Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13566640) - 2020 - CRC - 9/30/19
168 Driving and Operating
If the vehicle is left with the engine
running, follow the proper steps to
be sure the vehicle will not move.
SeeShifting Into Park 0164 and
Engine Exhaust 0167.
If parking on a hill and pulling a
trailer, see Driving Characteristics
and Towing Tips 0202.Automatic
Transmission
If equipped, there is an electronic
shift lever position indicator within
the instrument cluster. This display
comes on when the ignition key is in
ACC/ACCESSORY or ON/RUN.
P : This position locks the drive
wheels. Use P (Park) when starting
the engine because the vehicle
cannot move easily. When parked
on a hill, especially when the
vehicle has a heavy load, you might
notice an increase in the effort to shift out of P (Park). See
“Torque
Lock” under Shifting Into Park
0 164.
{Warning
It is dangerous to get out of the
vehicle if the shift lever is not fully
in P (Park) with the parking brake
firmly set. The vehicle can roll.
Do not leave the vehicle when the
engine is running. If you have left
the engine running, the vehicle
can move suddenly. You or others
could be injured. To be sure the
vehicle will not move, even when
you are on fairly level ground,
always set the parking brake and
move the shift lever to P (Park).
See Shifting Into Park 0164 and
Driving Characteristics and
Towing Tips 0202.
Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13566640) - 2020 - CRC - 9/30/19
Driving and Operating 169
{Warning
If you have four-wheel drive, the
vehicle will be free to roll—even
if the shift lever is in P (Park) —if
the transfer case is in N (Neutral).
So, be sure the transfer case is in
a drive gear, Two-Wheel Drive
High or Four-Wheel Drive High or
Four-Wheel Drive Low —not in
N (Neutral). See Shifting Into Park
0 164.
R : Use this gear to back up.
Caution
Shifting to R (Reverse) while the
vehicle is moving forward could
damage the transmission. The
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Shift to
R (Reverse) only after the vehicle
is stopped. To rock the vehicle back and forth to
get out of snow, ice, or sand without
damaging the transmission, see
If
the Vehicle Is Stuck 0152.
N : In this position, the engine does
not connect with the wheels. To
restart the engine when the vehicle
is already moving, use
N (Neutral) only.
{Warning
Shifting into a drive gear while the
engine is running at high speed is
dangerous. Unless your foot is
firmly on the brake pedal, the
vehicle could move very rapidly.
You could lose control and hit
people or objects. Do not shift
into a drive gear while the engine
is running at high speed.
Caution
Shifting out of P (Park) or
N (Neutral) with the engine
running at high speed may
damage the transmission. The
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Be sure the
engine is not running at high
speed when shifting the vehicle.
Caution
A transmission hot message may
display if the automatic
transmission fluid is too hot.
Driving under this condition can
damage the vehicle. Stop and idle
the engine to cool the automatic
transmission fluid. This message
clears when the transmission fluid
has cooled sufficiently.
D : This position is for normal
driving. If more power is needed for
passing, press the accelerator
pedal down.
Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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174 Driving and Operating
.Cause tires to wear faster.
. Cause additional driveline noise.
{Warning
If equipped with four-wheel drive,
the vehicle will be free to roll if the
transfer case is in N (Neutral),
even when the shift lever is in
P (Park). You or someone else
could be seriously injured. Be
sure the transfer case is in a drive
gear —2
m, 4m, or 4n—or set the
parking brake before placing the
transfer case in N (Neutral). See
Shifting Into Park 0164.
Caution
Extended high-speed operation in
4
nmay damage or shorten the
life of the drivetrain. Engagement noise and bump when
shifting between 4
nand 4mor from
N (Neutral), with the engine running,
is normal.
Shifting into 4
nwill turn Traction
Control and StabiliTrak/Electronic
Stability Control (ESC) off. See
Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control 0182.
Electronic Transfer Case
Use the transfer case shift knob,
next to the steering wheel, to shift
into and out of four-wheel drive for
extra traction. All of the lights will flash on then off
momentarily when the ignition is
turned on. The light that remains on
will indicate the state of the
transfer case.
If the indicator mark on the shift
knob does not match up with the
light then that likely means the knob
was moved when the ignition
was off.
The indicator mark on the shift knob
must line up with the indicator light
before a shift can be commanded.
