Part 5 Problems on the Road. Chevrolet Tracker, 1993 Tracker, TRACKER 1993, 1993

Problems on the

Road

R

H e r e

you’ll

find

what to

do

about

some

problems that can occur on the road.

Hazard Warning Flashers

. . .

.

. . .

. . . .

. .

. .

.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

.

. . . . . . . .

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. . . .

.190

rumpstarting

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191

I‘owingYourVehicle

3ngineOverheating

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196

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200

[faTireGoesFlat

....................................................

208

[f

You’re Stuck: In Sand,

Mud,

Ice or Snow

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

.217

189-

-

Problems on the Road

fishers

Your hazard warning flashers let you warn others. They also let police know you have a problem. Your front and rear turn signal lights will flash on and off.

Press th

e

button in t

:o mak

'our fr 'on t and rear turn signal lights 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 again. off the flashers, push the switch

When the hazard warning flashers are on, your turn signals won't work.

Other Warning Devices

If you carry reflective triangles, you can set one up at the side of the road about

300 feet (100 m) behind your vehicle.

Jump

Startirtg

If

your battery has run down, you may want to use another vehicle and some jumper cables to start your Geo. But please follow the steps below to do it safely.

L

Batteries

can

hurt you. They can

be

dangerous because:

0

They contain

acid

that can burn you.

They contain

gas

that can explode

or

ignite.

They contain enough to burn you.

electricity

If you don't follow these steps exactly, some or

all

of these thin can hurt you.

Ignoring these steps could result in costly damage to your vehicle that wouldn't be covered by your warranty.

Trying to start your Geo by pushing or pulling it could damage your vehicle, even if you have

a

manual transmission. And if you have an automatic transmission, it won't start that way.

191


To Jump

Start Your

Geo

1.

Check the other vehicle. It must have a 12-volt battery with a negative ground system.

I

2.

Get the vehicles close enough

so

the jumper cables can reach, but be sure the vehicles aren’t touching each other.

If

they are, it could cause

a

ground connection you don’t want.

You wouldn’t be able to start your

Geo, and the bad grounding could darnage the electrical systems.

If

the other system isn’t a 12-volt system with a negative ground,

I

both vehicles can be damaged.

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CAUTION

A

You could be injured if the vehicles roll. Set the parking brake firmly on each vehicle. Put an automatic transmission in

- 1

in

N

(Neutral).

If

you have a four-wheel-drive vehicle, be sure the transfer case

is

not in

N

(Neutral).

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.

T h c

?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 vehicle. in every new

GM

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.


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.

L

1

P

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.

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.


r

I-

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L

10.

Now start the vehicle with the good battery and

run

the engine for awhile.

11.

Try to start the vehicle with the dead battery.

If

it won't start after a few tries, it probably needs service.

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

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.

That your vehicle has rear-wheel drive, or that it has the four-wheel-drive option.

The make, model, and year of your vehicle.

Whether you can still move the shift levers for the transmission and transfer case,

if

you have one.

If there was an accident, what

was

damaged.

When the towing service arrives, let the tow operator know that this manual contains detailed towing instructions and illustrations. The operator may want to see them.

*

T-

help avoid injury to

you

or

Never let passengers ride in

a

vehicle that is being towed.

Never

tow

faster than safe or

posted

speeds

Never tow with

damaged

parts

not fully

secured.

0

Never get under your vehicle after it

has

been lifted by the

tow

truck.

*

Always

use

separate safety chains on each side when towing

a

vehicle.

Never use

T-hooks.

Use

hooks

instead.

“J”

When your vehicle

is

being towed, have the ignition key off. 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

and the parking brake released.


Don’t have your vehicle towed with the rear wheels in contact with the ground.

If a vehicle must be towed from the front with sling-type or wheel lift equipment, the rear wheels must be supported on a dolly.

If your vehicle has four-wheel drive, don’t have it towed on the front wheels unless you must. If a vehicle with four-wheel drive must be towed on the front wheels, set your manual, free-wheeling hubs to

FREE

or unlock your automatic free-wheeling hubs, and set your transfer case to two-wheel drive. If your vehicle must be towed on

the

front wheels, don’t go more than

55

mph (90 km/h).

