key CHEVROLET TRACKER 1996 Owner's Manual

If the Light Is Flashing
The following may prevent more serious damage to
your vehicIe:
Reduce vehicle speed.
Avoid hard accelerations.
@ Avoid steep uphill grades.
If 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. Put your vehicle in PARK (P). 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.
If the Light Is On Steady
You may be able to correct the emission system
malfunction
by considering the following:
Did you
just put fuel into your vehicle?
If so, reinstall the fuel cap, making sure to fully install
the cap.
The diagnostic system can determine if the fuel
cap has been left off or improperly installed. This will
allow fuel to evaporate into
the atmosphere. A few
driving trips 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.
2-66 ProCarManuals.com

Drunken Driving
Death and injury associated with drinlung and driving is
a nationaI tragedy. It’s the number one contributor to
the highway death toll, claiming thousands
of victims
every year.
Alcohol affects four things that anyone needs to drive
a vehicle:
Judgment
0 Muscular Coordination
0 Vision
Attentiveness.
Police records
show that almost half of all motor ,
vehicle-related deaths involve alcohol. In most cases,
these deaths
are the result of someone who was drinking
and driving. In recent years, some
18,000 annual motor
vehicle-related deaths have been associated with the use
of alcohol, with more than 300,000’people
injured.
Many adults -- by some estimates, nearly half the
adult population -- choose never ta drink alcohol, so
.they never drive after drinking. For persons under 21,
it’s against the law in every U.S. state to drink alcohol.
There are good medical, psychological and
developmental
reasons for these laws.
The obvious way to solve this highway safety problem
is for people never to drink alcohol
and then drive. But
what if people
do? How much is “too much” if the
driver plans to drive? It’s a lot less than many might
think. Although it depends on each person and situation,
here
is some general information on the problem.
The Blood Alcohol Concentration
(BAC) of someone
who
is drinking depends upon four things:
The amount of alcohol consumed
The drinker’s body weight
The amount of food that is consumed before and
during
drinking
The length of time it has taken the drinker to
consume the alcohol.
According to the American Medical Association,
a
180-lb. (82 kg) person who drinks three 12-ounce
(355 m1) bottles of beer in an hour will end up with a
BAC
of about 0.06 percent. The person would reach the
same
BAC by drinking three 4-ounce (120 ml) glasses
of wine or three mixed drinks if each had 1 - 1/2 ounces
(45 ml) of a liquor like whiskey, gin or vodka.
4-2
ProCarManuals.com

Controlling your vehicle is the key to successful
off-road driving. One
of the best ways to control your
vehicle is to control your speed. Here are some things to
keep in mind.
At higher speeds:
you approach things faster and you have less time to
scan the terrain for obstacles.
0 you have less time to react.
you have more vehicle bounce when you drive
you’ll need more distance for braking, especially
over
obstacles.
since you’re on an unpaved surface.
~~
~
When you’re driving off-road, bouncing and
quick changes in direction can easily throw you
out of position. This could cause
you to lose
control and crash.
So, whether you’re driving on
or off the road,
you and your passengers should
wear safety belts.
Scanning the Terrain
Off-road driving can take you over many different
kinds
of terrain. You need to be familiar with the
terrain and its many different features. Here are some
things to consider.
Surface Conditions. Off-roading can take you over
hard-packed dirt, gravel, rocks, grass, sand, mud, snow
or ice. Each of these surfaces affects the steering,
acceleration and braking
of your vehicle in different
ways. Depending upon the kind of surface you
are
on, you may experience slipping, sliding, wheel
spinning, delayed acceleration, poor traction and
Surface Obstacles. Unseen or hidden obstacles can
be hazardous. A rock, log, hole, rut or bump can
startle you if you’re not prepared for them. Often
these obstacles are hidden
by grass, bushes, snow or
even the rise and fall of the terrain itself. Here are some
things to consider:
I longer braking distances.
0 Is the path ahead clear?
0 Will the surface texture change abruptly up ahead?
I Does the travel take you uphill or downhill? (There’s
more discussion of
these subjects later.)
4-17
1. ProCarManuals.com

2.
3.
4.
5,
Set the parking brake.
If your Geo is a four-wheel-drive vehicle, set your
manual free-wheeling hubs
to FliEE or unlock your
automatic freewheeling hubs.
See “Four-wheel
Drive” in the Index.
Turn the ignition key to ACC to unlock the
steering wheel.
Clamp the steering wheel in a straight-ahead
position, with
a clamping device designed
for towing.
Release the parking brake.
NOTICE:
Make sure that the towing speed does not
exceed 55 mph (90 km/h), or your Geo could be
badly damaged.
Towing Your Ve- ‘cle from the Front
NOTICE:
If your vehicle has automatic freewheeling hubs
or two-wheel drive, do not tow it on all four
wheels. If you do, your transmission could be
damaged.
4-44
ProCarManuals.com