To command a shift rotate the
transfer case shift knob to the new
desired position. The light will flash
meaning that the shift is in progress.
When the shift is completed the new
position will be illuminated. If the
transfer case cannot complete a
shift command, it will go back to its
last chosen setting.
In extreme cold weather it may be
necessary to slow or stop the
vehicle to shift from 2mto 4m.
Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13566640) - 2020 - CRC - 9/30/19
180 Driving and Operating
4. Turn the transfer case shiftknob to 2
m.
After the transfer case has
shifted out of N (Neutral), the
N (Neutral) light will go out and
the new 2
mstate will be
displayed.
5. Place the transmission shift lever in P (Park).
6. Release the parking brake.
Brakes
Antilock Brake
System (ABS)
The Antilock Brake System (ABS)
helps prevent a braking skid and
maintain steering while
braking hard.
ABS performs a system check when
the vehicle is first driven.
A momentary motor or clicking noise
may be heard while this test is going
on, and the brake pedal may move
slightly. This is normal.
If there is a problem with ABS, this
warning light stays on. See Antilock
Brake System (ABS) Warning Light
0 108. ABS does not change the time
needed to get a foot on the brake
pedal and does not always
decrease stopping distance. If you
get too close to the vehicle ahead,
there will not be enough time to
apply the brakes if that vehicle
suddenly slows or stops. Always
leave enough room ahead to stop,
even with ABS.
Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold
the brake pedal down firmly.
Hearing or feeling ABS operate is
normal.
Braking in Emergencies
ABS allows steering and braking at
the same time. In many
emergencies, steering can help
even more than braking.
Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 181
Parking Brake
Set the parking brake by holding the
regular brake pedal down, then
pushing down the parking brake
pedal.
If the ignition is on, the brake
system warning light will come on.
SeeBrake System Warning Light
0 108.
Caution
Driving with the parking brake on
can overheat the brake system
and cause premature wear or
damage to brake system parts.
Make sure that the parking brake
is fully released and the brake
warning light is off before driving.
To release the parking brake, hold
the regular brake pedal down, then
push down momentarily on the
parking brake pedal until you feel
the pedal release. Slowly pull your
foot up off the parking brake pedal.
If the parking brake is not released
when you begin to drive, the brake
system warning light will flash and a
chime will sound warning you that
the parking brake is still on.
If you are towing a trailer and are
parking on a hill, see Driving
Characteristics and Towing Tips
0 202.
Brake Assist
Brake Assist detects rapid brake
pedal applications due to
emergency braking situations and
provides additional braking to
activate the Antilock Brake System
(ABS) if the brake pedal is not
pushed hard enough to activate
ABS normally. Minor noise, brake
pedal pulsation, and/or pedal
movement during this time may
occur. Continue to apply the brake
pedal as the driving situation
dictates. Brake Assist disengages
when the brake pedal is released.
Hill Start Assist (HSA)
{Warning
Do not rely on the HSA feature.
HSA does not replace the need to
pay attention and drive safely.
You may not hear or feel alerts or
warnings provided by this system.
Failure to use proper care when
(Continued)
Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13566640) - 2020 - CRC - 9/30/19
182 Driving and Operating
Warning (Continued)
driving may result in injury, death,
or vehicle damage. See
Defensive Driving0142.
When the vehicle is stopped on a
grade, Hill Start Assist (HSA)
temporarily prevents the vehicle
from rolling in an unintended
direction during the transition from
brake pedal release to accelerator
pedal apply. The brakes release
when the accelerator pedal is
applied or automatically release
after a few seconds. The brakes
may also release under other
conditions. Do not rely on HSA to
hold the vehicle.
HSA is available when the vehicle is
facing uphill in a forward gear,
or when facing downhill in
R (Reverse). The vehicle must
come to a complete stop on a grade
for HSA to activate.
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/
Electronic Stability
Control
System Operation
The vehicle has a Traction Control
System (TCS) and StabiliTrak/
Electronic Stability Control (ESC),
an electronic stability control
system. These systems help limit
wheel spin and assist the driver in
maintaining control, especially on
slippery road conditions.
TCS activates if it senses that any
of the drive wheels are spinning or
beginning to lose traction. When this
happens, TCS applies the brakes to
the spinning wheels and reduces
engine power to limit wheel spin.
StabiliTrak/ESC activates when the
vehicle senses a difference between
the intended path and the direction
the vehicle is actually traveling.
