2012 CHEVROLET COLORADO lock

Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2012
Climate Controls 8-1
Climate Controls
Climate Control Systems
Climate Control Systems . . . . . . 8-1
Air Vents
Air Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-3
Climate Control Systems
The heating, cooling, and ventilation for the vehicle can be controlled with
this system.
A. Temperature Control
B. Fan Control
C. Air Delivery Mode Control
D. Air Conditioning
E. RecirculationTemperature Control:
Turn the
knob clockwise or counterclockwise
to increase or decrease the
temperature of the air inside the
vehicle.
9(Fan Control): Turn the knob
clockwise or counterclockwise to
increase or decrease the fan speed.

Black plate (2,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2012
8-2 Climate Controls
If the knob is set on“0”(zero), some
outside air will still enter the vehicle
and will be directed according to the
position of the mode knob.
Air Delivery Mode Control:
Turn the knob clockwise or
counterclockwise to change the
current airflow mode.
Select from the following modes:
H(Vent): Air is directed to the
instrument panel outlets.
\(Bi-Level): Air is divided
between the instrument panel
outlets and floor and side window
outlets. Cooler air is directed to the
upper outlets and warmer air to the
floor outlets.
[(Floor): Air is directed to the
floor outlets. Recirculation cannot
be selected while in floor mode
because this could cause the
interior window to fog.
/(Floor/Defog): This mode
clears the windows of fog or
moisture. Air is directed to the floor,
windshield, and side window outlets.
When this mode is selected, the
system runs the air conditioning
compressor unless the outside
temperature is near freezing or
below. Recirculation is not available
in this mode.
0(Defrost): This mode clears
the windshield of fog or frost
more quickly. Air is directed to the
windshield and side window outlets.
When this mode is selected, the
system runs the air conditioning
compressor unless the outside
temperature is near, or below
freezing. Recirculation is not
available in this mode.
Do not drive the vehicle until all the
windows are clear.
#(Air Conditioning): Press to
turn the air conditioning system
on or off. An indicator light on the
button comes on to show that the air
conditioning is on.
The fan control must be on to use
the air conditioning.
There might be a slight change in
engine performance when the air
conditioning compressor shuts off
and turns on again. This is normal.
The system is designed to make
adjustments to help with fuel
economy while still maintaining
the selected temperature.
The air conditioning system
removes moisture from the air, so a
small amount of water might drip
under the vehicle while idling or
after turning off the engine. This is
normal.

Black plate (3,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2012
Climate Controls 8-3
@(Recirculation):Press to turn
the recirculation mode on or off. An
indicator light on the button comes
on to show that the recirculation
mode is on. This mode recirculates
and helps to quickly cool the air
inside the vehicle. It can be used to
prevent outside air and odors from
entering the vehicle.
The recirculation mode cannot be
used with floor/defog, defrost,
or defogging modes. If recirculation
is selected in these modes, the
indicator will flash or not come on.Air Vents
Use the thumbwheel on the outlets
to change the direction of the
air flow.
Lift up or push down on the
thumbwheel located in the center
of the outlet to direct the air up or
down, or slide the thumbwheel to
the left or right to direct the airflow
from side‐to‐side. Operation Tips.Clear away any ice, snow or
leaves from the air inlets at the
base of the windshield that may
block the flow of air into the
vehicle.
.Use of non-GM approved hood
deflectors may adversely affect
the performance of the system.
.Keep the path under the front
seats clear of objects to help
circulate the air inside of the
vehicle more effectively.

Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2012
Driving and Operating 9-1
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-3
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Off-Road Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . 9-11
Highway Hypnosis . . . . . . . . . . . 9-12
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 9-12
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-13
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 9-15
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . 9-16
Truck-Camper LoadingInformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-22
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . 9-22
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-23
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . 9-25
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-26
Retained AccessoryPower (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-27
Shifting Into Park (Automatic Transmission) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-27
Shifting out of Park (Automatic Transmission) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-28
Parking (Manual Transmission) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-29
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-29
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-30
Running the Vehicle WhileParked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-30
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . 9-31
Manual Transmission
Manual Transmission . . . . . . . . 9-34
Drive Systems
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-36
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-40
Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-41
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-42
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control System (TCS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-42
StabiliTrak
®System . . . . . . . . . 9-44
Limited-Slip Rear Axle . . . . . . . 9-45
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-46

Black plate (4,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2012
9-4 Driving and Operating
Control of a Vehicle
Braking, steering, and accelerating
are important factors in helping to
control a vehicle while driving.
Braking
Braking action involves perception
time and reaction time. Deciding to
push the brake pedal is perception
time. Actually doing it is
reaction time.
Average driver reaction time is
about three‐fourths of a second.
In that time, a vehicle moving at
100 km/h (60 mph) travels 20 m
(66 ft), which could be a lot of
distance in an emergency.
Helpful braking tips to keep in mind
include:
.Keep enough distance between
you and the vehicle in front
of you.
.Avoid needless heavy braking.
.Keep pace with traffic.If the engine ever stops while the
vehicle is being driven, brake
normally but do not pump the
brakes. Doing so could make the
pedal harder to push down. If the
engine stops, there will be some
power brake assist but it will be
used when the brake is applied.
Once the power assist is used up,
it can take longer to stop and the
brake pedal will be harder to push.
Steering
Hydraulic Power Steering
Your vehicle has hydraulic
power steering. It may require
maintenance. See
Power Steering
Fluid on page 10‑24.
If power steering assist is lost
because the engine stops or the
power steering system is not
functioning, the vehicle can be
steered but may required increased
effort. See your dealer if there is a
problem.
Curve Tips
.Take curves at a reasonable
speed.
.Reduce speed before entering a
curve.
.Maintain a reasonable steady
speed through the curve
.Wait until the vehicle is out of
the curve before accelerating
gently into the straightaway.
Steering in Emergencies
.There are some situations when
steering around a problem may
be more effective than braking.
.Holding both sides of the
steering wheel allows you to turn
180 degrees without removing
a hand.
.The Antilock Brake System
(ABS) allows steering while
braking.

Black plate (6,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2012
9-6 Driving and Operating
.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.
Remember: Antilock brakes help
avoid only the braking skid.
Off-Road Driving
Off-Road Driving
Four-wheel-drive vehicles can be
used for off-road driving. Vehicles
without four-wheel drive and
vehicles not equipped with All
Terrain (AT) or On-Off Road (OOR)
tires must not be driven off-road
except on a level, solid surface. To
contact the tire manufacturer for
more information about the original
equipment tires, see the Limited
Warranty and Owner Assistance
Information manual. Controlling the vehicle is the key to
successful off-road driving. One of
the best ways to control the vehicle
is to control the speed.
{WARNING
When driving off-road, bouncing
and quick changes in direction
can easily throw you out of
position. This could cause you to
lose control and crash. You and
your passengers should always
wear safety belts.
Before Driving Off-Road
.Have all necessary maintenance
and service work completed.
.Fuel the vehicle, fill fluid levels,
and check inflation pressure in
all tires, including the spare,
if equipped.
.Read all the information about
four-wheel-drive vehicles in this
manual.
.Make sure all underbody
shields, if equipped, are properly
attached.
.Know the local laws that apply to
off-road driving.
To gain more ground clearance if
needed, it may be necessary to
remove the front fascia lower
air dam.
Notice: Operating the vehicle
for extended periods without
the front fascia lower air dam
installed can cause improper air
flow to the engine. Re‐attach the
front fascia air dam after off-road
driving.

Black plate (13,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2012
Driving and Operating 9-13
.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.
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.
The
Antilock Brake System (ABS)
on page 9‑40 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.

Black plate (14,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2012
9-14 Driving and Operating
Blizzard Conditions
Being stuck in snow can be a
serious situation. Stay with the
vehicle unless there is help nearby.
If possible, use theRoadside
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
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.
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
.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.
.Adjust the climate control
system to a setting that
circulates the air inside the
vehicle 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 9‑30.