Page 52 of 354
Starting Your Engine
Automatic transmission:
NOTICE:
If your key seems stuck in LOCK and you can’t
turn
it, be sure it is all the way in. If it is, then
turn the steering wheel left and right while you
turn the key hard. But turn the key only with
your hand. Using
a tool to force it could break
the key or the ignition switch.
If none of this
works, then your vehicle needs service.
Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).
Your engine won’t start in any other position -- that’s a
safety feature.
To restart when you’re already moving,
use NEUTRAL
(N) only,
NOTICE:
Don’t try to shift to PARK (P) if your Geo is
moving. If you do, you could damage the
transmission. Shift to
PARK (P) only when your
vehicle is stopped.
Manual transmission:
The gear selector should be in neutral. Hold the clutch
pedal to the floor and start the engine. Your vehicle
won’t start
if the clutch pedal is not all the way
down
-- that’s a safety feature.
2-9
ProCarManuals.com
Page 57 of 354

LOW (L): This position gives you even more power
(but lower fuel economy) than
SECOND (2). You
can use it on very steep hills, or in deep snow or
mud. If the selector lever is put in LOW, the
transmission won’t shift into low gear until the
vehicle is going slowly enough.
NOTICE:
Don’t shift into LOW (L) at speeds above 40 mph
(65 km/h) with the transfer case in FOUR-WHEEL
LOW (4L), or you can damage your transmission.
NOTICE:
If your rear wheels can’t rotate, don’t try to
drive. This might happen
if you were stuck in
very deep sand or mud or were up against a solid
object.
You could damage your transmission.
Also,
if you stop when going uphill, don’t hold
your vehicle there with only the accelerator
pedal. This could overheat and damage the
transmission. Use your brakes to hold your
vehicle in position on a hill.
Manual Transmission
Five-Speed
This is your shift pattern. Here’s how to operate your
transmission:
FIRST (1): Press the clutch pedal and shift into
FIRST
(1). Then, slowly let up on the clutch pedal as
you press the accelerator pedal.
ProCarManuals.com
Page 58 of 354

You can shift into F'IRST (1) when you're going less
than
20 mph (32 km/h). If you've come to a complete
stop and it's hard to shift into FIRST
(1) put the shift
lever in NEUTRAL
(N) and let up on the clutch. Press
the clutch pedal back down. Then shift into FIRST
(1).
SECOND (2): Press the clutch pedal as you let up on
the accelerator pedal and shift into SECOND
(2). Then.
slowly let up on the clutch pedal as you press the
accelerator pedal.
THIRD, FOURTH, FIFTH (3,4 and 5): Shift into
THIRD
(3), FOURTH (4) and FIFTH (5) the same way
you do for SECOND
(2). Slowly let up on the clutch
pedal as you press the accelerator pedal.
TO STOP: Let up on the accelerator pedal and press the
brake pedal. Just before the vehicle stops, press the
clutch pedal and the brake pedal, and shift to
NEUTRAL (N).
NEUTRAL (N): Use this position when you start or
idle your engine.
REVERSE (R): To back up, press down the clutch
pedal and shift into REVERSE (R). Let up on the clutch
pedal slowly while pressing the accelerator pedal.
You cannot
go from FIFTH (5) into REVERSE (R). If
you
try, you will be locked out. You must first shift into
NEUTRAL
(N), move the lever to the left, back to the
right, and then shift into REVERSE
(R). This is a safetv
feature.
NOTICE:
Shift to REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle is
stopped. Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your
vehicle is moving could damage your
transmission.
Also, use REVERSE (R) along with the parking brake
for parking your vehicle.
ProCarManuals.com
Page 59 of 354
Shift Speeds (Manual Transmission)
This chart shows when to shift to the next higher gear
for best fuel economy.
Acceleration Shift Speed Cruise Shift Speed
1t02 I2to3 I3to4 f4to5 2to3 I 3to4 I 4to5 1 1.6L L4 15 26 35 45
&valve (24) (42) (56) (72) 20 to 26 30 to 35 39 to 45
16-valve (24)
(40) (64) (72)
1.6L L4 15 25
40 45 (32 to 42) (48 to 56) (63 to 72)
If your speed drops below 20 mph (30 km/h), or if the
engine is not running smoothly,
you should downshift to
the next lower gear. You may have to downshift two or
more gears to keep the engine running smoothly or for
good performance.
I NOTICE:
If you skip more than one gear when you
downshift, or if you race the engine when you
downshift,
you can damage the clutch or
transmission.
ProCarManuals.com
Page 61 of 354
Manual
To lock or unlock the hubs, you must park your vehicle
(see “Shifting into
PARK (P)” or “Parking Your
Vehicle” in the Index) and get out.
To lock the hubs,
turn the hub dials
to LOCK.
NOTICE:
Don’t drive in TWO-WHEEL HIGH (2H) with
the manual locking hubs in
LOCK. If you do, you
could damage your front driveshaft parts.
To unlock the hubs, turn the hub dials to FREE.
Automatic
With automatic freewheeling hubs, you don’t have to get
out of the vehicle to lock or unlock the hubs.
To lock the hubs:
1. Stop your vehicle.
2. Shift the transfer case to FOUR-WHEEL HIGH
(4H)
or FOUR-WHEEL LOW (4L).
3. Drive slowly forward and the hubs will lock.
To unlock the hubs:
1. Stop your vehicle.
2. Drive seven feet (two meters) in the direction
opposite to the direction you were driving before you
stopped.
transmission, and shift the transfer case to
TWO-WHEEL HIGH (2H). The hubs will unlock.
3. Then, press the clutch if you have a manual
ProCarManuals.com
Page 145 of 354

