Your Driving and the Road
passed vehicle before vou can return to
your lane.
Backing Up
Hold the bottom of the steering wheel
with one hand. Then, to move the trailer
to the left, just move that hand to the left.
To move
the trailer to the right, move
your hand to the right. Always back up
slowly and,
if possible, have someone
guide you.
Making Turns
When you’re turning with a trailer, make
wider turns than normal.
Do this so your
trailer won’t strike soft shoulders, curbs,
road signs, trees, or other objects. Avoid
jerky or sudden maneuvers. Signal well
in
advance.
Turn Signals When Towing a Trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle has
to have a different turn signal flasher and
extra wiring. The green arrows on your
instrument panel will flash whenever you
signal a turn or lane change. Properly
hooked up, the trailer lights will also
flash, telling other drivers you’re about to
turn, change lanes or stop. When towing
a trailer, the green arrows
on your instrument panel will flash for
turns even
if the bulbs on the trailer are
burned out. Thus, you may think drivers
behind you are seeing your signal when
they are not. It’s important to check
occasionally to be sure the trailer bulbs
are still working.
Driving on Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear
before you start down a long or steep
downgrade. If you don’t shift down, you
might have to use your brakes
so much
that they would get hot and no longer
work well.
On a long uphill grade, shift down and
reduce your speed to around
45 mph
(70 km/h) to reduce the possibility of
engine and transmission overheating.
If
you are towing a trailer and you have
a manual transmission with fifth gear,
you may prefer not
to use fifth gear. Just
drive in fourth gear (or, as
you need to,
.a lower gear).
Parking on Hills
You really should not park your vehicle,
with a trailer attached, on a hill. If
something goes wrong, your
rig could start
to move. People can be injured, and
both your vehicle and the trailer can be
damaged.
But if you ever have to park
your rig on a
hill, here’s how to do it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but don’t
shift into
“F’” (Park) yet, or into gear
for a manual transmission.
2. Have someone place chocks under the
3. When the wheel chocks are in place,
release the regular brakes until the
chocks absorb the load.
trailer wheels.
4. Reapply the regular brakes.
Then
apply your parking brake, and then
shift to
‘T” (Park), or “R” (Reverse)
for a manual transmission.
5. If you have a four-wheel-drive
vehicle, be sure the transfer case is
in
a drive gear - not in “N” (Neutral).
6. Release the regular brakes.
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Problems on the Road
j
Hazard Warning
Flashers
Your hazard warning flashers let you
warn others. They also let police know
you have a problem. Your front and rear
turn signal lights
will tlash on and off. Press the button
in to make your front and
rear
turn signal lights flash on and off.
Your hazard warning flashers work no
matter what position your key
is in, and
even
if the key isn't in.
To turn off the flashers, push the switch
again.
When the hazard warning flashers are on,
your turn signals won't work.
Other Warning Devices
If you carry reflective triangles, you can
set one up at the side
of the road about
300 feet (100 m> behind your vehicle.
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I Jump Starting
If your battery has run down, you may
want to use another vehicle and some
jumper cables to start your Geo. But
please follow
the steps below to do it
safely.
NOTICE:
Ignoring these steps could result in
costly damage to your vehicle that
wouldn’t be covered by your war-
ranty.
Trying to start your Geo by pushing
or pulling it could damage your
vehicle, even if you have
a manual
transmission. And if you have an
automatic transmission,
it won’t start
that way.
To Jump Start Your Geo:
1. Check the other vehicle. It must have
a 12-volt battery with a negative
ground system.
NOTICE:
If the other system isn’t a 12-volt
system with
a negative ground, both
vehicles can be damaged.
2. Get the vehicles close enough so the
jumper cables can reach, but be sure
the vehicles aren’t touching each
other.
If they are, it could cause a
ground connection you don’t want.
You wouldn’t be able to start your
Geo, and
the bad grounding could
damage the electrical systems.
3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles.
