Vehicle Symbols
These are some of the symbols you may find on your vehicle.
For example,
these symbols
are used
on an
original battery:
POSSIBLE A
CAUTION
INJURY
PROTECT EYES BY
SHIELDING
CAUSTIC
ACID COULD CAUSE
BA~ERY
BURNS
AVOID
SPARKS
OR
FLAMES
SPARK
OR ,\I/,
COULD FLAME
EXPLODE BATTERY
These symbols
are important
for you and
your passengers
whenever your
vehicle
is
driven:
DOOR LOCK
UNLOCK
FASTEN SEAT
BELTS
POWER
WINDOW
These symbols have
to do with
your lamps:
SIGNALS 9
TURN
FOG LAMPS
3 0
These symbols
are on some
of
your controls:
WINDSHIELD
WIPER
WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER
WINDOW
DEFOGGER
VENTILATING FAN
These symbols are used on
warning and
indicator lights:
COOLANT -
TEMP -
CHARGING I-1
BAllERY
SYSTEM
BRAKE
(a)
ENGINE OIL e,
PRESSURE
ANTI-LOCK
(@)
BRAKES
Here are some
other symbols
you may see:
FUSE
LIGHTER
D
HORN )tr
SPEAKER
b
FUEL Ja
vi
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0 Your vehicle is equipped with a crash sensing and
diagnostic module, which records information about
the air bag system. The module records information about the readiness
of the system, when the sensors are
activated and driver’s safety belt usage at deployment.
0 Let only qualified technicians work on your air bag
system. Improper service can mean that your air bag
system won’t work properly. See your dealer
for service.
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Geo
Air bags affect how your Geo should be serviced. There
are parts
of the air bag system in several places around
your vehicle. You don’t want the system to inflate while
someone
is working on your vehicle. Your Geo dealer
and the Tracker Service Manual have information about
servicing your vehicle and the air bag system.
To
purchase a service manual, see “Service and Owner
Publications” in the Index.
NOTICE:
If you damage the covering for the driver’s or the
right front passenger’s air bag, the bag may not
work properly. You may have to replace the air
bag module in the steering wheel or both the air
bag module and the instrument panel for the
right front passenger’s air bag.
Do not open or
break the air bag coverings. For up to
15 seconds
after the ignition key is
turned off and the battery is disconnected, an air
bag can still inflate during improper service. You
can be injured if you are close to an air bag when
it inflates. Avoid wires wrapped with yellow tape
or yellow connectors. They are probably part of
the air bag system. Be sure to follow proper
service procedures, and make sure the person
performing work for you is qualified to do
so.
The air bag system does not need regular maintenance.
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Starting Your Engine
Automatic Transmission
Move your shift lever to PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N).
Your engine won’t start in any other position -- that’s a
safety feature.
To restart when you’re already moving,
use
NEUTRAL (N) only.
I NOTICE:
Don’t try to shift to PARK (P) if‘ your Geo is
moving.
If you do, you could damage the
transmission. Shift to PARK
(P) only when your
vehicle
is stopped.
Manual Transmission
The gear selector should be in NEUTRAL (N). Hold the
clutch pedal to the floor and start the engine. Your
vehicle won’t start if the clutch pedal
is not all the way
down
-- that’s a safety feature.
Starting Your 1.6 Liter Engine
1. Without pushing the accelerator pedal, turn your
ignition key to START. When the engine starts, let
go of the key.
I I
NOTICE:
Holding your key in START for longer than
15 seconds at a time will cause your battery to be
drained much sooner. And the excessive heat can
damage your starter motor.
2. If it doesn’t start right away, hold your key in
START for about three seconds at a time until your
engine starts. Wait about
15 seconds between each
try to help avoid draining your battery.
If your engine still won’t start. call vour dealer for help.
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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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RDM (5): Press this button to hear the tracks in random,
rather than sequential, order. Press RDM or RPT again
to turn off random play.
NXT (6): Press this button to go to the next track. If you
hold the button, or press it more than once, the player
will continue moving forward through the disc.
COMP: Press this button to make soft and loud
passages more nearly equal in volume.
RCL: Press this button to see which track is playing.
Press RCL again, within five seconds, to see how long
it has been playing (elapsed time). The track number
also appears when the disc
is inserted or you change
the volume.
