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Vehicle Symbols
These are some of the symbols you may find on your vehicle.
For example,
these symbols
are used on an
original battery:
POSSIBLE A
CAUTION
INJURY
PROTECT EYES BY
SHIELDING
CAUSTIC
ACIbTELi CAUSE
BURNS
AVOID
SPARKS OR
FLAMES
SPARK
OR ,\I/,
COULD FLAME
EXPLODE BATTERY
These symbols are important
for you and
your passengers
whenever your
vehicle
is
driven:
FASTEN
SEAT
BELTS
These symbols
have
to do with
your lights:
SIGNALS e e3
TURN
PARKING
0
LAMPS pq
RUNNING 0
DAYTIME *
LAMPS '**
FOG LAMPS $0
These symbols
are on some
of
your controls:
WINDSHIELD
WIPER
WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER
VENTILATING
&?
FAN
These symbols are used
on
warning and
indicator lights:
ENGINE t
COOLANT - t-
TEMP -
CHARGING BAllERY
SYSTEM
BRAKE
(0)
R
COOLANT
ENGINE OIL
w,
PRESSURE
ANTI-LOCK
(@)
BRAKES
Here are some
other symbols
you may see:
FUSE *
P
LIGHTER
HORN
)tr
SPEAKER
b
FUEL B
vi
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Key in the Ignition
If you leave your vehicle with the keys inside, it’s an
easy target for joy riders or professional thieves -- so
don’t do it.
When you park your Geo and open the driver’s door,
you’ll hear a chime reminding you
to remove your key
from the ignition and take it with
you. Always do this.
Your steering wheel will
be locked, and so will your
ignition. If you have an automatic transmission, taking
your key out also locks your transmission. And
remember
to lock the doors.
Parking at Night
Park in a lighted spat, close all windows and lock your
vehicle. Remember to keep your valuables out of sight.
Put them in a storage area, or take them with you.
New Vehicle 46Break-InS’
I
NOTICE:
Your modern Geo doesn’t need an elaborate
“break-in.” But it will perform better in the long
run if you follow these guidelines:
Keep your speed at 55 mph (88 km/h) or
less for the first 500 miles (804 km).
Don’t drive at any one speed -- fast or
slow
-- for the first 500 miles (804 km).
Don’t make full-throttle starts,
200 miles (322 km) or so. During this time
your new brake linings aren’t
yet broken
in. Hard stops with new linings
can mean
premature wear and earlier replacement.
Follow this breaking-in guideline every
time
you get new brake linings.
See “Towing
a Trailer” in the Index for
more information.
0 Avoid making hard stops for the first
Don’t tow a trailer during break-in.
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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.
Power Mode Selector Switch
A power mode selector
switch is included. When
you need more power for
climbing hills or quicker
acceleration, press the
P (POWER) switch. The
POWER indicator
light on the instrument panel
comes on. For normal driving, press the
N (NORMAL)
switch. The POWER indicator light goes off.
Overdrive Off Switch (Option)
The overdrive off switch is located on the left side of the
shifter. By operating the overdrive
off switch, the
four-speed automatic transmission (three-speed plus
overdrive) can be converted to a three-speed automatic
transmission. While in the three-speed mode, the
transmission will not shift into the overdrive position.
To convert the transmission to the three-speed mode,
push in the overdrive off switch and release
it. The
switch comes out and the
OD OFF indicator light on
the instrument panel comes on.
To return the transmission to the four-speed mode, push
in
the overdrive off switch again. The switch will remain
in and the
O/D OFF indicator light goes off.
Please note that if the transfer lever is in the 4L position,
the four-speed automatic transmission will remain in the
three-speed mode.
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Parking Brake
To set the parking brake, hold the brake pedal down and
pull up
on the parking brake lever. If the ignition is on,
the brake system warning light will come on.
To release the parking brake, hold the brake pedal down.
Pull the parking brake lever up until
you can push in the
release button. Hold the release button in as you move
the lever all the way down.
