2007 CHEVROLET COLORADO steering

What is beyond the hill? Is there a cliff,
an embankment, a drop-off, a fence?
Get out and walk the hill if you do not know.
It is the smart way to nd out.
Is the hill simply too rough? Steep hills often
have ruts, gullies, troughs, and exposed
rocks because they are more susceptible
to the effects of erosion.
Driving Uphill
Once you decide you can safely drive up the
hill, you need to take some special steps.
Use a low gear and get a rm grip on the
steering wheel.
Get a smooth start up the hill and try to
maintain your speed. Do not use more power
than you need, because you do not want
the wheels to start spinning or sliding.
{CAUTION:
Turning or driving across steep hills can
be dangerous. You could lose traction,
slide sideways, and possibly roll over.
You could be seriously injured or killed.
When driving up hills, always try to go
straight up.
Try to drive straight up the hill if at all possible.
If the path twists and turns, you might want to
nd another route.
Ease up on your speed as you approach the
top of the hill.
Attach a ag to the vehicle to make you more
visible to approaching traffic on trails or hills.
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As you are backing down the hill, put your left
hand on the steering wheel at the 12 o’clock
position. This way, you will be able to tell if the
wheels are straight and maneuver as you
back down. It is best that you back down the
hill with the wheels straight rather than in
the left or right direction. Turning the wheel
too far to the left or right will increase the
possibility of a rollover.
Here are some things youmust notdo if you stall,
or are about to stall, when going up a hill.
Never attempt to prevent a stall by shifting
into NEUTRAL (N), or pressing the clutch
if your vehicle has a manual transmission,
to rev-up the engine and regain forward
momentum. This will not work. Your vehicle
will roll backwards very quickly and you
could go out of control.
Instead, apply the regular brake to stop
the vehicle. Then apply the parking brake.
Shift to REVERSE (R), release the parking
brake, and slowly back straight down.
Never attempt to turn around if you are about
to stall when going up a hill. If the hill is
steep enough to stall your vehicle, it is steep
enough to cause you to roll over if you
turn around. If you cannot make it up the
hill, you must back straight down the hill.
Q:Suppose, after stalling, I try to back
down the hill and decide I just cannot
do it. What should I do?
A:Set the parking brake, put the automatic
transmission in PARK (P), or the manual
transmission in FIRST (1), and turn off
the engine. Leave the vehicle and go get
some help. Exit on the uphill side and
stay clear of the path the vehicle would
take if it rolled downhill.
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Driving in Mud, Sand, Snow, or Ice
When you drive in mud, snow, or sand, your
wheels will not get good traction. You cannot
accelerate as quickly, turning is more difficult,
and you will need longer braking distances.
It is best to use a low gear when you are in
mud — the deeper the mud, the lower the gear.
In really deep mud, the idea is to keep your
vehicle moving so you do not get stuck.
When you drive on sand, you will sense a change
in wheel traction. But it will depend upon how
loosely packed the sand is. On loosely packed
sand, such as on beaches or sand dunes,
your tires will tend to sink into the sand. This has
an effect on steering, accelerating, and braking.
Drive at a reduced speed and avoid sharp turns
or abrupt maneuvers.Hard packed snow and ice offer the worst tire
traction. On these surfaces, it is very easy to lose
control. On wet ice, for example, the traction is
so poor that you will have difficulty accelerating.
And if you do get moving, poor steering and
difficult braking can cause you to slide out
of control.
{CAUTION:
Driving on frozen lakes, ponds, or rivers
can be dangerous. Underwater springs,
currents under the ice, or sudden thaws
can weaken the ice. Your vehicle could
fall through the ice and you and your
passengers could drown. Drive your
vehicle on safe surfaces only.
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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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Accelerate gently. Try not to break the fragile
traction. If you accelerate too fast, the drive wheels
will spin and polish the surface under the tires
even more.
The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) improves your
vehicle’s stability when you make a hard stop
on a slippery road. Even though you have ABS,
you will want to begin stopping sooner than
you would on dry pavement. SeeAnti-Lock Brake
System (ABS) on page 251.
Allow greater following distance on any
slippery road.
Watch for slippery spots. The road might
be ne until you hit a spot that is covered
with ice. On an otherwise clear road, ice
patches may appear in shaded areas where
the sun cannot reach, such as around clumps
of trees, behind buildings, or under bridges.
Sometimes the surface of a curve or an
overpass may remain icy when the
surrounding roads are clear. If you see a
patch of ice ahead of you, brake before
you are on it. Try not to brake while you
are actually on the ice, and avoid sudden
steering maneuvers.
