2006 CHEVROLET COLORADO warning

The diagnostic system is designed to evaluate critical
emission control systems during normal driving.
This may take several days of routine driving. If you
have done this and your vehicle still does not pass
the inspection for lack of OBD system readiness, your
GM dealer can prepare the vehicle for inspection.
Oil Pressure Light
{CAUTION:
Do not keep driving if the oil pressure is low.
If you do, your engine can become so hot that
it catches re. You or others could be burned.
Check your oil as soon as possible and have
your vehicle serviced.
Notice:Lack of proper engine oil maintenance
may damage the engine. The repairs would not
be covered by your warranty. Always follow
the maintenance schedule in this manual for
changing engine oil.This light tells you if there
could be a problem with
your engine oil pressure.
The light goes on when you turn your key to ON or
START. It goes off once you start your engine. That’s
a check to be sure the light works. If it doesn’t come on,
be sure to have it xed so it will be there to warn you
if something goes wrong.
When the light comes on and stays on, it means that oil
isn’t owing through your engine properly. You could
be low on oil and you might have some other system
problem. SeeEngine Oil on page 5-13and “OIL” under
DIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-41for more
information.
3-35

Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
Indicator Light
This light turns on
whenever the Daytime
Running Lamps are on.
SeeDaytime Running Lamps (DRL) on page 3-15for
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 3-41for more information.
3-37

Driver Information Center (DIC)
The Driver Information Center (DIC) displays information
such as the trip odometer, personalization features,
and warning messages. The DIC display is located on
the instrument panel cluster.
DIC Controls and Displays
The Driver Information Center (DIC) comes on when the
ignition is on.
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 messages will only
clear after 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 in the following
section. 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 for the United States or kilometers for Canada.
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 for the United States or kilometers for Canada.
Press and hold the reset stem for approximately
four seconds to reset the trip odometer.
Engine Oil Life System
Press the reset stem until OIL LIFE RESET
appears — alternating between OIL LIFE and
RESET — on the DIC display. The engine oil life
system calculates an estimate of the oil’s remaining
useful life. The CHANGE OIL message will alert you
to change your oil on a schedule consistent with
your driving conditions. Always reset the OIL LIFE
message after an oil change. To reset the message,
seeEngine Oil Life System on page 5-16.
3-38

The following are the available modes:
RFA 1 (default):This mode ashes the parking lamps
when you press the lock or unlock buttons on the
remote keyless entry transmitter.
RFA 2:This mode ashes the parking lamps and
sounds the horn when you press the lock button on
the remote keyless entry transmitter. This mode
also ashes the parking lamps when you press the
unlock button on the remote keyless entry transmitter.
RFA 3:This mode ashes the parking lamps and
sounds the horn when you press the lock or unlock
buttons on the remote keyless entry transmitter.
RFA 4:This mode disables remote keyless entry
feedback. There will be no feedback when you press
the lock or unlock buttons on the remote keyless
entry transmitter.DIC Warnings and Messages
Warning messages are displayed on the Driver
Information Center (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 four 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. You should take any messages
that appear on the display seriously and remember that
clearing the messages will only make the messages
disappear, not correct the problem. The following are the
possible messages that can be displayed and some
information about them.
3-41

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. SeeEngine
Overheating on page 5-27andClimate Control System
on page 3-19for more information. It will be displayed
along with the ENG HOT message.
ABS (Anti-Lock Brake System)
This message will be displayed if there is a problem
with your anti-lock brake system. Check your anti-lock
brake system as soon as possible and have your
vehicle serviced by your GM dealer. SeeBrakes on
page 5-35andAnti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
on page 3-31for more information. Press and release
the reset stem to acknowledge the 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 5-39
andBattery Warning Light on page 3-29for more
information.
BRAKES
This message will be displayed 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 5-35andBrake System
Warning Light on page 3-30for 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 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 5-13andScheduled
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 or more 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.
3-42

ENG (Engine) HOT
This message will be displayed when your engine
coolant temperature is hot. Check your engine coolant
temperature gage. SeeEngine Coolant Temperature
Gage on page 3-32for 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 5-27for more
information.
FLUID
This message will be displayed if your brake uid is low.
Check the brake uid as soon as possible and have
your vehicle serviced by your GM dealer. SeeBrakes
on page 5-35for 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 3-32for more information.
Press the reset stem to acknowledge the message
and clear it from the display.
LOW FUEL
This message will be displayed if the level of fuel in
your vehicle is low. You should also check your
fuel gage. SeeFuel Gage on page 3-37for 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 a low traction condition
is detected. SeeTraction Control System (TCS)
on page 4-9for 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 3-35and
Engine Oil on page 5-13for more information.
PARK BRK (Brake)
This message will be displayed when the parking
brake is set. SeeParking Brake on page 2-30and
Brake System Warning Light on page 3-30for more
information. The message will clear from the display
after the parking brake is released or by pressing
and releasing the reset stem.
3-43

Braking
SeeBrake System Warning Light on page 3-30.
Braking action involves perception time and
reaction time.
First, you have to decide to push on the brake pedal.
That is perception time. Then you have to bring up
your foot and do it. That is reaction time.
Average reaction time is about three-fourths 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 three-fourths 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, whether it is
wet, dry, or 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.
Adding non-GM accessories can affect your vehicle’s
performance. SeeAccessories and Modications
on page 5-3.
4-6

Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
Your vehicle has the Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS),
an advanced electronic braking system that will
help prevent a braking skid.
When you start your engine and begin to drive away,
ABS 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 ABS, this
warning light will stay on.
SeeAnti-Lock Brake
System Warning Light
on page 3-31.
Let us say the road is wet and you are driving safely.
Suddenly, an animal jumps out in front of you. You
slam on the brakes and continue braking. Here is what
happens with ABS:
A computer senses that wheels are slowing down.
If one of the wheels is about to stop rolling, the computer
will separately work the brakes at each front wheel
and at both rear wheels.
4-7