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How to Use this Manual
These symbols are used on warning and
indicator lights:
Engine Coolant
Temperature
Battery Charging System
Fuel
I.. 10
E3
Brake
w
Here are some other symbols you may
see:
Hood Release
Lighter
Horn
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r
Automatic Transmission
There are several different positions for
your shift lever.
P (Park)
This locks your rear wheels. It’s the
best position to use when you start your
engine because your vehicle can’t move
easily.
GAU I IUN I
It can be dangerous to get out
of your vehicle if the shift
lever is not
fully in P (Park) with
the parking brake firmly set. Your
vehicle could roll.
Don’t leave your vehicle when the
engine is running unless you have
to. If you have ieft the engine
running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be
injured. To be sure your vehicle
won’t move, when you’re on fairly
level ground, always set your
parking brake and move the shift
lever
to P (Park).
If you have four-wheel drive, your
vehicle will be free to roll
- even
if your shift lever is in P (Park) - I
if your transfer case is in
N (Neutral). So, be sure the
transfer case is
in a drive gear -
not in N (Neutral).
See “Shifting into
P (Park)’’ in
the Index.
If you are parking on a
hill, or,
if you’re pulling a trailer,
also see “Parking
on Hills” or
“Towing a Trailer’’ in the Index.
I P (Park) range before starti& the
engine. Your Geo has a
brake-transmission shift interlock.
You
have to fully apply your regular brakes
before you can shift from P (Park)
when the ignition is in
the ON position.
If you cannot shift out of P (Park), ease
pressure on the shift lever
- push the
shift lever all the way into
P (Park) and
also release the shift lever button on
floor shift console models
- as you
maintain brake application. Then move
the shift lever into the gear you wish.
(Press the shift lever button before
moving the shift lever on floor shift
models.) See “Shifting Out of
P (Park)’’ in the Index.
51 ..=
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N (Neutral)
In this position, your engine doesn’t
connect with
the wheels. To restart
when you’re already moving, use
N
(Neutral) only. Also, use N when your
vehicle is being towed.
Features & Controls
R (Reverse)
Use this gear to back up.
Shifting to
R (Reverse) white your
vehicle is moving forward could
damage
vwr transmission. Shift to
:r vour vehicle is
To rock your vehicle back and forth to
get out of snow, ice or sand without
damaging your transmission, see
“Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow, If
You’re’’
in the Index.
1 Shifting out of P (Park) or N
~ 1 (Neutral) while your engine is
“racing’’ (running at high speed)
is dangerous. Unless your foot
is
firmly on the brake pedal, your
vehicle could move very rapidly.
You could lose control and hit
people or objects. Don’t shift out
of P (Park) or N (Neutral) while
your engine is racing.
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Damage to your transmission
caused by shifting out
of P Park)
or N (Neutral) with the engi
racing isn’t covered by your
warranty.
D (Drive)
This position is for normal driving. If
you need more power for passing, and
you’re:
- Going less than about 15 mph
(25 km/h), push your accelerator
pedal about halfway down.
- Going about 15 mph (25 h/h) or
more, push your accelerator pedal all
the way down.
You’ll shift down to
the next gear and
have more power.
2 (Second Gear)
This position gives you more power but
lower fuel economy. You can
use 2 on
hills.
It can help control your speed as
you go down steep mountain roads, but
then
you would also want to use your
brakes
off and on.
going slower than
65 mph
(105 km/h) with the transfer
in 4H or 35 mph (55 h/h) wit1
the transfer case
in 4L, or you can
damage
your transmission
53.m.
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2 (Second Gear) - Press the clutch
pedal as you let up on the accelerator
pedal and shift into
2. Then, slowly
let up on the clutch pedal as you press
the accelerator pedal.
3, 4 and 5 (Third, Fourth and Fifth
Gears)
- Shift into 3, 4 and 5 the
same way
you do for 2. Slowly let up
on the clutch pedal
as you press the
accelerator pedal.
To Stop - Let up on the accelerator
pedal and press the brake pedal. Just
before the vehicle stops, press the
clutch pedal and the brake pedal, and
shift to
Neutral.
Neutral - Use this position when
R (Reverse) - To back up, press
you
start or
idle your engine.
down the clutch pedal and shift into
R. Let up on the clutch pedal slowly
while pressing the accelerator pedal.
You cannot go from 5 (Fifth Gear) into
R (Reverse). If you try, you will be
locked out.
You must first shift into
Neutral, move the lever to the left, back
to the right, and then shift into
R (Reverse). This is a safety feature.
Shift to R (Reverse) only after
your vehicle
is stopped. Shifting to
R (Reverse) while your vehicle is
moving could damage your
transmission.
Also, use Reverse along with the
parking brake, for parking your vehicle.
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Four-wheel Drive
CAUTION I
It can be dangerous to get out
4 b of your vehicle if the shift
rcyer is not fdly in P (Park)
(automatic transmission) or
R (Reverse) (manual transmission)
with the parking brake firmly set.
If you have four-wheel drive, also
be sure the transfer case is in a
drive gear. Your vehicle can roll.
If you have left the engine
running,
the vehicle can move
suddenly.
You or others could be
injured. To be sure your vehicle
won’t move, follow the step
below. If you are parking on a
hill’, or if you’re pulling a trailer,
see “Parking on Hills” cw
“Towing a Trailer” in the Index.
[f your vehicle has four-wheel drive,
you can send your engine’s driving
power to all four wheels for extra
traction.
To shift out of two-wheel drive
and into four-wheel drive, lock the
free-wheeling hubs and move
the
transfer case shift lever to 4H or 4L
(see the following). You should use 2H
for most normal driving.
Rear wheel anti-lock brakes
do not work
when you shift into four-wheel drive.
Your regular brakes will still work.
When
you shift back into two-wheel
drive, your rear wheel anti-lock brakes
will take over again. Driving
in 4H or 4L positions for
a long time on dry or wet
pavement could shorten
thP 1 nf
your vehicle’s drivetrain.
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Features & Controls
900
To shift into or out of 4L:
1. Stop your vehicle and shift your
transmission to
N (Neutral).
2. Shift the transfer case in one
continuous motion.
Don't pause in
N (Neutral) as you shift
into
4H, or your gears could clash.
1.1
rn Parking
Parking Brake
The parking brake lever is located
between the seats.
'9
R :
I
To set the parking brake: Hold the
brake pedal down and pull up on the
parking brake lever.
If the ignition is
on, the brake system warning light will
come on.
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To release the parking brake: Hold the
brake pedal down. Pull the parking
brake lever up
until you can push in the
release button. Hold the release button
in as you move the brake lever all the
way down.
I NOTICE
Driving with the parking brake on
can cause your rear brakes to
overheat.
You may have to replac=
them, and
you could also dvwe
other parts
of your vehicle.
If you are on a hill: See “Parking on
Hills” in
the Index. That section shows
how to turn your front wheels.
If you are towing a trailer and are
parking on any hill:
See “Towing a
Trailer”
in the Index. That section
shows what to
do first to keep the trailer
from moving.
Shifiing into P (Park)
(AUTOMATIC TRANSMlSS/ON)
It can be dangerous to get out
of your vehicle if
the shift
lever is not fully in
P (Park) with
the parking brake firmly set. Your
vehicle can roll,
If you have left the engine
running, the vehicle 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 (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).
If
you are parking on a hill, or if
you’re pulling a trailer, also see
‘‘Parking on Hills”
or ‘‘Towing a
Trailer” in the Index.
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