CHEVROLET TRACKER 1997 Owners Manual
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Malfunction  Indicator  Lamp (Service  Engine 
Soon Light) 
SERVICE 
ENGINE 
SOON 
Your  Geo is equipped with a 
computer  which monitors 
operation  of the  fuel, 
ignition and  emission 
control  systems. 
This  system  is  called  OBD 
I1 (On-Board 
Diagnostics-Second  Generation) and is intended  to 
assure  that emissions  are at acceptable  levels for 
the life 
of the vehicle,  helping  to produce a  cleaner 
environment.  (In Canada, OBD I1 
is replaced  by 
Enhanced  Diagnostics.)  The  SERVICE ENGINE 
SOON 
light comes on  to  indicate  that  there  is a problem and 
service  is required. Malfunctions  often will  be  indicated 
by  the system  before any problem 
is apparent.  This  may 
prevent  more serious  damage to your vehicle.  This 
system 
is also  designed to assist your  service technician 
in  correctly  diagnosing  any malfunction. 
NOTICE: 
If  you  keep  driving  your  vehicle  with  this  light 
on, after  a  while,  your  emission  controls  may not 
work  as well,  your  fuel  economy  may  not  be  as 
good  and  your  engine  may  not  run  as smoothly. 
This  could  lead 
to costly  repairs  that  may  not  be 
covered  by your  warranty. 
This  light should come  on,  as a check to show you it is 
working, when the  ignition is on and the  engine is not 
running. 
If the light doesn’t come  on, have it repaired. 
This  light 
will also come  on during  a  malfunction  in one 
of two ways: 
Light  Flashing -- A misfire condition has been 
detected. 
A misfire  increases  vehicle emissions and 
may damage the  emission  control  system on your 
vehicle. Dealer 
or qualified  service  center  diagnosis 
and  service  is required. 
0 Light  On  Steady -- An  emission control system 
malfunction has been detected  on your vehicle. 
Dealer  or qualified  service center diagnosis  and 
service  may be required. 
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If the  Light Is Flashing If the  Light Is On Steady 
The following may prevent more serious damage  to 
your vehicle: 
Reducing vehicle  speed. 
Avoiding hard accelerations. 
Avoiding steep uphill  grades. 
If  you are towing  a trailer,  reduce  the amount of 
cargo being hauled as soon  as it is possible. 
If  the light stops  flashing and remains  on steady,  see 
“If 
the Light Is On Steady”  following. 
If  the light continues to  flash, when it 
is safe to  do so, 
stop 
the vehicle. Find  a  safe  place  to park your vehicle. 
Turn the key off, wait at  least 
10 seconds and restart the 
engine.  If the  light remains on steady, see  “If the Light 
Is  On  Steady”  following. 
If the light  is  still flashing, 
follow the previous steps, and  drive the vehicle  to your 
dealer 
or qualified service  center  for service.  You 
may  be  able to correct the  emission system 
malfunction  by considering the following: 
Did  you  recently put  fuel into your vehicle? 
If so, reinstall the  fL1el cap,  making  sure  to fully install 
the  cap.  The diagnostic system can determine 
if the fuel 
cap  has  been  left off or improperly installed. 
A loose  or 
missing fuel  cap 
will allow fuel to  evaporate  into  the 
atmosphere. A few driving trips with the  cap properly 
installed should 
turn the light off. 
Did  you just  drive through  a deep puddle  of water? 
If so, your electrical system  may be wet. The condition 
will  usually  be  corrected when the electrical system 
dries  out.  A few driving trips should 
turn the light off. 
Are  you low  on fuel? 
As your engine starts to run out  of fuel,  your  engine  may 
not  run 
as efficiently as designed  since small amounts  of 
air are sucked into the fuel 
line causing  a misfire.  The 
system can detect  this. Adding  fuel should correct this 
condition. Make  sure  to install the fuel  cap properly.  It 
will  take  a few driving trips  to turn  the light off. 
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Have you recently changed brands of fuel? 
If 
so, be  sure  to fuel  your vehicle with quality  fuel  (see 
“Fuel” in the  Index). Poor fuel quality  will cause  your 
engine  not to run  as efficiently  as  designed. 
You may 
notice this  as  stalling after start-up,  stalling when  you 
put  the  vehicle  into  gear, misfiring, hesitation on 
acceleration  or  stumbling  on acceleration.  (These 
conditions  may go away  once the engine  is warmed up.) 
