engine CHEVROLET TRACKER 1993 Service Manual

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
ProCarManuals.com

J
It be dangerous tu get out
of your vehicle if the shift lever
is not fully in P (Park) with the
parking brake firmly set.
If you have left the engine running,
the veficle can
move suddenly. You
or others could be injured. To be
sure your vehicle won’t move, when
you’re
on fairly level ground, use
the steps that follow.
If you have four-wheel drive, and
your transfer
case is in N (NeutraI) ,
your vehicle will be free to roll,
even
if your shift lever is in
P (Park). So, be sure the transfer
case is in a drive gear - not in
N (Neutral).
If you are parking on a hill, or if
you’re pulling a trailer; also see
“Parking On Hills” in the Index.
6. Release the regular brakes.
When You Are Ready to Leave after
Parking on a
Hill
1. Apply your regular brakes and hold
the pedal down while you:
Start your engine;
Shift into a gear; and
Release the parking brake.
2. Let up on the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear
4. Stop and have someone pick up and
of the chocks.
store
the chocks.
Maintenance When Trailer Towing
Your vehicle will need service more
often when you’re pulling a trailer.
See
the Maintenance Schedule for more on
this. Things that are especially important
in trailer operation are automatic
transmission fluid (don’t overfill),
engine oil, axle lubricant, belts, cooling
system, and brake adjustment. Each
of
these is covered in this manual, and the
Index will help you find them quickly.
If
you’re trailering, it’s a good idea to
review these sections before you start
your trip.
Check periodically
to see that all hitch
nuts and bolts are tight.
185 9 =
ProCarManuals.com

Your Driving and the Road
= - 9 188
3. Shift your automatic transmission
into
P (Park), or your manual
transmission into
2 (Second).
4. Shift the transfer case to N (Neutral).
5. Set the hubs to FREE. See
“Four-Wheel Drive” in the Index.
6. Release the parking brake. Stop towing every
200 miles (300 km)
and
start the engine. Leave the transfer
case shift lever in
N (Neutral). Shift
your automatic transmission
to
D (Drive); leave a manual transmission
in
2 (Second) and release the clutch.
Run the engine at medium speed for one
minute to circulate
the oil in the transfer
case. Turn
the ignition key to ACC.
Now, you can continue towing your
Geo
.
NU I Kt
Make sure that the towing speed
does not exceed
50 mph
(80 km/h), or your Geo could
badly damaged.
ProCarManuals.com

3. Turn off the ignition on both
vehicles. Turn
off all lights that
aren’t needed, and radios. This will
avoid sparks and help save both
batteries. And
it could save your
radio!
f you leave your radio on, it
ould be badly damaged.
Thc
?pairs wouldn’i 2 cove--? by
our warrant.
4. Open the hoods and locate the
batteries.
CA UTiON
A An electric fan can start up
- even when the engine is not
running and
can injure you. Keep
hands, clothing and tools away from any underhood electric fan.
Find the positive
(+) and negative
(-) terminals on each battery. Using
a match near
a battery
can cause battery gas to
explode. People
have been hurt
doing this, and some have been
blinded. Use a flashlight if
you
need more light.
Be sure the battery has enough
water. You don’t need to add
water to the Delco Freedom*
battery installed
in every new GM
vehicle. But if a battery has filler
caps, be sure the right amount of
fluid is there. If it is low, add
water
to take care of that first. If
you don’t, explosive gas could be
present.
Battery fluid contains acid that can
burn you. Don’t get
it on you. If
you accidentally get
it in your eyes
or on your skin, flush the place
with water and get medical help
immediately.
ProCarManuals.com

Problems on the Road
5. Check that the jumper cables don’t
have loose or missing insulation.
If
they do, you could get a shock. The
vehicles could be damaged, too.
Before you connect
the cables, here
are some things you should
know.
Positive (+) will go to positive (+)
and negative (-) will go to negative
(-) or a metal engine part. Don’t
connect
(+) to (-) or you’ll get a
short that would damage the battery
and maybe other parts, too.

