Chevrolet 2008 Colorado User manual

Seats and Restraint Systems ........................... 1-1
Front Seats ............................................... 1-2
Rear Seats ............................................... 1-9
Safety Belts ............................................. 1-12
Child Restraints ....................................... 1-33
Airbag System ......................................... 1-60
Restraint System Check ............................ 1-76
Features and Controls ..................................... 2-1
Keys ........................................................ 2-3
Doors and Locks ....................................... 2-7
Windows ................................................. 2-12
Theft-Deterrent Systems ............................ 2-15
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle ........... 2-19
Mirrors .................................................... 2-39
OnStar
®
System ...................................... 2-47
Storage Areas ......................................... 2-50
Sunroof .................................................. 2-52
Instrument Panel ............................................. 3-1
Instrument Panel Overview .......................... 3-4
Climate Controls ...................................... 3-20
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators ........ 3-23
Driver Information Center (DIC) .................. 3-38
Audio System(s) ....................................... 3-46
Driving Your Vehicle ....................................... 4-1
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle ..... 4-2
Towing ................................................... 4-41
Service and Appearance Care .......................... 5-1
Service ..................................................... 5-3
Fuel ......................................................... 5-5
Checking Things Under the Hood ............... 5-10
Rear Axle ............................................... 5-48
Four-Wheel Drive ..................................... 5-49
Front Axle ............................................... 5-50
Headlamp Aiming ..................................... 5-51
Bulb Replacement .................................... 5-51
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement ......... 5-57
Tires ...................................................... 5-59
Appearance Care ................................... 5-106
Vehicle Identification ............................... 5-115
Electrical System .................................... 5-115
Capacities and Specifications ................... 5-120
Maintenance Schedule ..................................... 6-1
Maintenance Schedule ................................ 6-2
Customer Assistance Information .................... 7-1
Customer Assistance and Information ........... 7-2
Reporting Safety Defects ........................... 7-15
Vehicle Data Recording and Privacy ........... 7-17
Index ................................................................ 1
2008 Chevrolet Colorado Owner Manual M

GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem,
CHEVROLET, the CHEVROLET Emblem, and
the name COLORADO are registered trademarks
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.
This manual describes features that may be available in
this model, but your vehicle may not have all of them.
For example, more than one entertainment system may
be offered or your vehicle may have been ordered
without a front passenger or rear seats.
Keep this manual in the vehicle for quick reference.
Canadian Owners
A French language copy of this manual can be obtained
from your dealer/retailer or from:
Helm, Incorporated
P.O. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207
1-800-551-4123
www.helminc.com
Propriétaires Canadiens
On peut obtenir un exemplaire de ce guide en français
auprès de concessionnaire ou à l’adresse suivante:
Helm Incorporated
P.O. Box 07130
Detroit, MI 48207
1-800-551-4123
www.helminc.com
Litho in U.S.A.
Part No. 15866157 A First Printing
©
2007 General Motors Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
ii

Using this Manual
Many people read the owner manual from beginning to
end when they first receive their new vehicle to learn
about the vehicle’s features and controls. Pictures
and words work together to explain things.
Index
A good place to quickly locate information about the
vehicle is the Index in the back of the manual. It is
an alphabetical list of what is in the manual and
the page number where it can be found.
Safety Warnings and Symbols
There are a number of safety cautions in this book.
A box with the word CAUTION is used to tell about
things that could hurt you or others if you were to
ignore the warning.
{CAUTION:
These mean there is something that could hurt
you or other people.
We tell you what the hazard is and what to do to help
avoid or reduce the hazard. Please read these cautions.
If you do not, you or others could be hurt.
A circle with a slash
through it is a safety
symbol which means
“Do Not,” “Do Not do this”
or “Do Not let this happen.”
iii

Vehicle Damage Warnings
You will also find notices in this manual.
Notice: These mean there is something that could
damage your vehicle.
A notice tells about something that can damage the
vehicle. Many times, this damage would not be covered
by your vehicle’s warranty, and it could be costly.
The notice tells 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.
There are also warning labels on the vehicle which use
the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE.
Vehicle Symbols
The vehicle has components and labels that use
symbols instead of text. Symbols are shown along
with the text describing the operation or information
relating to a specific component, control, message,
gage, or indicator.
iv

