
Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12460274) - 2019 - CRC - 10/1/18
Instruments and Controls 129
Information Displays
Driver Information Center
(DIC) (Base Level)
The DIC displays information about
your vehicle. It also displays
warning messages if a system
problem is detected. SeeVehicle
Messages 0135. All messages
appear in the DIC display in the
center of the instrument cluster.
DIC Operation and Displays
The DIC has different displays
which can be accessed by using the
DIC buttons on the turn signal lever.
DIC Buttons
1. SET/CLR: Press to set,
or press and hold to clear, the
menu item displayed. 2.
w x:
Use the band to scroll
through the items in
each menu.
3. MENU: Press to display the
Trip/Fuel Menu, the Vehicle
Information Menu, and the
ECO Menu. This button is also
used to return to or exit the last
screen displayed on the DIC.
If the vehicle has a diesel engine,
see the Duramax diesel supplement
for additional DIC pages.
Trip/Fuel Menu (TRIP) Items
Press MENU on the turn signal
lever until the TRIP menu displays.
Use
w xto scroll through the
menu items. Not all items are
available on every vehicle. The
following is a list of all possible
menu items:
Digital Speed : Displays how fast
the vehicle is moving in either
kilometers per hour (km/h) or miles
per hour (mph). The speedometer
cannot be reset. Trip 1 or Trip 2, Average Fuel
Economy :
Displays the current
distance traveled, in either
kilometers (km) or miles (mi), from
the last reset for the trip odometer.
The trip odometer can be reset to
zero by pressing and holding the
SET/CLR button while the trip
odometer display is showing.
Also displays the approximate
average liters per 100 kilometers
(L/100 km) or miles per gallon
(mpg). This number is based on the
number of L/100 km (mpg) recorded
since the last time this menu item
was reset. This number reflects only
the approximate average fuel
economy that the vehicle has right
now, and will change as driving
conditions change. Reset the
average consumption by pressing
SET/CLR when it is displayed.
Fuel Range : Displays the
approximate distance the vehicle
can be driven without refueling. The
fuel range estimate is based on an
average of the vehicle's fuel
economy over recent driving history

Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12460274) - 2019 - CRC - 10/1/18
Lighting 139
Lighting
Exterior Lighting
Exterior Lamp Controls . . . . . . . 139
Exterior Lamps OffReminder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Flash-to-Pass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Automatic Headlamp System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Hazard Warning Flashers . . . . . 142
Turn and Lane-Change Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Fog Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Exterior Cargo Lamps . . . . . . . . 143
Interior Lighting
Instrument Panel Illumination Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Dome Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Reading Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Lighting Features
Entry Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Exit Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Battery Load Management . . . 145
Battery Power Protection . . . . . 146
Exterior Lighting Battery Saver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146Exterior Lighting
Exterior Lamp Controls
The exterior lamp control is on the
instrument panel to the left of the
steering wheel.
O: Turns off the automatic
headlamps and Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL). Turn the headlamp
control to
Oagain to turn the
automatic headlamps or DRL
back on.
For vehicles first sold in Canada, off
will only work when the vehicle is in
P (Park).

Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12460274) - 2019 - CRC - 10/1/18
142 Lighting
is in the full bright position. See
Instrument Panel Illumination
Control0144.
When it is bright enough outside,
the headlamps will turn off or may
change to Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL).
The automatic headlamp system
turns off when the exterior lamp
control is turned to
Oor the ignition
is off.
Lights On with Wipers
If the windshield wipers are
activated in daylight with the engine
on, and the exterior lamp control is
in AUTO, the headlamps, parking
lamps, and other exterior lamps
come on. The transition time for the
lamps coming on varies based on
wiper speed. When the wipers are
not operating, these lamps turn off.
Move the exterior lamp control to
O
or;to disable this feature.
Hazard Warning Flashers
|: Press to make the front and
rear turn signal lamps flash on and
off. Press again to turn the
flashers off.
When the hazard warning flashers
are on, the vehicle's turn signals will
not work.
Turn and Lane-Change
Signals
An arrow on the instrument cluster
flashes in the direction of the turn or
lane change.
Move the turn signal lever all the
way up or down to signal a turn.
Raise or lower the lever for less
than one second until the arrow
starts to flash to signal a lane
change. This causes the turn
signals to automatically flash three
times. Holding the turn signal lever
for more than one second will cause
the turn signals to flash until the
lever is released.
The lever returns to its starting
position whenever it is released.

Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 155
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Off-Road Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . 164
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 165
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 167
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Truck-Camper LoadingInformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . 174
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Retained AccessoryPower (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179 Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Parking (Manual
Transmission) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Parking over Things
That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Running the Vehicle WhileParked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . 183
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Manual Transmission
Manual Transmission . . . . . . . . . 188
Drive Systems
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . 199
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Hill Descent Control (HDC) . . . 202
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . 203
Limited-Slip Differential . . . . . . . 204
Locking Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Locking Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . 209
Assistance Systems for Parking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . 210
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Fuel
Top Tier Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Recommended Fuel . . . . . . . . . . 216
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . 217
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Filling a Portable FuelContainer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218

Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 157
{Warning
Taking your eyes off the road too
long or too often could cause a
crash resulting in injury or death.
Focus your attention on driving.
Refer to the infotainment manual for
more information on using that
system and the navigation system,
if equipped, including pairing and
using a cell phone.
Defensive Driving
Defensive driving means “always
expect the unexpected.” The first
step in driving defensively is to wear
the seat belt. See Seat Belts051.
. Assume that other road users
(pedestrians, bicyclists, and
other drivers) are going to be
careless and make mistakes.
Anticipate what they might do
and be ready.
. Allow enough following distance
between you and the driver in
front of you. .
Focus on the task of driving.
Drunk Driving
Death and injury associated with
drinking and driving is a global
tragedy.
{Warning
Drinking and then driving is very
dangerous. Your reflexes,
perceptions, attentiveness, and
judgment can be affected by even
a small amount of alcohol. You
can have a serious —or even
fatal —collision if you drive after
drinking.
Do not drink and drive or ride with
a driver who has been drinking.
Ride home in a cab; or if you are
with a group, designate a driver
who will not drink.
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-quarters 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.

Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 159
3. Turn the steering wheel to gostraight down the roadway.
Loss of Control
Skidding
There are three types of skids that
correspond to the vehicle's three
control systems:
.Braking Skid —wheels are not
rolling.
. Steering or Cornering Skid —
too much speed or steering in a
curve causes tires to slip and
lose cornering force.
. Acceleration Skid —too much
throttle causes the driving
wheels to spin.
Defensive drivers avoid most skids
by taking reasonable care suited to
existing conditions, and by not
overdriving those conditions. But
skids are always possible. If the vehicle starts to slide, follow
these suggestions:
.
Ease your foot off the
accelerator pedal and steer the
way you want the vehicle to go.
The vehicle may straighten out.
Be ready for a second skid if it
occurs.
. Slow down and adjust your
driving according to weather
conditions. Stopping distance
can be longer and vehicle
control can be affected when
traction is reduced by water,
snow, ice, gravel, or other
material on the road. Learn to
recognize warning clues —such
as enough water, ice, or packed
snow on the road to make a
mirrored surface —and slow
down when you have any doubt.
. 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
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. For
contact information about the
original equipment tires, see the
warranty manual.
One of the best ways for successful
off-road driving 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 seat belts.

Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
12460274) - 2019 - CRC - 10/1/18
160 Driving and Operating
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.
. Remove any underbody air
deflector, if equipped. Re-attach
the air deflector after off-road
driving.
. 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, if equipped. However, driving
without the air dam reduces fuel
economy.Caution
Operating the vehicle for
extended periods without the front
fascia lower air dam installed can
cause improper airflow to the
engine. Reattach the front fascia
air dam after off-road driving.
Loading the Vehicle for
Off-Road Driving
{Warning
. Unsecured cargo on the
load floor can be tossed
about when driving over
rough terrain. You or your
passengers can be struck
by flying objects. Secure the
cargo properly.
. Keep cargo in the cargo
area as far forward and as
low as possible. The
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
heaviest things should be
on the floor, forward of the
rear axle.
. Heavy loads on the roof
raise the vehicle's center of
gravity, making it more likely
to roll over. You can be
seriously or fatally injured if
the vehicle rolls over. Put
heavy loads inside the
cargo area, not on the roof.
For more information about loading
the vehicle, see Vehicle Load Limits
0 168 andTires 0278.
Environmental Concerns
.
Always use established trails,
roads, and areas that have been
set aside for public off-road
recreational driving and obey all
posted regulations.
. Do not damage shrubs, flowers,
trees, or grasses or disturb
wildlife.

Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 161
.Do not park over things that
burn. See Parking over Things
That Burn 0181.
Driving on Hills
Driving safely on hills requires good
judgment and an understanding of
what the vehicle can and cannot do.
{Warning
Many hills are simply too steep
for any vehicle. Driving up hills
can cause the vehicle to stall.
Driving down hills can cause loss
of control. Driving across hills can
cause a rollover. You could be
injured or killed. Do not drive on
steep hills.
Before driving on a hill, assess the
steepness, traction, and
obstructions. If the terrain ahead
cannot be seen, get out of the
vehicle and walk the hill before
driving further. When driving on hills:
.
Use a low gear and keep a firm
grip on the steering wheel.
. Maintain a slow speed.
. When possible, drive straight up
or down the hill.
. Slow down when approaching
the top of the hill.
. Use headlamps even during the
day to make the vehicle more
visible.
{Warning
Driving to the top of a hill at high
speed can cause a crash. There
could be a drop-off, embankment,
cliff, or even another vehicle. You
could be seriously injured or
killed. As you near the top of a
hill, slow down and stay alert.
. Never go downhill forward or
backward with either the
transmission or transfer case in N (Neutral). The brakes could
overheat and you could lose
control.
{Warning
If the vehicle has the two-speed
automatic or electronic transfer
case, shifting the transfer case to
N (Neutral) can cause your
vehicle to roll even if the
transmission is in P (Park). This is
because the N (Neutral) position
on the transfer case overrides the
transmission. You or someone
else could be injured. If leaving
the vehicle, set the parking brake
and shift the transmission to
P (Park). Shift the transfer case to
any position but N (Neutral).
. When driving down a hill, keep
the vehicle headed straight
down. Use a low gear because
the engine will work with the
brakes to slow the vehicle and
help keep the vehicle under
control.