2004 CHEVROLET COLORADO warning

Daytime Running Lamps
Indicator Light
This light turns on
whenever the Daytime
Running Lamps are on.
See “Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)” underExterior
Lamps on page 3-6for more information.
Fuel Gage
When the ignition is on,
the fuel gage tells you
about how much fuel you
have remaining in the
fuel tank.Here are four things that some owners ask about. None
of these indicate a problem with your fuel gage:
At the gas station, the gas pump shuts off before
the gage reads full.
It takes a little more or less fuel to ll up than the
gage indicated. For example, the gage may have
indicated the tank was half full, but it actually took a
little more or less than half the tank’s capacity to
ll the tank.
The gage moves a little when you turn a corner or
speed up.
The gage does not go back to empty when you turn
off the ignition.
When the fuel in the fuel tank is low, you will see a
LOW FUEL message on the Driver Information
Center (DIC) display. SeeDIC Warnings and Messages
on page 3-32for more information.
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Driver Information Center (DIC)
The DIC display is located on the instrument panel
cluster. The DIC can display information such as the trip
odometer, and personalization features.
DIC Controls and Displays
The Driver Information Center (DIC) comes on when the
ignition is on. After a short delay the DIC will display
the information that was last displayed before the engine
was turned off.
If a problem is detected, a warning message will appear
on the display. Pressing and releasing the trip odometer
reset stem on the DIC will acknowledge some current
warnings or service messages. Some message will only
clear once the required action has been taken.
The DIC has different modes which can be accessed by
pressing the trip odometer reset stem on the DIC.
These modes are explained following. The DIC trip
odometer reset stem is located on the instrument panel
cluster next to the DIC display. To scroll through the
available functions, press and release the reset stem.
Trip Information
Odometer
The odometer is automatically displayed on the DIC
when you start the vehicle. The odometer shows
the total distance the vehicle has been driven in either
miles or kilometers.
Trip Odometer
Press and release the reset stem until TRIP appears on
the DIC display. This shows the current distance
traveled since the last reset of the trip odometer in either
miles or kilometers.
Press and hold the reset stem for approximately four
seconds to reset the trip odometer.
GM Oil Life System™
Press the reset stem until OIL LIFE appears (ashing)
on the display. The GM Oil Life System™ shows
an estimate of the oil’s remaining useful life. It will show
OIL LIFE on the display when the system is reset
after an oil change. It will alert you to change your oil on
a schedule consistent with your driving conditions.
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Remote Keyless Entry Feedback
With the vehicle’s engine off, and the ignition in the
LOCK position, press and hold the lock and unlock
buttons on the remote keyless entry transmitter at the
same time. Hold both buttons until the DIC displays the
current remote feedback mode, then press and hold
the trip odometer reset stem for approximately two
seconds to switch between modes. The following are
the mode choices:
RFA 1 (default):The parking lamps will ash when you
press the lock and unlock buttons on the remote
keyless entry transmitter.
RFA 2:The parking lamps will ash when you press
the lock and unlock buttons on the remote keyless entry
transmitter, and the horn will chirp when the lock
button is pressed.
RFA 3:The parking lamps will ash and the horn will
chirp when you press the lock and unlock buttons on the
remote keyless entry transmitter.
RFA 4:There is no feedback when you press the
lock and unlock buttons on the remote keyless
entry transmitter.
Language
You can choose the language in which the DIC
information is displayed. With the ignition off, and the
key in the ON position, press the reset stem until
LANGUAGE is displayed. While LANGUAGE is on the
display, press and hold the reset stem for approximately
two seconds until the language changes from
ENGLISH to the language you desire. You can choose
from English, Spanish, or French (Canada Only).
DIC Warnings and Messages
Warning messages are displayed on the DIC to notify
the driver that the status of the vehicle has changed and
that some action may be needed by the driver to
correct the condition. More than one message may
appear at one time. They will appear one after the other.
The messages are displayed for three seconds each.
Some messages may not require immediate action
but you should press and release the trip odometer reset
stem to acknowledge that you received the message
and clear it from the display. Each message must
be acknowledged individually. Some messages cannot
be cleared from the display because they are more
urgent. These messages require action before they can
be removed from the DIC display. The following are
the possible messages that can be displayed and some
information about them.
