2004 CHEVROLET COLORADO service

Seats and Restraint Systems........................... 1-1
Front Seats
............................................... 1-3
Rear Seats
............................................... 1-9
Safety Belts
.............................................1-11
Child Restraints
.......................................1-31
Air Bag Systems
......................................1-62
Restraint System Check
............................1-75
Features and Controls..................................... 2-1
Keys
........................................................ 2-2
Doors and Locks
....................................... 2-7
Windows
.................................................2-12
Theft-Deterrent Systems
............................2-14
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
...........2-17
Mirrors
....................................................2-37
OnStar
®System
......................................2-42
Storage Areas
.........................................2-44
Instrument Panel............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview
.......................... 3-2
Climate Controls
......................................3-12
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators
........3-15
Driver Information Center (DIC)
..................3-30
Audio System(s)
.......................................3-36Driving Your Vehicle....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle
........ 4-2
Towing
...................................................4-44
Service and Appearance Care.......................... 5-1
Service
..................................................... 5-3
Fuel
......................................................... 5-5
Checking Things Under the Hood
...............5-10
Rear Axle
...............................................5-48
Four-Wheel Drive
.....................................5-48
Front Axle
...............................................5-49
Bulb Replacement
....................................5-50
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
.........5-55
Tires
......................................................5-57
Appearance Care
.....................................5-94
Vehicle Identication
...............................5-102
Electrical System
....................................5-103
Capacities and Specications
...................5-107
Maintenance Schedule..................................... 6-1
Maintenance Schedule
................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance and Information.............. 7-1
Customer Assistance and Information
........... 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects
...........................7-11
Index.................................................................1
2004 Chevrolet Colorado Owner ManualM

{CAUTION:
If the air bag readiness light ever comes on
when you have turned off the air bag, it means
that something may be wrong with the air bag
system. The right front passenger’s frontal air
bag could inate even though the switch is off.
If this ever happens, do not let anyone whom
the national government has identied as a
member of a passenger air bag risk group sit
in the right front passenger’s position (for
example, do not secure a rear-facing child
restraint in your vehicle) until you have your
vehicle serviced. SeeAir Bag Off Switch on
page 1-71.
1. Your vehicle has a right front passenger’s frontal air
bag. SeeAir Bag Off Switch on page 1-71. If your
child restraint is forward-facing, always move the
seat as far back as it will go before securing it in this
seat. SeeManual Seats on page 1-3orPower Seats
on page 1-4. Never use a rear-facing child restraint in
this seat unless the air bag is off.2. Find the LATCH anchorages in the passenger seat.
SeeLower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System) on page 1-46.
3. Put the child restraint on the seat.
4. Attach and tighten the LATCH attachments on the
child restraint to the LATCH anchorages in the
vehicle. The child restraint instructions will show
you how.
5. If the child restraint is forward-facing, attach and
tighten the top tether to the top tether anchorage
if your vehicle has one. The child restraint
instructions will show you how. Also seeTop Strap
on page 1-42.
6. Push and pull the child restraint in different
directions to be sure it is secure.
To remove the child restraint, simply unhook the top
tether from the top tether anchorage and then
disconnect the LATCH anchorages.
1-49

{CAUTION:
If the air bag readiness light ever comes on
when you have turned off the air bag, it means
that something may be wrong with the air bag
system. The right front passenger’s frontal air
bag could inate even though the switch is off.
If this ever happens, do not let anyone whom
the national government has identied as a
member of a passenger air bag risk group sit
in the right front passenger’s position (for
example, do not secure a rear-facing child
restraint in your vehicle) until you have your
vehicle serviced. SeeAir Bag Off Switch on
page 1-71.If your child restraint is equipped with the LATCH
system, seeLower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System) on page 1-46. SeeTop Strap
on page 1-42if the child restraint has one.
If your child restraint does not have the LATCH system,
you will be using the lap-shoulder belt to secure the
child restraint in this position. Be sure to follow the
instructions that came with the child restraint. Secure
the child in the child restraint when and as the
instructions say.
1. Your vehicle has a right front passenger’s frontal air
bag. SeeAir Bag Off Switch on page 1-71. If your
child restraint is forward-facing, always move
the seat as far back as it will go before securing it
in this seat. SeeManual Seats on page 1-3or
Power Seats on page 1-4.
2. Put the child restraint on the seat.
3. Pick up the latch plate, and run the lap and shoulder
portions of the vehicle’s safety belt through or
around the restraint. The child restraint instructions
will show you how.
1-55

