Table Of Contents - Geo Prizm 1997 Owner's Manual

Table of Contents

Manual Contents3
How To Use This Manual5
Vehicle Damage Warnings6
Vehicle Symbols7
Seats And Restraint Systems9
Seats And Seat Controls10
Reclining Front Seatbacks11
Head Restraints12
Rear Folding Seatback12
Safety Belts: They're for Everyone14
Why Safety Belts Work15
Questions And Answers About Safety Belts18
How To Wear Safety Belts Properly19
Driver Position20
Lap-Shoulder Belt20
Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster22
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy27
Right Front Passenger Position28
Air Bag System28
How The Air Bag System Works30
Where Are The Air Bags?30
When Should An Air Bag Inflate?31
What Makes An Air Bag Inflate?31
How Does An Air Bag Restrain32
What Will You See After An Air Bag Inflates?32
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Geo33
Rear Seat Passengers34
Rear Seat Outside Passenger Positions34
Center Passenger Position37
Lap Belt37
Children38
Smaller Children And Babies38
Built-In Child Restraint40
Adjusting The Harness Height42
Securing A Child In The Built-In Child Restraint48
Removing The Child From The Built-In Child Restraint52
Storing The Built-In Child Restraint53
Child Restraints54
Where To Put The Restraint55
Top Strap56
Securing A Child Restraint In A Rear Outside Seat Position56
Securing A Child Restraint In The Center Rear Seat Position59
Securing A Child Restraint In The Right Front Seat Position60
Larger Children63
Safety Belt Extender66
Checking Your Restraint Systems66
Replacing Restraint System Parts After A Crash67
Features And Controls69
Keys70
Door Locks72
Power Door Locks73
Rear Door Security Locks73
Leaving Your Vehicle74
Trunk75
Trunk Lock Release75
Remote Trunk Lock Release76
Key In The Ignition76
Theft76
Parking At Night76
Yew Vehicle Break-In77
Ignition Switch77
Lock (A)77
Acc (B)78
Start (D)78
Starting Your Engine79
Automatic Transaxle79
Manual Transaxle79
Starting Your L4 Engine79
Automatic Transaxle Operation81
Reverse (R)82
Neutral (N)82
Drive (D)83
Second (2)83
Low (L)83
Overdrive84
Manual Transaxle Operation84
5-Speed84
Parking Brake86
Manual Transaxle Recommended Shift Speeds86
Shifting Into Park (P)88
Leaving Your Vehicle With The Engine Running89
Shifting Out Of Park (P) (Automatic Transaxle)89
Parking Your Vehicle (Manual Transaxle)89
Parking Over Things That Burn90
Engine Exhaust90
Running Your Engine While You're Parked (Automatic Transaxle)91
Windows92
Power Windows92
Horn92
Tilt Wheel93
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever93
Turn Signal And Lane Change Indicator94
Headlamp High/Low Beam Changer94
Flash-To-Pass94
Windshield Wiper/Washer Lever95
Windshield Washer96
Cruise Control96
Resuming A Set Speed98
Increasing Speed While Using Cruise Control99
Reducing Speed While Using Cruise Control99
Passing Another Vehicle While Using Cruise Control99
Exterior Lamps100
Headlamps100
Using Cruise Control On Hills100
Ending Out Of Cruise Control100
Lamps On Reminder101
Daytime Running Lamps / Automatic Headlamp Control101
Interior Lamps102
Instrument Panel Brightness Control102
Dome Lamp102
Mirrors103
Reading Lamp103
Inside Day/Night Rearview Mirror103
Outside Manual Adjust Mirrors104
Power Remote Control Mirrors104
Convex Outside Mirror104
Storage Compartments105
Glove Box105
Door Storage Compartments105
Cupholder105
Ashtrays And Lighter106
Console Storage Area106
Sun Visors107
Visor Vanity Mirrors107
Sunroof108
Instrument Panel110
Standard Cluster112
Optional Cluster113
Speedometer And Odometer114
Warning Lights, Gages And Indicators114
Tachometer114
Safety Belt Reminder Light115
Air Bag Readiness Light115
Charging System Light116
Brake System Warning Light116
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning Light117
Anti-Lock Brake System Active Light118
Engine Coolant Temperature Gage119
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Check Engine Light)119
If The Light Is Flashing120
If The Light Is On Steady121
Engine Oil Pressure Light122
Overdrive Off Light123
Daytime Running Lamps (Drl) Indicator Light123
Rear Window Defogger Light123
Fuel Gauge124
Comfort Controls And Audio Systems125
Climate Control System126
Airflow Knob126
Fan Knob126
Temperature Knob126
Heating127
Air Intake Lever127
Air Conditioner Controls127
Bi-Level128
Ventilation System128
Defogging And Defrosting129
Rear Window Defogger129
Ventilation Tips129
Audio Systems130
Setting The Clock For Am-Fm Stereo130
Am-Fm Stereo131
Playing The Radio131
Finding A Station131
Am-Fm Stereo With Cassette Tape Player132
Setting The Tone132
Adjusting The Speakers132
Playing A Cassette Tape134
Am-Fm Stereo With Cassette Tape And Compact Disc Player135
Playing A Compact Disc138
Theft-Deterrent Feature139
Disabling The Theft-Deterrent Feature140
Understanding Radio Reception141
Unlocking The Theft-Deterrent Feature After A Power Loss141
Tips About Your Audio System141
Care Of Your Cassette Tape Player142
Care Of Your Compact Discs143
Antenna143
Your Driving And The Road145
Defensive Driving146
Drunken Driving146
Control Of A Vehicle150