3-32

AC (Air Conditioning) OFF
This message will be displayed when the engine coolant
temperature is too high and the air conditioning in
your vehicle needs to be turned off. See andEngine
Overheating on page 5-28andClimate Control System
on page 3-12for more information. It will be displayed
along with the ENG HOT message.
ABS (Anti-Lock Brake System)
This message will be displayed on the DIC if there is a
problem with your antilock brake system. Check
your antilock brake system as soon as possible and
have your vehicle serviced by your GM dealer.
SeeBrakes on page 5-39andAnti-Lock Brake System
Warning Light on page 3-23for more information.
Pressing the reset stem to acknowledge this message
and clear it from the DIC display.
BATTERY
This message will be displayed when there is a problem
with your vehicle’s battery. SeeBattery on page 5-42
andBattery Warning Light on page 3-21for
more information.
BRAKES
This message will be displayed on the DIC if there is a
problem with your brakes. Check your brakes as
soon as possible and have your vehicle serviced by
your GM dealer. SeeBrakes on page 5-39andBrake
System Warning Light on page 3-22for more
information. Press and release the reset stem to
acknowledge the message and clear it from the
DIC display.
CHANGE OIL
This message will be displayed on your DIC when the
oil needs to be changed. Check the oil in your vehicle as
soon as possible and have your vehicle serviced by
your GM dealer. SeeEngine Oil on page 5-13and
Scheduled Maintenance on page 6-4for more
information. Press the reset stem to acknowledge the
message and clear it from the display.
DOORS
This message will be displayed on your DIC when one
of your doors is ajar. You should check all the doors
on your vehicle to make sure they are closed. The
message will clear from the display after all of the doors
are closed.
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PARK BRK (Brake)
This message will be displayed when your vehicle’s
parking brake is active. SeeParking Brake on page 2-31
andBrake System Warning Light on page 3-22for
more information. The message will clear from
the display after the parking brake is released.
REDUCED POWER
This message will be displayed on your DIC when your
vehicle’s engine power is reduced. Press the reset
stem to acknowledge the message and clear it from
the display.
SERV (Service) 4WD
(Four-Wheel Drive)
This message will be displayed on your DIC when there
is a problem with your transfer case control system.
Check the transfer case on your vehicle and have
it serviced by your GM dealer. SeeFour-Wheel Drive on
page 2-27for more information about your transfer
case. Press the reset stem to acknowledge the message
and clear it from the display.
TRACTION FAULT
If you have the Traction Control System (TCS), you may
see this message if there is a problem with your Traction
Control System (TCS). Check your TCS as soon as
possible and have your vehicle serviced by your
GM dealer. SeeTraction Control System (TCS) on
page 4-8for more information. Press the reset stem to
acknowledge the message and clear it from the display.
SERV VEH (Service Vehicle)
This message will be displayed on your DIC if your
vehicle needs service. You should have your vehicle
serviced by your GM dealer as soon as possible.
TURN SIGNAL
This message will be displayed on your DIC when your
turn signal is on for approximately 0.75 miles (1.2 km)
of travel. Press the reset stem to acknowledge the
message and clear it from the display.
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Braking
Braking action involvesperception timeand
reaction time.
First, you have to decide to push on the brake pedal.
That isperception time.Then you have to bring up your
foot and do it. That isreaction time.
Averagereaction timeis about 3/4 of a second. But that is
only an average. It might be less with one driver and as
long as two or three seconds or more with another. Age,
physical condition, alertness, coordination and eyesight
all play a part. So do alcohol, drugs and frustration. But
even in 3/4 of a second, a vehicle moving at 60 mph
(100 km/h) travels 66 feet (20 m). That could be a lot of
distance in an emergency, so keeping enough space
between your vehicle and others is important.
And, of course, actual stopping distances vary greatly
with the surface of the road (whether it is pavement
or gravel); the condition of the road (wet, dry, icy); tire
tread; the condition of your brakes; the weight of
the vehicle and the amount of brake force applied.
Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive in
spurts — heavy acceleration followed by heavy
braking — rather than keeping pace with traffic. This is
a mistake. Your brakes may not have time to cool
between hard stops. Your brakes will wear out much
faster if you do a lot of heavy braking.If you keep pace with the traffic and allow realistic
following distances, you will eliminate a lot of
unnecessary braking. That means better braking and
longer brake life.
If your engine ever stops while you are driving, brake
normally but do not pump your brakes. If you do, the
pedal may get harder to push down. If your engine stops,
you will still have some power brake assist. But you will
use it when you brake. Once the power assist is used up,
it may take longer to stop and the brake pedal will be
harder to push.
Anti-lock Brake System
Your vehicle has anti-lock brakes. ABS is an advanced
electronic braking system that will help prevent a
braking skid.
When you start your engine and begin to drive away,
your anti-lock brake system will check itself. You
may hear a momentary motor or clicking noise while
this test is going on. This is normal.
If there is a problem with
the anti-lock brake system,
this warning light will
stay on. SeeAnti-Lock
Brake System Warning
Light on page 3-23.
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TCS operates in all transmission shift lever positions.
But the system can upshift the transmission only as high
as the shift lever position you have chosen, so you
should use the lower gears only when necessary. See
Automatic Transmission Operation on page 2-22
and/orManual Transmission Operation on page 2-25for
more information.
If there is a problem with TCS, TRACTION/FAULT will be
displayed on your Driver Information Center (DIC). See
DIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-32for
more information.
When this warning is displayed, the system will not limit
wheel spin. Adjust your driving accordingly.
To limit wheel spin, especially in slippery road conditions,
you should always leave TCS on. But you can turn the
system off if you ever need to. You should turn the
system off if your vehicle ever gets stuck in sand, mud or
snow and rocking the vehicle is required. See “Rocking
Your Vehicle To Get It Out” underIf You Are Stuck: In
Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow on page 4-42.Steering
Power Steering
If you lose power steering assist because the engine
stops or the system is not functioning, you can steer but
it will take much more effort.
Steering Tips
Driving on Curves
It is important to take curves at a reasonable speed.
A lot of the “driver lost control” accidents mentioned on
the news happen on curves. Here is why:
Experienced driver or beginner, each of us is subject to
the same laws of physics when driving on curves.
The traction of the tires against the road surface makes
it possible for the vehicle to change its path when
you turn the front wheels. If there is no traction, inertia
will keep the vehicle going in the same direction. If
you have ever tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice, you
will understand this.
The traction you can get in a curve depends on the
condition of your tires and the road surface, the angle at
which the curve is banked, and your speed. While
you are in a curve, speed is the one factor you
can control.
4-9

If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your foot off the
accelerator pedal and quickly steer the way you want
the vehicle to go. If you start steering quickly enough,
your vehicle may straighten out. Always be ready
for a second skid if it occurs.
Of course, traction is reduced when water, snow, ice,
gravel or other material is on the road. For safety,
you will want to slow down and adjust your driving to
these conditions. It is important to slow down on slippery
surfaces because stopping distance will be longer and
vehicle control more limited.
While driving on a surface with reduced traction, try
your best to avoid sudden steering, acceleration
or braking (including engine braking by shifting to a
lower gear). Any sudden changes could cause the tires
to slide. You may not realize the surface is slippery
until your vehicle is skidding. 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.
Remember: Any anti-lock brake system (ABS) helps
avoid only the braking skid.Off-Road Driving with Your
Four-Wheel-Drive Vehicle
This off-road guide is for vehicles that have
four-wheel drive.
Also, seeAnti-Lock BrakesunderBraking on page 4-6.
If your vehicle does not have four-wheel drive, you
should not drive off-road unless you are on a level,
solid surface.
Off-road driving can be great fun. But it does have
some denite hazards. The greatest of these is
the terrain itself.
“Off-roading” means you have left the great North
American road system behind. Traffic lanes are not
marked. Curves are not banked. There are no
road signs. Surfaces can be slippery, rough, uphill or
downhill. In short, you have gone right back to nature.
Off-road driving involves some new skills. And that is why
it is very important that you read this guide. You will nd
many driving tips and suggestions. These will help make
your off-road driving safer and more enjoyable.
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