2011 CHEVROLET COLORADO engine

Black plate (35,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-35
Automatic
Transmission
The vehicle has a shift lever on the
steering column.
It features an electronic shift
position indicator within the
instrument cluster. This display is
powered anytime the shift lever is
capable of being moved out of
P (Park). This means that if the
ignition is turned off, but not in
LOCK/OFF, there will be a small
current drain on the battery which
could discharge the battery over a
period of time. If you need to leave
the key in the ignition but not in
LOCK/OFF for an extended period,
it is recommended that youdisconnect the battery cable from
the battery to prevent discharging
the battery.
There are several different positions
for the shift lever.
P (Park):
This position locks the
rear wheels. It is the best position to
use when you start the engine
because the vehicle cannot move
easily.
{WARNING
It is dangerous to get out of the
vehicle if the shift lever is not fully
in P (Park) with the parking brake
firmly set. The vehicle can roll.
Do not leave the vehicle when the
engine is running unless you
have to. If you have left the
engine running, the vehicle can
move suddenly. You or others
could be injured. To be sure the
vehicle will not move, even when
you are on fairly level ground,
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
always set the parking brake and
move the shift lever to P (Park).
SeeShifting Into Park (Automatic
Transmission) on page 9‑30.
If you are pulling a trailer, see
Driving Characteristics and
Towing Tips on page 9‑56.
Make sure the shift lever is fully in
P (Park) before starting the engine.
The vehicle has an automatic
transmission shift lock control
system. You must fully apply the
brake pedal before you can shift
from P (Park) when the ignition key
is in ON/RUN. If you cannot shift out
of P (Park), ease pressure on the
shift lever by pushing the shift lever
all the way into P (Park) as you
maintain brake application. Then
move the shift lever into another
gear. See Shifting Out of Park
(Automatic Transmission) on
page 9‑32.

Black plate (36,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2011
9-36 Driving and Operating
R (Reverse):Use this gear to
back up.
Notice: Shifting to R (Reverse)
while the vehicle is moving
forward could damage the
transmission. The repairs would
not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Shift to R (Reverse) only
after the vehicle is stopped.
To rock your vehicle back and forth
to get out of snow, ice, or sand
without damaging the transmission,
see If the Vehicle is Stuck on
page 9‑19.
N (Neutral): In this position, the
engine does not connect with the
wheels. To restart the engine when
the vehicle is are already moving,
use N (Neutral) only.
{WARNING
Shifting into a drive gear while the
engine is running at high speed is
dangerous. Unless your foot is
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
firmly on the brake pedal, the
vehicle could move very rapidly.
You could lose control and hit
people or objects. Do not shift
into a drive gear while the engine
is running at high speed.
Notice: Shifting out of P (Park) or
N (Neutral) with the engine
running at high speed may
damage the transmission. The
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Be sure the
engine is not running at high
speed when shifting the vehicle.
D (Drive): This position is for
normal driving. It provides the best
fuel economy. If you need more
power for passing, and you are:
.Going less than about 55 km/h
(35 mph), push the accelerator
pedal about halfway down.
.Going about 55 km/h (35 mph) or
more, push the accelerator all
the way down.
The transmission will shift down
to the next gear and the vehicle
will have more power.
Downshifting the transmission in
slippery road conditions could result
in skidding, see “Skidding”under
Loss of Control on page 9‑5.
3 (Third): This position is also used
for normal driving. However, it
reduces vehicle speed more than
D (Drive) without using the brakes.
You might choose 3 (Third) instead
of D (Drive) when driving on hilly,
winding roads, or when towing a
trailer, so there is less shifting
between gears and when going
down a steep hill.
2 (Second): This position reduces
vehicle speed even more than
3 (Third) without using the brakes.
You can use 2 (Second) to help
control vehicle speed on steep

Black plate (37,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-37
mountain roads, but then you would
also want to use the brakes off
and on.
1 (First):This position reduces
vehicle speed even more than
2 (Second) without using the brakes.
You can use it on very steep hills,
or in deep snow or mud. If the shift
lever is put in 1 (First) while the
vehicle is moving forward, the
transmission will not shift into first
gear until the vehicle is going slowly
enough.
Notice: Spinning the tires or
holding the vehicle in one place
on a hill using only the
accelerator pedal may damage
the transmission. The repair will
not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. If you are stuck, do not
spin the tires. When stopping on
a hill, use the brakes to hold the
vehicle in place.Manual Transmission
This is your shift pattern.
Here is how to operate the manual
transmission:
1 (First): Press the clutch pedal
and shift into 1 (First). Then, slowly
let up on the clutch pedal as you
slowly press down on the
accelerator pedal.
You can shift into 1 (First) when you
are going less than 30 km/h
(20 mph). If you have come to a
complete stop and it is hard to shift into 1 (First), put the shift lever in
Neutral and let up on the clutch.
Then press the clutch pedal back
down and shift into 1 (First).
2 (Second):
Press the clutch pedal
as you let up on the accelerator
pedal and shift into 2 (Second).
Then, slowly let up on the clutch
pedal as you press the accelerator
pedal.
3 (Third), 4 (Fourth) and 5 (Fifth):
Shift into 3 (Third), 4 (Fourth) and
5 (Fifth) the same way you do for
2 (Second). Slowly let up on the
clutch pedal as you press the
accelerator pedal.
To stop, let up on the accelerator
pedal and press the brake pedal.
Just before the vehicle stops, press
the clutch pedal and the brake
pedal, and shift to Neutral.
Neutral: Use this position when
you start or idle the engine.

