2020 CHEVROLET COLORADO tow

Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13566640) - 2020 - CRC - 9/30/19
170 Driving and Operating
D (Drive) can be used when towing
a trailer, carrying a heavy load,
driving on steep hills, or driving
off-road. Shift the transmission to a
lower gear range selection if the
transmission shifts too often. See
Manual Mode0171.
Downshifting the transmission in
slippery road conditions could result
in skidding. See “Skidding”under
Loss of Control 0144.
The vehicle has a shift stabilization
feature that adjusts the transmission
shifting to the current driving
conditions in order to reduce rapid
upshifts and downshifts. This shift
stabilization feature is designed to
determine, before making an
upshift, if the engine is able to
maintain vehicle speed by analyzing
things such as vehicle speed,
throttle position, and vehicle load.
If the shift stabilization feature
determines that a current vehicle
speed cannot be maintained, the
transmission does not upshift and
instead holds the current gear. In some cases, this could appear to
be a delayed shift, however the
transmission is operating normally.
The transmission uses adaptive
shift controls. The adaptive shift
control process continually
compares key shift parameters to
pre-programmed ideal shifts stored
in the transmission’s computer. The
transmission constantly makes
adjustments to improve vehicle
performance according to how the
vehicle is being used, such as with
a heavy load or when the
temperature changes. During this
adaptive shift control process,
shifting might feel different as the
transmission determines the best
settings.
When temperatures are very cold,
the transmission's gear shifting
could be delayed providing more
stable shifts until the engine warms
up. Shifts could be more noticeable
with a cold transmission. This
difference in shifting is normal.
L :
This position allows selection of
a range of gears appropriate for
current driving conditions. See
Manual Mode 0171.
Caution
Spinning the tires or holding the
vehicle in one place on a hill
using only the accelerator pedal
may damage the transmission.
The repair will not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. If the vehicle
is stuck, do not spin the tires.
When stopping on a hill, use the
brakes to hold the vehicle in
place.
Normal Mode Grade Braking
Normal Mode Grade Braking is
enabled when the vehicle is started,
but is not enabled in Range
Selection Mode. It assists in
maintaining desired vehicle speeds
when driving on downhill grades by
using the engine and transmission
to slow the vehicle.

Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13566640) - 2020 - CRC - 9/30/19
Driving and Operating 171
Manual Mode
Range Selection Mode
Range Selection Mode helps control
the vehicle's transmission and
vehicle speed while driving downhill
or towing a trailer by letting you
select a desired range of gears.
To use this feature:1. Move the shift lever to L (Manual Mode).
2. Press the plus/minus button on the shift lever to select the
desired range of gears for
current driving conditions. When the shift lever is moved from
D (Drive) to L (Manual Mode), a
number displays next to the L,
indicating the current transmission
range.
This number is the highest gear that
the transmission will command while
operating in L (Manual Mode). All
gears below that number are
available. As driving conditions
change, the transmission can
automatically shift to lower gears.
For example, when L5 is selected,
1 (First) through 5 (Fifth) gears are
automatically shifted by the
transmission, but 6 (Sixth) cannot be
used until the plus/minus button on
the shift lever is used to change to
the range.
When the shift lever is moved from
D (Drive) to L (Manual Mode), a
downshift may occur. The gear that
the transmission is operating in
when the shift lever is moved from
D (Drive) to L (Manual Mode)
determines if a downshift occurs.
See the following chart.

Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13566640) - 2020 - CRC - 9/30/19
172 Driving and Operating
6-Speed Automatic TransmissionGear before shifting from
D (Drive) to L (Manual Mode) 6th 5th 4th 3rd 2nd 1st
Range after shifting from
D (Drive) to L (Manual Mode) L4 L4 L3 L2 L2 L1
8-Speed Automatic Transmission Gear before
shifting from
D (Drive) to
L (Manual Mode) 8th 7th 6th 5th 4th 3rd 2nd 1st
Range after
shifting from
D (Drive) to
L (Manual Mode) –
Tow/Haul not
engaged L6 L6 L5 L4 L3 L3 L2 L1
Range after
shifting from
D (Drive) to
L (Manual Mode) –
Tow/Haul engaged L6 L5 L4 L3 L3 L3 L2 L1 Grade Braking is not available when
Range Selection Mode is active.
See
Tow/Haul Mode 0173.
While using Range Selection Mode,
cruise control and the Tow/Haul
Mode can be used.
Caution
Spinning the tires or holding the
vehicle in one place on a hill
using only the accelerator pedal
may damage the transmission.
The repair will not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. If the vehicle
is stuck, do not spin the tires.
When stopping on a hill, use the
brakes to hold the vehicle in
place.
Low Traction Mode
If equipped, Low Traction Mode
assists in vehicle acceleration when
road conditions are slippery, such
as with ice or snow. While the
vehicle is at a stop, select L2 using

Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13566640) - 2020 - CRC - 9/30/19
Driving and Operating 173
Range Selection Mode. This will
limit torque to the wheels and help
to prevent the tires from spinning.
Tow/Haul Mode
If equipped, Tow/Haul Mode adjusts
the transmission shift pattern to
reduce shift cycling. This provides
increased performance, vehicle
control, and transmission cooling
when driving down steep hills or
mountain grades, towing, or hauling
heavy loads.
Turn the Tow/Haul Mode on and off
by pressing the button on the center
stack. When the Tow/Haul Mode is
enabled, a light on the instrument
cluster will come on.See
Tow/Haul Mode Light 0109 and
Hill and Mountain Roads 0150.
Also see “Tow/Haul Mode” under
Towing Equipment 0212.
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.
Drive Systems
Four-Wheel Drive
If equipped, four-wheel drive
engages the front axle for extra
traction.
Caution
Do not drive on clean, dry
pavement in 4
m, or 4nfor an
extended period of time. These
conditions may cause:
. Overheating.
. Oil leakage.
. Damage to internal and
external components of the
front axle.
. Premature wear on the
vehicle’s powertrain.
Driving on clean, dry pavement in 4
mor 4nmay:
. Cause a vibration to be felt in
the steering system.

Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13566640) - 2020 - CRC - 9/30/19
Driving and Operating 175
Delayed shifts from 4mto 2mmay
be experienced due to uneven tire
wear, low tire pressure, high vehicle
loading, or cold temperatures.
Caution
Shifting the transmission into gear
before the requested mode
indicator light has stopped
flashing could damage the
transfer case.
The settings are:
N (Neutral) : Use only when the
vehicle needs to be towed. See
Recreational Vehicle Towing 0299
or
Towing the Vehicle 0299.
2
m(Two-Wheel Drive High) : Use
for driving on most streets and
highways. The front axle is not
engaged. This setting provides the
best fuel economy.
4
n(Four-Wheel Drive Low) : This
setting engages the front axle and
delivers extra torque. Choose 4
nif driving off-road in deep sand, deep
mud, or deep snow, and while
climbing or descending steep hills.
When engaged, keep vehicle speed
below 72 km/h (45 mph).
Shifting into 4
nwill turn Traction
Control and StabiliTrak/ESC off.
See Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0182.
4
m(Four-Wheel Drive High) : Use
when extra traction is needed. The
front axle engages and helps when
driving on snowy or icy roads, and
when off-roading. The vehicle can
be shifted from 2
mto 4mwhile the
vehicle is moving.
Shifting Into 4
m
Turn the knob to 4mat any speed
up to 121 km/h (75 mph), except
from 4
n. The indicator light will flash
while shifting and will remain on the
selected setting.
Shifting Into 2
m
Turn the knob to 2mat any speed,
except when shifting from 4
n. Shifting Into 4
n
When 4nis engaged, vehicle speed
should be kept below 72 km/h
(45 mph).
1. The ignition must be on and the vehicle must be stopped or
moving less than 5 km/h
(3 mph) with the transmission
in N (Neutral). It is best for the
vehicle to be moving
1.6 to 3.2 km/h (1 to 2 mph).
2. Turn the knob to 4
n. Wait for
the 4
nindicator light to stop
flashing before shifting the
transmission into gear.
If the transmission is in gear and/or
moving more than 5 km/h (3 mph),
the 4
nindicator light will flash for
30 seconds, but will not complete
the shift. After 30 seconds the
transfer case will shift to 4
m. Turn
the knob to 4
mto see the indicator.
With the vehicle moving less than
5 km/h (3 mph), and the
transmission in N (Neutral), attempt
the shift again.

Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13566640) - 2020 - CRC - 9/30/19
176 Driving and Operating
Shifting Out of 4n
1. To shift out of 4nthe vehicle
must be stopped or moving
less than 5 km/h (3 mph) with
the transmission in N (Neutral)
and the ignition on. It is best for
the vehicle to be moving
1.6 to 3.2 km/h (1 to 2 mph).
2. Turn the knob to 4
mor 2m. Wait
for the 4
mor 2mindicator light
to stop flashing before shifting
the transmission into gear.
If the transmission is in gear and/or
moving more than 5 km/h (3 mph),
the 4
mor 2mindicator light will flash
for 30 seconds, but will not complete
the shift. With the vehicle moving
less than 5 km/h (3 mph), and the
transmission in N (Neutral), attempt
the shift again.
Shifting Into N (Neutral)
To shift:
1. Park the vehicle on a level surface. 2. Set the parking brake and
press and hold the brake
pedal. See Parking Brake
0 181.
3. Start the vehicle or turn the ignition on.
4. Shift the transmission to N (Neutral).
5. Shift the transfer case to 2
m.
6. Turn the transfer case knob clockwise past the 4
ndetent to
N (Neutral) until it stops and
hold it there until the
N (Neutral) light starts flashing.
This will take at least
10 seconds. Then slowly
release the knob to the 4
n
position. The N (Neutral) light
will come on when the transfer
case shift to N (Neutral) is
complete.
7. With the engine running, verify that the transfer case is in
N (Neutral) by shifting the
transmission to R (Reverse),
then to D (Drive). There should
be no movement of the vehicle
while shifting the transmission. 8. Turn the engine off, and the
ignition to ACC/ACCESSORY.
9. Place the transmission shift lever in P (Park). See
Recreational Vehicle Towing
0299.
Shifting Out of N (Neutral)
To shift: 1. Set the parking brake.
2. Turn the ignition on with the engine off.
3. Shift the transmission to N (Neutral).
4. Turn the transfer case shift knob to 2
m.
After the transfer case has
shifted out of N (Neutral), the
N (Neutral) light will go out.
5. Shift to P (Park).

Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13566640) - 2020 - CRC - 9/30/19
Driving and Operating 177
Caution
Shifting the transmission into gear
before the requested mode
indicator light has stopped
flashing could damage the
transfer case.
6. Release the parking brake.
Automatic Transfer Case
Except ZR2
ZR2 Only
For ZR2 locking axle information,
see Locking Rear Axle 0186 and
Locking Front Axle 0187.
For ZR2 Off-Road Mode
information, see Driver Mode
Control 0185.
Use the transfer case shift knob
next to the steering wheel to shift
into and out of four-wheel drive.
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 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 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.
The settings are:
N (Neutral) :
Use only when the
vehicle needs to be towed. See
Recreational Vehicle Towing 0299
or
Towing the Vehicle 0299.
2
m(Two-Wheel Drive High) : Use
for driving on most streets and
highways. The front axle is not
engaged. This setting provides the
best fuel economy.

Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13566640) - 2020 - CRC - 9/30/19
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
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