Chevrolet 2004 Colorado User manual

Seats and Restraint Systems ........................... 1-1
Front Seats ............................................... 1-3
Rear Seats ............................................... 1-8
Safety Belts ............................................. 1-10
Child Restraints ....................................... 1-31
Air Bag Systems ...................................... 1-62
Restraint System Check ............................ 1-75
Features and Controls ..................................... 2-1
Keys ........................................................ 2-3
Doors and Locks ....................................... 2-8
Windows ................................................. 2-13
Theft-Deterrent Systems ............................ 2-16
Starting and Operating
Your Vehicle ........................................ 2-18
Mirrors .................................................... 2-38
OnStar
®
System ...................................... 2-42
Storage Areas ......................................... 2-44
Instrument Panel ............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview .......................... 3-4
Climate Controls ...................................... 3-19
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators ........ 3-23
Driver Information Center (DIC) .................. 3-39
Audio System(s) ....................................... 3-44
Driving Your Vehicle ....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle ........ 4-2
Towing ................................................... 4-45
Service and Appearance Care .......................... 5-1
Service ..................................................... 5-3
Fuel ......................................................... 5-5
Checking Things Under the Hood ............... 5-10
Rear Axle ............................................... 5-47
Four-Wheel Drive ..................................... 5-48
Front Axle ............................................... 5-49
Bulb Replacement .................................... 5-50
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement ......... 5-55
Tires ...................................................... 5-57
Appearance Care ..................................... 5-95
Vehicle Identification ............................... 5-104
Electrical System .................................... 5-104
Capacities and Specifications ................... 5-109
Maintenance Schedule ..................................... 6-1
Maintenance Schedule ................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance and Information .............. 7-1
Customer Assistance and Information ........... 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects ........................... 7-11
Index ................................................................ 1
2004 Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual M

GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem,
CHEVROLET, and the CHEVROLET Emblem are
registered trademarks and the name COLORADO is
a trademark of General Motors Corporation.
This manual includes the latest information at the time
it was printed. We reserve the right to make changes
after that time without further notice. For vehicles
first sold in Canada, substitute the name “General
Motors of Canada Limited” for Chevrolet Motor Division
whenever it appears in this manual.
Please keep this manual in your vehicle, so it will be
there if you ever need it when you’re on the road.
If you sell the vehicle, please leave this manual in it
so the new owner can use it.
Litho in U.S.A.
Part No. C2440 A First Edition ©Copyright General Motors Corporation 10/06/03 All Rights Reserved
Canadian Owners
You can obtain a French language copy of this manual
from your dealer or from:
Helm, Incorporated
P.O. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207
How to Use This Manual
Many people read their owner’s manual from beginning to
end when they first receive their new vehicle. If you do
this, it will help you learn about the features and controls
for your vehicle. In this manual, you will find that pictures
and words work together to explain things.
Index
A good place to look for what you need is the Index in
back of the manual. It is an alphabetical list of what is in
the manual, and the page number where you will find it.
ii

Safety Warnings and Symbols
You will find a number of safety cautions in this book. We
use a box and the word CAUTION to tell you about things
that could hurt you if you were to ignore the warning.
{CAUTION:
These mean there is something that could hurt
you or other people.
In the caution area, we tell you what the hazard is.
Then we tell you what to do to help avoid or reduce
the hazard. Please read these cautions. If you don’t,
you or others could be hurt.
You will also find a
circle with a slash
through it in this book.
This safety symbol means
“Don’t,” “Don’t do this”
or “Don’t let this happen.”
iii

Vehicle Damage Warnings
Also, in this book you will find these notices:
Notice: These mean there is something that could
damage your vehicle.
A notice will tell you about something that can damage
your vehicle. Many times, this damage would not be
covered by your warranty, and it could be costly.
But the notice will tell you what to do to help avoid
the damage.
When you read other manuals, you might see CAUTION
and NOTICE warnings in different colors or in different
words.
You’ll also see warning labels on your vehicle. They use
the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE.
Vehicle Symbols
Your vehicle has components and labels that use
symbols instead of text. Symbols, used on your vehicle,
are shown along with the text describing the operation
or information relating to a specific component, control,
message, gage or indicator.
If you need help figuring out a specific name of a
component, gage or indicator, reference the following
topics:
•Seats and Restraint Systems in Section 1
•Features and Controls in Section 2
•Instrument Panel Overview in Section 3
•Climate Controls in Section 3
•Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators in Section 3
•Audio System(s) in Section 3
•Engine Compartment Overview in Section 5
iv

