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Features & Controls
New Vehicle
“Break-In ’’
Your modern Geo doesn’t need an
:laborate “break-in.” But it will
perform better in the long
1
1 follow these guideli~
A
m Ignition Switch
With the key in the ignition switch, you
can turn the switch to four positions:
LOCK (A): The only position in which
you can remove the key. This locks
your steering wheel, ignition and
automatic transmission. Press
in the
ignition switch as you turn the top of it
toward you.
If you have an automatic transmission,
the ignition switch cannot be turned to
LOCK unless the shift lever is in the
P (Park) position.
ACC (B): Position in which you can
operate your electrical power accessories. It unlocks the steering
wheel and ignition.
A warning chime
will sound if you open the driver’s door when the ignition is
in ACC or LOCK
and the key is in the ignition.
Use this
position if your vehicle must be pushed
or towed.
ON (C): Position to which the switch
returns after you start your engine and
release the switch. The switch stays in
the
ON position when the engine is
running. But even when the engine is not running, you can use
ON to operate
your electrical power accessories, and to
display some instrument panel warning
lights.
START (D): Starts the engine. When
the engine starts, release the key. The
ignition switch will return to
ON for
normal driving.
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c
Note that even if the engine is not
running
ACC and ON allow you to
operate your electrical accessories, such
as the radio and ventilation fan.
4 Starting Your Engine
Automatic Transmission: Move your
shift lever to
P (Park) or N (Neutral).
Your engine
won’t start in any other
position
- that’s a safety feature. To
restart when you’re already moving, use
N (Neutral) only.
I Don’t try to shift to P (Park) if
your Geo is moving. If you do,
you could damage the
transmission. Shift to P (Park)
only
when your vehicle is stopped. I
Manual Transmission: Shift your gear
selector
to neutral and hold the clutch
pedal to the floor while starting the
engine. Your vehicle won’t start
if the
clutch pedal is
not all the way down -
that’s a safety feature.
1. Don’t push the accelerator pedal
before starting
your engine. In some
other vehicles you might need to do
this, but because
of your vehicle’s
computer systems, you don’t.
2. Turn your ignition key to START.
When the engine starts, let go of the
key.
49.’.
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Features & Controls
... 50
3. If it doesn't start right away, hold
your
key in START for about three
seconds at a time until your engine
starts. Wait about
15 seconds
between each try to help avoid
draining your battery.
Holding your key in
START for
longer than
15 seconds at a time
will cause your battery
to be
drained much sooner. And the
excessive heat
can ~ag~~~ gz <&!Kg::, starter motor. p-,'*'Q,&P'F$+
If your engine still won't start, call your
dealer for help.
IVU I lLt
I Driving through Deep
Standing Water
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Features & Controls
1. Hold the brake pedal down with your
right foot and set the parking brake.
2. Move the shift lever into the P (Park)
position like this:
Hold in the button on the lever,
and push the lever all the way
toward the front of your vehicle.
3. If you have four-wheel drive, be sure
the transfer case is in a drive gear
-
not in N (Neutral).
4. Move the ignition key to LOCK.
5. Remove the key and take it with you.
If you can walk away from your
vehicle with the ignition key in your
hand, your vehicle is
in P (Park).
Leaving Your Vehide with the
Engine Running
(AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION)
A It can be dangerous to leave
your vehicle with the engine
running. Your vehicle could move
suddenly if the &ifl lever is not
fully in P (Park) with the parking
brake firmly set.
If you have f0.w-wheel drive and
your -fer we is. in
N (Neutral), your vehicle will be
free to roll, even if your shift lever
is in P (Park). So be sure the
transfer case is in a drive gear -
not in N (Neutral).
And, if you leave the vehicle with
the
engine running, it could
overheat and even catch fire. You
or others could be injured. Don't
leave your vehicle with the engine
running unless you have to.
If you have to leave your vehicle with
the engine running, be sure your vehicle
is in
P (Park) and your parking brake is
firmly set before you leave
it. If you
have four-wheel drive, be sure that the
transfer case is in a drive gear
- not in
N (Neutral). After you've moved the
shift lever into the
P (Park) position,
hold the regular brake pedal down.
