
Using a match near a battery can cause battery
gas to explode. People have been hurt doing this,
and some have been blinded. Use-a flashlight if
you need more light.
Be sure the battery has enough water.
You don’t
need to add water to the Delco Freedom@ battery
installed in every new
GM vehicle. But if a battery
has filler caps, be sure the right amount of fluid is
there. If it is low, add water to take care of that
first. If you don’t, explosive gas could be present.
Battery fluid contains acid that can burn
you.
Don’t get it on you. If you accidentally get it in
your eyes or on your skin, flush the place with
water and get medical help immediately.
I 5. Check that the jumper cables don’t have loose or
missing insulatiofi. If they do, you could get a shock.
The vehicles could be damaged, too.
13
Fan or other moving engine parts can injure you
badly. Keep your hands away from moving parts
once the engines are running.
ProCarManuals.com

6. Positive (+) goes to positive (+) and negative (-)
goes to negative (-) or a metal engine part. Don’t
connect positive (+) to negative (-) or you’ll get a
short that would damage the battery and maybe other
parts,
too. Connect the red positive (+) cable to the
positive
(+) terminal of the vehicle with the dead
battery. Use a remote positive
(+) terminal if the
vehicle has one.
7. Don’t let the other end
touch metal. Connect
it
to the positive (+)
terminal of the good
battery. Use a remote
8.
positive (+> terminal if
the vehicle has one.
Now connect the black
negative (-> cable to
the good battery’s
negative
(-) terminal.
Don’t let the
other end
touch anything until the
next step.
5-5 ProCarManuals.com

9. The other end of the negative (-) cable doesn’t go to the
dead battery.
It goes to a heavy unpainted metal part on
the engine of the vehicle with the dead battery. Attach
the
cable at least 18 inches (45 cm) away from the
dead battery, but not near engine parts that move.
The electrical connection is just as good there, but the
chance
of sparks getting back to the battery is much less.
10. Now start the vehicle with the good battery and run
11. Try to start the vehicle with the dead battery. If it won’t
the engine for a while.
start after a few tries, it probably needs service.
12. Remove the cables in reverse order to prevent
electrical shorting. Take care that they don’t touch
each other or any other metal.
A. Heavy Metal Engine Part
€3. Good Battery
C. Dead Battery
5-6
ProCarManuals.com

When you open the hood, you’ll see the following:
c
A. Windshield Washer Reservoir
B. Engine Coolant Reservoir
C. Main Fuse Box
D. Battery
E. Engine Oil Dipstick
E Automatic Transmission Dipstick (if equipped)
G. Oil Fill Cap
H. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
I. Brake Fluid Reservoir
J. Air Cleaner
6-8
ProCarManuals.com

Brake Adjustment
Every time you make a brake stop, your disc brakes
adjust for wear.
Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a modern vehicle is complex.
Its many parts have to be
of top quality and work well
together
if the vehicle is to have really good braking.
Vehicles we design and test have top-quality
GM brake
parts in them, as your Geo does when it
is new. When
you replace parts
of your braking system -- for example,
when your brake
linings wear down and you have to have
new ones put in
-- be sure you get new genuine GM
replacement parts. If you don’t, your brakes may no
longer work properly. For example,
if someone puts in
brake linings that are wrong for your vehicle, the balance
between your front and rear brakes can change
-- for the
worse. The braking performance you’ve come to expect
can change
in many other ways if someone puts in the
wrong replacement brake parts.
Battery
Every new Geo has a Delco Freedom@ battery. You
never have to add water to one of these. Men it’s time
for a new battery, we recommend a Delco Freedom
battery. Get one that has the replacement number
shown
on the original battery’s label.
Vehicle Storage
Tf you’re not going to drive your vehicle for 25 days or
more, take
off the black, negative (-) cable from the battery.
This will help keep your battery from running down.
CAUTION:
Batteries have acid that can burn you and gas that
can explode. You can be badly hurt if you aren’t
careful. See “Jump Starting”
in the Index for tips
on working around
a battery without getting hurt.
Contact your dealer to learn how to prepare your vehicle
for longer storage periods.
Also,
for your audio system, see “Theft-Deterrent
Feature”
in the Index.
ProCarManuals.com

