
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the parts to which
it is fastened, can make wheel nuts become loose
after a time. The wheel could come
off and cause
an accident. When you change a wheel, remove
any rust or dirt from places where the wheel
attaches to the vehicle.
In an emergency, you can
use a cloth or a paper towel to do this; but be
sure to use a scraper or wire brush later, if you
need to, to get all the rust or dirt off. (See
“Changing a Flat Tire” in the Index.) When
It’s
’I --ne for N:-- S
L
One way to tell when it’s
time for new tires is to
check the treadwear
indicators, which will
appear when
your tires have
only
1/16 inch (1.6 mm) or
less of tread remaining.
You need a new tire if any of the following statements
are true:
You can see the indicators at three or more places
You can see cord or fabric showing through the
0 The tread or sidewall is cracked, cut or snagged
0 The tire has a bump, bulge or split.
The tire has a puncture, cut or other damage that
around the tire.
tire’s rubber. deep enough to show cord or fabric.
can’t be repaired well because of the
size or location
of the damage.
ProCarManuals.com

Temperature -9 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
performance 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.
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
The wheels on your vehicle were aligned and balanced
carefully at the factory to give you the longest
tire life
and best overall performance. Scheduled
wheel alignment and wheel balancing are not
needed. However, if you notice unusual tire wear or
your vehicle pulling one way or the other, the alignment
may need to be reset. If you notice your vehicle
vibrating when driving on a smooth road, your wheels
may need
to be rebalanced.
Wheel Replacement
Replace any wheel that is bent, cracked, or badly
rusted or corroded. If wheel nuts keep coming loose,
the wheel, wheel bolts and wheel nuts should be
replaced. If the wheel leaks air, replace it (except some
aluminum wheels, which can sometimes be repaired).
See your Geo dealer if any of these conditions exist.
Your dealer will know the kind
of wheel you need.
Each new wheel should have the same load-carrying
capacity, diameter, width, offset and be mounted the same way as the one it replaces.
If you need to replace any of your wheels, wheel
bolts or wheel nuts, replace them only with new
GM
original equipment parts. This way, you will be sure
to have the right wheel, wheel bolts and wheel nuts for
your Geo model.
6-46
ProCarManuals.com

A CAUTION:
Using the wrong replacement wheels, wheel
bolts or wheel nuts on your vehicle can be
dangerous.
It could affect the braking and
handling of your vehicle, make your tires lose
air and make you lose control.
You could have
a collision in which you or others could be
injured. Always use the correct wheel, wheel
bolts and wheel nuts for replacement.
NOTICE:
The wrong wheel can also cause problems with
bearing life, brake cooling, speedometer or
odometer calibration, headlamp aim, bumper
height, vehicle ground clearance and tire or tire
chain clearance to the body and chassis.
See “Changing a Flat Tire” in the Index for
more information.
Used Replacement Wheels
I A CAUTION:
Putting a used wheel on your vehicle is
dangerous.
You can’t know how it’s been used
or how far it’s been driven.
It could fail suddenly
and cause an accident.
If you have to replace a
wheel, use a new GM original equipment 1 wheel.
6-47
ProCarManuals.com

I
IMPORTANT.
KEEP ENGINE OIL
AT THE PROPER
LEVEL AND CHANGE AS
RECOMMENDED
Have you purchased the GM Protection Plan? The Plan
supplements
your new vehicle warranties. See your
Warranty and Owner Assistance booklet, or your
Geo dealer for details.
Introduction
Your Vehicle and the Environment
Proper vehicle maintenance not only helps to keep your
vehicle
in good working condition, but also helps the
environment. All recommended maintenance procedures
are important. Improper vehicle maintenance can even
affect the quality
of the air we breathe. Improper fluid
levels or the wrong tire inflation can increase the level
of emissions from your vehicle. To help protect our
environment, and to keep your vehicle in good
condition, please maintain your vehicle properly.
7-2
ProCarManuals.com

