Chevrolet Tracker 1999 Owner's Manual

Second Printing for Chevrolet T racker Owner’s Manual – 1999

The 1999 Chevrolet Tracker Owner’s Manual

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1-1 Seats and Restraint Systems

This section tells you how to use your seats and safety belts properly. It also explains the “SRS” system.

2-1 Features and Controls

This section explains how to start and operate your vehicle.

3-1 Comfort Controls and Audio Systems

This section tells you how to adjust the ventilation and comfort controls and how to operate your audio system.

4-1 Your Driving and the Road

Here you’ll find helpful information and tips about the road and how to drive under different conditions.

5-1 Problems on the Road

This section tells you what to do if you have a problem while driving, such as a flat tire or overheated engine, etc.

6-1 Service and Appearance Care

Here the manual tells you how to keep your vehicle running properly and looking good.

7-1 Maintenance Schedule

This section tells you when to perform vehicle maintenance and what fluids and lubricants to use.

8-1 Customer Assistance Information

This section tells you how to contact Chevrolet for assistance and how to get service and owner publications.
It also gives you information on “Reporting Safety Defects” on page 8

9-1 Index

Here’s an alphabetical listing of almost every subject in this manual. You can use it to quickly find
something you want to read.

-10.

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X–00–000
1–T

GENERAL MOTORS, GM, the GM Emblem,
CHEVROLET, the CHEVROLET Emblem and the
name TRACKER are registered trademarks of General
Motors Corporation.

This manual includes the latest information at the time it
was printed. We reserve the right to make changes in the
product after that time without further notice. For
vehicles first sold in Canada, substitute the name
“General Motors of Canada Limited” for Chevrolet
Motor Division whenever it appears in this manual.

Please keep this manual in your vehicle, so it will be
there if you ever need it when you’re on the road. If you
sell the vehicle, please leave this manual in it so the new
owner can use it.

Litho in U.S.A.
10296188 A First Edition All Rights Reserved

For Canadian Owners Who Prefer a
French Language Manual:

Aux propriétaires canadiens: Vous pouvez vous

procurer un exemplaire de ce guide en français chez
votre concessionaire ou au:

DGN Marketing Services Ltd.
1577 Meyerside Dr.
Mississauga, Ontario L5T 1B9

E

Copyright General Motors Corporation 1998

We support voluntary
technician certification.

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X–00–0009–X

X–00–0010–X

About Driving Your Vehicle

As with other vehicles of this type, failure to operate
this vehicle correctly may result in loss of control or
an accident. Be sure to read the “on

-road” driving guidelines in this manual. (See

“off
“Driving Guidelines” and “Off
Your Four

-Wheel-Drive Vehicle” in the Index.)

-pavement” and

-Road Driving with

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Index

A good place to look for what you need is the Index in
back of the manual. It’s an alphabetical list of what’s in
the manual, and the page number where you’ll find it.

Safety Warnings and Symbols

You will find a number of safety cautions in this book.
We use a box and the word CAUTION to tell you
about things that could hurt you if you were to ignore
the warning.

CAUTION:

These mean there is something that could hurt
you or other people.

How to Use this Manual

Many people read their owner’s manual from beginning
to end when they first receive their new vehicle. If you
do this, it will help you learn about the features and
controls for your vehicle. In this manual, you’ll find
that pictures and words work together to explain
things quickly.

In the caution area, we tell you what the hazard is. Then
we tell you what to do to help avoid or reduce the
hazard. Please read these cautions. If you don’t, you or
others could be hurt.

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You will also find a circle

AM002002
–INT

with a slash through it in
this book. This safety
symbol means “Don’t,”
“Don’t do this” or “Don’t
let this happen.”

Vehicle Damage Warnings

Also, in this book you will find these notices:

NOTICE:

These mean there is something that could
damage your vehicle.

In the notice area, we tell you about something that can
damage your vehicle. Many times, this damage would
not be covered by your warranty, and it could be costly.
But the notice will tell you what to do to help avoid
the damage.

When you read other manuals, you might see
CAUTION and NOTICE warnings in different colors or
in different words.

You’ll also see warning labels on your vehicle. They use
the same words, CAUTION or NOTICE.

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Vehicle Symbols

These are some of the symbols you may find on your vehicle.

