2006 CHEVROLET COLORADO instrument panel

Airbag Readiness Light
There is an airbag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows the airbag symbol. The system
checks the airbag’s electrical system for malfunctions.
The light tells you if there is an electrical problem.
The system check includes the airbag sensors, the
airbag modules, the wiring and the crash sensing and
diagnostic module. For more information on the
airbag systems, seeAirbag System on page 1-66.
This light will come on
when you start your
vehicle, and it will ash
for a few seconds.
Then the light should go
out. This means the
system is ready.
If the airbag readiness light stays on after you start the
vehicle or comes on when you are driving, your airbag
system may not work properly. Have your vehicle
serviced right away.{CAUTION:
If the airbag readiness light stays on after you
start your vehicle, it means the airbag system
may not be working properly. The airbags
in your vehicle may not inate in a crash,
or they could even inate without a crash.
To help avoid injury to yourself or others,
have your vehicle serviced right away if the
airbag readiness light stays on after you
start your vehicle.
The airbag readiness light should ash for a few seconds
when you turn the ignition key to ON. If the light does
not come on then, have it xed so it will be ready to warn
you if there is a problem.
3-26

Passenger Airbag Status Indicator
Your vehicle has the passenger sensing system. Your
instrument panel has a passenger airbag status indicator.
When the ignition key is turned to ON or START, the
passenger airbag status indicator will light ON and OFF,
or the symbol for on and off, for several seconds as
a system check. Then, after several more seconds,
the status indicator will light either ON or OFF, or either
the on or off symbol to let you know the status of the
right front passenger’s frontal airbag.If your vehicle has a rear seat that will accommodate
a rear-facing child restraint, there is a label on your sun
visor that says, “Never put a rear-facing child seat in
the front.” This is because the risk to the rear-facing
child is so great if the airbag deploys.
{CAUTION:
Even though the passenger sensing system is
designed to turn off the passenger’s frontal
airbag if the system detects a rear-facing child
restraint, no system is failsafe, and no one can
guarantee that an airbag will not deploy under
some unusual circumstance, even though it
is turned off. We recommend that rear-facing
child restraints be secured in the rear seat,
even if the airbag is off. United States
Canada
3-27

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

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

Traction Control System (TCS)
Your vehicle may have a Traction Control System (TCS)
that limits wheel spin. This is especially useful in slippery
road conditions. The system operates only if it senses
that one or both of the rear wheels are spinning or
beginning to lose traction. When this happens, the
system reduces engine power and may also upshift the
transmission to limit wheel spin.
You may feel or hear the system working, but this
is normal.
The TCS button is located
on your instrument panel.
Press this button to
turn the TCS off and on.
When the traction control system is turned off, an
indicator light on the button will illuminate.
If your vehicle is in cruise control when the traction
control system begins to limit wheel spin, the cruise
control will automatically disengage. When road
conditions allow you to safely use it again, you may
re-engage the cruise control. SeeCruise Control
on page 3-11.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.
SeeAutomatic Transmission Operation on page 2-21
and/orManual Transmission Operation on page 2-24
for more information.
If there is a problem with TCS, TRACTION FAULT will
be displayed on your Driver Information Center (DIC).
SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 3-41for
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.
SeeRocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out on page 4-42
andIf Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice, or
Snow on page 4-42for more information.
Adding non-GM accessories can affect your vehicle’s
performance. SeeAccessories and Modications
on page 5-3for more information.
4-9

Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle has to have extra
wiring and a heavy-duty turn signal asher.
The arrows on your instrument panel will ash whenever
you signal a turn or lane change. Properly hooked up, the
trailer lamps will also ash, telling other drivers you’re
about to turn, change lanes or stop.
When towing a trailer, the arrows on your instrument
panel will ash for turns even if the bulbs on the trailer are
burned out. Thus, you may think drivers behind you are
seeing your signal when they are not. It’s important to
check occasionally to be sure the trailer bulbs are still
working.
Driving On Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear before you start
down a long or steep downgrade. If you don’t shift down,
you might have to use your brakes so much that they
would get hot and no longer work well.
When towing at high altitude on steep uphill grades,
consider the following: Engine coolant will boil at a lower
temperature than at normal altitudes. If you turn your
engine off immediately after towing at high altitude on
steep uphill grades, your vehicle may show signs similar
to engine overheating. To avoid this, let the engine run
while parked (preferably on level ground) with the
automatic transmission in PARK (P) (or the manual
transmission out of gear and the parking brake applied)
for a few minutes before turning the engine off. If you do
get the overheat warning, seeEngine Overheating on
page 5-27.
4-68

Tires..............................................................5-52
Tire Sidewall Labeling...................................5-53
Tire Terminology and Denitions.....................5-56
Ination - Tire Pressure.................................5-58
Tire Inspection and Rotation...........................5-60
When It Is Time for New Tires.......................5-61
Buying New Tires.........................................5-62
Different Size Tires and Wheels......................5-63
Uniform Tire Quality Grading..........................5-64
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance..................5-65
Wheel Replacement......................................5-65
Tire Chains..................................................5-67
If a Tire Goes Flat........................................5-68
Changing a Flat Tire.....................................5-68
Removing the Spare Tire and Tools................5-70
Removing the Flat Tire and Installing the
Spare Tire................................................5-73
Secondary Latch System...............................5-81
Storing a Flat or Spare Tire and Tools............5-84
Spare Tire...................................................5-87
Appearance Care............................................5-89
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle.................5-89
Fabric/Carpet...............................................5-90
Leather.......................................................5-91Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other Plastic
Surfaces..................................................5-91
Care of Safety Belts......................................5-92
Weatherstrips...............................................5-92
Washing Your Vehicle...................................5-92
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses.....................5-92
Finish Care..................................................5-93
Windshield and Wiper Blades.........................5-93
Aluminum Wheels.........................................5-94
Tires...........................................................5-94
Sheet Metal Damage.....................................5-95
Finish Damage.............................................5-95
Underbody Maintenance................................5-95
Chemical Paint Spotting.................................5-96
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials..................5-96
Vehicle Identication......................................5-97
Vehicle Identication Number (VIN).................5-97
Service Parts Identication Label.....................5-97
Electrical System............................................5-98
Add-On Electrical Equipment..........................5-98
Windshield Wiper Fuses................................5-98
Fuses and Circuit Breakers............................5-99
Engine Compartment Fuse Block....................5-99
Capacities and Specications........................5-103
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-2

{CAUTION:
If you spill fuel and then something ignites it,
you could be badly burned. Fuel can spray out
on you if you open the fuel cap too quickly.
This spray can happen if your tank is nearly
full, and is more likely in hot weather. Open
the fuel cap slowly and wait for any hiss noise
to stop. Then unscrew the cap all the way.
Be careful not to spill fuel. Do not top off or overll the
tank and wait a few seconds after you have nished
pumping before removing the nozzle. Clean fuel from
painted surfaces as soon as possible. SeeWashing
Your Vehicle on page 5-92.
When replacing the fuel cap, turn it clockwise
until it clicks. Make sure the cap is fully installed.
The diagnostic system can determine if the fuel
cap has been left off or improperly installed.This would allow fuel to evaporate into the atmosphere.
If the fuel cap is not properly installed, the FUEL CAP
message will appear on the Driver Information Center
(DIC) and the check engine light will be lit on the
instrument panel cluster. SeeDIC Warnings and
Messages on page 3-41andMalfunction Indicator
Lamp on page 3-32for more information.
{CAUTION:
If a re starts while you are refueling, do not
remove the nozzle. Shut off the ow of fuel
by shutting off the pump or by notifying the
station attendant. Leave the area immediately.
Notice:If you need a new fuel cap, be sure to get the
right type. Your dealer can get one for you. If you get
the wrong type, it may not t properly. This may
cause your malfunction indicator lamp to light and
may damage your fuel tank and emissions system.
SeeMalfunction Indicator Lamp on page 3-32.
5-9