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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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Page 199 of 339

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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Page 211 of 339
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.
209 =
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Page 219 of 339
If You’re Stuck: In
Sand, Mud, Ice or
Snow
What you don’t want to do when your
vehicle is stuck is to spin your wheels.
The method known as “rocking” can
help you get out when you’re stuck, but
you must use caution.
‘ If you let your tires spin at
42 high speed, they can explode
and you or others could be injured.
And, the transmission and other
parts
of the vehicle can overheat.
That could cause
an engine
compartment fire or other damage.
When you’re stuck, spin the
wheels as little
as possible. Don’t
spin the wheels above
35 mph
(55 km/h) as shown on the
speedometer. Spinning
your wheels can destroy
parts of your vehicle as well as th
tires. If you spin the wheels too
fast while shifting your
transmission
back and forth, you
can destroy your transmission.
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Page 220 of 339
Problems on the Road
Rocking your vehicle to get it out:
First, turn your steering wheel left and
right. That will clear the area around
your front wheels. Then shift back and
forth between
R (Reverse) and a
forward gear (or with a manual
transmission, between First
or Second
gear and Reverse), spinning the wheels
as little as possible. Release the
accelerator pedal while you shift, and
press lightly
on the accelerator pedal
when the transmission is
in gear. If that doesn’t get you
out after a few tries,
you may need to be towed out. Or, you
can use your recovery hooks. If you do
need to be towed out,
see ‘‘Towing
Your Vehicle” in the Index.
-- --
Using the Recovery Hooks
If you ever get stuck in sand, mud, ice,
or snow, your Tracker is equipped with
recovery hooks. The recovery hooks are
provided at the front and rear of your
vehicle. You may need to use them if
you’re stuck off-road and need to be
pulled to some place where you can
continue driving.
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Page 223 of 339

Part 6
Here you wit1 find information
about the care of your Geo
. This
part begins with service and fuel
information. and then it shows
how to check important fluid and
lubricant levels
. There is also
technical information about your
vehicle. and
a section devoted to
its appearance care
.
ii iervice & Appearance Care
Service ............................................................. 222
Fuel ............................................................... 223
Checking Things under the Hood ........................................ 227 .
HoodRelease 227
Engineoil ........................................................ 229
Aircleaner ........................................................ 233
Automatic Transmission Fluid ........................................ 234
Manual Transmission Fluid ........................................... 237
Clutch Adjustment .................................................. 238
RearAxle ......................................................... 238
Four-WheelDrive .................................................. 239
Enginecoolant ..................................................... 240
Power Steering Fluid ................................................ 243
Windshield Washer Fluid ............................................ 244
Brake Master Cylinder ............................................... 245
Battery ........................................................... 247
Bulb Replacement .................................................... 248
LoadingYourVehicle ................................................. 252
Tires ............................................................... 253
Appearancecare ..................................................... 261
Appearance Care and Maintenance Materials .............................. 271
Vehicle Identification Number .......................................... 272
Service Parts Identification Label ........................................ 272
Add-on Electrical Equipment ........................................... 272
Fuses and Circuit Breakers ............................................. 273
ReplacementBulbs ................................................... 276
Capacities and Specifications ........................................... 277
221 .
.
......................................................
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Service & Appearance Care
l-
a
I LUU I lV1V
An electric fan under the
hood can start up and injure
you even when the engine is not
running. Keep hands, clothing and
tools away from any underhood
electric
fan. Don't reach through
the grille to release the underhood
lever.
I
7."
When you open the hood, you'll see:
1. Battery
2. Automatic Transmission Dipstick
(Option)
3. Oil Fill Cap
4. Brake Fluid Reservoir
5. Air Cleaner
6. Power Steering Reservoir (Option)
7. Engine Coolant Reservoir
8. Radiator Cap
9. Electric Fan
10. Engine Oil Dipstick
11. Windshield Washer Reservoir
12. Main Fuse Box
CAUTION
A
Things that burn can get on
hot engine parts and start a
fire. These include liquids like
gasoline, oil, coolant, brake fluid,
windshield washer and other
fluids, and plastic or rubber. You
or others could be burned. Be
careful not to drop or spill things
that will burn onto a hot engine.
Before closing the hood, be sure all the
filler caps are on.
... 228
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Page 236 of 339
Service & Appearance Care
c
If the air cleaner is off, a backfire
can cause a damaging engine fire.
And, dirt can easily get into your
engine, which will damage it.
Always have
the air cleaner in
place when you're driving.
... 234
Air Filter Replacement
To check or replace the filter, remove
the screws and lift up the cover.
Automatic Tmnsmissian Fluid
When to Check and Change:
A good time to check your automatic
transmission
fluid level is when the
engine oil is changed. Refer to the
Maintenance Schedule to determine
when to change your fluid. See
"Scheduled Maintenance Services"
in
the Index.
How to Check:
Because this operation can be a little
difficult, you may choose to have this
done at a Geo dealership Service
Department.
If you do
it yourself, be sure to follow
all the instructions here, or you could
get a false reading
on the dipstick.
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