Part B: Owner Checks and Services
Listed below are owner checks and services which
should be performed at the intervals specified
to help
ensure the safety, dependability and emission control
performance of your vehicle.
Be sure any necessary repairs are completed at once.
Whenever any fluids or lubricants are added to your
vehicle, make sure they are the proper ones, as shown
in
Part D.
At Each Fuel Fill
It is important for you or a service station attendant to
pelrform these underhood checks at each fuel fill.
Engine Oil Level Check
Check the engine oil level and add the proper oil if
necessary. See “Engine Oil”
in the Index for
further
details.
Engine Coolant Level Check
Check the engine coolant level and add the proper
coolant mixture if necessary. See “Engine Coolant” in
the Index for further details.
Windshield Washer Fluid Level Check
Check the windshield washer fluid level in the
windshield washer tank and add the proper fluid
if
necessary. See “Windshield Washer Fluid” in the Index
for further details.
Hood Latch Operation Check
Pull the primary hood latch release handle inside the
vehicle. The secondary latch should keep the hood from
opening all the way when the primary latch
is released.
Make sure the hood closes firmly. See
“Hood Release”
in the Index for further details.
At Least Once a Month
Tire Inflation Check
Make sure tires are inflated to the correct pressures. See
”Tires”
in the Index for further details.
Cassette Deck Service
Clean cassette deck. Cleaning should be done every
50 hours of tape play. See “Audio Systems” in the Index
for further details.
7-49
I
ProCarManuals.com

ROADSIDE Courtesy TM Care PROVIDES:
Roadside Basic Care services (as outlined above)
Plus:
FREE Non-Warranty Towing (to the closest dealer
from a legal roadway)
0 FREE Locksmith/Key Service (when keys are lost
on the road
or locked inside)
0 FREE Flat Tire Service (spare installed on the road)
FREE Jump Start (at home or on the road)
FREE Fuel Delivery ($5 of fuel delivered on
the road)
ChevroletIGeo offers Courtesy Transportation
for
customers needing wamanty service. Courtesy
Transportation will be offered in conjunction with
the coverage provided by the Bumper to Bumper
New Vehicle Limited Warranty to eligible purchasers
of 1997 Chevrolet/Geo passenger car and light duty
trucks. (Please see your selling dealer for details.) Note:
Courtesy Care is available to Retail
and Retail Lease
Customers operating 1997 and newer Chevrolet/Geo vehicles for a period
of 3 years/36,000 miles (60 000 km),
whichever occurs first. All Courtesy Care services must
be pre-arranged by Chevrolet/Geo Roadside or dealer
Service Management.
Basic Care and Courtesy Care are not part of or
included in the coverage provided by the New Vehicle
Limited Warranty. ChevroletIGeo reserves the right to
modify or discontinue
Basic Care and Courtesy Care
at any time.
For complete program details, see your Chevrolet/Geo
dealer to obtain a Roadside Assistance Center brochure.
The Roadside Assistance Center uses companies that
will provide you with quality and priority service. When
roadside services are required, our advisors will explain
any payment obligations that may be incurred for
utilizing outside services.
8-6
ProCarManuals.com