CD-TP: Press this button to switch between playing a
tape and a CD when both are inserted.
STOP: Press this button or AM-FM to stop playing the
disc and switch to radio. Press STOP again
to restart the
disc at the point where it stopped.
EJECT Press this button to remove the disc. The radio
will play. The disc will start at the first track when you
reinsert it. If you leave a compact disc in the player
while listening to the radio, it may become warm.
Theft-Deterrent Feature
The theft-deterrent feature for the AM-FM stereo with
cassette tape or compact disc player can be used or
ignored.
If ignored, the system plays normally. If it is
used, your system won’t be usable if it’s ever stolen
because it will
go into LOC mode.
If your vehicle loses battery power for any reason, you
must enter your secret code again before the system will
turn on.
Activating the Theft-Deterrent Feature
The following instructions will tell you how to enter a
security code into
the system.
NOTE: If you allow more than 15 seconds to elapse
between any steps, the radio automatically reverts to
time and you must start the procedure over at Step
4.
1. Write down any four-digit number and keep it in a
safe place.
2. Turn the ignition switch to ACC or ON.
3. Turn the radio off.
4. Press the 1 and 4 buttons together. Hold them down
until
---- shows on the display.
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Run your engine only as long as you must. This saves
fuel. When you run the engine, make it go a little faster
than just idle. That is, push the accelerator slightly. This
uses less fuel for the heat that you get and it keeps the
battery charged. You will need a well-charged battery to
restart the vehicle, and possibly for signaling later on with your headlamps. Let the heater run for awhile.
Then, shut the engine off and close the window almost
all the way to preserve the heat. Start the engine again
and repeat this only when you feel really uncomfortable
from the cold. But
do it as little as possible. Preserve the
fuel as long as you can.
To help keep warm, you can get
out of the vehicle and do some fairly vigorous exercises
every half hour or
so until help comes.
Re - -1tional Vehicle Towing
There may be times when you want to tow your Geo
behind another vehicle for use at your destination. Be
sure to use the proper towing equipment designed
for
recreational towing. Follow the instructions for the
towing equipment.
Towing Your Vehicle frc -:: :I: I Rc 1-r
The best way to tow your Geo is from the rear. Follow
these steps:
1. Put the rear wheels on a dolly.
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Jump Starting
If your battery has run down, you may want to use
another vehicle and some jumper cables to
start your
Geo. But please use the following steps to
do it safely.
’ A CAUTION:
Batteries can hurt you. They can be dangerous
because:
They contain acid that can burn you.
They contain gas that can explode or ignite.
They contain enough electricity to
If you don’t follow these steps exactly, some or all
of these things can hurt you.
burn
you.
NOTICE:
Ignoring these steps could result in costly damage
to your vehicle that wouldn’t be covered by
your warranty.
Trying
to start your Geo by pushing or pulling it
could damage your vehicle, even if you have a
manual transmission. And
if you have an
automatic transmission, it won’t start that way.
1. Check the other vehicle. It must have a 12-volt battery with a negative ground system.
I NOTICE:
If the other system isn’t a 12-volt system with a
negative ground, both vehicles can be damaged.
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2. Get the vehicles close enough so the jumper cables
can reach, but be sure the vehicles aren’t touching
each other.
If they are, it could cause a ground
connection you don’t want. You wouldn’t be able
to
start your Geo, and the bad grounding could damage
the electrical systems.
3. Turn off the ignition on both vehicles. Unplug
unnecessary accessories plugged into the cigarette
lighter. Turn
off all lamps that aren’t needed as well
as radios. This will avoid sparks and help save both
batteries.
In addition, it could save your radio!
NOTICE:
If you leave your radio on, it could be badly
damaged. The repairs wouldn’t be covered by
your warranty.
4. Open the hoods and locate the batteries. Find the
positive
+ and negative (-) terminals on each battery.
I A CAUTION:
I
An electric fan can start up even when the
is not running and can injure you. Keep hands,
clothing and
tools away from any underhood
electric fan.
-
CAUTION:
If your vehicle has air conditioning, the auxiliary
electric fan under the hood can start
up even
when the engine
is not running and can injure
you. Keep hands, clothing and tools away from
any underhood electric fan.
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