2006 CHEVROLET COLORADO manual transmission

Vehicle Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR**
4WD Regular Cab
Automatic Transmission,
2.8L Engine3.73 3,000 lbs (1 361 kg) 7,000 lbs (3 175 kg)
Automatic Transmission,
2.8L Engine4.10 3,000 lbs (1 361 kg) 7,000 lbs (3 175 kg)
Automatic Transmission,
3.5L Engine3.42 4,000 lbs (1 814 kg) 8,500 lbs (3 856 kg)
Automatic Transmission,
3.5L Engine3.73 4,000 lbs (1 814 kg) 9,000 lbs (4 082 kg)
Automatic Transmission,
3.5L Engine4.10 4,000 lbs (1 814 kg) 9,000 lbs (4 082 kg)
Manual Transmission,
2.8L Engine3.73 2,000 lbs (907 kg) 6,000 lbs (2 722 kg)
Manual Transmission,
2.8L Engine4.10 2,000 lbs (907 kg) 6,000 lbs (2 722 kg)
Manual Transmission,
3.5L Engine3.42 3,000 lbs (1 361 kg) 7,000 lbs (3 175 kg)
Manual Transmission,
3.5L Engine3.73 3,500 lbs (1 588 kg) 7,500 lbs (3 402 kg)
Manual Transmission,
3.5L Engine4.10 3,500 lbs (1 587 kg) 7,500 lbs (3 402 kg)
4-60

Vehicle Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR**
4WD Extended Cab
Automatic Transmission,
2.8L Engine3.73 2,900 lbs (1 315 kg) 7,000 lbs (3 175 kg)
Automatic Transmission,
2.8L Engine4.10 2,900 lbs (1 315 kg) 7,000 lbs (3 175 kg)
Automatic Transmission,
3.5L Engine3.42 4,000 lbs (1 814 kg) 8,500 lbs (3 856 kg)
Automatic Transmission,
3.5L Engine3.73 4,000 lbs (1 814 kg) 9,000 lbs (4 082 kg)
Automatic Transmission,
3.5L Engine4.10 4,000 lbs (1 814 kg) 9,000 lbs (4 082 kg)
Manual Transmission,
2.8L Engine4.10 1,900 lbs (861 kg) 6,000 lbs (2 722 kg)
Manual Transmission,
3.5L Engine3.42 2,800 lbs (1 270 kg) 7,000 lbs (3 175 kg)
Manual Transmission,
3.5L Engine3.73 3,300 lbs (1 497 kg) 7,500 lbs (3 402 kg)
Manual Transmission,
3.5L Engine4.10 3,300 lbs (1 497 kg) 7,500 lbs (3 402 kg)
4-61

Vehicle Axle Ratio Maximum Trailer Weight GCWR**
4WD Crew Cab
Automatic Transmission,
2.8L Engine3.73 2,700 lbs (1 225 kg) 7,000 lbs (3 175 kg)
Automatic Transmission,
2.8L Engine4.10 2,700 lbs (1 225 kg) 7,000 lbs (3 175 kg)
Automatic Transmission,
3.5L Engine3.42 4,000 lbs (1 814 kg) 8,500 lbs (3 856 kg)
Automatic Transmission,
3.5L Engine3.73 4,000 lbs (1 814 kg) 9,000 lbs (4 082 kg)
Automatic Transmission,
3.5L Engine4.10 4,000 lbs (1 814 kg) 9,000 lbs (4 082 kg)
Manual Transmission,
2.8L Engine4.10 1,700 lbs (771 kg) 6,000 lbs (2 721 kg)
**The Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) is the
total allowable weight of the completely loaded vehicle
and trailer including any passengers, cargo, equipment
and conversions. The GCWR for your vehicle should
not be exceeded.You can ask your dealer for our trailering information or
advice, or you can write us at the address listed in your
Warranty and Owner Assistance Information Booklet.
In Canada, write to:
General Motors of Canada Limited
Customer Communication Centre, 163-005
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario L1H 8P7
4-62