If you have a four-wheel-drive vehicle with manual
freewheeling
hubs, it can be towed from the front with
all four wheels on the ground. Follow these steps:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Set the parking brake.
Turn the ignition key to ACC to unlock the
steering wheel.
Shift your automatic transmission into
PARK (P), or
your manual transmission into SECOND
(2).
Shift the transfer case to NEUTRAL (N).
Set the hubs to FREE. See “Four-wheel Drive” in
the Index.
Release
the parking brake.
Stop towing every
200 miles (300 km) and start
the engine. Leave the transfer case shift lever
in
NEUTRAL (N). Shift your automatic transmission
to DRIVE (D); leave a manual transmission in
SECOND (2) with the clutch engaged. 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.
NOTICE:
The front wheels transmit shocks during towing.
The steering column may not be strong enough to
withstand the shocks. Always unlock the steering
wheel before towing.
I NOTICE:
Make sure that the towing speed does not exceed
50 mph (80 kdh), or your Geo could be badly
damaged.
4-45
ProCarManuals.com

Gem Section 5 Problems on the Road
Here you’ll find what to do about some problems that
can occur on the road.
Hazard Warning Flashers
Your hazard warning flashers let you warn others. They
also let police know you have a problem. Your front and
rear turn signal lamps ,will flash on and
off.
Press the button on top
of the steering column to
make your front and rear
turn signal lamps flash
on and
off.
Your hazard warning flashers work no matter what
position
your key is in, and even if the key isn’t in.
To turn off the flashers, push the button again.
When the hazard warning flashers are
on, your turn
signals won’t work.
5-1
ProCarManuals.com

U‘l’lOR’
A vehicle can fall from a car carrier if it isn’t
adequately secured. This can cause
a collision, ‘
serious personal injury and vehicle damage. The
vehicle should be tightly secured with chains or
steel cables before
it is transported.
Don’t
use substitutes (ropes, leather straps,
canvas webbing,
etc.) that can be cut by sharp
edges underneath the towed vehicle.
When your vehicle is being towed, have the ignition key
turned to the OFF position. The steering wheel should
be clamped in a straight-ahead position, with a clamping
device designed for towing service. Do not use the
vehicle’s steering column lock for this.
The transmission
and
transfer case, if you have one, should be in
NEUTRAL (N) and the parking brake released.
Don’t have your vehicle towed
on the drive wheels
unless
you must. If the vehicle &ust be towed on the
drive wheels, be sure to follow any speed and distance
restrictions later
in this section, or your transmission
will be damaged. If these limitations must be exceeded,
then the drive wheels have to be supported on a dolly.
5-8
ProCarManuals.com

The spare tire is mounted on your tailgate. Pull the cover
off of the spare tire. Insert
your key into
the wheel lock on the spare tire and
pull the wheel lock off.
5-25
ProCarManuals.com

The cap is behind a hinged door on the passenger’s side
of your vehicle. On four-door models, use the key to
the vehicle to unlock the fuel door.
To take off the cap, turn it slowly to the left
(counterclockwise). When
you put the cap
back on, turn it to the right until
you hear at least three clicks. Make sure you fully install
the cap. The diagnostic system can determine
if the fuel
cap has been left off or improperly installed. This would
allow fuel to evaporate into the atmosphere. See
“Malfunction Indicator Lamp” in the Index.
If you get gasoline on yourself and then
something ignites
it, you could be badly burned.
Gasoline can spray out on you if you open the
fuel filler cap too quickly. This spray can happen
if your tank is nearly full, and is more likely in
hot weather. Open the fuel filler cap slowly and
wait for any “hiss” noise to stop. Then unscrew
the cap
all the way.
Be careful not to spill gasoline. Clean gasoline from
painted surfaces as soon
as possible. See “Cleaning the
Outside of Your Geo” in the Index.
NOTICE:
If you need a new cap, be sure to get the right
type. Your dealer can get one for you.
If you get
the wrong type, it may
not fit or have proper
venting, and your fuel tank and emissions system
might be damaged.
,
6-5 ProCarManuals.com

At Least Twice a Year Automatic Transmission Check
Restraint System Check
Make sure the safety belt reminder light and all your
belts, buckles, latch plates, retractors and anchorages are
working properly.
Look for any other loose or damaged
safety belt system parts.
If you see anything that might
keep a safety belt system from doing its job, have it
repaired. Have
any torn or frayed safety belts replaced.
Also look for any opened or broken air bag covers, and
have them repaired or replaced.
(The air bag system
does not need regular maintenance.)
Fluid Level Check
Check the transfer case, axle differential(s) and
automatic
or manual transmission fluid levels and add as
needed. See “Transfer Case,” “Axle, Rear,” “Axle,
Front” and “Automatic Transmission” or “Manual
Transmission”
in the Index. A fluid loss in these systems
could indicate a problem. Have the system inspected and
repaired
at once.
Check the transmission fluid level; add if needed. See
“Automatic Transmission”
in the Index. A fluid IOSS may
indicate
a problem. Check the system and repair if needed.
At Least Once a Year
Key Lock Cylinders Service
Lubricate the key lock cylinders with the lubricant
specified
in Part D.
Body Lubrication Service
Lubricate all body door hinges. Also lubricate all hinges
and latches, including those for the hood, rear
compartment, glove box door, console door and any
folding seat hardware.
Part D tells you what to use.
More frequent lubrication may be required when
exposed
to a corrosive environment.
7-48
ProCarManuals.com