
Black plate (11,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2012
Service and Maintenance 11-11
Tires
Tires need to be properly inflated,
rotated, and balanced. Maintaining
the tires can save money, fuel, and
can reduce the risk of tire failure.
.Signs that the tires need to be
replaced include three or more
visible treadwear indicators; cord
or fabric showing through the
rubber; cracks or cuts in the
tread or sidewall; or a bulge or
split in the tire.
.Trained dealer technicians can
inspect and recommend the
right tires. Your dealer can also
provide tire/wheel balancing
services to ensure smooth
vehicle operation at all speeds.
Your dealer sells and services
name brand tires.Vehicle Care
To help keep the vehicle looking
like new, vehicle care products are
available from your dealer. For
information on how to clean and
protect the vehicle’s interior and
exterior, see
Interior Care on
page 10‑97 andExterior Care on
page 10‑94.
Wheel Alignment
Wheel alignment is critical for
ensuring that the tires deliver
optimal wear and performance.
.Signs that the alignment may
need to be adjusted include
pulling, improper vehicle
handling, or unusual tire wear.
.Your dealer has the required
equipment to ensure proper
wheel alignment. Windshield
For safety, appearance, and the
best viewing, keep the windshield
clean and clear.
.Signs of damage include
scratches, cracks, and chips.
.Trained dealer technicians can
inspect the windshield and
recommend proper replacement
if needed.
Wiper Blades
Wiper blades need to be cleaned
and kept in good condition to
provide a clear view.
.Signs of wear include streaking,
skipping across the windshield,
and worn or split rubber.
.Trained dealer technicians can
check the wiper blades and
replace them when needed.

Black plate (5,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2012
INDEX i-5
Fuel (cont.)Gasoline Specifications . . . . . . . 9-49
Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8
Recommended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-49
Requirements, California . . . . . 9-49
System Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-24
Fuel Economy Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-19
Full-Size Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . 10-83
Fuses
Engine CompartmentFuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-39
Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-39
G
Gasoline
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-49
Gauges Engine Coolant
Temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-9
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8 Gauges (cont.)
Tachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8
Warning Lights and
Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6
General Information Service and Maintenance . . . . . 11-1
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-53
Vehicle Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-2
Glove Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
GM Mobility Reimbursement Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-7
H
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-35
Hazard Warning Flashers . . . . . . . 6-4
Head Restraints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Headlamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-35Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-35
Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-35
Daytime RunningLamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2 Headlamps (cont.)
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . 5-18
High/Low Beam Changer . . . . . . 6-2
Heated Front Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7
Heater Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-26
Heating and Air Conditioning . . . 8-1
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . . 5-18
High-Speed Operation . . . . . . . . 10-54
Highway Hypnosis . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-12
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . 9-12
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-5
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-12
Hydraulic Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-16
I
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-23
Ignition Transmission Lock Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-32
Immobilizer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-10

Black plate (7,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2012
INDEX i-7
M
MaintenanceRecords . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11-16
Maintenance Schedule Recommended Fluidsand Lubricants . . . . . . . . . . . . .11-12
Transfer Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-36
Malfunction Indicator Lamp . . . . 5-13
Manual Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12
Manual Transmission . . . . . . . . . . 9-34 Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-15
Manual Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-15
Messages Battery Voltage andCharging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-22
Brake System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-23
Door Ajar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-23
Engine Cooling System . . . . . . . 5-23
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-24
Engine Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-24 Messages (cont.)
Fuel System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-24
Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-25
Ride Control System . . . . . . . . . . 5-25
Service Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-25
Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-26
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-26
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-22
Mirrors
Automatic DimmingRearview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-14
Convex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12
Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12
Manual Rearview . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-13
Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-13
Monitor System, Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-54
N
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . 9-22
O
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8Trip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8
Off-Road . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6 Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6
Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Oil
Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-9
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . 10-12
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-24
Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-18
Older Children, Restraints . . . . . 3-34
Online Owner Center . . . . . . . . . . 13-6
OnStar
®System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-20
Operation, Infotainment System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-3
Ordering Service Publications . . . . . . . . 13-17
Outlets Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5
Overheating, Engine . . . . . . . . . . 10-22

Black plate (11,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2012
INDEX i-11
Tires (cont.)Wheel Alignment and Tire
Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-65
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . 10-65
When It Is Time for New
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-60
Towing Driving Characteristics . . . . . . . . 9-53
Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-62
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 9-53
Recreational Vehicle . . . . . . . . 10-89
Trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-57
Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-89
Traction
Control System (TCS) . . . . . . . . 9-42
Control System (TCS)/StabiliTrak
®Light . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-17
Limited-Slip Rear Axle . . . . . . . . 9-45
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-57
Transfer Case . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-36
Transmission Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-31
Fluid, Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-13
Fluid, Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-15
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-26 Transportation Program,
Courtesy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13-13
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8
Truck-Camper Loading Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-22
Turn and Lane-Change Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4
Turn Signal Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 10-36
U
Uniform Tire QualityGrading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-63
Using This Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
V
Vehicle Canadian Owners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii
Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
IdentificationNumber (VIN) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-1
Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-16
Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-22
Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-89 Vehicle Care
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-52
Vehicle Identification Service Parts IdentificationLabel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-1
Ventilation, Air . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-3
Visors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-17
W
Warning Brake System Light . . . . . . . . . . . 5-15
Warning Lights, Gauges, and Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6
Warnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv Cautions and Danger . . . . . . . . . . . .iv
Hazard Flashers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-25
Wheels Alignment and TireBalance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-65
Different Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-62
Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-65
When It Is Time for New
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-60
Where to Put the Restraint . . . . 3-40