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J
It be dangerous tu get out
of your vehicle if the shift lever
is not fully in P (Park) with the
parking brake firmly set.
If you have left the engine running,
the veficle can
move suddenly. You
or others could be injured. To be
sure your vehicle won’t move, when
you’re
on fairly level ground, use
the steps that follow.
If you have four-wheel drive, and
your transfer
case is in N (NeutraI) ,
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).
If you are parking on a hill, or if
you’re pulling a trailer; also see
“Parking On Hills” in the Index.
6. Release the regular brakes.
When You Are Ready to Leave after
Parking on a
Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold
the pedal down while you:
Start your engine;
Shift into a gear; and
Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear
4. Stop and have someone pick up and
of the chocks.
store
the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more
often when you’re pulling a trailer.
See
the Maintenance Schedule for more on
this. Things that are especially important
in trailer operation are automatic
transmission fluid (don’t overfill),
engine oil, axle lubricant, belts, cooling
system, and brake adjustment. Each
of
these is covered in this manual, and the
Index will help you find them quickly.
If
you’re trailering, it’s a good idea to
review these sections before you start
your trip.
Check periodically
to see that all hitch
nuts and bolts are tight.
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Your Driving and the Road
Recreational Towing
There may be times when you want to
tow your Geo behind another vehicle for
use at your destination. Be sure to use
the proper towing equipment designed
for recreational towing. Follow
the
instructions for the towing equipment.
186
Towing Your Geo from the Rear
The best way to tow your Geo is from
the rear. Follow these steps:
1 . Put the rear wheels on a dolly.
NOTlCE
Do not tow your Geo with the re--
wheels in contact with the grounL,
or
the transmission could be
damaged.
2. Set the parking brake.
3. If your Geo is a four-wheel-drive
vehicle, set your manual
free-wheeling hubs to
FREE or
unlock your automatic free-wheeling
hubs. See “Four-Wheel Drive’’
in
the Index.
4. Turn the ignition key to ACC to
unlock the steering wheel.
5. Clamp the steering wheel in a
straight-ahead position,
with a
clamping device designed for towing.
6. Release the parking brake.
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Make sure that the towing speed
dues not exceed 55 mph
(90 km/h), or your Geo could be
badly damaged.
Towing Your Geo from the Front
If your vehicle has automatic
I free-wheeling hubs or two-whet
drive, do not tow it
on all fa
I wheels. If you do, you transmission could be damaged.
I
If you have a four-wheel-drive vehicle
with manual free-wheeling hubs, it can
be towed from the front with all four
wheels on the ground. Follow these
steps:
1. Set the parking brake.
2. Turn the ignition key to ACC to
unlock the steering wheel.
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Your Driving and the Road
= - 9 188
3. Shift your automatic transmission
into
P (Park), or your manual
transmission into
2 (Second).
4. Shift the transfer case to N (Neutral).
5. Set the hubs to FREE. See
“Four-Wheel Drive” in the Index.
6. Release the parking brake. Stop towing every
200 miles (300 km)
and
start the engine. Leave the transfer
case shift lever in
N (Neutral). Shift
your automatic transmission
to
D (Drive); leave a manual transmission
in
2 (Second) and release the clutch.
Run the engine at medium speed for one
minute to circulate
the oil in the transfer
case. Turn
the ignition key to ACC.
Now, you can continue towing your
Geo
.
NU I Kt
Make sure that the towing speed
does not exceed
50 mph
(80 km/h), or your Geo could
badly damaged.
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Problems on the Road
To Jump Start Your Geo
1. Check the other vehicle. It must have
a 12-volt battery with a negative
ground system.
If the other system isn’t a 12-volt I
system with a negative ground,
both vehicles can
be damaged.
I I
2. Get the vehicles close enough so the
jumper cables can reach, but be sure
the vehicles aren’t touching each
other.
If they are, it could cause a
ground connection you don’t want.
You wouldn’t be able
to start your
Geo, and the bad grounding could
darnage the electrical systems.
CAUTION -1
A
You could be injured if the
vehicles roll. Set the parking
brake firmly on each vehicle. Put
an automatic transmission in
P (Park) or a manual transmission
in
N (Neutral). If you have a
four-wheel-drive vehicle, be sure
the transfer case
is not in
N (Neutral).
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That your vehicle has rear-wheel
drive, or that
it has the
four-wheel-drive option.
vehicle.
The make, model, and year of your
Whether you can still move the shift
levers for the transmission and
transfer case,
if you have one.
If there was an accident, what was
damaged.
When the towing service arrives, let the
tow operator know that this manual
contains detailed towing instructions and
illustrations. The operator may want to
see them.
* T- help avoid injury to you or
Never let passengers ride in a
vehicle that is being towed.
Never tow faster than safe or
posted speeds
Never tow with damaged parts
not fully secured.
0 Never get under your vehicle
after it
has been lifted by the
tow truck.
chains on each side when towing
a vehicle.
hooks instead.
* Always use separate safety
Never use T-hooks. Use “J”
When your vehicle is being towed, have
the ignition key off. The steering wheel
should be clamped
in a straight-ahead
position, with
a clamping device
designed for towing service.
Do not use
the vehicle’s steering column lock for
this. The transmission and transfer case,
if you have one, should be in Neutral
and the parking brake released.
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Problems on the Road
front with sling-type or wheel lift
equipment, the rear wheels must be
supported on a dolly.
If your vehicle has four-wheel drive,
don’t have it towed on the front wheels
unless you must. If a vehicle with
four-wheel drive must be towed on the
front wheels, set your manual,
free-wheeling hubs to
FREE or unlock
your automatic free-wheeling hubs, and
set your transfer case to two-wheel
drive.
If your vehicle must be towed on
the front wheels, don’t go more than
55 mph (90 km/h).
= 9.198
CAUTION Don’t have your vehicle towed with the I
rear wheels in contact with the ground.
If
a vehicle must be towed from the I A vehicle can fall from a car A
’ carrier if it isn’t properly
,,cured. This can cause a
collision, serious personal injury
and vehicle damage. The vehicle
should be tightly secured with
chains or steel cables before it is
transported.
Don’t use substitutes (ropes,
leather straps, canvas webbing,
etc.) that can be cut by sharp
edges underneath
the towed
vehicle.
Front Towing Hook-Ups
Attach “J” hooks to the rear o
control arms inboard of springs
If lower
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CAUTION
A
Changing a tire can cause an injury. The vehicle can slip off the jack
and roll over you or other people. You and they could be badly injured.
Find a level place to change your tire.
To help prevent the vehicle from
moving:
1. Set the parking brake firmly.
2. Put the shift lever in P (Park).
3. Shift a manual transmission to 1 (First) or R (Reverse).
4. If you have a four-wheel-drive vehicle, be sure the transfer case is in a
5. Turn off the engine.
To be even more certain the vehicle won’t move, you can put chocks at the
front and rear of the tire farthest away from the one being changed. That
would be the tire on the other side of the vehicle, at the opposite end.
drive gear
- not in N (Neutral).
I The following steps will tell
you how to use the jack and change a tire. The
equipment you’ll need
is under the
front seats.
The jack and wheel wrench are under
the passenger’s seat.
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