2021 CHEVROLET COLORADO towing

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
42 Seats and Restraints
4. Have the person sit upright in the seat,centered on the seat cushion, with legs
comfortably extended.
5. If the shoulder portion of the belt is pulled out all the way, the child restraint
locking feature will be engaged. This
may unintentionally cause the passenger
sensing system to turn the airbag off for
some adult-sized occupants. If this
happens, unbuckle the belt, let the belt
go back all the way, and then buckle the
belt again without pulling the belt out
all the way.
6. Restart the vehicle and have the person remain in this position for two to
three minutes after the ON indicator
is lit.
{Warning
If the front outboard passenger airbag is
turned off for an adult-sized occupant,
the airbag will not be able to inflate and
help protect that person in a crash,
resulting in an increased risk of serious
injury or even death. An adult-sized
occupant should not ride in the front
outboard passenger seat, if the passenger
airbag off indicator is lit.
Additional Factors Affecting System
Operation
Seat belts help keep the passenger in
position on the seat during vehicle
maneuvers and braking, which helps the
passenger sensing system maintain the
passenger airbag status. See “Seat Belts”
and “Child Restraints” in the Index for
additional information about the importance
of proper restraint use.
A thick layer of additional material, such as
a blanket or cushion, or aftermarket
equipment such as seat covers, seat heaters,
and seat massagers can affect how well the
passenger sensing system operates. We
recommend that you not use seat covers or
other aftermarket equipment except when
approved by GM for your specific vehicle.
See Adding Equipment to the
Airbag-Equipped Vehicle 043 for more
information about modifications that can
affect how the system operates.
The ON indicator may be lit if an object,
such as a briefcase, handbag, grocery bag,
laptop, or other electronic device, is put on
an unoccupied seat. If this is not desired
remove the object from the seat.
{Warning
Stowing articles under the passenger seat
or between the passenger seat cushion
and seatback may interfere with the
proper operation of the passenger
sensing system.
Servicing the Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle
Airbags affect how the vehicle should be
serviced. There are parts of the airbag
system in several places around the vehicle.
Your dealer and the service manual have
information about servicing the vehicle and
the airbag system. To purchase a service
manual, see Publication Ordering
Information 0335.
{Warning
For up to 10 seconds after the vehicle is
turned off and the battery is
disconnected, an airbag can still inflate
during improper service. You can be
injured if you are close to an airbag
when it inflates. Avoid yellow connectors.
They are probably part of the airbag
(Continued)

Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14430421) - 2021 - CRC - 2/10/20
Instruments and Controls 87
If the light is flashing :A malfunction has
been detected that could damage the
emission control system and increase vehicle
emissions. Diagnosis and service may be
required.
To help prevent damage, reduce vehicle
speed and avoid hard accelerations and
uphill grades. If towing a trailer, reduce the
amount of cargo being hauled as soon as
possible.
If the light continues to flash, find a safe
place to park. Turn the vehicle off and wait
at least 10 seconds before restarting the
engine. If the light is still flashing, follow
the previous guidelines and see your dealer
for service as soon as possible.
If the light is on steady : A malfunction has
been detected. Diagnosis and service may be
required.
Check the following:
.If fuel has been added to the vehicle
using the capless funnel adapter, make
sure that it has been removed. See
“Filling the Tank with a Portable Gas Can”
under Filling the Tank 0218. The
diagnostic system can detect if the
adapter has been left installed in the
vehicle, allowing fuel to evaporate into the atmosphere. A few driving trips with
the adapter removed may turn off the
light.
.Poor fuel quality can cause inefficient
engine operation and poor driveability,
which may go away once the engine is
warmed up. If this occurs, change the fuel
brand. It may require at least one full
tank of the proper fuel to turn the light
off. See
Recommended Fuel 0217.
If the light remains on, see your dealer.
Emissions Inspection and Maintenance
Programs
If the vehicle requires an Emissions
Inspection/Maintenance test, the test
equipment will likely connect to the
vehicle's Data Link Connector (DLC).
The DLC is under the instrument panel to
the left of the steering wheel. Connecting
devices that are not used to perform an
Emissions Inspection/Maintenance test or to service the vehicle may affect vehicle
operation. See
Add-On Electrical Equipment
0 234. See your dealer if assistance is
needed.
The vehicle may not pass inspection if:
.The light is on when the engine is
running.
.The light does not come on when the
ignition is on while the engine is off.
.Critical emission control systems have not
been completely diagnosed. If this
happens, the vehicle would not be ready
for inspection and might require
several days of routine driving before the
system is ready for inspection. This can
happen if the 12-volt battery has recently
been replaced or run down, or if the
vehicle has been recently serviced.
See your dealer if the vehicle will not pass
or cannot be made ready for the test.
Brake System Warning Light
MetricEnglish

