2021 CHEVROLET COLORADO parking brake

Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14430421) - 2021 - CRC - 2/10/20
Introduction 5
1.Air Vents 0168.
2. Trailer Brake Control Panel (If Equipped) (Out of View). See “Integrated Trailer
Brake Control System” underTowing
Equipment 0228.
3. Turn Signal Lever. See Turn and
Lane-Change Signals 0103.
Driver Information Center (DIC) (Base
Level) Controls (If Equipped). See Driver
Information Center (DIC) (Base Level)
0 93 or
Driver Information Center (DIC) (Uplevel)
0 95.
4. Instrument Cluster 080.
5. Windshield Wiper/Washer 076.
6. Light Sensor. See Automatic Headlamp
System 0102.
Vehicle Alarm System Indicator (If
Equipped). See Vehicle Alarm System
0 14.
7. Infotainment Controls. See Overview
0 109.
8. Climate Control Systems 0163 (If
Equipped).
Automatic Climate Control System 0165
(If Equipped).
9. Heated Front Seats 025 (If Equipped). 10.
Power Outlets 077 (If Equipped).
11. Shift Lever. See Automatic Transmission
0 191 or
Manual Mode 0193.
12. Auxiliary Jack. See the infotainment manual.
USB Port. See the infotainment manual.
13. Hazard Warning Flashers 0103.
Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control 0202.
Exterior Cargo Lamps 0104.
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) 0216 (If
Equipped).
Hill Descent Control (HDC) 0204 (If
Equipped).
Tow/Haul Mode 0195 (If Equipped).
Locking Front Axle 0207 (If Equipped).
Locking Rear Axle 0206 (If Equipped).
14. Steering Wheel Controls 075 (If
Equipped).
Driver Information Center (DIC) (Uplevel)
Controls (If Equipped). See Driver
Information Center (DIC) (Base Level)
0 93 or
Driver Information Center (DIC) (Uplevel)
0 95. 15.
Horn 076.
16. Steering Wheel Adjustment 075 (Out
of View).
17. Cruise Control 0208.
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System
0 213 (If Equipped).
18. Transfer Case Knob (If Equipped). See Four-Wheel Drive 0195.
Driver Mode Control 0205 (If Equipped).
19. Hood Release. See Hood0238.
20. Parking Brake 0201.
21. Data Link Connector (DLC) (Out of View). SeeMalfunction Indicator Lamp (Check
Engine Light) 086.
22. Exterior Lamp Controls 0101.
Fog Lamps 0104 (If Equipped).
23. Instrument Panel Illumination Control
0105.

Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14430421) - 2021 - CRC - 2/10/20
88 Instruments and Controls
This light should come on briefly when the
vehicle is turned on. If it does not come on
then, have it fixed so it will be ready to
warn you if there is a problem.
When the vehicle is on, the brake system
warning light also comes on when the
parking brake is set. The light stays on if
the parking brake does not fully release. If it
stays on after the parking brake is fully
released, there is a brake problem. Have the
brake system inspected right away.
If the light comes on while driving, pull off
the road and stop carefully. The brake pedal
might be harder to push, or the brake pedal
may go closer to the floor. It could take
longer to stop. If the light is still on, have
the vehicle towed for service. SeeTowing
the Vehicle 0298.
{Warning
The brake system might not be working
properly if the brake system warning
light is on. Driving with the brake system
warning light on can lead to a crash.
If the light is still on after the vehicle has
been pulled off the road and carefully
stopped, have the vehicle towed for
service.
Antilock Brake System (ABS)
Warning Light
This light comes on briefly when the engine
is started.
If the light does not come on, have it fixed
so it will be ready to warn if there is a
problem.
If the light comes on while driving, stop as
soon as it is safely possible and turn off the
vehicle. Then start the engine again to reset
the system. If the ABS light stays on,
or comes on again while driving, the vehicle
needs service. A chime may also sound
when the light comes on steady.
If the ABS light is the only light on, the
vehicle has regular brakes, but the antilock
brakes are not functioning.
Engagement of the front axle lock will
disable the ABS and illuminate the ABS
warning light. The ABS light will turn off
when the front axle lock is disengaged. If both the ABS and the brake system
warning light are on, the vehicle's antilock
brakes are not functioning and there is a
problem with the regular brakes. See your
dealer for service.
See
Brake System Warning Light 087.
Four-Wheel-Drive Light
Auto Mode Shown, Other Modes Similar
If equipped, the four-wheel-drive light
displays what mode the vehicle is in. The
light will show each mode: 2WD, 4HI, AUTO
(all transfer cases); 4LOW and N (two-speed
transfer case only).
The light will flash when a shift is in
progress. Once the shift is complete the
light will be steady.
If the light turns amber, there may be a
malfunction with the four-wheel-drive
system. See your dealer.
See Four-Wheel Drive 0195.

Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14430421) - 2021 - CRC - 2/10/20
102 Lighting
for an additional 10 minutes. To keep the
lamps on for more than 10 minutes, the
ignition must be on or in ACC/ACCESSORY.
#:If equipped, this turns on the fog
lamps. See Fog Lamps0104.
Exterior Lamps Off Reminder
A reminder chime sounds when the
headlamps or parking lamps are manually
turned on, the ignition is off, and a door is
open. To disable the chime, turn the
lamps off.
Headlamp High/Low-Beam
Changer
Push the turn signal lever away from you
and release to turn the high beams on.
To return to low beams, push the lever
again or pull it toward you and release.
When the high-beam headlamps are on, this
indicator light on the instrument cluster will
also be on.
Flash-to-Pass
This feature lets you use the high-beam
headlamps to signal a driver in front of you
that you want to pass. It works even if the
headlamps are in the automatic position.
To use it, pull the turn signal lever toward
you, then release it.
If the headlamps are in the automatic
position or on low beam, the high-beam
headlamps will turn on. They will stay on as
long as you hold the lever toward you. The
high-beam indicator on the instrument
cluster will come on. Release the lever to
return to normal operation.
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
DRL can make it easier for others to see the
front of the vehicle during the day. Fully
functional DRL are required on all vehicles
first sold in Canada.
The DRL system comes on when the
following conditions are met:
.The ignition is on.
.The exterior lamp control is in AUTO.
.The parking brake is released or the
vehicle is not in P (Park).
.The light sensor determines it is daytime.
When the DRL system is on, only the DRL
are on. The taillamps, sidemarker lamps,
instrument panel lights, and other lamps
will not be on.
When it begins to get dark, the automatic
headlamp system switches from DRL to the
headlamps.
To turn off the DRL, turn the exterior lamp
control to
Oand then release. For vehicles
first sold in Canada, off will only work when
the vehicle is parked.
Automatic Headlamp System
When the exterior lamp control is set to
AUTO and it is dark enough outside, the
headlamps come on automatically.

Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14430421) - 2021 - CRC - 2/10/20
152 Infotainment System
is started with a registered key, the Driver
Information Center (DIC) displays a message
that Teen Driver is active.
To access:1. Touch Settings on the Home Page, then touch Vehicle, and then Teen Driver.
2. Create a Personal Identification Number (PIN) by choosing a four-digit PIN.
Re-enter the PIN to confirm. To change
the PIN, touch Change PIN.
The PIN is required to:
.Register or unregister keys.
.Change Teen Driver settings.
.Change or clear the Teen Driver PIN.
.Access or delete Report Card data.
Register keys to activate Teen Driver and
assign restrictions to the key:
Any vehicle key can be registered, up to a
maximum of eight keys. Label the key to
tell it apart from the other keys.
For a pushbutton start system: 1. Start the engine.
2. For automatic transmissions, the vehicle must be in P (Park). For manual
transmissions, the vehicle must be
stopped with the parking brake set. 3. From the Settings menu, touch Vehicle
and then Teen Driver.
4. Enter the PIN.
5. Place the Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) transmitter key you wish to register in
the transmitter pocket. The key does not
need to be the one that started the
vehicle. See Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System Operation 09for transmitter
pocket location.
6. From the Teen Driver menu, touch Setup Keys.
.If the transmitter key has not
previously been registered, the option
to add the key displays. Touch Setup
and a confirmation message displays.
Teen Driver restrictions will be
applied whenever this key is used to
operate the vehicle.
.If the transmitter key has already
been registered, the option to
remove the key displays. If Remove is
touched, the transmitter key is no
longer registered. A confirmation
message displays, and Teen Driver
restrictions will not be applied if this
transmitter key is used to operate
the vehicle. In vehicles with a pushbutton start system,
if a Teen Driver and a non-Teen Driver key
are both present at start up, the vehicle will
recognize the non-Teen Driver key to start
the vehicle. The Teen Driver settings will not
be active.
For a keyed ignition system:
1. Start the engine.
2. For automatic transmissions, the vehicle must be in P (Park). For manual
transmissions, the vehicle must be
stopped with the parking brake set.
3. From the Settings menu, touch Vehicle and then Teen Driver.
4. Enter the PIN.
5. Touch Setup Keys. The system displays instructions for registering or
unregistering a key. A confirmation
message displays.
Manage Settings
Audio Volume Limit : Allows the audio
volume limit to be turned on or off. Touch
Set Audio Volume Limit to choose the
maximum allowable audio volume level.

Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14430421) - 2021 - CRC - 2/10/20
Driving and Operating 169
Driving and Operating
Driving Information
Driving for Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . 170
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Impaired Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Off-Road Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Truck-Camper Loading Information . . . . 184
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . . 188
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . 190
Active Fuel Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . 191
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Drive Systems
Four-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Brakes
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic StabilityControl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
Hill Descent Control (HDC) . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Limited-Slip Differential . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Locking Rear Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Locking Front Axle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209 Assistance Systems for Parking or
Backing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) . . . 214
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . 216
Fuel
Top Tier Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Recommended Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . 219
Trailer Towing
General Towing Information . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Driving Characteristics and
Towing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Towing Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Trailer Sway Control (TSC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . 234

Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14430421) - 2021 - CRC - 2/10/20
Driving and Operating 171
.Assume that other road users
(pedestrians, bicyclists, and other drivers)
are going to be careless and make
mistakes. Anticipate what they may do
and be ready.
.Allow enough following distance between
you and the driver in front of you.
.Focus on the task of driving.
Impaired Driving
Death and injury associated with impaired
driving is a global tragedy.
{Warning
Drinking alcohol or taking drugs and then
driving is very dangerous. Your reflexes,
perceptions, attentiveness, and judgment
can be affected by even a small amount
of alcohol or drugs. You can have a
serious—or even fatal —collision if you
drive after drinking or taking drugs.
Do not drive while under the influence of
alcohol or drugs, or ride with a driver
who has been drinking or is impaired by
drugs. Find alternate transportation
home; or if you are with a group,
designate a driver who will remain sober.
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. Once the power assist is used up, it
can take longer to stop and the brake pedal
will be harder to push.
Steering
Caution
To avoid damage to the steering system,
do not drive over curbs, parking barriers,
or similar objects at speeds greater than
3 km/h (1 mph). Use care when driving
over other objects such as lane dividers
and speed bumps. Damage caused by
misuse of the vehicle is not covered by
the vehicle warranty.

Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14430421) - 2021 - CRC - 2/10/20
174 Driving and Operating
Warning (Continued)
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 0179 and
Tires 0268.
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.
.Do not park over things that burn. See
Parking over Things That Burn 0190.
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).

Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14430421) - 2021 - CRC - 2/10/20
Driving and Operating 175
.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.
{Warning
Heavy braking when going down a hill
can cause your brakes to overheat and
fade. This could cause loss of control and
you or others could be injured or killed.
Apply the brakes lightly when descending
a hill and use a low gear to keep vehicle
speed under control.
If the vehicle stalls on a hill: 1. Apply the brakes to stop the vehicle, and then apply the parking brake.
2. Shift into P (Park) and then restart the engine.
.If driving uphill when the vehicle
stalls, shift to R (Reverse), release the
parking brake, and back
straight down.
.Never try to turn the vehicle around.
If the hill is steep enough to stall the
vehicle, it is steep enough to cause it
to roll over.
.If you cannot make it up the hill,
back straight down the hill.
.Never back down a hill in N (Neutral)
using only the brake. The vehicle can
roll backward quickly and you could
lose control.
.If driving downhill when the vehicle
stalls, shift to a lower gear, release
the parking brake, and drive straight
down the hill.
3. If the vehicle cannot be restarted after stalling, set the parking brake, shift into
P (Park), and turn the vehicle off.
3.1. Leave the vehicle and seek help.
3.2. Stay clear of the path the vehicle would take if it rolled downhill.
.Avoid turns that take the vehicle across
the incline of the hill. A hill that can be
driven straight up or down might be too
steep to drive across. Driving across an
incline puts more weight on the downhill
wheels, which could cause a downhill
slide or a rollover.
.Surface conditions can be a problem.
Loose gravel, muddy spots, or even wet
grass can cause the tires to slip sideways,
downhill. If the vehicle slips sideways, it
can hit something that will trip it —a
rock, a rut, etc. —and roll over.
.Hidden obstacles can make the steepness
of the incline more severe. If a rock is
driven across with the uphill wheels, or if
the downhill wheels drop into a rut or
depression, the vehicle can tilt even more.
.If an incline must be driven across, and
the vehicle starts to slide, turn downhill.
This should help straighten out the
vehicle and prevent the side slipping.
{Warning
Getting out of the vehicle on the
downhill side when stopped across an
incline is dangerous. If the vehicle rolls
over, you could be crushed or killed.
Always get out on the uphill side of the
vehicle and stay well clear of the
rollover path.
Driving in Mud, Sand, Snow, or Ice
Use a low gear when driving in mud —the
deeper the mud, the lower the gear. Keep
the vehicle moving to avoid getting stuck.
Traction changes when driving on sand. On
loose sand, such as on beaches or sand
dunes, the tires tend to sink into the sand.