
Black plate (3,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2011
Instruments and Controls 5-3
Move the band to one of the
following positions:
8(Mist):Single wipe, move the
band to
zand then release it.
Several wipes, hold the band on
z
longer.
N(Adjustable Interval Wipes):
For a delayed wiping cycle. Turn the
band up for more frequent wipes or
down for less frequent wipes.
6(Low Speed): Slow wipes,
turn the band to the first solid
position past the delay settings.
1(High Speed): Fast wipes, turn
the band to the second solid
position past the delay settings.
9(Off): Turns the wipers off.
Clear snow and ice from the wiper
blades before using them. If frozen
to the windshield, carefully loosen or
thaw them. Damaged wiper blades
should be replaced.
Windshield Washer
{WARNING
In freezing weather, do not use
your washer until the windshield
is warmed. Otherwise the washer
fluid can form ice on the
windshield, blocking your vision.
Q L(Washer Fluid): Push the
paddle on top of the multifunction
lever to spray washer fluid on the
windshield. The wipers will clear the
window and then either stop or
return to your preset speed.
Compass
Compass Operation
PressY bor depending on the
mirror, press
Oonce to turn the
display on or off.
Compass Calibration
The compass may need
calibration if:
.CAL is displayed while driving in
the vehicle.
.After approximately five seconds,
the display does not show a
compass heading, N for North,
for example, there may be a
strong magnetic field interfering
with the compass. Interference
can be caused by a magnetic
antenna mount, magnetic note
pad holder, or a similar
magnetic item.
.The compass does not display
the correct heading and the
compass zone variance is set
correctly.
To calibrate, CAL must be displayed
in the mirror compass windows.
If CAL is not displayed, press and
hold
Y b/Ofor several seconds or
until CAL is displayed.

Black plate (4,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2011
5-4 Instruments and Controls
The compass can be calibrated by
driving the vehicle in circles at
8 km/h (5 mph) or less until the
display reads a direction.
Compass Variance
The mirror is set to zone eight.
If you do not live in zone eight or
drive out of the area, the compass
variance needs to be changed to
the appropriate zone.
To adjust for compass variance:
1. Find the current location andvariance zone number on the
following zone map.
2. Press and holdYb/Ountil Z
and/or a zone number displays.
3. Press
Y b/Orepeatedly until
the new zone number displays.
After you stop pressing the
button, the display shows a
compass direction within a
few seconds.
Clock
AM-FM Radio
Press and hold HR until the correct
hour displays. Press and hold MIN
until the correct minute displays.
There is an initial two-second delay
before the clock goes into time-set
mode. To display the time with the
ignition off, press RCL, HR, or MIN.
Radio with CD (MP3/WMA)
Press and hold the HR button until
the correct hour displays. Press and
hold the MIN button until the correct
minute displays. The time can be
set with the ignition on or off.
To synchronize the time with an
FM station broadcasting Radio Data
System (RDS) information, press
and hold the HR and MIN buttons at
the same time until RDS TIME
displays. To accept this time, press
and hold the HR and MIN buttons,
at the same time, for another
two seconds. If the time is not
available from the station, NO
UPDAT (update) displays.

Black plate (6,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2011
9-6 Driving and Operating
and by not overdriving those
conditions. But skids are always
possible.
The three types of skids correspond
to the vehicle's three control
systems. In the braking skid, the
wheels are not rolling. In the
steering or cornering skid, too much
speed or steering in a curve causes
tires to slip and lose cornering force.
And in the acceleration skid, too
much throttle causes the driving
wheels to spin.
If the vehicle starts to slide, ease
your foot off the accelerator pedal
and quickly steer the way you want
the vehicle to go. If you start
steering quickly enough, the vehicle
may straighten out. Always be ready
for a second skid if it occurs.
Of course, traction is reduced when
water, snow, ice, gravel, or other
material is on the road. For safety,
slow down and adjust your driving to
these conditions. It is important toslow down on slippery surfaces
because stopping distance is longer
and vehicle control more limited.
While driving on a surface with
reduced traction, try to avoid
sudden steering, acceleration,
or braking, including reducing
vehicle speed by shifting to a lower
gear. Any sudden changes could
cause the tires to slide. You might
not realize the surface is slippery
until the vehicle is skidding. Learn to
recognize warning clues
—such as
enough water, ice, or packed snow
on the road to make a mirrored
surface —and slow down when you
have any doubt.
Remember: Antilock brakes help
avoid only the braking skid.
Off-Road Driving
Vehicles with four-wheel drive can
be used for off-road driving.
Vehicles without four-wheel drive
should not be driven off-road except
on a level, solid surface. The airbag system is designed to
work properly under a wide range of
conditions, including off‐road usage.
Always wear your safety belt and
observe safe driving speeds,
especially on rough terrain.
Drinking and driving can be very
dangerous on any road and this is
certainly true for off-road driving. At
the very time you need special
alertness and driving skills, your
reflexes, perceptions, and judgment
can be affected by even a small
amount of alcohol. You could have a
serious
—or even fatal —accident
if you drink and drive or ride with a
driver who has been drinking.
Off-roading can be great fun but has
some definite hazards. The greatest
of these is the terrain itself. When
off-road driving, traffic lanes are not
marked, curves are not banked, and
there are no road signs. Surfaces
can be slippery, rough, uphill,
or downhill.