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
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 179
{Warning
If the vehicle's tires spin at high speed,
they can explode, and you or others
could be injured. The vehicle can
overheat, causing an engine compartment
fire or other damage. Spin the wheels as
little as possible and avoid going above
56 km/h (35 mph).
For information about using tire chains on
the vehicle, see Tire Chains0283.
Rocking the Vehicle to Get It Out
Turn the steering wheel left and right to
clear the area around the front wheels. For
four-wheel-drive vehicles, shift into
Four-Wheel Drive High. Turn the TCS off.
Shift back and forth between R (Reverse) and
a forward gear, spinning the wheels as little
as possible. To prevent transmission wear,
wait until the wheels stop spinning before
shifting gears. Slowly spinning the wheels in
the forward and reverse directions causes a
rocking motion that could free the vehicle.
If that does not get the vehicle out after a
few tries, it might need to be towed out.
See Towing the Vehicle 0298. Recovery
hooks can be used, if the vehicle has them.
Recovery Hooks
{Warning
Never pull on recovery hooks from the
side. The hooks could break and you and
others could be injured. When using
recovery hooks, always pull the vehicle
from the front.
Z71 Shown, ZR2 Similar
Caution
Never use recovery hooks to tow the
vehicle. The vehicle could be damaged,
and the repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. If equipped, there are recovery hooks at the
front of the vehicle. Use them if the vehicle
is stuck off-road and needs to be pulled
some place to continue driving.
Vehicle Load Limits
It is very important to know how much
weight the vehicle can carry. This
weight is called the vehicle capacity
weight and includes the weight of all
occupants, cargo, and all
nonfactory-installed options. Two labels
on the vehicle may show how much
weight it was designed to carry: the
Tire and Loading Information label and
the Certification/Tire label.
{Warning
Do not load the vehicle any heavier
than the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR), or either the maximum
front or rear Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWR). This can cause
systems to break and change the
way the vehicle handles. This could
cause loss of control and a crash.
(Continued)

Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14430421) - 2021 - CRC - 2/10/20
180 Driving and Operating
Warning (Continued)
Overloading can also reduce stopping
distance, damage the tires, and
shorten the life of the vehicle.
Tire and Loading Information Label
Label Example
A vehicle-specific Tire and Loading
Information label is attached to the
B-pillar or on the forward edge of the
rear door. The Tire and Loading
Information label shows the number of occupant seating positions (1), and the
maximum vehicle capacity weight (2) in
kilograms and pounds.
The Tire and Loading Information label
also shows the size of the original
equipment tires (3) and the
recommended cold tire inflation
pressures (4). For more information on
tires and inflation see
Tires0268 and
Tire Pressure 0274.
There is also important loading
information on the vehicle Certification/
Tire label. It may show the Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) and the
Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) for
the front and rear axles. See
“Certification/Tire Label” later in this
section.“Steps for Determining Correct Load Limit–
1.
Locate the statement "The combined
weight of occupants and cargo
should never exceed XXX kg or
XXX lbs." on your vehicle’s placard.
2.Determine the combined weight of
the driver and passengers that will
be riding in your vehicle.
3.Subtract the combined weight of the
driver and passengers from XXX kg
or XXX lbs.
4.The resulting figure equals the
available amount of cargo and
luggage load capacity. For example,
if the "XXX" amount equals 1400 lbs.
and there will be five 150 lb
passengers in your vehicle, the
amount of available cargo and
luggage load capacity is 650 lbs.
(1400-750 (5 x 150) = 650 lbs.)
5.Determine the combined weight of
luggage and cargo being loaded on
the vehicle. That weight may not
safely exceed the available cargo and
luggage load capacity calculated in
Step 4.
6.If your vehicle will be towing a
trailer, load from your trailer will be
transferred to your vehicle. Consult
this manual to determine how this
reduces the available cargo and
luggage load capacity of your
vehicle.”

Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14430421) - 2021 - CRC - 2/10/20
Driving and Operating 181
SeeTrailer Towing 0224 for important
information on towing a trailer, towing
safety rules, and trailering tips.
Example 1
1. Vehicle Capacity Weight for Example 1
= (453 kg) (1,000 lb)
2. Subtract Occupant Weight @ 68 kg (150 lb) × 2 = 136 kg (300 lb)
3. Available Occupant and Cargo Weight = 317 kg (700 lb)
Example 2
1. Vehicle Capacity Weight for Example 2= 453 kg (1,000 lb)
2. Subtract Occupant Weight @ 68 kg (150 lb) × 5 = 340 kg (750 lb)
3. Available Cargo Weight = 113 kg (250 lb)
Example 3
1. Vehicle Capacity Weight for Example 3= 453 kg (1,000 lb)
2. Subtract Occupant Weight @ 91 kg (200 lb) × 5 = 453 kg (1,000 lb)
3. Available Cargo Weight = 0 kg (0 lb)
Refer to the Tire and Loading
Information label for specific
information about the vehicle's capacity
weight and seating positions. The
combined weight of the driver,
passengers, and cargo should never
exceed the vehicle's capacity weight.