2007 CHEVROLET COLORADO sensor

When Should an Airbag Inate?
The driver’s and right front passenger’s frontal
airbags are designed to inate in moderate to
severe frontal or near-frontal crashes. But they are
designed to inate only if the impact exceeds a
predetermined deployment threshold. Deployment
thresholds take into account a variety of desired
deployment and non-deployment events and are
used to predict how severe a crash is likely to be in
time for the airbags to inate and help restrain the
occupants. Whether your frontal airbags will or
should deploy is not based on how fast your vehicle
is traveling. It depends largely on what you hit,
the direction of the impact, and how quickly your
vehicle slows down.
In addition, your vehicle has “dual stage” frontal
airbags, which adjust the restraint according
to crash severity. Your vehicle has electronic
frontal sensors which help the sensing system
distinguish between a moderate and a more
severe frontal impact. For moderate frontal
impacts, these airbags inate at a level less
than full deployment. For more severe frontal
impacts, full deployment occurs. If the front of
your vehicle goes straight into a wall that doesn’tmove or deform, the threshold level for the
reduced deployment is about 8 to 16 mph
(12.9 to 25.7 km/h), and the threshold level
for a full deployment is about 19 to 24 mph
(30.6 to 38.6 km/h) if the other sensors do not
over-ride this. The threshold level can vary,
however, with specic vehicle design, so that it
can be somewhat above or below this range.
Frontal airbags may inate at different crash
speeds. For example:
If the vehicle hits a stationary object, the
airbags could inate at a different crash
speed than if the vehicle hits a moving object.
If the vehicle hits an object that deforms,
the airbags could inate at a different
crash speed than if the vehicle hits an
object that does not deform.
If the vehicle hits a narrow object (like a pole),
the airbags could inate at a different crash
speed than if the vehicle hits a wide object
(like a wall).
If the vehicle goes into an object at an angle,
the airbags could inate at a different crash
speed than if the vehicle goes straight into
the object.
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Frontal airbags (driver and right front passenger)
are not intended to inate during vehicle
rollovers, rear impacts, or in many side impacts.
If your vehicle has side impact airbags, it has
electronic side sensors. The side impact airbags
are intended to inate in moderate to severe
side crashes. A side impact airbag will inate if
the crash severity is above the system’s designed
“threshold level.” The threshold level can vary
with specic vehicle design. Side impact airbags
are not intended to inate in frontal or near-frontal
impacts, rollovers or rear impacts. Both side
impact airbags will deploy when either side of
the vehicle is struck.
Your vehicle has seat position sensors which
enable the sensing system to monitor the position
of the driver’s seat and the right front passenger’s
seat. Seat position sensors provide information
that is used to determine if the airbags should
deploy at a reduced level or at full deployment.In any particular crash, no one can say whether
an airbag should have inated simply because
of the damage to a vehicle or because of what
the repair costs were. For frontal airbags, ination
is determined by what the vehicle hits, the
angle of the impact, and how quickly the vehicle
slows down in frontal or near-frontal impacts.
For side impact airbags, ination is determined
by the location and severity of the impact.
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.
SeeOff-Road Driving on page 260for more tips
on off-road driving.
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Passenger Sensing System
Your vehicle has a passenger sensing system.
The passenger airbag status indicator on the
instrument panel will be visible when you turn
your ignition key to ON or START. The words
ON and OFF or the symbol for on and off,
will be visible during the system check.
When the system check is complete, either the
word ON or the word OFF, or the symbol for on or
the symbol for off will be visible. SeePassenger
Airbag Status Indicator on page 186.The passenger sensing system will turn off the
right front passenger’s frontal airbag under certain
conditions. The driver’s airbags are not part of
the passenger sensing system.
The passenger sensing system works with
sensors that are part of the right front passenger’s
seat and safety belt. The sensors are designed
to detect the presence of a properly seated
occupant and determine if the passenger’s frontal
airbag should be enabled (may inate) or not.
Accident statistics show that children are safer
if they are restrained in the rear rather than
the front seat. We recommend that child restraints
be secured in a rear seat, including an infant
riding in a rear-facing infant seat, a child riding
in a forward-facing child seat and an older
child riding in a booster seat.
United StatesCanada
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Adding Equipment to Your
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
Q:Is there anything I might add to the front
or sides of the vehicle that could keep
the airbags from working properly?
A:Yes. If you add things that change your
vehicle’s frame, bumper system, height,
front end or side sheet metal, they may keep
the airbag system from working properly.
Also, the airbag system may not work properly
if you relocate any of the airbag sensors.
If you have any questions about this,
you should contact Customer Assistance
before you modify your vehicle. The phone
numbers and addresses for Customer
Assistance are in Step Two of the Customer
Satisfaction Procedure in this manual.
SeeCustomer Satisfaction Procedure
on page 460.
Q:Because I have a disability, I have to get
my vehicle modied. How can I nd out
whether this will affect my airbag system?
A:Changing or moving any parts of the
front seats, safety belts, the airbag sensing
and diagnostic module, steering wheel,
instrument panel, ceiling headliner, ceiling
and pillar garnish trim, roof-mounted airbag
modules, or airbag wiring can affect the
operation of the airbag system. If you
have questions, call Customer Assistance.
The phone numbers and addresses for
Customer Assistance are in Step Two of
the Customer Satisfaction Procedure in this
manual. SeeCustomer Satisfaction Procedure
on page 460.