Black plate (17,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-17
Other driving tips include:
.Keep the vehicle well ventilated.
.Keep interior temperature cool.
.Keep your eyes moving—scan
the road ahead and to the sides.
.Check the rearview mirror and
vehicle instruments often.
Hill and Mountain Roads
Driving on steep hills or through
mountains is different than driving
on flat or rolling terrain. Tips for
driving in these conditions include:
.Keep the vehicle serviced and in
good shape.
.Check all fluid levels and brakes,
tires, cooling system, and
transmission.
.Shift to a lower gear when going
down steep or long hills.
{WARNING
If you do not shift down, the
brakes could get so hot that they
would not work well. You would
then have poor braking or even
none going down a hill. You could
crash. Shift down to let the engine
assist the brakes on a steep
downhill slope.
{WARNING
Coasting downhill in N (Neutral)
or with the ignition off is
dangerous. The brakes will have
to do all the work of slowing down
and they could get so hot that
they would not work well. You
would then have poor braking or
even none going down a hill. You
could crash. Always have the
engine running and the vehicle in
gear when going downhill.
.Stay in your own lane. Do not
swing wide or cut across the
center of the road. Drive at
speeds that let you stay in your
own lane.
.Top of hills: Be alert —
something could be in your
lane (stalled car, accident).
.Pay attention to special road
signs (falling rocks area, winding
roads, long grades, passing or
no-passing zones) and take
appropriate action.
Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Drive carefully when there is snow
or ice between the tires and the
road, creating less traction or grip.
Wet ice can occur at about 0°C
(32°F) when freezing rain begins to
fall, resulting in even less traction.
Avoid driving on wet ice or in
freezing rain until roads can be
treated with salt or sand.

Black plate (18,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2011
9-18 Driving and Operating
Drive with caution, whatever the
condition. Accelerate gently so
traction is not lost. Accelerating too
quickly causes the wheels to spin
and makes the surface under the
tires slick, so there is even less
traction.
Try not to break the fragile traction.
If you accelerate too fast, the drive
wheels will spin and polish the
surface under the tires even more.
TheAntilock Brake System (ABS)
on page 9‑43 improves vehicle
stability during hard stops on
slippery roads, but apply the brakes
sooner than when on dry pavement.
Allow greater following distance on
any slippery road and watch for
slippery spots. Icy patches can
occur on otherwise clear roads in
shaded areas. The surface of a
curve or an overpass can remain icy
when the surrounding roads are
clear. Avoid sudden steering
maneuvers and braking while
on ice. Turn off cruise control on slippery
surfaces.
Blizzard Conditions
Being stuck in snow can be a
serious situation. Stay with the
vehicle unless there is help nearby.
If possible, use the
Roadside
Assistance Program (U.S. and
Canada) on page 13‑7 orRoadside
Assistance Program (Mexico) on
page 13‑9. To get help and keep
everyone in the vehicle safe:
.Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
.Tie a red cloth to an outside
mirror.
{WARNING
Snow can trap engine exhaust
under the vehicle. This may
cause exhaust gases to get
inside. Engine exhaust contains
Carbon Monoxide (CO) which
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
cannot be seen or smelled. It can
cause unconsciousness and even
death.
If the vehicle is stuck in the snow:
.Clear away snow from around
the base of your vehicle,
especially any that is blocking
the exhaust pipe.
.Check again from time to
time to be sure snow does
not collect there.
.Open a window about 5 cm
(2 in) on the side of the
vehicle that is away from the
wind to bring in fresh air.
.Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel.(Continued)

