Page 259 of 394

Black plate (21,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-21
How to Add Coolant to the
Radiator
{WARNING
An electric engine cooling fan
under the hood can start up even
when the engine is not running
and can cause injury. Keep
hands, clothing, and tools away
from any underhood electric fan.
{WARNING
Steam and scalding liquids from
a hot cooling system can blow
out and burn you badly. They
are under pressure, and if you
turn the surge tank pressure
cap—even a little —they can
come out at high speed. Never
turn the cap when the cooling
system, including the surge tank
pressure cap, is hot. Wait for the
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
cooling system and surge tank
pressure cap to cool if you ever
have to turn the pressure cap.
If coolant is needed, add the proper
mixture directly to the radiator, but
be sure the cooling system is cool
before this is done.
1. Remove the radiator pressure cap when the cooling system,
including the upper radiator
hose, is no longer hot. Turn
the pressure cap slowly
counterclockwise about one
full turn.
If a hiss is heard, wait for that to
stop. A hiss means there is still
some pressure left. 2. Keep turning the cap to
remove it.
3. Fill the radiator with the proper DEX‐COOL coolant mixture,
up to the base of the filler
neck. See Engine Coolant on
page 10‑19 for more information
about the proper coolant
mixture.
4. Fill the coolant recovery tank to the FULL COLD mark.
5. Reinstall the cap on the coolant recovery tank, but leave the
radiator pressure cap off.
Page 270 of 394

Black plate (32,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2012
10-32 Vehicle Care
Automatic Transmission
Shift Lock Control
Function Check
{WARNING
When you are doing this
inspection, the vehicle could
move suddenly. If the vehicle
moves, you or others could be
injured.
1. Before starting this check, be sure there is enough room
around the vehicle. It should be
parked on a level surface.
2. Firmly apply the parking brake. See Parking Brake on
page 9‑41.
Be ready to apply the regular
brake immediately if the vehicle
begins to move. 3. With the engine off, turn the
ignition on, but do not start the
engine. Without applying the
regular brake, try to move the
shift lever out of P (Park) with
normal effort. If the shift lever
moves out of P (Park), contact
your dealer for service.
Ignition Transmission
Lock Check
While parked, and with the parking
brake set, try to turn the ignition
to LOCK/OFF in each shift lever
position.
.For automatic transmission
vehicles, the ignition should turn
to LOCK/OFF only when the
shift lever is in P (Park).
.For manual transmission
vehicles, the ignition should turn
to LOCK/OFF only when you
press the key release button. On all vehicles, the ignition key
should come out only in LOCK/OFF.
Contact your dealer if service is
required.
Park Brake and P (Park)
Mechanism Check
{WARNING
When you are doing this check,
the vehicle could begin to move.
You or others could be injured
and property could be damaged.
Make sure there is room in front
of the vehicle in case it begins to
roll. Be ready to apply the regular
brake at once should the vehicle
begin to move.
Page 271 of 394

Black plate (33,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-33
Park on a fairly steep hill, with the
vehicle facing downhill. Keeping
your foot on the regular brake, set
the parking brake.
.To check the parking brake's
holding ability: With the engine
running and the transmission in
N (Neutral), slowly remove foot
pressure from the regular brake
pedal. Do this until the vehicle is
held by the parking brake only.
.To check the P (Park)
mechanism's holding ability:
With the engine running, shift
to P (Park). Then release the
parking brake followed by the
regular brake.
Contact your dealer if service is
required.
Wiper Blade Replacement
Windshield wiper blades should be
inspected for wear and cracking.
See Maintenance Schedule on
page 11‑3 for more information.
Replacement blades come in
different types and are removed
in different ways. For proper type
and length, see Maintenance
Replacement Parts on page 11‑15.
Allowing the wiper blade arm to
touch the windshield when no wiper
blade is installed could damage the
windshield. Any damage that occurs
would not be covered by the vehicle
warranty. Do not allow the wiper
blade arm to touch the windshield.
1. To remove the old wiper blades, lift the wiper arm until it locks
into a vertical position.
A. Blade Assembly
B. Arm Assembly
C. Locking Tab
D. Blade Pivot
E. Hook Slot
F. Arm Hook
2. Press down on the blade assembly pivot locking tab. Pull
down on the blade assembly
to release it from the wiper
arm hook.
Page 272 of 394
Black plate (34,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2012
10-34 Vehicle Care
3. Remove the insert from theblade assembly. The insert has
two notches at one end that are
locked by bottom claws of the
blade assembly. At the notched
end, pull the insert from the
blade assembly.
4. To install the new wiper insert,
slide the insert (D), notched end
last, into the end with two blade claws (A). Slide the insert all the
way through the blade claws at
the opposite end (B). The plastic
caps (C) will be forced off as the
insert is fully inserted.
5. Be sure that the notches are locked by the bottom claws.
Make sure that all other claws
are properly locked on both
sides of the insert slots.
A. Claw in Notch
B. Correct Installation
C. Incorrect Installation
6. Put the blade assembly pivot in the wiper arm hook. Pull up until
the pivot locking tab locks in the
hook slot.
7. Carefully lower the wiper arm and blade assembly onto the
windshield.
Page 274 of 394