This  will be  detected  by the  system and  cause  the  light 
to  turn  on. 
If  you  experience  one  or  more of these  conditions, 
change  the  fuel  brand you use. It  will require  at least  one 
full  tank  of the  proper  fuel to turn the light  off. 
If  none 
of the  above  steps have made the light turn  off, 
have your  dealer or qualified  service  center  check the 
vehicle. 
Your dealer  has the proper test equipment  and 
diagnostic  tools to 
fix any mechanical  or electrical 
problems that  may have  developed. 
Oil Pressure Light 
If  you  have a problem with 
your  oil, this  light  may stay 
on  after  you start  your 
engine,  or  come on when 
you  are  driving. 
This indicates that there is not enough  pressure  to keep 
your  engine  properly lubricated and  cool.  The  engine 
could  be low  on 
oil, or have some other oil related 
problem. Have 
it fixed right away. 
The 
oil light could also come on  in three 
other  situations. 
0 When  the ignition is on but  the  engine is not running, 
the  light  will come  on as a test to show  you it 
is 
working, but the  light will go  out  when you turn the 
engine to START. If it doesn’t  come on with  the 
ignition  on, you  may  have a problem with the  fuse  or 
bulb. Have  it fixed right away. 
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0 Sometimes when the  engine is idling  at  a  stop,  the 
light  may blink  on  and 
off. This  is  nonnal. 
If you make a hard  stop,  the  light  may come on for a 
moment. This is normal. 
I I 
A CAUTIPN: 
I 
Don't  keep  driving if the oil pressure is low. If 
you  do,  your engine  can become so hot  that it 
catches  fie. You or others  could  be  burned. 
Check  your oil as soon 
as possible  and have  your 
vehicle  serviced. 
NOTICE: 
Damage  to  your engine from neglected oil 
problems  can be  costly  and is not covered by 
your  warranty. 
Power Indicator Light (If Equipped) 
POWER 
This light  comes on  when 
the  power mode selector 
switch 
is turned  to 
POWER (P) with  the 
ignition  switch in the 
ON position. 
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Overdrive Off Light (If Equipped) 
O/D OFF 
This  light comes on when 
the  automatic  four-speed 
transmission  has  been 
converted  to  the  three-speed 
mode  and the  overdrive 
is 
turned off. 
Daytime  Running  Lamps  (DRL) 
Indicator  Light 
:::O .a. 
This  light  goes on whenever 
the  daytime running lamps 
are  on. 
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Fuel Gage 
Your fuel gage shows  about 
how  much  fuel 
is in your 
tank.  When the gage  first 
still  have  about  one  or  two 
gallons 
(4 to 8 L) of  fuel left 
in  your tank,  but  you need 
to  get  more right  away. 
/ indicates EMPTY (E), you  Here 
are  four  concerns  some owners have  had about  the 
fuel gage.  All these situations  are normal  and do not 
indicate  that anything 
is wrong with the fuel gage. 
0 
0 
0 
0 
At the gas station,  the fuel  pump shuts  off before  the 
gage  reads 
FULL (F). 
It takes more  (or less) fuel to fill up than the gage 
reads. 
For example, the gage reads  half full,  but  it 
took more (or less) than  half 
of the tank’s capacity to 
fill 
it. 
The  gage moves a little  when  you  turn, stop or 
speed up. 
When  you  turn  the engine  off, the gage doesn’t 
go 
back to EMPTY (E). 
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Section 3 Comfort  Controls  and  Audio  Systems 
In this section,  you’ll find  out how to operate  the  comfort control and audio  systems offered with your  Geo.  Be  sure 
to  read  about  the  particular  systems supplied with your 
. v-e. .. 
3-2 Climate Controls  3-1 1 
3-3  Air 
Conditioning 
3-4  Heating 
3-18 
3-5 Rear Window  Defogger  3- 
17 
3-5  Tips  for  Defogging  and Defrosting  3-17 
3-4  Ventilation System and  Tips  3- 
15 
3-6 Setting  the 
Clock 
3-19 
3-8 AM-FM Stereo with Cassette  Tape Player  3- 
19 
3 
-7 AM-FM  Stereo  3-18 AM-FM 
Stereo with Cassette  Tape and 
Compact  Disc  Player 
Theft-Deterrent  Feature  Understanding Radio Reception 
Tips About  Your Audio System 
Adding Sound Equipment  to Your  Vehicle 
Care  of  Your  Cassette  Tape Player 
Care  of Your Compact  Discs 
Antenna 
3-1 
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Comfort  Controls 
With this system,  you can control  the heating  and 
ventilation  in your  Geo. 
