2004 CHEVROLET COLORADO brake light

If the engine does not start after three tries, the vehicle
needs service.
If the engine is running and the security light comes on,
you will be able to restart the engine if you turn the engine
off. However, your Passlock
®system is not working
properly and must be serviced by your dealer. Your
vehicle is not protected by Passlock
®at this time. You
may also want to check the fuse seeFuses and Circuit
Breakers on page 5-104. See your dealer for service.
In an emergency, call the GM Roadside Assistance
Center. SeeRoadside Assistance Program on page 7-6.
Starting and Operating
Your Vehicle
New Vehicle Break-In
Notice:Your vehicle does not need an elaborate
“break-in.” But it will perform better in the long run
if you follow these guidelines:
Keep your speed at 55 mph (88 km/h) or less for
the rst 500 miles (805 km).
Do not drive at any one speed — fast or
slow — for the rst 500 miles (805 km). Do not
make full-throttle starts.
Avoid making hard stops for the rst
200 miles (322 km) or so. During this time your
new brake linings are not yet broken in. Hard
stops with new linings can mean premature
wear and earlier replacement. Follow this
breaking-in guideline every time you get new
brake linings.
Do not tow a trailer during break-in. SeeTowing
a Trailer on page 4-57for more information.
2-17

ON (C):This is the position that the switch returns to
after you start your engine and release the switch. The
switch stays in ON when the engine is running. But even
when the engine is not running, you can use ON to
operate your electrical accessories and to display some
instrument panel cluster warning and indicator lights.
START (D):This is the position that starts the engine.
When the engine starts, release the key. The ignition
switch will return to ON for normal driving.
When the engine is not running, ACC and ON allow you
to operate your electrical accessories, such as the
radio or items plugged into the accessory power outlets.
A warning tone will sound if you open the driver’s
door when the ignition is in ACC or LOCK and the key
is in the ignition.
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)
Your vehicle is equipped with Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) which will allow certain features of your
vehicle to continue working for up to 20 minutes after the
ignition key is turned to LOCK.
Your radio and power windows will work when the
ignition key is in ON or ACC. Once the key is turned
from ON to LOCK, these features will continue to work
for up to 20 minutes or until a door is opened.
Starting Your Engine
Automatic Transmission
Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).
Your engine will not start in any other position — that is
a safety feature. To restart when you are already
moving, use NEUTRAL (N) only.
Notice:Do not try to shift to PARK (P) if your
vehicle is moving. If you do, you could damage the
transmission. Shift to PARK (P) only when your
vehicle is stopped.
Manual Transmission
The gear selector should be in NEUTRAL and the
parking brake engaged. Hold the clutch pedal to the oor
and start the engine. Your vehicle will not start if the
clutch pedal is not all the way down — that is a
safety feature.
2-19

REVERSE (R):To back up, press the clutch pedal. After
the vehicle stops, shift into REVERSE (R). Slowly let up
on the clutch pedal as you press the accelerator pedal. If
it is hard to shift, let the shift lever return to NEUTRAL
and release the clutch pedal. Then press the clutch again
and shift into REVERSE (R). Do not attempt to shift into
the fth gear position prior to shifting into REVERSE (R).
Your transmission has a lock out feature which prevents
a fth gear to reverse gear shift.
Notice:Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle
is moving forward could damage the transmission.
The repairs would not be covered by your warranty.
Shift to REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle
is stopped.
Use REVERSE (R), along with the parking brake, for
parking your vehicle.Up-Shift Light
This light will show you
when to shift to the next
higher gear for best
fuel economy.
When this light comes on, you can shift to the next
higher gear if weather, road and traffic conditions permit.
For the best fuel economy, accelerate slowly and shift
when the light comes on.
While you accelerate, it is normal for the light to go on
and off if you quickly change the position of the
accelerator. Ignore the shift light when you downshift.
If your vehicle has four-wheel drive and is equipped with
a manual transmission, disregard the shift light when
the transfer case is in 4LO.
For more information, seeUp-Shift Light (Manual
Transmission) on page 3-22.
2-26

N (Neutral):Shift the vehicle’s transfer case to
NEUTRAL only when towing your vehicle.
{CAUTION:
Shifting the transfer case to NEUTRAL can
cause your vehicle to roll even if the
transmission is in PARK (P). You or someone
else could be seriously injured. Be sure to set
the parking brake before placing the transfer
case in NEUTRAL. SeeParking Brake
on page 2-31.
4
m(4HI):This setting engages your front axle to help
drive your vehicle. Use 4HI when you need extra
traction, such as on snowy or icy roads, or in most
off-road situations.4
n(4LO):This setting also engages your front axle to
give you extra traction. It sends the maximum power
to all four wheels. You might choose 4LO if you
were driving off-road in sand, mud or deep snow and
climbing or descending steep hills.
Indicator lights in the buttons show you which setting
you are in. The indicator lights will come on briey when
you turn on the ignition and one will stay on. If the
lights do not come on, you should take your vehicle in
for service. An indicator light will ash while shifting.
It will remain illuminated when the shift is completed.
If for some reason the transfer case cannot make
a requested shift, it will return to the last chosen setting.
Shifting from 2HI to 4HI
Press and release the 4HI button. This can be done at
any speed, and the front axle will lock automatically.
Shifting from 4HI to 2HI
Press and release the 2HI button. This can be done at
any speed, and the front axle will unlock automatically.
2-28

