Page 20 of 394

Black plate (14,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2012
1-14 In Brief
Four-Wheel Drive
Four-wheel drive sends engine
power to all four wheels for extra
traction.
The transfer case buttons are
located to the right of the steering
wheel on the instrument panel.
Use these buttons to shift into and
out of four-wheel drive.2
m(Two-Wheel High):
Use for
driving in most street and highway
situations.
{WARNING
Shifting the transfer case to
N (Neutral) can cause the vehicle
to roll even if the transmission is
in P (Park). You or someone else
could be seriously injured. Be
sure to set the parking brake
before placing the transfer case in
N (Neutral). See Parking Brake on
page 9‑41. N (Neutral):
Use the N (Neutral)
position only when towing the
vehicle. See Recreational Vehicle
Towing on page 10‑89.
4
m(Four-Wheel High): Use when
extra traction is needed in most
off-road situations.
4
n(Four-Wheel Low): Use this
position to deliver extra torque
to all four wheels. Used for extreme
off‐road conditions. See Four-Wheel
Drive on page 9‑36.
Page 264 of 394

Black plate (26,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2012
10-26 Vehicle Care
Brakes
This vehicle has front disc brakes
and rear drum brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear
indicators that make a high-pitched
warning sound when the brake pads
are worn and new pads are needed.
The sound can come and go or be
heard all the time the vehicle is
moving, except when applying the
brake pedal firmly.
{WARNING
The brake wear warning sound
means that soon the brakes will
not work well. That could lead to
a crash. When the brake wear
warning sound is heard, have the
vehicle serviced.
Notice: Continuing to drive with
worn-out brake pads could result
in costly brake repair. Some driving conditions or climates
can cause a brake squeal when the
brakes are first applied or lightly
applied. This does not mean
something is wrong with the brakes.
Properly torqued wheel nuts are
necessary to help prevent brake
pulsation. When tires are rotated,
inspect brake pads for wear and
evenly tighten wheel nuts in
the proper sequence to torque
specifications in
Capacities and
Specifications on page 12‑2.
Rear drum brakes do not have
wear indicators, but if a rear brake
rubbing noise is heard, have the
rear brake linings inspected
immediately. Rear brake drums
should be removed and inspected
each time the tires are removed for
rotation or changing. Drum brakes
have an inspection hole to inspect
lining wear during scheduled
maintenance. When the front brake
pads are replaced, have the rear
brakes inspected, too. Brake linings should always be
replaced as complete axle sets.
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer if the brake pedal
does not return to normal height,
or if there is a rapid increase in
pedal travel. This could be a
sign that brake service might be
required.
Brake Adjustment
Every time the brakes are applied,
with or without the vehicle moving,
the brakes adjust for wear.
Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a vehicle is
complex. Its many parts have to be
of top quality and work well together
if the vehicle is to have really good
braking. The vehicle was designed
and tested with top-quality brake
parts. When parts of the braking
system are replaced, be sure to get
new, approved replacement parts.
Page 298 of 394

Black plate (60,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2012
10-60 Vehicle Care
Reset the Tire Pressure Monitor
System. SeeTire Pressure
Monitor Operation on
page 10‑56.
Check that all wheel nuts are
properly tightened. See “Wheel
Nut Torque” underCapacities
and Specifications on
page 12‑2.
{WARNING
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the
parts to which it is fastened, can
make wheel nuts become loose
after time. The wheel could come
off and cause an accident. When
changing a wheel, remove any
rust or dirt from places where the
wheel attaches to the vehicle. In
an emergency, a cloth or a paper
towel can be used; however, use
a scraper or wire brush later to
remove all rust or dirt.
Lightly coat the center of the
wheel hub with wheel bearing
grease after a wheel change or
tire rotation to prevent corrosion
or rust build-up. Do not get
grease on the flat wheel
mounting surface or on the
wheel nuts or bolts.
When It Is Time for New
Tires
Factors, such as maintenance,
temperatures, driving speeds,
vehicle loading, and road conditions
affect the wear rate of the tires.Treadwear indicators are one way
to tell when it is time for new tires.
Treadwear indicators appear when
the tires have only 1.6 mm (1/16 in)
or less of tread remaining. Some
commercial truck tires may not
have treadwear indicators. See Tire
Inspection on page 10‑59 andTire
Rotation on page 10‑59 for
additional information.
The rubber in tires ages over time.
This also applies to the spare tire,
if the vehicle has one, even if it is
never used. Multiple conditions
including temperatures, loading
conditions, and inflation pressure
Page 314 of 394

Black plate (76,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2012
10-76 Vehicle Care
Rear Position
11. Turn the wheel wrench counterclockwise to lower the
vehicle. Lower the jack
completely.
{WARNING
Wheel nuts that are improperly or
incorrectly tightened can cause
the wheels to become loose or
come off. The wheel nuts should
be tightened with a torque wrench
to the proper torque specification
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
after replacing. Follow the torque
specification supplied by the
aftermarket manufacturer when
using accessory locking wheel
nuts. SeeCapacities and
Specifications on page 12‑2 for
original equipment wheel nut
torque specifications.
Notice: Improperly tightened
wheel nuts can lead to brake
pulsation and rotor damage. To
avoid expensive brake repairs,
evenly tighten the wheel nuts in
the proper sequence and to the
proper torque specification. See
Capacities and Specifications on
page 12‑2 for the wheel nut
torque specification.
12. Tighten the wheel nuts firmly in a crisscross sequence, as
shown, by turning the wheel
wrench clockwise.
Reinstall the center cap when
the regular wheel and tire are
reinstalled. Place the cap on the
wheel and tap it into place until it is
flush with the wheel. The cap only
goes on one way. Be sure to line up
the tab on the center cap with the
indentation on the wheel.
Page 359 of 394
Black plate (3,1)Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual - 2012
Technical Data 12-3
Capacities and Specifications (cont.)
ApplicationCapacities
Metric English
Transmission Automatic (Pan Removal and Filter Replacement) 4.7 L 5.0 qt
Manual –Rear-Wheel Drive (Drain and Refill) 2.2 L 2.3 qt
Manual –Four-Wheel Drive (Drain and Refill) 2.3 L 2.4 qt
Wheel Nut Torque 140 Y100 lb ft
All capacities are approximate. When adding, be sure to fill to the approximate level, as recommended in this
manual. Recheck fluid level after filling.
Engine Specifications
Type VIN CodeTransmission Spark Plug Gap
2.9L L4 9Automatic
Manual 1.01 mm (0.040 in)
3.7L L5 EAutomatic 1.01 mm (0.040 in)
5.3L V8 PAutomatic 1.01 mm (0.040 in)