1998 CHEVROLET TRACKER check engine light

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Avoid needless heavy braking. Some people drive in
spurts
-- heavy acceleration followed by heavy
braking
-- rather than keeping pace with traffic. This is a
mistake. Your brakes may not have time to cool between
hard stops.
Your brakes will wear out much faster if you
do a lot of heavy braking.
If you keep pace with the
traffic and allow realistic following distances, you will
eliminate a lot of unnecessary braking. That means
better braking and longer brake life.
If your engine ever stops while you’re driving, brake
normally but don’t pump your brakes. If you do, the
pedal may get harder to push down. If your engine
stops, you will still have some power brake assist. But
you will
use it when you brake. Once the power assist is
used up, it may take longer to stop and the brake pedal
will be harder to push.
Anti-Lock Brakes (Option)
Your vehicle may have anti-lock brakes (ABS). ABS is
an advanced electronic braking system that will help
prevent a braking skid.
ABS
If your vehicle has anti-lock
brakes, this warning light on
the instrument panel will
come on briefly when you
start your vehicle.
When you start your engine, or when you begin to drive away, your anti-lock brake system will check
itself. You
may hear a momentary motor or clicking noise while
this test is going on, and you may even notice that your
brake pedal moves or pulses a little. This is normal.
If there’s
a problem with the anti-lock brake system, the
anti-lock brake system warning light will stay on or
flash. See “Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light” in
the Index.
4-7

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Here are some tips on night driving.
Drive defensively.
Don’t drink and drive.
Adjust your inside rearview mirror to reduce the
Since you can’t see as well, you may need to
glare from headlamps behind you.
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.
4-30

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 3ty Driving Here are ways to increase your safety in city driving:
Know the best way to get to where you are
going. Get
a city map and plan your trip into an
unknown part of the city just as you would for a
cross-country trip.
Try to use the freeways that rim and crisscross most
large cities. You’ll save time and energy. (See the
next part, “Freeway Driving.”)
light
is there because the corner is busy enough to
need it. When a light turns green, and just before you
start to move, check both ways for vehicles that have
not cleared the intersection or may be running the
red light.
Treat a green light as a warning signal. A traffic
One of the biggest problems with city streets is the
amount
of traffic on them. You’ll want to watch out for
what the other drivers are doing and pay attention to
traffic signals.
4-34

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Freeway Driving
Mile for mile, freeways (also called thruways, parkways,
expressways, turnpikes or superhighways) are the safest
of all roads. But they have their own special rules.
The most important advice on freeway driving
is: Keep
up with traffic and keep to the right. Drive at the same
speed
most of the other drivers are driving. Too-fast or
too-slow driving breaks a smooth traffic flow. Treat the
left lane on a freeway as a passing lane. At the entrance, there is usually
a ramp that leads to the
freeway. If you have a clear view of the freeway as you
drive along the entrance ramp, you should begin to
check traffic.
Try to determine where you expect to
blend with the flow.
Try to merge into the gap at close to
the prevailing speed. Switch on your turn signal, check
your mirrors and glance over your shoulder as often as
necessary. Try to blend smoothly -with the traffic flow.
Once you are
on the freeway, adjust your speed to the
posted limit
or to the prevailing rate if it’s slower. Stay
in the right lane unless you want to pass.
Before changing lanes, check your mirrors. Then use
your turn signal.
Just before you leave the lane, glance quickly over your
shoulder to make sure there isn’t another vehicle in your
“blind” spot.
Once you are moving on the freeway, make certain you
allow
a reasonable following distance. Expect to move
slightly slower at night.
When you want to leave the freeway, move to the proper
lane well in advance. If you miss your exit, do not,
under any circumstances, stop and back up. Drive on to
the next exit.
The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes quite sharply.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Then lift the hood to relieve pressure on the hood prop.
Remove the hood prop from the slot in the hood and
return the prop to its retainer. Then let the hood down
and close it firmly.
Engine Oil
If the engine oil pressure
light
on the instrument
panel comes on,
it means
you need to check your
engine oil level right away.
For more information, see “Engine Oil Pressure Light”
in the Index.
You should check your engine oil level
regularly; this is an added reminder.
It’s
a good idea to check your engine oil every time you
get fuel. In order to get an accurate reading, the oil must
be warm and the vehicle must be on level ground. The engine
oil dipstick is
a yellow ring handle and
is located near the front
of
the engine compartment
toward the passenger’s side
of the vehicle.
Turn
off the engine and
give the oil a few minutes
to drain back into the oil
pan. If you don’t, the oil dipstick might not show
the actual level.

