2007 CHEVROLET COLORADO Owners Manual

Instrument Panel, Vinyl, and
Other Plastic Surfaces
A soft cloth dampened with water may be used
to remove dust. If a more thorough cleaning is
necessary, a clean soft cloth dampened with a
mild soap solution can be used to gently remove
dust and dirt. Never use spot lifters or removers
on plastic surfaces. Many commercial cleaners
and coatings that are sold to preserve and protect
soft plastic surfaces may permanently change
the appearance and feel of your interior and
are not recommended. Do not use silicone or
wax-based products, or those containing organic
solvents to clean your vehicle’s interior because
they can alter the appearance by increasing the
gloss in a non-uniform manner.
Some commercial products may increase gloss
on your instrument panel. The increase in
gloss may cause annoying reections in the
windshield and even make it difficult to see
through the windshield under certain conditions.
Care of Safety Belts
Keep belts clean and dry.
{CAUTION:
Do not bleach or dye safety belts. If you
do, it may severely weaken them. In a
crash, they might not be able to provide
adequate protection. Clean safety belts
only with mild soap and lukewarm water.
Weatherstrips
Silicone grease on weatherstrips will make them
last longer, seal better, and not stick or squeak.
Apply silicone grease with a clean cloth. During
very cold, damp weather frequent application
may be required. SeeRecommended Fluids
and Lubricants on page 452.
425

Washing Your Vehicle
The paint nish on the vehicle provides beauty,
depth of color, gloss retention, and durability.
The best way to preserve the vehicle’s nish is to
keep it clean by washing it often with lukewarm
or cold water.
Do not wash the vehicle in the direct rays of
the sun. Use a car washing soap. Do not
use strong soaps or chemical detergents.
Be sure to rinse the vehicle well, removing all
soap residue completely. Approved cleaning
products can be obtained from your dealer/retailer.
SeeVehicle Care/Appearance Materials on
page 431. Do not use cleaning agents that are
petroleum based, or that contain acid or abrasives.
All cleaning agents should be ushed promptly
and not allowed to dry on the surface, or they
could stain. Avoid using hard brushes during
cleaning. It may damage your vehicle’s nish.
Dry the nish with a soft, clean chamois or
an all-cotton towel to avoid surface scratches
and water spotting.High pressure car washes may cause water to
enter the vehicle. Avoid using high pressure
washes closer than 12 inches (30 cm) to the
surface of the vehicle.
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses
Use only lukewarm or cold water, a soft cloth
and a car washing soap to clean exterior lamps
and lenses. Follow instructions underWashing
Your Vehicle on page 426.
Finish Care
Occasional waxing or mild polishing of your
vehicle by hand may be necessary to remove
residue from the paint nish. You can get approved
cleaning products from your dealer/retailer. See
Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials on page 431.
If your vehicle has a basecoat/clearcoat paint
nish, the clearcoat gives more depth and gloss
to the colored basecoat. Always use waxes
and polishes that are non-abrasive and made for
a basecoat/clearcoat paint nish.
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Notice:Machine compounding or aggressive
polishing on a basecoat/clearcoat paint
nish may damage it. Use only non-abrasive
waxes and polishes that are made for a
basecoat/clearcoat paint nish on your vehicle.
Foreign materials such as calcium chloride and
other salts, ice melting agents, road oil and tar,
tree sap, bird droppings, chemicals from industrial
chimneys, etc., can damage your vehicle’s nish if
they remain on painted surfaces. Wash the vehicle
as soon as possible. If necessary, use non-abrasive
cleaners that are marked safe for painted surfaces
to remove foreign matter.
Exterior painted surfaces are subject to aging,
weather and chemical fallout that can take their
toll over a period of years. You can help to
keep the paint nish looking new by keeping your
vehicle garaged or covered whenever possible.
Protecting Exterior Bright Metal Parts
Bright metal parts should be cleaned regularly
to keep their luster. Washing with water is all
that is usually needed. However, you may use
chrome polish on chrome or stainless steel trim,
if necessary.Use special care with aluminum trim. To avoid
damaging protective trim, never use auto or
chrome polish, steam or caustic soap to clean
aluminum. A coating of wax, rubbed to high polish,
is recommended for all bright metal parts.
Windshield and Wiper Blades
Clean the outside of the windshield with glass
cleaner.
Clean the rubber blades using a lint free cloth
or paper towel soaked with windshield washer
uid or a mild detergent. Wash the windshield
thoroughly when cleaning the blades. Bugs, road
grime, sap, and a buildup of vehicle wash/wax
treatments may cause wiper streaking. Replace
the wiper blades if they are worn or damaged.
Wipers can be damaged by:
Extreme dusty conditions
Sand and salt
Heat and sun
Snow and ice, without proper removal
427