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

Parking on Hills
{CAUTION:
You really should not park your vehicle, with
a trailer attached, on a hill. If something goes
wrong, your rig could start to move. People
can be injured, and both your vehicle and the
trailer can be damaged.
But if you ever have to park your rig on a hill, here’s
how to do it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift into
PARK (P) yet, or into gear for a manual transmission.
When parking uphill, turn your wheels away from the
curb. When parking downhill, turn your wheels into
the curb.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer
wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the
regular brakes until the chocks absorb the load.4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your
parking brake, and then shift into PARK (P), or
REVERSE (R) for a manual transmission. See
Parking Brake on page 2-30for more information.
5. If you have a four-wheel-drive vehicle, be sure the
transfer case is in a drive gear and not in NEUTRAL.
SeeFour-Wheel Drive on page 2-26for more
information.
6. Release the regular brakes.
When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
while you:
start your engine,
shift into a gear, and
release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store
the chocks.
4-69

Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you’re
pulling a trailer. SeeScheduled Maintenance on page 6-4
for more on this. Things that are especially important
in trailer operation are automatic transmission uid
(don’t overll), engine oil, axle lubricant, belt, cooling
system and brake system. Each of these is covered in
this manual, and the Index will help you nd them quickly.
If you’re trailering, it’s a good idea to review these
sections before you start your trip.
Check periodically to see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight.
Trailer Wiring Harness
Your vehicle may be equipped with a four-pin trailer
towing harness. This harness has a four-pin trailer
connector that is attached to a bracket on the hitch
platform. The four-wire harness contains the following
trailer circuits:
Yellow: Left Stop/Turn Signal
Green: Right Stop/Turn Signal
Brown: Taillamps/Park lamps
White: Ground
Trailer Recommendations
You must subtract your hitch load from the CWR for your
vehicle. Weigh your vehicle with your trailer attached, so
that you won’t go over the GVWR or the GAWR.
You’ll get the best performance if you spread out the
weight of your load the right way, and if you choose the
correct hitch and trailer brakes.
For more information, seeTowing a Trailer on page 4-56
later in this section.
4-70

Service............................................................5-3
Accessories and Modications..........................5-3
California Proposition 65 Warning.....................5-3
Doing Your Own Service Work.........................5-4
Adding Equipment to the Outside
of Your Vehicle...........................................5-5
Fuel................................................................5-5
Gasoline Octane............................................5-5
Gasoline Specications....................................5-5
California Fuel...............................................5-6
Additives.......................................................5-6
Fuels in Foreign Countries...............................5-7
Filling the Tank..............................................5-8
Filling a Portable Fuel Container.....................5-10
Checking Things Under the Hood....................5-10
Hood Release..............................................5-11
Engine Compartment Overview.......................5-12
Engine Oil...................................................5-13
Engine Oil Life System..................................5-16
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter................................5-18
Automatic Transmission Fluid.........................5-19
Manual Transmission Fluid.............................5-22
Hydraulic Clutch...........................................5-23
Engine Coolant.............................................5-24Radiator Pressure Cap..................................5-26
Engine Overheating.......................................5-27
Cooling System............................................5-28
Engine Fan Noise.........................................5-33
Power Steering Fluid.....................................5-33
Windshield Washer Fluid................................5-34
Brakes........................................................5-35
Battery........................................................5-39
Jump Starting...............................................5-40
Rear Axle.......................................................5-44
Four-Wheel Drive............................................5-44
Front Axle......................................................5-45
Bulb Replacement..........................................5-46
Halogen Bulbs..............................................5-46
Headlamps..................................................5-47
Front Turn Signal, Parking and Daytime
Running Lamps (DRL)................................5-48
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL).........5-48
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps and
Back-up Lamps.........................................5-49
Replacement Bulbs.......................................5-50
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement..............5-50
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
5-1

Manual Transmission Fluid
When to Check
A good time to have it checked is when the engine oil is
changed. However, the uid in your manual transmission
does not require changing.
How to Check
Because this operation can be a little difficult, you may
choose to have this done at your GM dealership service
department.
If you do it yourself, be sure to follow all the instructions
here, or you could get a false reading.
Notice:Too much or too little uid can damage
your transmission. Too little uid could cause the
transmission to overheat. Be sure to get an accurate
reading if you check your transmission uid.
Check the uid level only when your engine is off, the
vehicle is parked on a level place and the transmission
is cool enough for you to rest your ngers on the
transmission case.Then, follow these steps:
1. Remove the ller plug.
2. Check that the lubricant level is up to the bottom of
the ller plug hole.
3. If the uid level is good, install the plug and be sure
it is fully seated. If the uid level is low, add more
uid as described in the next steps.
5-22