=

9.198

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A

Front Towing

Hook-Ups

I

’

\

A vehicle can fall from carrier if it

,,cured. This can cause a a isn’t properly car

Attach

“J”

hooks to the rear o

If lower control arms inboard of springs 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.

Position

4x4

wood beam across sling chains and against lower control arm front attachment brackets. Position the lower sling crossbar in front and against

4x4

wood beam.

Attach a separate safety chain around outboard end of each lower control arm.

Rear Towing Hook-Ups

Attach “J” hooks around axle tube.

I

Take care

not

to damage the brake

I

pipes on

the

axle tubes.

1


Position the sling crossbar under and forward of the rear bumper.

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.

.

= =

200

If Steam Is Coming from Your Engine:

-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 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.

I

II

If

your engine catches fire becaw-

IOU

keep driving with no coolant, four vehicle can be badly imaged. The costly repairs

wou

aot be covered by your warranty.


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 so:

1.

If you have an air conditioner, turn it off.

2.

Turn on your heater to full hot at the 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

OUT

OF THE VEHICLE until it cools down.

You may decide not to lift the hood but to get service help right away.

. . .

202

When you decide it’s safe to lift the hood, here’s what you’ll see:

1.

Coolant Recovery Tank

2.

Radiator Pressure Cap

3.

Electric Engine Fan

A

An electric fan under the hood can start up even when thL

@ne is not running and can injure you. Keep hands, clothing and tools away from any

I

L underhood electric fan.

Don’t reach through the grille to

-

I E

If the coolant inside the coolant recovery tank is boiling, don’t do anything else until it cools down.

The coolant level should be at or above

FULL. If

it isn’t, you may have a leak in the radiator hoses, heater hoses, radiator, water pump or somewhere else in the cooling system.

unu

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Heater

and

radiator hoses,

1

L and

other

engine parts,

can be very hot.

Don’t

touch them. do, you can be burned.

If you

Don’t

run

the engine

if

there

is

a leak. If you run the engine, it could lose

all

coolant. That could

cause

an engine

fire,

and

you

could be burned. Get any leak fixed before

you

drive the

vehicle.

203

= r

Problems on the

Road

c

Engine damage from running yollr engine without coolant isn’t covered by your warranty.

If there seems to be no leak, check to see if the electric engine fan is running.

If the engine is overheating, the fan should be running. If it isn’t, your vehicle needs service.

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How to Add

Coolant to the Coolant

Recovery Tank

If you haven’t found a problem yet, but the coolant level isn’t at or above

FULL,

add a

50/50

mixture of

clean water

(preferably distilled) and the proper antifreeze at the coolant recovery tank. (See “Engine Coolant” in the

Index for more information about the proper coolant mix.)

A

Adding only

plain water

to

cooling

system

can be

dangerous. Plain water,

or some

other liquid, like

alcohol, can

boil

before the proper coolant

mix

will.

Your vehicle’s

coolant

warning

system is

set for the

proper

coolant

mix.

With

plain water, or

the

wrong

mix,

your

engine could get

too hot but you

wouldn’t

get the

overheat warning.

Your engine

could catch

fire and

you

or

others

could be

burned.

Use a

50/50

mix of clean water

and a proper antifreeze.

I

'

In cold weather, water

can

freeze

and

crack the engine, radiator,

\eater core and other parts.

he

recommended coolant.

Us

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A

You can be burned if you

- spill coolant on hot engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol and it will burn if the engine parts are hot enough. Don't

-?ill coolant on a hot engine.

When the coolant in the coolant recovery tank is at or above

FULL,

start your vehicle.

If the overheat warning continues, there's one more thing you can try. You can add the proper coolant mix directly to the radiator, but be sure the cooling system is cool before you do it.

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-

Steam and scalding liquids from a hot cooling system

car

blow out and burn you badly.

They are under pressure, and if you turn the radiator pressure cap

-

- out at high speed. Never turn the cap when the cooling system, including the radiator pressure cap, is hot. Wait for the cooling system and radiator pressure cap to cool il you ever have to turn the pressure cap.

