All-electric vehicles like the Chevy Equinox EV offer a number of benefits over ICE-powered vehicles, but if the onboard 12-volt battery dies, accessing the cabin could prove tricky. This is due to the fact that the door handles won’t deploy and the power locks will become inoperative once the 12-volt battery is completely drained. That said, there’s still a relatively straightforward method to unlock your vehicle manually and get back on the road.
To unlock the Chevy Equinox EV when the 12-volt battery is dead, first locate the mechanical key. This is done by removing the mechanical key from the key fob, which is accomplished by pressing the small release button at the base of the fob and pulling out the hidden mechanical key.
Next, access the liftgate key lock cylinder. Move around to the rear of the vehicle and locate the small, round rubber plug on the bottom of the liftgate. Remove this plug to reveal the manual lock cylinder, then insert the mechanical key into the cylinder and turn to unlock the liftgate.
Once the liftgate is unlocked, open it manually. Depending on your flexibility, you may need to fold down the rear seatbacks to climb into the front of the vehicle. After reaching the front, open the hood latch to access the 12-volt battery. From here, you can charge the 12-volt battery to restore vehicle functionality.
This process ensures access to your vehicle even in situations where the battery is completely drained.
The Chevy Equinox EV is designed with this manual override to provide a reliable solution in emergencies, ensuring drivers can regain access without damaging the vehicle, such as breaking a window. Note that further details are provided in the vehicle owner’s manual.
As a reminder, the Chevy Equinox EV rides on the GM BEV3 platform and is produced at the GM Ramos Arizpe plant in Mexico.
Comments
It’s almost the same process to unlock a recent ICE with a dead 12-volt. I just went through it. And it’s another ridiculous nanny that no one asked for. Just bring back the door mounted, UNCOVERED, lock cylinder(s) and a normal key. Jeez, Louise. They say the annoying covered one deters thefts but it’s a hassle for the owner. Too much of one.
CLIMB into the vehicle from the liftgate??!! What about the elderly, what if you have a back problem, what if you are holding 6 kinds, what if it is covered in ice/snow, what if that don’t work… Yeah just put it back where it belongs or just install a backup generator! Is it April 1st yet? What a joke.
Can we just have normal door handles and key locks back GM? This is a ridiculous procedure! Imagine trying to do this to gain access to your vehicle at night in the dark and cold with blowing rain or snow.
Also, what happens if the vehicle is backed into a parking space or garage where there isn’t enough clearance to open the liftgate in order to climb in, or it’s packed full of vacation luggage? I can’t believe nobody at GM would have thought of these scenarios.
Why not have a mechanism that will open the door by pulling a lever like on the Corvette?
We have a Chevrolet Bolt and the 12V battery died. We had to get it towed to a dealership to remedy our problem. We are considering trading our Tesla Model Y for a Cadillac Optiq next week. Are there similar trips for other GM electric vehicles?
I have a 2020 buick encore gx with 32000 miles. Now on its 4th battery. Is there something wrong with the Delco gel battery or is it the car itself
Check your Buick to see if there is a phantom current leak or some device still operating even if the ignition switch is turned off.
This is a perfect reason NOT to buy this car. Who designed a system where a person has to climb into the back of a car and crawl into the front and reach down under to dash to reach a handle to open the hood? This has got to be a joke!!!
I would install a set of cables from the front to the trunk, so I can recharge the 12V battery without climbing through. Or install a short set to the 12V battery accessible through the front wheel well.
A big thank you for the information as one of my vehicles is an 2024 Equinox EV and I did not know about the physical key insertion point.
I presumed that you had to use the physical key underneath the door handle similar to other cars.
I should learn to read manuals.
Keep up the good work, Mary .
I still find it weird that a vehicle sitting on top of a massive amount of battery cells still needs a 12 volt battery that can also deplete.
All electric and hybrid vehicles use a standard AGM 12 VDC battery to start up the system, then a large relay switches on the main HV traction battery. After that, a DC to DC converter charges the 12 VDC battery from the HV battery.
This reads like an emulation of a normal gas engine that needs a 12 VDC battery to run the starter, then the engine powered alternator charges the battery. So if you want to change this, try putting a litium based 12 VDC battery replacing the AGM battery. It will last longer and save weight.
How about putting the key lock cylinder at the front hood so you don’t have to crawl through the car. You can hide it behind the front bow tie.
So, the same guy that designed the unintuitive manual interior Corvette door release that has killed at least one person that simply couldn’t get out still has a job overcomplicating ingress/egress in battery-loss situations. Super. Why not have an easy way to fold out the driver door handle manually and reveal a lock cylinder?
If I jam the key into the charge port and climb in through the sunroof, will it make Android Auto work? It makes about as much sense.
So I saw a video of one of the foreign cars which escapes me have this same setup but behind the handle on the driver door or at the edge of the handle with a small cover to pop off too. Maybe GM should have been more creative to make it on the driver door too? Somehow the handle of the foreign car can be extended out and did not always rely on power.
The Ford Fusion Hybrid has this feature, hiding a keyhole behind a plastic cover next to the driver side door handle. I don’t know if present Ford vehicles, including the Mustang Mach-E, continue this feature.
Okay so I assume this insanely complex procedure is outlined in the Owners Manual which is stowed in the glovebox, right? But the glovebox and thus the Manual would be rendered totally inaccessible by a dead battery. I suppose it’s also outlined online but the whole process is counterintuitive. Who would expect the emergency latch to be under a plastic plug next to the license plate on the back bumper.
Asking folks to figure out on their own that they must find a mechanical key, find a hidden lock on the back of the vehicle and then climb over the luggage compartment and two rows of seats, which are oftentimes outfitted with children’s car seats is simply unacceptable. Why can’t the hidden lock simply be on, or next to, the drivers door?
Also, remember if GM has their way everyone will be driving an EV in the future and products like the Equinox EV would be heavily utilized in rental fleets where such silliness makes even less sense.
We are lucky that GM didn’t equip the vehicle with a one cent sticker that read, “in case of emergency brake glass”.