2008 CHEVROLET COLORADO ECU

If your vehicle has roof-rail airbags for the driver, right
front passenger, and second row outboard passengers,
they are in the ceiling above the side windows.
{CAUTION:
If something is between an occupant and an
airbag, the airbag might not inate properly or
it might force the object into that person
causing severe injury or even death. The path
of an inating airbag must be kept clear. Do
not put anything between an occupant and an
airbag, and do not attach or put anything on
the steering wheel hub or on or near any other
airbag covering.
Never secure anything to the roof of a vehicle
with roof-rail airbags by routing a rope or tie
down through any door or window opening. If
you do, the path of an inating roof-rail airbag
will be blocked. Driver Side shown, Passenger Side similar
1-64

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. The
sensors are designed to detect the presence of a
properly-seated occupant and determine if the right front
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 children be secured in a rear seat,
including: an infant or a child riding in a rear-facing
child restraint; a child riding in a forward-facing child
seat; an older child riding in a booster seat; and children,
who are large enough, using safety belts.
A label on your sun visor says, “Never put a rear-facing
child seat in the front.” This is because the risk to the
rear-facing child is so great, if the airbag deploys.
{CAUTION:
A child in a rear-facing child restraint can be
seriously injured or killed if the right front
passenger airbag inates. This is because the
back of the rear-facing child restraint would be
very close to the inating airbag. A child in a
forward-facing child restraint can be seriously
injured or killed if the right front passenger
airbag inates and the passenger seat is in a
forward position.
Even if the passenger sensing system has
turned off the right front passenger frontal
airbag, no system is fail-safe. No one can
guarantee that an airbag will not deploy under
some unusual circumstance, even though it is
turned off.
Secure rear-facing child restraints in a rear seat,
even if the airbag is off. If you secure a
forward-facing child restraint in the right front
seat, always move the front passenger seat as
far back as it will go. It is better to secure the
child restraint in a rear seat.
1-70

If your vehicle does not have a rear seat that will
accommodate a rear-facing child restraint, we
recommend that rear-facing child restraints not be
transported in your vehicle, even if the airbag is off.
The passenger sensing system is designed to turn off
the right front passenger’s frontal airbag if:
The right front passenger seat is unoccupied.
The system determines that an infant is present in
a rear-facing infant seat.
The system determines that a small child is present
in a child restraint.
The system determines that a small child is present
in a booster seat.
A right front passenger takes his/her weight off of
the seat for a period of time.
The right front passenger seat is occupied by a
smaller person, such as a child who has outgrown
child restraints.
Or, if there is a critical problem with the airbag
system or the passenger sensing system.
When the passenger sensing system has turned off the
right front passenger’s frontal airbag, the off indicator
will light and stay lit to remind you that the airbag is off.
SeePassenger Airbag Status Indicator on page 3-27.If a child restraint has been installed and the on
indicator is lit, turn the vehicle off. Remove the child
restraint from the vehicle and reinstall the child restraint
following the child restraint manufacturer’s directions
and refer toSecuring a Child Restraint in the Right Front
Seat Position on page 1-56.
If, after reinstalling the child restraint and restarting the
vehicle, the on indicator is still lit, check to make
sure that the vehicle’s seatback is not pressing the child
restraint into the seat cushion. If this happens, slightly
recline the vehicle’s seatback and adjust the seat
cushion if possible. Also make sure the child restraint is
not trapped under the vehicle head restraint. If this
happens, adjust the head restraint. SeeHead Restraints
on page 1-7.
Remove any additional material from the seat such as
blankets, cushions, seat covers, seat heaters, or seat
massagers before reinstalling or securing the child
restraint.
If the on indicator is still lit, secure the child in the child
restraint in a rear seat position in the vehicle, and
check with your dealer/retailer. If no rear seat is
available, do not install a child restraint in this vehicle,
and check with your dealer/retailer.
1-71

Any object, such as an aftermarket seat heater or a
comfort enhancing pad or device, installed under
or on top of the seat fabric, could also interfere with
the operation of the passenger sensing system.
This could either prevent proper deployment of the
passenger airbag(s) or prevent the passenger
sensing system from properly turning off the
passenger airbag(s). SeePassenger Sensing
System on page 1-69.
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 7-2.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: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. See
Customer Satisfaction Procedure on page 7-2.
In addition, your dealer/retailer and the service manual
have information about the location of the airbag sensors,
sensing and diagnostic module and airbag wiring.
1-75

