trailer CHEVROLET TRACKER 1993 Owners Manual

r
Automatic Transmission
There are several different positions for
your shift lever.
P (Park)
This locks your rear wheels. It’s the
best position to use when you start your
engine because your vehicle can’t move
easily.
GAU I IUN I
It can be dangerous to get out
of your vehicle if the shift
lever is not
fully in P (Park) with
the parking brake firmly set. Your
vehicle could roll.
Don’t leave your vehicle when the
engine is running unless you have
to. If you have ieft the engine
running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You or others could be
injured. To be sure your vehicle
won’t move, when you’re on fairly
level ground, always set your
parking brake and move the shift
lever
to P (Park).
If you have four-wheel drive, your
vehicle will be free to roll
- even
if your shift lever is in P (Park) - I
if your transfer case is in
N (Neutral). So, be sure the
transfer case is
in a drive gear -
not in N (Neutral).
See “Shifting into
P (Park)’’ in
the Index.
If you are parking on a
hill, or,
if you’re pulling a trailer,
also see “Parking
on Hills” or
“Towing a Trailer’’ in the Index.
I P (Park) range before starti& the
engine. Your Geo has a
brake-transmission shift interlock.
You
have to fully apply your regular brakes
before you can shift from P (Park)
when the ignition is in
the ON position.
If you cannot shift out of P (Park), ease
pressure on the shift lever
- push the
shift lever all the way into
P (Park) and
also release the shift lever button on
floor shift console models
- as you
maintain brake application. Then move
the shift lever into the gear you wish.
(Press the shift lever button before
moving the shift lever on floor shift
models.) See “Shifting Out of
P (Park)’’ in the Index.
51 ..=
ProCarManuals.com

Four-wheel Drive
CAUTION I
It can be dangerous to get out
4 b of your vehicle if the shift
rcyer is not fdly in P (Park)
(automatic transmission) or
R (Reverse) (manual transmission)
with the parking brake firmly set.
If you have four-wheel drive, also
be sure the transfer case is in a
drive gear. Your vehicle can roll.
If you have left the engine
running,
the vehicle can move
suddenly.
You or others could be
injured. To be sure your vehicle
won’t move, follow the step
below. If you are parking on a
hill’, or if you’re pulling a trailer,
see “Parking on Hills” cw
“Towing a Trailer” in the Index.
[f your vehicle has four-wheel drive,
you can send your engine’s driving
power to all four wheels for extra
traction.
To shift out of two-wheel drive
and into four-wheel drive, lock the
free-wheeling hubs and move
the
transfer case shift lever to 4H or 4L
(see the following). You should use 2H
for most normal driving.
Rear wheel anti-lock brakes
do not work
when you shift into four-wheel drive.
Your regular brakes will still work.
When
you shift back into two-wheel
drive, your rear wheel anti-lock brakes
will take over again. Driving
in 4H or 4L positions for
a long time on dry or wet
pavement could shorten
thP 1 nf
your vehicle’s drivetrain.
ProCarManuals.com

To release the parking brake: Hold the
brake pedal down. Pull the parking
brake lever up
until you can push in the
release button. Hold the release button
in as you move the brake lever all the
way down.
I NOTICE
Driving with the parking brake on
can cause your rear brakes to
overheat.
You may have to replac=
them, and
you could also dvwe
other parts
of your vehicle.
If you are on a hill: See “Parking on
Hills” in
the Index. That section shows
how to turn your front wheels.
If you are towing a trailer and are
parking on any hill:
See “Towing a
Trailer”
in the Index. That section
shows what to
do first to keep the trailer
from moving.
Shifiing into P (Park)
(AUTOMATIC TRANSMlSS/ON)
It can be dangerous to get out
of your vehicle if
the shift
lever is not fully in
P (Park) with
the parking brake firmly set. Your
vehicle can roll,
If you have left the engine
running, the vehicle 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 (Neutral), 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”
or ‘‘Towing a
Trailer” in the Index.
ProCarManuals.com