Gem Section 9 Index
Adding Equipment to the Outside of Your Vehicle ..... 6-3
AirBag
....................................... 1-25
Adding Equipment
............................ 1-3 1
How Does it Restrain
.......................... 1-29
How it Works
................................ 1-27
Location
.................................... 1-27
Readiness Light
......................... 1-26. 2-63
Servicing ................................... 1-30
What Makes it Inflate
.......................... 1-28
What Will
You See After it Inflates ............... 1-29
When Should it Inflate
......................... 1-28
Aircleaner
.................................... 6-14
Air Conditioning
................................ 3-3
Air Conditioning Refrigerants
..................... 6-64
Alignment and Balance. Tire
...................... 6-46
Aluminum Wheels. Cleaning
...................... 6-55
Antenna
...................................... 3-19
Antifreeze
..................................... 6-23
Anti-Lock Brake System Active Light
................. 2-66. 4-9
Brake System Warning Light
................ 2-65. 4-7
Brakes
...................................... 4-7
Appearance Care
............................... 6-48
Appearance Care Materials
....................... 6-57 Arbitration
Program
.............................. 8-9
Ashtrays ...................................... 2-43
Audio Systems
.................................. 3-6
Automatic
Overdrive
................................... 2-14
Overdrive Off Switch
.......................... 2-14
Automatic Transmission
.......................... 2-9
Check
...................................... 7-50
Fluid
....................................... 6-16
Operation
................................... 2-10
Park Mechanism Check ........................ 7-52
Shifting
..................................... 2-10
Starting Your Engine
........................... 2-9
Axle. Front .................................... 6-23
Axle. Rear
.................................... 6-21
Battery
...................................... 6-33
Jump Starting
................................. 5-3
Warnings
................................ 5-3, 5-5
BBB Auto Line
................................. 8-9
Better Business Bureau Mediation ................... 8-9
Blizzard ...................................... 4-42
9-1
ProCarManuals.com

Brake Adjustment
.................................. 6-32
Fluid
....................................... 6-29
Master Cylinder
.............................. 6-29
Parking
..................................... 2-21
PedalTravel
................................. 6-32
Replacing System
Parts ........................ 6-32
System Warning Light
......................... 2-64
Trailer
...................................... 4-53
Transmission Shift Interlock
.................... 2-25
Transmission Shift Interlock Check
............... 7-5 1
Wear
....................................... 6-31
Brakes, Anti-Lock
............................... 4-7
Braking
........................................ 4-6
Braking
in Emergencies ........................... 4-9
Break-In, New Vehicle
........................... 2-7
Brightness Control
.............................. 2-38
BTSI
......................................... 2-25
BTSICheck
................................... 7-51
Bulb Replacement
.............................. 6-33
Canadian Roadside Assistance
.................... 8-7
Canvas Top Lowering and Raising
......................... 2-50
Preparing for Storage
.......................... 2-56
Removing and Installing
....................... 2-55
Capacities and Specifications
...................... 6-62
Carbon Monoxide
..................... 2-5,2-27, 4-43
Cassette Deck Service
........................... 7-49
Cassette Tape Player
........................ 3-8, 3-11
Cassette Tape Player Care
........................ 3- 1 8
CD Player Theft-Deterrent Feature ................. 3 - 15 Center
High-Mounted Stoplamp Bulb Replacement
.... 6-39
Certification Label
.............................. 4-47
Chains. Safety
................................. 4-53
Chains. Tire
................................... 6-48
Changing a Flat Tire
............................. 5-23
Charging System Light
.......................... 2-63
Checking Your Restraint Systems
.................. 1-45
Chemical Paint Spotting
.......................... 6-56
Child Restraints
........................... 1-35. 1-36
Securing in a Rear Seat Position
................. 1-37
Securing in the Right Front Seat Position
.......... 1-39
TopStrap
................................... 1-37
WheretoPut
................................ 1-36
Circuit Breakers and Fuses
....................... 6-59
Cleaner. Air
................................... 6-14
Cleaning Aluminum Wheels
............................ 6-55
Canvas Top and Plastic Window
................. 6-54
Exterior LampsLenses
........................ 6-53
Fabric
...................................... 6-49
Glass Surfaces
............................... 6-52
Inside of Your Ceo
............................ 6-49
Instrument Panel
............................. 6-51
Outside of Your Geo .......................... 6-53
Stains
...................................... 6-50
Tires
....................................... 6-55
Vinyl
....................................... 6-51
Wheels
..................................... 6-55
Cigarette Lighter
............................... 2-43
Special Problems
............................. 6-50
Windshield and Wiper Blades
................... 6-52
Climate Control System
........................... 3-2
9-2
ProCarManuals.com