Black plate (39,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-39
Drive Systems
Four-Wheel Drive
If the vehicle has four-wheel
drive, you can send the engine's
driving power to all four wheels for
extra traction. To get the best
performance out of four-wheel
drive, you must be familiar with its
operation. Read this section before
using four-wheel drive. You should
use two-wheel drive high for most
normal driving conditions.
Notice:Driving on clean, dry
pavement in four-wheel drive for
an extended period of time can
cause premature wear on the
vehicle's powertrain. Do not drive
on clean, dry pavement in
Four-Wheel Drive for extended
periods of time. Notice:
If the vehicle has
four-wheel drive and the different
size spare tire is installed on the
vehicle, do not drive in four-wheel
drive until you can have your flat
tire repaired and/or replaced. You
could damage the vehicle, and
the repair costs would not be
covered by your warranty. Never
use four-wheel drive when the
different size spare tire is
installed on the vehicle.
Notice: If the vehicle has
four-wheel drive and the compact
spare tire is installed on the
vehicle, do not drive in four-wheel
drive until you can have the flat
tire repaired and/or replaced. You
could damage the vehicle, and
the repair costs would not be
covered by your warranty. Never
use four-wheel drive when the
compact spare tire is installed on
the vehicle.
The transfer case buttons are
located to the right of the steering
wheel on the instrument panel.

Black plate (42,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2011
9-42 Driving and Operating
Shifting from Four-Wheel Low to
Two-Wheel High or
Four-Wheel High
To shift from Four-Wheel Low to
Two-Wheel High or Four-Wheel
High, the vehicle must be stopped
or moving less than 5 km/h (3 mph)
with the transmission in N (Neutral)
for an automatic transmission or the
clutch pedal pressed for a manual
transmission. The preferred method
for shifting out of Four-Wheel Low is
to have your vehicle moving
1.6 to 3.2 km/h (1 to 2 mph).
Press and release the Four-Wheel
High or Two-Wheel High button. You
must wait for the Four-Wheel High
or Two-Wheel High indicator light to
stop flashing and stay on before
shifting the transmission into gear or
releasing the clutch pedal.
If the Four-Wheel High or
Two-Wheel High button is pressed
when the vehicle is in gear and/or
moving faster than 5 km/h (3 mph),
the Four-Wheel High or Two-WheelHigh indicator light will flash for
30 seconds but not complete the
shift.
Shifting to Neutral
Use N (Neutral) when you plan to
tow the vehicle. See
Recreational
Vehicle Towing on page 10‑90 for
towing instructions. To shift the
transfer case into N (Neutral) do the
following:
1. Set the parking brake.
2. Start the vehicle.
3. Press the regular brake pedal and shift the transmission in
N (Neutral), or press in the clutch
for vehicles with a manual
transmission.
4. Shift the transfer case to Two-Wheel High.
5. Press and hold the Two-Wheel High and Four-Wheel Low
buttons at the same time for
10 seconds. The N (Neutral) light will come on when the transfer
case shift to N (Neutral) is
complete.
6. Press and hold the regular brake pedal and shift the transmission
to R (Reverse) for one second,
then shift the transmission to
D (Drive) for one second,
or 1 (First) for vehicles with
manual transmissions, and let
out the clutch to insure the
transfer case is in N (Neutral).
If the transfer case is not in
N (Neutral), repeat this
procedure starting at Step 3.
7. Turn the engine off by turning the key to ACC/ACCESSORY.
8. Place the transmission shift lever in P (Park), or 1 (First) for
vehicles that have a manual
transmission.
9. Turn the ignition to LOCK/OFF.

