1997 CHEVROLET TRACKER lights

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

ACC (B): The position in which you can operate your
electrical power accessories. It unlocks the steering
wheel and ignition. Use this position if your vehicle
must
be pushed or towed.
ON (C): The position that the switch returns to after you
start your engine and release the switch. The switch
stays in the
ON position when the engine is running. But
even when the engine is not running, you can use
ON to
operate your electrical power accessories and to display
some instrument panel warning and indicator lights.
START (D): The position that starts the engine. When
the engine starts, release the key. The ignition switch
will return to
ON for normal driving.
When the engine is not running,
ACC and ON allow you
to operate your electrical accessories, such as the radio
and ventilation fan.
A warning chime will sound if you open the driver’s
door when the ignition is in
ACC or LOCK and the key
is in the ignition.
I A CAUTION:
On manual transmission vehicles, turning the key
to
LOCK will lock the steering column and result
in
a loss of ability to steer the vehicle. This could
cause
a collision. If you need to turn the engine
off while the vehicle is moving, turn the key only
to
ACC. Don’t push the key in while the vehicle
is moving.
I
NOTICE:
If your key seems stuck in LOCK and you can’t
turn it, be sure you are using the correct key; if
so, is it all the way in? If it is, then turn the
steering wheel left and right while you turn the
key hard. But turn the key only with your hand.
Using
a tool to force it could break the key or the
ignition switch. If none of this works, then your
vehicle needs service.
2-8
ProCarManuals.com

Lamps Control
Turn the outside part of the lever to control the lamps.
There are three positions for the lamp switch.
OFF: All lamps are off.
lamp and the instrument panel lights come on. The
headlamps are
off.
-:(% : The headlamps and all other operating lamps
come
on.
Lamps On Reminder
If you turn the ignition off, remove the key, open the
door and leave the lamps on,
a chime will remind you to
turn off your lamps.
Headlamp High/Low Beam Changer
First, you must have the headlamps on. For high beams,
push the turn signal lever away from you.
When the high beams are
on, a light on the instrument
panel also will be
on. It will
go off when you switch to
low beam.
To switch back to low beams, pull the lever toward you.
ProCarManuals.com

When you turn on the headlamp switch, your DRL will
go out, and your headlamps will come on.
The other lamps that come
on with your headlamps will
also come on.
When you turn off the headlamp switch, the regular
lamps will go off, and your low-beam headlamps will
come on at the reduced brightness of
DRL.
To idle your vehicle with the DRL off, set the parking
brake. The
DRL will stay off until you release the
parking brake.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.
Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel Brightness Control
This knob controls the
brightness of your
instrument panel lights.
Turn the knob to the right to
brighten the lights or to the
left to dim them.
2-38
ProCarManuals.com

Warning Lights, Gages and Indicators
This part describes the warning lights and gages that
may be on your vehicle. The pictures will help
you
locate them.
Warning lights and gages can signal that something
is
wrong before it becomes serious enough to cause an
expensive repair or replacement. Paying attention
to
your warning lights and gages could also save you or
others from injury.
Warning lights come on when there may be or
is a
problem with one of your vehicle’s functions.
As you
will see in the details
on the next few pages, some
warning lights come on briefly when you start the
engine just to let you know they’re working. If you are
familiar with this section, you should not be alarmed
when this happens.
Gages can indicate when there may be or is a problem
with one
of your vehicle’s functions. Often gages and
warning lights work together
to let you know when
there’s a problem with your vehicle. When
one
of the warning lights comes on and stays on
when you are driving, or when one
of the gages shows
there may be a problem, check the section that tells you
what to do about it. Please follow this manual’s advice.
Waiting to do repairs can be costly
-- and even
dangerous.
So please get to know your warning lights
and gages. They’re a big help.
Safety Belt Reminder Light
When the key is turned to
ON or START, a light will
come on for about eight
seconds to remind people to
fasten their safety belts.
Unless the driver’s safety
belt is already buckled, a
chime will also sound.
2-62
ProCarManuals.com