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Page 90 of 387

Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on hills depends
upon your speed, load and the steepness
of the hills.
When going up steep hills, you may have to step on the
accelerator pedal to maintain your speed. When going
downhill, you may have to brake or shift to a lower gear
to keep your speed down. Of course, applying the brake
takes you out of cruise control. Many drivers find this to
be too much trouble and don't use cruise control on
steep hills.
Getting Out of Cruise Control
There are three ways to turn off cruise control:
Step lightly on the brake pedal, or push the clutch
pedal if you have a manual transmission.
Push in the CANCEL button on the end of the cruise
control lever.
0 Press OFF on the cruise control switch.
Erasing Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition,
your cruise control set speed memory is erased.
Lamps
Daytime Running Lamps
Daytime Running Laps (DRL) can make it easier for
others to see the front of your vehicle during the day.
DRL can be helpful in many different driving
conditions, but they can be especially helpful
in the
short periods after dawn and before sunset.
The DRL system will make your low-beam headlamps
come on at a reduced brightness when:
0 The ignition is on,
0 The headlamp switch is off, and
The parking brake is released.
When you turn on the headlamp switch, your DRL will
go out, and your headlamps will come on.
The other lamps that come on
with your headlamps will
also come on.
When you turn off the headlamp switch, the regular
lamps will go
off, and your low-beam headlamps come
on at the reduced brightness of DRL.
To idle your vehicle with the DRL off, set the parking brake.
The
DRL will stay off until you release the parking brake.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need
it.
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Coinholder and Bin
Your console has a coinholder and a small storage bin.
Cupholder
Two cupholders are on the center console next to the
parking brake lever.
Ashtrays and Lighter
To use the lighter, push the lighter in all the way and let
go. When it’s ready, it will pop back by itself.
NOTICE:
Don’t hold a cigarette lighter in with your hand
while
it is heating. If you do, it won’t be able to
back away from the heating element when it’s
ready. That can make
it overheat, damaging the
lighter and the heating element.
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A. Defroster
B. Rear Defogger (Option)
C. Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
D. Power Mirror Control (Option)
E. Air Vent
E Instrument Panel Brightness Control
G. Hazard Switch
H. Fuse Block
I. Instrument Cluster
J. Ignition Switch
K. Horn
L. Windshield Wipermasher Lever
M. Cruise Control ON/OFF Button (Option)
N. Rear Window Wiper Button (Option)
0. Rear Window Washer Button (Option)
P. Comfort Controls
Q. Cigarette Lighter
R. Shift Lever
S. Parking Brake Lever
T. Coinholder/Bin
U. Audio System
V. Transfer Case Shift Lever
W. Ashtray
X. Glove Box
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Brake System Warning Light
Your Geo’s hydraulic brake system is divided into two
parts.
Xf one part isn’t working, the other part can still
work and stop you. For good braking, though, you need
both parts workmg well.
If the warning light comes on, there could be a brake
problem. Have your brake system inspected right away.
If the light comes on while you are driving, pull off the
road and stop carefully.
You may notice that the pedal is
harder to push. Or, the pedal may go closer to the flow.
It may take longer to stop. If the light is still on, or if the
anti-lock brake system warning light is flashing, have
the vehicle towed for service. (See “Anti-Lock Brake
System Warning Light” and
“Towing Your Vehicle”
in the
Index.)
BRAKE
United States Canada
This light should come on when you turn the ignition
key to
STAFtT. If it doesn’t corne on then, have it fixed
so it will be ready to warn you if there’s a problem.
I
/i CAUTION:
---
Your brake system may not working properly
if the brake system warning light is on. Driving
with the brake system warning light on can lead
to an accident. If the light is still on or if the
anti-lock
brake system warning light is flashing
after you’ve pulled
off the road and stopped
carefully, have the vehicle towed
for service.
When the ignition is on, the brake system warning light
will also come on when you set your parking brake. The
light will stay on if your parking brake doesn’t release
fully. If it stays on after your parking brake is fully
released, it means you have
a brake problem.
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