Keys...............................................................2-3
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System................2-4
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) System
Operation...................................................2-5
Doors and Locks.............................................2-7
Door Locks....................................................2-7
Power Door Locks..........................................2-8
Programmable Automatic Door Locks................2-8
Rear Door Security Locks
(Crew Cab) ................................................2-9
Lockout Protection..........................................2-9
Rear Doors (Extended Cab).............................2-9
Tailgate.......................................................2-10
Windows........................................................2-12
Manual Windows..........................................2-12
Power Windows............................................2-13
Sliding Rear Window.....................................2-14
Sun Visors...................................................2-15Theft-Deterrent Systems..................................2-15
Content Theft-Deterrent.................................2-15
Passlock
®(U. S. Only)..................................2-16
PASS-Key®III+ Electronic Immobilizer.............2-17
PASS-Key®III+ Electronic Immobilizer
Operation (Canada Only)............................2-17
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle................2-19
New Vehicle Break-In....................................2-19
Ignition Positions..........................................2-19
Retained Accessory Power (RAP)...................2-21
Starting the Engine.......................................2-21
Engine Coolant Heater..................................2-23
Automatic Transmission Operation...................2-24
Manual Transmission Operation......................2-26
Four-Wheel Drive..........................................2-28
Parking Brake..............................................2-32
Shifting Into Park (Automatic Transmission)......2-34
Shifting Out of Park (Automatic Transmission).....2-36
Section 2 Features and Controls
2-1

Rear Door Security Locks
(Crew Cab)
If your vehicle is a crew cab model, it may have rear
door security locks. With this feature, you can lock the
rear doors so they cannot be opened from the inside.
The rear door security lock
is located on the inside
edge of each rear door
below the security lock
label.
To engage the security locks, do the following:
1. Open one of the rear doors.
2. Using your ignition key, turn the lock to the
horizontal position.
3. Close the door.
4. Repeat these steps on the other rear door.If you want to open a rear door when the security lock
is on, unlock the door and open the door from the
outside.
To disengage the security locks, do the following:
1. Open one of the rear doors.
2. Using your ignition key, turn the lock to the vertical
position.
3. Close the door.
4. Repeat these steps on the other rear door.
Lockout Protection
If you have power door locks, this feature protects you
from locking your key in the vehicle when the key is
in the ignition and a door is open.
If the power door lock switch is pressed when a door is
open and the key is in the ignition, all of the doors
will lock and then the driver’s door will unlock.
Rear Doors (Extended Cab)
To open a rear door, open the front door. Then, use the
handle located on the front edge of the rear door
panel to open it. You must close the rear door before
closing the front door.
2-9

Tailgate
{CAUTION:
It is extremely dangerous to ride on the
tailgate, even when the vehicle is operated at
low speeds. People riding on the tailgate can
easily lose their balance and fall in response to
vehicle maneuvers. Falling from a moving
vehicle may result in serious injuries or death.
Do not allow people to ride on the tailgate. Be
sure everyone in your vehicle is in a seat and
using a safety belt properly.
You can open the tailgate by pulling up on the outside
handle while pulling the tailgate down.
When you put the tailgate back up, be sure it latches
securely.
On vehicles with a locking tailgate, use the ignition key.
Turn the key counterclockwise to lock the tailgate.
Turn the key clockwise to unlock the tailgate.
2-10

Removing the Tailgate
Follow these steps if you want to remove the tailgate:
1. With the tailgate fully open, lift up slightly on
the entire tailgate assembly.
Remove the retaining
cables from both sides of
the tailgate by pulling
the clips away from the bolt
heads while pushing the
cable bracket forward.
When the larger part of the
hole on the bracket is
over the bolt, slide
the bracket off of the bolt.
2. With the tailgate partially down, lift up on the
passenger’s side and pull the tailgate toward
you, then move the tailgate to the right to release
the driver’s side. You can then remove the
entire tailgate assembly.
Reverse the procedure to reinstall the tailgate. Make
sure it is secure.To partially lower the tailgate do the following:
1. With the tailgate fully open, lift up slightly on the
entire tailgate assembly.
2. Remove the retaining
cable from the
passenger side of the
tailgate by pulling
the clip away from the
bolt head while
pushing the cable
bracket forward.
When the larger part of the hole on the bracket is
over the bolt, slide the bracket off of the bolt.
3. Slide the lower end tting onto the top bolt. The
tailgate will now stay in the partially opened position.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 for the driver side.
If you would like to close the tailgate, the bracket cannot
be in the partially opened position and must be anchored
on the bottom bolt, using the top position on the bracket.
Tailgate Partially Down
2-11