tow CHEVROLET TRACKER 1996 User Guide

Ensure the shift lever is fully in PARK (P) range before
starting the engine. Your Geo has a brake-transmission
shift interlock. You have to fully apply your regular
brakes before you can shift from PARK (P) when the
ignition key
is in the ON position. If you cannot shift
out of PARK (P), ease pressure on the shift lever -- push
the shift lever all the way into
PARK (P) and release the
shift lever button
as you maintain brake application.
Then press the shift lever button and move the shift
lever into the gear you wish. See “Shifting Out of
PARK
(P)” in the Index.
REVERSE (R): Use this gear to back up.
NOTICE:
Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your
vehicle is moving forward could damage your
transmission. Shift to
REVERSE (R) only after
your vehicle is stopped.
To rock your vehicle back and forth to get out of snow,
ice or sand without damaging your transmission, see
“Stuck: In Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow” in the Index.
NEUTRAL (N): In this position, your engine doesn’t
connect with the wheels.
To restart when you’re already
moving, use NEUTRAL
(N) only. Also, use
NEUTRAL
(N) when your vehicle is being towed.
Shifting out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) vhile
your engine is “racing” (running
at high speed) is
dangerous. Unless your foot is firmly on the
brake pedal,
your vehicle could move very
rapidly. You could lose control and hit people or
objects. Don’t shift out of
PARK (P) or
NEUTRAL (N) while your engine is racing.
b i
NOTICE:
Damage to your transmission caused by shifting
out of
PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) with the
engine racing isn’t covered by your warranty.
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TWO-WHEEL HIGH (2H): This setting is for driving
in most street and highway situations. Your front axle is
not engaged
in two-wheel drive.
FOUR-WHEEL HIGH (4H): This setting engages your
front axle to help drive your vehicle. Use FOUR-WHEEL
HIGH (4H) when you need extra traction, such as on wet
or icy roads, or in most off-road situations.
NEUTRAL (N): Shft to this setting only when your
vehicle needs to be towed.
FOUR-WHEEL LOW (4L): This setting also engages
your front axle to give you extra traction and can be
used for driving downhill, uphill or
on rocky terrain
when you’re driving slower than
35 mph (55 km/h).
Remember that driving in FOUR-WHEEL HIGH (4H)
or FOUR-WHEEL LOW (4L) may reduce fuel
economy. Also, driving
in four-wheel drive on dry
pavement could cause your tires to wear faster and make
your transfer case harder to shift. You
can shift from TWO-WHEEL
HIGH (2H) to
FOUR-WHEEL
HIGH (4H) or from FOUR-WHEEL
HIGH (4H) to TWO-WHEEL HIGH (2H) at any speed
if your hubs are locked and your wheels are straight
ahead. Your front axle will engage fas,ter if you take
your foot
off the accelerator pedal for a few seconds
as you shift.
Shifting Into or Out of FOUR-WHEEL LOW (4L)
1. Stop your vehicle and shift your transmission
2. Shift the transfer case in one continuous motion.
to NEUTRAL (N).
Don’t pause in NEUTRAL
(N) as you shift into
FOUR-WHEEL HIGH (4H), or your gears could clash.
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I NOTICE:
Driving with the parking brake on can cause
your rear brakes to overheat. You may have to
replace them, and
you could also damage other
parts of your vehicle.
If you are towing a trailer, see “Towing a Trailer” in
the Index.
Shifting Into PARK (P) (Automatic
Transmission Models Only)
A CAUTION:
- -
It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is not
fully in PARK (P) 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, even when you’re
on fairly level ground, use the steps that follow. If
you have four-wheel drive and your transfer case is
in NEUTRAL (N), your vehicle will be free to roll,
even if your shift lever is in PARK (P). So, be sure
the transfer case is in
a drive gear -- not in
NEUTRAL (N). If you’re pulling a trailer, see
“Towing a Trailer” in the Index.
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1. Hold the brake pedal down with your right foot and
set the parking brake.
2. Move the shift lever into PARK (P) by holding in the
button on
the lever and pushing the lever all the way
toward the front of your vehicle.
3. If you have four-wheel drive, be sure the transfer
case is in a drive gear -- not in NEUTRAL (N).
4. Move the key to LOCK.
5. Remove the key and take it with you. If you can
leave your vehicle with the key in your hand, your
vehicle is in PARK (P).
Leaving Your Vehicle With the
Engine Running
(Automatic Transmission Models Only)
A CAUTION:
It can be dangerous to leave your vehicle with
the engine running. Your vehicle
could move
suddenly if the shift lever is not fully in PARK (P)
with the parking brake firmly set. If you have
four-wheel drive
and your transfer case is in
NEUTRAL (N), your vehicle will be free to roll,
even
if your shift lever is in PARK (P). So be sure
the transfer
case is in a drive gear -- not in
NEUTRAL (N). And, if you leave the vehicle with
the engine running, it
could overheat and even
catch
fire. You or others could be injured. Don’t
leave your vehicle with the engine running
unless
you have to.
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Torque Lock (Automatic Transmission)
If you are parlung on a hill and you don’t shift your
transmission into PARK
(P) properly, the weight of the
vehicle may put too much force on the parking pawl in
the transmission. You may find it difficult to pull the
shift lever out of PARK
(P). This is called “torque lock.”
