2007 CHEVROLET COLORADO Owners Manual

Brake Adjustment
Every time you make a brake stop, the brakes
adjust for wear.
Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a vehicle is complex.
Its many parts have to be of top quality and work
well together if the vehicle is to have really good
braking. Your vehicle was designed and tested
with top-quality brake parts. When you replace
parts of the braking system — for example, when
the brake linings wear down and you need new
ones put in — be sure you get new approved
replacement parts. If you do not, the brakes might
not work properly. For example, if someone puts
in brake linings that are wrong for your vehicle,
the balance between the front and rear brakes can
change — for the worse. The braking performance
you have come to expect can change in many other
ways if someone puts in the wrong replacement
brake parts.
Battery
Your vehicle has a maintenance free battery.
When it is time for a new battery, get one that has
the replacement number shown on the original
battery’s label. We recommend an ACDelco
®
replacement battery. SeeEngine Compartment
Overview on page 332for battery location.
Warning:Battery posts, terminals, and related
accessories contain lead and lead compounds,
chemicals known to the State of California
to cause cancer and reproductive harm.
Wash hands after handling.
361

Vehicle Storage
If you are not going to drive your vehicle for
25 days or more, remove the black, negative (−)
cable from the battery. This will help keep the
battery from running down.
{CAUTION:
Batteries have acid that can burn you and
gas that can explode. You can be badly
hurt if you are not careful. SeeJump
Starting on page 362for tips on working
around a battery without getting hurt.
Jump Starting
If your vehicle’s battery has run down, you may
want to use another vehicle and some jumper
cables to start your vehicle. Be sure to use
the following steps to do it safely.
{CAUTION:
Batteries can hurt you. They can be
dangerous because:
They contain acid that can burn you.
They contain gas that can explode
or ignite.
They contain enough electricity to
burn you.
If you do not follow these steps exactly,
some or all of these things can hurt you.
362

Notice:Ignoring these steps could result in
costly damage to your vehicle that would
not be covered by your warranty.
Trying to start your vehicle by pushing or
pulling it will not work, and it could damage
your vehicle.
1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a
12-volt battery with a negative ground system.
Notice:If the other vehicle’s system is not
a 12-volt system with a negative ground, both
vehicles can be damaged. Only use vehicles
with 12-volt systems with negative grounds to
jump start your vehicle.
2. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper
cables can reach, but be sure the vehicles
are not touching each other. If they are,
it could cause a ground connection you do
not want. You would not be able to start
your vehicle, and the bad grounding could
damage the electrical systems.To avoid the possibility of the vehicles rolling,
set the parking brake rmly on both vehicles
involved in the jump start procedure. Put
an automatic transmission in PARK (P) or a
manual transmission in NEUTRAL before
setting the parking brake. If you have a
four-wheel-drive vehicle, be sure the transfer
case is not in NEUTRAL.
Notice:If you leave your radio or other
accessories on during the jump starting
procedure, they could be damaged. The
repairs would not be covered by your
warranty. Always turn off your radio and
other accessories when jump starting
your vehicle.
3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles.
Unplug unnecessary accessories plugged
into the cigarette lighter or the accessory
power outlets. Turn off the radio and all
lamps that are not needed. This will avoid
sparks and help save both batteries.
And it could save the radio!
363

4. Open the hoods and locate the positive (+)
and negative (−) terminal locations on the
other vehicle. Your vehicle has a remote
positive (+) and a remote negative (−) jump
starting terminal. SeeEngine Compartment
Overview on page 332for more information
on the terminal locations.
{CAUTION:
Using a match near a battery can cause
battery gas to explode. People have
been hurt doing this, and some have
been blinded. Use a ashlight if you need
more light.
CAUTION: (Continued)
CAUTION: (Continued)
Be sure the batteries have enough water.
You do not need to add water to the
ACDelco
®battery (or batteries) installed
in your new vehicle. But if a battery has
ller caps, be sure the right amount of
uid is there. If it is low, add water to take
care of that rst. If you do not, explosive
gas could be present.
Battery uid contains acid that can
burn you. Do not get it on you. If you
accidentally get it in your eyes or on your
skin, ush the place with water and get
medical help immediately.
364

