2008 CHEVROLET COLORADO heater

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 5-30.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
®can
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 the vehicle warranty. Always use
DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free) coolant in the vehicle.
5-27

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 an improper coolant mixture is used, the
engine could overheat and be badly damaged. The
repair cost would not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Too much water in the mixture can freeze
and crack the engine, radiator, heater core, and
other parts.
Notice:If extra inhibitors and/or additives are used
in the vehicle’s cooling system, the vehicle could
be damaged. Use only the proper mixture of
the engine coolant listed in this manual for the
cooling system. SeeRecommended Fluids and
Lubricants on page 6-12for more information.
Checking Coolant
The coolant recovery tank
cap has this symbol on it.
5-28

If No Steam Is Coming From Your
Engine
If you get an engine overheat warning but see or hear
no steam, the problem may not be too serious.
Sometimes the engine can get a little too hot when you:
Climb a long hill on a hot day.
Stop after high-speed driving.
Idle for long periods in traffic.
Tow a trailer. See “Driving on Grades” under
Towing a Trailer on page 4-48.
If you get the overheat warning with no sign of steam,
try this for a minute or so:
1. In heavy traffic, let the engine idle in NEUTRAL
while stopped. If it is safe to do so, pull off the
road, shift to P (PARK) or NEUTRAL and let the
engine idle.
2. Turn off the air conditioning.
3. Turn on your heater to full hot at the highest fan
speed and open the windows as necessary.If you no longer have the overheat warning, you can
drive. Just to be safe, drive slower for about 10 minutes.
If the warning does not come back on, you can drive
normally.
If the warning continues, pull over, stop, and park your
vehicle right away.
If there is still no sign of steam, idle the engine for
three minutes while you are parked. Push down the
accelerator until the engine speed is about twice as fast
as normal idle speed for at least three minutes while you
are parked. If you still have the warning, turn off the
engine and get everyone out of the vehicle until it
cools down.
You may decide not to lift the hood but to get service
help right away.
5-31

Cooling System
When you decide it is safe to lift the hood, here is what
you will see:
A. Coolant Recovery Tank
B. Engine Cooling Fan
C. Radiator Pressure Cap
If the coolant inside the coolant recovery tank is boiling,
do not do anything else until it cools down. The
vehicle should be parked on a level surface.When the engine is cold, the coolant level should be at
least up to the FULL COLD mark. If it is not, you
may have a leak at the pressure cap or in the radiator
hoses, heater hoses, radiator, water pump or
somewhere else in the cooling system.
5-32

{CAUTION:
Heater and radiator hoses, and other engine
parts, can be very hot. Do not touch them. If
you do, you can be burned.
Do not run the engine if there is a leak. If you
run the engine, it could lose all coolant. That
could cause an engine re, and you could be
burned. Get any leak xed before you drive the
vehicle.
If there seems to be no leak, start the engine again.
The engine cooling fan speed should increase when idle
speed is doubled by pushing the accelerator pedal
down. If it does not, your vehicle needs service. Turn off
the engine.Notice:Engine damage from running the engine
without coolant is not covered by the warranty.
Notice:Using coolant other than DEX-COOL
®can
cause premature engine, heater core, or radiator
corrosion. In addition, the engine coolant could
require changing sooner, at 30,000 miles (50 000 km)
or 24 months, whichever occurs rst. Any repairs
would not be covered by the vehicle warranty.
Always use DEX-COOL
®(silicate-free) coolant in the
vehicle.
5-33

