2007 CHEVROLET COLORADO maintenance

The airbag system is designed to work properly
under a wide range of conditions, including off-road
usage. Observe safe driving speeds, especially
on rough terrain. As always, wear your safety belt.
Off-road driving can be great fun. But it does
have some denite hazards. The greatest of
these is the terrain itself.
“Off-roading” means you have left the great
North American road system behind. Traffic lanes
are not marked. Curves are not banked. There
are no road signs. Surfaces can be slippery, rough,
uphill, or downhill. In short, you have gone right
back to nature.
Off-road driving involves some new skills. And
that is why it is very important that you read
this guide. You will nd many driving tips and
suggestions. These will help make your off-road
driving safer and more enjoyable.Before You Go Off-Roading
There are some things to do before you go out.
For example, be sure to have all necessary
maintenance and service work done. Check to
make sure all underbody shields, if the vehicle
has them, are properly attached. Be sure you
read all the information about your four-wheel-drive
vehicle in this manual. Is there enough fuel?
Is the spare tire fully inated? Are the uid levels
up where they should be? What are the local
laws that apply to off-roading where you will be
driving? If you do not know, you should check
with law enforcement people in the area. Will you
be on someone’s private land? If so, be sure
to get the necessary permission.
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After Off-Road Driving
Remove any brush or debris that has collected
on the underbody, chassis, or under the hood.
These accumulations can be a re hazard.
After operation in mud or sand, have the brake
linings cleaned and checked. These substances
can cause glazing and uneven braking. Check
the body structure, steering, suspension,
wheels, tires, and exhaust system for damage.
Also, check the fuel lines and cooling system
for any leakage.
Your vehicle will require more frequent service
due to off-road use. Refer to the maintenance
schedule for additional information.
Driving at Night
Night driving is more dangerous than day driving.
One reason is that some drivers are likely to
be impaired — by alcohol or drugs, with night
vision problems, or by fatigue.
Here are some tips on night driving.
Drive defensively.
Do not drink and drive.
Adjust the inside rearview mirror to reduce
the glare from headlamps behind you.
Since you cannot see as well, slow down
and keep more space between you and
other vehicles.
Slow down, especially on higher speed roads.
Your vehicle’s headlamps can light up only
so much road ahead.
In remote areas, watch for animals.
If you are tired, pull off the road in a safe
place and rest.
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Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often
when you’re pulling a trailer. SeeScheduled
Maintenance on page 442for 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 306later in this section.
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Appearance Care........................................ 422
Cleaning the Inside of Your Vehicle.......... 422
Fabric/Carpet............................................. 423
Leather...................................................... 424
Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and Other
Plastic Surfaces..................................... 425
Care of Safety Belts.................................. 425
Weatherstrips............................................ 425
Washing Your Vehicle............................... 426
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses................ 426
Finish Care............................................... 426
Windshield and Wiper Blades.................... 427
Aluminum or Chrome-Plated
Wheels and Trim................................... 428
Tires......................................................... 429Sheet Metal Damage................................. 429
Finish Damage.......................................... 429
Underbody Maintenance............................ 430
Chemical Paint Spotting............................ 430
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials............ 431
Vehicle Identication.................................. 432
Vehicle Identication Number (VIN)........... 432
Service Parts Identication Label............... 432
Electrical System........................................ 432
Add-On Electrical Equipment..................... 432
Windshield Wiper Fuses............................ 433
Fuses and Circuit Breakers....................... 433
Engine Compartment Fuse Block............... 433
Capacities and Specications.................... 437
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
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Doing Your Own Service Work
{CAUTION:
You can be injured and your vehicle could
be damaged if you try to do service work
on a vehicle without knowing enough
about it.
Be sure you have sufficient knowledge,
experience, the proper replacement
parts, and tools before you attempt
any vehicle maintenance task.
Be sure to use the proper nuts, bolts,
and other fasteners. English and metric
fasteners can be easily confused. If you
use the wrong fasteners, parts can later
break or fall off. You could be hurt.
If you want to do some of your own service work,
you should use the proper service manual.
