check engine CHEVROLET COLORADO 2009 1.G Owner's Guide

How to Check Automatic
Transmission Fluid
Because this operation can be a little difficult, you may
choose to have this done at the dealer/retailer service
department.
If adding it yourself, be sure to follow all the instructions
here, or there could be a false reading on the dipstick.
Notice:Too much or too little uid can damage
your transmission. Too much can mean that some
of the uid could come out and fall on hot engine
parts or exhaust system parts, starting a re.
Too little uid could cause the transmission to
overheat. Be sure to get an accurate reading if
you check your transmission uid.
Wait at least 30 minutes before checking the
transmission uid level if you have been driving:
When outside temperatures are above 90°F (32°C).
At high speed for quite a while.
In heavy traffic — especially in hot weather.
While pulling a trailer.
To get the right reading, the uid should be at normal
operating temperature, which is 180°F to 200°F
(82°C to 93°C).Get the vehicle warmed up by driving about
15 miles (24 km) when outside temperatures are
above 50°F (10°C). If it is colder than 50°F (10°C),
drive the vehicle in 3 (Third) until the engine temperature
gage moves and then remains steady for 10 minutes.
A cold uid check can be made after the vehicle has
been sitting for eight hours or more with the engine off,
but this is used only as a reference. Let the engine run
at idle for ve minutes if outside temperatures are 50°F
(10°C) or more. If it is colder than 50°F (10°C), the engine
might have to idle longer. Should the uid level be low
during this cold check, check the uid hot before adding
uid. Checking the uid hot gives a more accurate
reading of the uid level.
Checking the Fluid Level
To prepare the vehicle:
1. Park the vehicle on a level place. Keep the engine
running.
2. With the parking brake applied, place the shift lever
in P (Park).
3. With your foot on the brake pedal, move the shift
lever through each gear range, pausing for about
three seconds in each range. Then, position
the shift lever in P (Park).
4. Let the engine run at idle for three minutes or more.
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Then, without shutting off the engine:
1. Flip the handle up and then pull out the dipstick
and wipe it with a clean rag or paper towel.
The automatic transmission
dipstick handle with this
symbol on it is located in
the engine compartment
on the passenger side of
the vehicle.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 5-12
for more information on location.
2. Push it back in all the way, wait three seconds, and
pull it back out again.3. Check both sides of the dipstick, and read the
lower level. The uid level must be in the COLD area,
below the cross-hatched area, for a cold check or
in the HOT or cross-hatched area for a hot check.
Be sure to keep the dipstick pointed down to get an
accurate reading.
4. If the uid level is in the acceptable range, push the
dipstick back in all the way; then ip the handle
down to lock the dipstick in place.
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How to Add Automatic
Transmission Fluid
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind of transmission uid to use. SeeRecommended
Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-12.
Add uid only after checking the transmission uid
while it is hot. A cold check is used only as a reference.
If the uid level is low, add only enough of the proper
uid to bring the level up to the HOT area for a hot
check. It does not take much uid, generally less than
one pint (0.5 L). Do not overll.
Notice:Use of the incorrect automatic transmission
uid may damage the vehicle, and the damages
may not be covered by the vehicle’s warranty.
Always use the automatic transmission uid listed in
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-12.
After adding uid, recheck the uid level as described
under “How to Check Automatic Transmission Fluid,”
earlier in this section.
When the correct uid level is obtained, push the
dipstick back in all the way; then ip the handle down
to lock the dipstick in place.
Manual Transmission Fluid
When to Check
A good time to check the manual transmission uid is
when the engine oil is changed. However, the uid in the
manual transmission does not require changing.
How to Check
Because this operation can be a little difficult, you may
choose to have this done at your GM dealer/retailer
service department.
If doing it yourself, be sure to follow all the instructions
here, or there could be a false reading.
Notice:Too much or too little uid can damage
your transmission. Too little uid could cause the
transmission to overheat. Be sure to get an accurate
reading if you check your transmission uid.
Check the uid level only when the engine is off, the
vehicle is parked on a level place and the transmission
is cool enough to touch the transmission case.
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Hydraulic Clutch
The hydraulic clutch linkage in the vehicle is
self-adjusting. The clutch master cylinder reservoir
is lled with hydraulic clutch uid.
The hydraulic clutch uid
reservoir cap has this
symbol on it. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview
on page 5-12for reservoir
location.
It is not necessary to regularly check clutch uid unless
a leak in the system is suspected. Adding uid will
not correct a leak.
A uid loss in this system could indicate a problem.
Have the system inspected and repaired.
When to Check and What to Use
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine how
often to check the uid level in the clutch master cylinder
reservoir and for the proper uid. SeeRecommended
Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-12.
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How to Check and Add Fluid
The proper uid should be added if the level does not
reach the bottom of the diaphragm when it is in place in
the reservoir. See the instructions on the reservoir cap.
Cooling System
The cooling system allows the engine to maintain the
correct working temperature.
A. Coolant Recovery Tank
B. Engine Cooling Fan
C. Radiator Pressure Cap2.9L Engine shown (3.7L Engine similar)
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{CAUTION:
Heater and radiator hoses, and other engine parts,
can be very hot. Do not touch them. If you do, you
can be burned.
Do not run the engine if there is a leak. If you run
the engine, it could lose all coolant. That could
cause an engine re, and you could be burned.
Get any leak xed before you drive the vehicle.
