engine CHEVROLET TRACKER 1994 Owner's Manual

Your Driving and the Road
that happens, release enough pressure on
the brakes to get the wheels rolling again
so that you can steer.
With the four-wheel drive option, you
won’t have anti-lock braking when you
shift into four-wheel drive. But
you will
have regular braking. When you shift
back into two-wheel drive, you will have
anti-lock again.
Braking in Emergencies
At some time, nearly every driver gets
into a situation that requires hard braking.
You have the rear-wheel anti-lock braking
system. Your front wheels can stop rolling
when you brake
very hard. Once they do,
the vehicle can’t respond to your steering.
Momentum
will carry it in whatever
direction it was headed when the front
wheels stopped rolling. That could be off
the road, into the very thing you were
trying to avoid, or into traffic.
So, use a “squeeze” braking technique.
This will give you maximum braking
while maintaining steering control.
You
do this by pushing on the brake pedal
with steadily increasing pressure. When
you do, it will help maintain steering
control. In many emergencies, steering
can help you more than even the
very best
braking.
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Steering
Power Steering
If you lose power steering assist because
the engine stops or the system is not
functioning, you can steer but
it will take
much more effort.
Steering Tips
Driving on Curves
It’s important to take curves at a
reasonable speed.
A lot of the “driver lost control” accidents
mentioned on the news happen on curves.
Here’s why:
Experienced driver or beginner, each of
us is subject to the same laws of physics
when driving on curves. The traction of
the tires against the road surface makes
it
possible for the vehicle to change its path
when you
turn the front wheels. If there’s
no traction, inertia will keep the vehicle
going
in the same direction. If you’ve
ever tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice,
you’ll understand this.
The traction you can get in a curve
depends on the condition of your tires and
the road surface, the angle at which
the
curve is banked, and your speed. While you’re
in a curve, speed
is the one factor
you can control.
Suppose you’re steering through a sharp
curve. Then
you suddenly apply the
brakes. Both control systems
- steering
and braking
- have to do their work
where the tires meet the road. Adding the
hard braking can demand too much at
those places.
You can lose control.
The same thing can happen if you’re
steering through a sharp curve and you
suddenly accelerate. Those two control
systems
- steering and acceleration -
can overwhelm those places where the
tires meet
the road and make you lose
control.
What should
you do if this ever happens?
Ease up on the brake or accelerator pedal,
steer the vehicle the way you want it to
go, and slow down.
Speed limit signs near curves warn that
you should adjust your speed. Of course,
the posted speeds are based on good
weather and road conditions. Under less
favorable conditions you’ll want to go
slower.
If you need to reduce your speed as you
approach a curve, do
it before you enter
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loss of Control
Let's review what driving experts say
about
what happens when the three
control system (brakes, steering and
acceleration) don't have enough friction
where
the tires meet the road to do what
the driver has asked.
In any emergency. don't give up. Keep
trying
to steer and constantly seek an
escape route or area
of less danger.
Skidding
In a skid. a driver can lose control of the
vehicle. Defensive drivers avoid most
skids by taking reasonable care suited
to
existing conditions. and by not
"overdriving" those conditions. But skids
are always possible.
The three types
of skids correspond to
your Geo's three control systems. In the
braking skid your wheels are.n't rolling.
In
the steering or cornering skid, too much
speed or steering
in a curve causes tires to
slip and lose cornering force. And
in the
acceleration skid too much throttle causes
the driving wheels
to spin.
A cornering skid and an acceleration skid
are best handled by easing your foot off
the accelerator pedal.
If your vehicle starts to slide, ease your
foot 011' the accelerator pedal and quickly
steer the way
you want the vehicle to go.
If you start steering quickly enough. your
vehicle
may straighten out. 41ways be
ready for
;I sccond skid if it occurs.
Of course, traction is reduced when water,
snow. ice. gravel. or other material is on
the road. For safety, you'll want to slow
down and adjust your driving
to these
conditions.
It is important to slow down
on slippery surfaces because stopping
distance will be longer
and vehicle
control more limited.
While driving on
a surface with reduced
traction.
try your best to avoid sudden
steering, acceleration,
or braking
(including engine braking by shifting
EO a
lower gear).
Any sudden changes could
cause the tires to slide. You may
not
realize the surface is slippery until yout-
vehicle is skidding. Learn
to recognize
warning clues
~ such as enough water,
ice or packed snow
on the road to make ;1
"nlir~-or.ed surf'rlce" - and slow down
when you have any doubt.