StabiliTrak/ESC selectively applies
braking pressure to any one of the vehicle wheel brakes to assist the
driver in keeping the vehicle on the
intended path.
If cruise control is being used and
TCS or StabiliTrak/ESC begins to
limit wheel spin, cruise control will
disengage. Cruise control may be
turned back on when road
conditions allow.
Both systems come on
automatically when the vehicle is
started and begins to move. The
systems may be heard or felt while
they are operating or while
performing diagnostic checks. This
is normal and does not mean there
is a problem with the vehicle.
It is recommended to leave both
systems on for normal driving
conditions, but it may be necessary
to turn TCS off if the vehicle gets
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow.
See
If the Vehicle Is Stuck 0152
and “Turning the Systems Off and
On” later in this section.
When the transfer case (if equipped)
is in 4
n, the stability system is
automatically disabled, and
g
Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13566640) - 2020 - CRC - 9/30/19
188 Driving and Operating
Caution
If the vehicle’s axle is locked
while driving on pavement, the
drivetrain could be damaged.
Repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Do not use
the locking axle on pavement.
Before the front axle can be locked,
the rear axle must be locked and
the transfer case must be in 4
n.
To lock the front and rear axles:
1. Place the transfer case in 4
n.
This is the only mode that
allows the front axle to lock.
See Four-Wheel Drive 0173
for more information regarding
the transfer case and
four-wheel drive low operation.
2. Press the rear axle locking switch with the vehicle stopped
or moving less than 40 km/h
(25 mph). 3. Wait for the light in the switch
to stop flashing and remain
illuminated to show that the
rear axle is locked.
4. Press the front axle locking switch with the vehicle stopped
or moving less than 40 km/h
(25 mph).
5. Wait for the light in the switch to stop flashing and remain
illuminated to show that the
front axle is locked.
Engagement of the front axle
lock will disable the Antilock
Brake System (ABS) and
illuminate the ABS warning
light. Hill Decent Control (HDC)
will also be disabled.
The locking front axle will be
disengaged when the vehicle speed
exceeds 40 km/h (25 mph) or the
transfer case is shifted out of 4
n.
ABS will be automatically enabled
and the ABS warning light will turn
off when the locking front axle is
disengaged. If HDC was enabled prior to axle
lock, it will be automatically enabled
when the locking front axle is
disengaged.
After pressing the switch to unlock
the axle, it may remain locked due
to torque in the driveline. The axle is
more easily unlocked by turning the
steering wheel to the right and to
the left while traveling at a low
speed.
Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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Driving and Operating 189
Cruise Control
With cruise control a speed of about
40 km/h (25 mph) or more can be
maintained without keeping your
foot on the accelerator. Cruise
control does not work at speeds
below about 40 km/h (25 mph).
{Warning
Cruise control can be dangerous
where you cannot drive safely at
a steady speed. Do not use
cruise control on winding roads or
in heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous
on slippery roads. On such roads,
fast changes in tire traction can
cause excessive wheel slip, and
you could lose control. Do not use
cruise control on slippery roads.
If the cruise control is being used
and the Traction Control (TCS)
system or StabiliTrak/Electronic
Stability Control (ESC) begins to
limit wheel spin, the cruise control will automatically disengage. See
Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control
0182. If a collision alert
occurs when cruise control is
activated, cruise control is
disengaged. See Forward Collision
Alert (FCA) System 0195. When
road conditions allow you to safely
use it again, cruise control can be
turned back on.
If equipped with Hill Descent Control
(HDC), the cruise control will
disengage if HDC is active.
If the brakes are applied, the cruise
control disengages.
5: Press to turn the system on or
off. A white indicator comes on in
the instrument cluster when cruise
control is turned on.
+RES : If there is a set speed in
memory, press briefly to resume to
that speed or press and hold to
accelerate. If cruise control is
already active, use to increase
vehicle speed.
SET− :Press briefly to set the
speed and activate cruise control.
If cruise control is already active,
use to decrease vehicle speed.
*: Press to disengage cruise
control without erasing the set
speed from memory.
Setting Cruise Control
If
5is on when not in use, SET− or
+RES could get pressed and go into
cruise when not desired. Keep
5off
when cruise is not being used.
1. Press
5to turn the cruise
system on.
2. Get up to the desired speed.
3. Press and release SET−.