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The DRL system will come on when the following
conditions are met:
The ignition is on.
The exterior lamps control is in AUTO.
The transmission is not in PARK (P) if you
have an automatic transmission.
The light sensor determines it is daytime.
Your vehicle will have either the parking lamps or
reduced intensity low beams used as the DRL.
When the DRL are on, only those lamps will be on.
The taillamps, sidemarkers, and other lamps will
not be on. The instrument panel will not be lit
up either.
When it begins to get dark, the headlamps will
automatically switch from DRL to the regular
headlamps.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the
regular headlamp system when you need it.
Automatic Headlamp System
When it is dark enough outside, the automatic
headlamp system will turn on after the
transmission has been shifted from PARK (P) to
DRIVE (D). The headlamps, taillamps, sidemarker,
parking lamps, roof marker lamps, and the
instrument panel lights will turn on at normal
brightness. The radio lights will become more dim
when the headlights are off compared to when
the headlights are on.
Your vehicle has a light sensor located on the
top of the instrument panel. Be sure it is not
covered, or the system will be on whenever the
ignition is on.
The system may also turn on the headlamps when
driving through a parking garage, heavy overcast
weather, or a tunnel. This is normal.
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There is a delay in the transition between
the daytime and nighttime operation of the
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) and the automatic
headlamp system so that driving under bridges
or bright overhead street lights does not affect
the system. The DRL and automatic headlamp
system will only be affected when the light sensor
detects a change in lighting lasting longer than
the delay.
If you start your vehicle in a dark garage, the
automatic headlamp system will come on
immediately. Once you leave the garage, it will
take about one minute for the automatic headlamp
system to change to DRL if it is light outside.
During that delay, the instrument panel cluster
may not be as bright as usual. Make sure
the instrument panel brightness control is in
the full bright position. SeeInstrument Panel
Brightness on page 174.Fog Lamps
If your vehicle has fog lamps, you can use them
for better vision in foggy or misty conditions.
Your parking lamps and/or low-beam headlamps
must be on for your fog lamps to work.
The fog lamp button is
located near the exterior
lamps control.
Press the button to turn the fog lamps on while
the headlamps or parking lamps are on. Press the
button again to turn them off. An indicator light
will glow in the button when the fog lamps are on.
Remember, fog lamps alone will not give off as
much light as your headlamps. Never use your fog
lamps in the dark without turning on the headlamps.
The fog lamps will go off whenever your
high-beam headlamps come on. When the high
beams go off, the fog lamps will come on again.
Some localities have laws that require the
headlamps to be on along with the fog lamps.
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Airbag Readiness Light
There is an airbag readiness light on the
instrument panel, which shows the airbag symbol.
The system checks the airbag’s electrical system
for malfunctions. The light tells you if there is
an electrical problem. The system check includes
the airbag sensors, the airbag modules, the
wiring and the crash sensing and diagnostic
module. For more information on the airbag
systems, seeAirbag System on page 77.
This light will come on
when you start your
vehicle, and it will ash
for a few seconds.
Then the light should go
out. This means the
system is ready.
If the airbag readiness light stays on after you
start the vehicle or comes on when you are driving,
your airbag system may not work properly.
Have your vehicle serviced right away.{CAUTION:
If the airbag readiness light stays on after
you start your vehicle, it means the airbag
system may not be working properly. The
airbags in your vehicle may not inate in
a crash, or they could even inate without
a crash. To help avoid injury to yourself
or others, have your vehicle serviced
right away if the airbag readiness light
stays on after you start your vehicle.
The airbag readiness light should ash for a
few seconds when you turn the ignition key to ON.
If the light does not come on then, have it xed
so it will be ready to warn you if there is a problem.
185

Anytime this message stays on, the vehicle
should be taken to your dealer for service as
soon as possible. Press and release the reset
stem to acknowledge the message and clear
it from the display.
SERV (Service) 4WD
(Four-Wheel Drive)
This message displays when there is a problem
with the transfer case control system. Check the
transfer case on your vehicle and have it serviced
by your dealer. SeeFour-Wheel Drive on page 129
for more information about the transfer case. Press
and release the reset stem to acknowledge the
message and clear it from the display.
SERV (Service) TPM
(Tire Pressure Monitor)
This message displays if any of the tire monitor
sensors have malfunctioned, if the tire monitor
sensors have not been programmed, or if
the recommended tire pressures are not
programmed. The tire pressure light also ashes
for one minute and then turns on solid until
the condition goes away or the system is serviced.SeeTire Pressure Light on page 191. Press and
release the reset stem to acknowledge the
message and clear it from the display. This
message appears at each ignition cycle until the
system is serviced. See your dealer for service.
SeeTire Pressure Monitor System on page 385for
more information.
SERV (Service) VEH (Vehicle)
This message displays if your vehicle needs
service. Have your vehicle serviced by your
dealer as soon as possible.
SERVICE CHARG (Charge)
SYS (System)
This message displays if there is a problem with
the battery charging system. Under certain
conditions, the battery warning light may also turn
on in the instrument panel cluster. SeeBattery
Warning Light on page 188. The battery will not be
charging at an optimal rate and the vehicle will
lose the ability to enter the fuel economy mode.
The vehicle is safe to drive, however have
the electrical system checked by your dealer.
Press and release the reset stem to acknowledge
the message and clear it from the display.
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