Capacities and Specifications
Engine
Type ....................... . . L4
Compression Ratio ........ . . 9.5:l
Firing Order .......................... 1-3-4-2
Horsepower
.............................. 95
Fuel Delivery .................... Fuel Injection
Piston Displacement
............... 97 CID (I .6L)
Valve Arrangement ............ ~n-~ead T? Type
AC Belt Tension ....... Deflect Belt 0.24-0.3 inch
(6-9 mm) @ 22 lbs. (10 kg) Pressure
Fan Belt Tension
Inspection
........... Deflect Belt 0.24-0.32 inch
Replacement
.......... Deflect Belt 0.20-0.28 inch
(4-8 mm)'@ 22 lbs. (10 kg) Pressure
(5-7 mm) @ 22 lbs. (10 kg) Pressure
Specification
........... , . 180°F (82°C)
Thermostat Temperature,
Replacement Parts
Air Cleaner Filter ................. 13780-58B20
GM Part No. 96068629 or equivalent
Engine Oil Filter
.......... GM Part No. 25014441
GM Part No. 96058022 or equivalent
PCV Valve .... GM Part No. 96058079 or equivalent
Radiator Pressure Cap
............ 13 psi (90 kPa)
0.028-0.032 inch gap
(0.7 to 9.8 mm)
Battery ............................. 26R-50s
Fuel Filter
..................... AC Type GF571
Spark Plug ................... AC Type R43XLS
ProCarManuals.com

Gem Section 9 Index
Air ~ag ...................................... I -24
Adding Equipment
............................ 1-30
How Does it Restrain
........................ 1-28
How it Works
.............................. 1-26
Location
.................................... l-26
Readiness Light ......................... 1-25, 2-61
Servicing
................................... 1-2 9
What Makes it Inflate
.......................... 1-27
What Will
You See After it Inflates ............... 1-28
AirCleaner
.................................... 6-13
Airconditioning
................................ 3-2
Air Conditioning Refrigerants ..................... 6-64
Alignment and Balance, Tire
...................... 6-46
Aluminum Wheels, Cleaning
...................... 6-54
Antenna
...................................... 3-19
Antifreeze
............................. 6-24
Anti-Lock
When Should it Inflate ......................... 1-27
Brake System Active Light ................. 2-64, 4-8
Brake System Warning Light
................ 2-63, 4-6
Brakes ...................................... 4- 6
Appearance Care ................................ 6-48 Appearance Care Materials
....................... 6-56
Arbitration Program .............................. 8-7
Audio Systems
.................................. 3-6
Overdrive
............................... 2-13
Overdrive
Off Switch .......................... 2-13
Shifting
..................................... 2-10
TEUIS~~SS~O~ ............................ 2-8.2-10
Transmission Check ........................... 7-48
Transmission Fluid
............................ 6-15
Transmission Operation
........................ 2-10
Transmission Park Mechanism Check
............. 7-50
Axle, Front
.................................... 6-23
Axle, Rear
. . ............................. 6-21
Ashtrays
...................................... 2-40
Automatic
Starting Your Engine
........................... 2-8
Battery
................. .: ................... 6-33
Jump Starting ................................. 5-2
Warnings
.................................... 5-2
BBB Auto Line ................................. 8-7
Better Business Bureau Mediation ................... 8-7
9-1
ProCarManuals.com

Instrument Panel ............................. 6-51
Outside of Your Geo .......................... 6-52
Special Problems
............................. 6-50
Stains
..................... ............. 6-50
Tires
..................................... 6-54
Vinyl
....................................... 6-50
Wheels
..................................... 6-54
Windshield and Wiper Blades
................... 6-51
Climate Control System
............................ 3-1
Clock, Setting the
................................ 3-6
Clutch Adjustment
...................... ... 6-21
Coinholder
.................................. 2-40
Comfort Controls
....................... .... 3-1
Compact Disc Care
........................... 3-19
Compact Disc Player
............................ 3-1 1
Control
of a Vehicle ................ ............. 4-5
Convertible Top ................................ 2-42
Convex Outside Mirror
.......................... 2-38
Coolant
....................................... 6-24
Levelcheck ................................. 5-15
RecoveryTank
............................... 5-16
Radiator
.................................... 5-19
Temperature Gage
............................ 2-64
Cooling System
................................ 5 - 14
Courtesy Transportation ........................... 8-6 Cruise
Control
.................. .... 2-32
Cruise Light
................................. 2-33
Cupholders
.................................... 2-40
Customer Assistance for Text Telephone Users
......... 8-3
Customer Assistance Information
................... 8-1
Customer Satisfaction Procedure
... .............. 8-1
Damage. Finish
...... ...... 6-55
Damage. Sheet Metal ..... ..... ...... 6-54
Daytime Running Lamps
......................... 2-35
Daytime Running Lamps Indicator Light
............ 2-69
Dead Battery
................................... 5-2
Defects. Reporting Safety
... ............ 8-8
Defensive Driving ....... ............ 4-1
Defogger. Rear Window
....... .......... 3-5
Defogging
................................... 3-4
Defrosting ..................................... 3-4
Dimensions. Vehicle ............................ 6-64
Dome Lamps
.................................. 2-36
Door
Locks ..... .................... 2-3
Storage
..................................... 2-39
Downshifting ............................. 2- 15, 2- 16
Drive Position. Automatic Transmission
............. 2-12
Driver Position
................................. 1-18
ProCarManuals.com