
Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S/Canada/Mexico-
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256 Driving and Operating
Press this button on the center
stack to turn on and off the Tow/
Haul Mode.
This indicator light on the instrument
cluster comes on when the Tow/
Haul Mode is on.
Tow/Haul is a feature that assists
when pulling a heavy trailer or a
large or heavy load. SeeTow/Haul
Mode 0224
ii.
Tow/Haul is designed to be most
effective when the vehicle and
trailer combined weight is at least
75 percent of the vehicle's Gross
Combined Weight Rating (GCWR).
See “Weight of the Trailer” under
Trailer Towing 0251
ii. Tow/Haul is
most useful under the following
driving conditions:
. When pulling a heavy trailer or a
large or heavy load through
rolling terrain. .
When pulling a heavy trailer or a
large or heavy load in
stop-and-go traffic.
. When pulling a heavy trailer or a
large or heavy load in busy
parking lots where improved low
speed control of the vehicle is
desired.
Operating the vehicle in Tow/Haul
when lightly loaded or with no trailer
at all will not cause damage.
However, there is no benefit to the
selection of Tow/Haul when the
vehicle is unloaded. Such a
selection when unloaded may result
in unpleasant engine and
transmission driving characteristics
and reduced fuel economy. Tow/
Haul is recommended only when
pulling a heavy trailer or a large or
heavy load.
If the vehicle has a diesel engine,
the Tow/Haul button activates the
exhaust brake system
simultaneously. See “Exhaust
Brake” in the Duramax diesel
supplement.
Trailer Sway
Control (TSC)
Vehicles with StabiliTrak have a
TSC feature. Trailer sway is
unintended side-to-side motion of a
trailer while being towed. If the
vehicle is towing a trailer and the
TSC detects that sway is increasing,
the vehicle brakes are selectively
applied at each wheel, to help
reduce excessive trailer sway. If the
vehicle is equipped with the
Integrated Trailer Brake Control
(ITBC) system, and the trailer has
the electric actuated brake system,
StabiliTrak may also apply the trailer
brakes.
If TSC is enabled, the Traction
Control System (TCS)/StabiliTrak
warning light will flash on the
instrument cluster. Vehicle speed
must be reduced. If trailer sway
continues, StabiliTrak can reduce
engine torque to help slow the
vehicle. See Traction Control/
Electronic Stability Control 0235
ii.

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Driving and Operating 257
{Warning
Even if the vehicle is equipped
with TSC, trailer sway could result
in loss of control and the vehicle
could crash. If excessive trailer
sway is detected, slow down to a
safe speed. Check the trailer and
vehicle to help correct possible
causes. These could include an
improperly or overloaded trailer,
unrestrained cargo, improper
trailer hitch configuration,
excessive vehicle-trailer speed,
or improperly inflated or incorrect
vehicle or trailer tires. SeeTowing
Equipment 0254
iifor trailer
ratings and hitch setup
recommendations.
Adding non-dealer accessories can
affect the vehicle performance. See
Accessories and Modifications
0 259
ii.
Conversions and
Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical
Equipment
{Warning
The Data Link Connector
(DLC) is used for vehicle service
and Emission Inspection/
Maintenance testing. See
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
(Check Engine Light) 0115
ii.
A device connected to the DLC —
such as an aftermarket fleet or
driver-behavior tracking device —
may interfere with vehicle
systems. This could affect vehicle
operation and cause a crash.
Such devices may also access
information stored in the vehicle’s
systems.
Caution
Some electrical equipment can
damage the vehicle or cause
components to not work and
would not be covered by the
vehicle warranty. Always check
with your dealer before adding
electrical equipment.
Add-on equipment can drain the
vehicle's 12-volt battery, even if the
vehicle is not operating.
The vehicle has an airbag system.
Before attempting to add anything
electrical to the vehicle, see
Servicing the Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle 066
iiand Adding Equipment
to the Airbag-Equipped Vehicle
0 67
ii.

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258 Vehicle Care
Vehicle Care
General Information
General Information . . . . . . . . . . 259
California Proposition65 Warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
California Perchlorate Materials Requirements . . . . . 259
Accessories and Modifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Vehicle Checks
Doing Your OwnService Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 261
Engine Compartment Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Engine Oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265
Engine Oil Life System . . . . . . . 267
Automatic Transmission Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 268
Manual Transmission Fluid . . . 269
Hydraulic Clutch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269
Engine Air Cleaner/Filter . . . . . . 269
Cooling System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271
Engine Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Engine Overheating . . . . . . . . . . 274
Engine Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
Washer Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 276
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277 Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278
Battery - North America . . . . . . 279
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280
Starter Switch Check . . . . . . . . . 281
Automatic Transmission Shift
Lock Control Function
Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Ignition Transmission Lock Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Park Brake and P (Park) Mechanism Check . . . . . . . . . . 282
Wiper Blade Replacement . . . . 283
Headlamp Aiming
Headlamp Aiming . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
Bulb Replacement
Bulb Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
Halogen Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
Headlamps, Front Turn Signal, Sidemarker, and Parking
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284
Taillamps, Turn Signal, Stoplamps, and Back-Up
Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285
Center High-Mounted Stoplamp (CHMSL) and
Cargo Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Replacement Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . 286
Electrical System
Electrical System Overload . . . 287
Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
Engine Compartment Fuse Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288
Instrument Panel Fuse
Block . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
Wheels and Tires
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
All-Season Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
All-Terrain Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
Tire Sidewall Labeling . . . . . . . . 297
Tire Designations . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
Tire Terminology andDefinitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Tire Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Tire Pressure Monitor
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
Tire Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 308
When It Is Time for New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
Buying New Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
Different Size Tires and Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311
Uniform Tire Quality Grading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312

