These symbols are on some of your
controls:
Windshield Wiper
Windshield Washer
Windshield Defroster
Rear Window Wiper
and Washer
Rear Window Wiper
Rear Window Defogger Ventilating Fan Recirculate
Inside
Air
Circulate
Outside Air
Bi-Level
Vent
Heater
These symbols are used on warning and
indicator
lights:
Engine Coolant Temperature
Battery Charging System
Fl
Fuel
Engine Oil Pressure
Brake (Canada) Daytime Running Lights
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(Canada) **e
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Theft
Vehicle theft is big business, especially in
some cities. Although your Geo has a
number of theft deterrent features, we
know that nothing we
put on it can make
it impossible to steal. However, there are
ways you can help.
Key in the Ignition
If you walk away from your vehicle with
the keys inside, it’s an easy target for joy
riders or professional thieves
- so don’t
do
it.
When you park your Geo and open the
driver’s door, you’ll hear a chime
reminding you to remove your key from
the ignition and take
it with you. Always
do this. Your steering wheel will be
locked, and
so will your ignition. If you
have
an automatic transmission, taking
your key out
also locks your transmission.
And remember to lock the doors.
Parking at Night
Park in a lighted spot, close all windows
and lock your vehicle. Remember
to keep
your valuables out
of sight. Put them in a
storage area, or take them with you.
New Vehicle
"Break-in"
NOTICE:
Your modern Geo doesn‘t need an
elaborate “break-in.” But
it will per-
form better
in the long run if you fol-
low these guidelines:
0 Keep your speed at 55 mph
(88 km/h) or less for the first
500 miles (804 km).
0 Don’t drive at any one speed
- fast or slow - for the first
500 miles (804 km). Don’t
make full-throttle starts.
0 Avoid making hard stops for
the first
200 miles (322 km) or
so. During this time your new
brake linings aren’t yet broken
in. Hard stops
with new linings
can mean premature wear and
earlier replacement. Follow this
“breaking-in“ guideline every
time you get new brake linings.
C
I Ignition Switch
Vith the key in the ignition switch, you
an
turn the switch to four positions:
,OCK (A): The only position in which
‘ou can remove the key. This locks your
teering wheel, ignition and automatic
ransmission. Press
in the ignition switch
s you turn the top of it toward you.
f you have an automatic transmission, the
gnition switch can’t be turned
to
,LOCK” unless the shift lever is in the
‘P’ (Park) position.
LCC (B): Position in which you can
bperate your electrical power accessories.
t unlocks the steering wheel and ignition.
Jse this position
if your vehicle must be
mhed or towed.
39. .
ProCarManuals.com
Features and Controls
Parking
Parking Brake
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.
To release the parking brake: Hold the
brake pedal down. Pull the parking brake
lever up until you can push in the release
button. Hold the release button in
as you
move the lever all the way down.
NOTICE:
Driving with the parking brake on
can cause your rear brakes to over-
heat.
You may have to replace them,
and you could also damage other
parts
of your vehicle.
If you are towing a trailer, see“Towing a
Trailer”
in the Index.
Shifting into “P” (Park)
(AUTOMATIC TRANSMlSSlON)
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Features and Controls
-- I
-- a1
Headlight HighlLow Ream
First, you must have the headlights on.
For high beams, push the turn signal lever
away from you. When
the high beams are
on, a blue light on the instrument panel
also will be
on. It will go off when you
switch to low beam. To switch back
to
low beams, pull the lever toward you.
Passing Signal
With the lever in the low beam position,
pull the lever toward you
to momentarily
switch to high beam (to signal that
you
are going to pass). When you release the
lever, the headlights will return
to low
beam operation.
Daytime Running Lights (Canada)
The Canadian Federal Government has
decided that “Daytime Running Lighls”
(DRL) are
a useful feature, in that DRL
can make your vehicle more visible to
pedestrians and other drivers during
daylight hours. DRL are required
on new
vehicles sold
in Canada.
The low beam headlights will come on at
reduced brightness in daylight when:
0 The ignition is on
0 The headlight switch is off, and
The parking brake is released.
When
you turn on your headlights, the
DRL will switch
off and the exterior
lights will come on. When
you turn off
the headlights, the exterior lights will go
out and the low beams will change
to the
reduced brightness of DRL again.
The DRL indicator light on the instrument
panel will go on whenever the DRL are
on. This light means that only the DRL
are on. When you turn on your exterior
lights, this light will go
out.
Of course, you may still turn on the
headlights
or passing signal any time you
need to.
To idle your vehicle with the DRL off, set
the parking brake. The DRL will stay off
until you release the parking brake.
