Problems on the Road
NOTICE:
Spinning your wheels can destroy
parts of your vehicle as well as the
tires. If you spin the wheels too fast
while shifting your transmission back
and forth, you can destroy your trans-
mission.
Rocking your vehicle to get it out:
First, turn your steering wheel left and
right. That
will clear the area around your
front wheels. Then shift back and forth
between
“R” (Reverse) and a forward
gear (or
with a manual transmission,
between First or Second gear and
Reverse), spinning the wheels as little as
possible. Release the accelerator pedal
while you shift, and press lightly on the
accelerator pedal when the transmission is
in gear. If that doesn’t get you out after a
few tries, you may need to be towed out.
Or, you can use your recovery hooks,
if
your vehicle has them. If you do need to
be towed out, see “Towing Your Vehicle”
in the Index.
Using the Recovery Hooks
If you ever get stuck in sand, mud, ice or
snow, your Tracker is equipped
with
recovery hooks. The recovery hooks are
provided at the front
and rear of your
vehicle. You
may need to use them if
you’re stuck off-road and need to be
pulled to some place where you can
continue
driving.
NOTICE:
Never use the recovery hooks to tow
the vehicle. Your Tracker could be
darnaged
and it would not be covered
by warranty.
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Here you will find information
about the care of your Geo
. This
part begins with service and fuel
information. and then it shows
how to check important fluid and
lubricant levels
. There is also
technical information about your
vehicle. and a section devoted
to its appearance care
.
Service & Appearance Care
Service ........................................................
Fuel ..........................................................
Checking Things under the Hood ...................................
HoodRelease .................................................
Engineoil ...................................................
Aircleaner ...................................................
Automatic Transmission Fluid ....................................
Manual Transmission Fluid ......................................
Clutch Adjustment .............................................
RearAxle ....................................................
Four-WheelDrive .............................................
Enginecoolant ................................................
Power Steering Fluid ...........................................
Windshield Washer Fluid ........................................
Brake Master Cylinder ..........................................
Bulb Replacement ...............................................
Loading Your Vehicle ..........................................
Tires ........................................................
Appearance Care Materials Chart ...................................
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) ................................
Service Parts Identification Label ...................................
Add-on Electrical Equipment ......................................
Fuses and Circuit Breakers ........................................
Capacities and Specifications .......................................
Battery ......................................................
Appearancecare ................................................
ReplacementBulbs ..............................................
156
156
159
159
162
165
167
168
169 169
170 170
173
174
174
176 177
181
183
189 195 196
196
196
196
199
200
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Service and Appearance Care
6% CAUTION:
When you open the hood, you’ll see on
the 8-valve engine:
1. Battery
2. Automatic Transmission Dipstick
3. Oil Fill Cap
4. Brake Fluid Reservoir
5. Air Cleaner
6. Engine Coolant Reservoir
(if equipped)
7. Power Steering Reservoir
8. Radiator Pressure Cap
9. Electric Engine Fan
IO. Engine Oi I Dipstick
11. Windshield Washer Rescrvoir
12. Main Fuse Box
Things that burn can get on hot engine
parts and start a fire. These include
liquids like gasoline, oil, coolant,
brake fluid, windshield washer and
other fluids, and pXastic OT rubber.
You or others could be burned. Be
careful not to drop or spill things that
will burn onto a hot engine.
Before closing the hood, be sure all
the filler caps are on.
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When you open the hood, you’ll see on
the 16-valve engine:
1. Battery
2. Automatic Transmission Dipstick
3. Oil Fill Cap
4. Brake Fluid Reservoir
5. Air Cleaner
6. Engine Coolant Reservoir (if equipped)
7. Power Steering Reservoir
8. Radiator Pressure Cap
9. Electric Engine Fan
IO. Engine Oil Dipstick
11. Windshield Washer Reservoir
12. Main Fuse Box
A CAUTION:
Things that bm can get on hot engiae
parts and start a fxe. These include
liquids like gasoline, oil, coolant,
brake fluid, windshield
washer and
other fluids, and plastic or rubber.
