What to Use
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
W of lubricant to use. See “Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants”
in the Index.
Engine Coolant
The following explains your cooling system and how
to add coolant when
it is low. If you have a problem
with engine overheating, see “Engine Overheating” in
the Index.
A 50/50 mixture of water and the proper coolant for
your Geo will:
Give freezing protection down to -33 “F (-36°C).
0 Give boiling protection up to 258°F (125°C).
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine temperature,
Let the warning lights and gages work as
they should.
What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half clean water (preferably
distilled) and one-half antifreeze that meets
GM
Specification 1825-M, which won’t damage aluminum
parts. You can also use a recycled coolant conforming
to
GM Specification 1825-M with a complete coolant flush
and refill. If you use this mixture, you don’t need to add
anything else.
/i CAUTTON:
Adding only plain water to your cooling system
can be dangerous. Plain water, or some other
liquid like alcohol, can boil before the proper
coolant mix
will. Your vehicle’s coolant warning
system is set for the proper coolant
mix. With
plain water
or the wrong mix, your engine could
get too hot
but you wouldn’t get the overheat
warning. Your engine could catch
fire and you or
others could be burned. Use a 50/50 mix of clean
water and the proper antifreeze.
6-24
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Brake Wear
Your Geo has front disc brakes and rear drum brakes.
Disc brake pads have built-in wear indicators that make a
high-pitched warning sound when the brake pads are
wor~ and new pads are needed.
The sound may come and
go or be heard all the time your vehicle is moving (except
when you are pushing
on the brake pedal firmly).
The brake wear warning sound means that sooner
or later your brakes won’t work
well. That could
lead
to an accident. When you hear the brake
wear warning
sound, have your vehicle serviced.
I NOTICE: I
Continuing to drive with worn-out brake pads
could result
in costly brake repair.
Some driving conditions or climates may cause a brake
squeal when the brakes are first applied or lightly applied.
This does not mean something is wrong with
your brakes,
Free movement of brake calipers and properly torqued
wheel nuts are necessary to help prevent brake pulsation.
When tires are rotated, inspect brake calipers for
movement, brake pads for wear, and evenly torque wheel
nuts
in the proper sequence to GM specifications.
Your rear drum brakes don’t have wear indicators, but
if
you ever hear a rear brake rubbing noise, have the rear
brake
linings inspected. Also, the rear brake drums
should be removed and inspected each time the tires are
removed for rotation or changing. When you have the
front brakes replaced, have the rear brakes inspected,
too.
Brake linings should always be replaced as complete
axle sets.
Brake Pedal Travel
See your dealer if the brake pedal does not return to
normal height,
or if there is a rapid increase in pedal
travel. This could
be a sign of brake trouble.
6-32
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While the tires available on General Motors passenger
cars and light trucks
may vary with respect to these
grades, they must also conform to Federal safety
requirements and additional General Motors Tire
Performance Criteria
(TPC) standards.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on
the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified government test course. For
example, a tire graded
150 would wear one and a half
(1 1/2) times as well on the government course as a tire
graded 100. The relative performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of their use, however, and
may depart significantly from the nom due to variations
in driving habits, service practices
and differences in
road characteristics and climate.
Traction -- A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are A, B, and
C, and they represent the tire’s ability to stop on wet
pavement as measured under controlled conditions on
specified government test surfaces of asphalt and concrete.
A tire marked C may have poor traction performance. Warning:
The traction grade assigned to this tire
is based
on braking (straightahead) traction tests and does not
include cornering (turning) traction,
Temperature -- A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C,
representing the tire’s resistance to the generation of
heat and its ability to dissipate heat when tested under
controlled conditions on, a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel. Sustained high temperature can cause the
material of the tire to degenerate and reduce tire life, and
excessive temperature can lead to sudden tire failure.
The grade
C corresponds to a level of perfol’mance
which all passenger car tires must meet under the
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades
B and
A represent higher levels of performance on the
laboratory test wheel than the minimum required by law.
Warning:
The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly inflated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed, underinflation, or
excessive loading,
either separately or in combination,
can cause heat buildup and possible tire failure.
6-45
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Fuse Usage
5
l... .............................. Empty
2................................... Empty
3 ............ Dome Lamp, Sidemarker Lamps,
Parking Lamps, License Plate Lamp, Instrument Panel Illumination
4 ........................... Stoplamps, Horn
5 ............................. Hazard Lamps
6..... ................. Door Lock (Option)
7 ............................. Lighter, Radio
8 ........................... Ignition System,
Warning and Indicator Lights,
Gages, Four-wheel Drive System (Option)
9 ........... Turn Signal Flasher, Back-up Lamps
10 .....
11 ...
...................... Wipermasher
.........
.. ..I .... Rear Defogger
12 ................................... Heater
13
................................. Empty
14 ................................... Empty
Please note, fuses for the air bags are located next to the
instrument
panel fuse block.