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Vehicle Care 259
Wheel Alignment and TireBalance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313
Wheel Replacement . . . . . . . . . . 313
Tire Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314
If a Tire Goes Flat . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
Tire Changing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316
Compact Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . 325
Full-Size Spare Tire . . . . . . . . . . 326
Jump Starting
Jump Starting - North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327
Towing the Vehicle
Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 329
Recreational VehicleTowing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330
Appearance Care
Exterior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 334
Interior Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 339
Floor Mats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 341
General Information
For service and parts needs, visit
your dealer. You will receive
genuine GM parts and GM-trained
and supported service people.
Genuine GM parts have one of
these marks:
California Proposition
65 Warning
WARNING: Most motor vehicles,
including this one, contain and/or
emit chemicals known to the State
of California to cause cancer and
birth defects or other reproductive harm. Engine exhaust, many parts
and systems, many fluids, and
some component wear by-products
contain and/or emit these
chemicals.
See
Battery - North America 0279
iiand Jump Starting - North America
0 327ii.
California Perchlorate
Materials Requirements
Certain types of automotive
applications, such as airbag
initiators, safety belt pretensioners,
and lithium batteries contained in
Remote Keyless Entry transmitters,
may contain perchlorate materials.
Special handling may be necessary.
For additional information, see
www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/
perchlorate.
Accessories and
Modifications
Adding non-dealer accessories or
making modifications to the vehicle
can affect vehicle performance and
safety, including such things as

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262 Vehicle Care
Engine Compartment Overview
2.5L L4 Engine

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Vehicle Care 263
1. Coolant Surge Tank andPressure Cap. See Engine
Coolant 0272
ii.
2. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
0269
ii.
3. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine Oil 0265
ii.
4. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling System
0 271
ii.
5. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine Oil 0265
ii.
6. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block 0288
ii.
7. Brake/Clutch Fluid Reservoir. See Brake Fluid 0278
iior
Hydraulic Clutch 0269ii(If
Equipped).
8. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See Washer Fluid
0 276
ii.
9. Battery - North America 0279
ii.

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264 Vehicle Care
3.6L V6 Engine

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Vehicle Care 265
1. Coolant Surge Tank andPressure Cap. See Engine
Coolant 0272
ii.
2. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter
0269
ii.
3. Engine Cooling Fan (Out of View). See Cooling System
0 271
ii.
4. Engine Oil Fill Cap. See Engine Oil 0265
ii.
5. Engine Oil Dipstick. See Engine Oil 0265
ii.
6. Engine Compartment Fuse
Block 0288
ii.
7. Brake Fluid Reservoir. See Brake Fluid 0278
ii.
8. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. See Washer Fluid
0 276
ii.
9. Battery - North America 0279
ii.
If the vehicle has a diesel engine,
see the Duramax diesel
supplement.
Engine Oil
For diesel engine vehicles, see
“Engine Oil” in the Duramax diesel
supplement.
To ensure proper engine
performance and long life, careful
attention must be paid to engine oil.
Following these simple, but
important steps will help protect
your investment:
. Use engine oil approved to the
proper specification and of the
proper viscosity grade. See
“Selecting the Right Engine Oil”
in this section.
. Check the engine oil level
regularly and maintain the
proper oil level. See “Checking
Engine Oil” and“When to Add
Engine Oil” in this section.
. Change the engine oil at the
appropriate time. See Engine Oil
Life System 0267
ii.
. Always dispose of engine oil
properly. See “What to Do with
Used Oil” in this section.
Checking Engine Oil
It is a good idea to check the engine
oil level at each fuel fill. In order to
get an accurate reading, the vehicle
must be on level ground. The
engine oil dipstick handle is a yellow
loop. See Engine Compartment
Overview 0262
iifor the location of
the engine oil dipstick.
Obtaining an accurate oil level
reading is essential:
1. If the engine has been running recently, turn off the engine and
allow several minutes for the oil
to drain back into the oil pan.
Checking the oil level too soon
after engine shutoff will not
provide an accurate oil level
reading.
2. Pull out the dipstick and wipe it with a clean paper towel or
cloth, then push it back in all
the way. Remove it again,
keeping the tip down, and
check the level.