Scanning the Terrain
Off-road driving can take you over many different kinds
of terrain. You need to be familiar with the terrain and its
many different features. Here are some things to consider.
Suqfiuce Conditions. Off-roading can take you over
hard-packed dirt, gravel, rocks, grass, sand, mud, snow or
ice. Each of these surfaces affects the steering, acceleration
and braking of your vehicle
in different ways. Depending
upon the kind of surface you are on, you may experience
slipping, sliding, wheel spinning, delayed acceleration,
poor traction and longer braking distances.
Suflace Obstacles. Unseen or hidden obstacles can be
hazardous.
A rock, log, hole, rut or bump can startle you if
you’re not prepared for them. Often these obstacles are
hidden by grass, bushes, snow or even the rise and fall of
the terrain itself. Here are some things to consider:
Is the path ahead clear?
Will the surface texture change abruptly up ahead?
Does the travel take you uphill or downhill? (There’s
more discussion of these subjects later.)
Will you have to stop suddenly or change
direction quickly? When
you drive over obstacles or
rough terrain, keep a
firm grip on the steering wheel. Ruts, troughs or other
surface features can jerk the wheel out of your hands if
you’re not prepared.
When you drive over bumps, rocks, or other obstacles,
your wheels can leave
the ground. If this happens, even
with one or two wheels,
you can’t control the vehicle as
well or at all.
Because you will be on an unpaved surface, it’s
especially important to avoid sudden acceleration,
sudden turns or sudden braking.
In a way, off-road driving requires a different kind of
alertness from driving on paved roads and highways.
There are no road signs, posted speed limits or signal
lights. You have to use your own good judgment about
what is safe and what isn’t.
Drinking and driving can be very dangerous on any
road. And this is certainly true for off-road driving.
At the very time you need special alertness and driving
skills, your reflexes, perceptions and judgment can be
affected by even a small amount of alcohol. You could
have a serious
-- or even fatal -- accident if you drink
and drive or ride with a driver who has been drinking.
See “Drunken Driving”
in the Index.
4-19
ProCarManuals.com

Here are some tips on night driving.
0 Drive defensively.
Don’t drink and drive.
Adjust your inside rearview mirror to reduce the
glare from headlamps behind you.
Since you can’t see as well, you may need to
slow down and keep more space between you and
other vehicles.
Slow down, especially on higher speed roads. Your
headlamps can light up only
so much road ahead.
In remote areas, watch for animals.
If you’re tired, pull off the road in a safe place
and rest
.
Night Vision
No one can see as well at night as in the daytime. But as
we get older these differences increase. A 50-year-old
driver may require at least twice as much light to
see the
same thing at night as a 20-year-old.
What you do in the daytime can also affect your night
vision. For example, if you spend the day in bright
sunshine you are wise to wear sunglasses. Your eyes will have
less trouble adjusting to night. But if you’re
driving, don’t wear sunglasses at night. They may cut
down on glare from headlamps, but
they also make a lot
of things invisible.
You can be temporarily blinded by approaching
headlamps. It can take a second or two, or even several
seconds, for your eyes to readjust to the dark. When you
are faced with severe glare (as from a driver who
doesn’t lower the high beams, or a vehicle with
misaimed headlamps), slow down a little. Avoid staring
directly into the approaching headlamps.
Keep your windshield and all the glass
on your vehicle
clean
-- inside and out. Glare at night is made much
worse by dirt on the glass.
Even the inside of the glass
can build up a film caused by dust. Dirty glass makes
lights dazzle and flash more than clean glass would,
making the pupils
of your eyes contract repeatedly.
Remember that your headlamps light up far less of a
roadway when you are
in a turn or curve. Keep your
eyes moving; that way, it’s easier to pick out dimly
lighted objects. Just as your headlamps should be
checked regularly for proper aim,
so should your eyes
be examined regularly. Some drivers suffer from night
blindness
-- the inability to see in dim light -- and
aren’t even aware
of it.
4-31
ProCarManuals.com