2004 CHEVROLET COLORADO brakes

Automatic Transmission Operation
Your automatic transmission has a shift lever on the
steering column.
It features an electronic shift position indicator within the
instrument cluster. This display must be powered
anytime the shift lever is capable of being moved out of
PARK (P). This means that if your key is turned off,
but not in LOCK, there will be a small current drain on
your battery which could discharge your battery over
a period of time. If you need to leave your key in
the ignition but not in LOCK for an extended period, it is
recommended that you disconnect the battery cable
from the battery to prevent discharging your battery.
There are several different positions for your shift lever.
PARK (P):This position locks your rear wheels. It is
the best position to use when you start your engine
because your vehicle cannot move easily.
{CAUTION:
It is dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the
shift lever is not fully in PARK (P) with the
parking brake rmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Do not leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be injured. To
be sure your vehicle will not move, even when
you are on fairly level ground, always set your
parking brake and move the shift lever to
PARK (P). SeeShifting Into Park (P) (Automatic
Transmission) on page 2-32. If you are pulling
a trailer, seeTowing a Trailer on page 4-57.
Make sure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) before
starting the engine. Your vehicle has an automatic
transmission shift lock control system. You have to fully
apply your regular brakes before you can shift from
PARK (P) when the ignition key is in RUN. If you cannot
shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on the shift lever
by pushing the shift lever all the way into PARK (P)
as you maintain brake application. Then move the shift
lever into the gear you want. SeeShifting Out of
Park (P) (Automatic Transmission) on page 2-34.
2-22

DRIVE (D):This position is for normal driving. If you
need more power for passing, and you are:
Going less than about 35 mph (55 km/h), push your
accelerator pedal about halfway down.
Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) or more, push the
accelerator all the way down.
You will shift down to the next gear and have
more power.
DRIVE (D) should not be used when towing a trailer,
carrying a heavy load, driving on steep hills, or for
off-road driving. Select THIRD (3) when operating the
vehicle under any of these conditions.
THIRD (3):This position is also used for normal driving.
However, it offers more power and lower fuel economy
than DRIVE (D). You should use THIRD (3) when towing
a trailer, carrying a heavy load, driving on steep hills
or winding roads or for off-road driving.SECOND (2):This position gives you more power but
lower fuel economy than THIRD (3). You can use
SECOND (2) on hills. It can help control your speed as
you go down steep mountain roads, but then you
would also want to use your brakes off and on. You can
also use SECOND (2) for starting your vehicle from a
stop on slippery road surfaces.
FIRST (1):This position gives you even more power
but lower fuel economy than SECOND (2). You can use
it on very steep hills, or in deep snow or mud. If the
shift lever is put in FIRST (1) while the vehicle is moving
forward, the transmission will not shift into FIRST (1)
until the vehicle is going slowly enough.
Notice:Spinning the tires or holding the vehicle in
one place on a hill using only the accelerator
pedal may damage the transmission. If you are
stuck, do not spin the tires. When stopping on a hill,
use the brakes to hold the vehicle in place.
2-24

Torque Lock
If you are parking on a hill and you don’t shift your
transmission into PARK (P) properly, the weight of the
vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl
in the transmission. You may nd it difficult to pull the
shift lever out of PARK (P). This is called “torque
lock” To prevent torque lock, set the parking brake and
then shift into PARK (P) properly before you leave
the driver’s seat. To nd out how, seeShifting Into
Park (P) (Automatic Transmission) on page 2-32.
When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out of
PARK (P) before you release the parking brake.
If torque lock does occur, you may need to have another
vehicle push yours a little uphill to take some of the
pressure from the parking pawl in the transmission, so
you can pull the shift lever out of PARK (P).
Shifting Out of Park (P)
(Automatic Transmission)
Your vehicle has an automatic transmission shift lock
control system which locks the shift lever in PARK (P)
when the ignition is in the LOCK position. In addition, you
have to fully apply the regular brakes before you can shift
from PARK (P) when the ignition is in ON. SeeAutomatic
Transmission Operation on page 2-22.
If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift lever by pushing the shift lever all the way into
PARK (P) as you maintain brake application. Then,
press the shift lever button and move the shift lever into
the gear you want.
If you ever hold the brake pedal down but still cannot
shift out of PARK (P), try this:
1. Turn the key to ACC (Accessory). (There is no shift
interlock in this key position.)
2. Apply and hold the brake until the end of Step 4.
3. Shift the transmission to NEUTRAL (N).
4. Start the vehicle and then shift to the gear
you want.
5. Have the system xed as soon as you can.
2-34

{CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be working
properly if the brake system warning light is
on. Driving with the brake system warning light
on can lead to an accident. If the light is still
on after you have pulled off the road and
stopped carefully, have the vehicle towed
for service.
Anti-Lock Brake System
Warning Light
With the anti-lock brake
system, this light will come
on briey when you
start your engine to show it
is working. Then it will
turn off. This is normal.
If the light stays on, or comes on when you’re driving,
your vehicle needs service. If the regular brake
system warning light isn’t on, you still have brakes, but
you don’t have anti-lock brakes. If the regular brake
system warning light is also on, you don’t have anti-lock
brakes and there’s a problem with your regular
brakes. SeeBrake System Warning Light on page 3-22.
The anti-lock brake system warning light should come
on briey when you turn the ignition key to ON. If
the light doesn’t come on then, have it xed so it will be
ready to warn you if there is a problem.
3-23

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.
3-33

ENG (Engine) HOT
This message will be displayed on your DIC when your
engine coolant temperature is hot. Check your engine
coolant temperature gage. SeeEngine Coolant
Temperature Gage on page 3-24for more information.
You should have your vehicle serviced by your
GM dealer as soon as possible if you suspect your
engine is overheating. SeeEngine Overheating
on page 5-28for more information.
FLUID
This message will be displayed on the DIC if your brake
uid is low. Check the brake uid as soon as possible
and have your vehicle serviced by your GM dealer. See
Brakes on page 5-39for more information. Press the
reset stem to acknowledge the message and clear
it from the DIC display.
FUEL CAP
This message will be displayed if your vehicle’s fuel cap
is either off or loose. You should pull over and check
to see if your vehicle’s fuel cap is secure as soon
as possible. You may also see the check engine light
on the instrument panel cluster. SeeMalfunction
Indicator Lamp on page 3-24for more information. Press
the reset stem to acknowledge the message and
clear it from the display.
LOW FUEL
This message will be displayed on your DIC if the level
of fuel in your vehicle is low. You should also check
your fuel gage. SeeFuel Gage on page 3-29for more
information. You should ll your vehicle’s tank as
soon as possible.
LOW TRAC (Traction)
If you have the Traction Control System (TCS), you will
see this message when the TCS is active. See
Traction Control System (TCS) on page 4-8for more
information. Press and release the reset stem to
acknowledge the message and clear it from the
DIC display.
OIL
This message will be displayed when your oil pressure
is low. SeeOil Pressure Light on page 3-27, and
Engine Oil on page 5-13for more information.
OIL LIFE
This message will be displayed when your GM Oil Life
System needs to be checked. Press the reset stem
to acknowledge the message. For more information, see
“GM Oil Life System” underDIC Controls and Displays
on page 3-30.
3-34

{CAUTION:
Drinking and then driving is very dangerous.
Your reexes, perceptions, attentiveness,
and judgment can be affected by even a
small amount of alcohol. You can have a
serious — or even fatal — collision if you drive
after drinking. Please do not drink and drive or
ride with a driver who has been drinking. Ride
home in a cab; or if you are with a group,
designate a driver who will not drink.
Control of a Vehicle
You have three systems that make your vehicle go where
you want it to go. They are the brakes, the steering and
the accelerator. All three systems have to do their work at
the places where the tires meet the road.Sometimes, as when you are driving on snow or ice, it
is easy to ask more of those control systems than
the tires and road can provide. That means you can lose
control of your vehicle.
4-5

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.
4-6