1997 CHEVROLET TRACKER engine coolant

GE4iB Section 6 Service and Appearance Care
Here you will find information about the care of your Geo. This section begins with service and fuel information, and
then it shows how to check important fluid and lubricant levels. There is also technical information about your
vehicle, and a part devoted to its appearance care.
6-2
6-3
6-7
6-10
6- 14
6- 16
6-19
6-2 1
6-2
1
6-22
6-23
6-26
6-27
6-29
6-33
Service
Fuel
Checking Things Under the
Hood
Engine Oil
Air Cleaner
Automatic Transmission Fluid
Manual Transmission Fluid
Clutch Adjustment
Rear Axle
Four-wheel
Drive
Engine Coolant
Radiator Pressure Cap
Windshield Washer Fluid
Brakes
Battery
6-33
6-3
3
6-40
6-48
6-49
6-53
6-54
6-56
6-56
6-57
6-58
6-58
6-62
6-64
Bulb Replacement
Halogen Bulbs
Tires
'
Appearance Care
Cleaning the Inside of Your Geo
Cleaning the Outside of Your Geo
Special Care for Canvas Top and Plastic
Windows
Underbody Maintenance
Chemical Paint Spotting
Appearance Care Materials Chart
Vehicle Identification Number
(VIN)
Electrical System
Replacement Bulbs
Air Conditioning Refrigerants
6-1
ProCarManuals.com

Checking Things Under the Hood
An electric fan under the hood can start up and
injure you even when the engine is not running.
Keep hands, clothing and tools away from any
underhood electric fan. Don’t reach through the
grille to release the underhood lever.
Things that burn can get on hot engine parts and
start a fire. These include liquids like gasoline,
oil, coolant, brake fluid, windshield washer and
other fluids, and plastic or rubber. You or others
could be burned. Be careful not to drop or spill
things that
will burn onto a hot engine.
TO open the hood, first pull the release handle inside the
glove box.
6-7
ProCarManuals.com

J
When you open the hood, you’ll see the following:
A. Windshield Washer Reservoir
B. Engine Coolant Reservoir
C. Main Fuse Box
D. Battery
E. Engine Oil Dipstick
F. Automatic Transmission
Dipstick
(If Equipped)
G. Oil Fill Cap
H. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
I. Brake Fluid Reservoir
J. Air Cleaner
6-9
ProCarManuals.com

Front Axle
When to Check and Change Lubricant
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine how
often to check the lubricant and when to change it. See
“Periodic Maintenance Inspections” and “Scheduled
Maintenance Services” in the Index.
How to Check Lubricant
If the differential is at operating temperature (warm),
add enough lubricant to raise the level to the bottom of
the filler plug
hole.
If the differential is cold, add enough lubricant to raise
the level to 1/2 inch
(I 2 mm) below the filler plug hole.
What to Use
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind
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.
If the level is below the bottom of the filler plug hole,
you’ll need to add some lubricant.
A 50/50 mixture of water and the proper coolant will:
0 Give freezing protection down to -33°F (-36°C).
0 Give boiling protection up to 258°F (125°C).
0 Protect against rust and corrosion.
0 Help keep the proper engine temperature.
Let the warning lights and gages work as
they should.
6-23
I
ProCarManuals.com

What to Use
Use a mixture of one-half clean water (preferably
distilled) and one-half coolant 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.
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 coolant.
I
NOTICE:
If you use an improper coolant mix, your engine
could overheat and be badly damaged. The
repair cost wouldn’t be covered by your
warranty.
Too much water in the mix can freeze
and crack the engine, radiator, heater core and
other parts.
If you have to add coolant more than four times a year,
have your dealer check your cooling system.
I NOTICE:
If you use the proper coolant, you don’t have to
add extra inhibitors or additives which claim to
improve the system. These can be harmful.
6-24
ProCarManuals.com

Checking Coolant
When your engine is cold, the coolant level should be at
LOW,
or a little higher. When your engine is warm, the
level should be
up to FULL, or a little higher.
Adding Coolant
If you need more coolant, add the proper coolant
mixture
at the coolant recovery tank, but be careful not
to spill it.
A CAUTION:
Turning the radiator pressure cap when the
engine and radiator are hot can allow steam and
scalding liquids to blow out and burn
you badly.
With the coolant recovery tank, you will almost
never have to add coolant at the radiator. Never
turn the radiator pressure cap
-- even a little --
when the engine and radiator are hot.
You can be burned
if you spill coolant on hot
engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol,
and it will burn if the engine parts are hot
enough. Don’t spill coolant on a hot engine.
6-25
I
ProCarManuals.com

Radiator Pressure Cap Power Steering Fluid
I NOTICE:
Your radiator cap is a 13 psi (90 kPa)
pressure-type cap and must be tightly installed to
prevent coolant loss and possible engine damage
from overheating. Be sure the arrows on the cap
line up with the overflow tube
on the radiator
filler neck.
When you replace your radiator pressure cap, an AC@
cap is recommended. 'I
Thermostat
Engine coolant temperature is controlled by a thermostat
in the engine coolant system. The thermostat stops the
flow of coolant through the radiator until the coolant
reaches a preset temperature.
When
you replace your thermostat, an AC@ thermostat
is recommended.
When to Check Power Steering Fluid
It is not necessary to regularly check power steering
fluid
unless you suspect there is a leak in the system or
you hear an unusual noise.
A fluid loss in this system
could indicate
a problem. Have the system inspected
and repaired.
6-26
ProCarManuals.com

I Short TkiplCity Maintenance Schedule I
27,000 Miles (45 000 km)
0 Change engine oil and filter (or every
3 months, whichever occurs first).
An Emission Control Sewice.
0 Inspect the locking front hubs (if equipped)
for correct operation (or every
3 months,
whichever occurs first). Repair or replace
if necessary.
30,000 Miles (50 000 km)
0 Change engine oil and filter (or every
3 months, whichever occurs first).
An Emission. Control Service.
0 Inspect engine accessory drive belts (or
every
24 months, whichever occurs first).
An Emission Control Service.
0 Drain, flush and refill cooling system (or
every
30 months, whichever occurs first).
See “Engine Coolant” in the Index for what
to use. Inspect hoses. Clean radiator, condenser, pressure cap and neck. Pressure
test the cooling system and pressure cap.
An Emission Control Service. (See footnote?.)
0 Clean and repack the front wheel bearings
(or at each brake relining, whichever
occurs first).
0 Replace spark plugs. An Emission
Control Service.
7-14
ProCarManuals.com