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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.
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Page 246 of 387
Before closing the hood, be sure all the filler
caps are on.
Then lift the hood to relieve pressure on the hood prop.
Remove the hood prop from the slot in the hood and
return the prop
to its retainer. Then let the hood down
and close
it firmly.
Engine Oil
If the engine oil
pressure light on the
instrument panel comes
on, it means
you need
to check
your engine oil level
right away.
For more information,
see “Engine Oil Pressure Light”
in the Index. You should check your engine oil level
regularly; this is an added reminder. It’s a good
idea
to check your engine oil every time you
get fuel.
In order to get an accurate reading, the oil must
be warm and the vehicle must be on level ground.
Turn off the engine and
give the oil a few minutes
drain back into the oil
pan. If you don’t, the oil
dipstick might not show
the actual level.
to
6-9
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Page 295 of 387

Your vehicle has an air bag system. Before attempting to
add anything electrical to your
Geo, see “Servicing Your
Air Bag-Equipped Geo” in the Index.
Fuses and Circuit Breakers
The wiring circuits in your vehicle are protected from
short circuits
by fuses, circuit breakers and thermal links
in the wiring itself. This greatly reduces the chance of
fires caused by electrical problems.
Look at the silver-colored band inside the fuse. If the
band is broken or melted, replace the fuse. Be sure you
replace a bad fuse with a new one of the correct size.
If you ever have a problem on the road and don’t have a
spare fuse,
you can borrow one. Just pick some feature
of your vehicle that you can get along without -- like the
radio or cigarette lighter
-- and use its fuse, if it is the
size you need. Replace it as soon as you can.
Before replacing
a fuse, turn every vehicle electrical
switch
off.
There are two fuse blocks in your vehicle: the
instrument panel fuse block and the engine compartment
fuse block.
Instrument Panel Fuse Block
This fuse box is under the left side of the instrument
panel.
The fuses here protect each separate circuit
including headlamps.
If you have electrical failure,
check here first.
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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
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Odometer .................................... 2-59
Odometer. Trip
................................. 2-59
Off-Road Driving
.............................. 4- 14
Off-Road Recovery
............................. 4- 11
Oil. Engine
...................................... 6-9
Oil Pressure Light
.............................. 2-67
Overdrive. Automatic Transmission ................ 2- 13
Overdrive
Off Light ............................. 2-69
Overheating Engine ............................. 5- 12
Owner Checks and Services ....................... 7-47
Owner Publications. Ordering
...................... 8-9
..... Paint Spotting. Chemical . . ... 6-55
Park
Automat.ic Transmission
..................... 2-10
Shifting Into ................................. 2-21
Shifting out
of .......... ... ... 2-23
Parking
AtNight
..................................... 2-6
Brake
...................................... 2-20
Brake Mechanism Check ....................... 7-50
Over Things That Bum ............ ..... 2-24
With a Trailer ................................ 4-54
Your Vehicle. Manual Transmission .............. 2-24
Parking Lamp Bulb Replacement .................. 6-36
Passenger Position .............................. 1-3 1 Passing
....................... ... .... 4-11
Power Periodic Maintenance Inspections
................ 7-51
Door Locks .............. .......... . .2-3
Remote Control Mirror ........................ 2-38
Steering
..................................... 4-9
Steering
Fluid ................................ 6-27
Windows ................................... 2-27
Power Mode Selector Switch
...................... 2-13
Pregnancy. Use
of Safety Belts .................... 1-31
Preparing Your Canvas
Top for Storage ............. 2-54
Problems
on the Road ............................ 5-1
Publications. Service and Owner
................ 8-9
Radiator. Coolant .............................. 5-19
Radiator Pressure Cap ........................... 6-26
Radios ........................................ 3-6
Rain. Driving
In ................................ 4-31
Rear
Axle ....................................... 6-21
Combination Lamp Bulb Replacement ............ 6-38
Seat Passengers .............................. 1-31
Sidemarker Lamp Bulb Replacement ............. 6-38
Radio Reception ................................ 3-17
Door Security Locks ........................... 2-4
Towing
..................................... 5-10
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