How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Recovery Tank
If you have not found a problem yet, but the
coolant level is not at the FULL COLD mark, add a
50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and
DEX-COOL
®engine coolant at the coolant recovery
tank. SeeEngine Coolant on page 5-27for more
information.
{CAUTION:
Adding only plain water to the cooling system
can be dangerous. Plain water, or some other
liquid such as alcohol, can boil before the
proper coolant mixture will. The vehicle’s
coolant warning system is set for the proper
coolant mixture. With plain water or the wrong
mixture, the engine could get too hot but you
would not get the overheat warning. The
engine could catch re and you or others
could be burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and DEX-COOL
®coolant.Notice:In cold weather, water can freeze and crack
the engine, radiator, heater core and other parts.
Use the recommended coolant and the proper
coolant mixture.
{CAUTION:
You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot
engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol
and it will burn if the engine parts are hot
enough. Do not spill coolant on a hot engine.
When the coolant in the coolant recovery tank is at the
FULL COLD mark, start your vehicle.
5-34

Customer Assistance Information (cont.)
Roadside Assistance Program......................... 7-8
Service Publications Ordering Information........7-16
D
Daytime Running Lamps..................................3-14
Defensive Driving............................................. 4-2
Diesel
Running Out of Fuel....................................2-38
Disc, MP3......................................................3-63
Doing Your Own Service Work........................... 5-4
Dome Lamp ...................................................3-17
Dome Lamp Override......................................3-17
Door
Locks.......................................................... 2-7
Power Door Locks......................................... 2-8
Programmable Automatic Door Locks............... 2-8
Rear Door Security Locks............................... 2-9
Rear Doors.................................................. 2-9
Driver Information Center (DIC).........................3-37
DIC Operation and Displays..........................3-37
DIC Warnings and Messages........................3-40
Driving
At Night.....................................................4-24
Before a Long Trip......................................4-26
Defensive..................................................... 4-2
Drunken....................................................... 4-2Driving (cont.)
Highway Hypnosis.......................................4-26
Hill and Mountain Roads..............................4-27
In Rain and on Wet Roads...........................4-25
Off-Road ....................................................4-11
Recovery Hooks..........................................4-32
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get it Out.................4-32
Winter........................................................4-28
E
EDR .............................................................7-17
Electrical System
Add-On Equipment.....................................5-114
Engine Compartment Fuse Block.................5-115
Fuses and Circuit Breakers.........................5-115
Windshield Wiper Fuses.............................5-115
Electronic Immobilizer
PASS-Key
®III+...........................................2-17
Electronic Immobilizer Operation
PASS-Key
®III+...........................................2-17
Engine
Air Cleaner/Filter.........................................5-20
Check and Service Engine Soon Light............3-33
Coolant......................................................5-27
Coolant Heater............................................2-23
Coolant Temperature Gage...........................3-32
4

G
Gage
Engine Coolant Temperature.........................3-32
Fuel..........................................................3-36
Speedometer..............................................3-24
Tachometer.................................................3-24
Gasoline
Octane........................................................ 5-5
Specications............................................... 5-5
Glove Box.....................................................2-50
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program.................. 7-7
H
Hazard Warning Flashers................................... 3-5
Head Restraints............................................... 1-7
Headlamp
Aiming .......................................................5-51
Headlamps....................................................5-52
Bulb Replacement.......................................5-51
Daytime Running Lamps...............................3-14
Exterior Lamps............................................3-13
Flash-to-Pass............................................... 3-8
Halogen Bulbs............................................5-51
High/Low Beam Changer................................ 3-8
On Reminder..............................................3-14Heated Seats................................................... 1-4
Heater...........................................................3-19
Engine Coolant...........................................2-23
Highbeam On Light.........................................3-36
High-Speed Operation, Tires.............................5-68
Highway Hypnosis...........................................4-26
Hill and Mountain Roads..................................4-27
Hood
Checking Things Under................................5-10
Release.....................................................5-11
Horn ............................................................... 3-6
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly...................1-17
Hydraulic Clutch.............................................5-26I
Ignition Positions.............................................2-19
Infants and Young Children, Restraints...............1-36
Ination - Tire Pressure...................................5-66
Instrument Panel
Brightness..................................................3-17
Cluster.......................................................3-23
Overview..................................................... 3-4
Interior Lamps................................................3-16
6