weight CHEVROLET TRACKER 1996 Owners Manual

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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Convertible Top (Option)
Your convertible top features a sunroof, a removable
rear
window, removable side windows and a removable
canvas top.
NOTICE:
Never raise or lower the top while the vehicle
is moving, or drive with any part of the top
unfastened or partially removed. The wind
could get under it and cause damage.
Do not take your vehicle through an
automatic car wash.
It could damage your
convertible top.
* Don’t try to lower or raise the convertible
top
or tap or beat on the plastic windows if
your vehicle is out in cold weather,
41 * F
(5T) or below. The cold can cause cracks
and other damage to the windows and to
the top as it is being lowered or raised.
(Continued)
-
NOTICE: (Continued)
Don’t lower the top if it is damp or wet.
After the top
is down, the trapped water
can cause stains, mildew and damage to the
inside
of your car. Be sure to dry off the ton
before
you lower it.
Don’t lower the convertible,top if the rear
flap or side windows are dirty. Dirt could
scratch the side windows.
The convertible top isn’t designed to carry
weight. Never let anyone sit on the top, and
don’t put anything on top of it when it is
up, or it could be damaged.
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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.
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It’s the amount of alcohol that counts. For example, if
the same person drank three double martinis (3 ounces
or
90 ml of liquor each) within an hour, the person’s
BAC would be close to 0.12 percent. A person who
consumes food just before or during drinking will have
a
somewhat lower BAC level.
There is a gender difference, too. Women generally have
a lower relative percentage of body water than men. Since alcohol is
carried in body water, this means that a
woman generally will reach
a higher BAC level than a
man of her same body weight when each has the same
number of drinks.
The law
in many U.S. states sets the legal limit at a BAC
of 0.10 percent. In a growing number of U.S. states, and
throughout Canada, the limit is 0.08 percent. In some
other countries, it’s even lower. The BAC limit for all
commercial drivers
in the United States is 0.04 percent.
The BAC will be over
0.10 percent after three to six
drinks
(in one hour). Of course, as we’ve seen, it
depends on how much alcohol is in the
drinks, and how
quickly the person drinks them.
But the ability to drive
is affected well below a BAC of
0.10 percent. Research shows that the driving skills of
many people are impaired at a BAC approaching
0.05 percent, and that the effects are worse at night. All
drivers are impaired at
BAC levels above 0.05 percent.
Statistics show that
the chance of being in a collision
increases sharply for drivers who have a BAC
of
0.05 percent or above. A driver with a BAC level of
0.06 percent has doubled his or her chance of having a
collision. At a BAC level of
0.10 percent, the chance of
this driver having a collision is 12 times greater; at a
level of 0.15 percent, the chance is 25 times greater!
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Driving Across an Incline
Sooner or later, an off-road trail will probably go across
the incline of a hill.
If this happens, you have to decide
whether
to try to drive across the incline. Here are some
things to consider:
0
0
0
A hill that can be driven straight up or down may be
too steep to drive across. When you go straight up or
down a hill, the length of the wheel base (the
distance from the front wheels to the rear wheels)
reduces the likelihood the vehicle will tumble end
over end. But when you drive across an incline, the
much more narrow track width (the distance between
the left and right wheels) may not prevent the vehicle
from tilting and rolling over. Also, driving across an
incline puts more weight on the downhill wheels.
This could cause a downhill slide or a rollover.
Surface conditions can be a problem when you drive
across
a hill. Loose gravel, muddy spots, or even wet
grass can cause your tires
to slip sideways, downhill.
If the vehicle slips sideways, it can hit something
that will trip
it (a rock, a rut, etc.) and roll over.
Hidden obstacles can make the steepness of the
incline even worse.
If you drive across a rock with
the uphill wheels, or if the downhill wheels drop into
a rut or depression, your vehicle can tilt even more. For reasons like these, you need to decide carefully
whether to
try to bve across an inche. Just because the
trail goes across the incline doesn’t mean you have to
drive it. The last vehicle to
try it might have rolled over.
Driving across an incline that’s too steep will
make your vehicle roll over.
You could be
seriously injured or killed.
If you have any doubt
about the steepness
of the incline, don’t drive
across it. Find another route instead.
Q: What if I’m driving across an incline that’s not
too steep,
but I hit some loose gravel and start to
slide downhill. What should
I do?
A: If you feel your vehicle starting to slide sideways,
turn downhill. This should help straighten out the
vehicle and prevent the side slipping. However, a
much better way to prevent this is to get out and
“walk the course”
so you know what the surface is
like before you drive it.
