. See Engine Oil. When the outside temperature drops below -18C (0F), use of the engine heater is recommended.

See Fuel for Diesel Engines for information on what fuel to use in cold weather.

If the Diesel Engine Will Not Start

If you have run out of fuel, see Running Out of Fuel (Diesel).

If the vehicle is not out of fuel, and the engine will not start: Press ENGINE START/STOP.

Immediately after the wait-to-start light goes off, press ENGINE START/STOP to start the vehicle.

If the light does not go off, wait a few seconds, then try starting the engine again. See your dealer for a starting system check.

If the light comes on and then goes off, and it is known that the batteries are charged, but the engine still will not start, the vehicle needs service.

If the light does not come on when the engine is cold, the vehicle needs service.

If the batteries do not have enough charge to start the engine, see Battery - North America.

Check that the correct engine oil has been used and changed at appropriate intervals. If the wrong oil is used, the engine may be harder to start.

Be sure to use the proper fuel for existing weather conditions. See Fuel for Diesel Engines.

If the engine starts, runs a short time, then stops, the vehicle needs service.

Stop/Start System

The vehicle has a fuel saving stop/ start system to shut off the engine and help conserve fuel.

Auto Engine Stop/Start

When the brakes are applied and the vehicle is at a complete stop, the engine may turn off. When the brake pedal is released or the accelerator pedal is pressed, the engine may restart.

Auto Stop may be deactivated if:

•  A minimum vehicle speed is not reached.
•  The engine or transmission is not at the required operating temperature.
•  The outside temperature is not in the required operating range, typically between −10 C (14 F) and 50 C (122 F).
•  The shift lever is in any gear other than D (Drive).
•  The battery has been recently disconnected.
•  The battery charge is low.
• The interior comfort level has not reached the required level for the climate control system or defog settings. See Dual Automatic Climate Control System.
•  The Auto Stop time is greater than two minutes.