Remember: The rex-wheel anti-lock
braking system (RWAL) helps avoid
only
a rear braking skid. In a braking skid
(where the front wheels are
no longer rolling),
release enough pressure
on the
brakes to get the front wheels rolling
again. This restores steering control. Push
the brake pedal down steadily when you
have
to stop suddenly. As long as the
I'ront wheels are rolling,
you will have
sleering control.
Driving Guidelines
This multipurpose passenger vehicle is
defined as a utility vehicle in Consumer
Information Regulations issued
by the
National I-lighway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA)
of the United
States Department of Transportation.
Utility vehicles have higher ground
clearance and a narrower track to make
them capable of performing
in a wide
variety
of off-road applications. Specific
design characteristics give them a higher
center of gravity than ordinary cars. An
advantage
of the higher ground clearance
is
a better view of the road allowing you
to anticipate problems. They are not
designed for cornering
at the same speeds
as conventional 2-wheel drive vehicles
any no re than low-slunl 7 .'p '-, orts cars are
designed
to perform satisfitctorily under
off-road conditions.
If at all possible,
avoid shurp turns or abrupt maneuvers.
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Traveling to Remote Areas
It makes sense to plan your trip,
especially when going to a remote area.
Know the terrain and plan your route. You
are much less likely to get bad surprises.
Get accurate maps of trails and terrain.
Try to learn of any blocked or closed
roads.
It’s also a good idea to travel with at least
one other vehicle.
If something happens
to one of them, the other can help quickly.
Does your vehicle have a winch? If
so, be
sure to read the winch instructions. In a
remote area, a winch can be handy if you
get stuck. But you’ll want to know how to
use it properly.
Getting Familiar with Off-Road
Driving
It’s a good idea to practice in an area
that’s safe and close to home before you
go into the wilderness. Off-road driving
does require some new and different
driving skills. Here’s what we mean.
Tune your senses to different kinds of
signals. Your eyes, for example, need to
constantly sweep the terrain for
unexpected obstacles. Your ears need to
listen for unusual tire or engine sounds. With
your arms, hands, feet, and body
you’ll need to respond to vibrations and
vehicle bounce.
Controlling your vehicle is the key to
successful off-road driving. One
of the
best ways to control your vehicle is to
control your speed. Here are some things
to keep in mind. At higher speeds:
0 you approach things faster and you
have less time to scan the terrain for
obstacles.
0 you have less time to react.
0 you have more vehicle bounce when
you drive over obstacles.
0 you’ll need more distance for braking,
especially since you’re on an unpaved
surface.
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.
Surface 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.
Surface 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:
0 Is the path ahead clear?
0 Will the surface texture change
abruptly up ahead?
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0 Is the hill simply too rough‘? Steep hills
often have ruts, gullies, troughs and
exposed rocks because
they are more
susceptible
to the effects of erosion.
Driving Uphill
Once you decide you can safely drive up
the hill,
you need to take some special
steps.
0 Use a low gear and get a firm grip on
the steering wheel.
Get a smooth start up the hill and try
to maintain your speed. Don’t use
more power than
you need, because
you don’t want your wheels
to start
spinning or sliding.
Try to drive straight up the hill if at a1
possible.
If the path twists and turns,
you might want to find another route.
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Ease up on your speed as you
approach the top
of the hill.
Attach a flag to the vehicle to tnake
you more visible to approaching
traffic on trails
or hills.
Sound the
horn as you approach the
top
of the hill to let opposing traffic
know you’re there.
Use your headlights even during the
day. They make you more visible
to
oncoming traffic.
Q: What should I do if my vehicle
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stalls, or is about to stall, and I can’t
make
it up the hill?
If this happens, there are some things
you should do, and there are some
things you must not do. First, here’s
what you should do:
Push the brake pedal
to stop the
vehicle and keep
it from rolling
backwards. Also, apply
the parking
brake.
If your engine is still running, shift the
transmission into reverse, release the
parking brake, and slowly back down
the
hill in reverse.
If your engine has stopped running,
you’ll need to restart it. With the brake
pedal depressed and
the parking brake
still applied,
shift the transmission to
“P” (Park) (or, shift to “N” (Neutral)
if your vehicle has a manual
transmission) and restart
the engine.
Then, shift
to reverse, release the
parking brake, and slowly back down
the
hill as straight as possible in
reverse.
As you are backing down the hill, put
your left hand
on the steering wheel at
the
12 o’clock position. This way,
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Your Driving and the Road
you'll be able to tell if your wheels are
stl-aisht and maneuver
as you back
down. It's best thur ~LI i);\c.l; c'lown the
hill with your wheeis straight rather
than
in the left or right direction.
Turning the wheel
too far to the left or
right will increase the possibility of a
rollover.
Here are some things you must
not do if
you stall, or are about to stall, when going
up a
hill.
