mirror CHEVROLET COLORADO 2012 1.G User Guide

Black plate (5,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2012
Driving and Operating 9-5
Off-Road Recovery
The vehicle's right wheels can drop
off the edge of a road onto the
shoulder while driving. Follow
these tips:
1. Ease off the accelerator andthen, if there is nothing in the
way, steer the vehicle so that
it straddles the edge of the
pavement. 2. Turn the steering wheel about
one-eighth of a turn, until the
right front tire contacts the
pavement edge.
3. Then turn the steering wheel to go straight down the roadway.
Loss of Control
Skidding
There are three types of skids that
correspond to the vehicle's three
control systems:
.Braking Skid —wheels are not
rolling.
.Steering or Cornering
Skid —too much speed or
steering in a curve causes tires
to slip and lose cornering force.
.Acceleration Skid —too much
throttle causes the driving
wheels to spin. Defensive drivers avoid most skids
by taking reasonable care suited
to existing conditions, and by not
overdriving those conditions. But
skids are always possible.
If the vehicle starts to slide, follow
these suggestions:
.Ease your foot off the
accelerator pedal and quickly
steer the way you want the
vehicle to go. The vehicle may
straighten out. Be ready for a
second skid if it occurs.
.Slow down and adjust your
driving according to weather
conditions. Stopping distance
can be longer and vehicle
control can be affected when
traction is reduced by water,
snow, ice, gravel, or other
material on the road. Learn to
recognize warning clues
—such
as enough water, ice, or packed
snow on the road to make a
mirrored surface —and slow
down when you have any doubt.

Black plate (12,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2012
9-12 Driving and Operating
Other Rainy Weather Tips
Besides slowing down, other wet
weather driving tips include:
.Allow extra following distance.
.Pass with caution.
.Keep windshield wiping
equipment in good shape.
.Keep the windshield washer fluid
reservoir filled.
.Have good tires with proper
tread depth. SeeTires on
page 10‑46.
.Turn off cruise control.
Highway Hypnosis
Always be alert and pay attention
to your surroundings while driving.
If you become tired or sleepy, find
a safe place to park the vehicle
and rest. Other driving tips include:
.Keep the vehicle well ventilated.
.Keep the interior
temperature cool.
.Keep your eyes moving
—scan
the road ahead and to the sides.
.Check the rearview mirror and
vehicle instruments often.
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or through
mountains is different than driving
on flat or rolling terrain. Tips for
driving in these conditions include:
.Keep the vehicle serviced and in
good shape.
.Check all fluid levels and brakes,
tires, cooling system, and
transmission.
.Shift to a lower gear when going
down steep or long hills.
{WARNING
If you do not shift down, the
brakes could get so hot that they
would not work well. You would
then have poor braking or even
none going down a hill. You could
crash. Shift down to let the engine
assist the brakes on a steep
downhill slope.
{WARNING
Coasting downhill in N (Neutral)
or with the ignition off is
dangerous. The brakes will have
to do all the work of slowing down
and they could get so hot that
they would not work well. You
would then have poor braking or
even none going down a hill. You
could crash. Always have the
engine running and the vehicle in
gear when going downhill.

Black plate (14,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2012
9-14 Driving and Operating
Blizzard Conditions
Being stuck in snow can be a
serious situation. Stay with the
vehicle unless there is help nearby.
If possible, use theRoadside
Assistance Program (U.S. and
Canada) on page 13‑7 orRoadside
Assistance Program (Mexico) on
page 13‑9. To get help and keep
everyone in the vehicle safe:
.Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
.Tie a red cloth to an outside
mirror.
{WARNING
Snow can trap engine exhaust
under the vehicle. This may
cause exhaust gases to get
inside. Engine exhaust contains
carbon monoxide (CO) which
cannot be seen or smelled. It can
cause unconsciousness and even
death.
If the vehicle is stuck in the snow:
.Clear away snow from around
the base of your vehicle,
especially any that is blocking
the exhaust pipe.
.Check again from time to
time to be sure snow does
not collect there.
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
.Open a window about 5 cm
(2 in) on the side of the
vehicle that is away from the
wind to bring in fresh air.
.Fully open the air outlets
on or under the instrument
panel.
.Adjust the climate control
system to a setting that
circulates the air inside the
vehicle and set the fan speed
to the highest setting. See
“Climate Control System” in
the Index.
For more information about
carbon monoxide, see Engine
Exhaust on page 9‑30.

