1997 CHEVROLET TRACKER brake

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
ProCarManuals.com

Gem Section 2 Features and Controls
Here you can learn about the many standard and optional features on your Geo, and information on starting, shifting
and braking. Also explained
are the instrument panel and the warning systems that tell you if everything is working
properly
-- and what to do if you have a problem.
2-2
2-3
2-5
2-6
2-7 2-7
2-9
2-10
2- 14
2-
17
2-2 I
2-23
2-25
Keys
Door Locks
Tailgate
Theft
New Vehicle ‘Break-In”
Ignition Positions Starting Your Engine
Automatic Transmission Operation
Manual Transmission
Four-wheel Drive Parking Brake
Shifting Into PARK (P) (Automatic
Transmission Models Only)
Shifting Out of PARK (P)
(Automatic Transmission)
2-26 Parking Over Things That Burn
2-27
2-27
2-28
2-29
2-29
2-37
2-3
8
2-39
2-4 1
2-43
2-44
2-44
2-5
8
2-60 2-62
Engine Exhaust
Running Your Engine While You’re Parked
(Automatic Transmission)
Windows
Horn
Turn SignaVMultifunction Lever
Exterior Lamps
Interior Lamps
Mirrors Storage Compartments
Ashtrays and Lighter
Sun Visors
Convertible Top
Instrument Panel
Instrument Panel Cluster
Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
2-1
ProCarManuals.com

New Vehicle “Break-In” 1
NOTICE:
Your modern Geo doesn’t need an elaborate
“break-in.” But it will perform better in the long
run if you follow these guidelines:
0
0
0
0
Keep your speed at 55 mph (88 km/h) or
less for the first
500 miles (805 km).
Don’t drive at any one speed
-- fast or
slow
-- for the first 500 miles (805 km).
Don’t make full-throttle starts.
Avoid making hard stops for the first
200 miles (322 km) or so. During this time
your new brake linings aren’t yet broken
in. Hard stops
with new linings can mean
premature wear and earlier replacement.
Follow this breaking-in guideline every
time you get new brake linings.
Don’t tow
a trailer during break-in.
See “Towing
a Trailer” in the Index for
more information.
[gnition Positions
With the key in the ignition
switch, you can turn the
switch
to four positions.
LOCK (A): The only position in which you can remove
the key. This locks your steering wheel, ignition and
automatic transmission.
If you have an automatic transmission, the ignition
switch can’t be turned to
LOCK unless the shift lever is
in the PARK (P) position.
2-7
I
ProCarManuals.com

1 A CAUJON:
It is 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.
Don’t leave your vehicle when the engine is
running unless you have to.
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, always set your parking brake and
move the shift lever to PARK
(P).
If you have four-wheel drive, your vehicle will
be free to roll
-- even if your shift lever is in
PARK
(P) -- if your transfer case is in
NEUTRAL
(N). So, be sure the transfer case is in
a drive gear, two-wheel high (2H) or four-wheel
high
(4H) or four-wheel low (4L) -- not in
NEUTRAL
(N). See “Shifting Into PARK (P)” in
the Index. If you’re pulling
a trailer, see “Towing
a Trailer” in the Index.
Ensure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) range before
starting the engine. Your Geo has a brake-transmission
shift interlock.
You have to fully apply your regular
brakes before you can shift from PARK
(P) when the
ignition key
is in the ON position. If you cannot shift
out of PARK
(P), ease pressure on the shift lever -- push
the shift lever all the way into PARK
(P) and release the
shift lever button as you maintain brake application.
Then press the shift lever button and move the shift
lever into the gear you wish. See “Shifting Out of
PARK
(P)” in the Index.
REVERSE (R): Use this gear to back up.
NOTICE:
Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your vehicle is
moving forward could damage your
transmission. Shift to REVERSE (R) only after
your vehicle is stopped.
To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow,
ice or sand without damaging your transmission, see
“Stuck:
In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow” in the Index.
2-11
,
ProCarManuals.com

