1997 CHEVROLET TRACKER ignition

Air Bag Readiness Light
There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument
panel, which shows
AIR BAG. The system checks the
air bag’s electrical system for malfunctions. The light
tells you if there is an electrical problem. The system
check includes the air
bag sensors, the air bag modules,
the wiring and the crash sensing and diagnostic module.
For more information on the air bag system, see “Air
Bag” in the Index.
AIR
BAG
This light will come on
when you start your engine,
and it will flash for a few
seconds. Then the light
should go out. This means
the system is ready.
If the air bag readiness light stays on after you start the
engine or comes on when you are driving, your air bag
system may not work properly. Have your vehicle
serviced right away. The air
bag readiness light should flash for a few
seconds when
you turn the ignition key to ON. If the
light doesn’t come on then, have it fixed
so it will be
ready to warn
you if there is a problem.
Charging System Light
4
This light will come on
briefly when you
turn on the
ignition, but the engine is
not running, as a check
to
show you it is working.
Then it should go out when
the engine starts.
If the light stays on or comes on while you are driving,
you may have a problem with the electrical charging
system.
It could indicate that you have a loose generator
drive belt or another electrical problem. Have it checked
right away. Driving while this light
is on could drain
your battery.
If you must drive a short distance with this light on, be
certain to turn off all your accessories, such as the radio
and air conditioner.
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Brake System Warning Light
Your Geo’s hydraulic brake system is divided into two
parts.
If one part isn’t working, the other part can still
work and stop you. For good braking, though, you need
both parts working 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 floor.
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 STmT. If it doesn.’t come on then, have it fixed
so it will be ready to warn you if there’s a problem.
Ih
CA -JTION:
Your brake system may not be 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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Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light
(If Equipped)
ABS
With the anti-lock brake
system, this light will come
on when you start your
engine and it will stay
on for three seconds.
That’s normal.
If the light flashes when you’re driving, you don’t have
anti-lock brakes and there could be a problem with your
regular brakes. 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 floor.
It may take longer to stop.
Have the vehicle towed for service. (See “Towing Your
Vehicle” in the Index.)
A CAUTION:
Your regular brake system may not be working
properly if the anti-lock brake system warning
light is flashing. Driving with the anti-lock
brake system warning light flashing can lead to an accident. After you’ve pulled off the road
and stopped carefully, have the vehicle towed
for service.
If the anti-lock brake system warning light stays on
longer than normal after you’ve started your engine, turn
the ignition off. Or, if the light comes on and stays on
when you’re driving, stop as
soon as possible and turn
the ignition off. Then
start the engine again to reset the
system.
If the light still stays on, or comes on again
while you’re driving, your Geo needs service. If the
light is on but not flashing and the regular brake system
warning light isn’t on,
you still have brakes, but you
don’t have anti-lock brakes.
The anti-lock brake system warning light should come
on briefly when you turn the ignition key to
ON. If the
light doesn’t come
on then, have it fixed so it will be
ready to warn
you if there is a problem.
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Anti-Lock Brake System Active Light
(If Equipped)
ABS
ACTIVE
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
When your anti-lock system
is adjusting brake pressure
to help avoid a braking skid,
the anti-lock brake system
active light will come on.
Slippery road conditions may exist if this light comes
on,
so adjust your driving accordingly. The light will
stay on for a few seconds after the system stops
adjusting brake pressure.
The anti-lock brake system active light also comes on
briefly when you turn the ignition key
to ON. If the light
doesn’t come on then, have it fixed
so it will be there to
tell you when the system
is active. This
gage shows the engine
coolant temperature. If the
gage pointer moves to the
H
(red) side, your engine is
too hot!
It means that your engine coolant has overheated and
you should
stop your vehicle and turn off the engine as
soon as possible.
In “Problems on the Road,” this manual shows what to
do. See “Engine Overheating” in the Index.
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Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Service Engine
Soon Light)
SERVICE
ENGINE
SOON
Your Geo is equipped with a
computer which monitors
operation of the fuel,
ignition and emission
control systems.
