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City Driving One of the biggest problems with city streets is the
amount of traffic
on them. You’ll want to watch out for
what the other drivers are doing and pay attention to
traffic signals.
Here are ways to increase your safety in city driving:
0 Know the best way to get to where you are going.
Get a city map and plan your trip into an unknown
part of the city just as you would for a cross-country
trip.
Try to use the freeways that rim and crisscross most
large cities. You’ll save time and energy. (See the
next part, “Freeway Driving.”)
Treat a green light as a warning signal. A traffic light
is there because the corner is busy enough to need it.
When a light turns green, and just before you start to
move, check both ways for vehicles that have not
cleared the intersection or
may be running the red
light.
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Freeway Driving
Mile for mile, freeways (also called thruways, parkways,
expressways, turnpikes, or superhighways) are the safest
of all roads. But they have their own special rules. At the
entrance there is usually
a ramp that leads to the
freeway. If you have a clear view of the freeway as you
drive along the entrance ramp, you should begin
to
check traffic. Try to determine where you expect to
blend with the flow. Try to merge into the gap at close to
the prevailing speed. Switch
on your turn signal, check
your mirrors and glance over your shoulder as often as
necessary. Try to blend smoothly with the traffic
flow.
Once you are on the freeway, adjust your speed to the
posted limit or
to the prevailing rate if it's slower. Stay
in the right lane unless you want to pass.
Before changing lanes, check your mirrors. Then
use
your turn signal.
Just before
you leave the lane, glance quickly over your
shoulder to make sure there isn't another vehicle in your
"blind" spot.
Once you are moving on the freeway, make certain you
allow a reasonable following distance. Expect
to move
slightly slower at night.
When
you want to leave the freeway, move to the proper
lane well in advance. If you
miss your exit do not, under
any circumstances, stop and back up. Drive on to the
next exit.
The
most important advice on freeway driving is: Keep
up with traffic and keep to the right. Drive at the same
speed most
of the other drivers are driving. Too-fast or
too-slow driving breaks
a smooth traffic flow. Treat the
left lane on a freeway as a passing lane.
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Following Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the vehicle ahead as you
would when driving your vehicle without a trailer. This
can help you avoid situations that require heavy braking
and sudden turns.
Making lhrns
Passing
You’ll need more passing distance up ahead when
you’re towing a trailer. And, because you’re a good deal
longer, you’ll need to go much farther beyond the
passed vehicle before you 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.
I NOTICE:
Making very sharp turns while trailering could
cause the trailer to come in contact with the
vehicle.
Your vehicle could be damaged. Avoid
making very
sharp turns while trailering.
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 extra
wiring (included in the optional trailering package). The
green arrows on your instrument panel will flash
whenever you signal a turn or lane change. Properly
hooked up, the trailer lamps will also flash, telling other
drivers you’re about to turn, change lanes or stop.
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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
PARK
(P) yet, or into gear for a manual
transmission.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the
regular brakes until the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then apply your parking
brake, and then shift to PARK
(P), or REVERSE (R)
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
NEUTRAL
(N).
6. Release the regular brakes.
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GeGS Section 3 Problems on the Road
Here you'll find what to do about some problems that
can occur on the road.
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 lamps will flash
on and off.
Press the button in to make your front and rear turn
signal lamps 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.
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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.
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
warranty.
Wying 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.
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Front Parking and Turn Signal Lamps
To replace the parking and turn signal bulb:
1. Open the hood.
2. Turn the bulb socket counterclockwise and pull it out
of the lamp housing.
3. Push the bulb in, turn it to counterclockwise and pull
it out.
4. Reverse the steps with a new bulb.
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7 8
9
10 11
12
13
14 Lighter;
Radio
Ignition System; Warning and Indicator Lights
Turn Signal Lamps; Back-up Lamps
WiperNasher
Rear Defogger
Heater
Rear Wheel Anti-Lock Main Relay
Electronic Fuel Injection Main Relay Replacement Bulbs
Back-up .................................... 1156
Center High-Mounted Stop
...................... 921
Dome
............ GM Part No. 9605 1559 or equivalent
Front Parking and Turn Signal
............... 1157 NA
Headlamp (Halogen) .......................... 9004
GM Part
No. 944173 1 or equivalent
GM Part
No. 96052599 or equivalent
Heater
or Air
Conditioning Control ...................
Indicator and Warning
Brake
........... GM Part No. 9433184 or equivalent
Check Engine
..... GM Part No. 9433184 or equivalent
4WD ........... GM Part No. 9433184 or equivalent
................ GM Part No. 9433184 or equivalent
Safety Belt
....... GM Part No. 9433184 or equivalent
Turn Signal
...... GM Part No. 9433 184 or equivalent
Charging System
. . GM Part No. 9433184
or equivalent
Engine Oil Pressure GM Part
No. 9433184 or equivalent
Headlamp High Beam
Instrument Cluster GM Part
No. 9605 1561 or equivalent
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