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Loading Your Vehicle
TIRE PLACARD
I GWR IGWR FRTI GAWR RR I I I I I I
LBIKg
~~
TIRES
RIMS
INFLATION
COLD PSl/kPa PRESSURE
MFD BY CAM1 AUTOMOTIVE DATE GVWR GAWR FRT CANADA GAWR RR
Two labels on your vehicle show how much weight it
may properly carry. The Tire-Loading Information label
found on the driver's door lock pillar tells you the
proper size, speed rating and recommended inflation pressures for the tires on your vehicle. It also gives you
important information about the number
of people that
can be in your vehicle and the total weight that you can
carry. This weight is called the vehicle capacity weight
and includes the weight
of all occupants, cargo and all
nonfactory-installed options. The
other label is the Certification label, also found on
the driver's door
lock pillar. It tells you the gross weight
capacity of your vehicle, called the GVWR (Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating). The GVWR includes th'e weight
of the vehicle, all occupants, fuel and cargo. Never
exceed the
GVWR for your vehicle, or the Gross Axle
Weight Rating
(GAWR) for either the front or rear axle.
And, if you do have a heavy load, you should spread it
out. Don't
carry more than 400 lbs. (1 8 1 kg) in your
rear area when four people
are in your two-wheel-drive
vehicle.
If you have a four-wheel-drive vehicle, don't
carry
more than 200 lbs. (91 kg) in your rear area when
four people are
in your vehicle.
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A CAUTION:
I:
Do not load your vehicle any heavier than
the GVWR, or either the maximum front or
rear
GAWR. If you do, parts an your vehicle
can break, or it can change the way your
vehicle handles. These could cause
you to lose
control. Also, overloading can shorten the life
of your vehicle.
NOTICE:
Your warranty does not cover parts or
components that fail because of overloading.
~~
€ you put things inside your vehicle -- like suitcases,
tools, packages or anything else
-- they will go as fast as
the vehicle goes.
If you have to stop or turn quickly, or
if there is a crash, they’ll keep going.
A CAUTION:
nside your vehicle can strike
and injure people in
a sudden stop or turn, or in
a crash.
Put things in the cargo area of your vehicle.
0 Never stack heavier things, like suitcases,
Try to spread the weight evenly.
inside the vehicle
so that some of them are
above the tops
of the seats.
0 Don’t leave an unsecured child restraint in
your vehicle.
When you carry something inside the
vehicle, secure it whenever
you can.
Don’t leave a seat folded down unless you
need to.
There’s also important loading information for off-road
driving in this manual.
See “Loading Your VehicIe” in
the Index.
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Towing a Trailer
A CAUTION:
If you don’t use the correct equipment and drive
properly, you can lose controlwhen you pull a
trailer. For example, if the trailer is too heavy, the
brakes
may not work well -- or even at all. You
and your passengers could be seriously injured.
Pull
a trailer only if you have followed all the
steps in this section.
Ask your Geo dealer for
advice and information about towing
a trailer
with your vehicle.
NOTICE:
Pulling a trailer improperly can damage your
vehicle and result in costly repairs not covered by
your warranty. To pull a trailer correctly, follow
the advice in this part, and see your Geo dealer
for important information about
towing a trailer
with your vehicle.
Your vehicle 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 des.
Many
of these are important for your safety and that of
your passengers. So please read this section carefully
before you pull
a trailer.
Load-pulhg 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.
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If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer
If you do, here are some important points:
e
0
0
e
There are many different laws, including speed limit
restrictions, 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.
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.
If you have an automatic transmission, you should use
DRIVE (D) (or, as you need to, a lower gear) when
towing a trailer. Operating your vehicle
in DRIVE (D)
when towing a trailer will minimize heat buildup and
extend
the life of your transmission. If you have a
manual transmission and you are towing a trailer, it’s better not
to use FIFTH (5) gear. Just drive in
FOURTH (4) gear (or, as you need to, a lower gear). Three important considerations have
to do with weight:
the weight
of the trailer,
the weight of the trailer tongue
and the weight on your vehicle’s tires.
Weight of the Trailer
How heavy can a trailer safely be?
It should never weigh more than 1,000 lbs. (450 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 you can write
us at:
Customer Assistance Department
Chevrolet/Geo
P.O. Box 7047
Troy,
MI 48007-7047
In Canada, write to:
General Motors of Canada Limited
Customer Assistance
Cente
1908 Colonel Sam Drive
Oshawa,
Ontario LlH 8P7
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Weight of the Trailer Tongue
The tongue load (A) of any trailer is an important
weight to measure because it affects the total or 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.
A B
If you’re using a weight-carrying hitch, the trailer
tongue
(A) should weigh 10 percent of the total loaded
trailer weight
(B). If you have a weight-distributing
hitch, the trailer tongue
(A) should weigh 12 percent 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 lock pillar or
see “Tire Loading” in the Index. Then be sure you don’t
go over the GVW limit for your vehicle, including the
weight
of the trailer tongue.
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