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How to Use This
Manual
Many people read their owner’s manual
from beginning to end when they first
receive their new vehicle. This will help
you learn about
the features and controls
for your vehicle.
In this manual, you’ll
find that pictures and words work
together to explain things quickly.
Index: A good place to look for what
you need is
the Index in back of the
manual. It’s an alphabetical list
of all that’s
in the
manual, and the page
number where you’ll find it.
Part 1-8: Each part of this manual
begins with a brief list
of its contents, so
you can often find at a glance if a part
contains
the information you want.
How to Use This Manual
This part tells you how to use your
manual and includes safety and vehicle
damage warnings and symbols.
Part 1: Seats & Safety Belts
This part tells you how to use your seats
and safety belts properly.
Part 2: Features & Controls
This part explains how to start and
operate your Geo.
Part 3: Comfort Controls & Audio
Systems
This part tells you how to adjust the
ventilation and comfort controls and
how to operate your sound system.
Part 4: Your Driving and the Road
Here you’ll find helpful information and
tips about the road and how to drive
under different conditions.
5.. .
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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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I‘ou will also find a red circle with a
lash through it in this book. This safety
ymbol means “Don’t,’’ “Don’t do
his,” or “Don’t let this happen.”
Vehicle Damage Warnings
Also, in this book you will find these
blue notices:
In the blue notice area, we tell you
about something that can damage your
vehicle. Many times, this damage would
not be covered by your warranty, and it
could be costly. But the notice will tell
you what
to do to help avoid the
damage.
I
When you read other manuals, you
might see CAUTION and NOTICE
warnings in different colors or in
different words.
In this manual, we’ve
used the familiar words and colors that
Geo has used for years.
You’ll also see warning labels on your
vehicle. They use the same colors, and
the words CAUTION or NOTICE.
7...
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How to Use this Manual
Vehicle Symbols
These are some of the symbols you will
find on your vehicle. For example, these
symbols are used
on an original battery:
Caution Possible injury
Protect Eyes by Shielding
Caustic Battery Acid
Could Cause Burns
Avoid Sparks or Flames
Sparks
or Flame Could
Explode Battery
These symbols are important for you
and your passengers whenever your
vehicle
is driven:
Fasten Safety Belts
i
These symbols have to do with your
lights:
Master Lighting Switch
Turn Signal Direction
Hazard Warning Flasher
A
Headlight High Beam
Headlight
Low Beam
Parking Lights
Brightness Control
5a ytime Running Lights
(Canada)
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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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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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