Front Seats ......................................................1-2
Manual Seats ................................................1-2
Power Seats ..................................................1-3
Manual Lumbar ..............................................1-3
Power Lumbar ...............................................1-4
Heated Seats .................................................1-4
Reclining Seatbacks ........................................1-5
Head Restraints .............................................1-7
Seatback Latches ...........................................1-8
Rear Seats .......................................................1-9
Rear Seat Operation (Extended Cab) ................1-9
Rear Seat Operation (Crew Cab) ....................1-10
Safety Belts ...................................................1-12
Safety Belts: They Are for Everyone ................1-12
How to Wear Safety Belts Properly .................1-17
Lap-Shoulder Belt .........................................1-25
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy ..................1-31
Lap Belt ......................................................1-31
Safety Belt Extender .....................................1-32
Child Restraints .............................................1-33
Older Children ..............................................1-33
Infants and Young Children ............................1-36
Child Restraint Systems .................................1-39
Where to Put the Restraint .............................1-42
Lower Anchors and Tethers for
Children (LATCH) ......................................1-43
Securing a Child Restraint in a
Rear Seat Position ....................................1-54
Securing a Child Restraint in the
Center Front Seat Position ..........................1-56
Securing a Child Restraint in the
Right Front Seat Position ............................1-56
Airbag System ...............................................1-60
Where Are the Airbags? ................................1-63
When Should an Airbag Inflate? .....................1-65
What Makes an Airbag Inflate? .......................1-67
How Does an Airbag Restrain? .......................1-67
What Will You See After an Airbag Inflates? .....1-68
Passenger Sensing System ............................1-69
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle ...........1-74
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-Equipped
Vehicle ....................................................1-74
Restraint System Check ..................................1-76
Checking the Restraint Systems ......................1-76
Replacing Restraint System Parts
After a Crash ............................................1-77
Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems
1-1

Front Seats
Manual Seats
{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 do not want to. Adjust the driver’s
seat only when the vehicle is not moving. Lift the bar located under the front of the seat to unlock
it. Slide the seat to where you want it and release
the bar. Try to move the seat with your body to make
sure the seat is locked into place.
1-2

Power Seats
If the vehicle has power
seats, the controls used to
operate them are located
on the outboard side of
the seats.
To adjust the seat, do any of the following:
•Move the seat forward or rearward by sliding the
horizontal control forward or rearward.
•Raise or lower the front part of the seat cushion by
moving the front of the horizontal control up or down.
•Raise or lower the rear part of the seat cushion by
moving the rear of the horizontal control up or down.
•Raise or lower the entire seat by moving the entire
horizontal control up or down.
•Use the vertical control to recline the seatback.
See “Power Reclining Seatbacks” under Reclining
Seatbacks on page 1-5 for more information.
Manual Lumbar
If your vehicle has this
feature, there is a knob
located on the outboard
side of the driver’s seat.
Turn the top of the knob toward the front of the vehicle
to increase lumbar support. Turn the top of the knob
toward the rear of the vehicle to decrease lumbar
support.
1-3

Power Lumbar
If your vehicle has this
feature, the control is
located on the outboard
side of the seat(s).
Press and hold the front of the control until you have
the desired lumbar support. To decrease lumbar
support, press and hold the rear of the control.
Heated Seats
If your vehicle has this
feature, the controls are
located on the outboard
side of the front seats.
This feature will heat the cushion and back of the seats.
Press the top of the switch to turn the heat to the
high setting. Press the bottom of the switch to turn the
heat to the low setting. Put the switch in the center
position to turn the heat off.
The ignition must be on for the heated seat feature to
work. The seat will heat to the last setting if the ignition
has been turned off and then turned back on.
The passenger’s safety belt must be fastened for the
heated seat feature to work on the passenger’s seat.
1-4

Reclining Seatbacks
Manual Reclining Seatbacks
{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 do not want to. Adjust the driver’s
seat only when the vehicle is not moving.
{CAUTION:
If the seatback is not locked, it could move
forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could
cause injury to the person sitting there. Always
push and pull on the seatback to be sure it is
locked.
If your seats have manual reclining seatbacks, the lever
used to operate them is located on the outboard side
of the seat(s).
To recline the seatback, do the following:
1. Lift the recline lever.
2. Move the seatback to the desired position, then
release the lever to lock the seatback in place.
3. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is
locked.
1-5

To return the seatback to an upright position, do the
following:
1. Lift the lever fully without applying pressure to the
seatback and the seatback will return to the upright
position.
2. Push and pull on the seatback to make sure it is
locked.
Power Reclining Seatbacks
If the seats have power
reclining seatbacks, use
the vertical power seat
control located on the
outboard side of the seat.
•To recline the seatback, press the control toward the
rear of the vehicle.
•To raise the seatback, press the control toward the
front of the vehicle.
1-6

{CAUTION:
Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle
is in motion can be dangerous. Even if you
buckle up, your safety belts cannot do their
job when you are reclined like this.
The shoulder belt cannot do its job because it
will not 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 cannot 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.
Do not have a seatback reclined if your vehicle is
moving.
Head Restraints
Your front seats may have adjustable head restraints.
If your vehicle has rear seats, they may have adjustable
head restraints.
Adjust the head restraint so that the top of the restraint is
at the same height as the top of the occupant’s head.
This position reduces the chance of a neck injury in a
crash.
1-7