Black plate (54,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2012
9-54 Driving and Operating
Driving with a Trailer
{WARNING
When towing a trailer, exhaust
gases may collect at the rear
of the vehicle and enter if the
liftgate, trunk/hatch, or rear-most
window is open.
Engine exhaust contains Carbon
Monoxide (CO) which cannot be
seen or smelled. It can cause
unconsciousness and even death.
To maximize safety when towing
a trailer:
.Have the exhaust system
inspected for leaks and make
necessary repairs before
starting a trip.
.Never drive with the liftgate,
trunk/hatch, or rear-most
window open.(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
.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 System in the Index.
For more information about
Carbon Monoxide, see Engine
Exhaust on page 9‑30.
Towing a trailer requires a certain
amount of experience. Get to know
the rig before setting out for the
open road. Get acquainted with the
feel of handling and braking with
the added weight of the trailer. And
always keep in mind that the vehicle
you are driving is now longer and
not as responsive as the vehicle is
by itself. Before starting, check all trailer
hitch parts and attachments, safety
chains, electrical connectors, lamps,
tires and mirror adjustments. If the
trailer has electric brakes, start the
vehicle and trailer moving and then
apply the trailer brake controller by
hand to be sure the brakes are
working. This checks the electrical
connection at the same time.
During the trip, check occasionally
to be sure that the load is secure,
and that the lamps and any trailer
brakes are still working.
While towing a trailer or when
exposed to long periods of
sunshine, the floor of the truck bed
may become very warm. Avoid
putting items in the truck bed that
might be affected by high ambient
temperatures.

Black plate (41,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-41
FusesUsage
ABS Antilock Brake
System (ABS),
ABS Module,
Four‐Wheel Drive,
Gravity Sensor
ABS 1 ABS 1 (ABS Logic)
ABS 2 ABS 2 (ABS Pump)
AUX PWR 1 Accessory Power 1
AUX PWR 2 Accessory Power 2
BCK/UP Back-up Lights
BLWR Climate
Control Fan
CLSTR Cluster
CNSTR
VENT Fuel Canister Vent
Solenoid
CRUISE Cruise Control
Switch, Inside
Rearview Mirror,
Transfer Case
Control Module,
Brake Switch,
Clutch Disable Fuses
Usage
DR/LCK Power Door
Locks (If Equipped)
DRL Daylight Running
Lamps
ERLS Mass Air
Flow (MAF)
Sensor, Can
Purge Solenoid,
Air Injector
Reactor (AIR)
Relay
ETC Electronic Throttle
Control (ETC)
FOG/LAMP Fog Lamps
(If Equipped)
FRT
PRK LAMP Front Park/Turn
Lamps, Driver and
Passenger Side
Power Window
Switches Lighting
FRT/AXLE Front Axle Actuator
FSCM Fuel System
Control Module Fuses
Usage
BACKUP
LAMP Backup Lamp
HORN Horn
HTD/SEAT Heated Seat
(If Equipped)
IGN Ignition, Clutch
Starter Switch,
Neutral Safety
Back‐Up Switch,
Ignition Coils 1‐5,
Air Conditioning
Relay
INJ Injectors
LT HDLP Driver Side
Headlamp
PCM B Power Control
Module (PCM) B
PCMI Power Control
Module (PCM)
PWR/SEAT Power Seat
Circuit Breaker
(If Equipped)

Black plate (42,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2012
10-42 Vehicle Care
FusesUsage
PWR/WNDW Power Windows
(If Equipped)
RDO Radio
REAR
PRK LAMP Rear Parking
Lamp 1, Passenger
Side Taillamp,
License Plate
Lamps
REAR PRK
LAMP2 Driver Side
Rear Taillamp,
Passenger Side
Airbag Indicator
Lighting,
Instrument Panel
Dimming Power
(2WD/4WD switch
lighting) Fuses
Usage
RT HDLP Passenger Side
Headlamp
RVC Regulated Voltage
Control
S/ROOF Not Used
STOP Stop Lamps
STRTR Starter Solenoid
Relay
TBC Truck Body
Controller
TCM Transmission
Control Module
TCCM Transfer Case
Control Module Fuses
Usage
TRAILER
BRAKE Trailer Brake
TRANS Transmission
Solenoid
TRN/
HAZRD FRT Turn/Hazard/
Courtesy/Cargo
Lamps/Mirrors
TRN/
HAZRD
REAR Rear Turn/Hazard
Lights
VSES/STOP Vehicle Stability
Enhancement
System/Stop
WPR Wiper
WSW Wiper/Washer
Switch

