ABS CHEVROLET COLORADO 2021 User Guide

Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14430421) - 2021 - CRC - 2/10/20
222 Driving and Operating
The vehicle can tow in D (Drive). Shift the
transmission to a lower gear if the
transmission shifts too often under heavy
loads and/or hilly conditions.
When towing at higher altitudes, engine
coolant will boil at a lower temperature
than at lower altitudes. If the engine is
turned off immediately after towing at high
altitude on steep uphill grades, the vehicle
could show signs similar to engine
overheating. To avoid this, let the engine
run, preferably on level ground, with the
transmission in P (Park) for a few minutes
before turning the engine off. If the
overheat warning comes on, seeEngine
Overheating 0250.
Parking on Hills
{Warning
To prevent serious injury or death,
always park your vehicle and trailer on a
level surface when possible. When parking your vehicle and your trailer
on a hill:
1. Press the brake pedal, but do not shift into P (Park) yet. Turn the wheels into
the curb if facing downhill or into traffic
if facing uphill.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, gradually release the brake pedal to
allow the chocks to absorb the load of
the trailer.
4. Reapply the brake pedal. Then apply the parking brake and shift into P (Park).
5. Release the brake pedal.
Leaving After Parking on a Hill
1. Apply and hold the brake pedal.
.Start the engine.
.Shift into a gear.
.Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Launching and Retrieving a Boat
Backing the Trailer into the Water
{Warning
.Have all passengers get out of the
vehicle before backing onto the sloped
part of the ramp. Lower the driver and
passenger side windows before
backing onto the ramp. This will
provide a means of escape in the
unlikely event the vehicle slides into
the water.
.If the boat launch surface is slippery,
have the driver remain in the vehicle
with the brake pedal applied while the
boat is being launched. The boat
launch can be especially slippery at
low tide when part of the ramp was
previously submerged at high tide. Do
not back onto the ramp to launch the
boat if you are not sure the vehicle
can maintain traction.
.Do not move the vehicle if someone is
in the path of the trailer. Some parts
of the trailer might be underwater and
not visible to people who are assisting
in launching the boat.

Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14430421) - 2021 - CRC - 2/10/20
Driving and Operating 223
Disconnect the wiring to the trailer before
backing the trailer into the water to prevent
damage to the electrical circuits on the
trailer. Reconnect the wiring to the trailer
after removing the trailer from the water.
If the trailer has electric brakes that can
function when the trailer is submerged, it
might help to leave the electrical trailer
connector attached to maintain trailer brake
functionality while on the boat ramp.
To back the trailer into the water:1. If equipped, place the vehicle in four-wheel-drive high.
2. Slowly back down the boat ramp until the boat is floating, but no further than
necessary.
3. Press and hold the brake pedal, but do not shift into P (Park) yet.
4. Have someone place chocks under the front wheels of the vehicle.
5. Gradually release the brake pedal to allow the chocks to absorb the load of
the trailer. 6. Reapply the brake pedal. Then apply the
parking brake and shift into P (Park).
7. Release the brake pedal.
Pulling the Trailer from the Water
To pull the trailer of the water: 1. Press and hold the brake pedals.
2. Start the engine and shift into gear.
3. Release the parking brake.
4. Let up on the brake pedal.
5. Drive slowly until the tires are clear of the chocks.
6. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
7. Slowly pull the trailer from the water.
8. Once the vehicle and trailer have been driven from the sloped part of the boat
ramp, the vehicle can be shifted from
four-wheel-drive high. Shift into the drive
mode that is appropriate for the road
conditions.Caution
If the vehicle tires begin to spin and the
vehicle begins to slide toward the water,
remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal and apply the brake pedal. Seek
help to have the vehicle towed up
the ramp.
Maintenance when Trailer Towing
The vehicle needs service more often when
used to tow trailers. See Maintenance
Schedule 0312. It is especially important to
check the automatic transmission fluid,
engine oil, axle lubricant, belts, cooling
system, and brake system before and during
each trip.
Check periodically to see that all nuts and
bolts on the trailer hitch are tight.
Engine Cooling When Trailer Towing
The cooling system may temporarily
overheat during severe operating conditions.
See Engine Overheating 0250.

Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14430421) - 2021 - CRC - 2/10/20
Vehicle Care 253
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer if the brake pedal does not
return to normal height, or if there is a
rapid increase in pedal travel. This could be
a sign that brake service may be required.
Replacing Brake System Parts
Always replace brake system parts with
new, approved replacement parts. If this is
not done, the brakes may not work
properly. The braking performance expected
can change in many other ways if the
wrong replacement brake parts are installed
or parts are improperly installed.
Brake Fluid
The brake master cylinder reservoir is filled
with GM approved DOT 3 brake fluid as
indicated on the reservoir cap. SeeEngine
Compartment Overview 0240 for the
location of the reservoir. Checking Brake Fluid
With the vehicle in P (Park) on a level
surface, the brake fluid level should be
between the minimum and maximum marks
on the brake fluid reservoir.
There are only two reasons why the brake
fluid level in the reservoir may go down:
.Normal brake lining wear. When new
linings are installed, the fluid level goes
back up.
.A fluid leak in the brake hydraulic system.
Have the brake hydraulic system fixed.
With a leak, the brakes will not
work well.
Always clean the brake fluid reservoir cap
and the area around the cap before
removing it.
Do not top off the brake fluid. Adding fluid
does not correct a leak. If fluid is added
when the linings are worn, there will be too
much fluid when new brake linings are
installed. Add or remove fluid, as necessary,
only when work is done on the brake
hydraulic system.
{Warning
If too much brake fluid 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 fluid only when
work is done on the brake hydraulic
system.
When the brake fluid falls to a low level,
the brake warning light comes on. See Brake
System Warning Light 087.
Brake fluid absorbs water over time which
degrades the effectiveness of the brake fluid.
Replace brake fluid at the specified intervals
to prevent increased stopping distance. See
Maintenance Schedule 0312.
What to Add
Use only GM approved DOT 3 brake fluid
from a clean, sealed container. See
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants 0321.

Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14430421) - 2021 - CRC - 2/10/20
Vehicle Care 289
Front Position—ZR2 Models
4. For ZR2 Models, position the jack under the control arm, as shown.
Front Position —All Except ZR2 Models For all other Models, position the jack
under the vehicle, as shown.
If the flat tire is on the front of the
vehicle, position the jack on the
depression in the vehicle's frame, behind
the flat tire.
Rear Position
5. If the flat tire is on the rear, position the jack under the rear axle about 5 cm
(2 in) inboard of the shock absorber
bracket.
Make sure that the jack head is
positioned so that the rear axle is resting
securely between the grooves that are
on the jack head.
{Warning
Getting under a vehicle when it is lifted
on a jack is dangerous. If the vehicle slips
off the jack, you could be badly injured
or killed. Never get under a vehicle when
it is supported only by a jack.
{Warning
Raising the vehicle with the jack
improperly positioned can damage the
vehicle and even make the vehicle fall. To
help avoid personal injury and vehicle
damage, be sure to fit the jack lift head
into the proper location before raising
the vehicle.
{Warning
The jack has a feature to limit its travel
to prevent overextension. When the
height limit is reached, an increase in
resistance if felt when attempting to
raise the jack farther. Raising the jack
past the height limit can damage the jack
pin and cause the jack to lock into an
(Continued)

Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14430421) - 2021 - CRC - 2/10/20
Vehicle Care 291
Warning (Continued)
a loose-running wheel, it could be that all
of the studs are damaged. To be sure,
replace all studs on the wheel. If the stud
holes in a wheel have become larger, the
wheel could collapse in operation. Replace
any wheel if its stud holes have become
larger or distorted in any way. Inspect
hubs and hub‐piloted wheels for damage.
Because of loose running wheels, piloting
pad damage may occur and require
replacement of the entire hub, for proper
centering of the wheels. When replacing
studs, hubs, wheel nuts or wheels, be
sure to use GM original equipment parts.
{Warning
Wheel nuts that are improperly or
incorrectly tightened can cause the
wheels to become loose or come off. The
wheel nuts should be tightened with a
torque wrench to the proper torque
specification after replacing. Follow the
torque specification supplied by the
aftermarket manufacturer when using(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
accessory locking wheel nuts. See
Capacities and Specifications0325 for
original equipment wheel nut torque
specifications.
Caution
Improperly tightened wheel nuts can lead
to brake pulsation and rotor damage. To
avoid expensive brake repairs, evenly
tighten the wheel nuts in the proper
sequence and to the proper torque
specification. See Capacities and
Specifications 0325 for the wheel nut
torque specification.
13. Tighten the nuts firmly in a crisscross sequence, as shown, by turning the
wheel wrench clockwise.
When reinstalling the regular wheel and tire,
also reinstall the center cap. Place the cap
on the wheel and push it into place until it
seats. The cap may only go on one way. Be
sure to line up any tabs on the center cap
with corresponding indentations on the
wheel.

Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14430421) - 2021 - CRC - 2/10/20
Vehicle Care 295
Stop as soon as possible and check that the
spare tire is correctly inflated after being
installed on the vehicle. The compact spare
tire is designed for temporary use only. The
vehicle will perform differently with the
spare tire installed and it is recommended
that the vehicle speed be limited to 80 km/h
(50 mph). To conserve the tread of the spare
tire, have the standard tire repaired or
replaced as soon as convenient and return
the spare tire to the storage area.
When using a compact spare tire, the AWD
(if equipped), ABS, and Traction Control
systems may engage until the spare tire is
recognized by the vehicle, especially on
slippery roads. Adjust driving to reduce
possible wheel slip.
Caution
When the compact spare is installed, do
not take the vehicle through an
automatic car wash with guide rails. The
compact spare can get caught on the rails
which can damage the tire, wheel, and
other parts of the vehicle.
Do not use the compact spare on other
vehicles. Do not mix the compact spare tire or wheel
with other wheels or tires. They will not fit.
Keep the spare tire and its wheel together.
Caution
Tire chains will not fit the compact spare.
Using them can damage the vehicle and
the chains. Do not use tire chains on the
compact spare.
Full-Size Spare Tire
If this vehicle came with a full-size spare
tire, it was fully inflated when new,
however, it can lose air over time.
Check the inflation pressure regularly. See
Tire Pressure
0274 and
Vehicle Load Limits 0179 for information
regarding proper tire inflation and loading
the vehicle. For instructions on how to
remove, install, or store a spare tire, see Tire
Changing 0285.
If equipped with a temporary use full-size
spare tire, it is indicated on the tire sidewall.
See Tire Sidewall Labeling 0269. This spare
tire should not be driven on over 112 km/h
(70 mph), or 88 km/h (55 mph) when
pulling a trailer, at the proper inflation pressure. Repair and replace the road tire as
soon as it is convenient, and stow the spare
tire for future use.
Caution
If the vehicle has four-wheel drive and a
different size spare tire is installed, do
not drive in four-wheel drive until the flat
tire is repaired and/or replaced. The
vehicle could be damaged and the repairs
would not be covered by the warranty.
Never use four-wheel drive when a
different size spare tire is installed on the
vehicle.
The vehicle may have a different size spare
tire than the road tires originally installed
on the vehicle. This spare tire was developed
for use on this vehicle, so it is all right to
drive on it. If the vehicle has four-wheel
drive and a different size spare tire is
installed, drive only in two-wheel drive.
After installing the spare tire on the vehicle,
stop as soon as possible and check that the
spare is correctly inflated. The spare tire is
made to perform well at speeds up to
112 km/h (70 MPH) at the recommended
inflation pressure, so you can finish
your trip.

Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14430421) - 2021 - CRC - 2/10/20
Vehicle Care 303
Appearance Care
Exterior Care
Locks
Locks are lubricated at the factory. Use a
de-icing agent only when absolutely
necessary, and have the locks greased after
using. SeeRecommended Fluids and
Lubricants 0321.
Washing the Vehicle
To preserve the vehicle's finish, wash it
often and out of direct sunlight.
Caution
Do not use petroleum-based, acidic,
or abrasive cleaning agents as they can
damage the vehicle's paint, metal,
or plastic parts. If damage occurs, it
would not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Approved cleaning products can
be obtained from your dealer. Follow all
manufacturer directions regarding correct
product usage, necessary safety
precautions, and appropriate disposal of
any vehicle care product.
Caution
Avoid using high-pressure washes closer
than 30 cm (12 in) to the surface of the
vehicle. Use of power washers exceeding
8 274 kPa (1,200 psi) can result in
damage or removal of paint and decals.
If using an automatic car wash, follow with
the car wash instructions. The windshield
wiper and rear window wiper, if equipped,
must be off. Remove any accessories that
may be damaged or interfere with the car
wash equipment.
Rinse the vehicle well, before washing and
after, to remove all cleaning agents
completely. If they are allowed to dry on
the surface, they could stain.
Dry the finish with a soft, clean chamois or
an all-cotton towel to avoid surface
scratches and water spotting.
Cleaning Underhood Components
Caution
Do not power wash any component
under the hood that has this
e
symbol.(Continued)
Caution (Continued)
This could cause damage that would not
be covered by the vehicle warranty.
Solvents or aggressive cleaners may harm
underhood components. The usages of these
chemicals should be avoided.
Recommend water only.
A pressure washer may be used, but care
must be utilized. The following criteria must
be followed:
.Water pressure must be kept below
14,000 KPa (2,000 PSI).
.Water temperature must be below 80 °C
(180 °F).
.Spray nozzle with a 40 degree wide angle
spray pattern or wider must be used.
.Nozzle must be kept at least 30 cm (1 ft)
away from all surfaces.
Finish Care
Application of aftermarket clearcoat sealant/
wax materials is not recommended.
If painted surfaces are damaged, see your
dealer to have the damage assessed and
repaired. Foreign materials such as calcium
chloride and other salts, ice melting agents,
road oil and tar, tree sap, bird droppings,

Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14430421) - 2021 - CRC - 2/10/20
Index 347
IndexA
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Accessory Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Active Fuel Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Additional InformationOnStar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 340
Additional Maintenance and Care . . . . . . . . .318
Adjustments Lumbar, Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Agreements Trademarks and License . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Air Cleaner/Filter, Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Air Conditioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163, 165
Air Filter, Passenger Compartment . . . . . . . 168
Air Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Airbag System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
How Does an Airbag Restrain? . . . . . . . . . . 38
Passenger Sensing System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
What Makes an Airbag Inflate? . . . . . . . . . 37
What Will You See after an AirbagInflates? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
When Should an Airbag Inflate? . . . . . . . . 37
Where Are the Airbags? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Airbags Adding Equipment to the Vehicle . . . . . . . 43
Passenger Status Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85 Airbags (cont'd)
Readiness Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Servicing Airbag-Equipped Vehicles . . . . . . 42
System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Alarm Vehicle Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
All-Terrain Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
AM-FM Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
Antenna
Multi-band . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Appearance Care Exterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303
Interior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto . . . . . . . . . 144
Assistance Program, Roadside . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331
Assistance Systems for Parking and Backing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Audio
Bluetooth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Automatic Climate Control System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Emergency Braking (AEB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Headlamp System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191

Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14430421) - 2021 - CRC - 2/10/20
352 Index
Lamps (cont'd)Exterior Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Exterior Lamps Off Reminder . . . . . . . . . . 102
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver . . . . . . . . 107
Malfunction Indicator (Check
Engine) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
On Reminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Taillamps, Stoplamps, and Back-up . . . . . 259
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . 216
Lane Departure Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Lap-Shoulder Belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
LATCH System Replacing Parts after a Crash . . . . . . . . . . . 63
LATCH, Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Lighting Entry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Exit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Illumination Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Lights
Airbag Readiness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Antilock Brake System (ABS)Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Brake System Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Charging System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Check Engine (Malfunction Indicator) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 Lights (cont'd)
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Door Ajar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Engine Oil Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Four-Wheel-Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Front Fog Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
High-Beam On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
High/Low Beam Changer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Hill Descent Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Lane Departure Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Low Fuel Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Seat Belt Reminders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
StabiliTrak OFF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Traction Control System
(TCS)/StabiliTrak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Traction Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Limited-Slip Differential . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Locking Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Locking Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Locks
Automatic Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Delayed Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Lockout Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Locks (cont'd)
Power Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91
Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH System) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Lumbar Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
M
MaintenanceRecords . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324
Maintenance and Care Additional . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 318
Maintenance Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312 Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 321
Transfer Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Malfunction Indicator Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Manual Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Map Data Updates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .134
Maps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Media Avoiding Untrusted Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Messages Engine Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98