Aluminum or Chrome-Plated
Wheels and Trim
Your vehicle may have either aluminum or
chrome-plated wheels.
Keep the wheels clean using a soft clean cloth
with mild soap and water. Rinse with clean water.
After rinsing thoroughly, dry with a soft clean
towel. A wax may then be applied.
Notice:Chrome wheels and other chrome trim
may be damaged if you do not wash your
vehicle after driving on roads that have been
sprayed with magnesium, calcium or sodium
chloride. These chlorides are used on roads
for conditions such as ice and dust. Always
wash your vehicle’s chrome with soap
and water after exposure.
Notice:If you use strong soaps, chemicals,
abrasive polishes, cleaners, brushes, or
cleaners that contain acid on aluminum or
chrome-plated wheels, you could damage the
surface of the wheel(s). The repairs would
not be covered by your warranty. Use
only approved cleaners on aluminum or
chrome-plated wheels.The surface of these wheels is similar to the
painted surface of your vehicle. Do not use strong
soaps, chemicals, abrasive polishes, abrasive
cleaners, cleaners with acid, or abrasive cleaning
brushes on them because you could damage
the surface. Do not use chrome polish on
aluminum wheels.
Notice:Using chrome polish on aluminum
wheels could damage the wheels. The repairs
would not be covered by your warranty.
Use chrome polish on chrome wheels only.
Use chrome polish only on chrome-plated wheels,
but avoid any painted surface of the wheel, and
buff off immediately after application.
Notice:If you drive your vehicle through
an automatic car wash that has silicone
carbide tire cleaning brushes, you could
damage the aluminum or chrome-plated
wheels. The repairs would not be covered by
your warranty. Never drive a vehicle equipped
with aluminum or chrome-plated wheels
through an automatic car wash that uses
silicone carbide tire cleaning brushes.
428

Tires
To clean the tires, use a stiff brush with tire
cleaner.
Notice:Using petroleum-based tire dressing
products on your vehicle may damage the
paint nish and/or tires. When applying a tire
dressing, always wipe off any overspray
from all painted surfaces on your vehicle.
Sheet Metal Damage
If the vehicle is damaged and requires sheet
metal repair or replacement, make sure the body
repair shop applies anti-corrosion material to
parts repaired or replaced to restore corrosion
protection.
Original manufacturer replacement parts will
provide the corrosion protection while maintaining
the warranty.
Finish Damage
Any stone chips, fractures or deep scratches
in the nish should be repaired right away.
Bare metal will corrode quickly and may
develop into major repair expense.
Minor chips and scratches can be repaired
with touch-up materials available from your
dealer/retailer. Larger areas of nish damage
can be corrected in your dealer’s/retailer’s
body and paint shop.
429

Underbody Maintenance
Chemicals used for ice and snow removal
and dust control can collect on the underbody.
If these are not removed, corrosion and rust can
develop on the underbody parts such as fuel
lines, frame, oor pan, and exhaust system
even though they have corrosion protection.
At least every spring, ush these materials
from the underbody with plain water. Clean
any areas where mud and debris can collect.
Dirt packed in close areas of the frame
should be loosened before being ushed.
Your dealer/retailer or an underbody car
washing system can do this for you.
Chemical Paint Spotting
Some weather and atmospheric conditions can
create a chemical fallout. Airborne pollutants can
fall upon and attack painted surfaces on the
vehicle. This damage can take two forms: blotchy,
ring-shaped discolorations, and small, irregular
dark spots etched into the paint surface.
Although no defect in the paint job causes this,
we will repair, at no charge to the owner, the
surfaces of new vehicles damaged by this fallout
condition within 12 months or 12,000 miles
(20 000 km) of purchase, whichever occurs rst.
430

Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials
Description Usage
Polishing Cloth
Wax-TreatedInterior and exterior
polishing cloth.
Tar and Road
Oil RemoverRemoves tar, road oil,
and asphalt.
Chrome Cleaner
and PolishUse on chrome or
stainless steel.
White Sidewall
Tire CleanerRemoves soil and black
marks from whitewalls.
Vinyl Cleaner Cleans vinyl.
Glass CleanerRemoves dirt, grime,
smoke and ngerprints.
Chrome and Wire
Wheel CleanerRemoves dirt and grime
from chrome wheels and
wire wheel covers.
Finish EnhancerRemoves dust,
ngerprints, and surface
contaminants. Spray on
and wipe off.
Description Usage
Swirl Remover PolishRemoves swirl marks, ne
scratches, and other light
surface contamination.
Cleaner WaxRemoves light scratches
and protects nish.
Foaming Tire Shine
Low GlossCleans, shines, and
protects in one step.
No wiping necessary.
Wash Wax ConcentrateMedium foaming
shampoo. Cleans
and lightly waxes.
Biodegradable and
phosphate free.
Spot LifterQuickly removes spots
and stains from carpets,
vinyl, and cloth
upholstery.
Odor EliminatorOdorless spray odor
eliminator used on fabrics,
vinyl, leather and carpet.
431

Vehicle Identication
Vehicle Identication Number (VIN)
This is the legal identier for your vehicle.
It appears on a plate in the front corner of the
instrument panel, on the driver side. You can
see it if you look through the windshield from
outside your vehicle. The VIN also appears on
the Certication/Tire and Service Parts labels
and the certicates of title and registration.
Engine Identication
The eighth character in the VIN is the engine
code. This code helps you identify your vehicle’s
engine, specications, and replacement parts.
Service Parts Identication Label
This label is on the inside of the glove box.
It is very helpful if you ever need to order parts.
The label has the following information:
Vehicle Identication Number (VIN)
Model designation
Paint information
Production options and special equipment
Do not remove this label from the vehicle.
Electrical System
Add-On Electrical Equipment
Notice:Do not add anything electrical to your
vehicle unless you check with your dealer rst.
Some electrical equipment can damage your
vehicle and the damage would not be covered
by your warranty. Some add-on electrical
equipment can keep other components from
working as they should.
Your vehicle has an air bag system. Before
attempting to add anything electrical to your
vehicle, seeServicing Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle on page 94.
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