Then, see if you can move the shift
lever away from
P (Park) without first
pushing the button. If you can, it means
that the shift lever wasn't fully locked
into
P (Park).
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r
Opentiun of Lights
Although your vehicle's lighting system
(headlamps, parking lamps, fog lamps,
side marker lamps and taillamps) meet
all applicable Federal lighting
requirements, certain States and
Provinces may apply their own lighting
regulations that may require special
attention before you operate these
lamps. For example, some jurisdictions may
require that you operate your low
beam lamps with fog lamps at all times,
or that headlamps be turned on
whenever you must use your windshield
wipers. In addition, most jurisdictions
prohibit driving solely with parking
lamps, especially at dawn or dusk.
It is
recommended that you check with your
own State or Provincial highway
authority for applicable lighting
regulations. Turn
the outside portion of the lever to
control the lights. There are three
positions for the light switch.
In OFF, all lights are turned off.
The middle position turns on the
parking lights, taillights, license plate
light and the instrument panel
lighting; the headlights are
off.
The third position turns on the
headlights.
Lights On Reminder
If you turn the ignition off, remove the
key and leave the lights on, a chime will
sound to remind you to turn off your
lights.
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..
>torage and Compartpnents
Glove Box
To open the glove box, pull the latch
toward you. Use
your key to lock and
unlock the glove
box.
Door Storage Compartments
Your doors have a storage compartment.
Front Seat Side Pockets
On the outside of each front seat is a
storage pocket.
Instrument Panel Bins
On the top center of the instrument
panel
is a storage bin.
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Features & Conrrols
Tachometer
The tachometer shows engine speed in
thousands
of revolutions per minute
(rpm).
You can use it while driving to
select correct shift points. The
tachometer may not return to zero when
the engine is not running.
NOTICE
Do not operate the engine with the
tachometer in the red area
engine damage may occur
9 82
Wanting Lights, Gages
and
Indicators
This section describes the warning lights
and gages that may be on your vehicle.
The pictures will help
you locate them.
Warning lights can signal that something
is wrong before it becomes serious
enough to cause an expensive repair or
replacement. Paying attention to your
warning lights and gages could also save
you or others from injury. Warning
lights go on when there may be
or is a problem with one
of your
vehicle’s functions.
As you will see in
the details on the next few pages, some
warning lights come on briefly when
you turn the ignition key just to let you
know they’re working. If you are
familiar with this section, you should
not be alarmed when this happens.
Gages can indicate when there may be
or is a problem with one of your
vehicle’s functions. Often’ gages
and
warning lights work together to let you
know when there’s a problem with your
vehicle.
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Your Driving and the Road
deaths are the result of someone who
was drinking and driving. Over 25,000
motor vehicle-related deaths occur each
year because
of alcohol, and thousands
of people are injured.
Just how much alcohol is too much if a
person plans to drive? Ideally, no one
should drink alcohol and then drive. But
if one does, then what’s “too much”? It
can be a lot less than many might think.
Although it depends on each person and
situation, here is some general
information on the problem. The Blood Alcohol
Content (BAC) of
someone who is drinking depends upon
four things:
How much alcohol is in the drink.
The drinker’s body weight.
The amount of food that is consumed
before and during drinking.
The length of time it has taken the
drinker to consume the alcohol. According
to
the American Medical
Association, a 180-pound (82 kg) person
who drinks three 12-ounce
(355 ml)
bottles of beer in an hour will end up
with
a BAC of about 0.06 percent. The
person would reach the same BAC by
drinking three 4-ounce (120
ml) glasses
of wine or three mixed drinks if each
had 1- 1/2 ounces (45 ml)
of a liquor like
whiskey, gin or vodka.
It’s the amount
of alcohol that counts.
For example, if the same person drank
three double martinis
(3 ounces or 90 ml
of liquor each) within an hour, the
person’s BAC would be close to 0.12
percent. A person who consumes food
just before or during drinking will have
a slightly lower BAC level.
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