How to Jump-Start a Chevy Equinox
by Dwight Malone
The Chevy Equinox is a four-door crossover SUV that was first produced for the 2005 model year. If you find yourself in a situation where you turn the key and nothing happens, odds are you have a dead battery. This can happen because the battery is old or you left the lights on when the car was off, which drained the battery. Cold weather also reduces your battery's power output. This can be magnified if your battery is already weak. Jump-starting your Equinox can provide the power needed to start the vehicle and get you on the road.
Step 1
Pull the vehicle that will be providing the jump-start close enough to your Equinox so the jumper cables will be able to reach both vehicles' batteries.
Step 2
Apply the parking brakes, turn off the ignitions, turn off all accessories and open the hoods on both vehicles.
Step 3
Locate the battery on the vehicle that is providing the jump. Depending on the year, make and model, it will be in various locations in the engine compartment. However, it usually is in one of the four corners under the hood. If you have trouble finding it, consult the vehicle's owner's manual.
Step 4
Locate the remote jump-starting system's positive terminal on your Equinox. To find it, remove the fuse box cover, which is located in the front left area of the engine compartment. The positive terminal is marked with a plus sign.
Step 5
Locate the remote jump-starting system's negative terminal. It is close to the engine oil dipstick and is marked with a negative sign.
Step 6
Connect one end of the positive jumper cable to the positive terminal on the battery of the car that is providing the jump. Connect the other end of the positive jumper cable to the positive terminal on your Equinox.
Step 7
Connect one end of the negative jumper cable to the negative terminal on the battery of the car that is providing the jump. Connect the other end to the negative terminal on your Equinox.
Step 8
Start the vehicle that is providing the jump and let it idle for a few minutes to charge the dead battery on the Equinox.
Step 9
Hit the unlock button on your keyless transmitter, which will disarm the theft-deterrent system on your Equinox.
Step 10
Start your Equinox. It may take multiple attempts to start the vehicle.
Step 11
Disconnect the negative jumper cable from the Equinox, then the negative cable from the vehicle that provided the jump.
Step 12
Disconnect the positive jumper cable from the vehicle that provided the jump and then disconnect the positive jumper cable from your Equinox.
Step 13
Reattach the fuse box cover on your Equinox.
References
Tips
- If your Equinox does not start immediately when jump-starting it, let the car sit for a few minutes so the battery can charge up, then attempt to start your Equinox.
- If you still cannot start your Equinox after multiple attempts, your battery may not be the culprit. Other causes could be a faulty starter, alternator or ignition system.
Things You'll Need
- Jumper cables
Warnings
- Never attempt to jump-start a frozen battery, as this is dangerous and could lead to the battery exploding.
- When connecting the jump-starting cables, if you notice either car's battery has a crack or is leaking fluid, do not attempt to jump-start the vehicle.
- Never let both vehicles touch each other, which could cause a bad ground connection and damage both vehicles' electrical systems.
- Never use jumper cables with frayed or loose wiring, which can cause an electrical shock.
- Never allow two ends of the jumper cables to touch each other, which can cause an electrical spark or short in the electrical system.
Writer Bio
Dwight Malone is a journalist who has worked for various Chicago-area newspapers, including the "Chicago Tribune" and "Naperville Sun." He has been a writer, editor and graphic designer since 2000. Malone studied journalism at Eastern Illinois University.