These are some examples of symbols you may find on your vehicle:
v

✍NOTES
vi

Front Seats ......................................................1-3
Manual Seats ................................................1-3
Power Seats ..................................................1-4
Manual Lumbar ..............................................1-4
Heated Seats .................................................1-5
Reclining Seatbacks ........................................1-5
Head Restraints .............................................1-7
Seatback Latches ...........................................1-8
Rear Seats .......................................................1-8
Rear Seat Operation (Crew Cab) ......................1-8
Rear Seat Operation (Extended Cab) ...............1-10
Safety Belts ...................................................1-10
Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone ................1-10
Questions and Answers About Safety Belts ......1-15
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly .................1-16
Driver Position ..............................................1-16
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy ..................1-23
Right Front Passenger Position .......................1-24
Center Front Passenger Position .....................1-24
Rear Seat Passengers ..................................1-25
Rear Safety Belt Comfort Guides for
Children and Small Adults ..........................1-28
Safety Belt Pretensioners ...............................1-30
Safety Belt Extender .....................................1-30
Child Restraints .............................................1-31
Older Children ..............................................1-31
Infants and Young Children ............................1-34
Child Restraint Systems .................................1-37
Where to Put the Restraint .............................1-40
Top Strap ....................................................1-42
Top Strap Anchor Location .............................1-44
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for
Children (LATCH System) ...........................1-46
Securing a Child Restraint
Designed for the LATCH System
(Models with an Air Bag Off Switch) .............1-48
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for
the LATCH System (Models without
an Air Bag Off Switch) ...............................1-51
Securing a Child Restraint in a
Rear Seat Position ....................................1-51
Securing a Child Restraint in the
Center Front Seat Position ..........................1-53
Securing a Child Restraint in
the Right Front Seat Position
(Models with an Air Bag Off Switch) .............1-54
Securing a Child Restraint in the
Right Front Seat Position (Models
without an Air Bag Off Switch) ....................1-58
Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems
1-1

Air Bag Systems ............................................1-62
Where Are the Air Bags? ...............................1-64
When Should an Air Bag Inflate? ....................1-67
What Makes an Air Bag Inflate? .....................1-68
How Does an Air Bag Restrain? .....................1-68
What Will You See After an Air Bag
Inflates? ...................................................1-69
Air Bag Off Switch ........................................1-71
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle .........1-74
Adding Equipment to Your Air Bag-Equipped
Vehicle ....................................................1-74
Restraint System Check ..................................1-75
Checking Your Restraint Systems ...................1-75
Replacing Restraint System Parts
After a Crash ............................................1-75
Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems
1-2

Front Seats
Manual Seats
This section tells you about the seats – how to adjust
them, and fold them up and down.
{CAUTION:
You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to
adjust a manual driver’s seat while the vehicle
is moving. The sudden movement could startle
and confuse you, or make you push a pedal
when you don’t want to. Adjust the driver’s
seat only when the vehicle is not moving.
Move the lever located under the front of a manual seat
up to unlock it. Slide the seat to where you want it
and release the lever. Try to move the seat with your
body to make sure the seat is locked into place.
1-3

Power Seats
If your vehicle has this feature, there will be a control on
the outboard side of the front seat(s).
Horizontal Control: Raise or lower the front of the seat
by raising or lowering the forward edge of the control.
Raise or lower the rear of the seat by raising or lowering
the rear edge of the control.
Move the seat forward or rearward by moving the whole
control toward the front or the rear of the vehicle.
Moving the whole control up or down raises or lowers
the whole seat.
Vertical Control: This control reclines the seatbacks.
See Reclining Seatbacks on page 1-5 for more
information.
Manual Lumbar
If your vehicle has this
feature, there will be a
knob located on the
outboard side of the
driver’s seat.
Turn the knob counterclockwise to increase lumbar
support and clockwise to decrease lumbar support.
1-4

Heated Seats
If your vehicle has this
feature, the controls are
located on the outboard
side of the front seats.
This feature will quickly heat the lower cushion and
lower back of the driver’s and front passenger’s seats
for added comfort.
Press the lower part of the switch to turn the heater on
at low heat. Press the upper part of the switch to
turn the heater on at high heat. Put the switch in the
center position to turn the heater off.
The ignition must be on for the heated seat feature to
work. The passenger’s safety belt must be engaged for
the heated seat feature to work on the passenger’s seat.
Reclining Seatbacks
Your vehicle may have reclining seatbacks.
To manually recline your seatback, lift the lever on the
outboard side of the seat.
Release the lever to lock the seatback where you want
it. Pull up on the lever and without pushing on the
seatback, the seat will go to an upright position.
If you have power seats, you can use the vertical power
seat control to recline the seatback. Move the reclining
front seatback forward or rearward by moving the control
toward the front or rear of the vehicle.
1-5

But don’t have a seatback reclined if your vehicle is
moving.
{CAUTION:
Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle
is in motion can be dangerous. Even if you
buckle up, your safety belts can’t do their job
when you’re reclined like this.
The shoulder belt can’t do its job because it
won’t be against your body. Instead, it will be
in front of you. In a crash you could go into it,
receiving neck or other injuries.
The lap belt can’t do its job either. In a crash
the belt could go up over your abdomen. The
belt forces would be there, not at your pelvic
bones. This could cause serious internal
injuries.
For proper protection when the vehicle is in
motion, have the seatback upright. Then sit
well back in the seat and wear your safety belt
properly.
1-6

