Slow down, especially on higher
speed roads. Your headlights can light
up
only so much road ahead.
0 In remote areas. watch for animals.
0 If you're tired, pull off the road in a
safe place md rest.
Night Vision
No one can see 11s well at night as in the
daytime.
But as we get older these
differences increase. A SO-year-old driver
may require at least twice as much
light to
see the same thing
a( night :is a
20-year-old.
What you do
in the daytime can also
affect your night vision. For example.
if
you spend the day in bright sunshine you
are wise
to wear sunglasses. Your eyes
will have less trouble adjusting
to night.
But
if you're driving, don't wear
sunglasses at night. They may cut down
on glare from headlights. but they also
make
a lot of things invisible.
You can be temporarily blinded by
approaching lights. It c;tn take a second or
two,
or even several seconds, for your
eyes
to readjust to the dark. When you are
ked with severe glare
(as from a driver
who doesn't lower the high beams. or a vehicle with Inisaimed headlights), slow.
down
a little. Avoid staring directly into
the approaching lights.
Keep your windshield and
all the glass on
your vehicle clean - inside and out.
Glare
at night is nladc much worse by dirt
on the glass. Even the inside of the glass
can build up a film caused by dust. Dirty
glass makes lights dazzle and flash more
than clean
glass would. making the pupils
of
your eyes contract repeatedly.
Remember that your hcacilights light
up
far less of' LI roadway when you are in a
turn or curve.
Kecp your eycs moving: that way,
it's
casier to pick out dimly lighted objects.
Just
as your headlights should be checked
regularly for proper aim.
so should your
eyes be examined regulurly.
Some drivers
suffer from night blindness
- the
inability to see
in dim light - and aren't
even aware
of it.
Driving in the Rain
Rain and wet roads can mean driving
trouble. On
a wet road you can't stop,
accelerate
or turn as well because your
tire-to-road traction isn't as good as on
dry roads. And,
if your tires don't have
much tread left, you'll get even less
traction.
It's always wise to go slower and
be cautious if
rain starts to fall while you
are driving. The surface may get wet
suddenly when your reflexes are tuned for
driving
on dry pavement.
The heavier the rain. the harder
it is to
see. Even if your windshield wiper blades
are
in good shape. a heavy rain can make
it harder to see road signs and traffic
signals, pavement markings,
the edge of
the road, and even people walking.
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Wiper Blades: Are they in good
shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids:
Have you checked all levels?
Lights: Are they all working? Are the
lenses clean?
Tires: They are vitally important to a
safe, trouble-free trip. Is the tread
good enough for long-distance
driving? Are the tires all inflated to
the recommended pressure?
Weather Forecasts: What’s the
weather outlook along your route?
Should you delay your trip a short
time to avoid a major storm system?
Maps: Do you have up-to-date
maps?
Highway Hypnosis
Is there actually such a condition as
“highway hypnosis”? Or is it just plain
falling asleep at the wheel? Call
it
highway hypnosis, lack of awareness, or
whatever.
There is something about an easy stretch
of road with
the same scenery, along with
the hum of the tires
on the road, the drone
of the engine, and the rush of the wind
against the vehicle that can make you sleepy. Don’t let it happen
to you! If it
does, your vehicle can leave the road in
less than a second, and
you could crash
and be injured.
What can you do about highway
hypnosis? First, be aware that
it can
happen.
Then here are some tips:
0 Make sure your vehicle is well
ventilated, with a comfortably cool
interior.
0 Keep your eyes moving. Scan the
road ahead and to
the sides. Check
your mirrors and your instruments
frequently.
0 If you get sleepy, pull off the road into
a rest, service, or parking area and
take a nap, get some exercise,
or both.
For safety, treat drowsiness on the
highway as an emergency.
Hill and Mountain
Roads
Driving on steep hills or mountains is
different from driving
in flat or rolling
terrain. If you drive regularly in steep
country, or
if you’re planning to visit
there, here are some tips that can make
your trips safer and more enjoyable.
(See “Off-Road Driving” in the Index
for information about driving off-road.)
Keep your vehicle in good shape.
Check all fluid levels and also the
brakes, tires, cooling system and
transmission. These parts can work
hard
on mountain roads.
ILI . . .
ProCarManuals.com
Service and Appearance Care
Don’t use abrasive cleaners on glass,
because they may cause scratches. Avoid
placing decals on the inside rear window,
since they
may have to be scraped off
later.
If abrasive cleaners are used on the
inside
of the rear window, an electric
defogger element may be damaged.
Any
temporary license should not be attached
across
the defogger grid.
Cleaning the Outside of the Windshield
and Wiper Blades
If the windshield is not clear after using
the windshield washer, or
if the wiper
blade chatters when running, wax or other
material may be on the blade
or
windshield.
Clean
the outside of the windshield with
GM Windshield Cleaner, Bon-Ami
Powder@
(GM Part No. 105001 1). The
windshield is clean
if beads do not form
when you rinse
it with water.
Clean the blade by wiping vigorously
with a cloth soaked in full strength
windshield washer solvent. Then rinse
the
blade with water.