Black plate (57,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-57
Driving with a Trailer
{WARNING
When towing a trailer, exhaust
gases may collect at the rear of
the vehicle and enter if the
liftgate, trunk/hatch, or rear-most
window is open.
Engine exhaust contains Carbon
Monoxide (CO) which cannot be
seen or smelled. It can cause
unconsciousness and even death.
To maximize safety when towing
a trailer:
.Have the exhaust system
inspected for leaks and make
necessary repairs before
starting a trip.
.Never drive with the liftgate,
trunk/hatch, or rear-most
window open.(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
.Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel.
.Adjust the Climate Control
system to a setting that
brings in only outside air and
set the fan speed to the
highest setting. See Climate
Control System in the Index.
For more information about
Carbon Monoxide, see Engine
Exhaust on page 9‑33.
Towing a trailer requires a certain
amount of experience. Get to know
the rig before setting out for the
open road. Get acquainted with the
feel of handling and braking with the
added weight of the trailer. And
always keep in mind that the vehicle
you are driving is now longer and
not as responsive as the vehicle is
by itself. Before starting, check all trailer hitch
parts and attachments, safety
chains, electrical connectors, lamps,
tires and mirror adjustments. If the
trailer has electric brakes, start the
vehicle and trailer moving and then
apply the trailer brake controller by
hand to be sure the brakes are
working. This checks the electrical
connection at the same time.
During the trip, check occasionally
to be sure that the load is secure,
and that the lamps and any trailer
brakes are still working.
While towing a trailer or when
exposed to long periods of
sunshine, the floor of the truck bed
may become very warm. Avoid
putting items in the truck bed that
might be affected by high ambient
temperatures.

Black plate (42,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2011
10-42 Vehicle Care
The trailer brake relay is located on
the bottom side of the battery
harness.Fuses Usage
O2 SNSR Oxygen Sensors,
Air Injection
Reactor (AIR)
Relay
A/C Air Conditioning
Control Head,
Power Seats
A/C
CMPRSR Air Conditioning
Compressor Fuses Usage
ABS Antilock Brake
System (ABS),
ABS Module,
Four‐Wheel Drive,
Gravity Sensor
ABS 1 ABS 1 (ABS Logic)
ABS 2 ABS 2 (ABS Pump)
AUX PWR 1 Accessory Power 1
AUX PWR 2 Accessory Power 2
BCK/UP Back-up Lights
BLWR Climate
Control Fan
CLSTR Cluster
CNSTR
VENT Fuel Canister Vent
Solenoid
CRUISE Cruise Control
Switch, Inside
Rearview Mirror,
Transfer Case
Control Module,
Brake Switch,
Clutch Disable Fuses Usage
DR/LCK Power Door
Locks (If Equipped)
DRL Daylight Running
Lamps
ERLS Mass Air
Flow (MAF)
Sensor, Can Purge
Solenoid, Air
Injector
Reactor (AIR)
Relay
ETC Electronic Throttle
Control (ETC)
FOG/LAMP Fog Lamps
(If Equipped)
FRT
PRK LAMP Front Park/Turn
Lamps, Driver and
Passenger Side
Power Window
Switches Lighting
FRT/AXLE Front Axle Actuator
FSCM Fuel System
Control Module

Black plate (43,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2011
Vehicle Care 10-43
FusesUsage
BACKUP
LAMP Backup Lamp
HORN Horn
HTD/SEAT Heated Seat (If
Equipped)
IGN Ignition, Clutch
Starter Switch,
Neutral Safety
Back‐Up Switch,
Ignition Coils 1‐5,
Air Conditioning
Relay
INJ Injectors
LT HDLP Driver Side
Headlamp
PCM B Power Control
Module (PCM) B
PCMI Power Control
Module (PCM)
PWR/SEAT Power Seat Circuit
Breaker (If
Equipped) Fuses
Usage
PWR/WNDW Power Windows (If
Equipped)
RDO Radio
REAR
PRK LAMP Rear Parking
Lamp 1, Passenger
Side Taillamp,
License Plate
Lamps
REAR PRK
LAMP2 Driver Side Rear
Taillamp,
Passenger Side
Airbag Indicator
Lighting,
Instrument Panel
Dimming Power
(2WD/4WD switch
lighting)
RT HDLP Passenger Side
Headlamp
RVC Regulated Voltage
Control
S/ROOF Not Used
STOP Stop Lamps Fuses
Usage
STRTR Starter Solenoid
Relay
TBC Truck Body
Controller
TCM Transmission
Control Module
TCCM Transfer Case
Control Module
TRAILER
BRAKE Trailer Brake
TRANS Transmission
Solenoid
TRN/
HAZRD FRT Turn/Hazard/
Courtesy/Cargo
Lamps/Mirrors
TRN/
HAZRD
REAR Rear Turn/Hazard
Lights
VSES/STOP Vehicle Stability
Enhancement
System/Stop
WPR Wiper