Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
15274222) - 2022 - CRC - 11/2/21
Driving and Operating 197
Shifting Into 2m
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 4n
indicator 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. Shifting Out of 4
n
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 2m
indicator 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
0 201.
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
nposition. 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
0 301.
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).
Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
15274222) - 2022 - CRC - 11/2/21
198 Driving and Operating
4. Turn the transfer case shift knob to 2m.
After the transfer case has shifted out of
N (Neutral), the N (Neutral) light will
go out.
5. Shift to P (Park).
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 0205 and
Locking Front Axle 0206.
For ZR2 Off-Road Mode information, see
Driver Mode Control 0205.
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 0301 or
Towing the Vehicle 0300.
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.
AUTO (Automatic Four-Wheel Drive) : Use
when road surface conditions are variable.
When driving in AUTO, the front axle is
engaged, and the vehicle's power is sent to
the front and rear wheels automatically
Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
15274222) - 2022 - CRC - 11/2/21
200 Driving and Operating
Caution
Shifting the transmission into gear before
the requested mode indicator light has
stopped flashing could damage the
transfer case.
If the transmission is in gear and/or moving
more than 5 km/h (3 mph), the 4
m, AUTO,
or 2
mindicator 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
0 201.
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 shift 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
nposition. 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
shift the transmission 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).
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 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 089.
ABS does not change the time needed to
get a foot on the brake pedal and does not
always decrease stopping distance. If you
Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
15274222) - 2022 - CRC - 11/2/21
Driving and Operating 201
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.
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 088.
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 0219.
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
driving may result in injury, death,
or vehicle damage. See Defensive Driving
0 169.
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
Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
15274222) - 2022 - CRC - 11/2/21
202 Driving and Operating
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, TCSapplies 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 0177 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
gcomes on in the instrument
cluster. Both TCS and StabiliTrak/ESC are
automatically disabled.
The indicator light for both systems is in the
instrument cluster. This light will:
.Flash when TCS is limiting wheel spin.
.Flash when StabiliTrak/ESC is activated.
.Turn on and stay on when either system
is not working.
If either system fails to turn on or to
activate, a message displays in the Driver
Information Center (DIC), and
dcomes on
and stays on to indicate that the system is
inactive and is not assisting the driver in
maintaining control. The vehicle is safe to
drive, but driving should be adjusted
accordingly.
If
dcomes on and stays on:
1. Stop the vehicle.
Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
15274222) - 2022 - CRC - 11/2/21
Driving and Operating 203
2. Turn the engine off and wait 15 seconds.
3. Start the engine.
Drive the vehicle. If
dcomes on and stays
on, the vehicle may need more time to
diagnose the problem. If the condition
persists, see your dealer.
Turning the Systems Off and On
(Except ZR2)
The button for TCS and StabiliTrak/ESC is on
the center stack.
Caution
Do not repeatedly brake or accelerate
heavily when TCS is off. The vehicle
driveline could be damaged. To turn off only TCS, press and release
g.
The Traction Off light
idisplays in the
instrument cluster. To turn TCS on again,
press and release
g. The Traction Off light
iin the instrument cluster will turn off.
If TCS is limiting wheel spin when
gis
pressed, the system will not turn off until
the wheels stop spinning.
To turn off both TCS and StabiliTrak/ESC,
press and hold
guntil the Traction Off light
iand StabiliTrak/ESC Off lightgcome on
and stay on in the instrument cluster. To
turn TCS and StabiliTrak/ESC on again, press
and release
g. The Traction Off lightiand
StabiliTrak/ESC Off light
gin the instrument
cluster turn off.
StabiliTrak/ESC will automatically turn on if
the vehicle exceeds 56 km/h (35 mph). TCS
will remain off until
gis pressed or until
the ignition is turned off and then back on.
Adding accessories can affect the vehicle
performance. See Accessories and
Modifications 0237.
Turning the Systems Off and On
(ZR2 Only)
The button for TCS and StabiliTrak/ESC is on
the center stack.
Caution
Do not repeatedly brake or accelerate
heavily when TCS is off. The vehicle
driveline could be damaged.
To turn off only TCS, press and release
g.
The Traction Off light
iand StabiliTrak/ESC
Off light
gdisplay in the instrument
cluster. To turn TCS on again, press and
release
g. The Traction Off lightiand
StabiliTrak/ESC Off light
gin the instrument
cluster will turn off.
If TCS is limiting wheel spin when
gis
pressed, the system will not turn off until
the wheels stop spinning.
Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
15274222) - 2022 - CRC - 11/2/21
204 Driving and Operating
To turn off both TCS and StabiliTrak/ESC,
press and hold
guntil the Traction Off light
iand StabiliTrak/ESC Off lightgcome on
and stay on in the instrument cluster. To
turn TCS and StabiliTrak/ESC on again, press
and release
g. The Traction Off lightiand
StabiliTrak/ESC Off light
gin the instrument
cluster turn off.
StabiliTrak/ESC will automatically turn on if
the vehicle exceeds 56 km/h (35 mph). TCS
will remain off until
gis pressed or until
the ignition is turned off and then back on.
Adding accessories can affect the vehicle
performance. See Accessories and
Modifications 0237.
Stability Control Interaction with
Off-Road Mode (ZR2 Only)
The TCS and StabiliTrak/ESC calibrations are
different while in Off-Road Mode. They
provide optimum performance in an off-road
environment.
Pressing and releasing
gwhile in Off-Road
Mode disables TCS and changes the
StabiliTrak/ESC calibration to allow a greater
difference between vehicle path and
intended path. This reduces the amount of correction StabiliTrak/ESC will provide in the
event the vehicle is not traveling on the
intended path.
To turn off both TCS and StabiliTrak/ESC,
press and hold
guntil a StabiliTrak/ESC off
message displays in the instrument cluster.
To turn TCS and StabiliTrak/ESC on again,
press and release
g.iandgin the
instrument cluster will turn off.
StabiliTrak/ESC will not automatically turn
on while in Off-Road Mode. TCS and
StabiliTrak/ESC will remain off in Off-Road
Mode until
gis pressed or the ignition is
turned off and then back on.
Hill Descent Control (HDC)
If equipped, HDC can be used when driving
downhill. It sets and maintains vehicle speed
while descending a very steep incline in a
forward or reverse gear.
The HDC switch is on the center stack,
below the climate controls.
Press
5to enable or disable HDC. Vehicle
speed must be below 60 km/h (37 mph).
The HDC light displays on the instrument
cluster when enabled.
HDC can maintain vehicle speeds between
4 and 30 km/h (3 and 19 mph) on an incline
greater than or equal to a 10% grade.
A blinking HDC light indicates that the
system is actively applying the brakes to
maintain vehicle speed.
When HDC is set, that is the initial set
speed. It can be increased or decreased by
applying the accelerator or brake pedal.
Smaller HDC speed control adjustments are
accomplished using the cruise up or down
buttons. Each tap of the +RES will increase
the set speed by 0.8 km/h (0.5 mph), while
each tap of the SET– will decrease the set
speed by 0.8 km/h (0.5 mph). This adjusted
speed becomes the new set speed.
HDC will remain enabled between 30 and
60 km/h (19 and 37 mph), however vehicle
speed cannot be set or maintained in this
range. It will automatically disable if the
vehicle speed is above 80 km/h (50 mph) or
Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
15274222) - 2022 - CRC - 11/2/21
Driving and Operating 207
Caution (Continued)
before attempting situations and/or
navigating terrain that could cause the
vehicle to become stuck.
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 0195 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.
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