CHEVROLET COLORADO 2012 1.G Owners Manual

Black plate (37,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2012
Driving and Operating 9-37
Recommended Transfer Case Settings
Driving ConditionsTransfer Case Settings
2m4m4nN
Normal YES Severe YES
Extreme YES
Vehicle in Tow* YES
*See Recreational Vehicle Towing on page 10‑89 orTowing the Vehicle on
page 10‑89 for further information.
Shifting into Four‐Wheel Low
will turn Traction Control and
StabiliTrak
®off. See Traction
Control System (TCS) on page 9‑42
and StabiliTrak
®System on
page 9‑44 for more information. Use these buttons to shift into and
out of four-wheel drive. You can
choose from the following:
2m(Two-Wheel High):
This setting
is for driving in most street and
highway situations. The front axle is
not engaged in two-wheel drive.
{WARNING
Shifting the transfer case to
N (Neutral) can cause the vehicle
to roll even if the transmission is
in P (Park). You or someone else
could be seriously injured. Be
sure to set the parking brake
before placing the transfer case in
N (Neutral). See Parking Brake on
page 9‑41.
N (Neutral): Shift the vehicle's
transfer case to N (Neutral) only
when towing the vehicle.
4
m(Four-Wheel High): This setting
engages the front axle to help drive
the vehicle. Use four-wheel high
when you need extra traction, such
as on snowy or icy roads, or in most
off-road situations.

Black plate (38,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2012
9-38 Driving and Operating
4n(Four-Wheel Low):This setting
also engages the front axle to give
you extra traction. It sends the
maximum power to all four wheels.
You might choose four-wheel low if
you were driving off-road in sand,
mud, or deep snow and while
climbing or descending steep hills.
Shifting into Four‐Wheel Low
will turn Traction Control and
StabiliTrak
®off. See Traction
Control System (TCS) on page 9‑42
and StabiliTrak
®System on
page 9‑44 for more information.
Indicator lights in the buttons show
you which setting you are in. The
indicator lights will come on briefly
when you turn on the ignition and
one will stay on the selected setting.
If the lights do not come on, you
should take the vehicle in for
service. An indicator light will flash
while shifting. It will stay on when
the shift is completed.
If the transfer case does not shift, it
will return to the last chosen setting. Shifting from Two-Wheel High to
Four-Wheel High
Press and release the Four-Wheel
High button. This can be done at
any speed, and the front axle will
lock automatically.
Shifting from Four-Wheel High to
Two-Wheel High
Press and release the Two-Wheel
High button. This can be done at
any speed, and the front axle will
unlock automatically.
It is normal to hear and feel the
vehicle's transfer case shift into
Four-Wheel High. If you shift with
the vehicle stopped, the indicator
light may still flash slowly. It may be
necessary to shift the transmission
momentarily into R (Reverse)
and D (Drive), for an automatic
transmission, or R (Reverse) and
1 (First) for a manual transmission
to have the light stop flashing.
Shifting from Two-Wheel
High or Four-Wheel High to
Four-Wheel Low
To shift from Two-Wheel High or
Four-Wheel High to Four-Wheel
Low, the vehicle must be stopped or
moving less than 5 km/h (3 mph)
with the transmission in N (Neutral)
for an automatic transmission or the
clutch pedal pressed for a manual
transmission. The preferred method
for shifting into Four-Wheel Low
is to have your vehicle moving
1.6 to 3.2 km/h (1 to 2 mph).
Press and release the Four-Wheel
Low button. You must wait for the
Four-Wheel Low indicator light to
stop flashing and stay on before
shifting the transmission into gear or
releasing the clutch pedal.
If the Four-Wheel Low button is
pressed when the vehicle is in
gear and/or moving faster than
5 km/h (3 mph), the Four-Wheel
Low indicator light will flash for
30 seconds and not complete the
shift.

