
Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2011
2011 Chevrolet Colorado Owner ManualM
In Brief. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
Instrument Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Initial Drive Information . . . . . . . . 1-3
Vehicle Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-13
Performance and Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-16
Keys, Doors and Windows . . . 2-1
Keys and Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
Doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7
Vehicle Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9
Exterior Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12
Interior Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-14
Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-15 Seats and Restraints
. . . . . . . . . 3-1
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Rear Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-9
Safety Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-12
Airbag System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-26
Child Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-39
Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
Storage Compartments . . . . . . . . 4-1
Instruments and Controls . . . . 5-1
Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
Warning Lights, Gauges, and Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6
Information Displays . . . . . . . . . . 5-19
Vehicle Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-22 Lighting
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Exterior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1
Interior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Lighting Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
Infotainment System . . . . . . . . . 7-1
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1
Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-7
Audio Players . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-14
Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-20
Climate Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1
Climate Control Systems . . . . . . 8-1
Air Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-3

Black plate (15,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2011
In Brief 1-15
Cruise Control
The cruise controls are located at
the end of the multifunction lever.
9:Turns the system off.
R:Turns the system on.
+ (Resume/Accelerate): Use to
make the vehicle accelerate or
resume a previously set speed.
r T(Set): Press the button at
the end of the lever to set the
speed.
For more information, see Cruise
Control on page 9‑49.
Driver Information
Center (DIC)
The DIC is located on the
instrument panel cluster. It displays
the status of many vehicle systems
and enables some features to be
personalized.
Use the trip reset stem located on
the instrument panel cluster to scroll
through the available functions. For
more information, see Driver
Information Center (DIC) on
page 5‑19.
Vehicle Personalization
Some vehicle features can be
personalized through the DIC.
These features include:
.Language: English, Spanish,
or French
.Automatic Door Locks
.RKE Feedback
For more information, see Driver
Information Center (DIC) on
page 5‑19.
Power Outlets
The accessory power outlets can be
used to plug in electrical equipment,
such as a cell phone or MP3 player.
The vehicle may have an accessory
power outlet located below the
climate control system and on the
rear of the center console.
See Power Outlets on page 5‑5.

Black plate (5,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-5
RDS time is broadcast once
a minute. After tuning to an RDS
broadcast station, it could take a
few minutes for the time to update.
Power Outlets
The accessory power outlets can be
used to plug in electrical equipment,
such as a cell phone or MP3 player.
The vehicle may have an accessory
power outlet located below the
climate control system and on the
rear of the center console. Remove
the cover to access and replace
when not in use.
{WARNING
Power is always supplied to the
outlets. Do not leave electrical
equipment plugged in when the
vehicle is not in use because the
vehicle could catch fire and cause
injury or death.Notice:
Leaving electrical
equipment plugged in for an
extended period of time while the
vehicle is off will drain the
battery. Always unplug electrical
equipment when not in use and
do not plug in equipment that
exceeds the maximum 20 ampere
rating.
Certain electrical accessories may
not be compatible with the
accessory power outlet and could
overload vehicle and adapter fuses.
If a problem is experienced, see
your dealer.
When adding electrical equipment,
be sure to follow the proper
installation instructions included with
the equipment. See Add-On
Electrical Equipment on page 9‑66. Notice:
Hanging heavy
equipment from the power outlet
can cause damage not covered
by the vehicle warranty. The
power outlets are designed for
accessory power plugs only, such
as cell phone charge cords.
Cigarette Lighter
To use the lighter, press it in all the
way, and let go. When it is ready, it
will pop back out by itself.
Notice: Holding a cigarette lighter
in while it is heating does not let
the lighter back away from the
heating element when it is hot.
Damage from overheating can
occur to the lighter or heating
element, or a fuse could be
blown. Do not hold a cigarette
lighter in while it is heating.

Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2011
Infotainment System 7-1
Infotainment
System
Introduction
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1
Theft-Deterrent Feature . . . . . . . 7-2
Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-3
Radio
AM-FM Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-7
Satellite Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-11
Radio Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-13
Fixed Mast Antenna . . . . . . . . . 7-14
Satellite Radio Antenna . . . . . . 7-14
Audio Players
CD Player . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-14
Phone
Bluetooth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-20
Introduction
Determine which radio the vehicle
has and read the following pages to
become familiar with its features.
{WARNING
Taking your eyes off the road for
extended periods could cause a
crash resulting in injury or death
to you or others. Do not give
extended attention to
entertainment tasks while driving.
This system provides access to
many audio and non audio listings. To minimize taking your eyes off the
road while driving, do the following
while the vehicle is parked:
.Become familiar with the
operation and controls of the
audio system.
.Set up the tone, speaker
adjustments, and preset radio
stations.
For more information, see Defensive
Driving on page 9‑2.