Shifting to NEUTRAL
Use NEUTRAL when you plan to tow your vehicle. See
Recreational Vehicle Towing on page 4-44for towing
instructions. To shift the transfer case into NEUTRAL do
the following:
1. Set the parking brake.
2. Start the vehicle.
3. Connect the vehicle to the towing vehicle.
4. Shift the transmission in Neutral (N), or press in the
clutch for vehicles with a manual transmission.
5. Shift the transfer case to 2HI.
6. Press and hold the 2HI and 4LO buttons at the
same time for 10 seconds. The Neutral (N) light
will come on when the transfer case shift to
Neutral (N) is complete.
7. Shift the transmission to Reverse (R) for one
second, then shift the transmission to DRIVE (D)
for one second, or FIRST (1) for vehicles with
manual transmissions.
8. Turn the ignition to LOCK.
9. Place the transmission shift lever in Park (P), or
FIRST (1) for vehicles equipped with a
manual transmission.
10. Release the parking brake prior to towing.
Shifting out of NEUTRAL
After towing your vehicle, you will have to shift out of
NEUTRAL in order to drive. To shift out of NEUTRAL, do
the following:
1. Set the parking brake and apply the regular brake
pedal. SeeParking Brake on page 2-31for
more information.
2. Start a vehicle with an automatic transmission in
PARK (P). Use FIRST (1) for vehicles with a
manual transmission.
3. Put an automatic transmission in NEUTRAL (N)
or press the clutch pedal for vehicles with a
manual transmission.
4. Press the button for the desired transfer case
position (2HI, 4HI or 4LO).
5. After the transfer case has shifted out of NEUTRAL,
the indicator light will go out.
6. Release the parking brake.
7. Shift the transmission to the desired gear.
It is normal for your vehicle to exhibit a signicant
engagement noise and bump when shifting in and out
of Neutral (N) and 4LO.
2-30

Parking Brake
The parking brake pedal is
located to the left of the
regular brake pedal,
near the driver’s door.
To set the parking brake, hold the regular brake pedal
down with your right foot. Push down the parking
brake pedal with your left foot.
A chime will activate and the warning light will ash
when the parking brake is applied and the vehicle
is moving at least 3 mph (5 km/h) 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 3 mph (5 km/h). SeeBrake System
Warning Light on page 3-22.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, to release the parking brake.
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. Verify 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,
seeTowing a Trailer on page 4-57.
2-31

Instrument Panel Overview...............................3-2
Hazard Warning Flashers................................3-4
Other Warning Devices...................................3-5
Horn.............................................................3-5
Tilt Wheel.....................................................3-5
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever.........................3-6
Exterior Lamps...............................................3-6
Interior Lamps..............................................3-10
Accessory Power Outlets...............................3-10
Ashtrays and Cigarette Lighter........................3-11
Climate Controls............................................3-12
Climate Control System.................................3-12
Outlet Adjustment.........................................3-14
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators............3-15
Instrument Panel Cluster................................3-16
Speedometer and Odometer...........................3-17
Trip Odometer..............................................3-17
Tachometer.................................................3-18
Safety Belt Reminder Light.............................3-18
Air Bag Readiness Light................................3-19
Air Bag Off Light..........................................3-20
Battery Warning Light....................................3-21
Up-Shift Light (Manual Transmission)...............3-22
Brake System Warning Light..........................3-22
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light.............3-23
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage..................3-24Malfunction Indicator Lamp.............................3-24
Oil Pressure Light.........................................3-27
Security Light...............................................3-28
Cruise Control Light......................................3-28
Highbeam On Light.......................................3-28
Daytime Running Lamps Indicator Light...........3-29
Fuel Gage...................................................3-29
Driver Information Center (DIC).......................3-30
DIC Controls and Displays.............................3-30
DIC Warnings and Messages.........................3-32
Audio System(s).............................................3-36
Setting the Time for Radios without Radio
Data Systems (RDS)..................................3-36
Setting the Time for Radios with Radio Data
Systems (RDS).........................................3-36
AM-FM Radio...............................................3-37
Radio with CD..............................................3-39
Radio with Six-Disc CD.................................3-47
Theft-Deterrent Feature (Non-RDS Radios).......3-58
Theft-Deterrent Feature (RDS Radios).............3-58
Radio Reception...........................................3-59
Care of Your CDs.........................................3-59
Care of Your CD Player................................3-59
Fixed Mast Antenna......................................3-59
Chime Level Adjustment................................3-59
Section 3 Instrument Panel
3-1

The main components of your vehicle’s instrument panel are the following:
A. Air Outlets. SeeOutlet Adjustment on page 3-14.
B. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever. SeeTurn
Signal/Multifunction Lever on page 3-6.
C. Instrument Panel Cluster. SeeInstrument Panel
Cluster on page 3-16.
D. Hazard Warning Flasher Button. SeeHazard
Warning Flashers on page 3-4.
E. Passenger Side Air Bag. SeeAir Bag Systems
on page 1-62.
F. Park Brake Release. SeeParking Brake
on page 2-31.
G. Horn. SeeHorn on page 3-5.
H. Traction Control Button or Four-Wheel Drive Buttons.
SeeTraction Control System (TCS) on page 4-8
andFour-Wheel Drive on page 2-27.I. Audio System. SeeAudio System(s) on page 3-36.
J. Cigarette Lighter (If Equipped). SeeAshtrays
and Cigarette Lighter on page 3-11.
K. Climate Control System. SeeClimate Control
System on page 3-12.
L. Accessory Power Outlet. SeeAccessory Power
Outlets on page 3-10.
M. Air Bag Off Switch (Regular cab and rear seat delete
only). See “Air Bag Off Switch” underAir Bag
Systems on page 1-62.
N. Glove Box. SeeGlove Box on page 2-44.
3-3