Braking150
Anti-Lock Brakes151
Braking In Emergencies153
Using Anti-Lock153
Power Steering154
Steering Tips154
Driving On Curves154
Steering In Emergencies155
Off-Road Recovery156
Passing156
Loss Of Control158
Skidding158
Driving At Night159
Night Vision160
Driving In Rain And On Wet Roads161
Driving Through Deep Standing Water163
Hydroplaning163
Other Rainy Weather Tips163
City Driving164
Freeway Driving165
Before Leaving On A Long Trip166
Highway Hypnosis167
Hill And Mountain Roads167
Winter Driving169
Driving On Snow Or Ice170
If You're Caught in a Blizzard171
Loading Your Vehicle173
Towing A Trailer175
If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer176
Weight Of The Trailer177
Weight Of The Trailer Tongue177
Total Weight on Your Vehicle's Tires178
Hitches178
Safety Chains179
Trailer Brakes179
Driving With A Trailer179
Following Distance180
Backing Up180
Making Turns180
Turn Signals When Towing A Trailer181
Driving On Grades181
Parking On Hills181
When You Are Ready To Leave After Parking On A Hill182
Maintenance When Trailer Towing182
Problems On The Road183
Hazard Warning Flashers184
Jump Starting185
Other Warning Devices185
Towing Your Vehicle189
Front Towing191
Rear Towing193
Engine Overheating195
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine195
If No Steam Is Coming From Your Engine196
How To Add Coolant To The Coolant Recovery Tank199
How To Add Coolant To The Radiator202
If A Tire Goes Flat205
Changing A Flat Tire205
Removing The Spare Tire And Tools206
Removing The Flat Tire And Installing The Spare Tire209
Storing A Flat Or Spare Tire And Tools215
Compact Spare Tire216
If You're Stuck: in Sand, Mud, Ice or Snow217
Rocking Your Vehicle To Get It Out218
Using The Recovery Hooks218
Service And Appearance Care219
Doing Your Own Service Work220
Adding Equipment To The Outside Of Your Vehicle221
Fuel221
Fuels In Foreign Countries223
Filling Your Tank223
Remote Fuel Door Release Lever224
Checking Things Under The Hood226
Hood Release226
Engine Oil230
Checking Engine Oil231
When To Add Oil231
What Kind Of Oil To Use232
Engine Oil Additives235
When To Change Engine Oil235
What To Do With Used Oil235
Air Cleaner236
Automatic Transaxle Fluid Check And Change237
Manual Transaxle Fluid240
How To Add Automatic Transaxle Fluid240
Hydraulic Clutch241
Engine Coolant242
Checking Coolant244
Adding Coolant244
Radiator Pressure Cap245
Thermostat245
Power Steering Fluid245
How To Check Power Steering Fluid246
What To Use246
Windshield Washer Fluid247
Adding Washer Fluid247
Brakes248
Brake Fluid248
Brake Wear250
Brake Pedal Travel251
Brake Adjustment251
Battery252
Replacing Brake System Parts252
Vehicle Storage252
Halogen Bulbs253
Front Sidemarker Lamps255
Front Turn Signal Lamps255
Parking Lamp256
Rear Combination Lamps257
Back-Up Lamps259
Tires259
Inflation - Tire Pressure260
Tire Inspection And Rotation261
When It's Time for New Tires262
Buying New Tires263
Uniform Tire Quality Grading263
Treadwear264
Traction - A, B, C264
Temperature - A, B, C264
Wheel Alignment And Tire Balance265
Wheel Replacement265
Tire Chains266
Used Replacement Wheels266
Appearance Care267
Cleaning The Inside Of Your Geo267
Using Foam-Type Cleaner On Fabric268
Using Solvent-Type Cleaner On Fabric268
Fabric Protection268
Special Cleaning Problems269
Cleaning Vinyl269
Cleaning The Built-In Child Restraint270
Care Of Safety Belts And Built-In Child Restraint Harness270
Cleaning Leather270
Cleaning The Top Of The Instrument Panel270
Cleaning Glass Surfaces271
Cleaning The Outside Of The Windshield And Wiper Blades271
Weatherstrips271
Cleaning The Outside Of Your Geo272
Washing Your Vehicle272
Finish Care272
Cleaning Exterior Lamps Lenses272
Cleaning Aluminum Wheels273
Cleaning Tires273
Sheet Metal Damage273
Finish Damage274
Underbody Maintenance274
Chemical Paint Spotting274
Appearance Care Materials Chart275
Vehicle Identification Number (Vin)276
Service Parts Identification Label276
Electrical System276
Add-On Electrical Equipment276
Windshield Wipers277
Power Windows And Other Power Options277
Fuses And Circuit Breakers277
Driver's Side Instrument Panel Fuse Block278
Engine Compartment Fuse Block279
Engine Compartment Fuse/Relay Block280
Passenger's Side Kick Panel281
Replacement Bulbs282
Capacities And Specifications282
Replacement Parts283
Vehicle Dimensions284
Maintenance Schedule285
Your Vehicle And The Environment286
Scheduled Maintenance Services288
Selecting The Right Schedule288
Short Trip/City Definition289
Short Trip/City Intervals289
Long Trip/Highway Definition290
Long Trip/Highway Intervals291
Short Trip/City Maintenance Schedule292
Long Trip/Highway Maintenance Schedule321
Owner Checks And Services334
Checks At Each Fuel Fill334
At Least Twice A Year335
At Least Once A Year336
Starter Switch Check336
Brake-Transaxle Shift Interlock (Btsi) Check337
Ignition Transaxle Lock Check337
Parking Brake And Automatic Transaxle Park (P) Mechanism Check338
Periodic Maintenance Inspections339
Recommended Fluids And Lubricants340
Customer Assistance Information345
Index359
Service Station Checkpoints Diagram370