Black plate (39,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2012
Driving and Operating 9-39
Shifting from Four-Wheel
Low to Two-Wheel High or
Four-Wheel High
To shift from Four-Wheel Low to
Two-Wheel High or Four-Wheel
High, the vehicle must be stopped
or moving less than 5 km/h (3 mph)
with the transmission in N (Neutral)
for an automatic transmission or the
clutch pedal pressed for a manual
transmission. The preferred method
for shifting out of Four-Wheel Low
is to have your vehicle moving
1.6 to 3.2 km/h (1 to 2 mph).
Press and release the Four-Wheel
High or Two-Wheel High button. You
must wait for the Four-Wheel High
or Two-Wheel High indicator light to
stop flashing and stay on before
shifting the transmission into gear or
releasing the clutch pedal.
If the Four-Wheel High or
Two-Wheel High button is pressed
when the vehicle is in gear and/or
moving faster than 5 km/h (3 mph),
the Four-Wheel High or Two-WheelHigh indicator light will flash for
30 seconds but not complete the
shift.
Shifting to Neutral
Use N (Neutral) when you plan to
tow the vehicle. See
Recreational
Vehicle Towing on page 10‑89 for
towing instructions. To shift the
transfer case into N (Neutral) do
the following:
1. Set the parking brake.
2. Start the vehicle.
3. Press the regular brake pedal and shift the transmission in
N (Neutral), or press in the
clutch for vehicles with a manual
transmission.
4. Shift the transfer case to Two-Wheel High.
5. Press and hold the Two-Wheel High and Four-Wheel Low
buttons at the same time for
10 seconds. The N (Neutral) light will come on when the transfer
case shift to N (Neutral) is
complete.
6. Press and hold the regular brake pedal and shift the transmission
to R (Reverse) for one second,
then shift the transmission
to D (Drive) for one second,
or 1 (First) for vehicles with
manual transmissions, and let
out the clutch to insure the
transfer case is in N (Neutral).
If the transfer case is not
in N (Neutral), repeat this
procedure starting at Step 3.
7. Turn the engine off by turning the key to ACC/ACCESSORY.
8. Place the transmission shift lever in P (Park), or 1 (First) for
vehicles that have a manual
transmission.
9. Turn the ignition to LOCK/OFF.

Black plate (40,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2012
9-40 Driving and Operating
Shifting Out of Neutral
After towing the vehicle, you will
have to shift out of N (Neutral) in
order to drive. To shift out of
N (Neutral), do the following:
1. Set the parking brake and applythe regular brake pedal.
2. Start a vehicle with an automatic transmission in P (Park). Use
1 (First) for vehicles with a
manual transmission.
3. Shift the transmission to N (Neutral), or press the clutch
pedal for vehicles with a manual
transmission.
4. Press the button for the desired transfer case shift position
(Two-Wheel High, Four-Wheel
High, or Four-Wheel Low).
5. After the transfer case has shifted out of N (Neutral), the
indicator light will go out.
6. Release the parking brake.
7. Shift the transmission to the desired position.Brakes
Antilock Brake
System (ABS)
This vehicle has the Antilock Brake
System (ABS), an advanced
electronic braking system that helps
prevent a braking skid.
When the engine is started and the
vehicle begins to drive away, ABS
checks itself. A momentary motor or
clicking noise might be heard while
this test is going on, and it might
even be noticed that the brake
pedal moves a little. This is normal.
If there is a problem with ABS, this
warning light stays on. See Antilock
Brake System (ABS) Warning Light
on page 5‑16. If driving safely on a wet road and
it becomes necessary to slam on
the brakes and continue braking
to avoid a sudden obstacle, a
computer senses that the wheels
are slowing down. If one of the
wheels is about to stop rolling, the
computer will separately work the
brakes at each wheel.
ABS can change the brake pressure
to each wheel, as required, faster
than any driver could. This can help
the driver steer around the obstacle
while braking hard.
As the brakes are applied, the
computer keeps receiving updates
on wheel speed and controls
braking pressure accordingly.
Remember: ABS does not change
the time needed to get a foot up to
the brake pedal or always decrease
stopping distance. If you get too
close to the vehicle in front of you,
there will not be enough time to
apply the brakes if that vehicle

Black plate (41,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2012
Driving and Operating 9-41
suddenly slows or stops. Always
leave enough room up ahead to
stop, even with ABS.
Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold
the brake pedal down firmly and let
ABS work. You might hear the ABS
pump or motor operating and feel
the brake pedal pulsate, but this is
normal.
Braking in Emergencies
ABS allows the driver to steer and
brake at the same time. In many
emergencies, steering can help
more than even the very best
braking.
Parking Brake
The parking brake pedal is located
to the left of the brake pedal, near
the driver door.
To set the parking brake, hold the
brake pedal down, then push the
parking brake pedal down to its
fully-applied position.
A chime will activate and the
brake warning light, located on the
instrument panel, will flash when
the parking brake is applied and the
vehicle is moving at least 5 km/h
(3 mph) for at least three seconds.The chime will deactivate and the
light will turn off when the parking
brake is set and the vehicle is
moving below 5 km/h (3 mph). See
Brake System Warning Light on
page 5‑15.
To release the parking brake, hold
the regular brake pedal down.
Pull the bottom edge of the lever,
located above the parking brake
pedal, with the parking brake
symbol, directly rearward to release
the parking brake.

