GeGED The 1997 Geo Tracker Owner’s Manual
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Seats and Restraint Systems
This section tells you how to use your seats and safety belts properly. It also explains the air bag system.
Features and Controls
This section explains how to start and operate your Geo.
Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
This section tells you how to adjust the ventilation and comfort controls and how to operate your audio system.
Your Driving and the Road
Here you’ll find helpful information and tips about the road and how to drive under different conditions.
Problems on the Road
This section tells what to do if you have a problem while driving, such as a flat tire or overheated engine., etc.
Service and Appearance Care
Here the manual tells you how to keep your Geo running properly and looking good.
Maintenance Schedule
This section tells you when to perform vehicle maintenance and what fluids and lubricants to use.
Customer Assistance Information
This section tells you how to contact ChevroletlGeo for assistance and how to get service and owner
publications. It also gives you information on “Reporting Safety Defects” on page
8-10.
Index
Here’s an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in this manual. You can use it to quickly find
something you want to read.
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A CAUTION:
If something is between an occupant and an air
bag, the bag may not inflate properly or
it might
force the object
into that person. The path of an
inflating air bag must be kept clear. Don’t put
anything between an occupant and an air bag, and
don’t attach or put anything on the steering wheel
hub or on or near any other air bag covering.
When should an air bag inflate?
An air bag is designed to inflate in a moderate to severe
frontal or near-frontal crash. The air bag will inflate
only
if the impact speed is above the system’s designed
“threshold level.’’ If your vehicle goes straight into a
wall that doesn’t move or deform, the threshold level
is
about 8 to 12 mph (1 3 to 19 kmh). The threshold level
can vary, however,
with specific vehicle design, so that
it can be somewhat above or below this range. If your
vehicle strikes something that will move or deform, such
as a parked car,
the threshold level will be higher. The
air bag is not designed to inflate
in rollovers, side
impacts or rear impacts, because inflation would not
help the occupant.
In any particular crash, no one can say whether an air
bag should have inflated simply because
of the damage
to
a vehicle or because of what the repair costs were.
Inflation
is determined by the angle of the impact and
how quickly the vehicle slows down
in frontal or
near-frontal impacts.
The air bag system
is designed to work properly under a
wide range of conditions, including off-road usage.
Observe safe driving speeds, especially on rough terrain.
As always, wear your safety belt. See “Off-Road
Driving”
in the Index for more tips on off-road driving.
What makes an air bag inflate?
In an impact of sufficient severity, the air bag sensing
system detects that
the vehicle is in a crash. The sensing
system triggers a release of gas from the inflator, which
inflates the air bag. The inflator, air bag and related
hardware are all part
of the air bag modules inside the
steering wheel and in the instrument panel in front
of the
right front passenger.
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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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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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If the Light Is Flashing If the Light Is On Steady
The following may prevent more serious damage to
your vehicle:
Reducing vehicle speed.
Avoiding hard accelerations.
Avoiding steep uphill grades.
If you are towing a trailer, reduce the amount of
cargo being hauled as soon as it is possible.
If the light stops flashing and remains on steady, see
“If
the Light Is On Steady” following.
If the light continues to flash, when it
is safe to do so,
stop
the vehicle. Find a safe place to park your vehicle.
Turn the key off, wait at least
10 seconds and restart the
engine. If the light remains on steady, see “If the Light
Is On Steady” following.
If the light is still flashing,
follow the previous steps, and drive the vehicle to your
dealer
or qualified service center for service. You
may be able to correct the emission system
malfunction by considering the following:
Did you recently put fuel into your vehicle?
If so, reinstall the fL1el cap, making sure to fully install
the cap. The diagnostic system can determine
if the fuel
cap has been left off or improperly installed.
A loose or
missing fuel cap
will allow fuel to evaporate into the
atmosphere. A few driving trips with the cap properly
installed should
turn the light off.
Did you just drive through a deep puddle of water?
If so, your electrical system may be wet. The condition
will usually be corrected when the electrical system
dries out. A few driving trips should
turn the light off.
Are you low on fuel?
As your engine starts to run out of fuel, your engine may
not run
as efficiently as designed since small amounts of
air are sucked into the fuel
line causing a misfire. The
system can detect this. Adding fuel should correct this
condition. Make sure to install the fuel cap properly. It
will take a few driving trips to turn the light off.
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Section 3 Comfort Controls and Audio Systems
In this section, you’ll find out how to operate the comfort control and audio systems offered with your Geo. Be sure
to read about the particular systems supplied with your
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3-2 Climate Controls 3-1 1
3-3 Air
Conditioning
3-4 Heating
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3-5 Rear Window Defogger 3-
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3-5 Tips for Defogging and Defrosting 3-17
3-4 Ventilation System and Tips 3-
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3-6 Setting the
Clock
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3-8 AM-FM Stereo with Cassette Tape Player 3-
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-7 AM-FM Stereo 3-18 AM-FM
Stereo with Cassette Tape and
Compact Disc Player
Theft-Deterrent Feature Understanding Radio Reception
Tips About Your Audio System
Adding Sound Equipment to Your Vehicle
Care of Your Cassette Tape Player
Care of Your Compact Discs
Antenna
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Comfort Controls
With this system, you can control the heating and
ventilation in your Geo.
If you have the air conditioning
option, you can also control cooling.
Your vehicle also has the flow-through ventilation
system described later in this section.
Climate Control System
Airflow Lever
de
9 VENT This position directs the airflow through
the instrument panel vents.
49 BI-LEVEL: This position directs air through the
instrument panel vents and toward the floor.
A.
%$ FLOOR: This position directs air toward the floor.
w> DEFOG: This position directs air toward the
floor, the windshield and side windows.
9 DEFROST This position directs air to the
windshield and side windows.
Fan Control Lever
Slide the lever away from OFF to turn the system on.
Move the lever toward the fan symbol to increase the
fan’s speed.
Temperature Control Lever
Slide the lever to change the temperature of the air
flowing from the system. Move it to the right for
warmer air and to the left for cooler
air. Without
optional air conditioning, the
air temperature cannot be
less than the outside air temperature.
Air Intake Lever
CIRCULATE:
Choose this position to circulate outside
air through the comfort control system.
RECIRCULATE: Choose this position to recirculate
the inside
air through the comfort control system.
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Air Conditioner Controls (Option)
The air conditioning system
uses the same controls as
described previously. The
function
of each lever is
explained under “Climate
Control System” in this
part. The incoming air is
cooled and dehumidified
instead of being heated.
Push the
A/C button to change your comfort control
system from heating to air conditioning.
A light will
come
on when the air conditioning is on. The A/C
button can also control the humidity in your vehicle.
The air conditioner works best if you keep your
windows closed. On very hot days, open the windows
just long enough for the hot air to escape.
For normal cooling, push the
A/C button and move the
air intake lever to CIRCULATE. For faster cooling,
move the lever to RECIRCULATE. Then move the
airflow lever to VENT, the temperature control lever
toward the left and the fan control lever toward the
fan symbol.
On days when
it is raining or the humidity is high,
follow these dehumidifying steps to help clean windows
that are cloudy with moisture. Push the A/C button.
Move the air intake lever to CIRCULATE. Move the
airflow lever to DEFROST and
the fan control lever
toward the fan symbol. Adjust
the temperature control
lever to
a comfortable setting.
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