1993 CHEVROLET TRACKER engine coolant

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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[f there is no curb when you’re parking
uphill, turn the wheels to the right.
[f there is
no curb when you’re parking
uphill on the left side
of a one-way
street, your wheels should be turned
to
the left.
Torque Lock (Automatic
Transmission)
If you are parking on a hill and you
don’t shift your transmission into
P
(Park) properly, the weight of the
vehicle may put too much force on the
parking pawl in the transmission.
You
may find it difficult to pull the shift
lever out of
P (Park). This is called “torque
lock.”
To prevent torque lock,
always be sure to shift into
P (Park)
properly before you leave the driver’s
seat.
To find out how, see ‘‘Shifting into
P (Park)” in the Index.
When you are ready to drive, move the
shift lever out
of P (Park) BEFORE you
release the parking brake.
If torque lock does occur, you may need
to have another vehicle push yours a
little uphill
to take some of the pressure
from the transmission,
so you can pull
the shift lever out
of P (Park).
Winter Driving
Here are some tips for winter driving:
Have your Geo in good shape for
winter. Be sure your engine coolant
mix is correct.
Snow tires can help in loose snow,
but they may give you less traction on
ice than regular tires.
If you do not
expect
to be driving in deep snow, but
may have to travel over ice, you may
not want
to switch to snow tires at all.
I
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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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If Steam Is Coming from Your Engine:
' Steam from an overheated engine can burn you badly, even if you just
-open the hood. Stay away from
the engine if you see or hear steam
coming from it. Just turn it
off and get everyone away from the vehicle until I
it cools down. Wait until there is no sign of steam or coolant before opening
the hood.
If
you keep driving when your engine is overheated, the liquids in it can
catch
fire. You or others could be badly burned. Stop your engine if it
overheats, and get out of the vehicle until the engine is cool.
If your engine catches fire becaw-
II
IOU keep driving with no coolant,
four vehicle can be badly
imaged. The costly repairs
wou
aot be covered by your warranty.
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When you decide it’s safe to lift the
hood, here’s what you’ll see:
1. Coolant Recovery Tank
2. Radiator Pressure Cap
3. Electric Engine Fan
A An electric fan under the
hood can start up even when
thL @ne is not running and can
injure you. Keep hands, clothing
and tools away from any
underhood electric fan.
Don’t reach through the grille to
release the underhood lever.
- II E I L
If the coolant inside the coolant recovery
tank
is boiling, don’t do anything else
until it cools down.
The coolant level should be at
or above
FULL. If it isn’t, you may have a leak
in the radiator hoses, heater hoses,
radiator, water pump or somewhere else
in the cooling system.
unu I lVlV
Heater and radiator hoses,
1 L and other engine parts, can be
very hot. Don’t touch them. If you
do, you can be burned.
Don’t run the engine if there is a
leak. If you run the engine, it
could lose all coolant. That could
cause an engine fire, and you
could be burned. Get any leak
fixed before you drive the vehicle.
203 =
r
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Problems on the Road
c
Engine damage from running yollr I
engine without coolant isn’t
covered by your warranty.
I
If there seems to be no leak, check to
see if the electric engine fan
is running.
If
the engine is overheating, the fan
should be running. If it isn’t, your
vehicle needs service.
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Recovery
Tank
If you haven’t found a problem yet, but
the coolant level isn’t at or above
FULL, add a 50/50 mixture of clean
water
(preferably distilled) and the
proper antifreeze at the coolant recovery
tank. (See “Engine Coolant”
in the
Index for more information about the
proper coolant mix.)
A Adding only plain water to
L your cooling system can be
dangerous. Plain water, or some
other liquid, like alcohol, can boil
before the proper coolant mix will.
Your vehicle’s coolant warning
system is set for the proper coolant
mix. With plain water, or the
wrong mix, your engine could get
too hot but you wouldn’t get the
overheat warning. Your engine
could catch fire and you or others
could be burned. Use a 50/50 mix
of clean water and a proper
antifreeze.
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' In cold weather, water can freeze
and crack the engine, radiator,
\eater core and other parts.
Us
he recommended coolant.
I A You can be burned if you
- b spill coolant on hot engine
parts. Coolant contains ethylene
glycol and it
will burn if the
engine parts are hot enough. Don't
-?ill coolant on a hot engine. When the coolant
in the coolant
recovery tank is at or above
FULL,
start your vehicle.
If the overheat warning continues,
there's one more thing you can try. You
can add the proper coolant mix directly
to the radiator, but be sure the cooling
system
is cool before you do it.
I
I
Steam and scalding liquids
- b from a hot cooling system car
blow out and burn you badly. I
They are under pressure, and if
you turn the radiator pressure cap
- even a little - they can come
out at high speed. Never turn
the
cap when the cooling system,
including the radiator pressure cap,
is hot. Wait for the cooling system
and radiator pressure cap to cool
il
you ever have to turn the pressure
cap.
205
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