Chevrolet Equinox Owners Manual
DoorsKeys, Doors, andWindows / Doors
Liftgate
WARNING
Exhaust gases can enter the vehicle if it is driven with the liftgate or trunk/hatch open, or with any objects that pass through the seal between the body and the trunk/hatch or liftgate. Engine exhaust contains carbon monoxide (CO) which cannot be seen or smelled. It can cause unconsciousness and even death.
If the vehicle must be driven with the liftgate or trunk/hatch open:
• Close all of the windows.
• Fully open the air outlets on or under the instrument panel.
• Adjust the climate control system to a setting that brings in only outside air
and set the fan speed to the highest setting. See “Climate Control Systems” in the
Index.
• If the vehicle is equipped with a power liftgate, disable the power liftgate function.
Notice: To avoid damage to the liftgate or liftgate glass, make sure the area above and behind the liftgate is clear before opening it.
Manual Liftgate
To unlock the liftgate, press the power door lock switch or press
To open the liftgate, press the touch pad under the liftgate handle and lift up.
Use the pull cup to lower and close the liftgate. Do not press the touch pad while closing the liftgate. This may cause the liftgate to be unlatched.
Always close the liftgate before driving.
Power Liftgate
On vehicles with a power liftgate, the vehicle must be in P (Park) to operate. The taillamps flash when the power liftgate moves.
WARNING
You, or others, could be injured if caught in the path of the power liftgate. Make sure there is no one in the way of the liftgate as it is opening and closing.
The power liftgate has three modes of operation. Mode selection is controlled by the interior mode switch.
Choose the power liftgate mode by turning the dial on the switch until the indicator lines up with the desired position. The vehicle must be in P (Park).
The three modes are:
MAX: The liftgate power opens to the full open height.
3/4: The liftgate power opens to a reduced open height that can be set by
the vehicle operator. Use this setting to prevent the liftgate from opening into
overhead obstructions such as a garage door or roof mounted cargo during power operation.
The liftgate can still be fully opened manually.
OFF: The liftgate only operates manually in this position.
Manual operation of a liftgate that also has power operation requires more effort than a standard manual liftgate.
The liftgate can be opened manually by pressing the touch pad under the liftgate handle, with the doors unlocked and lifting up.
In either the MAX or the 3/4 mode, the liftgate can be power opened and closed by:
• Pressing and holding 
on the RKE transmitter
• Pressing the power liftgate button in the center of the mode switch on the overhead console, with the driver door unlocked.
Press and release 
on the liftgate
Pressing any button, or the touch pad switch, while the liftgate is moving stops it. Pressing the button or RKE transmitter again reverses the direction. The touch pad switch will stop the liftgate from moving.
There is a minimum distance that the power liftgate must already be open for the system to hold it open.
If movement is stopped below that minimum, the liftgate closes.
Do not force the liftgate open or closed during a power cycle.
The power liftgate may be temporarily disabled under extreme temperatures or low battery conditions. If this occurs, the liftgate can still be operated manually.
If the vehicle is shifted out of P (Park) while the power function is in progress, the liftgate power function will continue to completion.
If the vehicle is shifted out of P (Park) and accelerated before the power liftgate latch is closed, the liftgate may reverse to the open position. Cargo could fall out of the vehicle. Always make sure the power liftgate is closed and latched before driving away.
If the liftgate is power opened and the liftgate support struts have lost pressure, the turn signals flash and a chime will sound. The liftgate stays open temporarily, and then slowly closes. See a dealer for service before using the liftgate.
Obstacle Detection Features
If the liftgate encounters an obstacle during a power open or close cycle, a warning chime will sound and the liftgate will automatically reverse direction to the full closed or open position. After removing the obstruction, the power liftgate operation can be used again. If the liftgate encounters multiple obstacles on the same power cycle, the power function will deactivate and a message will display in the Driver Information Center (DIC), see Object Detection System Messages on page 5‑29. After removing the obstructions, the liftgate will resume normal power operation.
Pinch sensors are located on the side edges of the liftgate. If an object is caught between the liftgate and the vehicle and presses against this sensor, the liftgate will reverse direction and open fully. The liftgate will remain open until it is activated again or closed manually.
Power Liftgate 3/4 Mode
To program the liftgate opening height:
1. Turn the liftgate switch to either the MAX, or the 3/4 mode position and power
open the liftgate.
2. Stop the liftgate movement at the desired height by pressing any liftgate switch.
Manually adjust the liftgate position if required.
3. Press and hold the button on the liftgate adjacent to the latch until the turn
signals flash and a beep sounds to indicate that the new setting is recorded.
When power opened with the 3/4 mode selected, the liftgate stops at the new set position.
If there is no audible and visual feedback when setting the intermediate stop position, the liftgate height is being set below the 3/4 open height minimum (approximately 1.5 m or 5 ft). The liftgate cannot be set below that minimum and the new setting will not be recorded.
Manual Operation of Power Liftgate
To change the liftgate to manual operation, turn the mode switch to the OFF position.
With the power liftgate disabled and all of the doors unlocked, the liftgate can be manually opened and closed. Manual operation of a liftgate that also has power operation requires more effort than a standard manual liftgate.
To open the liftgate, press the touch pad on the handle on the outside of the liftgate, and lift the gate open. To close the liftgate, use the pull cup to lower the liftgate and close. With the power liftgate disabled, the liftgate electric latch will still power latch once contact is made with the striker. Always close the liftgate before driving.
If 
on the RKE transmitter is pressed
The liftgate has an electric latch.
If the battery is disconnected or has low voltage, the liftgate will not open. The liftgate will resume operation when the battery is reconnected and charged.
