1999 CHEVROLET TRACKER ignition

Second Printing for Chevrolet Tracker Owner's Manual ± 1999
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2-15
CAUTION:
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 ªShifting Into PARK (P)º in
the Index. If you're pulling a trailer, see ªTowing
a Trailerº in the Index.
Ensure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) before
starting the engine. Your vehicle has a
Brake
-Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI). You have to
fully apply your regular brakes before you can shift
from PARK (P) when the ignition key is in ON. 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 ªShifting Out
of PARK (P)º 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.

Second Printing for Chevrolet Tracker Owner's Manual ± 1999
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2-22
FOUR-WHEEL LOW (4L): This setting also engages
your front axle to give you extra traction and can be
used for driving downhill, uphill or on rocky terrain
when you're driving slower than 35 mph (55 km/h).
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 vehicle is going less than 60 mph (100 kph) 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 from
FOUR
-WHEEL LOW (4L) to FOUR-WHEEL
HIGH (4H), or your gears could clash.
Parking Brake
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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.

Second Printing for Chevrolet Tracker Owner's Manual ± 1999
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2-25 Torque Lock (Automatic Transmission)
If you are parking on a hill and you don't shift your
transmission into PARK (P) properly, the weight of the
vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl in
the transmission. You may find it difficult to pull the
shift lever out of PARK (P). This is called ªtorque lock.º
To prevent torque lock, set the parking brake and then
shift into PARK (P) properly before you leave the
driver's seat. To find out how, see ªShifting Into
PARK (P)º in the Index.
When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out of
PARK (P) before you release the parking brake.
If torque lock does occur, you may need to have another
vehicle push yours a little uphill to take some of the
pressure from the parking pawl in the transmission, so
you can pull the shift lever out of PARK (P).
Shifting Out of PARK (P)
(Automatic Transmission Only)
CAUTION:
Before shifting out of PARK (P) you must fully
apply your regular brakes. Your vehicle can roll.
If you have left the engine running, the vehicle
can move suddenly. You or others could
be injured.
If you're pulling a trailer, see ªTowing a Trailerº
in the Index.
Your vehicle has a Brake-Transmission Shift Interlock
(BTSI). You have to fully apply your regular brakes
before you can shift from PARK (P) when the ignition is
in the ON position. See ªAutomatic Transmissionº in
the Index.
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.

Second Printing for Chevrolet Tracker Owner's Manual ± 1999
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2-29
Windows
Manual Windows
Use the window crank to open and close each
door window.
Power Windows (If Equipped)
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With power windows, switches on the driver's door
control each window when the ignition is on. Push down
the front of the switch to lower a window and lift the
front of the switch to raise a window.
There are individual controls near each window.Express Down Window
The AUTO switch for the driver's window has an
express down feature. To use express down, push the
switch all the way down. Release the switch and the
window will lower completely. Pull up on the switch
lightly and release it to stop the window partway.
Lock
-Out Switch
The driver's door has a lock
-out switch for the
passenger window(s). When you push the right side of
the switch, the passenger window(s) can't be raised or
lowered. Push the left side of the switch to unlock
the window(s).
When the window lock
-out switch is engaged, all
passenger window switches will not operate, including
the driver's controls.
Horn
To sound the horn, press the portion of your
steering wheel marked with the horn symbol.

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2-36
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on hills depends
upon your speed, load and the steepness of the hills.
When going up steep hills, you may have to step on the
accelerator pedal to maintain your speed. When going
downhill, you may have to brake or shift to a lower gear
to keep your speed down. Of course, applying the brake
takes you out of cruise control. Many drivers find this to
be too much trouble and don't use cruise control on
steep hills.
Getting Out of Cruise Control
There are three ways to turn off cruise control:

Step lightly on the brake pedal, or push the clutch
pedal if you have a manual transmission.

Push in the CANCEL button on the end of the cruise
control lever.

Press the CRUISE CTRL. switch on the
instrument panel.
Erasing Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the ignition,
your cruise control set speed memory is erased.Exterior Lamps
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Turn the outside part of the lever to control the lamps.
There are three positions for the lamp switch.

Second Printing for Chevrolet Tracker Owner's Manual ± 1999
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2-37 Parking Lamps
: This position will turn on the following:

Parking Lamps

Sidemarker Lamps

Taillamps

Instrument Panel Lights

License Plate Lamp
Headlamps
: This position will turn on the following:

Headlamps

Parking Lamps

Sidemarker Lamps

Taillamps

Instrument Panel Lights

License Plate Lamp
Turn the switch to OFF to turn off the lamps.
Daytime Running Lamps
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make it easier for
others to see the front of your vehicle during the day.
DRL can be helpful in many different driving
conditions, but they can be especially helpful in the
short periods after dawn and before sunset.
The DRL system will make your headlamps come on at
a reduced brightness when:

The ignition is on with the engine running,

the headlamp switch is off or the parking lights are
on and

the parking brake is released.
When the DRL are on, only your headlamps will be on
at a reduce brightness. The taillamps, sidemarker and
other lamps won't be on. Your instrument panel won't
be lit up either.
When you turn on the headlamp switch, your DRL will
go off and your headlamps will come on. The other
lamps that come on with your headlamps will also
come on.

Second Printing for Chevrolet Tracker Owner's Manual ± 1999
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When it begins to get dark, the headlamps will
automatically switch from DRL to the regular
headlamps. See ªAutomatic Light Controlº earlier in
this section.
When you turn the headlamp switch to off, the regular
lamps will go off and your headlamps will change to the
reduced brightness of DRL provided it is not dark
outside. DRL also comes on if only the parking lamps
are being used.
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.
Automatic Light Control (ALC)
Your vehicle is equipped with an automatic light sensor
on top of the instrument panel, so be sure it is not
covered which will cause the nighttime lights to be
on continuously.When it is dark enough outside, your ALC will turn on
your low
-beam headlamps at the normal brightness
along with other lamps such as the taillamps,
sidemarker, park lamps and instrument panel lights.
There is a short delay in the transition between daytime
and nighttime operation of the Daytime Running Lamps
(DRL) and the ALC systems. If the light sensor senses a
reduction in lighting that lasts longer than 20 seconds, it
will activate the nighttime lamps. If you are driving
through a parking garage, heavy overcast weather or a
tunnel, the ALC will turn on your low
-beam headlamps
at a normal brightness along with the taillamps,
sidemarker, park lamps and the instrument panel lights.
The radio lights will be dimmer.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the regular
headlamp system when you need it.
Lamps On Reminder
If you turn the ignition off, remove the key, open the
door and leave the lamps on, a tone will remind you to
turn off your lamps.

Second Printing for Chevrolet Tracker Owner's Manual ± 1999
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2-39
Interior Lamps
Instrument Panel Brightness Control
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The thumbwheel controls
the brightness of your
instrument panel lights.
Rotate the wheel upward to
brighten the lights or
downward to dim them.
Dome Lamp
The dome lamp has a three-position switch.
OFF: This position is to the left when you are sitting in
the driver's seat. The lamp stays off even when a door
is open.
Center: This is the center position. The lamp comes on
when a door is opened.
ON: This position is to the right when you are sitting in
the driver's seat. The dome lamp turns on and stays on
whether or not a door is open.
Battery Rundown Protection
Your vehicle is equipped with a battery saver feature
designed to protect your vehicle's battery.
When the dome lamp is left on and the ignition is turned
off and the key is removed, the battery saver system will
automatically turn the lamp off after about 15 minutes.
This will avoid draining the battery. This system does
not protect against leaving on the headlamps or
parking lamps.