Head Restraints If your vehicle is equipped with adjustable head
restraints, adjust your head restraint so that the top of
the restraint is closest to the top of your head. This
position reduces the chance of a neck injury in a crash.
Push up on the head restraint to raise it. To lower
the head restraint, press the button located on top of
the seatback and push down on the head restraint.
1-7

Seatback Latches
Your vehicle may be equipped with front seatbacks that
fold forward to let people get into the rear seat or to
access the storage area behind the seat.
To fold the front seatback
forward, push the lever on
the side of the seat
rearward and pull the
seatback forward.
{CAUTION:
If the seatback isn’t locked, it could move
forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could
cause injury to the person sitting there. Always
press rearward on the seatback to be sure it is
locked.
To return the seatback to the upright position, push the
seatback all the way back until the latch catches. If
the seatback was reclined before being folded forward,
it will return to the reclined position.
Rear Seats
Rear Seat Operation (Crew Cab)
If your vehicle is a crew cab, the rear seatback can be
folded forward. Before you can fold the rear seatback,
you need to unlatch the center safety belt buckle.
Use the following steps to lower one or both of the rear
seatbacks:
1. Insert a tool with a small tip into the slot to unlatch
the center position safety belt buckle. Then move
the belt to the side so it is not in the way.
1-8

2. Grasp the loop located
on the side of the
seatback you want to
fold and pull until
you hear a click.
3. Fold the seatback down.
4. Repeat Steps 2 and 3 to fold down the other
seatback.
{CAUTION:
If the seatback isn’t locked, it could move
forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could
cause injury to the person sitting there. Always
press rearward on the seatback to be sure it is
locked.
{CAUTION:
A safety belt that is improperly routed, not
properly attached, or twisted won’t provide the
protection needed in a crash. The person
wearing the belt could be seriously injured.
After raising the rear seatback, always check
to be sure that the safety belts are properly
routed and attached, and are not twisted.
To return the seatback to the upright position, do the
following:
1. Lift the seatback up and push it back into place.
2. Reconnect the center safety belt latch plate to the
buckle.
3. Make sure the seatback is locked into place by
pushing and pulling on it.
4. Repeat Steps 1 and 3 for the other seatback.
When the seatback is not in use, it should be kept in
the upright, locked position.
1-9

Rear Seat Operation (Extended Cab)
If your vehicle has an
extended cab, there may
be a forward folding seat
in the rear area.
To fold the rear seat down, pull down on the bottom of the
seat until the seat is in place. To store the seat, push the
entire seat up until it is flush with the trim panel.
The rear seat storage compartments must be in the
rearward position before folding the seat down.
Safety Belts
Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone
This part of the manual tells you how to use safety
belts properly. It also tells you some things you should
not do with safety belts.
{CAUTION:
Don’t let anyone ride where he or she can’t
wear a safety belt properly. If you are in a
crash and you’re not wearing a safety belt,
your injuries can be much worse. You can hit
things inside the vehicle or be ejected from it.
You can be seriously injured or killed. In the
same crash, you might not be, if you are
buckled up. Always fasten your safety belt,
and check that your passengers’ belts are
fastened properly too.
1-10

{CAUTION:
It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo
area, inside or outside of a vehicle. In a
collision, people riding in these areas are more
likely to be seriously injured or killed. Do not
allow people to ride in any area of your vehicle
that is not equipped with seats and safety
belts. Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a
seat and using a safety belt properly.
Your vehicle has a light
that comes on as a
reminder to buckle up.
See Safety Belt Reminder
Light on page 3-26.
In most states and in all Canadian provinces, the law
says to wear safety belts. Here’s why: They work.
You never know if you’ll be in a crash. If you do have a
crash, you don’t know if it will be a bad one.
A few crashes are mild, and some crashes can be so
serious that even buckled up, a person wouldn’t survive.
But most crashes are in between. In many of them,
people who buckle up can survive and sometimes walk
away. Without belts they could have been badly hurt
or killed.
After more than 30 years of safety belts in vehicles,
the facts are clear. In most crashes buckling up
does matter... a lot!
1-11

Why Safety Belts Work
When you ride in or on anything, you go as fast as
it goes.
Take the simplest vehicle. Suppose it’s just a seat on
wheels.
Put someone on it.
1-12

Get it up to speed. Then stop the vehicle. The rider
doesn’t stop. The person keeps going until stopped by something. In a real vehicle, it could be the windshield...
1-13

or the instrument panel... or the safety belts!
With safety belts, you slow down as the vehicle does.
You get more time to stop. You stop over more distance,
and your strongest bones take the forces. That’s why
safety belts make such good sense.
1-14