Black plate (14,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2011
7-14 Infotainment System
Fixed Mast Antenna
The fixed mast antenna can
withstand most car washes without
being damaged as long as it is
securely attached to the base. If
the mast becomes slightly bent,
straighten it out by hand. If the mast
is badly bent, replace it.
Occasionally check to make sure
the antenna is tightened to its base.
If tightening is required, tighten by
hand until fully seated plus
one quarter turn.
Satellite Radio Antenna
The XM Satellite Radio antenna is
located on the roof of the vehicle.
Keep the antenna clear of
obstructions for clear radio
reception.
Audio Players
CD Player
Care of The CD Player
Do not add any label to a CD, it
could get caught in the CD player.
If a CD is recorded on a personal
computer and a description label is
needed, try labeling the top of the
recorded CD with a marking pen.
The use of CD lens cleaners for
CDs is not advised, due to the risk
of contaminating the lens of the CD
optics with lubricants internal to the
CD player mechanism.
Notice:If a label is added to a
CD, or more than one CD is
inserted into the slot at a time,
or an attempt is made to play
scratched or damaged CDs, the
CD player could be damaged.
While using the CD player, use
only CDs in good condition
without any label, load one CD at
a time, and keep the CD player and the loading slot free of
foreign materials, liquids, and
debris.
If an error displays, see
“CD
Messages” later in this section.Care of CDs
If playing a CD-R, the sound quality
can be reduced due to CD-R quality,
the method of recording, the quality
of the music that has been
recorded, and the way the CD-R
has been handled. Handle them
carefully. Store CD-R(s) in their
original cases or other protective
cases and away from direct sunlight
and dust. The CD player scans the
bottom surface of the disc. If the
surface of a CD is damaged, such
as cracked, broken, or scratched,
the CD does not play properly or not
at all. Do not touch the bottom side
of a CD while handling it; this could
damage the surface. Pick up CDs
by grasping the outer edges or the
edge of the hole and the outer edge.

Black plate (15,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2011
Infotainment System 7-15
If the surface of a CD is soiled, take
a soft, lint free cloth or dampen a
clean, soft cloth in a mild, neutral
detergent solution mixed with water,
and clean it. Make sure the wiping
process starts from the center to
the edge.
Playing a CD
Insert a CD partway into the slot,
label side up. The player pulls it in,
and READING displays. The CD
should begin playing. To insert a CD
with the ignition off, first press the
Z(eject) button or the
DISPL knob.
If the ignition or radio is turned off
with a CD in the player it stays in
the player. When the ignition or
radio is turned on, the CD starts to
play where it stopped, if it was the
last selected audio source.
When the CD is inserted, the CD
symbol displays. As each new track
starts to play, the track number
displays. The CD player can play the smaller
8 cm (3 in) single CDs with an
adapter ring. Full-size CDs and the
smaller CDs are loaded in the same
manner.
3 REV (Fast Reverse):
Press and
hold to reverse quickly within a
track. Press and hold for less than
two seconds to reverse at 10 times
the normal playing speed. Press
and hold for more than two seconds
to reverse at 20 times the normal
playing speed. Release to play the
track.
4 FWD (Fast Forward): Press and
hold to advance quickly within a
track. Press and hold for less than
two seconds to advance at six times
the normal playing speed. Press
and hold for more than two seconds
to advance at 17 times the normal
playing speed. Release to play the
track.
6 RDM (Random): Press to hear
the tracks in random, rather than
sequential, order. RDM ON displays. RDM and the track number displays
when each track starts to play.
Press again to turn off random play.
RDM OFF displays.
qSEEKr:
Press the left arrow to
go to the start of the current or the
previous track. Press the right arrow
to go to the start of the next track.
Pressing either arrow for more than
two seconds scans the next tracks,
playing the first eight seconds of
each track until all of the tracks
have been previewed. Press either
arrow again to stop scanning and to
play the track.
qTUNEr: Turn to go to the
previous or next track.
DISPL (Display): Press to see how
long the current track has been
playing. ET and the elapsed time of
the track displays. To change the
default on the display (track or
elapsed time), press until you see
the desired display, then press and
hold for two seconds. The radio
beeps once. The selected display is
now the default.