Features & Controls
If you are parking on a hill, or if you’re
vehicle
is equipped to tow a trailer, see
“Parking on Hills” or “Towing a
Trailer’
’ in the Index.
Engine Exhaust #
t
Parking over Things That Burn
uwu I IVIY
Things that burn could touch
L L hot exhaust parts under your
vehicle and ignite. Don’t park over
papers, leaves, dry grass or other
things that can burn.
A
Engine exhaust can kill. It
contains the gas carbon
monoxide
(CO), which you can’t see
or smell. It can cause
unconsciousness and death.
You might have exhaust coming
in
if:
Your exhaust system sounds
strange or different.
Your vehicle gets
rusty
underneath.
Your vehicle was damaged in a
collision.
Your vehicle was damaged when
driving over high points
on the
road or over road debris.
Repairs weren’t done correctly.
Your vehicle or exhaust system
had been modified improperly.
If you ever suspect exhaust is
coming into your
vehicle:
Drive it only with all the windows
down
to blow out any CO; and
Have it fixed immediately.
ProCarManuals.com

Running Your Engine While
You’re Parked
(AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION)
It’s better not to park with the engine
running. But if
you ever have to, here
are some things to
know.
CAUTION
A
Idling the engine with the air system control off could allow dangerous
exhaust into your vehicle (see
the earlier Caution under “Engine
Exhaust’
’).
Also, idling in a closed-in place can let deadly carbon monoxide (CO) into
your vehicle even if
the fan switch is at the highest setting. One place this
can happen is a garage. Exhaust - with CO - can come in easily. NEVER
park in a garage with
the engine running.
Another closed-in place can be a blizzard. (See “Blizzard”
in the Index.)
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if the shift lever is not
fully in
P (Park) with the parking brake firmly set. Your vehicle can roll. Don’t
leave your vehicle when
the engine is running unless you have to. If you’ve
left the engine running, the vehicle can move suddenly. You or others could
be injured.
To be sure your vehicle won’t move, even when you’re on fairly
level ground, always set your parking brake and move the shift lever
to P
(Park).
If you have four-wheel drive and your transfer case
is in N (Neutral), 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). Follow the proper
steps to be sure your vehicle won’t move. See “Shifting into
P (Park)” in
the Index.
If you are parking on a hill, or if you’re pulling a trailer, also see “Parking
on Hills” or “Towing a Trailer” in the Index.
c
ProCarManuals.com

Here YOU’II find information
about driving on different kinds
of roads and in varying weather
conditions
. We’ve also included
many other useful tips on driving
.
Part 4
Your Driving and the Road
Roadsigns .......................................................... 118
DefensiveDriving
.................................................... 122
DrunkenDriving
..................................................... 123
Control of a Vehicle
.................................................. 126
Driving Guidelines
................................................... 140
Off-Road Driving with Your
Geo
Four-Wheel-Drive Vehicle ....................................... 140
Drivingat Night
..................................................... 157
Driving in the Rain
................................................... 160
Driving in Fog. Mist and Haze
......................................... 162
City Driving
........................................................ 164
Freeway Driving
..................................................... 165
Driving a Long Distance
.............................................. 167
Hilland MountainRoads
.............................................. 169
ParkingonHills
..................................................... 171
Winter Driving
...................................................... 173
TowingaTrailer
..................................................... 177
Recreational Towing
.................. ......................... 186
117 . =
ProCarManuals.com

long as 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.
If You’re Stuck in Deep Snow
This manual explains how to get the
vehicle out of deep snow without
damaging it. See “Rocking
Your
Vehicle” in the Index.
rn Towing a Trailer
Pulling a trailer improperly can
damage your vehicle and result in
costly repairs not covered by you
warranty.
To pull a trailer
correctly, follow the advice in this
section.
I
ProCarManuals.com