Black plate (36,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2012
10-36 Vehicle Care
3. Turn the bulb socketcounterclockwise to remove it
from the headlamp assembly
and pull it straight out.
4. Unplug the electrical connector from the old bulb by releasing
the clips on the bulb socket.
5. Pull the old bulb straight out.
6. Push the new bulb straight in until it clicks to secure it.
7. Plug in the electrical connector to the new bulb socket.
8. Push the bulb socket straight in and turn it clockwise to secure it
in the headlamp assembly.
Taillamps, Turn Signal,
Stoplamps, and Back-Up
Lamps
A. Stoplamp/Taillamp
B. Turn Signal/Taillamp
C. Back‐up Lamp
To replace one of these bulbs:
1. Open the tailgate. See Tailgate
on page 2‑7.
2. Remove the two rear lamp assembly screws near the
tailgate latch.
3. Pull the lamp assembly away from the vehicle.
4. Turn the bulb socket counterclockwise to remove it
from the taillamp assembly.
5. Holding the socket, pull the old bulb straight out to release it
from the socket.
6. Push the new bulb straight into the socket until it clicks.
Page 275 of 394

Black plate (37,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-37
7. Insert the bulb socket into thetaillamp assembly and turn it
clockwise to secure.
8. Reinstall the taillamp assembly and tighten the screws.
Center High-Mounted
Stoplamp (CHMSL)
To replace the CHMSL bulb:
1. Remove the two screws and liftoff the lamp assembly from the
vehicle.
2. Turn the bulb socketcounterclockwise and remove it
from the lamp assembly.
3. Holding the socket, pull the bulb to release it from the socket. 4. Push the new bulb into the
socket until it clicks.
5. Insert the bulb socket into the lamp assembly and turn it
clockwise to secure.
6. Reinstall the lamp assembly and tighten the screws.
License Plate Lamp
To replace one of these bulbs:
1. Reach under the rear bumper forthe bulb socket.
2. Turn the bulb socket counterclockwise and pull the
bulb socket out of the connector.
3. Pull the old bulb straight out from the bulb socket. 4. Push the new bulb straight in
until it clicks to secure it.
5. Reach under the rear bumper to reinstall the bulb socket into the
connector.
6. Turn the bulb socket clockwise to secure it to the connector.
Replacement Bulbs
Exterior Lamp Bulb
Number
Cargo Lamp
and Center
High‐Mounted
Stoplamp (CHMSL) 912LL
License Plate Bulb W5W LL
Headlamps High-beam 9005
Low-beam/
Daytime
Running
Lamp (DRL) 9006
Page 277 of 394

Black plate (39,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-39
Windshield Wipers
If the wiper motor overheats due to
heavy snow or ice, the windshield
wipers will stop until the motor cools
and will then restart.
Although the circuit is protected
from electrical overload, overload
due to heavy snow or ice may
cause wiper linkage damage.
Always clear ice and heavy snow
from the windshield before using the
windshield wipers.
If the overload is caused by an
electrical problem and not snow or
ice, be sure to get it fixed.
Fuses and Circuit
Breakers
The wiring circuits in the vehicle are
protected from short circuits by a
combination of fuses and circuit
breakers. This greatly reduces the
chance of fires caused by electrical
problems.
Look at the silver-colored band
inside the fuse. If the band is broken
or melted, replace the fuse. Be sure
you replace a bad fuse with a new
one of the identical size and rating.
If you ever have a problem on the
road and do not have a spare fuse,
you can borrow one that has the
same amperage. Just pick some
feature of the vehicle that you can
get along without—like the radio
or cigarette lighter —and use its
fuse, if it is the correct amperage.
Replace it as soon as you can.
Engine Compartment
Fuse Block
The engine compartment fuse block
is located on the driver side of the
engine compartment. See Engine
Compartment Overview on
page 10‑6 for more information on
location.
Page 279 of 394

Black plate (41,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2012
Vehicle Care 10-41
FusesUsage
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 Fuses
Usage
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)