four wheel drive CHEVROLET COLORADO Z71 2016 Owners Manual

Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S/Canada/Mexico-
9159327) - 2016 - crc - 8/28/15
In Brief 5
In Brief
Instrument Panel
Instrument Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Initial Drive Information
Initial Drive Information . . . . . . . . . . 8
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Remote Vehicle Start . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Door Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Seat Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Heated Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Head Restraint Adjustment . . . . 11
Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Passenger Sensing System . . . 12
Mirror Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Steering Wheel Adjustment . . . . 13
Interior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Exterior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . . . 15
Climate Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Vehicle Features
Infotainment System . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Radio(s) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Satellite Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Portable Audio Devices . . . . . . . . 20
Bluetooth
®. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . . . 20
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Driver Information Center (DIC) (Base Level) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Driver Information Center (DIC) (Uplevel) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . . 22
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Performance and Maintenance
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Tire Pressure Monitor . . . . . . . . . . 23
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . . 23
Driving for Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Roadside Assistance Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S/Canada/Mexico-
9159327) - 2016 - crc - 8/28/15
In Brief 7
1.Air Vents 0191ii.
2. Turn Signal Lever. See Turn
and Lane-Change Signals
0 146
ii.
Driver Information Center (DIC)
Controls. See Driver
Information Center (DIC) (Base
Level) 0123
iior Driver
Information Center (DIC)
(Uplevel) 0126
ii.
3. Instrument Cluster (Base
Level) 0107
iior Instrument
Cluster (Uplevel) 0109ii.
4. Windshield Wiper/Washer
0103
ii.
5. Light Sensor. See Automatic
Headlamp System 0145
ii.
Vehicle Alarm System Indicator
(If Equipped). See Vehicle
Alarm System 034
ii.
6. Infotainment 0150
ii.
7. Climate Control Systems 0187
ii(If Equipped).
Automatic Climate Control
System 0189
ii(If Equipped). 8.
Heated Front Seats 047
ii(If
Equipped).
9. Power Outlets 0105
ii(If
Equipped).
10. Shift Lever. See Automatic
Transmission 0220
iior Manual
Transmission 0225ii.
11. Auxiliary Jack 0164
ii.
USB Port 0161
ii.
12. Hazard Warning Flashers
0146
ii.
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0235
ii.
Cargo Lamp 0147
ii.
Lane Departure Warning
(LDW) 0244
ii(If Equipped).
Hill Descent Control (HDC)
0 237
ii(If Equipped).
Tow/Haul Selector Button (If
Equipped). See Tow/Haul
Mode 0224
ii.
13. Steering Wheel Controls 0103
ii(If Equipped).
14. Horn 0103
ii. 15.
Steering Wheel Adjustment
0102
ii(Out of View).
16. Cruise Control 0238
ii.
Forward Collision Alert (FCA)
System 0242
ii(If Equipped).
17. Transfer Case Knob (If Equipped). See Four-Wheel
Drive 0226
ii.
18. Hood Release. See Hood
0 261
ii.
19. Parking Brake 0233
ii.
20. Data Link Connector (DLC) (Out of View). See Malfunction
Indicator Lamp (Check Engine
Light) 0115
ii.
21. Exterior Lamp Controls 0143
ii.
Fog Lamps 0146
ii(If
Equipped).
22. Instrument Panel Illumination
Control 0147
ii.

Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S/Canada/Mexico-
9159327) - 2016 - crc - 8/28/15
18 In Brief
To enable:1. Move the shift lever to the M (Manual Mode) position. The
current range will display next
to the M. This is the highest
attainable range with all lower
gears accessible. For example,
when 5 (Fifth) gear is selected,
1 (First) through 5 (Fifth) gears
are available.
2. Press the plus/minus button on the shift lever to select the
desired range of gears for
current driving conditions. See
Manual Mode 0223
ii.
Four-Wheel Drive
If the vehicle has four-wheel drive,
the engine's driving power can be
sent to all four wheels for extra
traction.
Electronic Transfer Case
Automatic Transfer Case
The transfer case knob is to the left
of the steering column. Use it to
shift into and out of the different
four-wheel drive modes.
The different drive options that may
be available are described following.
2
m(Two-Wheel Drive High) : This
setting is used for driving in most
street and highway situations.
AUTO (Automatic Four-Wheel
Drive) : This setting is ideal for use
when road surface traction
conditions are variable.
4
m(Four-Wheel Drive High) : Use
this setting when extra traction is
needed, such as on snowy or icy
roads or in most off-road situations.
N (Neutral) : Shift to this setting
only when towing the vehicle. See
Recreational Vehicle Towing 0330
iior Trailer Towing 0251ii.
4
n(Four-Wheel Drive Low) :
Choose 4
nwhen driving in deep
sand, mud, or snow, and while
climbing or descending steep hills.
See Four-Wheel Drive 0226
ii.

Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S/Canada/Mexico-
9159327) - 2016 - crc - 8/28/15
Instruments and Controls 135
Tire Messages
SERVICE TIRE MONITOR
SYSTEM
If equipped with the Tire Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS), this
message displays if a part on the
system is not working properly. The
tire pressure light also flashes and
then remains on during the same
ignition cycle. SeeTire Pressure
Light 0120
ii. Several conditions may
cause this message to appear. See
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation
0 304
ii. If the warning comes on and
stays on, there may be a problem
with the TPMS. See your dealer.
TIRE LEARNING ACTIVE
If equipped with the Tire Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS), this
message displays when the system
is relearning the tire positions on
your vehicle. The tire positions must
be relearned after rotating the tires
or after replacing a tire or sensor.
See Tire Inspection 0307
ii,Tire
Rotation 0308ii,Tire Pressure
Monitor System 0303ii, and Tire
Pressure 0302ii.
TIRE PRESSURE LOW ADD
AIR TO TIRE
If equipped with the Tire Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS), this
message displays when the
pressure in one or more of the
vehicle's tires is low. This message
also displays with a vehicle picture
to indicate the location of the low
tire. The low tire pressure warning
light will also come on. See Tire
Pressure Light 0120
ii. You can
receive more than one tire pressure
message at a time. If a tire pressure
message appears on the DIC, stop
as soon as you can. Have the tire
pressures checked and set to those
shown on the Tire and Loading
Information label. See Tires0295
ii,
Vehicle Load Limits 0205ii, and Tire
Pressure 0302ii. The DIC also
shows the tire pressure values. See
Driver Information Center (DIC)
(Base Level) 0123
iior Driver
Information Center (DIC) (Uplevel)
0 126
ii.
Transmission Messages
4WD OFF
If equipped with four-wheel drive,
this message displays when the
four-wheel-drive system is
temporarily disabled due to an
overheated condition. The vehicle
will run in two-wheel drive when this
message is present. Once the
four-wheel-drive system cools down,
the message turns off and the
four-wheel-drive system returns to
normal operation.
4WD SHIFT IN PROGRESS
This message will display while the
four-wheel-drive system is shifting.
FOR 4WD LOW SLOW TO XXX
If a four-wheel drive shift into
Four-Wheel Drive Low is requested,
but the vehicle speed is too high,
this message will display until the
correct vehicle speed is reached.

Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S/Canada/Mexico-
9159327) - 2016 - crc - 8/28/15
136 Instruments and Controls
FOR 4WD LOW SHIFT TO
NEUTRAL
If a four-wheel drive shift into
Four-Wheel Drive Low is requested,
and the vehicle speed is correct, but
the transmission is not in
N (Neutral), this message will
display until the transmission is
shifted to N (Neutral).
SERVICE 4WD
If the vehicle has four-wheel drive,
this message may display if a
problem occurs with the
four-wheel-drive system. If this
message appears, stop as soon as
possible and turn off the vehicle.
Make sure the key is in the LOCK/
OFF position for at least
one minute, then restart the vehicle
and check for the message on the
DIC display. If the message is still
displayed or appears again when
you begin driving, the
four-wheel-drive system needs
service. See your dealer.
TO EXIT 4WD LOW SLOW
TO XXX
If a four-wheel drive shift out of
Four-Wheel Drive Low is requested,
but the vehicle speed is too high,
this message will display until the
correct vehicle speed is reached.
TO EXIT 4WD LOW SHIFT TO
NEUTRAL
If a four-wheel drive shift out of
Four-Wheel Drive Low is requested,
and the vehicle speed is correct, but
the transmission is not in
N (Neutral), this message will
display until the transmission is
shifted to N (Neutral).
TRANSMISSION HOT IDLE
ENGINE
This message displays and a chime
may sound if the transmission fluid
in the vehicle gets hot. Driving with
the transmission fluid temperature
high can cause damage to the
vehicle. Stop the vehicle and let it
idle to allow the transmission to
cool. This message clears and the
chime stops when the fluid
temperature reaches a safe level.When towing, use Tow/Haul Mode
to prevent damage to the engine or
transmission. See
Tow/Haul Mode
0 224
ii.
VEHICLE IN 4WD LOW
This message will display if the
vehicle is driven in Four-Wheel
Drive Low for about 10 minutes
above 72 km/h (45 mph).
Vehicle Reminder
Messages
ICE POSSIBLE DRIVE
WITH CARE
This message is displayed when ice
conditions are possible.
Vehicle Speed Messages
REDUCE SPEED FOR HILL
DESCENT CONTROL
This message displays when
attempting to enable Hill Descent
Control (HDC) when the vehicle
speed is too high. See Hill Descent
Control (HDC) 0237
ii.

Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S/Canada/Mexico-
9159327) - 2016 - crc - 8/28/15
Driving and Operating 193
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Off-Road Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . 201
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 202
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 204
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Truck-Camper LoadingInformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . 211
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Retained AccessoryPower (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Engine Coolant Heater . . . . . . . 215
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217 Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Parking over Things
That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Running the Vehicle WhileParked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 220
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Manual Transmission
Manual Transmission . . . . . . . . . 225
Drive Systems
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . 234
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Hill Descent Control (HDC) . . . 237
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Driver Assistance Systems
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . 240
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Fuel
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
California FuelRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . 246
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Trailer Towing
General TowingInformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Driving Characteristics and Towing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251
Towing Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Trailer Sway Control (TSC) . . . 256
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257

Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S/Canada/Mexico-
9159327) - 2016 - crc - 8/28/15
Driving and Operating 197
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.
. Try to avoid sudden steering,
acceleration, or braking,
including reducing vehicle speed
by shifting to a lower gear. Any
sudden changes could cause
the tires to slide.
Remember: Antilock brakes help
avoid only the braking skid.
Off-Road Driving
Four-wheel-drive vehicles can be
used for off-road driving. Vehicles
without four-wheel drive and vehicles not equipped with All
Terrain (AT) or On-Off Road (OOR)
tires must not be driven off-road
except on a level, solid surface. For
contact information about the
original equipment tires, see the
warranty manual.
One of the best ways for successful
off-road driving is to control the
speed.
{Warning
When driving off-road, bouncing
and quick changes in direction
can easily throw you out of
position. This could cause you to
lose control and crash. You and
your passengers should always
wear safety belts.
Before Driving Off-Road
.
Have all necessary maintenance
and service work completed.
. Fuel the vehicle, fill fluid levels,
and check inflation pressure in
all tires, including the spare,
if equipped. .
Read all the information about
four-wheel-drive vehicles in this
manual.
. Remove any underbody air
deflector, if equipped. Re-attach
the air deflector after off-road
driving.
. See Hill Descent Control (HDC)
0 237
ii.
. Know the local laws that apply to
off-road driving.
To gain more ground clearance if
needed, it may be necessary to
remove the front fascia lower air
dam. However, driving without the
air dam reduces fuel economy.
Caution
Operating the vehicle for
extended periods without the front
fascia lower air dam installed can
cause improper air flow to the
engine. Re-attach the front fascia
air dam after off-road driving.

Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S/Canada/Mexico-
9159327) - 2016 - crc - 8/28/15
204 Driving and Operating
Warning (Continued)
.Clear snow from the base of
the vehicle, especially any
blocking the exhaust pipe.
. Open a window about 5 cm
(2 in) on the vehicle side
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 circulate the air
inside the vehicle and set
the fan speed to the highest
setting. See “Climate
Control Systems.”
For more information about CO,
see Engine Exhaust 0219
ii.
To save fuel, run the engine for
short periods to warm the vehicle
and then shut the engine off and
partially close the window. Moving
about to keep warm also helps. If it takes time for help to arrive,
when running the engine, push the
accelerator pedal slightly so the
engine runs faster than the idle
speed. This keeps the battery
charged to restart the vehicle and to
signal for help with the headlamps.
Do this as little as possible, to
save fuel.
If the Vehicle Is Stuck
Slowly and cautiously spin the
wheels to free the vehicle when
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow.
See
“Rocking the Vehicle to Get It
Out” later in this section.
The Traction Control System (TCS)
can often help to free a stuck
vehicle. See Traction Control/
Electronic Stability Control 0235
ii.
If TCS cannot free the vehicle, see
“Rocking the Vehicle to Get it Out”
following.
{Warning
If the vehicle's tires spin at high
speed, they can explode, and you
or others could be injured. The
vehicle can overheat, causing an
engine compartment fire or other
damage. Spin the wheels as little
as possible and avoid going
above 56 km/h (35 mph).
For information about using tire
chains on the vehicle, see Tire
Chains 0314
ii.
Rocking the Vehicle to Get
It Out
Turn the steering wheel left and
right to clear the area around the
front wheels. For four-wheel-drive
vehicles, shift into Four-Wheel Drive
High. Turn the TCS off. Shift back
and forth between R (Reverse) and
a forward gear, spinning the wheels
as little as possible. To prevent
transmission wear, wait until the
wheels stop spinning before shifting
gears. Slowly spinning the wheels in
the forward and reverse directions

Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S/Canada/Mexico-
9159327) - 2016 - crc - 8/28/15
Driving and Operating 217
Shifting Into Park
{Warning
It can be dangerous to get out of
the vehicle if the shift lever is not
fully in P (Park) with the parking
brake firmly set. The vehicle can
roll. If you have left the engine
running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be
injured. To be sure the vehicle will
not move, even when you are on
fairly level ground, use the steps
that follow. With four-wheel drive,
if the transfer case is in
N (Neutral), the vehicle will be
free to roll, even if the shift lever
is in P (Park). Be sure the transfer
case is in a drive gear. If towing a
trailer, seeDriving Characteristics
and Towing Tips 0249
ii.
1. Hold the brake pedal down, then set the parking brake.
See Parking Brake 0233
ii. 2. Hold the button on the shift
lever and push the lever toward
the front of the vehicle into
P (Park).
3. Be sure the transfer case (if equipped) is in a drive
gear —not in N (Neutral).
4. Turn the ignition key to LOCK/OFF.
5. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can leave the
vehicle with the ignition key in
your hand, the vehicle is in
P (Park).
Leaving the Vehicle with the
Engine Running
{Warning
It can be dangerous to leave the
vehicle with the engine running.
The vehicle could move suddenly
if the shift lever is not fully in
P (Park) with the parking brake
firmly set.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
If you have four-wheel drive and
the transfer case is in N (Neutral),
the vehicle will be free to roll,
even if the shift lever is in
P (Park). So be sure the transfer
case is in a drive gear —not in
N (Neutral).
And, if you leave the vehicle with
the engine running, it could
overheat and even catch fire. You
or others could be injured. Do not
leave the vehicle with the engine
running unless you have to.
If you have to leave the vehicle with
the engine running, be sure the
vehicle is in P (Park) and the
parking brake is firmly set before
you leave it. After you move the shift
lever into P (Park), hold the regular
brake pedal down. Then, see if you
can move the shift lever away from
P (Park) without pressing the button
on the shift lever. If you can, it
means that the shift lever was not
fully locked into P (Park).

Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S/Canada/Mexico-
9159327) - 2016 - crc - 8/28/15
Driving and Operating 221
{Warning
If you have four-wheel drive, the
vehicle will be free to roll—even
if the shift lever is in P (Park) —if
the transfer case is in N (Neutral).
So, be sure the transfer case is in
a drive gear, Two-Wheel Drive
High or Four-Wheel Drive High or
Four-Wheel Drive Low —not in
N (Neutral). See Shifting Into Park
0 217
ii.
R : Use this gear to back up.
Caution
Shifting to R (Reverse) while the
vehicle is moving forward could
damage the transmission. The
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Shift to
R (Reverse) only after the vehicle
is stopped. To rock the vehicle back and forth to
get out of snow, ice, or sand without
damaging the transmission, see
If
the Vehicle Is Stuck 0204
ii.
N : In this position, the engine does
not connect with the wheels. To
restart when you are already
moving, use N (Neutral) only. Also,
use N (Neutral) when the vehicle is
being towed.
{Warning
Shifting into a drive gear while the
engine is running at high speed is
dangerous. Unless your foot is
firmly on the brake pedal, the
vehicle could move very rapidly.
You could lose control and hit
people or objects. Do not shift
into a drive gear while the engine
is running at high speed.
Caution
Shifting out of P (Park) or
N (Neutral) with the engine
running at high speed may
damage the transmission. The
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Be sure the
engine is not running at high
speed when shifting the vehicle.
D : This position is for normal
driving. It provides the best fuel
economy. If you need more power
for passing, and you are:
. Going less than about 55 km/h
(35 mph), push the accelerator
pedal about halfway down.
. Going about 55 km/h (35 mph) or
more, push the accelerator all
the way down.
By doing this, the vehicle shifts
down to the next gear and has
more power.
D (Drive) can be used when towing
a trailer, carrying a heavy load,
driving on steep hills, or driving