maintenance CHEVROLET TRACKER 1993 User Guide

Service & Appearance Care
... 236
Let the engine run at idle for three
minutes or more.
To check the fluid hot or cold:
Park your vehicle on a level place.
Place the shift lever in P (Park) with
the parking brake applied.
With your foot on the brake pedal,
move the shift lever through each gear
range, pausing for about three seconds
in each range. Then, position the shift
lever in
P (Park).
Then, without shutting off the engine,
follow these steps:
1. Pull out the dipstick and wipe it with
2. Push it back in all the way, wait
a clean rag
or paper towel.
three seconds and then pull
it back
out again.
3. Check both sides of the dipstick, and
read the lower level. The fluid level
must be
in the COLD (A) area for a
cold check or in the
HOT (B) or
cross-hatched area for a hot check.
4. If the fluid level is where it should
be, push the dipstick back
in all the
way.
How to Add Fluid:
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to
determine what kind of transmission fluid to use.
See “Recommended Fluids
and Lubricants”
in the Index.
If the fluid level is low, add only
enough of the proper fluid to bring the
level up into the COLD area for a cold
check or the
HOT area for a hot check.
It doesn’t take much fluid, generally less
than a pint. Don’t overfill. We
recommend you use only fluid labeled
DEXRON@-11, because fluids with that
label are made especially for our
automatic transmission. Damage caused
by fluid other than DEXRON@-I1 is not
covered by your new vehicle warranty.
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After adding fluid, recheck the fluid
level as described under “How to
Check.
”
obtained, push the dipstick back in all
the way.
When the correct fluid level is
Manual Transmiisioon Fluid
When to Check and Change:
A good time to have it checked is when
the engine oil is changed. Refer to the
Maintenance Schedule to find out
when
to change your transmission fluid. See
‘ ‘Scheduled Maintenance Services’ ’ in
the Index.
How to Check:
Because this operation can be a little
difficult, you may choose to have this
done at a Geo dealership Service
Department.
If you do
it yourself, be sure to follow
all the instructions here, or you could
get
a false reading.
90 much or too little fluid can
...anage your transmission.
Too
much can mean that some of the
fluid could come
out and fall on I
hot engine parts, starting a fire.
I sure to get an accurate reading if
you check your transmission fluid.
I
Check the fluid level only when your
engine is off, the vehicle is parked on a
level place and the transmission
is cool
enough
for you to rest your fingers on
the transmission case.
237 8
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Then, follow these steps:
1. Remove the filler plug.
2, Check that the lubricant level is up to
the bottom of the filler plug hole.
How to Add Fluid:
Here’s how to add fluid. Refer to the
Maintenance Schedule to see what kind
of fluid to use. See “Recommended
Fluids and Lubricants” in the Index.
1 . Remove the filler plug.
2. Add fluid at the filler plug hole. Add
only enough fluid to bring the fluid
level
up to the bottom of the filler
plug hole.
plug is fully seated.
3. Install the filler plug. Be sure the
Clutch Adjustment
The clutch linkage in your vehicle
should be checked as recommended in
your Maintenance Schedule. To check,
push the clutch pedal down with your
hand until you feel some resistance to
movement of the pedal. If the pedal
moves freely up to an inch
(25 mm) or
so before you feel resistance to the
travel, adjustment isn’t needed.
If there is no free travel or very little
(less than
5/8 of an inch), see your
dealer for adjustment.
Rear Axle
When to Check and Change
Lubricant:
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to
determine how often
to check the
lubricant and when to change it. See
“Periodic Maintenance Inspections” and
“Scheduled Maintenance Services” in
the Index.
How to Check Lubricant:
If the level is below the bottom of the
filler plug hole, you’ll need to add some
lubricant. Add enough lubricant to raise
the level to the bottom of the filler plug
hole.
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What to Use:
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to
determine what kind of lubricant to use.
See “Recommended Fluids and
Lubricants” in the Index.
Four- Wheel Drive
Most lubricant checks in this section
also apply to four-wheel-drive vehicles.
However, they have two additional
systems that need lubrication.
Transfer Case
When to Check
and Change
Lubricant:
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to
determine how often to check the
lubricant and when
to change it. See
‘ ‘Scheduled Maintenance Services’ ’ in
the Index.
How to Check Lubricant: If the level
is below the bottom of the filler plug
hole, you’ll need to add some lubricant.
Add enough lubricant to raise the level
to the bottom of 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.
Front Axle
When
to Check and Change
Lubricant:
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to
determine how often to check the
lubricant, and when to change it. See
“Periodic Maintenance Inspections” and
“Scheduled Maintenance Services”
in
the Index.
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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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Service & Appearance Care
CA U TlON
R
d
fl
I1
A If you have too much brake
L,,E;ine. The fluid will burn
if the
engine is hot enough.
You or
others could be burned, and your
vehicle could be damaged. Add
brake fluid only when work
is
done on the brake hydraulic
system.