You
or others could be burned. Be
careful not to drop or spill things that
will bum onto a hot engine.
Before closing the hood, be sure all
the filler caps are on.
161 ... ProCarManuals.com
I A utomatic Transmission FIuid
When to Check and Change
A good time to check your automatic
transmission fluid level
is when the
engine
oil is changed. Refer to the
Maintenance Schedule to determine when
to change your fluid. See “Scheduled
Maintenance Services”
in the Index.
How to Check
Because this operation can be a little
difficult, you may choose to have
this
done at your Geo dealership Service
Department.
If you do
it yourself, be sure to follow all
the instructions here, or you could get a
false reading on the dipstick.
NOTICE:
Too much or too little tluid can
damage your transmission.
Too much
can mean that some of the fluid could
come out and fall on hot engine parts
or exhaust system parts, starting
a fire.
Be sure to get an accurate reading
if
you check your transmission tluid. Wait
at least 30 minutes before checking
the transmission fluid level
if you have
been driving:
0 When outside temperatures are above
0 At high speed for quite a while.
0 In heavy traffic - especially in hot
While pulling a trailer.
To get the right reading, the fluid should
be at normal operating temperature,
which is 180°F to 200°F
(82°C to 93°C).
To check transmission fluid hot: Get the
vehicle warmed
up by driving about IS
miles (24 km) when outside temperatures
are above 50°F
( 10°C). If it’s colder than
50°F (IOOC), drive the vehicle in “D”
(Third Gear) until the engine temperature
gage moves
and then remains steady for
ten minutes. Then follow the hot check
procedures.
To check transmission fluid cold: A cold
check is made after the vehicle has been
sitting for eight hours or more
with the
engine off
and is used only as a reference.
Let
the engine run at idle for five minutes
if outside temperatures are 50°F (10°C)
or more. If it’s colder than 50°F (IO’C),
you
may have to idle the engine longer.
90°F (32°C).
weather. Should
the
fluid level be low during a
cold check, you must perform a hot check
before adding fluid. This will give you a
more accurate reading
of the fluid level.
To check the fluid hot or cold
0 Park your vehicle on a level place.
0 With the parking brake applied, place
0 With your foot on the brake pedal,
Keep the
engine running.
the shift lever
in “P’ (Park).
move the shift lever through each gear
range, pausing for about three seconds
in each range. Then, position the shift
lever
in “P” (Park).
minutes or more.
0 Let the engine run at idle for three
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Service and Appearance Care
Then, without shutting off the engine,
follow these steps:
1. Pull out the dipstick and wipe it with a
clean rag or paper towel.
2. Push it back in all the way, wait three
seconds and then pull it back out
again.
. . .I68
~
3. Check both sides of the dipstick, and
read the lower level. The fluid level
must be in the “COLD’ area for a
cold check or
in the “HOT” area or
cross-hatched area for a hot check.
4. If the fluid level is in the acceptable
range, push the dipstick back
in all
the way.
How to Add Fluid
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to
determine what kind of transmission fluid
to use. See “Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants”
in the Index.
[f the fluid level is low, add only enough
of the proper fluid to bring the level up to
the “COLD” area for a cold check or the
“HOT” area for a hot check. It doesn’t take
much fluid, generally less than a
pint.
Don’t overfill. We recommend you use
only fluid labeled DEXRON@-III
or
DEXRON@-IIE, because fluids with that
label are made especially for
your
automatic transmission. Dama e caused
by fluid other than DEXRON
8 -m or
DEXRON@-IIE is not covered by your
new vehicle warranty.
0 After adding fluid, recheck the fluid
level as described under “How to
Check.”
obtained, push
the dipstick back in
all the way.