Here are some things you must not do if you stall, or are
about
to stall, when going up a hill.
Never attempt to prevent a stall by shifting into
NEUTRAL (N) (or depressing the clutch, if you
have a manual transmission) to “rev-up” the engine
and regain forward momentum. This won’t work.
Your vehicle will roll backwards very quickly and
you could go
out of control.
Instead, apply the regular brake to stop the vehicle. Then
apply the parking brake. Shift into reverse, release the
parking brake, and slowly back straight down.
Never attempt to turn around if you are about to stall
when
going up a hill. If the hill is steep enough to
stall your vehicle, it’s steep enough to cause you to
roll over if you turn around. If you can’t make it up
the hill, you must back straight down the
hill.
Suppose, after stalling, I try to back down the hill
and decide I just can’t do it. What should I do?
A: Set the parking brake, put your transmission in
PARK (P) (or the manual transmission in first
gear), and turn off the engine. Leave the vehicle
and go get some help. Exit on the uphill side and
stay clear
of the path the vehicle would take if it
rolled downhill. Do not shift the transfer case to
NEUTRAL (N) when you leave the vehicle. Leave .. it in some gear.
ProCarManuals.com
Page 147 of 354

&: Are there some things I should not do when
A: Yes! These are important because if you ignore
driving down a bill?
0
them you could lose control and have a serious
accident.
When dr.iving downhill, avoid
turns that take you
across the incline of the hill. A hill that’s not too
steep to drive down may be too steep to drive across.
You could roll over if you don’t drive straight down.
Never go downhill with
the transmission in
NEUTRAL, (N), or with the clutch pedal depressed
in a manual shift. This is called “free-wheeling.‘‘
Your brakes
wjll have to do all the work and c&ld
overheat and fade.
Avoid braking
so hard that you lock the front wheels
when going downhill.
Tf your front wheels are
locked,
you can’t steer your vehicle. If your wheels
lock up during downhill braking, you may feel the
vehicle starting
to slide sideways. To regain your
direction, just ease off the
brakes and steer to keep
the front
of the vehicle pointing straight downhill.
@ Am I likely to stall when going downhill?
A: It’s much more likely to happen going uphill. But if
it happens going downhill, here’s what to do.
Stop your vehicle by applying the regular brakes.
Apply the parking brake.
Shift to PARK (P) (or to NEUTRAL (N) with the
manual transmission) and, while still braking, restart
the engine.
Shift back to a low gear, release the parking brake,
and drive straight down.
If the engine won’t start, get out and get help.
ProCarManuals.com
Page 166 of 354

Towing Your Geo from the Front
I NOTICE:
If your vehicle has automatic freewheeling hubs
or two-wheel drive, do not tow it on all four
wheels. If you do, your transmission could be
damaged.
If you have a four-wheel-drive vehicle with manual
freewheeling hubs, it can be towed from the front with
all four wheels on the ground. Follow these steps:
1. Set the parking brake.
2. Turn the ignition key to ACC to unlock the steering
wheel.
3. Shift your automatic transmission into PARK (P), or
your manual transmission into SECOND
(2).
4. Shift the transfer case to NEUTRAL (N).
5. Set the hubs to FREE. See “Four-wheel Drive” in
the Index.
6. Release the parking brake.
Stop towing every
200 miles (300 km) and start
the engine. Leave the transfer
case shift lever in
NEUTRAL (N). Shift your automatic transmission
to
DRIVE (D); leave a manual transmission in
SECOND
(2) with the clutch engaged. Run the engine
at medium speed for
one minute to circulate the oil in
the transfer case. Turn the ignition key to ACC. Now,
you can continue towing your Geo.
ProCarManuals.com