L fluid, it can spill on the
Lefer to
the Maintenance Schedule to
etermine when to check your brake
hid. See ‘‘Periodic Maintenance
Ispections” in the Index.
’ To Check Brake Fluid:
1
You can check the brake fluid without
taking
off the cap. Just look at the
windows on the brake fluid reservoir.
The fluid levels should be above
MIN.
If they aren’t, have your brake system
checked to see
if there is a leak.
After work is done
on the the brake
hydraulic system make sure the levels
are above
MIN and below the top of
each window.
What to Add:
When you do need brake fluid, use
only DOT-3 brake fluid
- such as
Delco-Supreme
II@ (GM Part No.
I DOT-5 silicone brake fluid can
damage your llehicle. Don’t use
it.
I D0n.t so1 : put In tf
wrong mnd 01 kd. For
example, just a few drops
mineral-based oil,
such as
engine oil,
in your brake systt
can damage brake system part
so badly that they’ll have to b
replaced.
Brake fluid
I Ige paint,
be careful not to spill
fluid
on your vehicle
1052535). Use new brake fluid from a
sealed container only.
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NO TIC€
I Don’t let anyone tell you that
underinflation
or overinflation is
If your tires have too rnllrh air
(overinflation), y
Unusual wear
Bad handling When
to Check: Check your tires once
a month or more.
How to Check: Use a good quality
pocket-type gage to check tire pressure.
Simply looking at the tires will not tell
you
the pressure, especially if you have
radial tires
- which may look properly
inflated even
if they’re underinflated.
If your tires have valve caps, be sure to
put them back on. They help prevent
leaks by keeping out dirt and moisture.
Tire Inspection and Rotation
To make your tires last longer, have
them inspected and rotated at the mileages recommended
in your
Maintenance Schedule. See “Scheduled
Maintenance Services”
in the Index.
Use this rotation pattern.
255 - -
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Service & Appearance Care
Finish Damage
Any stone chips, fractures or deep
scratches in the finish should be repaired
right away. Bare metal will corrode
quickly and may develop into a major
repair expense.
Minor chips and scratches can be
repaired with touch-up materials
available from your dealer or other
service outlets. Larger areas of finish
damage can be corrected in your
dealer’s body and paint shop.
Underbody Maintenance
Chemicals used for ice and snow
removal and dust control can collect on
the underbody. If these are not removed,
accelerated corrosion (rust) can occur on
the underbody parts such as fuel lines,
frame, floor pan, and exhaust system
even though they have corrosion
protection.
At least every spring, flush these
materials from the underbody
with plain
water. Clean any areas where mud and
other debris can collect. Dirt packed in
closed areas of the frame should be
loosened before being flushed. Your
dealer or an underbody vehicle washing
system can do this for you.
Chemical Paint Spotting
Some weather and atmospheric
conditions can create a chemical fallout.
Airborne pollutants can
fall upon and
attack painted surfaces on your vehicle. This damage can take two forms:
blotchy, ringlet-shaped discolorations,
and small irregular dark spots etched
into the paint surface.
Although no defect in the paint job
causes this, Geo will repair, at no
charge to the owner, the surfaces of new
vehicles damaged by this fallout
condition within
12 months or 12,000
miles (20 OOO km) of purchase,
whichever comes first.
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rn Appearance Care and Maintenance Materials
'Not recommended for pigskin suede leather.
See your General Motors Dealers for these products. See your Maintenance Schedule for other products.
271
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IMPORTANT:
KEEP ENGINE OIL
AT THE PROPER
LEVEL AND CHANGE AS
RECOMMENDED
I
This part covers the maintenance
required for your Geo
. Your vehicle
needs these services to retain its
safety. dependability and emission
control performance
.
Part 7
Maintenance Schedule
Section
Introduction: A Word about Maintenance ........................... 282
Your Vehicle and the Environment
............................ 282
How This Part Is Organized
................................. 283
Using Your Maintenance Schedules
........................... 285
Selecting the Right Schedule
................................. 285
Schedule1
................................................ 286
Schedule11
............................................... 288
Explanation
of Scheduled Maintenance Services ................. 290
Other Emission Related Maintenance Service
................... 295
Other Non-Emission Related Maintenance Service
............... 296
At Each Fuel Fill 298
At Least Twice a Year ...................................... 299
At Least Once a Year ....................................... 300
A . Scheduled Maintenance Services ............................... 285
B . OwnerChecksandServices ................................... 298
AtLeastOnceaMonth
..................................... 299
C . Periodic Maintenance Inspections .............................. 303
D . Recommended Fluids and Lubricants ........................... 305
E . MaintenanceRecord ......................................... 308
..........................................
u1 Protection I . Plan
281 9 9
L
Have you purchased the GM Protection Plan ? 7he Plan
supplements your new car warranties
.
See your GM dealer for details .
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