2007 CHEVROLET COLORADO warning

Making Turns
Notice:Making very sharp turns while
trailering could cause the trailer to come in
contact with the vehicle. Your vehicle could
be damaged. Avoid making very sharp
turns while trailering.
When you’re turning with a trailer, make wider turns
than normal. Do this so your trailer won’t strike soft
shoulders, curbs, road signs, trees or other objects.
Avoid jerky or sudden maneuvers. Signal well
in advance.
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 348.
318

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

Service
Your dealer knows your vehicle best and wants
you to be happy with it. We hope you will go to
your dealer for all your service needs. You will
get genuine GM parts and GM-trained and
supported service people.
We hope you will want to keep your GM vehicle all
GM. Genuine GM parts have one of these marks:
Accessories and Modications
When you add non-GM accessories to your vehicle
they can affect your vehicle’s performance and
safety, including such things as, airbags, braking,
stability, ride and handling, emissions systems,
aerodynamics, durability, and electronic systems
like anti-lock brakes, traction control and stability
control. Some of these accessories may even cause
malfunction or damage not covered by warranty.
GM Accessories are designed to complement
and function with other systems on your vehicle.
Your GM dealer/retailer can accessorize your
vehicle using genuine GM Accessories. When
you go to your GM dealer/retailer and ask for GM
Accessories, you will know that GM-trained and
supported service technicians will perform the
work using genuine GM Accessories.
California Proposition 65 Warning
Most motor vehicles, including this one, contain
and/or emit chemicals known to the State of
California to cause cancer and birth defects or
other reproductive harm. Engine exhaust, many
parts and systems (including some inside the
vehicle), many uids, and some component wear
by-products contain and/or emit these chemicals.
324

{CAUTION:
Fuel can spray out on you if you open the
fuel cap too quickly. If you spill fuel and
then something ignites it, you could be
badly burned. 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 426.
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 202
andMalfunction Indicator Lamp on page 192
for 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/retailer
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 192.
329

If you are in an area of extreme cold, where the
temperature falls below−20°F (−29°C), it is
recommended that you use either an SAE 5W-30
synthetic oil or an SAE 0W-30 oil. Both provide
easier cold starting and better protection for
the engine at extremely low temperatures.
Engine Oil Additives
Do not add anything to the oil. The recommended
oils with the starburst symbol that meet
GM Standard GM6094M are all you need for
good performance and engine protection.
Engine Oil Life System
When to Change Engine Oil
Your vehicle has a computer system that lets you
know when to change the engine oil and lter.
This is based on engine revolutions and engine
temperature, and not on mileage. Based on driving
conditions, the mileage at which an oil changewill be indicated can vary considerably. For the oil
life system to work properly, you must reset the
system every time the oil is changed.
When the system has calculated that oil life has
been diminished, it will indicate that an oil change
is necessary. A CHANGE OIL message will
come on. SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on
page 202. Change the oil as soon as possible
within the next 600 miles (1 000 km). It is possible
that, if you are driving under the best conditions,
the oil life system might not indicate that an
oil change is necessary for over a year. However,
the engine oil and lter must be changed at
least once a year and at this time the system must
be reset. Your dealer/retailer has trained people
who will perform this work using genuine parts and
reset the system. It is also important to check
the oil regularly and keep it at the proper level.
If the system is ever reset accidentally, you must
change the oil at 3,000 miles (5 000 km) since
your last oil change. Remember to reset the oil
life system whenever the oil is changed.
336

How to Reset the Engine Oil Life
System
The Engine Oil Life System calculates when to
change the engine oil and lter based on vehicle
use. Whenever the oil is changed, reset the
system so it can calculate when the next oil
change is required. If a situation occurs where you
change the oil prior to a CHANGE OIL message
being turned on, reset the system.
To reset the Engine Oil Life system:
1. With the engine off, turn the ignition to ON.
2. Press and release the stem in the lower center
of the instrument cluster until the OIL LIFE
message is displayed.
3. Once the alternating OIL LIFE and RESET
messages appear, press and hold the stem
until several beeps sound. This conrms
that the oil life system has been reset.
4. Turn the key to LOCK.
If the CHANGE OIL message comes back on
when you start your vehicle, the engine oil
life system has not reset. Repeat the procedure.
SeeDIC Warnings and Messages on page 202.
What to Do with Used Oil
Used engine oil contains certain elements
that can be unhealthy for your skin and could
even cause cancer. Do not let used oil stay
on your skin for very long. Clean your skin
and nails with soap and water, or a good hand
cleaner. Wash or properly dispose of clothing
or rags containing used engine oil. See the
manufacturer’s warnings about the use and
disposal of oil products.
Used oil can be a threat to the environment.
If you change your own oil, be sure to drain all
the oil from the lter before disposal. Never
dispose of oil by putting it in the trash, pouring
it on the ground, into sewers, or into streams
or bodies of water. Instead, recycle it by taking
it to a place that collects used oil. If you have
a problem properly disposing of used oil, ask
your dealer/retailer, a service station, or a local
recycling center for help.
337

How to Check and Add Fluid
The proper uid should be added if the level does
not reach the bottom of the diaphragm when it
is in place in the reservoir. See the instructions
on the reservoir cap.
Engine Coolant
The cooling system in your vehicle is lled with
DEX-COOL®engine coolant. This coolant is
designed to remain in your vehicle for ve years
or 150,000 miles (240 000 km), whichever occurs
rst, if you add only DEX-COOL
®extended life
coolant.
The following explains your cooling system and
how to add coolant when it is low. If you have
a problem with engine overheating, seeEngine
Overheating on page 348.A 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL
®coolant will:
Give freezing protection down
to−34°F (−37°C).
Give boiling protection up
to 265°F (129°C).
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature.
Let the warning lights and gages work
as they should.
Notice:Using coolant other than DEX-COOL
®
may cause premature engine, heater core,
or radiator corrosion. In addition, the engine
coolant may require changing sooner, at
the rst maintenance service after each
30,000 miles (50 000 km) or 24 months,
whichever occurs rst. Any repairs would
not be covered by your warranty. Always
use DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free) coolant
in your vehicle.
345

What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half clean, drinkable water
and one-half DEX-COOL®coolant which will
not damage aluminum parts. If you use this coolant
mixture, you do not need to add anything else.
{CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to your cooling
system can be dangerous. Plain water, or
some other liquid such as alcohol, can
boil before the proper coolant mixture will.
Your vehicle’s coolant warning system is
set for the proper coolant mixture. With
plain water or the wrong mixture, your
engine could get too hot but you would
not get the overheat warning. Your engine
could catch re and you or others could
be burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and the proper coolant.Notice:If you use an improper coolant
mixture, your engine could overheat and be
badly damaged. The repair cost would not be
covered by your warranty. Too much water
in the mixture can freeze and crack the engine,
radiator, heater core, and other parts.
Notice:If you use extra inhibitors and/or
additives in your vehicle’s cooling system,
you could damage your vehicle. Use only
the proper mixture of the engine coolant
listed in this manual for the cooling system.
SeeRecommended Fluids and Lubricants
on page 452for more information.
Checking Coolant
The coolant recovery
tank cap has this
symbol on it.
346