Page 7 of 387
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
ProCarManuals.com
Page 20 of 387

Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone
This part of the manual tells you how to use safety belts
properly. It also tells you some things you should not do
with safety belts.
And it explains the air bag system.
r
Don’t let anyone ride where he or she can’t wear
a safety belt properly. If you are in a crash and
you’re not wearing
a safety belt, your injuries
can be much worse. You can hit things inside the
vehicle or be ejected from
it. You can be seriously
injured or killed. In the same crash, you might
not
be if you are buckled up. Always fasten your
safety belt, and check that your passengers’ belts
are fastened properly too.
Your vehicle has a light
that comes
on as a reminder
to buckle up. (See “Safety
Belt Reminder Light” in
the Index.)
In most states and Canadian provinces, the law says to
wear safety belts. Here’s why:
They work.
You never know if you’ll be in a crash. If you do have a
crash, you don’t know if it will be a bad one.
A few crashes are mild, and some crashes can be so
serious that even buckled up a person wouldn’t survive.
But most crashes are in between.
In many of them,
people who buckle up
can survive and sometimes walk
away. Without belts they could have been badly hurt
or killed.
After more than
25 years of safety belts in vehicles,
the facts are clear. In most crashes buckling up does
matter
... a lot!
1-13
ProCarManuals.com
Page 25 of 387

How to Wear Safety Belts Properly
Adults
This part is only for people of adult size.
Be
aware that there are special things to know about
safety belts and children.
And there are different rules for
smaller chldren
and babies. If a child will be riding in
your Geo, see the part of this manual called “Children.”
Follow those rules
for everyone’s protection.
First, you’ll want to know
which restraint systems your
vehicle has.
We’ll start with the driver position.
Driver Position
This part describes the driver’s restraint system.
Lap-Shoulder Belt
The driver has a lap-shoulder belt. Here’s how to wear
it properly.
1. Close and lock the door.
2. Adjust the seat (to see how, see “Seats” in the Index)
so you can sit up straight.
3. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you.
Don’t let it get twisted.
The shoulder belt may lock if
you pull the belt across
you very quickly. If this happens, let the belt go back
slightly
to unlock it. Then pull the belt across you
more slowly.
1-18 ProCarManuals.com
Page 32 of 387

Air bags are designed to work only in moderate to
severe crashes where the front of your vehicle hits
-thing. They aren’t designed to inflate at all in
rollover, rear, side or low-speed frontal crashes.
Everyone in your vehicle, including the driver,
should
wear a safety belt properly -- whether or
not there’s an air bag
for that person.
Air bags inflate with great force, faster than the
blink of an eye.
If you’re too close to an inflating
air bag, it could seriously injure you. Safety belts
help keep you in position for
an air bag inflation
in
a crash. Always wear your safety belt, even
with an
air bag. The driver should sit as far
back as possible while still maintaining control
of the vehicle.
A CAUTION:
An inflating air bag can seriously injure small
children. Always secure children
properly in your
vehicle.
To read how, see the part of this manual
called “Children” and the caution label on the
right front passenger’s safety belt.
I
I
AIR
BAG
- There is an air bag
readiness light on the
instrument
panel, which
show-s AIR BAG.
-
The system checks the air bag’s electrical system for
malfunctions. The light tells you
if there is an electrical
problem. See “Air Bag Readiness Light’’ in the Index
for more information.
1-25
ProCarManuals.com
Page 39 of 387
U
Lap-Shoulder Belt
The rear seats have lap-shoulder belts. Here’s how to
wear one properly.
1. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you.
Don’t let it get twisted.
The shoulder belt may lock
if you pull the belt across
you very quickly. If this happens, let the belt go back
slightly to unlock it. Then pull the belt across you
more slowly.
1-32
ProCarManuals.com
Page 53 of 387

Safety Belt Extender
If the vehicle’s safety belt will fasten around you, you
should use it.
But
if a safety belt isn’t long enough to fasten, your
dealer will order you an extender. It’s free. When you
go
in to order it, take the heaviest coat you will wear, so the
extender will be long enough for you. The extender will
be just for you, and just for the seat in your vehicle that
you choose. Don’t let someone else use it, and use it
only for the seat it is made
to fit. To wear it, just attach it
to the regular safety belt.
Checking Your Restraint Systems
Now and then, make sure the safety belt reminder light
and all your belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors and
anchorages
are working properly. Look for any other
loose or damaged safety belt system parts.
If you see
anything that might keep a safety belt system from
doing its job, have
it repaired.
Torn or frayed safety belts may not protect you in a
crash. They can rip apart under impact forces. If a belt is
torn or frayed, get a new one right away.
Also look for
any opened or broken air bag covers, and
have them repaired or replaced. (The air bag system
does not need regular maintenance.)
Replacing Restraint System Parts
After a Crash
If you’ve had a crash, do you need new belts?
After a very mirior collision, nothing may be
necessary.
But if the belts were stretched, as they would be if worn
during a more severe crash, then
you need new belts.
If belts are cut or damaged, replace them. Collision
damage also may mean you will need to have safety belt
or seat parts repaired or replaced. New parts and repairs
may be necessary even
if the belt wasn’t being used at
the time of the collision.
If an air bag inflates, you’ll need to replace air bag
system parts. See the part
on the air bag system earlier in
this section.
1-46
ProCarManuals.com
Page 61 of 387

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.
2-6
ProCarManuals.com
Page 62 of 387

Ignition Positions
4
With the key in the ignition
switch, you can
turn the
switch to four positions.,
LOCK (A): The only position in which you can remove
the key. This locks your steering wheel, ignition and
automatic transmission.
If you have an automatic transmission, the ignition
switch can’t be turned to LOCK unless the shift lever is
in the
PARK (P) position.
ACC (B): The position that you can operate your
electrical power accessories. It unlocks the steering
wheel and ignition. Use this position if your vehicle
must be pushed or towed.
ON (C): The position in which the switch returns to
after you start your engine and release the switch. The
switch stays in the
ON position when the engine is
running. But even when the engine is not running, you
can use ON to operate your electrical power accessories
and to display some instrument panel warning and
indicator lights.
START (D): The position in which the engine starts.
When the engine starts, release the key. The ignition
switch
will return to ON for normal driving.
When the engine is not running, ACC and
ON allow you
to operate your electrical accessories, such as the radio
and ventilation fan.
A warning chime will sound if you open the driver’s
door when the ignition is in ACC or LOCK and the key
is in the ignition.
2-7
ProCarManuals.com