Black plate (42,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2012
9-42 Driving and Operating
If the ignition is on when the parking
brake is released, the brake system
warning light will go off.
Notice:Driving with the parking
brake on can overheat the brake
system and cause premature
wear or damage to brake system
parts. Make sure that the parking
brake is fully released and the
brake warning light is off before
driving.
If you are towing a trailer and are
parking on any hill, see Driving
Characteristics and Towing Tips on
page 9‑53.
Brake Assist
This vehicle has a brake assist
feature designed to assist the
driver in stopping or decreasing
vehicle speed in emergency driving
conditions. This feature uses the
stability system hydraulic brake control module to supplement
the power brake system under
conditions where the driver has
quickly and forcefully applied the
brake pedal in an attempt to quickly
stop or slow down the vehicle. The
stability system hydraulic brake
control module increases brake
pressure at each corner of the
vehicle until the ABS activates.
Minor brake pedal pulsation or
pedal movement during this time
is normal and the driver should
continue to apply the brake pedal
as the driving situation dictates.
The brake assist feature will
automatically disengage when
the brake pedal is released or
brake pedal pressure is quickly
decreased.
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control
System (TCS)
The Traction Control System (TCS)
is part of StabiliTrak. TCS limits
wheel slip which is especially useful
in slippery road conditions. The
system operates only if it senses
that any of the wheels are spinning
or beginning to lose traction. When
this happens, TCS applies the
brakes to limit wheel spin and also
reduces engine power. The system
may be heard or felt while it is
working. This is normal and does
not mean there is a problem with
the vehicle.

Black plate (43,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2012
Driving and Operating 9-43
Notice:If the wheel(s) of one axle
is allowed to spin excessively
while the StabiliTrak
®, ABS, brake
warning lights, and any relevant
DIC messages are displayed, the
transfer case could be damaged.
The repairs would not be covered
by the vehicle warranty. Reduce
engine power and do not spin
the wheel(s) excessively while
these lights and messages are
displayed.
TCS can operate on dry roads
under some conditions. When
this happens, the system may be
heard working or a reduction in
acceleration may be noticed. This
is normal and does not mean there
is a problem with the vehicle.
Examples of these conditions
include hard acceleration in a turn,
an abrupt upshift or downshift of the
transmission or driving on rough
roads. If cruise control is being used when
TCS begins to limit wheel spin,
the cruise control automatically
disengages. The cruise control
can be re-engaged when road
conditions allow. See
Cruise Control
on page 9‑46.
The message TRACTION FAULT
appears in the Driver Information
Center (DIC) when a TCS or
Antilock Brake System (ABS)
problem has been detected and the
vehicle needs service. When this
message is on, the system will not
limit wheel spin. Adjust your driving
accordingly. See Ride Control
System Messages on page 5‑25.
The TCS/StabiliTrak light will flash
on the instrument panel cluster
when the TCS system or StabiliTrak
is both on and activated.
The TCS/StabiliTrak button is
located on the instrument panel.
To turn off TCS, press and release
the TCS/StabiliTrak button. The
StabiliTrak OFF light comes on in
the instrument panel cluster, and
TRAC OFF comes on the DIC.
To turn TCS back on, press and
release the TCS/StabiliTrak button.

