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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Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
This gage shows the engine coolant
temperature. If the gage pointer moves
to the “H” (red) side, your engine is
too hot! It means that your engine
coolant has overheated and you should
stop your vehicle and turn off the engine
as soon as possible.
HOT
COOLANT CAN BURN YOU
BADLY!
In “Problems on the Road, ” this
manual shows what to do. See “Engine
Overheating’’
in the Index.
-I
I L
Charging System Light
This light will come on briefly when
you turn on
the ignition, but the engine
is not running, as a check to show you it
is working. Then it should go out when
the engine starts. If it stays on, or
comes on while you are driving, you
may
have a problem with the electrical
charging system. It could indicate that
you have a loose generator drive belt, or
another electrical problem. Have
it
checked right away. Driving while this
light
is on could drain your battery.
If you must drive a short distance with
the light
on, be certain to turn off
all your accessories, such as the radio
and air conditioner.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Check
Engine Light)
A computer monitors operation of your
fuel, ignition and emission control
systems. The light should come on when
the ignition is on, but the engine is not
running, as a check to show you
it is
working. If
it does not come on at all,
have it fixed right away. If it stays
on,
or comes on while you are driving, the
computer is indicating that you have
a
problem. You should take your vehicle
in for service soon.
85.9.
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Problems on the Road
Position the sling crossbar under and
forward
of the rear bumper.
. = = 200
A L
Attach a separate safety chain around
the outboard end of each side of the rear
axle.
H Engine Overheating
You will find a coolant temperature
gage on your Geo instrument panel.
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Service & Appearance Care
How to Check Lubricant:
If the level is below the bottom of the
filler plug hole, you’ll need to add some
lubricant.
If the differential is at operating
temperature (warm), add enough
lubricant to raise the level to the bottom
of the filler plug hole.
If the differential
is cold, add enough
lubricant to raise the level to
1/2 inch
(12 mm) below the filler plug hole.
What to Use:
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to
determine what kind of lubricant to use.
See “Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants” in the Index.
Engine Coolant
The following explains your cooling
system and how to add coolant when it
is low. If you have a problem with
engine overheating, see “Engine
Overheating” in the Index.
The proper coolant for your Geo will:
Give freezing protection down to
Give boiling protection up to 258°F
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine
Let the warning lights work as they
-34°F (-37°C).
(125°C).
temperature. should.
What to Use:
Use a mixture of one-half clean water
(preferably distilled) and one-half
antifreeze or approved recycled coolant
that meets “GM Specification 6038M,”
which won’t damage aluminum parts.
Also use GM Engine Coolant
Supplement (sealer) with a complete
coolant change. If you use these, you
don’t need to add anything else.
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Radiator Pressure Cap
IVU I IIJt
Your radiator pressure cap is a 13
- i (90 kPa) pressure-type cap and
must be tightly installed to prevent
coolant
loss and possible engine
damage from overheating. Be sure
the arrows on the cap line up with
the overflow tube on the radiato
filler neck.
I
When you replace your radiator pressure
cap, an
AC* cap is recommended.
Thermostat
Engine coolant temperature is controlled
by a thermostat in the engine coolant
system. The thermostat stops the flow
of
coolant through the radiator until the
coolant reaches a preset temperature.
When you replace your thermostat, an
AC@ thermostat is recommended.
Power Steering Fluid
How to Check Power Steering Fluid:
Unscrew the cap and wipe the dipstick
with a clean rag. Replace the cap and
completely tighten it. Then remove the
cap again and look at the fluid level on
the dipstick.
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Maintenance Schedule
Section A: Scheduled Maintenance Services (Cont.)
Dplanatiun of Scheduled Maintenance Services
Below are explanations of the services listed in Schedules I
and 11.
290
ITEM
NO.
1
2
SERVICE
Engine Oil and Filter Change* - Always use SG
Energy Conserving I1 Oils of proper viscosity. The
SG designation may be shown alone or in
combination with others, such as SG/CC, SG/CD,
or SF, SG, CC, etc. To determine the preferred
viscosity for your vehicle’s engine (e.g., SAE
5W-30 or 1OW-30) see “Engine Oil’’ in the Index.
Engine Idle Speed Check* - Check the idle speed
and adjust it to underhood label specifications.
*An Emission Control Service.
The proper fluids and lubricants to use are listed in Section
D. Make sure whoever services your vehicle uses these. All
parts should be replaced and all necessary repairs done
before
you or anyone else drives the vehicle.
ITEM
NO. SERVICE
3 Cooling System Service* - Drain, flush and refill
the system with new or approved recycled coolant
conforming to
GM Specification 4038M. Keep
coolant at
the proper mixture as specified. See
“Coolant”
in the Index. This provides proper freeze
protection, corrosion inhibitor level, and engine
operating temperature.
Inspect hoses and replace
if they are cracked,
swollen, or deteriorated. Tighten screw-type hose
clamps. Clean the outside of the radiator and air
conditioning condenser. Wash
the pressure cap and
neck.
To help ensure proper operation, we recommend a
pressure test of both
the cooling system and the
pressure cap.
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Index
Children (Safety Belts) ............. 30
Children. Larger (Safety Belts) ...... 37
Cigarette Lighter
................. 77
Circuit Breakers. Fuses and ........ 273
City Driving
.................... 164
Cleaner. Air
.................... 233
Cleaning Aluminum Wheels
............. 269
Canvas Top
................... 268
Fabric. Using Foam-Type
Cleaner on
.................. 263
Fabric. Using Solvent-Type
Cleaner on
.................. 263
Geo. the Iqside of Your
.......... 262
Geo. the Outside of Your
........ 267
Glass
........................ 266
Instrument Panel. the Top of
the . . 266
Special Problems
............... 264
Underbody
.................... 270
Vinyl or Leather
............... 265
Windshield and Wiper Blades
..... 267
AM/FM Stereo
................ 107
AM/FM Stereo with
Cassette Tape Player
.......... 108
Clusters. Instrument Panel and
...... 80
Clutch Adjustment
............... 238
Coinholder and Bin
................ 76
Color
of Road Signs .............. 1 18
Clock.
