When You Are Ready to Leave after
Parking
on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold
the pedal down while you:
Start your engine;
Shift into a gear; and
0 Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear
4. Stop and have someone pick up and
of the chocks.
store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often
when you're pulling
a trailer. See the
Maintenance Schedule for more
on this.
rhings that are especially important in
:railer operation are automatic
.ransmission lluid (don't overfill), engine
oil? axle lubricant, belts, cooling system,
and brake adjustment. Each of these
is
covered in this manual, and the Index will
help you find them quickly. If you're
trailering, it's a good idea to review these
sections before you start
your trip.
Check periodically
to see that all hitch
nuts and bolts are tight.
I
I
Recreational Vehicle
To wing
There may be times when you want to
:ow your Geo behind another vehicle for
Jse at your destination. Be sure to use the
proper towing equipment designed for
-ecreational towing. Follow the Instructions for the towing equipment.
rowing Your Geo from the Rear
rhe best way to tow your Geo is from the
-ear. Follow these steps:
1. Put the rear wheels on a dolly.
I NOTICE:
I
Do not tow your Geo with the rear
wheels
in contact with the ground. or
the transmission could be damaged. 1
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Raise the vehicle by turning the jack
handle clockwise. Raise the vehicle far
enqugh
off the ground so there is enough
room for the spare tire to fit. Remove all
the wheel nuts and take off
the
flat tire.
Remove any
rust or dirt from the wheel
bolts, mounting surfaces and spare wheel.
Place the spare on the wheel mounting
surface.
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upon the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart significantly
from the norm due to variations in driving
habits, service practices and differences in
road characteristics and climate.
Traction - A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to
lowest are: A,
B, and C. They represent
the tire’s ability to stop on wet pavement
as measured under controlled conditions
on specified government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked
C
may have poor traction performance.
Warning: The traction grade assigned to
this tire is based on braking
(straight-ahead) traction tests and does
not include cornering (turning) traction.
Temperature - A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (the
highest),
B, and C, representing the tire’s
resistance to the generation of heat and its
ability to dissipate heat when tested under
controlled conditions on a specified
indoor laboratory test wheel. Sustained
high temperature can cause the material
of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire
life, and excessive temperature can lead to
sudden tire failure. The grade
C
corresponds to a level of performance
which all passenger car tires must meet
under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard
No. 109. Grades B and A
represent higher levels of performance on
the laboratory test wheel than the
minimum required by law.
Warning: The temperature grade for this
tire is established for a tire that is properly
inflated and not overloaded. Excessive
speed, underinflation, or excessive
loading, either separately or
in
combination, can cause heat buildup and
possible tire failure.
These grades are molded on the sidewalls
of passenger car tires.
While the tires available as standard or
optional equipment on General Motors
vehicles may vary with respect to these
grades, all such tires meet General Motors
performance standards and have been
approved for use on General Motors
vehicles. All passenger type
(P Metric)
tires must conform to Federal safety
requirements in addition to these grades.
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
The wheels on your vehicle were aligned
and balanced carefully at the factory to give
you the longest tire life and best
overall performance.
In most cases, you will not need to have
your wheels aligned again. However, if
you notice unusual tire wear or your
vehicle pulling one way or the other, the
alignment may need to be reset. If you
notice your vehicle vibrating when
driving on a smooth road, your wheels
may need to be rebalanced.
Wheel Replacement
Replace any wheel that is bent, cracked or
badly rusted. If wheel nuts keep coming
loose, the wheel, wheel bolts, and wheel
nuts should be replaced. If the wheel
leaks air, replace it (except some
aluminum wheels, which can sometimes
be repaired). See your Geo dealer if any
of these conditions exist.
Your dealer will know the kind of wheel
you need.
Each new wheel should have the same
load carrying capacity, diameter, width,
offset, and be mounted the same way as
the one it replaces.
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Service and Appearance Care
If you need to replace any of your wheels,
wheel bolts, or wheel nuts, replace them
only
with new GM original equipment
parts. This way, you
will be sure to have
the right wheel, wheel bolts, and wheel
nuts for your Geo model.
NOTICE:
The wrong wheel can also cause
problems
with bearing life, brake
cooling, speedometer/odometer
calibration, headlight aim, bumper
height, vehicle ground clearance,
and
tire or tire chain clearance to the
body and chassis.
Used Replacement Wheels
A CAUTION:
Putting a used wheel on your vehicle
is dangerous. You can’t know how
it’s been used or how many miles it’s
been driven. It could
fail suddenly
and cause an accident.
If you have
to replace a wheel
use a new GM
original equipment wheel.
Tire Chains
NOTICE:
Use tire chains only where legal and
only when you must. Use only SAE
Class “S” type chains that are the
proper size for your tires. Install them
on the tires of the drive axle (four-
wheel drive vehicles can use chains
on both axles). Tighten them
as
tightly as possible with the ends
securely fastened. Drive slowly and
follow the chain manufacturer’s
instructions.
If you can hear the
chains contacting your vehicle, stop
and retighten them.
If the contact
continues, slow down until
it stops.
Driving too fast with chains
on will
damage your vehicle.
. . .188 ProCarManuals.com
ITEM
NO. SERVICE
6 Wheel Bearin? InsDection -
Inspect for wear and proper
adjustment. Relubricate the
bearings if grease is
contaminated.
7 Transmission (All) and
Transfer Case Differential
(Four-wheel Drive) Service
-
For the manual transmission and
transfer case differential, check
the fluid level every time the
oil is changed. See “Manual
Transmission Fluid” and
“Transfer Case” in the Index.
Inspect for damage and leaks
and change the fluid every
15,000 miles
(25 000 km) or
15 months for Schedule
I
conditions and every 30,000
miles (50 000 km) or 30 months
for Schedule
II conditions.
For the automatic transmission,
check the fluid level every time
the oil is changed. See
“Automatic Transmission
Fluid” in the Index. Inspect for
damage and leaks and change
ITEM
NO. SERVICE
8
9
the fluid every 15,000 miles
(25 0o0 km) or 15 months for
Schedule
I conditions and
100,000 miles ( 166 000 km) for
Schedule
I1 conditions. Replace
the automatic transmission cooler hoses every
45,000 miles
(75 000 km).
Propeller Shafts and U-Joints
Inspection
- Inspect for
looseness and damage.
Do this
every,.l5 months, or at 15,000
mile
(25 000 km) intervals, more
frequently if used off-road
or for
pulling a trailer. Tighten U-joint
flange bolts if necessary.
Freewheeling Hubs InsDection
/If Equipped) - Inspect the
locking front hubs for correct
operation. Repair or replace if
necessary. (Both hubs must
operate correctly for the front
axle to power the front wheels.)
ITEM
NO. SERVICE
10
11
Spark Plug Replacement” -
Replace spark plugs with the
proper type. See “Replacement Pans” in the Index.
Spark Plup Wire Replacement”
-
Replace wires. Check the boot fit
at the distributor and
at the spark
plugs. Operation in extreme cold
and/or on salted roads may require
more frequent replacement.
* An Emission Control Service.
t The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
or the California Air Resources Board has
determined that the failure to perform this
maintenance item will not null@ the emission
warranty
or limit recall liability prior to the
completion
of vehicle useful life. General
Motors, however, urges that all recommended
maintenance services be pegormed at the
indicated intervals and the maintenance be
recorded
in “Section E: Maintenance
Record.
’’
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