Pull 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.
Seatback Latches
Your vehicle may have front seatbacks that fold forward
for easy access to the rear seats or the storage area
behind the seats.
To fold the seatback
forward, push the lever
on the side of the seat
rearward and pull the
seatback forward.
{CAUTION:
If the seatback is not locked, it could move
forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could
cause injury to the person sitting there. Always
push and pull 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 it latches. If the seatback
was reclined before being folded forward, it will return to
the reclined position.
1-8

Rear Seats
Rear Seat Operation (Extended Cab)
If your vehicle has an
extended cab, there may
be forward folding seats in
the rear area.
To fold the rear seat cushion(s) from the stored position
to the sitting position, pull the front of the seat cushion
down completely.
The rear seat storage compartments must be closed
before folding the seat down. See Rear Storage Area on
page 2-51.
To store the seat, do the following:
Notice: Folding a rear seat with the safety belts
still fastened may cause damage to the seat or
the safety belts. Always unbuckle the safety belts
and return them to their normal stowed position
before folding a rear seat.
1. Secure the safety belt buckle to the inboard side
of the seat with the hook and loop fastener (A),
so that it does not move when not in use.
2. Push the entire seat up until it is flush with the
trim panel.
1-9

Rear Seat Operation (Crew Cab)
The rear seatback(s) in the crew cab can be folded
forward.
Notice: Folding a rear seat with the safety belts
still fastened may cause damage to the seat or the
safety belts. Always unbuckle the safety belts
and return them to their normal stowed position
before folding a rear seat.
To fold the rear seatback(s) forward, do the following:
1. Disconnect the rear center safety belt latch from the
mini buckle by inserting the tip of the safety belt
tongue into the slot on the buckle. Let the belt retract.
2. Pull the loop, located
on the outboard side of
the seatback, forward
until you hear a click.
3. Fold the seatback(s) forward.
1-10

To return the seatback(s) to the upright position, do the
following:
1. Lift the seatback(s) and push it into place.
{CAUTION:
If the seatback is not locked, it could move
forward in a sudden stop or crash. That could
cause injury to the person sitting there. Always
push and pull on the seatback to be sure it is
locked.
2. Make sure the seatback(s) is locked by pushing
and pulling on it.
{CAUTION:
A safety belt that is improperly routed, not
properly attached, or twisted will not 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.
3. Reconnect the center safety belt latch plate to
the mini buckle. Make sure the safety belt is not
twisted. Push and pull on the latch plate to be sure
it is secure.
When the seatback is not in use, it should be kept in
the upright, locked position.
1-11

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:
Do not let anyone ride where he or she cannot
wear a safety belt properly. If you are in a
crash and you are not wearing a safety belt,
your injuries can be much worse. You can hit
things inside the vehicle harder or be ejected
from it and 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 passenger(s) are
restrained properly too.
{CAUTION:
People riding on the tailgate (if equipped) can
easily lose their balance and fall even when
the vehicle is operated at low speeds. Falling
from a moving vehicle may result in serious
injuries or death.
{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 indicators as a reminder to buckle your
safety belts. See Safety Belt Reminders on page 3-26.
1-12

In most states and in all Canadian provinces, the law
requires wearing safety belts. Here is why:
You never know if you will be in a crash. If you do have
a crash, you do not know if it will be a serious one.
A few crashes are mild, and some crashes can be
so serious that even buckled up, a person would not
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 40 years of safety belts in vehicles,
the facts are clear. In most crashes buckling up does
matter... a lot!
Why Safety Belts Work
When you ride in or on anything, you go as fast as
it goes.
Take the simplest vehicle. Suppose it is just a seat
on wheels.
1-13

Put someone on it. Get it up to speed. Then stop the vehicle.
The rider does not stop.
1-14

The person keeps going until stopped by something.
In a real vehicle, it could be the windshield... or the instrument panel...
1-15

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 is why
safety belts make such good sense.
Questions and Answers About
Safety Belts
Q: Will I be trapped in the vehicle after a crash if I
am wearing a safety belt?
A: You could be — whether you are wearing a safety
belt or not. But your chance of being conscious
during and after an accident, so you can unbuckle
and get out, is much greater if you are belted.
And you can unbuckle a safety belt, even if you
are upside down.
Q: If my vehicle has airbags, why should I have to
wear safety belts?
A: Airbags are supplemental systems only; so they
work with safety belts — not instead of them.
Whether or not an airbag is provided, all occupants
still have to buckle up to get the most protection.
That is true not only in frontal collisions, but
especially in side and other collisions.
1-16