In many crashes severe enough to inate an air bag,
windshields are broken by vehicle deformation.
Additional windshield breakage may also occur from the
right front passenger air bag.
Air bags are designed to inate only once. After an
air bag inates, you will need some new parts for
your air bag system. If you do not get them, the air
bag system will not be there to help protect you
in another crash. A new system will include air bag
modules and possibly other parts. The service
manual for your vehicle covers the need to replace
other parts.
Your vehicle is equipped with electronic frontal
sensors which help the sensing system distinguish
between a moderate and a more severe frontal
impact. If your vehicle has side impact air bags, it
also has electronic side sensors. Your vehicle
is equipped with a crash sensing and diagnostic
module, which records information about the air bag
system. The module records information about
the readiness of the system and when the system
commands air bag ination. It records the status
of the driver’s safety belt usage in a crash in which
the air bag deploys or a crash in which the air
bag nearly deploys. The module also records speed,
engine rpm, brake and throttle data.
Let only qualied technicians work on your air bag
system. Improper service can mean that your air
bag system will not work properly. See your dealer
for service.
Notice:If you damage the covering for the driver’s
or the right front passenger’s air bag, or the side
impact air bag covering on the ceiling near the side
windows, the bag may not work properly. You
may have to replace the air bag module in the
steering wheel, both the air bag module and
the instrument panel for the right front passenger’s
air bag, or side impact air bag module and ceiling
covering for the roof-mounted side impact air
bag. Do not open or break the air bag coverings.
1-70

{CAUTION:
If the air bag readiness light ever comes on
when you have turned off the air bag, it means
that something may be wrong with the air bag
system. The right front passenger’s frontal air
bag could inate even though the switch is off.
If this ever happens, do not let anyone whom
the national government has identied as a
member of a passenger air bag risk group sit
in the right front passenger’s position (for
example, do not secure a rear-facing child
restraint in the right front passenger’s seat)
until you have your vehicle serviced.To turn the right front
passenger’s frontal air bag
on again, insert your
ignition key into the switch,
push in, and move the
switch to the ON position.
1-73

Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped
Vehicle
Air bags affect how your vehicle should be serviced.
There are parts of the air bag systems in several places
around your vehicle. Your dealer and the service manual
have information about servicing your vehicle and the air
bag systems.To purchase a service manual, seeService
Publications Ordering Information on page 7-12.
{CAUTION:
For up to 10 seconds after the ignition key is
turned off and the battery is disconnected, an
air bag can still inate during improper
service. You can be injured if you are close to
an air bag when it inates. Avoid wires
wrapped with yellow tape or yellow
connectors. They are probably part of the air
bag system. Be sure to follow proper service
procedures, and make sure the person
performing work for you is qualied to do so.
The air bag systems do not need regular maintenance.
1-74

There is one double-sided
key for the ignition, driver’s
door lock, and tailgate.
When a new vehicle is delivered, the dealer provides
the owner with a pair of identical keys and a key
code number.
The key code number tells your dealer or a qualied
locksmith how to make extra keys. Keep this number in
a safe place. If you lose your keys, you will be able
to have new ones made easily using this number. Your
dealer should also have this number.
Notice:If you ever lock your keys in your vehicle,
you may have to damage the vehicle to get in.
Be sure you have spare keys.
If you ever do get locked out of your vehicle call the GM
Roadside Assistance Center. SeeRoadside Assistance
Program on page 7-6.If your vehicle is equipped with the OnStar system with
an active subscription and you lock your keys inside
the vehicle, OnStar may be able to send a command to
unlock your vehicle. SeeOnStar
®System on page 2-42
for more information.
Remote Keyless Entry System
If equipped, the keyless entry system operates on a
radio frequency subject to Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) Rules and with Industry Canada.
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause interference, and
2. This device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired
operation of the device.
This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry Canada.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause interference, and
2. This device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired
operation of the device.
Changes or modications to this system by other than
an authorized service facility could void authorization to
use this equipment.
2-3

At times you may notice a decrease in range. This is
normal for any remote keyless entry system. If the
transmitter does not work or if you have to stand closer
to your vehicle for the transmitter to work, try this:
Check the distance. You may be too far from your
vehicle. You may need to stand closer during
rainy or snowy weather.
Check the location. Other vehicles or objects may
be blocking the signal. Take a few steps to the
left or right, hold the transmitter higher, and
try again.
Check to determine if battery replacement is
necessary. See “Battery Replacement” under
Remote Keyless Entry System Operation
on page 2-4.
If you are still having trouble, see your dealer or a
qualied technician for service.
Remote Keyless Entry System
Operation
With this system you can lock and unlock your doors
from about 3 feet (1 m) up to 30 feet (9 m) away
using the remote keyless entry transmitter supplied with
your vehicle.
UNLOCK:Press this
button to unlock the driver’s
door and turn on the
interior lights. The parking
lamps may also ash,
and the horn may chirp,
when this button is pressed.
Press the unlock button again within three seconds and
all of the doors will unlock.
LOCK:Press this button to lock all the doors. The
parking lamps may also ash and the horn may chirp
when this button is pressed. Press the button again
within three seconds and the horn may chirp.
2-4