6-59
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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
ProCarManuals.com
Brake Adjustment
.................................. 6-33
Fluid
....................................... 6-29
Master Cylinder
.............................. 6-29
Parking
..................................... 2-20
PedalTravel
................................. 6-32
Replacing System Parts
........................ 6-33
System Warning Light
......................... 2-62
Trailer
...................................... 4-51
Transmission Shift Interlock
.................... 2-23
Transmission Shift Interlock Check
............... 7-49
Wear
....................................... 6-32
Brakes.Ant i.Lock ............................... 4-6
Braking ........................................ 4-5
Braking in Emergencies
..... ................ 4-8
Break.In. New Vehicle
....................... 2-6
Brightness Control .............................. 2-36
BTSI
......................................... 2-23
BTSICheck
................................... 7-49
Bulb Replacement
.............................. 6-34
Canadian Roadside Assistance
. . ........ 8-6
Canvas Top And Plastic Window Care
...................... 6-53
Lowering
and Raising ......................... 2-49
Preparing for Storage
.......................... 2-54
Removing and Installing
....................... 2-53 Capacities and Specifications
.................... 6-62
Carbon Monoxide
......................... 2.25, 4.42
Cassette Deck Service
........................... 7-47
Cassette Tape Player
.................. . . 3.8, 3.11
Cassette Tape Player Care
........... ........ 3-18
CD Player Theft-Deterrent Feature
................. 3-15
Certification Label
.............................. 4-46
Certificationmire Label
........................ 4-46
Chains. Safety
.................... ........ 4-51
Chains. Tire ...................... ........ 6-47
Changing a
Flat Tire .............. ........... 5-22
Charging System Light
.......................... 2-61
Checking Your Restraint Systems
.................. 1-46
Chemical Paint Spotting .......................... 6-55
Child Restraints
...................... ...... 1-37
Securing in a Rear Seat Position
......... ... 1-38
Securing in the Right Front Seat Position . . ... 1-40
TopStrap
................................. 1-38
WheretoPut
................................ 1-37
Cigarette Lighter
............................... 2-40
Circuit Breakers and Fuses
....................... 6-58
Cleaner. Air
................................... 6-13
Cleaning Aluminum Wheels
............................ 6-54
Canvas Top and Plastic Window ................. 6-53
Fabric
...................................... 6-49
Glass
....................................... 6-51
InsideofYourGeo ............................ 6-48
9-2
ProCarManuals.com
Ignition Positions ....... ............ 2-4
Inflation, Tire
................................ 6-41
Inside Daymight Rearview Mirror ................. 2-37
Inspections
.................................... 7-51
Exhaust Systems
............................. 7-5 1
Front-Wheel-Drive Axle Boot .................. 7-5 1
Front-Wheel-Drive Axle Seal ................... 7-5 1
Radiator and Heater Hose ...................... 7-51
RearAxle
................................... 7-52
Steering
.................................... 7-51
Suspension
................... ........... 7-51
Throttle Linkage
.............................. 7-52
Instrument Panel
............................... 2-56
Brightness Control
............................ 2-36
Cleaning
.................................... 6-51
Cluster ..................................... 2-58
Fuse Block .................................. 6-58
Interior
Lamps .................... ... 2-36
Brake
System
.... ....................... 7-52
Jack. Tire
....
Jump Starting . .
.................... 5-23
................... 5-2
Key Lock Cylinders Service ..................... 7-48 .
Keys .......................................... 2-1
Labels
Certification
................................. 4-46
Certification/Tire
............................. 4-46
Service Parts Identification ..................... 6-57
8 Tire-Loading Information ...................... 4-46
Vehicle Identification Number ................... 6-57
Lamps
...................................... 2-35
Dome ................. ........... 2-36
Interior
............ ......... 2-36
On Reminder ......... , ... ....... 2-29
Lamps Control
........................ . . 2-29
Leaving
Your Vehicle ............................. 2-4
Leaving Your Vehicle with the Engine Running
....... 2-22
Lighter
....................................... 2-40
Lights
Air Bag Readiness
................... 1-25.2.6. 2-61
Anti-Lock
Brake System Active ............. 2-64. 4-8
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning
....... . . 2.63, 4.6
Brake System Warning
........... .... 2-62
Charging System
........................... 2-61
Cruise ...................................... 2-33
Daytime Running Lamps Indicator ............... 2-69
Oil Pressure ................................. 2-67
Overdrive0
fi ................................ 2-69
Rear Window Defogger
......................... 3-5
9-6
ProCarManuals.com
Larger CMdren .............................. 1-43
Passenger Position ............................ 1-3 1
Questions
and Answers ........................ 1-17
Reminder Light
......................... 1 - 13. 2.60
Replacing After
a Crash ........................ 1-46
Right Front Passenger Position
.................. 1-3 1
Smaller Children and Babies
.................... 1-35
Use During Pregnancy
........... : ............. 1-31
Safety Chains
................................... 4-51
Safety Defects. Reporting
......................... 8-8
'Safety Warnings and Symbols ....................... iv
Scheduled Maintenance Services
.................... 7-3
Seatback. Reclining Front
......................... 1-2
Seats
EasyEntry ................................. 1-4
ManualFront
................................. 1-1
Rear
.................................... 1-5. 1-9
Restraint Systems .............................. 1-1
Seat Controls
................................. 1-1
Securing a Child Restraint
...................... 1-37
Second Gear. Automatic Transmission .............. 2- 12
Second Gear. Manual Transmission
................. 2- 14
. RearSeat Passengers .......................... 1-31
WhyTheyWork
.............................. 1-14 Service
.............................. ... 6-1
Bulletins. Ordering ............................. 8-9
Engine Soon Light
............................ 2-65
Manuals. Ordering
............................. 8-9
Parts Identification Label ....................... 6-57
Publications. Ordering .......................... 8'9
Work. Doing Your
Own ......................... 6-1
Service and Appearance Care
...................... 6-1
Service and Owner Publications .................... 8-9
Service Publications
.............................. 8-9
Servicing Your
Air Bag-Equipped Geo .............. 1-29
SheetMetalDamage
............................ 6-54
Shift Lever ............................... 2-10. 2-14
ShiftSpeeds ................................... 2-15
Shifting Automatic Transmission
..................... 2-10
Into Park (P) ................................. 2-21
Manual Transmission .......................... 2-14
OutofPark .................................. 2-23
Side Window. Removing and Installing the
........... 2-47
SignalingWs
................................ 2-28
Skidding ...................................... 4-13
Sound Equipment. Adding
........................ 3-18
Specifications
and Capacities ...................... 6-62
9-10
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