Your Driving and the Road
Your Geo can tow a trailer. To identify
what the vehicle trailering capacity is for
your vehicle, you should read the
information
in “Weight of the Trailer”
that appears later in
this section. But
trailering is different than just driving
your vehicle by itself. Trailering means
changes in handling, durability, and fuel
economy. Successful, safe trailering
takes correct equipment, and it has to be
used properly.
That’s the reason for this section.
In it
are many time-tested, important
trailering tips and safety rules. Many of
these are important for your safety and
that of your passengers.
So please read
this section carefully before you pull a
trailer.
9 178
Load-pulling components such as the
engine, transmission, wheel assemblies,
and tires are forced to work harder
against the drag
of the added weight.
The engine is required to operate at
relatively higher speeds and under
greater loads, generating extra heat.
What’s more, the trailer adds
considerably to wind resistance,
increasing the pulling requirements.
All
of that means changes in:
Handling
Durability
Fuel economy
If You Do Decide to Pull a Trailer
If you do, here are some important
points.
There are many different laws having
to do with trailering. Make sure your
rig will be legal, not only where you
live but also where you’ll be driving.
A good source for this information
can be state or provincial police.
Consider using a sway control.
You can ask a hitch dealer about sway
controls.
Don’t tow a trailer at all during the
first
500 miles (800 km) your new
vehicle is driven. Your engine, axle
or other parts could be damaged.
ProCarManuals.com

Then, during the first 500 miles
(800 km) that you tow a trailer, don’t
drive over
50 mph (80 h/h) and
don’t make starts at full throttle. This
helps your engine and other parts
of
your vehicle wear in at the heavier
loads.
Three important considerations have
to
do with weight:
Weight of the Trailer
How heavy can a trailer safely be? It
should never weigh more than
1,500
pounds (680 kg). But even that can be
too heavy. It depends on
how you plan to
use
your rig. For example, speed,
altitude, road grades, outside
temperature and how much your
vehicle
is used to pull a trailer are all
important. And, it can also depend on
any special equipment that you have
on your vehicle.
You can ask your dealer for our
trailering information
or advice, or
write
us at: Customer
Assistance Department
Chevrolet/Geo
P.O. Box 7047
Troy, MI 48007
In Canada, write to:
General Motors of Canada Limited
Customer Assistance Center
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa, Ontario
L1H 8P7
ProCarManuals.com

Your Driving and the Road
L
Weight of the Trailer Tongue
... 180
The tongue load (A) of any trailer is
an important weight to measure
because
it affects the total gross
weight of your vehicle. The gross
vehicle weight (GVW) includes the
curb weight of the vehicle, any cargo
you may carry in it, and the people
who will be riding in the vehicle. And
if
you will tow a trailer, you must add
the tongue load to
the GVW because
your vehicle will be carrying that
weight, too. See “Loading Your
Vehicle’’ in the Index for more
information about your vehicle’s
maximum load capacity. The trailer
tongue (A) should weigh
10%
of the total loaded trailer weight
(B). After you’ve loaded your trailer,
weigh the trailer and then the tongue,
separately, to see if the weights are
proper. If they aren’t, you may be
able to get them right simply by
moving some items around in the
trailer.
Total Weight on Your Vehicle’s
Tires
Be sure your vehicle’s tires are
inflated to the limit for cold tires.
You’ll
find these numbers on the
Certification label at the rear edge of
the driver’s door (or see “Tire Loading”
in the Index). Then be sure
you won’t go over the GVW limit for
your vehicle.
Hitches
It’s important to have the correct hitch
equipment. Crosswinds, large trucks
going by, and rough roads are a few
reasons why you’ll need the right hitch.
Here are some rules to follow:
Will you have to make any holes in
the body of your vehicle when
you
install a trailer hitch? If you do, then
be sure to seal
the holes later when
you remove the hitch. If you don’t
seal them, deadly carbon monoxide
ProCarManuals.com