overheating CHEVROLET TRACKER 1993 Owners Manual

How to Use this Manual
Part 5: Problems on the Road
This part tells you what to do if you
have a problem while driving, such as a
flat tire or engine overheating.
Part 6: Service & Appearance Care
Here the manual tells you how to keep
your Geo running properly and looking
good.
Part 7: Maintenance Schedule
This part tells you when to perform
vehicle maintenance and what fluids and
lubricants
to use.
Part 8: Customer Assistance
Information
This part includes important information
3bout reporting safety defects and gives
you details about the “Roadside
4ssistance” program.
You will also find
mstomer satisfaction phone numbers
(including customer satisfaction numbers
for the hearing and speech impaired) as
well as
the mediationlarbitration
procedure. We’ve also included ordering
information for service publications in
this part.
Service Station Information
This is a quick reference of service
information. You can find it
on the last
page of this manual.
Safety Warnings and Symbols
You will find a number of safety
cautions in this book. We use yellow
and the word CAUTION to tell
you
about things that could hurt you if you
were to ignore the warning.
In the yellow caution area, we tell you
what the hazard is. Then we tell you what
to do to help avoid or reduce the
hazard. Please read these cautions.
If
you don’t, you or others could be hurt.
I.. 6
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Engine Coolant Temperature Gage
This gage shows the engine coolant
temperature. If the gage pointer moves
to the “H” (red) side, your engine is
too hot! It means that your engine
coolant has overheated and you should
stop your vehicle and turn off the engine
as soon as possible.
HOT
COOLANT CAN BURN YOU
BADLY!
In “Problems on the Road, ” this
manual shows what to do. See “Engine
Overheating’’
in the Index.
-I
I L
Charging System Light
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 it 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
the light
on, be certain to turn off
all your accessories, such as the radio
and air conditioner.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Check
Engine Light)
A computer monitors operation of your
fuel, ignition and emission control
systems. The light should come on when
the ignition is on, but the engine is not
running, as a check to show you
it is
working. If
it does not come on at all,
have it fixed right away. If it stays
on,
or comes on while you are driving, the
computer is indicating that you have
a
problem. You should take your vehicle
in for service soon.
85.9.
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Your Driving and the Road
they are not. It’s important to check
occasionally to be sure the trailer bulbs
are still working.
Driving on Grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear
before you start down a long or steep
downgrade. If you don’t shift down, you
might have to use your brakes
so much
that they would get hot and no longer
work well.
On a long uphill grade, shift down and
reduce your speed
to around 45 mph
(70 km/h) to reduce the possibility of
engine and transmission overheating.
If your trailer weighs more than 1,000
pounds
(450 kg), and you have a manual
transmission with fifth gear, it’s better
not to use fifth gear. Just drive
in fourth
gear (or, as you need to, a lower gear).
Parking on Hills
You really should not park your vehicle,
with a trailer attached, on a hill. If
something goes wrong, your rig could
start to move. People can be injured,
and both your vehicle and the trailer can
be damaged.
But
if you ever have to park your rig on
a hill, here’s how to do
it:
1. Apply your regular brakes, but don’t shift into
P (Park)
yet, or into gear
for a manual transmission.
the trailer wheels.
2. Have someone place chocks under
3. When the wheel chocks are in place,
release the regular brakes until the
chocks absorb the load.
apply your parking brake, and then
shift
to P (Park), or R (Reverse) for
a manual transmission.
vehicle, be sure the transfer case is
in a drive gear - not in N (Neutral).
4. Reapply the regular brakes. Then
5. If you have a four-wheel-drive
... 184
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R
Here you’ll find what to do
about some problems that can
occur
on the road.
Problems on the Road
Hazard Warning Flashers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .190
rumpstarting ........................................................ 191
I‘owingYourVehicle ................................................. 196
3ngineOverheating
................................................... 200
[faTireGoesFlat .................................................... 208
[f You’re Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .217
189- -
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Problems on the Road
Position the sling crossbar under and
forward
of the rear bumper.
. = = 200
A L
Attach a separate safety chain around
the outboard end of each side of the rear
axle.
H Engine Overheating
You will find a coolant temperature
gage on your Geo instrument panel.
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Problems on the Road
c
Engine damage from running yollr I
engine without coolant isn’t
covered by your warranty.
I
If there seems to be no leak, check to
see if the electric engine fan
is running.
If
the engine is overheating, the fan
should be running. If it isn’t, your
vehicle needs service.
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Recovery
Tank
If you haven’t found a problem yet, but
the coolant level isn’t at or above
FULL, add a 50/50 mixture of clean
water
(preferably distilled) and the
proper antifreeze at the coolant recovery
tank. (See “Engine Coolant”
in the
Index for more information about the
proper coolant mix.)
A Adding only plain water to
L your cooling system can be
dangerous. Plain water, or some
other liquid, like alcohol, can boil
before the proper coolant mix will.
Your vehicle’s coolant warning
system is set for the proper coolant
mix. With plain water, or the
wrong mix, your engine could get
too hot but you wouldn’t get the
overheat warning. Your engine
could catch fire and you or others
could be burned. Use a 50/50 mix
of clean water and a proper
antifreeze.
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Service & Appearance Care
How to Check Lubricant:
If the level is below the bottom of the
filler plug hole, you’ll need to add some
lubricant.
If the differential is at operating
temperature (warm), add enough
lubricant to raise the level to the bottom
of the filler plug hole.
If the differential
is cold, add enough
lubricant to raise the level to
1/2 inch
(12 mm) below the filler plug hole.
What to Use:
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to
determine what kind of lubricant to use.
See “Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants” in the Index.