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine Fuses and Circuit Breakers
The wiring circuits in your vehicle are protected from short circuits by fuses, circuit breakers and thermal links
in the wiring itself. This greatly reduces the chance of
fires caused by electrical problems.
Look at the silver-colored band inside the fuse. If the
band is broken or melted, replace the fuse. Be sure you
replace a bad fuse with a new one of the correct size.
If you ever have a problem on the road and don't have a
spare fuse,
you can borrow one. Just pick some feature
of your vehicle that you can get along without
-- like the
radio or cigarette lighter
-- and use its fuse, if it is the
size you need. Replace it as soon as you can.
Before replacing a fuse, turn every vehicle electrical
switch
off.
There are two fuse blocks in your vehicle: the
instrument panel fuse block and the engine
compartment fuse block.
Instrument Panel Fuse Block
This fuse box is under the left side of the instrument
panel. The fuses here protect each separate circuit
including headlamps. If you have electrical failure,
check here first.
6-58

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine At Least Twice a Year
Restraint System Check
Make sure the safety belt reminder light and all your
belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors and anchorages are working properly. Look for any other loose or damaged
safety belt system parts. If you see anything that might
keep a safety belt system from doing its job, have it
repaired. Have any torn or frayed safety belts replaced.
Also look for any opened or broken air bag coverings,
and have them repaired or replaced. (The air bag system
does not need regular maintenance.)
Wiper Blade Check
Inspect wiper blades for wear or cracking. Replace blade
inserts that appear worn or damaged or that streak or
miss areas of the windshield. Also
see “Wiper Blades,
Cleaning” in the Index.
Fluid Level Check
Check the transfer case, axle differential(s) and
automatic
or manual transmission fluid levels and add
as needed. See “Transfer Case,” “Axle, Rear,” “Axle,
Front” and “Automatic Transmission” or “Manual
Transmission” in the Index. Check for leaks.
A fluid loss
in these systems could indicate a problem. Have the
system inspected and repaired at once.
Automatic Transmission Check
Check the transmission fluid level; add if needed. See
“Automatic Transmission” in the Index. A fluid
loss
may indicate a problem. Check the system and repair
if needed.
At Least Once a Year
Key Lock Cylinders Service
Lubricate the key lock cylinders with the lubricant specified in Part
D.
Body Lubrication Service
Lubricate all body door hinges. Also lubricate all
hinges and latches, including those for the hood, rear
compartment, glove box door, console door and any
folding seat hardware.
Part D tells you what to use.
More frequent lubrication may be required when
exposed to a corrosive environment.
7-48

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine 0 Section 9 Index
Adding Equipment to the Outside of Your Vehicle ..... 6-3
Air Bag
....................................... 1-25
Adding Equipment
............................ 1-3 1
How Does it Restrain .......................... 1-29
How it Works ................................ 1-27
Location
.................................... 1-27
Readiness Light
......................... 1-26. 2-59
Servicing
................................... 1-31
What Makes it Inflate
.......................... 1-28
What Will You See After
it Inflates ............... 1-29
When Should it Inflate
......................... 1-28
Aircleaner
.................................... 6-15
Air Conditioning ................................ 3-3
Air Conditioning Refrigerants ..................... 6-63
Alignment and Balance. Tire
...................... 6-46
Antenna
...................................... 3-17
Antifreeze
..................................... 6-24
Anti-Lock Brake System Active Light
................. 2-62. 4.9
Brake System Warning Light
................ 2.61. 4.7
Brakes
...................................... 4-7
Appearance Care Materials
....................... 6-56
Arbitration Program
.............................. 8-9
Ashtrays ...................................... 2-40
Aluminum Wheels. Cleaning
...................... 6-54
AppearanceCare
............................... 6-48 Audio Systems
.................................. 3-6
Automatic
Overdrive
................................... 2-15
Overdrive
Off Switch .......................... 2-15
Automatic Transmission
.......................... 2-9
Check
...................................... 7-48
Fluid
....................................... 6-17
Operation
................................... 2-11
Park Mechanism Check
........................ 7-50
Starting Your Engine
........................... 2-9
Front
....................................... 6-23
Rear
....................................... 6-22
Shifting
..................................... 2-11
Axle
Battery
...................................... 6-33
Jump Starting
................................. 5-3
Warnings
................................ 5.3. 5.4
BBB Auto Line
................................. 8-9
Better Business Bureau Mediation
................... 8-9
Blizzard
...................................... 4-41
Brake
Adjustment
.................................. 6-33
Fluid
....................................... 6-30
Master Cylinder
.............................. 6-29
Parking
..................................... 2-21