Please keep this manual in your Geo, so it will be there if you ever need it when you’re on the road. If you
sell the vehicle, please leave this manual in
it so the new owner can use it.
This manual includes the latest information at
the time it was printed. We reserve the right to make changes
in the product after that time without further notice. For vehicles first sold
in Canada, substitute the name
“General Motors of Canada Limited” for Chevrolet/Geo Division whenever
it appears in this manual.
For Canadian Owners Who Prefer a French Language Manual
Aux propribtaires canadiens: Vous pouvez vous procurer un exemplaire de ce guide en franGais chez votre
concessionaire
ou au DGN Marketing Services Ltd., 1500 Bonhill Rd., Mississauga, Ontario L5T 1C7.
Published by Chevrolet/Geo Division
General Motors Corporation General Motors, GM and the GM emblem,
Chevrolet and the Chevrolet emblem, Geo and the
Geo emblem are registered trademarks
of General
Motors Corporation.
@ Copyright 1992 General Motors Corporation, Chevrolet/Geo Division. All rights reserved.
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the headlights, the exterior lights will go
out and the low beams will change to
the reduced brightness
of DRL again.
The DRL indicator light on the
instrument panel will
go on whenever
the DRL are on. This light means that
only the DRL are on. When you turn on
your exterior lights, this light will go
out,
Of course, you may still turn on the
headlights or passing signal any time
you need to.
To idle your vehicle with DRL
off, set
the parking brake. The DRL will stay
off until you release the parking brake.
4 Interior Lights
Dome Light
The dome light has a three position
switch.
1. The light turns on and stays on
whether or not a door
is open.
2. The light comes on when a door is
opened.
3. The light stays off even when a door
is open.
Brightness Control
This knob controls the brightness of
your instrument panel lights. Turn the
knob to the right to brighten
the lights
or
to the left to dim them.
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Y
REVERSIBLE
LANE ON ROADWAY
MULTI-LANE
Many
city roads and expressways, and
zven bridges,
use reversible-lane traffic
:ontrol during rush hours. A red
X light
above a lane means no driving in that
lane at that time. A green arrow means
you may drive
in that lane. Look for the
signs posted to warn drivers what hours
and days
these systems are in effect.
NO PASSING ZONE
Pavement Markings
Pavement markings add to traffic signs
and signals. They give information to
drivers without taking attention from
the
roadway. A solid yellow line on your
side of the road or lane means “don’t
xoss. ”
Your Own Signals
Drivers signal to others, too. It’s not
only more polite, it’s safer to let other
drivers know what you are doing. And
in some places the law requires driver
signals.
Turn and lane change signals. Always
signal
when you plan to turn or change
lanes.
If necessary,
you can use hand signals
out the window: Left arm straight out
for a left turn, down for slow or
about-to-stop, and up for a right turn.
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L
Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS) You slam on the brakes. Here’s what
Your vehicle has an advanced electronic happens with
ABS.
braking system that can help you keep it A computer senses that a rear wheel is
under control. When you stag your
-
vehicle and begin to drive away, you
may hear a momentary motor or
clicking noise. The ABS motor comes
on momentarily when the vehicle
reaches
8 mph (12 km/h). This is the
ABS system testing itself.
Here’s how anti-lock works. Let’s say
the road
is wet. You’re driving safely.
Suddenly an animal jumps
out in front
of you. slowing
down. The computer works the
brakes at the rear wheels. It is
programmed to make the most
of
available tire and road conditions.
As you brake, your computer keeps
receiving updates on rear wheel speed
and controls braking pressure
accordingly.
I
A
Anti-lock doesn’t change the
time you need to get your foot
up to the brake pedal.
If you get
too close to
the vehicle in front of
you, you won’t have time to apply
your brakes
if that vehicle
suddenly slows
or stops. Always
leave enough room up ahead to
stop, even though you have
anti-lock brakes.
129.
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Never cross a solid line on your side
of the lane or a double solid line,
even if the road seems empty of
approaching traffic.
If you suspect that the driver of the
vehicle you want to pass isn’t aware
of your presence, tap the horn a
couple of times before passing. Or, if
your Geo has the Passing Signal
option, you can use that. See
“Passing Signal” in the Index.
Do not get too close to the vehicle
you want to pass while you’re
awaiting
an opportunity. For one
thing, following too closely reduces
your area of vision, especially if
you’re following a larger vehicle.
Also, you won’t have adequate space
if the vehicle ahead suddenly slows or
stops. Keep back a reasonable
distance.