If you have  the air conditioning 
option,  you can also  control  cooling. 
Your  vehicle  also  has  the flow-through  ventilation 
system  described later in  this  section. 
Climate  Control  System 
Airflow  Lever 
de 
9 VENT This position  directs  the  airflow through 
the  instrument  panel vents. 
49 BI-LEVEL: This position  directs air through  the 
instrument panel vents  and toward  the floor. 
A. 
%$ FLOOR: This position  directs air toward the floor. 
w> DEFOG: This position  directs air toward the 
floor,  the windshield  and side  windows. 
9 DEFROST This  position  directs air to  the 
windshield and side  windows. 
Fan  Control  Lever 
Slide the lever  away from OFF to turn  the system  on. 
Move  the lever  toward  the fan  symbol  to  increase the 
fan’s speed. 
Temperature  Control  Lever 
Slide  the lever  to change the temperature  of the air 
flowing from  the system. Move  it to the right for 
warmer air  and to  the  left  for  cooler 
air. Without 
optional  air  conditioning,  the 
air temperature cannot be 
less  than  the outside air temperature. 
Air Intake  Lever 
CIRCULATE: 
Choose  this position  to circulate outside 
air through  the comfort  control system. 
RECIRCULATE: Choose this position  to recirculate 
the  inside 
air through the comfort control system. 
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Air Conditioner Controls (Option) 
The  air  conditioning system 
uses the  same  controls  as 
described previously.  The 
function 
of each  lever  is 
explained  under “Climate 
Control  System”  in this 
part.  The incoming  air is 
cooled  and dehumidified 
instead  of being  heated. 
Push  the 
A/C button  to change your comfort control 
system from heating  to  air  conditioning. 
A light will 
come 
on when the air  conditioning  is  on.  The A/C 
button can also control the humidity in your vehicle. 
The air  conditioner works best if you keep your 
windows closed.  On very hot  days, open the windows 
just  long enough  for  the hot air to escape. 
For normal  cooling, push the 
A/C button and move the 
air  intake  lever  to  CIRCULATE. For faster  cooling, 
move the  lever  to RECIRCULATE.  Then move the 
airflow  lever to VENT, the  temperature  control  lever 
toward the left and the  fan control  lever toward  the 
fan  symbol. 
On  days when 
it is raining  or  the humidity  is high, 
follow  these dehumidifying  steps  to help clean  windows 
that  are cloudy with moisture. Push  the A/C  button. 
Move the air  intake  lever to CIRCULATE.  Move  the 
airflow  lever to DEFROST  and 
the fan control lever 
toward the  fan  symbol.  Adjust 
the temperature control 
lever  to 
a comfortable  setting. 
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Heating 
For the quickest results, move the air intake lever to 
RECIRCULATE.  Move  the airflow lever  to FLOOR, 
the temperature control lever toward the right  for 
warmer  air and  the 
far, control  lever toward  the  fan 
symbol. 
You should switch  to CIRCULATE  once in a 
while to avoid stale air and cloudy windows. 
Ventilation  System 
For mild outside temperatures, when little heating  or 
cooling is needed,  you can still  direct outside  air through 
ymr  vehicle. 
Move the  air intake lever to  CIRCULATE  and  the 
airflow lever 
to BI-LEVEL.  Adjust the temperature 
control  lever to 
a comfortable  setting and move the fan 
control lever toward the  fan  symbol. 
Your  Geo’s flow-through  ventilation system  supplies 
outside  air into  the vehicle when 
it is moving. Outside 
air  will also  enter the vehicle when  the fan  is running 
and the  air  intake  lever is  at  CIRCULATE.  Your 
vehicle  has air outlets that allow  you to adjust the 
direction  and amount 
of airflow inside  the vehicle. Push 
the outlet 
up or  down  to direct airflow to your 
preference. Increase  or reduce the amount 
of airflow by 
opening  and closing  the louvers. 
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