When the correct fluid level is
Manual Transmission Fluid
When to Check and Change
A good time to have it checked is when
the engine oil is changed. Refer to the
Maintenance Schedule to determine when
to change your transmission fluid. See
“Scheduled Maintenance Services”
in the
Index.
How to Check:
Because this operation can be a little
difficult, you may choose to have this
done at your Geo dealership Service
Department.
ProCarManuals.com
If you do it yourself, be sure to follow all
the instructions here, or you could get a
false reading.
NOTICE:
Too much or too little fluid can
darnage your transmission.
Too much
can mean that some of the tluid could
come out and Pall on hot engine parts
or exhaust system parts, starting a
fire. Be sure to get an accurate read-
ing
if you check your transmission
fluid.
Check the fluid level only when your
engine is
off, the vehicle is parked on a
level place and the transmission is cool
enough for
you to rest your fingers on the
transmission case.
Then, follow these steps:
1. Remove the filler plug.
2. Check that the lubricant level is up to
the bottom
of the filler plug hole.
3. If the fluid level is good, install the
plug and
be sure it is fully seated. If
the fluid level is low, add more fluid
as described in the next steps.
How to Add Fluid:
Here’s how to add tluid. Refer to the
Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind
of tluid to use. See “Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants”
in the Index.
1. Rernove the filler plug.
2. Add tluid at the filler plug hole. Add
only enough fluid to bring the fluid
level
LIP to the bottom of the filler
plug hole.
3. Install the filler plug. Be sure the plug
is
fully seated.
CIutch Adjustment
The clutch linkage in your vehicle
should be checked
as recommended in
your Maintenance Schedule. To check,
push the clutch pedal down
with your
hand
until you feel some resistance to
movement of the pedal.
If the pedal
moves freely up to an inch
(25 mm) or
so before you feel resistance to the travel,
adjustment isn’t needed.
If there is no free travel or very little
(less than
S/8 of an inch), see your dealer
for adjustment.
Rear Axle
WheR to Check and Change Lubricant
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to
determine how often to check
the
lubricant and when to change it. See
“Periodic Maintenance Inspections” and
“Scheduled Maintenance Services”
in the
Index.
How to Check Lubricant
If the level is below the bottom of the
filler plug hole, you’ll need to add some
lubricant. Add enough lubricant
to raise
the level
to the bottom of the filler plug
hole.
What to Use:
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to
determine what
kind 01‘ lubricant to use.
See “Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants”
in the Index.
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Capacities (Approximate)
The following approximate capacities are given in U.S. and metric conversions.
Air Conditioning”
............. See the refrigerant information label under hood.
Automatic Transmission Drain and Refill
....................................... 3.0 qt. (2.8 L)**
Overhaul ............................................. 5.4 qt. (5.1 L)
Automatic Transmission ................................ 5.5 qt. (5.2 L)
Manual Transmission ................................... 5.6 qt. (5.3 L)
With Filter Change ..................................... 4.5 qt. (4.2 L)*
Without Filter Change .................................. 4.2 qt. (4.0 L)
Front Differential ........................................ 1.1 qt. (1 .O L)
Fuel Tank ............................................. 11.1 gal. (42 L)
Manual Transmission
Cooling System
Crankcase
Four-wheel Drive
.................................... 1.6 qt. ( 1.5 L) **
Two-Wheel Drive ..................................... 1.8 qt. (1.7 L) **
Rear Differential ........................................ 2.3 qt. (2.2 L)
Transfer Case ........................................... 1.8 qt. ( 1.7 L)
T Not all air conditioning refrigerants are the same. If the air conditioning system
in your vehicle needs refrigerant, be sure the proper refrigerant is used. If you’re
not sure, ask your Geo dealer.
* When changing the oil filter, additional oil may be needed. Recheck the oil level
after filling. See “Engine Oil”
in the Index.
** Recheck fluid level after filling. See “Automatic Transmission Fluid” or “Manual
Transmission Fluid”
in the Index.
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