Fans or other moving engine
parts can injure you badly.
-eep your hands away from
moving parts once the engines are
running.
6. Connect the red positive (+) cable to
the positive
(+) terminal of the
vehicle with the dead battery. Use a
remote positive
(+) terminal if the
vehicle has one.
ProCarManuals.com

1 L
7. Don’t let the other end touch metal.
Connect
it to the positive (+)
terminal of the good battery. Use a
remote positive
(+) terminal if the
vehicle has one.
8. Now connect the black negative (-)
cable to the good battery’s negative
( -) terminal.
Don’t let the other end touch
anything
until the next step. The
other end
of the negative cable
doesn’t go to the dead battery. It
goes
to a heavy unpainted metal
part on the engine
of the vehicle
with the dead battery.
L
P
9. Attach the cable at least 18 inches
(45 cm) away from the dead
battery, but not near engine parts
that move. The electrical
connection is just as good there, but
the chance
of sparks getting back to
the battery
is much less.
ProCarManuals.com

Problems on the Road
10. Now start the vehicle with the good
battery and
run the engine for
awhile.
dead battery.
If it won't start after a few tries, it
probably needs service.
11. Try to start the vehicle with the
I
I-
12. Remove the cables in reverse order
to prevent electrical shorting. Take
care that they don't touch each
other or any other metal.
A. Heavy Metal Engine Part
B. Good Battery
C. Dead Battery
r
L
Towing Your Vehicle
Try to have a GM dealer or a
professional towing service tow your
Geo. The usual towing equipment is
a
sling-type (A) or a wheel-lift (B) or car
carrier
(C) tow truck.
If your vehicle has been changed or
modified since it was factory-new by
adding aftermarket items like fog lamps,
aero skirting, or special tires and
wheels, these instructions and
illustrations may not be correct.
Before you
do anything, turn on the
hazard warning flashers.
When you call, tell the towing service:
A dolly must be used when towing
from the front.
ProCarManuals.com

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.
ProCarManuals.com

If Steam Is Coming from Your Engine:
' Steam from an overheated engine can burn you badly, even if you just
-open the hood. Stay away from
the engine if you see or hear steam
coming from it. Just turn it
off and get everyone away from the vehicle until I
it cools down. Wait until there is no sign of steam or coolant before opening
the hood.
If
you keep driving when your engine is overheated, the liquids in it can
catch
fire. You or others could be badly burned. Stop your engine if it
overheats, and get out of the vehicle until the engine is cool.
If your engine catches fire becaw-
II
IOU keep driving with no coolant,
four vehicle can be badly
imaged. The costly repairs
wou
aot be covered by your warranty.
ProCarManuals.com

Problems on the Road
... 202
If No Steam Is Coming from Your
Engine:
If you get the overheat warning but see
or hear no steam,
the problem may not
be too serious. Sometimes the engine
can get a little too hot when you:
Climb a long hill on a hot day.
Stop after high speed driving.
Idle for long periods in traffic.
Tow a trailer. If you
get the overheat warning with no
sign of steam, try this for
a minute or
1. If you have an air conditioner, turn it
2. Turn on your heater to full hot at the
so:
off.
highest fan speed and open
the
window as necessary.
3. If you’re in a traffic jam, shift to
N (Neutral).
If
you no longer have the overheat
warning, you can drive. Just to be safe,
drive slower for about ten minutes. If
the warning doesn’t come back on, you
can drive normally.
If the warning continues, pull over,
stop, and park your vehicle right away.
If there’s still no sign of steam, you can
idle the engine for two
or three minutes
while you’re parked, to see if the
warning stops. But then, if you still have
the warning, TURN OFF THE
ENGINE AND GET EVERYONE OUT
OF THE VEHICLE until it cools down.
You may decide not to lift the hood but
to get service help right away.
ProCarManuals.com