Wiper blades should be checked on a
regular basis and replaced when worn.
Cleaning the Outside of Your
Geo
The paint finish on your vehicle provides
beauty, depth
of color, gloss retention and
durability.
Washing Your Vehicle
The best way to preserve your vehicle’s
finish is to keep
it clean by washing it
often with lukewarm or cold water.
Don’t wash your vehicle
in the direct rays
of the sun. Don’t use strong soaps or
chemical detergents. Use liquid hand,
dish or car washing (mild detergent)
soaps. Don’t use cleaning agents
that
are petroleum based, or contain acid or
abrasives. All cleaning agents should be
flushed promptly and not allowed to dry
on the surface, or they could stain. Dry
the finish
with a soft, clean chamois or a
100% cotton towel to avoid surface
scratches and water spotting.
High pressure car washes may cause
water to enter your vehicle.
Finish Care
Occasional waxing or mild polishing of
your Geo may be necessary to remove
residue from the paint finish. You can get
GM approved cleaning products from your dealer.
(See “Appearance Care and
Materials”
in the Index.)
Your Geo has a “basecoat/clearcoat” pain
finish. The clearcoat gives more depth
and gloss to the colored basecoat. Always
use waxes and polishes that are
non-abrasive and made for a
basecoatfclearcoat paint
finish.
NOTICE:
Machine compounding or aggressive
polishing on a basecoatfclearcoat
paint finish may dull the finish or
leave swirl marks.
Protecting Exterior Bright Metal Parts
Bright metal parts should be cleaned
regularly to keep their luster. Washing
with water is all that is usually needed.
However, you may use GM Chrome
Polish
on chrome or stainless steel trim,
if necessary.
Use special care
with aluminum trim. To
avoid damaging protective
trim, never
use auto or chrome polish, steam or
caustic soap to clean
aluminum. A
coating of wax, rubbed to high polish, is
recommended for
all. bright metal parts.
. . .I92
ProCarManuals.com
Index
Care Appearance
................. 189
Canvas Top
.................. 193
Cassette Tape Player .......... 97
Compact Discs
............... 98
Safety Belts
................. 191
Case. Transfer ................. 47
Case. Transfer (Service)
.......... 170
and Cornpact Disc Player
..... 94
Player
.................... 90
AM/FM Stereo with ........... 93
Stereo with ................ 89
ofYour
..................... 97
Certification/Tire Label .......... 18 1
Chains. Tire ................... 188
Changing a Flat Tire
............. 146
Charging System Light
.......... 70
Check Engine Light
............. 71
Cassette
Tape. To Play a
AM/FM Stereo with Cassette Tape
AM/FM Stereo with Cassette Tape
Cassette Tape and Compact Disc Player.
Cassette Tape Player. AM/FM
Cassette Tape Player. Care
Checking Things under the
Hood
....................... 159
Checking Your Restraint Systems . . 33
Chemical Paint Spotting
.......... 194
Chevrolet/Geo Roadside Assistance Program
.................... 237
... 244
Chevrolet/Geo Service Publications
(Ordering Information)
........ 240
Child Restraints
.............. 27
Rear Seat
.............. . 28
Right Front Seat
............ 30
Top Strap
................... 28
Where to Put the
.............. 27
Children (Safety Belts)
........... 26
Children. Larger (Safely Belts)
.... 32
Cigarette Lighter ............... 62
Circuit Breakers. Fuses and ....... 196
City Driving ................... I19
Cleaner. Air ................. 165
Cleaning
Aluminum Wheels
........ 193
Canvas Top
.................. 193
Fabric
...................... I90
Glass
....................... 191
Inside of Your Geo ............ 189
Instrument Panel. Top of
....... 19 1
Leather ..................... 19 1
Outside of Your Geo .......... 192
Problems. Special
............. 190
Vinyl
...................... 191
Clock. Setting the ............... 88
Clutch Adjustment
.............. I69
Coinholder and Bin ............. 61
Comfort Controls
............... 84
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
.................... 83
Windshield and Wiper Blades ... 192 Compact
Disc.
To Play a ......... 95
with Cassette Tape and
......... 93
Compact Disc Player. AM/FM Stereo
Compact Discs. Care
of Your ...... 98
Compartments. Door Storage ...... 60
Compartments. Storage and ....... 60
Control of a Vehicle ............. 102
Control.
Loss of ................ 107
Controls Air Conditioner
.............. 85
Brightness .................. 57
Comfort
.................... 84
Features and
................. 35
Heater ...................... 84
Seat ........................ 10
Convertible Top
................ 72
Convex Outside Mirror
..... 59
Coolant Adding
..................... 171
Heater. Engine ............... 41
Recovery Tank
............. 142
Cooling
....................... 85
Cooling System ................ 141
Courtesy Transportation .......... 237
Cupholder
..................... 61
Curves. Driving on .............. 104
Engine
..................... 170
How to Add
to the Coolant
How to Add
to the Radiator ..... 144
Temperature Gage. Engine ...... 70
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