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’ A CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) with the
parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
If you have left the engine running, the vehicle
can move suddenly. You or others could be
injured.
To be sure your vehicle won’t move, even
when you’re on fairly level ground, use the steps
that follow.
If you have four-wheel drive and your transfer
case
is in NEUTRAL (N), your vehicle will be free
to roll, even if your shift lever is in PARK (P). So,
be sure the transfer case is in a drive gear -- not
in
NEUTRAL (N).
When You Are Ready to Leave After
Parking
on a Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold the pedal down
while you:
0 Start your engine;
Shift into a gear; and
Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more often when you’re
pulling
a trailer. See the Maintenance Schedule for more
on this. Things that are especially important in trailer
operation are automatic transmission fluid (don’t
overfill), engine oil, axle lubricant, belts, cooling system
and brake adjustment. Each
of these is covered in this
manual, and the Index will help you find them quickly.
If you’re trailering, it’s
a good idea to review these
sections before you start your trip.
Check periodically to
see that all hitch nuts and bolts
are tight.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Automatic Transmission Fluid
When to Check and Change
A good time to check your automatic transmission fluid
level is when the engine oil
is changed.
Change both the fluid and filter every
50,000 miles
(83 000 km) if the vehicle is mainly driven under one or
more
of these conditions:
3. Pull out the filter.
0 In heavy city traffic where the outside temperature
regularly reaches
90°F (32°C) or higher.
0 In hilly or mountainous terrain.
When doing frequent trailer towing.
0 Uses such as found in taxi, police or delivery service.
If you do not use your vehicle under any of these
conditions, the fluid and filter do not require changing.
See “Scheduled Maintenance Services”
in the Index.
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3. Check both sides of the dipstick, and read the lower
level. The fluid level must be
in the COLD area for a
cold check or
in the HOT area or cross-hatched area
for a hot check.
4. If the fluid level is in the acceptable range, push the
dipstick back in all the way.
How to Add Fluid
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to determine what
kind
of transmission fluid to use. See “Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants” in the Index. Add
fluid only after checking the transmission fluid
HOT. (A COLD check
is used only as a reference.) If
the fluid level is low, add only enough of the proper
fluid to bring the level up to the HOT area for a hot
check.
It doesn’t take much fluid, generally less than
one pint
(0.5 L). Don ’I ove$iZZ.
NOTICE:
We recommend you use only fluid labeled
DEXRON@-111, because fluid with that label is
made especially for your automatic transmission.
Damage caused by fluid other than DEXRON-I11
is not covered by your new vehicle warranty.
0 After adding fluid, recheck the fluid level as
0 When the correct fluid level is obtained, push the
described under
“How to Check.”
dipstick back
in all the way.
Manual Transmission Fluid
When to Check and Change
A good time to have it checked is when the engine oil is
changed. Refer
to the Maintenance Schedule to
determine when to change your transmission fluid. See
“Scheduled Maintenance Services”
in the Index.
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Capacities (Approximate)
The following approximate capacities are given in
English and metric conversions.
Air Conditioning?
............. See the refrigerant
information label under
the hood and “Air Conditioning
Refrigerants” at the end
of this section.
Automatic Transmission
Pan Removal and Replacement Three-Speed
............. 3.0 quarts (2.8 L)**
Four-Speed ............... 2.64 quarts (2.5 L)
After Complete Overhaul
Three-Speed
............... 5.3 quarts (5.1 L)
Four-Speed ................ 7.3 quarts (6.9 L)
Cooling System
Automatic Transmission
....... 5.5 quarts (5.2 L)
Manual Transmission ......... 5.6 quarts (5.3 L)
Crankcase With Filter Change
.......... 4.5 quarts (4.2 L)*
Front Differential ............ 1.1 quarts (1 .O L)
Fuel Tank
Two-Door Convertible
....... 11.1 gallons (42 L)
Four-Door Hardtop .......... 14.5 gallons (55 L)
Manual Transmission
Four-wheel Drive
.......... 1.6 quarts (1.5 L)**
Two-Wheel Drive .......... 2.0 quarts (1.9 L)**
Rear Differential ............. 2.3 quarts (2.2 L)
Transfer Case ............... 1.8 quarts (1.7 L)
* When changing the oil filter, additional oil may be
needed. Recheck the oil level after filling. See
“Engine Oil” in the Index.
** Recheck fluid level after filling. See “Automatic
Transmission Fluid” or “Manual Transmission
Fluid” in
the Index.
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Maintenance Schedule
1 Short TriplCity Intervals I
Every 50,000 Miles (83 000 km): Automatic
Transmission Service (severe conditions only).
Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV)
Valve Replacement.
Every 60,000 Miles (100 000 km): Engine Timing and
Distributor Check. Fuel Tank Cap Gasket
Replacement. Emission System Hoses Inspection. Camshaft Timing Belt Replacement. Brake Fluid
Service. Spark Plug
Wire Replacement (or every 60
months, whichever occurs first). Wiring Harness and
Connectors Inspection
(or every 60 months,
whichever occurs first).
Short TriplCity Intervals
At 90,000 Miles (150 000 km): Camshaft Timing
Every 100,000 Miles (166 000 km): Fuel
Belt Inspection.
Injector Inspection. Evaporative Emissions
Canister Replacement.
These intervals only summarize maintenance services.
Be sure
to follow the complete maintenance schedule on
th.e following pages.
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Maintenance Schedule
Long Tripmighway Intervals fi
Every 50,000 Miles (83 000 km): Automatic
Transmission Service (severe conditions only). Positive
Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) Valve Replacement.
Every 60,000 Miles (100 000 km): Engine Timing and
Distributor Check. Fuel Tank Cap Gasket Replacement.
Emission System Hoses Inspection. Camshaft Timing
Belt Replacement.
Spark Plug Wire Replacement (or
every
60 months, whichever occurs first). Wiring
Harness and Connectors Inspection
(or every 60 months,
whichever occurs first). Brake Fluid Service.
At 90,000 Miles (150 000 km): Camshaft Timing
Belt Inspection.
Every 100,000 Miles (166 000 km): Fuel
Injector Inspection. Evaporative Emissions
Canister Replacement.
These intervals only summarize maintenance services.
Be sure
to follow the complete maintenance schedule on
the following pages.
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