{CAUTION:
Fans or other moving engine parts can
injure you badly. Keep your hands away
from moving parts once the engine is
running.
5. Check that the jumper cables do not have
loose or missing insulation. If they do, you
could get a shock. The vehicles could
be damaged too.
Before you connect the cables, here are
some basic things you should know.
Positive (+) will go to positive (+) or to a
remote positive (+) terminal if the vehicle
has one. Negative (−) will go to a heavy,
unpainted metal engine part or to a remote
negative (−) terminal if the vehicle has one.
Do not connect positive (+) to negative (−)
or you will get a short that would damage
the battery and maybe other parts too.
And do not connect the negative (−) cable
to the negative (−) terminal on the dead
battery because this can cause sparks.6. Connect the red positive (+) cable to the
positive (+) terminal of the dead battery.
Use a remote positive (+) terminal if
the vehicle has one.
7. Do not let the other end touch metal. Connect
it to the positive (+) terminal of the good
battery. Use a remote positive (+) terminal if
the vehicle has one.
365

8. Now connect the black negative (−) cable to
the negative (−) terminal of the good battery.
Use a remote negative (−) terminal if the
vehicle has one.
Do not let the other end touch anything
until the next step. The other end of the
negative (−) cable does not go to the dead
battery. It goes to a heavy, unpainted
metal engine part, or to a remote negative (−)
terminal on the vehicle with the dead
battery.
9. Connect the other end of the negative (−)
cable at least 18 inches (45 cm) away
from the dead battery, but not near engine
parts that move. The electrical connection
is just as good there, and the chance
of sparks getting back to the battery is
much less.
Your vehicle has a remote negative (−)
terminal for this purpose.10. Now start the vehicle with the good battery
and run the engine for a while.
11. Try to start the vehicle that had the dead
battery. If it will not start after a few tries,
it probably needs service.
Notice:If the jumper cables are connected
or removed in the wrong order, electrical
shorting may occur and damage the vehicle.
The repairs would not be covered by your
warranty. Always connect and remove
the jumper cables in the correct order, making
sure that the cables do not touch each other
or other metal.
366

A. Heavy, Unpainted Metal Engine Part or
Remote Negative (−) Terminal
B. Good Battery or Remote Positive (+) and
Remote Negative (−) Terminals
C. Dead Battery or Remote Positive (+) TerminalTo disconnect the jumper cables from both
vehicles, do the following:
1. Disconnect the black negative (−) cable from
the vehicle that had the dead battery.
2. Disconnect the black negative (−) cable from
the vehicle with the good battery.
3. Disconnect the red positive (+) cable from
the vehicle with the good battery.
4. Disconnect the red positive (+) cable from
the other vehicle.
Jumper Cable Removal
367

Rear Axle
When to Check and Change Lubricant
It is not necessary to regularly check rear axle
uid unless you suspect there is a leak or you
hear an unusual noise. A uid loss could indicate
a problem. Have it inspected and repaired.
How to Check Lubricant
To get an accurate reading, the vehicle should
be on a level surface.The proper level is from 0 to 3/8 inch
(0 mm to 10 mm) below the bottom of the
ller plug hole, located on the rear axle.
What to Use
SeeRecommended Fluids and Lubricants
on page 452to determine which kind of
lubricant to use.
Four-Wheel Drive
Lubricant checks in this section apply to this
vehicle. There are two additional systems
that need lubrication.
Transfer Case
When to Check Lubricant
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine
how often to check the lubricant. SeeAdditional
Required Services on page 444.
How to Check Lubricant
To get an accurate reading, the vehicle should
be on a level surface.
368