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Instrument Panel
1. Air Vent
2. Side Defroster Vent
3. Turn Signalbights Control/Headlight
4. Instrument Cluster
5. Hazard Warning Flasher
6. Windshield Wipermasher Lever
7. Rear Window Wiper Switch
8. Comfort Controls
Beam
Lever
9. Audio System
10. Lighter
11. Assist Grip
12. Glove Box
13. Transmission Shift Lever
14. Coinholder and Bin
15. Transfer Case Shift Lever
16. Parking Brake Lever
17. Ashtray
18. Rear Window Washer Switch
19. Ignition Switch
20. Horn
21. Fuse Block
22. Rear Window Defogger Switch
23. Brightness Control
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1s I FUELONLY UNLEADED [I
UNLEADED-
J
FUEL ONLY
Fuel Gage
Your fuel gage shows about how much
fuel is in your tank. When the gage first
indicates “E,” you still have a little fuel
left (about one or two gallons), but you
need to get more right away.
Here are four concerns some owners have
had about the fuel gage. All these
situations are normal and do not indicate
that anything is wrong with the
fuel gage,
At the gas station, the fuel pump shuts
off before the gage reads
“F.”
It takes more (or less) fuel to fill up
than
the gage reads. For example, the
gage reads half full, but it took more
(or less) than half
of the tank’s
capacity to fill it.
J
0
0
The gage moves a little when you
turn, stop
or speed up.
When you turn the engine
off, the
gage doesn’t go back to “E.”
~~
Brake System Warning Light
four Geo’s hydraulic brake system is
livided into two parts. If one part isn’t
vorking, the other part can still work and
;top you. For good braking, though, you
leed both parts working well.
four vehicle also has rear-wheel anti-lock
)rakes. If the warning light comes on,
here could be a brake problem with eithel
[our regular or rear-wheel anti-lock
)rakes, or both. Have your brake system
nspected right away.
rhis light should come on as you start the
lehicle.
If it doesn’t come on then, have ii
ixed
so it will be ready to warn you if
here’s a problem.
r
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ProCarManuals.com
Features and Controls
If the light comes on while you are
driving,
pull off the road and stop
carefully. You may notice that the pedal is
harder
to push. Or, the pedal may go
closer to the floor. It may take longer to
stop. If the light is still on. have the
vehicle towed for service. (See “Towing
Your Vehicle“
in the Index.)
p CAUTION:
Your brake system may not be work-
ing properly if the brake system
warning light is on, Driving with the
brake system warning light on can
lead
to an accident. If the light is still
on after you’ve pulled off the road
and stopped carefully, have the
vehicle towed
for service.
The brake system warning light will also
come
on when you set your parking
brake, and
it will stay on if your parking
brake doesn’t release
fully. If it stays on
after your parking brake is fully released.
it means you have a brake problem.
‘ngine Coolant Temperature Gage
rhis gage shows the engine coolanl
emperature.
If the gage pointer moves to
he
”H” (red) side. your engine is too hot!
t means that your engine coolant has
)verheatcd and you should
stop your
ehicle and
turn off the engine HS soo~
Iossible.
1 as
HOT COOLANT CAN BURN YOU
BADLY!
In “Problems on the Road.” this manual
shows what to do. See ”Engine
Overheating”
in the Index.
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
this light on,
be certain to turn off all your
accessories. such as
the radio and air
conditioner.
. . .70
ProCarManuals.com
the curve, while your front wheels are
straight ahead.
Try to adjust your speed
so you can
“drive” through the curve. Maintain a
reasonable, steady speed. Wait to
accelerate until you are out of the curve,
and then accelerate gently into the
straightaway.
Steering in Emergencies
There are times when steering can be
more effective than braking. For example,
you come over a hill and find a truck
stopped in your lane, or a car suddenly
pulls out from nowhere, or a child darts
out from between parked cars and stops
right
in front of you. You can avoid these
problems by braking
- if you can stop in
time. But sometimes you can’t; there isn’t
room. That’s the time for evasive action
- steering around the problem.
Your Geo can perform very well in
emergencies like these. First apply your
brakes, but not enough
to lock your front
wheels. It is better to remove as much
speed as you can from a possible
collision. Then steer around the problem,
to the left or right depending on the space
available. 4n
emergency like this requires close
ittention and a quick decision.
If you are
holding the steering wheel at the
recommended
9 and 3 o’clock positions,
you can turn it a full
180 degrees very
quickly without removing either hand.
But you have to act fast, steer quickly,
and just as quickly straighten the wheel
once
you have avoided the object.
The fact that such emergency situations
are always possible is
a good reason to
practice defensive driving at all times and
wear safety belts properly.
Iff-Road Recovery
7ou may find sometime that your right
,heels have dropped off the edge of a
oad onto the shoulder
(A) while you’re
riving.
f the level of the shoulder is only slightl:
lelow the pavement, recovery should be
airly easy. Ease off the accelerator and
hen, if there is nothing in the way, steer
o that your vehicle straddles the edge of
he pavement. You can turn the steering
vheel up to
1/4 turn (B) until the right
ront tire contacts the pavement edge.
?hen turn your steering wheel to go
traight down the roadway.
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