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205


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A

How to

Add Coolant

to the

Radiator

1.

You can remove the radiator pressure cap when the cooling system, including the radiator pressure cap and upper radiator hose, is no longer hot. Turn the pressure cap slowly to the left until it first stops. (Don't press down while turning the pressure cap.)

If

you hear a hiss, wait for that to stop.

A

hiss means there is still some pressure left.

2.

Then keep turning the pressure cap, but now push down as you turn it.

Remove the pressure cap.

3.

Fill the radiator with the proper mix, up to the base of the filler neck.

4.

Then fill the coolant recovery tank to the

FULL

mark.

5.

Put the cap back on the coolant recovery tank, but leave the radiator pressure cap off.

6 .

Start the engine and let it run until you can feel the upper radiator hose getting hot.

Watch out for the engine fan.

By this time, the coolant level inside the radiator filler neck may be lower.

If the level is lower, add more of the proper mix through the filler neck until the level reaches the base of the filler neck. r


Then replace the pressure cap. Be sure the ears on the pressure cap line up like this.

Zf

a

Tire

Goes

Hut

It’s unusual for a tire to “blow out’’ while you’re driving, especially if you maintain your tires properly. If air goes out of a tire, it’s much more likely to leak out slowly. But if you should ever have a “blowout,

” here are a few tips about what to expect and what to do:

If a front tire fails, the flat tire will create a drag that pulls the vehicle toward that side. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal and grip the steering wheel firmly. Steer to maintain lane position, then gently brake to a stop well out of the traffic lane.

A

rear blowout, particularly on a curve, acts much like a skid and may require the same correction you’d use in a skid.

In any rear blowout, remove your foot from the accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle under control by steering the way you want the vehicle to go. It may be very bumpy and noisy, but you can still steer. Gently brake to a stop, well off the road if possible.

If your tire goes flat, the next section shows how to use your jacking equipment to change a flat tire safely.

ChanginQ a

Flat lire

If a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and wheel damage by driving slowly to a level place. Turn on your hazard warning flashers.

..

9

208

CAUTION

A

Changing a tire can cause an injury. The vehicle can slip off the jack and roll over you or other people. You and they could be badly injured.

Find a level place to change your tire. To help prevent the vehicle from moving:

1.

Set the parking brake firmly.

2.

Put the shift lever in

P

(Park).

3.

Shift a manual transmission to

1

(First) or

R

(Reverse).

4.

If you have a four-wheel-drive vehicle, be sure the transfer case is in a drive gear

N

(Neutral).

5.

Turn off the engine.

To be even more certain the vehicle won’t move, you can put chocks at the front and rear of the tire farthest away from the one being changed. That would be the tire on the other side of the vehicle, at the opposite end.

I

The following steps will tell you how to use the jack and change a tire.

The equipment you’ll need

is

under the front seats.

The jack and wheel wrench are under the passenger’s seat.

209

=

The jack handle is under the driver’s seat.

Start with the jack

(A), jack handle (B) and wheel wrench (C).

The spare tire

is

mounted on

your

tailgate.

Pull

the cover

off of

the spare tire.

. 2 1 0

Insert your key into the wheel lock and pull the wheel lock off.

Remove wheel nuts with the wheel wrench.

Remove the spare tire from the mounting bracket and place it near your flat tire.

Attach the jack handle to the jack bolt.

Rotate the jack handle clockwise (to the right). That will raise the lift head a little.

Using the wheel wrench, loosen all the wheel nuts. Don’t remove them yet.

211


Under the vehicle near each wheel, there are bosses in the vehicle’s rocker flange. Position the jack and raise the

Raising your vehicle with the jack jack head until it fits firmly onto the bosses nearest the flat tire. Do not raise the vehicle yet. improperly positioned will damage the vehicle or may allow the vehicle to fall off the jack. Be sure to fit the jack lift head into the proper location before raising your

I

A

Getting under a vehicle when

d

it is jacked up is dangerous. If could be badly injured or killed.