It tells you much more about how to service
your vehicle than this manual can. To order the
proper service manual, seeService Publications
Ordering Information on page 476.Your vehicle has an airbag system. Before
attempting to do your own service work, see
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle on
page 94.
You should keep a record with all parts receipts
and list the mileage and the date of any service
work you perform. SeeMaintenance Record
on page 456.
Adding Equipment to the
Outside of Your Vehicle
Things you might add to the outside of your
vehicle can affect the airow around it. This may
cause wind noise and affect windshield washer
performance. Check with your dealer before
adding equipment to the outside of your vehicle.
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Fuel
Use of the recommended fuel is an important
part of the proper maintenance of your vehicle.
To help keep the engine clean and maintain
optimum vehicle performance, GM recommends
the use of gasoline advertised as TOP TIER
Detergent Gasoline.
Gasoline Octane
Use regular unleaded gasoline with a posted
octane rating of 87 or higher. If the octane rating is
less than 87, you might notice an audible knocking
noise when you drive, commonly referred to as
spark knock. If this occurs, use a gasoline rated at
87 octane or higher as soon as possible. If you are
using gasoline rated at 87 octane or higher and you
hear heavy knocking, the engine needs service.
Gasoline Specications
At a minimum, gasoline should meet ASTM
specication D 4814 in the United States or
CAN/CGSB-3.5 in Canada. Some gasolines
may contain an octane-enhancing additive
called methylcyclopentadienyl manganese
tricarbonyl (MMT). General Motors recommends
against the use of gasolines containing MMT. See
Additives on page 326for additional information.
California Fuel
If your vehicle is certied to meet California
Emissions Standards, it is designed to operate
on fuels that meet California specications.
See the underhood emission control label.
If this fuel is not available in states adopting
California emissions standards, your vehicle will
operate satisfactorily on fuels meeting federal
specications, but emission control system
performance may be affected. The malfunction
indicator lamp may turn on and your vehicle may
fail a smog-check test. SeeMalfunction Indicator
Lamp on page 192. If this occurs, return to
your authorized GM dealer for diagnosis. If it is
determined that the condition is caused by the
type of fuel used, repairs may not be covered
by your warranty.
Additives
To provide cleaner air, all gasolines in the
United States are now required to contain additives
that will help prevent engine and fuel system
deposits from forming, allowing your emission
control system to work properly.
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Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
The engine air cleaner/lter is located in the
engine compartment on the passenger’s side of
the vehicle. SeeEngine Compartment Overview
on page 332for more information on location.
When to Inspect the Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter
Inspect the air cleaner/lter at the MaintenanceII
intervals and replace it at the rst oil change
after each 50,000 mile (83 000 km) interval.
SeeScheduled Maintenance on page 442for
more information. If you are driving in dusty/dirty
conditions, inspect the lter at each engine
oil change.
How to Inspect the Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter
To inspect or replace the engine air cleaner/lter,
do the following:
1. Unfasten the clips that hold the cover on
and remove the cover.
2. Lift out the engine air cleaner/lter.
3. Inspect or replace the air lter. SeeNormal
Maintenance Replacement Parts on page 454
to determine which lter to use.
4. Reinstall the engine air cleaner/lter cover.
Fasten the clips to hold the cover in place.
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How to Add Automatic
Transmission Fluid
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine
what kind of transmission uid to use. See
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants on page 452.
Add uid only after checking the transmission
uid while it is hot. A cold check is used only as a
reference. If the uid level is low, add only enough
of the proper uid to bring the level up to the HOT
area for a hot check. It does not take much uid,
generally less than one pint (0.5 L). Do not overll.
Notice:Use of the incorrect automatic
transmission uid may damage your vehicle,
and the damages may not be covered by
your warranty. Always use the automatic
transmission uid listed inRecommended
Fluids and Lubricants on page 452.
After adding uid, recheck the uid level as
described under “How to Check Automatic
Transmission Fluid,” earlier in this section.
When the correct uid level is obtained, push
the dipstick back in all the way; then ip the
handle down to lock the dipstick in place.
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 dealer/retailer 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.
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