If You Are Caught in a Blizzard
If you are stopped by heavy snow, you could
be in a serious situation. You should probably
stay with your vehicle unless you know for
sure that you are near help and you can hike
through the snow. Here are some things to do
to summon help and keep yourself and your
passengers safe:
Turn on your hazard ashers.
Tie a red cloth to your vehicle to alert police
that you have been stopped by the snow.
Put on extra clothing or wrap a blanket
around you. If you do not have blankets
or extra clothing, make body insulators
from newspapers, burlap bags, rags, oor
mats — anything you can wrap around
yourself or tuck under your clothing to
keep warm.
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Notice:Spinning the wheels can destroy
parts of your vehicle as well as the tires.
If you spin the wheels too fast while shifting
the transmission back and forth, you can
destroy the transmission.
For information about using tire chains on your
vehicle, seeTire Chains on page 398.
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out
First, turn the steering wheel left and right to clear
the area around the front wheels. For four-wheel
drive vehicles, shift into 4HI. For vehicles with
traction control, turn the system off. SeeTraction
Control System (TCS) on page 253. Then shift back
and forth between REVERSE (R) and a forward
gear, or with a manual transmission, between
FIRST (1) or SECOND (2) and REVERSE (R),
spinning the wheels as little as possible.To prevent transmission wear, wait until the wheels
stop spinning before shifting gears. Release the
accelerator pedal while you shift, and press lightly
on the accelerator pedal when the transmission is in
gear. By slowly spinning the wheels in the forward
and reverse directions, you will cause a rocking
motion that could free your vehicle. If that does not
get your vehicle out after a few tries, it might need
to be towed out. Or, you can use the recovery
hooks, if your vehicle has them. If your vehicle does
need to be towed out, seeTowing Your Vehicle
on page 299.
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Driving with a Trailer
Towing a trailer requires a certain amount of
experience. Before setting out for the open road,
you’ll want to get to know your rig. Acquaint
yourself with the feel of handling and braking
with the added weight of the trailer. And always
keep in mind that the vehicle you are driving
is now a good deal longer and not nearly
as responsive as your vehicle is by itself.
Before you start, check all trailer hitch parts and
attachments, safety chains, electrical connector,
lamps, tires and mirror adjustment. If the trailer
has electric brakes, start your vehicle and
trailer moving and then apply the trailer brake
controller by hand to be sure the brakes are
working. This lets you check your electrical
connection at the same time.
During your trip, check occasionally to be sure
that the load is secure, and that the lamps and
any trailer brakes are still working.
Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the vehicle ahead
as you would when driving your vehicle without
a trailer. This can help you avoid situations
that require heavy braking and sudden turns.
Passing
You’ll need more passing distance up ahead when
you’re towing a trailer. And, because you’re a
good deal longer, you’ll need to go much farther
beyond the passed vehicle before you can
return to your lane.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering wheel with
one hand. Then, to move the trailer to the left,
just move that hand to the left. To move the
trailer to the right, move your hand to the right.
Always back up slowly and, if possible, have
someone guide you.
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Service........................................................ 324
Accessories and Modications................... 324
California Proposition 65 Warning.............. 324
Doing Your Own Service Work.................. 325
Adding Equipment to the
Outside of Your Vehicle......................... 325
Fuel............................................................. 326
Gasoline Octane........................................ 326
Gasoline Specications.............................. 326
California Fuel........................................... 326
Additives................................................... 326
Fuels in Foreign Countries........................ 327
Filling the Tank......................................... 328
Filling a Portable Fuel Container............... 330
Checking Things Under the Hood.............. 331
Hood Release........................................... 331
Engine Compartment Overview.................. 332
Engine Oil................................................. 333
Engine Oil Life System.............................. 336Engine Air Cleaner/Filter............................ 338
Automatic Transmission Fluid.................... 339
Manual Transmission Fluid........................ 342
Hydraulic Clutch........................................ 344
Engine Coolant.......................................... 345
Radiator Pressure Cap.............................. 348
Engine Overheating................................... 348
Cooling System......................................... 350
Engine Fan Noise..................................... 355
Power Steering Fluid................................. 355
Windshield Washer Fluid........................... 356
Brakes...................................................... 357
Battery...................................................... 361
Jump Starting............................................ 362
Rear Axle.................................................... 368
Four-Wheel Drive........................................ 368
Front Axle................................................... 369
Section 5 Service and Appearance Care
321