Never get under

a

vehicle when it is supported only by a jack.

Raise the vehicle by rotating the wheel wrench clockwise. Raise the vehicle far enough so there is enough room for the spare tire to fit.

.

. 2 1 2

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c

Remove all the wheel nuts and take off the flat tire.

Rust

or dirt on the

wheel, or on the parts to which it is

fastened, can

make the wheel nuts become loose

after

a time.

The

wheel could come

off and

cause an

accident.

When you change a wheel, remove any

rust or

dirt from

the places where the wheel attaches to the vehicle.

In

an emergency, you

can

use

a

cloth

or

a paper towel to

do

this; but be sure to use

a

scraper or wire brush later, if you need to, to rust or dirt

off. get

all

the

-

Remove any rust or dirt from the wheel bolts, mounting surfaces or spare wheel.

Place the spare on the wheel mounting surface.


I

CAUTION

*

Never use oil or grease on

1

If

you do,

the nuts might come loose.

Your

wheel could fall

off,

causing a serious accident.

Replace the wheel nuts with the rounded end

of

the nuts toward the wheel.

Tighten each nut

by

hand until the wheel

is

held against the hub.

. . .

21 4

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Lower the vehicle by rotating the wheel wrench counterclockwise. Lower the completely.

Tighten the wheel nuts

firmly

in a criss-cross sequence as shown.

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I

or

A

nuts

Incorrect wheel nuts

improperly

tightened wheel

can cause

the

wheel

to become

loose or

even

came

off.

This

could

lead

to

an

accident.

Be

sure

to

use

the

correct

wheel

nuts.

If you

have

to

replace them, be

'

sure

to get the right kind.

Stop

as soon as

you

can and

have

the

nuts tightened

with a

torque wrench to

60

pound-feet

(80

N-m).

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I


1.

Front Passenger Seat

2.

Jack

3.

Clamp

4.

Wrench

5.

Jack Handle

6.

Front Driver Seat

Replace the jack, jack handle, flat tire, and wheel wrench.

*

Storing a tire in the passenger - compartment of the vehicle

- ould cause injury. Be sure to store the jack and other equipment properly. In a sudden stop or collision, loose equipment could strike someone. Store all these in the proper place.

If

You’re Stuck: In

Sand,

Mud,

Ice or

Snow

What you

don’t

want to do when your vehicle is stuck is to spin your wheels.

The method known as “rocking” can help you get out when you’re stuck, but you must use caution.

‘

If

you let your tires spin at

4 2

high speed, they can explode and you or others could be injured.

And, the transmission and other parts

of

the vehicle can overheat.

That could cause

an

engine compartment fire or other damage.

When you’re stuck, spin the wheels as little

as

possible. Don’t spin the wheels above

35

mph

(55

km/h) as shown on the speedometer.

Spinning

your

wheels can destroy parts of your

vehicle as well as

th

tires. If you

spin

the wheels

too fast while shifting your transmission

back

and forth,

you

can destroy your transmission.


Rocking

your vehicle to get

it

out:

First, turn your steering wheel left and right. That will clear the area around your front wheels. Then shift back and forth between

R

(Reverse) and a forward gear (or with a manual transmission, between First or

Second gear and Reverse), spinning the wheels as little as possible. Release the accelerator pedal while you shift, and press lightly on the accelerator pedal when the transmission is in gear.

If that doesn’t get you out after a few tries, you may need to be towed out. Or, you can use your recovery hooks. If you do need to be towed out, see

‘‘Towing

Your

Vehicle” in the Index.

Using the Recovery Hooks

If you ever get stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow, your Tracker is equipped with recovery hooks. The recovery hooks are provided at the front and rear of your vehicle. You may need to use them if you’re stuck off-road and need to be pulled to some place where you can continue driving.

The recovery hooks when used, are under a lot of force.

Always pull the vehicle straight out. Never pull on the hooks at a sideways angle. The hooks could break off and you or others could be injured from the chain or cable snapping back.

I

Never

use

the recovery hooks to tow the vehicle.

Your

Tracker could be damaged and it would no1 be covered by warrant]

Notes

-

220

No results