Notice:Using coolant other than DEX-COOL
®can
cause premature engine, heater core, or radiator
corrosion. In addition, the engine coolant could
require changing sooner, at 30,000 miles (50 000 km)
or 24 months, whichever occurs rst. Any repairs
would not be covered by the vehicle warranty.
Always use DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free) coolant
in the vehicle.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in the vehicle is lled with
DEX-COOL®engine coolant. This coolant is
designed to remain in the vehicle for ve years or
150,000 miles (240 000 km), whichever occurs rst.
The following explains the cooling system and how
to check and add coolant when it is low. If there
is a problem with engine overheating, seeEngine
Overheating on page 5-34.
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Checking Coolant
The vehicle must be on a level surface when checking
the coolant level.
The coolant recovery tank
cap has this symbol on it.
It is located toward the rear of the engine compartment
on the passenger side of the vehicle. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview on page 5-12for more
information on location.
Check to see if coolant is visible in the coolant recovery
tank. If the coolant inside the coolant recovery tank is
boiling, do not do anything else until it cools down.
If coolant is visible but the coolant level is not at or
above the FULL COLD mark, add a 50/50 mixture of
clean, drinkable water and DEX-COOL
®coolant at the
coolant recovery tank, but be sure the cooling system
is cool before this is done.The vehicle must be on a level surface. When
the engine is cold, the coolant level should be at
FULL COLD, or a little higher. When the engine is
warm, the level could be above the FULL COLD level.
When the engine is cold, the coolant level should
be at least up to the FULL COLD mark. If it is not,
there could be a leak in the cooling system.
How to Add Coolant to the
Recovery Tank
{CAUTION:
You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot
engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol
and it will burn if the engine parts are hot enough.
Do not spill coolant on a hot engine.
Notice:This vehicle has a specic coolant ll
procedure. Failure to follow this procedure could
cause the engine to overheat and be severely
damaged.
When the coolant in the coolant recovery tank is at the
FULL COLD mark, start the vehicle.
If coolant is needed, add the proper DEX-COOL
®
coolant mixture at the coolant recovery tank.
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Power Steering Fluid
The power steering uid
reservoir is located near
the front of the engine
compartment, behind the
radiator. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview
on page 5-12for reservoir
location.
When to Check Power Steering Fluid
It is not necessary to regularly check power steering
uid unless you suspect there is a leak in the system or
you hear an unusual noise. A uid loss in this system
could indicate a problem. Have the system inspected
and repaired.
How to Check Power Steering Fluid
1. Turn the key off and let the engine compartment
cool down.
2. Wipe the cap and the top of the reservoir clean.
3. Unscrew the cap and wipe the dipstick with a
clean rag.
4. Replace the cap and completely tighten it.
5. Then remove the cap again and look at the uid
level on the dipstick.
The level should be between the ADD and FULL marks.
If necessary, add only enough uid to bring the level
up to the proper range.
What to Use
To determine what kind of uid to use, see
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 6-12.
Always use the proper uid.
Notice:Use of the incorrect uid may damage the
vehicle and the damages may not be covered by
the vehicle’s warranty. Always use the correct uid
listed inRecommended Fluids and Lubricants
on page 6-12.
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Brakes
Brake Fluid
The brake master cylinder
reservoir is lled with
DOT-3 brake uid. See
Engine Compartment
Overview on page 5-12for
the location of the reservoir.
There are only two reasons why the brake uid level in
the reservoir might go down:
The brake uid level goes down because of normal
brake lining wear. When new linings are installed,
the uid level goes back up.
A uid leak in the brake hydraulic system can also
cause a low uid level. Have the brake hydraulic
system xed, since a leak means that sooner
or later the brakes will not work well.Do not top off the brake uid. Adding uid does not
correct a leak. If uid is added when the linings
are worn, there will be too much uid when new
brake linings are installed. Add or remove brake uid,
as necessary, only when work is done on the brake
hydraulic system.
{CAUTION:
If too much brake uid is added, it can spill on
the engine and burn, if the engine is hot enough.
You or others could be burned, and the vehicle
could be damaged. Add brake uid only when
work is done on the brake hydraulic system.
See “Checking Brake Fluid” in this section.
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine when
to check the brake uid. SeeScheduled Maintenance
on page 6-4.
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Checking Brake Fluid
Check brake uid by looking at the brake uid reservoir.
SeeEngine Compartment Overview on page 5-12.
The uid level should be
above the PP mark. If it is
not, have the brake
hydraulic system checked
to see if there is a leak.
After work is done on the brake hydraulic system,
make sure the level is above the PP mark but not over
the MAX mark.
What to Add
Use only new DOT-3 brake uid from a sealed
container. SeeRecommended Fluids and Lubricants
on page 6-12.Always clean the brake uid reservoir cap and the area
around the cap before removing it. This helps keep
dirt from entering the reservoir.
{CAUTION:
With the wrong kind of uid in the brake hydraulic
system, the brakes might not work well. This could
cause a crash. Always use the proper brake uid.
Notice:
Using the wrong uid can badly damage brake
hydraulic system parts. For example, just a
few drops of mineral-based oil, such as engine
oil, in the brake hydraulic system can damage
brake hydraulic system parts so badly that they
will have to be replaced. Do not let someone
put in the wrong kind of uid.
If brake uid is spilled on the vehicle’s painted
surfaces, the paint nish can be damaged.
Be careful not to spill brake uid on the vehicle.
If you do, wash it off immediately. SeeWashing
Your Vehicle on page 5-105.
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