Setting the Combination Light Bulb
Replacement. Rear
............. 25 1
Comfort Controls and Audio
Systems
...................... 101
Control of a Vehicle
.............. 126
Control.
Loss of ................. 138
Controls
Air Conditioner
................ 104
Brightness ..................... 7 1
Comfort
...................... 102
Features and
................... 43
Heater
....................... 102
Seats and Seat
.................. 12
Convertible Top
.................. 87
Convex Outside Mirror
............ 74
Coolant
Adding
................ .... 242
Engine
....................... 240
Overheating
................... 200
Radiator, How to Add
Coolant to the
................ 206
Recovery Tank, How to Add
Coolant to
.................. 204
Temperature Gage. Engine
........ 85
Cooling (Air Conditioning) ........ 104
Curves, Driving on
............... 132
Customer Assistance for the
Hearing
or Speech Impaired ...... 3 13
Customer Assistance Information
... 3 11
Customer Satisfaction Procedure
.... 3 12 Daytime
Running Lights
........... 70
Defensive Driving
............... 122
Defogger. Rear Window
.......... 105
Defogging and Defrosting
Windows
..................... 104
Dehumidifying (Air Conditioning)
. . 105
Dimensions. Vehicle ............. 279
Disc Brake Wear Indicators
........ 130
Dome Light
...................... 71
Door Locks
......................... 45
Locks. Tailgate
................. 46
Storage Compartments
........... 75
Downhill. Driving
............... 150
Downhill. Parking ............... 172
Drive. Four-wheel
........... .57. 239
Driving
Across an Incline
............... 152
After Off-Road
................ 157
And the Road. Your
............ 117
AtNight
...................... 157
City
......................... 164
Defensive
.................... 122
Downhill
..................... 150
Drunken ...................... 123
Freeway
...................... 165
Guidelines.
Utility Vehicle ....... 140
In
Fog. Mist. and Haze .......... 162
In
Fog. Tips on ................ 163
... 326
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In Mud. Sand. Snow. or Ice ...... 155
In the Rain
.................... 160
In Water ...................... 156
Long Distance
................. 167
On Curves
.................... 132
On Grades (With a Trailer)
....... 184
On Off-Road Hills.
............. 145
On Snow or Ice
................ 174
On the Freeway
................ 165
Suggestions.
A Few More Night . . 159
Uphill
........................ 147
Winter
....................... 173
With a Trailer
................. 182
Drunken Driving
................ 123
Easy Entry Seats
................. 14
Electrical Equipment. Add-on
...... 272
Emergencies. Braking
in .......... 132
Emergencies. Steering
in ......... -134
Engine
Coolant
...................... 240
Coolant Temperature Gage
........ 85
Exhaust
....................... 64
Identification
.................. 272
Oil
.......................... 229
Oil Pressure Light
............... 86
Overheating
................... 200
Specifications
................. 277
Starting Your
................... 49
Through
Deep Standing Water
..... 50 Environment.
Your Vehicle and the
. 282
Exhaust. Engine
.................. 64
Extender. Safety Belt
.............. 39
Fabric Protection
.................... 264
Using Solvent-Type Cleaner on
... 263
Features and Controls
.............. 43
Filling Your Tank (Fuel)
.......... 226
Filter Replacement. Air
........... 234
Flashers. Hazard Warning
......... 190
Flat Tire. Changing a
............. 208
Flat. If a Tire Goes
............... 208
Fluid Using Foam-Type
Cleaner on
..... 263
Five-Speed Manual Transmission
.... 54
Flow-Through Ventilation System
... 106
Automatic Transmission
......... 234
Manual Transmission
........... 237
Recommended
............ 27 1. 305
Windshield Washer
............. 244
Fog. Tips
on Driving in ........... 163
Folding Rear Seats
................ 15
Following Distance (With
a Trailer)
..................... 183
Foreign Countries. Fuels
in ........ 225
Four-wheel Drive
........... .57. 239
Power
Steering
................ 243
Fog. Mist and Haze. Driving
in ..... 162
Foreign Material Paint Damage
..... 269 Four-Wheel-Drive
Vehicle.
Freeway Off-Road
Driving with Your Geo
. . 140
Driving
...................... 165
Driving on the
................. 165
Entering the
................... 165
Leaving the
................... 165
Free-Wheeling Hubs
.............. 58
Automatic
..................... 59
Manual
........................ 59
Fuel
........................... 223
FuelGage
....................... 83
Fuel Tank Filling
................ 226
Fuels
in Foreign Countries ......... 225
Fuse Block. Instrument Panel
...... 275
Fuse Block. Main
................ 274
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
......... 273
Gage. Engine Coolant Temperature
. . 85
Gage. Fuel
...................... 83
Gages and Indicators. Warning
Lights
......................... 82
Gasolines for Cleaner Air
.......... 224
Glass Cleaning
.................. 266
GloveBox
....................... 75
GM Participation
in Better
Business Bureau Mediation/
Arbitration Program
............ 315
Grips. Passenger Assist
............ 76
Guidelines. Utility Vehicle Driving
. . 140
327 9
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