Engine Coolant
The following explains your cooling
system and how to add coolant when it
is low. If you have a problem with
engine overheating, see “Engine
Overheating” in the Index.
The proper coolant for your Geo will:
Give freezing protection down to
Give boiling protection up to 258°F
Protect against rust and corrosion.
Help keep the proper engine
Let the warning lights work as they
-34°F (-37°C).
(125°C).
temperature. should.
What to Use:
Use a mixture of one-half clean water
(preferably distilled) and one-half
antifreeze or approved recycled coolant
that meets “GM Specification 6038M,”
which won’t damage aluminum parts.
Also use GM Engine Coolant
Supplement (sealer) with a complete
coolant change. If you use these, you
don’t need to add anything else.
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Radiator Pressure Cap
IVU I IIJt
Your radiator pressure cap is a 13
- i (90 kPa) pressure-type cap and
must be tightly installed to prevent
coolant
loss and possible engine
damage from overheating. Be sure
the arrows on the cap line up with
the overflow tube on the radiato
filler neck.
I
When you replace your radiator pressure
cap, an
AC* cap is recommended.
Thermostat
Engine coolant temperature is controlled
by a thermostat in the engine coolant
system. The thermostat stops the flow
of
coolant through the radiator until the
coolant reaches a preset temperature.
When you replace your thermostat, an
AC@ thermostat is recommended.
Power Steering Fluid
How to Check Power Steering Fluid:
Unscrew the cap and wipe the dipstick
with a clean rag. Replace the cap and
completely tighten it. Then remove the
cap again and look at the fluid level on
the dipstick.
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Service & Appearance Care
A
Poorly maintained and improperly used tires are dangerous.
9 Overloading your tires can cause overheating as a result of too much
friction. You could have an air-out and a serious accident. See “Loading
Your Vehicle” in the Index.
resulting accident could cause serious injury. Check all tires frequently to
maintain the recommended pressure. Tire pressure should be checked
when
the tires are cold.
Overinflated tires are more likely to be cut, punctured, or broken by a
sudden impact, such as when you hit a pothole. Keep tires at the
recommended pressure.
your tires have been damaged, replace them.
the correct high speed rated tires.
* Underinflated tires pose the same danger as overloaded tires. The
Worn, old tires can cause accidents. If your tread is badly worn, or if
Don’t drive over 85 mph (135 kmh) even if it’s legal, unless you have
Inflation - Tire Pressure
The Tire-Loading Information label
which
is on the driver’s door lock pillar
shows the correct inflation pressures for
your tires, when they’re cold. “Cold”
means your vehicle has been sitting
for
at least three hours or driven no more
than a mile.
9 254
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Index
Children (Safety Belts) ............. 30
Children. Larger (Safety Belts) ...... 37
Cigarette Lighter
................. 77
Circuit Breakers. Fuses and ........ 273
City Driving
.................... 164
Cleaner. Air
.................... 233
Cleaning Aluminum Wheels
............. 269
Canvas Top
................... 268
Fabric. Using Foam-Type
Cleaner on
.................. 263
Fabric. Using Solvent-Type
Cleaner on
.................. 263
Geo. the Iqside of Your
.......... 262
Geo. the Outside of Your
........ 267
Glass
........................ 266
Instrument Panel. the Top of
the . . 266
Special Problems
............... 264
Underbody
.................... 270
Vinyl or Leather
............... 265
Windshield and Wiper Blades
..... 267
AM/FM Stereo
................ 107
AM/FM Stereo with
Cassette Tape Player
.......... 108
Clusters. Instrument Panel and
...... 80
Clutch Adjustment
............... 238
Coinholder and Bin
................ 76
Color
of Road Signs .............. 1 18
Clock.
Setting the Combination Light Bulb
Replacement. Rear
............. 25 1
Comfort Controls and Audio
Systems
...................... 101
Control of a Vehicle
.............. 126
Control.
Loss of ................. 138
Controls
Air Conditioner
................ 104
Brightness ..................... 7 1
Comfort
...................... 102
Features and
................... 43
Heater
....................... 102
Seats and Seat
.................. 12
Convertible Top
.................. 87
Convex Outside Mirror
............ 74
Coolant
Adding
................ .... 242
Engine
....................... 240
Overheating
................... 200
Radiator, How to Add
Coolant to the
................ 206
Recovery Tank, How to Add
Coolant to
.................. 204
Temperature Gage. Engine
........ 85
Cooling (Air Conditioning) ........ 104
Curves, Driving on
............... 132
Customer Assistance for the
Hearing
or Speech Impaired ...... 3 13
Customer Assistance Information
... 3 11
Customer Satisfaction Procedure
.... 3 12 Daytime
Running Lights
........... 70
Defensive Driving
............... 122
Defogger. Rear Window
.......... 105
Defogging and Defrosting
Windows
..................... 104
Dehumidifying (Air Conditioning)
. . 105
Dimensions. Vehicle ............. 279
Disc Brake Wear Indicators
........ 130
Dome Light
...................... 71
Door Locks
......................... 45
Locks. Tailgate
................. 46
Storage Compartments
........... 75
Downhill. Driving
............... 150
Downhill. Parking ............... 172
Drive. Four-wheel
........... .57. 239
Driving
Across an Incline
............... 152
After Off-Road
................ 157
And the Road. Your
............ 117
AtNight
...................... 157
City
......................... 164
Defensive
.................... 122
Downhill
..................... 150
Drunken ...................... 123
Freeway
...................... 165
Guidelines.
Utility Vehicle ....... 140
In
Fog. Mist. and Haze .......... 162
In
Fog. Tips on ................ 163
... 326
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