NEUTRAL (N): In this position, your engine
doesn’t connect with the wheels.
To restart when you’re
already moving, use
NEUTRAL (N) only. Also, use
NEUTRAL (N) when your vehicle is being towed.
I
Shifting out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) while
your engine is “racing” (running
at high speed) is
dangerous. Unless your foot is firmly on the
brake pedal, your vehicle could move very
rapidly. You could lose control and hit people or
objects. Don’t
shift out of PARK (P) or
NEUTRAL (N) while your engine is racing.
NOTICE:
Damage to your transmission caused by shifting
out
of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) with the
engine racing isn’t covered by your warranty.
DRIVE (D): This position is for normal driving.
If you need more power for passing, and you’re:
Going less than about 15 mph (25 km/h), push your
0 Going about 15 mph (25 km/h) or more, push your
accelerator pedal
about halfway down.
accelerator pedal all the way down.
You’ll shift down to the next gear and have
more power.
SECOND (2): This position gives you more power but
lower fuel economy. You can use
SECOND (2) on hills.
It can help control your speed
as you go down steep
mountain roads, but then you would also want
to use
your brakes off and on.
NOTICE:
Don’t shift into SECOND (2) unless you are going
slower than
65 mph (105 km/h) with the transfer
case in
FOUR HIGH (4H), or 35 mph (55 km/h)
with the transfer case in FOUR LOW (4L) or you
can damage your transmission.
ProCarManuals.com

LOW (L): This position gives you even more power
(but lower fuel economy) than
SECOND (2). You
can use it on very steep hills,
or in deep snow or mud.
If the selector lever is put in LOW (L), the transmission
won’t shift into low gear until the vehicle
is going
slowly enough.
NOTICE:
Don’t shift into LOW (L) at speeds above 40 mph
(65 km/h) with the transfer case in
FOUR-WHEEL LOW (4L), or you can damage
your transmission.
I
I
NOTICE:
If your rear wheels can’t rotate, don’t try to
drive. This might happen if yon were stuck in
very deep sand or mud or were up against
a solid
object. You could damage your transmission.
Also, if you stop when going uphill, don’t hold
your vehicle there with only the accelerator
pedal. This could overheat and damage the
transmission. Use your brakes to hold your
vehicle in position on
a hill.
2-13
I
ProCarManuals.com

You can shift into FIRST (1) when you’re going less
than
20 mph (32 kdh). If you’ve come to a complete
stop and
it’s hard to shift into FIRST (l), put the shift
lever in NEUTRAL (N) and let up on the clutch. Press
the clutch pedal back down. Then shift into FIRST
(1).
SECOND (2): Press the clutch pedal as you let up on
the accelerator pedal and shift into SECOND (2). Then,
slowly let up on the clutch pedal as you press the
accelerator pedal.
THIRD (3), FOURTH (4), FIFTH (5): Shift into
THIRD
(3), FOURTH (4) and FIFTH (5) the same way
you do for SECOND
(2). Slowly let up on the clutch
pedal as
you press the accelerator pedal.
To stop let up on the accelerator pedal and press the
brake pedal. Just before the vehicle stops, press the
clutch pedal
and the brake pedal, and shift to
NEUTRAL (N).
NEUTRAL (N): Use this position when you start or
idle your engine.
REVERSE (R): To back up, press down the clutch
pedal and shift into REVERSE (R). Let up on the clutch
pedal slowly while pressing the accelerator pedal.
You cannot go from FIFTH
(5) into REVERSE (R). If
you try, you will be locked out. You must first shift into
NEUTRAL (N), move
the lever to the left, back to the
right, and then shift into REVERSE (R). This is a
safety feature.
I NOTICE: 1
Shift to REVERSE (R) only after your vehicle is
stopped. Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your
vehicle is moving could
damage your
transmission.
~~
Also, use REVERSE (R) along with the parking brake
for parking your vehicle.
2-15
ProCarManuals.com

Remember that driving in FOUR-WHEEL HIGH (4H)
or FOUR-WHEEL LOW (4L) may reduce fuel
economy. Also, driving in four-wheel drive on dry
pavement could cause your tires to wear faster and make
your transfer case harder to shift.
You can shift from TWO-WHEEL HIGH (2H) to
FOUR-WHEEL HIGH
(4H) or from FOUR-WHEEL
HIGH (4H) to TWO-WHEEL HIGH (2H) at any speed
if your hubs are locked and your wheels are straight
ahead. Your front axle will engage faster if you take
your foot off the accelerator pedal for a few seconds as
you shift.
Shifting Into or Out of FOUR-WHEEL LOW (4L)
1. Stop your vehicle and shift your transmission to
NEUTRAL (N).
2. Shift the transfer case in one continuous motion.
Don’t pause in NEUTRAL
(N) as you shift into
FOUR-WHEEL
HIGH (4H), or your gears could clash.
To set the parking brake, hold the brake pedal down and
pull
up on the parking brake lever. If the ignition is on,
the brake system warning light will come on.
2-21
ProCarManuals.com