When it looks like a chance to pass is
coming up, start
to accelerate but stay
in the right lane and don’t get too
close. Time your move
so you will be
increasing speed as the time comes
to
move into the other lane. If the way is
clear to pass, you will have a
“running start” that more than makes
up for the distance you would lose by
dropping back. And if something
happens to cause you to cancel your
pass, you need only slow down and
drop back again and wait for another
opportunity.
If other cars are lined up to pass a
slow vehicle, wait your turn. But take
care that someone isn’t trying to pass
you as you pull out to pass the slow
vehicle. Remember to glance over
your shoulder and check the blind
spot.
Check your mirrors, glance over your
shoulder, and start your left lane
change signal before moving out
of
the right lane to pass. When you are
far enough ahead of the passed
vehicle to see its front in your inside
mirror, activate your right lane
change signal and move back into the
right lane. (Remember that your right
outside mirror is convex. The vehicle
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Getting Familiar with Off-Road
Driving
It’s a good idea to practice in an area
that’s safe and close
to home before you
go into the wilderness. Off-road driving
does require some new and different
driving skills. Here’s what we mean.
Tune your senses to different kinds of
signals. Your eyes, for example, need to
constantly sweep the terrain for
unexpected obstacles. Your ears need
to
listen for unusual tire or engine sounds.
With your arms, hands, feet, and body
you’ll need to respond to vibrations and
vehicle bounce.
I.
best ways to control your vehicle is to
control your speed. Here are some
things to keep in mind. At higher
speeds:
You approach things faster and you
have less time
to scan the terrain for
obstacles.
You have less time to react.
You have more vehicle bounce when
you drive over obstacles.
You’ll need more distance for
braking, especially since you’re on an
unpaved surface.
CAUTION Controlling your vehicle is the key to
successful off-road driving. One of the When you’re driving
off road,
c L bouncing and quick changes
in direction can easily throw you
out
of position. This could cause
you to lose control and crash.
So,
whether you’re driving on or off
the road, you and your passengers
should wear safety belts.
r
143- -
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Your Driving and the Road
Weather Forecasts: What’s the
weather outlook along your route?
Should you delay your trip a short
time to avoid a major storm system?
Maps: Do you have up-to-date maps?
On the Road
Unless you are the only driver, it is
good to share the driving task with
others. Limit turns behind the wheel to
about
100 miles (160 km) or two hours
at a sitting. Then, either change drivers
or stop for some refreshment like
coffee, tea or
soft drinks and some
limbering up. But do stop and move
around. Eat lightly along the way. Heavier meals tend
to make some people
sleepy.
On two-lane highways or undivided
multilane highways that do not have
controlled access, you’ll want to watch
for
some situations not usually found on
freeways. Examples are: stop signs and
signals, shopping centers with direct
access to the highway, no passing zones
and school zones, vehicles turning left
and right
off the road, pedestrians,
cyclists, parked vehicles, and even
animals.
Highway Hypnosis
Is there actually such a condition as
“highway hypnosis”?
Or is it just plain
falling asleep at the wheel? Call it
highway hypnosis, lack
of awareness, or
whatever.
There is something about an easy stretch
of road with the same scenery, along
with the hum
of the tires on the road,
the drone of the engine, and the rush
of
the wind against the vehicle that can
make you sleepy. Don’t let
it happen to
you!
If it does, your vehicle can leave
the road in
less than a second, and you
could crash and be injured.
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Your Driving and the Road
Your Geo can tow a trailer. To identify
what the vehicle trailering capacity is for
your vehicle, you should read the
information
in “Weight of the Trailer”
that appears later in
this section. But
trailering is different than just driving
your vehicle by itself. Trailering means
changes in handling, durability, and fuel
economy. Successful, safe trailering
takes correct equipment, and it has to be
used properly.
That’s the reason for this section.
In it
are many time-tested, important
trailering tips and safety rules. Many of
these are important for your safety and
that of your passengers.
So please read
this section carefully before you pull a
trailer.
9 178
Load-pulling components such as the
engine, transmission, wheel assemblies,
and tires are forced to work harder
against the drag
of the added weight.
The engine is required to operate at
relatively higher speeds and under
greater loads, generating extra heat.
What’s more, the trailer adds
considerably to wind resistance,
increasing the pulling requirements.
All
of that means changes in:
Handling
Durability
Fuel economy
If You Do Decide to Pull a Trailer
If you do, here are some important
points.
There are many different laws having
to do with trailering. Make sure your
rig will be legal, not only where you
live but also where you’ll be driving.
A good source for this information
can be state or provincial police.
Consider using a sway control.
You can ask a hitch dealer about sway
controls.
Don’t tow a trailer at all during the
first
500 miles (800 km) your new
vehicle is driven. Your engine, axle
or other parts could be damaged.
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