0
Never attempt to prevent a stall by
shifting
into "N" (Neutral) (or
depressing
the clutch. if you have a
manual transmission) to "rev-up" the
engine and regain forward rnornentum.
This won't work. Your vehicle
will
roll backwards very quickly and you
could
go out of control. Instead. apply
the regular brake to stop the vehicle.
Then apply the parking brake. Shift into reverse, release the parking brake,
and slowly back straight down.
Never attempt
to turn around if you
are about
to stall when going up a hill.
If the hill is steep enough to stall your
vehicle, it's steep enough to cause
you
to roll over if you turn around. If you
can't make
it up the hill, you must
back straight down the
hill.
0: Suppose, after stalling, I try to back
down the hill and decide
I just can't
do it. What should I do?
A: Set the parking brake, put your
transmission
in "P'* (Park) (or the
manual transmission in first gear). and
turn off the engine. Leave the vehicle
and go get some help. Exit on the
uphill side and
stay clear of the path
the vehicle would take
if it rolled
downhill.
Do not shift thc transfer
case
to "N" (Neutral) when you leave
the vehicle. Leave it in some gear.
Driving Downhill
When off-roading takes you downhill,
JOU'II want to consider a number of
hings:
D How steep is the downhill'? Will I be
able
to maintain vehicle control'?
D What's the surfilce like? Smooth?
Rough'! Slippery'? Hard-packed dirt?
Gravel'?
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0 Are there hidden surface obstacles?
Ruts? Logs? Boulders?
0 What’s at the bottom of the hill? Is
there a hidden creek bank or even a
river bottom with large rocks?
If you decide you can go down a
hill
safely, then try to keep your vehicle
headed straight down, and use a low gear.
This way, engine drag can help your
brakes and they won’t have to do all the
work. Descend slowly, keeping your
vehicle under control at all times.
Q: Are there some things I should not
do when driving down
a hill?
A: Yes! These are important because if
you ignore them you could lose
control and have a serious accident.
When driving downhill, avoid turns
that take you across the incline
of the
hill.
A hill that’s not too steep to drive
down may be too steep to drive
across. You could roll over if you
don’t drive straight down.
Never go downhill with the
transmission in “N” (Neutral), or with
the clutch pedal depressed in a manual
shift. This is called “free-wheeling.”
Your brakes will have to do all the
work and could overheat and fade.
Avoid braking
so hard that you lock
the front wheels when going downhill.
If your front wheels are locked, you
can’t steer your vehicle. If your
wheels lock up during downhill
braking, you may feel the vehicle
starting to slide sideways.
To regain
your direction, just ease
off the brakes
and steer to keep the front of the
vehicle pointing straight downhill.
Q: Am I likely to stall when going
downhill?
A:
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It‘s much more likely to happen going
uphill.
But if it happens going
downhill, here’s what to do.
Stop your vehicle by applying the
regular brakes. Apply the parking
brake.
Shift to
“P” (Park) (or to Neutral with
the manual transmission) and, while
still braking, restart the engine.
Shift back to a low gear, release the
parking brake, and drive straight down.
If the engine won’t start, get out and
get help.
Driving Across an Incline
Sooner or later, an off-road trail will
probably go across the incline
of a hill. If
this happeris, you have to decide whether
to try to drive across the incline. Here are
some things to consider:
0 A hill that can be driven straight up
or down may be too steep to drive
across. When you go straight up or
down a hill, the length
of the wheel
base (the distance from the front
wheels to the rear wheels) reduces the
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Your Driving and the Road
long as your tailpipe is under water, you'll
never be able to
start your engine. When
you go through water, remember that
when your brakes get wet, it may take
you longer to stop.
After Off-Road Driving
Remove any brush or debris that has
collected
on the underbody, chassis or
under the hood. These accumulations can
be a fire hazard.
After operation in mud or sand, have the
brake linings cleaned and checked. These
substances can cause glazing and uneven
braking. Check the body structure,
steering, suspension, wheels, tires, and exhaust system
for damage.
Also, check
the fuel lines and cooling system for any
leakage.
Your vehicle will require more frequent
service due to off-road
use. Refer to the
Maintenance Schedule for additional
information.
4 Driving at Night
Night driving is more dangerous than day
driving. One reason is that some drivers
are likely
to be impaired - by alcohol or
drugs, with night vision problems, or by
fatigue.
Here are some tips on night driving.
Drive defensively.
Don't drink and drive.
Adjust your inside rearview mirror to
reduce the glare from headlights
behind you.
Since you can't see as well,
you may
need to slow down and keep more space between
you and other vehicles.
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Wiper Blades: Are they in good
shape?
Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids:
Have you checked all levels?
