Page 8 of 339

How to Use this Manual
Part 5: Problems on the Road
This part tells you what to do if you
have a problem while driving, such as a
flat tire or engine overheating.
Part 6: Service & Appearance Care
Here the manual tells you how to keep
your Geo running properly and looking
good.
Part 7: Maintenance Schedule
This part tells you when to perform
vehicle maintenance and what fluids and
lubricants
to use.
Part 8: Customer Assistance
Information
This part includes important information
3bout reporting safety defects and gives
you details about the “Roadside
4ssistance” program.
You will also find
mstomer satisfaction phone numbers
(including customer satisfaction numbers
for the hearing and speech impaired) as
well as
the mediationlarbitration
procedure. We’ve also included ordering
information for service publications in
this part.
Service Station Information
This is a quick reference of service
information. You can find it
on the last
page of this manual.
Safety Warnings and Symbols
You will find a number of safety
cautions in this book. We use yellow
and the word CAUTION to tell
you
about things that could hurt you if you
were to ignore the warning.
In the yellow caution area, we tell you
what the hazard is. Then we tell you what
to do to help avoid or reduce the
hazard. Please read these cautions.
If
you don’t, you or others could be hurt.
I.. 6
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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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Here you can learn about the
many standard and optional
features on your Geo. and
information on starting. shifting
and braking
. Also explained are
the instrument panel and the
warning systems that tell you
if
everything is working properly -
and what to do if you have a
problem
.
Part 2
Features & Controls
Keys ................................................................ 44
Door Locks
.......................................................... 45
Theft
................................................................ 47
New Vehicle “Break-In”
............................................... 48
Ignitionswitch ....................................................... 48
Starting Your Engine .................................................. 49
Driving through Deep Standing Water
.................................... 50
Five-Speed Manual Transmission ........................................ 54
Parking
.............................................................. 60
EngineExhaust ....................................................... 64
Automatic Transmission
................................................ 51
Four-wheel Drive
..................................................... 57
Windows
............................................................ 66
Horn
................................................................ 67
Tiltwheel ........................................................... 67
The Turn Signal/Lights Control/Headlight Beam Lever
...................... 67
Interior Lights
........................................................ 71
Windshield Wiper/Washer Lever
........................................ 72
Rear Window Wiper/Washer ............................................ 73
Mirrors .............................................................. 74
Storage and Compartments ............................................. 75
SunVisors ........................................................... 76
Passenger Assist Grips
................................................. 76
Ashtrays and Lighter .................................................. 77
Instrument Panel and Clusters
........................................... 80
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators .................................... 82
ConvertibleTop ...................................................... 87
43.-
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Features & Controls
New Vehicle
“Break-In ’’
Your modern Geo doesn’t need an
:laborate “break-in.” But it will
perform better in the long
1
1 follow these guideli~
A
m Ignition Switch
With the key in the ignition switch, you
can turn the switch to four positions:
LOCK (A): The only position in which
you can remove the key. This locks
your steering wheel, ignition and
automatic transmission. Press
in the
ignition switch as you turn the top of it
toward you.
If you have an automatic transmission,
the ignition switch cannot be turned to
LOCK unless the shift lever is in the
P (Park) position.
ACC (B): Position in which you can
operate your electrical power accessories. It unlocks the steering
wheel and ignition.
A warning chime
will sound if you open the driver’s door when the ignition is
in ACC or LOCK
and the key is in the ignition.
Use this
position if your vehicle must be pushed
or towed.
ON (C): Position to which the switch
returns after you start your engine and
release the switch. The switch stays in
the
ON position when the engine is
running. But even when the engine is not running, you can use
ON to operate
your electrical power accessories, and to
display some instrument panel warning
lights.
START (D): Starts the engine. When
the engine starts, release the key. The
ignition switch will return to
ON for
normal driving.
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c
Note that even if the engine is not
running
ACC and ON allow you to
operate your electrical accessories, such
as the radio and ventilation fan.
4 Starting Your Engine
Automatic Transmission: Move your
shift lever to
P (Park) or N (Neutral).
Your engine
won’t start in any other
position
- that’s a safety feature. To
restart when you’re already moving, use
N (Neutral) only.
I Don’t try to shift to P (Park) if
your Geo is moving. If you do,
you could damage the
transmission. Shift to P (Park)
only
when your vehicle is stopped. I
Manual Transmission: Shift your gear
selector
to neutral and hold the clutch
pedal to the floor while starting the
engine. Your vehicle won’t start
if the
clutch pedal is
not all the way down -
that’s a safety feature.
1. Don’t push the accelerator pedal
before starting
your engine. In some
other vehicles you might need to do
this, but because
of your vehicle’s
computer systems, you don’t.
2. Turn your ignition key to START.
When the engine starts, let go of the
key.
49.’.
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Features & Controls
... 50
3. If it doesn't start right away, hold
your
key in START for about three
seconds at a time until your engine
starts. Wait about
15 seconds
between each try to help avoid
draining your battery.
Holding your key in
START for
longer than
15 seconds at a time
will cause your battery
to be
drained much sooner. And the
excessive heat
can ~ag~~~ gz <&!Kg::, starter motor. p-,'*'Q,&P'F$+
If your engine still won't start, call your
dealer for help.
IVU I lLt
I Driving through Deep
Standing Water
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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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