Black plate (3,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2012
INDEX i-3
Climate Control Systems . . . . . . . 8-1Air Conditioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1
Heating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4
Cluster, Instrument . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7
Clutch, Hydraulic . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-16
Collision Damage Repair . . . . . 13-14
Compact Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . 10-83
Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
Convex Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12
Coolant Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-19
Engine Temperature Gauge . . . 5-9
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-18 Engine Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-23
Courtesy Transportation Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-13
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-46 Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-19
Cupholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1 Customer Assistance . . . . . . . . . . 13-6
Offices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-4, 13-5
Text Telephone (TTY)
Users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-6
Customer Information Service PublicationsOrdering Information . . . . . . 13-17
Customer Satisfaction Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-1, 13-3
D
Damage Repair, Collision . . . . . 13-14
Danger, Warnings, andCautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
Data Recorders, Event . . . . . . . 13-19
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Dome Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6 Door
Ajar Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-23
Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4
Power Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5
Rear Doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7
Drive Belt Routing, Engine . . . . . 12-4
Driver Information Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-19
Driving Characteristics andTowing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-53
Defensive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Drunk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
For Better Fuel Economy . . . . . 1-19
Highway Hypnosis . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-12
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . 9-12
If the Vehicle is Stuck . . . . . . . . . 9-15
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Off-Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 9-16
Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-11
Winter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-13

Black plate (7,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2012
INDEX i-7
M
MaintenanceRecords . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11-16
Maintenance Schedule Recommended Fluidsand Lubricants . . . . . . . . . . . . .11-12
Transfer Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-36
Malfunction Indicator Lamp . . . . 5-13
Manual Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12
Manual Transmission . . . . . . . . . . 9-34 Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-15
Manual Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-15
Messages Battery Voltage andCharging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-22
Brake System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-23
Door Ajar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-23
Engine Cooling System . . . . . . . 5-23
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-24
Engine Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-24 Messages (cont.)
Fuel System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-24
Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-25
Ride Control System . . . . . . . . . . 5-25
Service Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-25
Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-26
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-26
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-22
Mirrors
Automatic DimmingRearview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-14
Convex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12
Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12
Manual Rearview . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-13
Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-13
Monitor System, Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-54
N
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . 9-22
O
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8Trip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8
Off-Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6 Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6
Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Oil
Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-9
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . 10-12
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-24
Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-18
Older Children, Restraints . . . . . 3-34
Online Owner Center . . . . . . . . . . 13-6
OnStar
®System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-20
Operation, Infotainment System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-3
Ordering Service Publications . . . . . . . . 13-17
Outlets Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5
Overheating, Engine . . . . . . . . . . 10-22

Black plate (8,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2012
i-8 INDEX
P
ParkShifting into . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-27
Shifting out of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-28
Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-29 Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-41
Brake and P (Park)Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . 10-32
Over Things That Burn . . . . . . . 9-29
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-11
Passenger Sensing System . . . 3-26
Perchlorate Materials Requirements, California . . . . . 10-3
Phone Bluetooth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-21
Pickup Conversion to Chassis Cab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-63
Power Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5
Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-13
Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5
Protection, Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7
Retained Accessory (RAP) . . . 9-27 Power (cont.)
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Steering Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-24
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-16
Pregnancy, Using Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-17
Privacy Radio FrequencyIdentification (RFID) . . . . . . . 13-20
Program Courtesy Transportation . . . . 13-13
Proposition 65 Warning, California . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-3
R
Radio FrequencyIdentification (RFID) . . . . . . . . 13-20
Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-21
Radios AM-FM Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-7
Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-13
Satellite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-11
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-30 Limited-Slip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-45 Rear Doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7
Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8, 3-9
Rear Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Rear Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-17
Rearview Mirror
Automatic Dimming . . . . . . . . . . . 2-14
Rearview Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-13
Reclining Seatbacks . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4
Recommended
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-49
Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11-12
Records Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11-16
Recreational Vehicle Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-89
Reimbursement Program, GM Mobility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-7
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2, 2-3
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . 10-37
Replacement Parts
Airbags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-33
Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11-15