Black plate (44,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2012
9-44 Driving and Operating
Adding non-dealer/non-retailer
accessories can affect the vehicle's
performance. SeeAccessories and
Modifications on page 10‑3.
StabiliTrak®System
The vehicle has an electronic
stability control system called
StabiliTrak. It is an advanced
computer controlled system that
assists the driver with directional
control of the vehicle in difficult
driving conditions.
StabiliTrak activates when the
computer senses a discrepancy
between the intended path and the
direction the vehicle is actually
traveling. StabiliTrak selectively
applies braking pressure at any one
of the vehicle's brakes to assist the
driver with keeping the vehicle on
the intended path.
When the vehicle is started and
begins to move, the system
performs several diagnostic checks
to insure there are no problems. The system may be heard or felt
while it is working. This is normal
and does not mean there is a
problem with the vehicle. The
system should initialize before the
vehicle reaches 32 km/h (20 mph).
In some cases, it may take
approximately two miles of driving
before the system initializes.
If cruise control is being used
when StabiliTrak activates, the
cruise control automatically
disengages. The cruise control
can be re-engaged when road
conditions allow. See
Cruise Control
on page 9‑46.
If there is a problem detected with
StabiliTrak, a SERVICE STAB SYS
message displays on the Driver
Information Center (DIC). See Ride
Control System Messages on
page 5‑25 for more information.
When this message is displayed,
the system is not working. Adjust
your driving accordingly. StabiliTrak and Traction Control
(TCS) come on automatically
whenever the vehicle is started
and the systems are reset with
each ignition cycle. However,
when the transfer case is placed
in Four-Wheel-Low mode,
StabiliTrak is automatically
disabled. See
Four-Wheel Drive on
page 10‑29 for more information.
It is recommended to leave the
system on for normal driving
conditions, but it may be necessary
to turn the TCS portion of the
system off if the vehicle is stuck in
sand, mud, ice, or snow, and it is
necessary to “rock”the vehicle to
attempt to free it. If traction control
is turned off, only the brake-traction
control portion of traction control
will work. The engine speed
management will be disabled.
In this mode, engine power is not
reduced automatically and the
drive wheels can spin more freely.

Black plate (45,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2012
Driving and Operating 9-45
This can cause the brake-traction
control to activate constantly. SeeIf
the Vehicle Is Stuck on page 9‑15.
The TCS/StabiliTrak light will flash
on the instrument panel cluster
when the TCS system or StabiliTrak
is both on and activated.
The TCS/StabiliTrak button is
located on the instrument panel.
To turn off TCS and StabiliTrak,
press and hold the TCS/StabiliTrak
button until the TRAC OFF and
STAB SYS OFF messages come on
the DIC and the StabiliTrak/TCS
OFF light comes on the instrument
panel. To turn TCS and StabiliTrak
back on, press and release the
TCS/StabiliTrak button.
When the TCS or StabiliTrak system
is turned off, the StabiliTrak OFF
light and the appropriate TRAC OFF
or STAB SYS OFF message will be
displayed on the DIC. The vehicle will still have brake-traction control
when TCS or StabiliTrak is off, but
will not be able to use the engine
speed management system. The
TCS/StabiliTrak light flashes when
either system is actively working.
See
Traction Control System (TCS)
on page 9‑42 for more information.
Limited-Slip Rear Axle
Vehicles with a limited-slip rear axle
can give more traction on snow,
mud, ice, sand or gravel. It works
like a standard axle most of the
time, but when traction is low, this
feature allows the drive wheel with
the most traction to move the
vehicle.

Black plate (46,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2012
9-46 Driving and Operating
Cruise Control
With cruise control, a speed of
about 40 km/h (25 mph) or more can
be maintained without keeping your
foot on the accelerator. Cruise
control does not work at speeds
below about 40 km/h (25 mph).
If the brakes are applied, the cruise
control shuts off.
{WARNING
Cruise control can be dangerous
where you cannot drive safely at
a steady speed. So, do not use
the cruise control on winding
roads or in heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous
on slippery roads. On such roads,
fast changes in tire traction can
cause excessive wheel slip, and
you could lose control. Do not use
cruise control on slippery roads.If the vehicle's StabiliTrak
®/Traction
Control System (TCS) begins to
limit wheel spin while the cruise
control is on, the cruise control
automatically disengages. See
StabiliTrak
®System on page 9‑44 or
Traction Control System (TCS) on
page 9‑42. When road conditions
allow you to safely use it again,
the cruise control can be turned
back on.
These controls are located at the
end of the multifunction lever.
9(Off): Turns the system off.
R(On):Turns the system on. + (Resume/Accelerate):
Use to
make the vehicle accelerate or
resume a previously set speed.
r T(Set): Press the button
at the end of the lever to set the
speed.
Setting Cruise Control
If the cruise button is on when not in
use, it could get bumped and go into
cruise when not desired. Keep the
cruise control switch off when cruise
is not being used.
1. Move the cruise control
lever to
R.
2. Get up to the speed desired.
3. Press
r Tat the end of the
lever and release it.
4. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.