Black plate (43,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2011
Driving and Operating 9-43
Shifting Out of Neutral
After towing the vehicle, you will
have to shift out of N (Neutral) in
order to drive. To shift out of
N (Neutral), do the following:
1. Set the parking brake and applythe regular brake pedal.
2. Start a vehicle with an automatic transmission in P (Park). Use
1 (First) for vehicles with a
manual transmission.
3. Shift the transmission to N (Neutral), or press the clutch
pedal for vehicles with a manual
transmission.
4. Press the button for the desired transfer case shift position
(Two-Wheel High, Four-Wheel
High, or Four-Wheel Low).
5. After the transfer case has shifted out of N (Neutral), the
indicator light will go out.
6. Release the parking brake.
7. Shift the transmission to the desired position.Brakes
Antilock Brake
System (ABS)
This vehicle has the Antilock Brake
System (ABS), an advanced
electronic braking system that helps
prevent a braking skid.
When the engine is started and the
vehicle begins to drive away, ABS
checks itself. A momentary motor or
clicking noise might be heard while
this test is going on, and it might
even be noticed that the brake
pedal moves a little. This is normal.If there is a problem with ABS, this
warning light stays on. See Antilock
Brake System (ABS) Warning Light
on page 5‑16.
If driving safely on a wet road and it
becomes necessary to slam on the
brakes and continue braking to
avoid a sudden obstacle, a
computer senses that the wheels
are slowing down. If one of the
wheels is about to stop rolling, the
computer will separately work the
brakes at each wheel.
ABS can change the brake pressure
to each wheel, as required, faster
than any driver could. This can help
the driver steer around the obstacle
while braking hard.

Black plate (46,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2011
9-46 Driving and Operating
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control
System (TCS)
The Traction Control System (TCS)
is part of StabiliTrak. TCS limits
wheel slip which is especially useful
in slippery road conditions. The
system operates only if it senses
that any of the wheels are spinning
or beginning to lose traction. When
this happens, TCS applies the
brakes to limit wheel spin and also
reduces engine power. The system
may be heard or felt while it is
working. This is normal and does
not mean there is a problem with
the vehicle.
Notice:If the wheel(s) of one axle
is allowed to spin excessively
while the StabiliTrak
®, ABS, brake
warning lights, and any relevant
DIC messages are displayed, the
transfer case could be damaged.
The repairs would not be covered
by the vehicle warranty. Reduce
engine power and do not spin the wheel(s) excessively while these
lights and messages are
displayed.
TCS can operate on dry roads
under some conditions. When
this happens, the system may be
heard working or a reduction in
acceleration may be noticed. This
is normal and does not mean there
is a problem with the vehicle.
Examples of these conditions
include hard acceleration in a turn,
an abrupt upshift or downshift of the
transmission or driving on rough
roads.
If cruise control is being used when
TCS begins to limit wheel spin, the
cruise control automatically
disengages. The cruise control can
be re-engaged when road
conditions allow. See
Cruise Control
on page 9‑49.
The message TRACTION FAULT
appears in the Driver Information
Center (DIC) when a TCS or
Antilock Brake System (ABS)
problem has been detected and the vehicle needs service. When this
message is on, the system will not
limit wheel spin. Adjust your driving
accordingly. See
Ride Control
System Messages on page 5‑25.
The StabiliTrak/TCS light will flash
on the instrument panel cluster
when the TCS system or StabiliTrak
is both on and activated.
The StabiliTrak/TCS button is
located on the instrument panel.

Black plate (48,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2011
9-48 Driving and Operating
portion of traction control will work.
The engine speed management will
be disabled. In this mode, engine
power is not reduced automatically
and the drive wheels can spin more
freely. This can cause the
brake-traction control to activate
constantly. SeeIf the Vehicle is
Stuck on page 9‑19.
The StabiliTrak/TCS light will flash
on the instrument panel cluster
when the TCS system or StabiliTrak
is both on and activated.
The StabiliTrak/TCS button is
located on the instrument panel.
To turn off TCS, press and release
the StabiliTrak/TCS button. The
StabiliTrak/TCS light comes on in
the instrument panel cluster, and
TRAC OFF comes on the DIC. To
turn TCS back on, press and
release the StabiliTrak/TCS button.
To turn off TCS and StabiliTrak,
press and hold the StabiliTrak/TCS
button until the TRAC OFF and
STAB SYS OFF messages come on
the DIC and the StabiliTrak/TCS
light comes on the instrument panel.
To turn TCS and StabiliTrak back
on, press and release the
StabiliTrak/TCS button. When the TCS or StabiliTrak system
is turned off, the StabiliTrak/TCS
light and the appropriate TRAC OFF
or STAB SYS OFF message will be
displayed on the DIC. The vehicle
will still have brake-traction control
when TCS or StabiliTrak is off, but
will not be able to use the engine
speed management system. The
StabiliTrak/TCS light flashes when
either system is actively working.
See
Traction Control System (TCS)
on page 9‑46 for more information.
Limited-Slip Rear Axle
Vehicles with a limited-slip rear axle
can give more traction on snow,
mud, ice, sand or gravel. It works
like a standard axle most of the
time, but when traction is low, this
feature allows the drive wheel with
the most traction to move the
vehicle.