Lights: Are they all working? Are the
lenses clean?
Tires: They are vitally important to a
safe, trouble-free trip. Is the tread
good enough for long-distance
driving? Are the tires all inflated to
the recommended pressure?
Weather Forecasts: What’s the
weather outlook along your route?
Should you delay your trip a short
time to avoid a major storm system?
Maps: Do you have up-to-date
maps?
Highway Hypnosis
Is there actually such a condition as
“highway hypnosis”? Or is it just plain
falling asleep at the wheel? Call
it
highway hypnosis, lack of awareness, or
whatever.
There is something about an easy stretch
of road with
the same scenery, along with
the hum of the tires
on the road, the drone
of the engine, and the rush of the wind
against the vehicle that can make you sleepy. Don’t let it happen
to you! If it
does, your vehicle can leave the road in
less than a second, and
you could crash
and be injured.
What can you do about highway
hypnosis? First, be aware that
it can
happen.
Then here are some tips:
0 Make sure your vehicle is well
ventilated, with a comfortably cool
interior.
0 Keep your eyes moving. Scan the
road ahead and to
the sides. Check
your mirrors and your instruments
frequently.
0 If you get sleepy, pull off the road into
a rest, service, or parking area and
take a nap, get some exercise,
or both.
For safety, treat drowsiness on the
highway as an emergency.
Hill and Mountain
Roads
Driving on steep hills or mountains is
different from driving
in flat or rolling
terrain. If you drive regularly in steep
country, or
if you’re planning to visit
there, here are some tips that can make
your trips safer and more enjoyable.
(See “Off-Road Driving” in the Index
for information about driving off-road.)
Keep your vehicle in good shape.
Check all fluid levels and also the
brakes, tires, cooling system and
transmission. These parts can work
hard
on mountain roads.
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Your Driving and the Road
0 Know how to go down hills. The mosl
important thing
to know is this: let
your engine do some of the slowing
down. Shift
to a lower gear when you
go down a steep or long hill.
If you don’t shift down, your brakes
could get so hot that they wouldn’t
work well.
You would then have poor
braking
or even none going down a
hill. You could crash. Shift down to
let your engine assist your brakes on
a steep downhill slope.
A CAUTION:
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Coasting downhill in “N” (Neutral)
or with the ignition off is dangerous.
Your brakes will have to do all the
work of slowing down. They could
get
so hot that they wouldn’t work
well.
You could crash. Always have
your engine running and your vehicle
in gear when you go downhill. Know how to
go
uphill. You may
want to shift down
to a lower gear.
The lower gears help cool your engine
and transmission. and you can climb the
hill better.
Stay
in yo~~r own lane when driving
on two-lane roads
in hills or
mountains.
Don’t swing wide or cut
~tcross
[he center of the road. Drive at
speeds
that let you stay in your own
lane.
As you go over the top of a hill. be
alert. There could be something
in
your lane. like a stalled car or an
accident.
You n~ay see highway signs
on
mountains that warn of special
problems. Examples are long grades,
passing or no-passing zones,
a falling
rocks area, or winding roads.
Be alert
to these and take appropriate action.
Winter Driving
Here are some tips for winter driving:
Have your Geo
in good shape for
winter.
Be sure your engine coolant
mix is correct.
You may want
to put winter
emergency supplies
in your vehicle.
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Your Driving and the Road
If You’re Caught in a Blizzard
If you are stopped by heavy snow, you
could be in a serious situation. You should
probably stay with your vehicle unless
you know
for sure that you are near help
and you can hike through the snow. Here
are some things to do to summon help and
keep yourself and your passengers safe:
Turn on your hazard flashers. Tie a red
cloth to your vehicle to alert police that
you’ve been stopped by the snow. Put on
extra clothing or wrap
a blanket around
you. If you have no blankets or extra
clothing, make body insulators from
newspapers, burlap bags, rags, floor mats
- anything you can wrap around yourself
or tuck under your clothing to keep warm.
You can
run the engine to keep warm, but
be careful. Run your engine
only as long as
you
must. This saves fuel. When you run the
engine, make it go a little faster than just
idle. That is, push the accelerator slightly.
This uses less fuel for the heat that you
get and it keeps the battery charged. You
will need a well-charged battery to restart
the vehicle, and possibly for signaling
later on with your headlights. Let the
heater run for awhile.
Then, shut the engine off and close the
window almost all the way to preserve
the heat. Start the engine again and
repeat this only when you feel really
uncomfortable from the cold. But
do it as
little as possible. Preserve the fuel as long
3s you can. To help keep warm, you can
get out of the vehicle and do some fairly
vigorous exercises every half hour or
so
until help comes.
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