This system is called OBD
I1 (On-Board
Diagnostics-Second Generation) and is intended to
assure that emissions are at acceptable levels for
the life
of the vehicle, helping to produce a cleaner
environment. (In Canada, OBD I1
is replaced by
Enhanced Diagnostics.) The SERVICE ENGINE
SOON
light comes on to indicate that there is a problem and
service is required. Malfunctions often will be indicated
by the system before any problem
is apparent. This may
prevent more serious damage to your vehicle. This
system
is also designed to assist your service technician
in correctly diagnosing any malfunction.
NOTICE:
If you keep driving your vehicle with this light
on, after a while, your emission controls may not
work as well, your fuel economy may not be as
good and your engine may not run as smoothly.
This could lead
to costly repairs that may not be
covered by your warranty.
This light should come on, as a check to show you it is
working, when the ignition is on and the engine is not
running.
If the light doesn’t come on, have it repaired.
This light
will also come on during a malfunction in one
of two ways:
Light Flashing -- A misfire condition has been
detected.
A misfire increases vehicle emissions and
may damage the emission control system on your
vehicle. Dealer
or qualified service center diagnosis
and service is required.
0 Light On Steady -- An emission control system
malfunction has been detected on your vehicle.
Dealer or qualified service center diagnosis and
service may be required.
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Have you recently changed brands of fuel?
If
so, be sure to fuel your vehicle with quality fuel (see
“Fuel” in the Index). Poor fuel quality will cause your
engine not to run as efficiently as designed.
You may
notice this as stalling after start-up, stalling when you
put the vehicle into gear, misfiring, hesitation on
acceleration or stumbling on acceleration. (These
conditions may go away once the engine is warmed up.)
This will be detected by the system and cause the light
to turn on.
If you experience one or more of these conditions,
change the fuel brand you use. It will require at least one
full tank of the proper fuel to turn the light off.
If none
of the above steps have made the light turn off,
have your dealer or qualified service center check the
vehicle.
Your dealer has the proper test equipment and
diagnostic tools to
fix any mechanical or electrical
problems that may have developed.
Oil Pressure Light
If you have a problem with
your oil, this light may stay
on after you start your
engine, or come on when
you are driving.
This indicates that there is not enough pressure to keep
your engine properly lubricated and cool. The engine
could be low on
oil, or have some other oil related
problem. Have
it fixed right away.
The
oil light could also come on in three
other situations.
0 When the ignition is on but the engine is not running,
the light will come on as a test to show you it
is
working, but the light will go out when you turn the
engine to START. If it doesn’t come on with the
ignition on, you may have a problem with the fuse or
bulb. Have it fixed right away.
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0 Sometimes when the engine is idling at a stop, the
light may blink on and
off. This is nonnal.
If you make a hard stop, the light may come on for a
moment. This is normal.
I I
A CAUTIPN:
I
Don't keep driving if the oil pressure is low. If
you do, your engine can become so hot that it
catches fie. You or others could be burned.
Check your oil as soon
as possible and have your
vehicle serviced.
NOTICE:
Damage to your engine from neglected oil
problems can be costly and is not covered by
your warranty.
Power Indicator Light (If Equipped)
POWER
This light comes on when
the power mode selector
switch
is turned to
POWER (P) with the
ignition switch in the
ON position.
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Ventilation Tips
Keep the hood and front air inlet free of ice, snow or any
other obstruction (such as leaves). The heater and
defroster will work far better, reducing the chance of
fogging the inside
of your windows.
When you enter a vehicle in cold weather, move the fan
control lever toward the fan symbol for a few moments
before driving off. This helps clear the intake ducts of
snow and moisture, and reduces the chance
of fogging
the inside of your windows.
Keep the air path under the front seats clear of objects.
This helps air to circulate throughout your vehicle.
Defogging and Defrosting
Slide the air intake lever to CIRCULATE and the
airflow lever to DEFROST to direct air to the
windshield vents.
Then slide the temperature control
lever toward the right and the fan lever toward the fan
symbol. When the windshield
is clear, turn down the
fan speed.
Rear Window Defogger
The rear window defogger uses a warming grid
to
remove fog from the
rear window.
Press the switch to turn
on the defogger. An indicator
light will come on below the switch to remind you that
the defogger is on. Press the switch again to turn the
defogger
off. The rear window defogger will also turn
off
if you turn the ignition switch to ACC or LOCK, but
will turn
back on when the ignition is turned back on.
Do not attach anything like a temporary vehicle license
or
a decal across the defogger grid on the rear window.
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