Turn off all lights that aren’t needed,
and radios. This will avoid sparks and
help save both batteries. And it could
save your radio!
I NOTICE:
I
I
If you leave your radio on, it could be
badly damaged. The repairs wouldn’t
be covered by your warranty.
I
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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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Checking Things under
the Hood
Hood Release
To open the hood, first pull the release
nandle inside the glove
box.
I
rhen go to the front of the vehicle, push
lown lightly on the hood, and push the
lood release lever
to your left.
.ift the hood, release the hood prop from
:s retainer and put the hood prop into the
lot in the hood.
159.. ProCarManuals.com
~~
~~ ~ ~~~~ ~ Service and Appearance Care
Four- Wheel Drive
Most
lubricant checks in this section also
apply to four-wheel-drive vehicles.
However, they have
two additional
systems that need lubricatiog.
Transfer Case
When to Check qnd Change Lubricant
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to
determine how often to check the
lubricant and when to change
it. See
“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 of lybricant to use.
See “Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants”
in the Index.
Front Axle
When
to Check and Change Lubricant
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to a
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.
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
-20°F (-29”C), or -34°F (-37°C)
in
Canada and for vehicles with the cold
climate option.
Give boiling protection up to 258°F
(125°C).
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine
temperature.
Let the warning lights work as they
should.
What to Use:
Use a mixture of one-half clean water
(preferably distilled) and one-half
antifreeze that meets “GM Specification
6038-M,” which won’t damage aluminum
parts.
You can also use a recycled coolant
conforming to
“GM Specification
6038-M”
with a complete coolant flush
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~ Service and Appearance Care
r
NOTICE:
Continuing to drive
with worn-out
brake pads could result in costly
brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climates may
cause a brake squeal when the brakes are
first applied or lightly applied. This does
not mean something is wrong with your
brakes.
Your rear drum brakes don’t have wear
indicators, but if you ever hear a rear
brake rubbing noise, have the rear brake linings inspected. Also, the rear brake
drums should be removed and inspected
each time the tires are removed for
rotation or changing. When you have the front brakes replaced, have
the rear
brakes inspected, too.
Brake linings should always be replaced
as complete axle sets.
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer if the brake pedal does
not return to normal height, or if there is a
rapid increase in pedal travel. This could
be a sign
of brake trouble.
Brake Adjustment
Every time you make a brake stop, your
disc brakes adjust for wear.
If your brake pedal goes down farther
than normal, your rear drum brakes may
need adjustment. Adjust them by backing
up and firmly applying the brakes a few
times.
Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a modern vehicle
is complex. Its many parts have to be of
top quality and work well together
if the
vehicle is
to have really good braking.
Vehicles we design and test have
top-quality GM brake parts in them, as
your Geo does when it is new. When you replace parts
of your braking system -
for example,
when your brake linings
wear down and you have to have new
ones put in
- be sure you get new
genuine
GM replacement parts. If you
don’t, your brakes may no longer work
properly. For example, if someone puts in
brake linings that are wrong for your
vehicle, the balance between your front
and rear brakes can change, for the worse.
The braking performance you’ve come to
expect can change in many other ways if
someone puts in the wrong replacement
brake parts.
Battery
Every new Geo has a Delco Freedoms
battery.
You never have to add water to
one
of these. When it’s time for a new
battery, we recommend a Delco
Freedoma battery. Get one that has the
catalog number shown on the original
battery’s label.
Vehicle Storage
If you’re not going to drive your vehicle
for
25 days or more, take off the black,
negative
(-) cable from the battery. This
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will help keep your battery from running
down.
Contact your dealer to learn how to
prepare your vehicle for longer storage
periods. Bulb Replacement
See “Replacement Bulbs” in the Index to
check the size and type of bulb you need
to use.
Halogen Bulbs
Headlights
To replace the headlight bulb:
1. Open the hood.
2. Push in on both sides and pull
rearward, while holding the headlight
wiring harness, to disconnect it from
the bulb.
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