Black plate (16,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2011
7-16 Infotainment System
BAND:Press to listen to the radio
when a CD is playing. The inactive
CD remains inside the radio for
future listening.
CD AUX (Auxiliary): Press to play
a CD when listening to the radio.
The CD symbol displays when a CD
is loaded.
Z(Eject): Press to eject a CD.
Eject can be activated with either
the ignition or radio off. CDs can be
loaded with the ignition and radio off
if this button is pressed first.
Playing an MP3/WMA Disc
MP3/WMA CD-R Disc Format
If you burn your own MP3/WMA
disc on a personal computer:
.Make sure the MP3/WMA files
are recorded on a CD-R disc.
.Make sure playlists have a .m3u
or .wpl extension, other file
extensions might not work.
.Files can be recorded with a
variety of fixed or variable bit
rates. Song title, artist name, and album are displayed by the
radio when recorded using ID3
tags version 1 and 2.
.Create a folder structure that
makes it easy to find songs
while driving. Organize songs by
albums using one folder for each
album. Each folder or album
should contain 18 songs or less.
.Make sure to finalize the disc
when burning an MP3/WMA
disc, using multiple sessions.
It is usually better to burn the
disc all at once.
The player is able to read and
play a maximum of 253 folders,
50 playlists, 20 sessions, and
949 files. Long file names, folder
names, or playlist names may use
more disc memory space than
necessary. To conserve space on
the disc, minimize the length of the
file, folder, or playlist names. An
MP3/WMA CD-R that was recorded
using no file folders can also be
used. The system can support up to
11 folders in depth, though, keep the depth of the folders to a minimum in
order to keep down the complexity
and confusion in trying to locate a
particular folder during playback.
If a CD contains more than the
maximum of 253 folders,
50 playlists, 20 sessions, and
949 files, the player lets you access
and navigate up to the maximum,
but all items over the maximum are
played.
Root Directory
The root directory is treated as a
folder. If the root directory has
compressed audio files, the
directory displays as F1 ROOT. All
files contained directly under the
root directory are accessed prior to
any root directory folders. However,
playlists (Px) are always accessed
before root folders or files.
Empty Directory or Folder
If a root directory or a folder exists
somewhere in the file structure that
contains only folders/subfolders and
no compressed files directly
beneath them, the player advances

Black plate (18,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2011
7-18 Infotainment System
Playing an MP3/WMA
Insert a CD partway into the slot,
label side up. The player pulls it in,
and READING displays. The CD
should begin playing and the CD
symbol displays. If you want to
insert a CD with the ignition off,
first press the
Zbutton or the
DISPL knob.
If the ignition or radio is turned off
with a CD in the player it stays in
the player. When the ignition or
radio is turned on, the CD starts to
play where it stopped, if it was the
last selected audio source.
As each new track starts to play, the
track number displays.
1 FLD
x(Previous Folder): Press
this button to go to the first track in
the previous folder. Pressing this
button while in folder random mode
takes you to the previous folder and
plays the tracks in random order in
that folder. 2 FLD
w(Next Folder):
Press this
button to go to the first track in the
next folder. Pressing this button
while in folder random mode takes
the CD to the next folder and plays
the tracks in random order in that
folder.
3 REV (Reverse): Press and hold
this button to reverse quickly within
a track. Press and hold this button
for less than 2 seconds to reverse at
10 times the normal playing speed.
Press and hold it for more than
2 seconds to reverse at 20 times the
normal playing speed. Release this
button to play the track.
4 FWD (Forward): Press and hold
this button to advance quickly within
a track. Press and hold this button
for less than 2 seconds to advance
at 10 times the normal playing
speed. Press and hold it for more
than 2 seconds to advance at
20 times the normal playing speed.
Release this button to play the
track. 6 RDM (Random):
To play the
tracks in random order in the current
folder or playlist, press and release
this button. FLDR RDM (folder
random) displays. Once all of the
tracks in the current folder or playlist
have played, the system moves to
the next folder or playlist and plays
all of the tracks in random order.
To play all the tracks in random
order on the CD, press and hold
this button for 2 seconds. A beep
sounds and DISC RDM (disc
random) displays. This feature does
not work with playlists.
When in random, pressing and
releasing either SEEK arrow takes
the CD to the previous or to the next
random track.
Press and release this button again
to turn off random play. NO RDM
(no random) displays.
qSEEKr: Press the left SEEK
arrow to go to the start of the
previous track. Press the right
SEEK arrow to go to the start of the
next track. Pressing either SEEK