To prevent torque lock, set the parking brake and then
shift into
PARK (P) properly before you leave the
driver’s seat.
To find out how, see “Shifting Into
PARK (P)” in the Index.
When you are ready to drive, move the shift lever out of
PARK (P) before you release the parking brake.
If torque lock does occur, you may need to have another
vehicle push yours a little uphill to take some of the
pressure from the transmission,
so you can pull the shift
lever out
of PARK (P).
Shifting Out of PARK (P)
(Automatic Transmission)
Your Geo has a brake-transmission shift interlock. You
have to fully apply your regular brakes before you can
shift from PARK (P) when the ignition is in the ON
position. See “Automatic Transmission’’ in the Index.
If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease pressure on
the shift lever
-- push the shift lever all the way into
PARK
(P) and release the shift lever button as you
maintain brake application. Then press the shift lever
button and move the shift lever into the gear you wish.
If you ever hold the brake pedal down but still can’t
shift out
of PARK (P), try this:
1. Apply and hold the brake until the end of Step 6.
2. If the engine is running, shut it off. Turn the key to
ON or ACC.
3. Find the access hole cover on the driver’s side of the
console, near the shift lever.
4. Remove the screw and cover.
5. Inside you’ll see the return plate. Using your finger,
move the return plate toward the rear of the vehicle
until
it stops.
6. Move the shift lever into the gear you want.
7. Have the vehicle fixed as soon as possible.
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Parking Your Vehicle
(Manual Transmission)
Before you get out of your vehicle, put your manual
transmission in
REVERSE (R) and firmly apply the
parking brake.
If you have four-wheel drive, be sure your transfer case
is
in a drive gear. Your vehicle could roll if it isn’t.
If you are towing a trailer, see “Towing a Trailer” in
the
Index.
Parking Over Things That Burn
CAUTION:
I
Things that can burn could touch hot exhaust
parts under your vehicle and ignite.
Don’t park
over papers, leaves, dry grass or other things that
can burn.
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It can be dangerous to get out of your vehicle if
the shift lever is
not fully in PARK (P) 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 PARK (P),
If you have four-wheel drive and your transfer case is in
NEUTRAL (N), your vehicle will be free to roll, even if
your shift lever is in PARK (P). So, be sure the transfer
case is in a drive gear -- not in NEUTRAL (N). Always
set your parking brake. Follow the proper steps to be
sure your vehicle won’t move. See “Shifting Into
PARK (P)” in the Index.
If you’re pulling a trailer, see “Towing a Trailer’’ in
the Index.
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Lamps Control
Turn the outside part of the lever to control the lamps.
There are three positions for the lamp switch.
OFF: All lamps are off.
-300: : The parking lamps, taillamps, license plate
lamp and
the instrument panel lights come on. The
headlamps are off.
-:g- : The headlamps and all other operating lamps
come on.
Lamps On Reminder
If you turn the ignition off, remove the key, open the
door and leave the lamps
on, a chime will remind you to
turn off your lamps.
Headlamp High/Low Beam Changer
First, you must have the headlamps on. For high beams,
push the turn signal lever away
from you.
When the high beams are
on, a light on the instrument
panel also
will be on. It will
go off when you switch to
low beam.
To switch back to low beams, pull the lever toward you.
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Flash-to-Pass
With the lever in the low-beam position, pull the lever
towad you to momentarily switch to high beam (to
signal that you are going to pass). When you release the
lever, the headlamps will return
to low-beam operation.
Windshield WipedWasher Lever
The lever on the right side of the steering column
controls the windshield wipers
and washers. Move the wiper switch
to the position
you want:
OFF: The wipers are off.
INT Intermittent wiper operation. In light rain or snow,
you might want to use this position rather than
continuous wiping.
LO: The wipers will run continuously at low speed.
HI: The wipers will run continuously at high speed.
For a single wiping cycle, pull the lever toward
you.
Hold it there until the wipers start, then let go. The
wipers will stop after one cycle. If you want more
cycles, hold the lever longer.
Be sure
to clear ice and snow from the wiper blades
before
using them. If they’re frozen to the windshield,
carefully loosen or thaw them.
If your blades do become
damaged, get new blades
or blade inserts.
Heavy snow or ice
can overload your wipers. A circuit
breaker will stop them until the motor cools. Clear away
snow or ice
to prevent an overload.
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Windshield Washer
Pull the wiper/washer lever toward you to spray washer
fluid on the windshield. The spray will continue until
you release the lever. This will also turn on the low
speed wipers. See “Windshield Washer Fluid” in
the Index.
A CAUTION:
In freezing weather, don’t use your washer until
the windshield is warmed. Otherwise the washer
fluid can form ice
on the windshield, blocking
your vision.
Rear Window WipedWasher (Option)
{I To turn on your rear wiper,
push the upper button. Push
the same button again to
turn it off.
To spray washer fluid on the rear window, push the
lower button about halfway down. Washer fluid will
spray as long as you hold this button. To wash and wipe
at the same time, push the button all the way in.
The washer
and wiper will run as long as you hold this
button.
To add washer fluid, see “Windshield Washer
Fluid” in the Index.
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