T45678–INT

For example,
these symbols
are used on an
original battery:

CAUTION

POSSIBLE

INJURY

PROTECT

EYES BY

SHIELDING

CAUSTIC

BATTERY

ACID COULD

CAUSE

BURNS

AVOID

SPARKS OR

FLAMES

SPARK OR

FLAME

COULD

EXPLODE

BATTERY

These symbols
are important
for you and
your passengers
whenever your
vehicle is
driven:

DOOR LOCK

UNLOCK

FASTEN

SEAT

BELTS

POWER

WINDOW

AIR BAG

These symbols
have to do with
your lamps:

MASTER

LIGHTING

SWITCH

TURN

SIGNALS

PARKING

LAMPS

HAZARD
WARNING
FLASHER

DAYTIME

RUNNING

LAMPS

FOG LAMPS

VENTILATING

These symbols
are on some of
your controls:

WINDSHIELD

WIPER

WINDSHIELD

WASHER

WINDSHIELD

DEFROSTER

REAR

WINDOW

DEFOGGER

FAN

These symbols
are used on
warning and
indicator lights:

ENGINE

COOLANT

TEMP

BATTERY

CHARGING

SYSTEM

BRAKE

COOLANT

ENGINE OIL

PRESSURE

ANTI-LOCK

BRAKES

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Here are some
other symbols
you may see:

FUSE

LIGHTER

HORN

SPEAKER

FUEL

v

✍

NOTES

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Section 1 Seats and Restraint Systems

Here you’ll find information about the seats in your vehicle and how to use your safety belts properly. You can also
learn about some things you should not do with air bags and safety belts.

1

-2 Seats and Seat Controls

1

-9 Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone

-14 Here Are Questions Many People Ask About

1

Safety Belts

-15 How to Wear Safety Belts Properly

1
1

-15 Driver Position

1

-22 Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy

-23 Right Front Passenger Position

1
1

-23 Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)

-- and the Answers

-30 Rear Seat Passengers

1
1

-33 Center Passenger Position (4-Door Models)

-34 Children

1
1

-37 Child Restraints

-49 Larger Children

1
1

-52 Safety Belt Extender

1

-52 Checking Your Restraint Systems

-52 Replacing Restraint System Parts

1

After a Crash

1-

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Seats and Seat Controls

This part tells you about the seats -- how to adjust them,
and also about reclining front seatbacks, head restraints,
easy entry seats and the folding rear seatback.

Manual Front Seat

CAUTION:

You can lose control of the vehicle if you try to
adjust a manual driver’s seat while the vehicle is
moving. The sudden movement could startle and
confuse you, or make you push a pedal when you
don’t want to. Adjust the driver’s seat only when
the vehicle is not moving.

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JE–11–0001–X

Lift the lever under the front seat to unlock it. Slide the
seat to where you want it. Release the lever and try to
move the seat with your body to make sure the seat is
locked into place.

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Reclining Front Seatbacks

JE–11–0002–X

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AX101008

T o adjust the seatback, lift the lever on the outer side of
the seat. Release the lever to lock the seatback where
you want it. Pull up on the lever, and the seat will go to
its original upright position.

But don’t have a seatback reclined if your vehicle is moving.

CAUTION:

Sitting in a reclined position when your vehicle is
in motion can be dangerous. Even if you buckle
up, your safety belts can’t do their job when
you’re reclined like this.

CAUTION: (Continued)

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CAUTION: (Continued)

The shoulder belt can’t do its job because it
won’t be against your body. Instead, it will be in
front of you. In a crash you could go into it,
receiving neck or other injuries.

The lap belt can’t do its job either. In a crash the
belt could go up over your abdomen. The belt
forces would be there, not at your pelvic bones.
This could cause serious internal injuries.

For proper protection when the vehicle is in
motion, have the seatback upright. Then sit well
back in the seat and wear your safety belt properly.

Head Restraints

Slide the head restraint up or down so that the top of the
restraint is closest to the top of your ears. This position
reduces the chance of a neck injury in a crash.

The head restraint can be adjusted to four positions.
T o raise the restraint, pull up on the restraint. To lower
the restraint, push in the release button while you push
down on the restraint.

Easy Entry Seats (2-Door)

JE–11–0003–X

The front seats of your vehicle make it easy to get in and
out of the rear seat.

D

When you pull up on the recliner release lever, the
seatback will tilt forward and the whole seat can
slide forward when pushed by hand.

D

After someone gets into the rear seat area, move the
seatback to its original position. Then move the seat
rearward until it locks.

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CAUTION:

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If any easy entry seat isn’t locked, it can move.
In a sudden stop or crash, the person sitting there
could be injured. And, even if there is no crash or
sudden stop, a driver sitting in an unlocked easy
entry seat could be startled by the sudden
movement and hit the wrong control or pedal,
causing an accident. After you’ve used it, be sure
to push rearward on any easy entry seat to be
sure it is locked.

JE–11–0004–X

D

T o get out, push the release pedal on the rear of the
passenger’s side front seat.

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Rear Seats

CAUTION:

If a head restraint is not installed on the seatback
or stored in the vehicle properly, it could be
thrown about the vehicle in a crash or sudden
maneuver. People in the vehicle could be injured.
Remove the head restraints only when you need
to fold the seat, and be sure that the head
restraints are stored securely in the top of the
folded seat bottom. When the seat is returned to
the passenger position, be sure the head
restraints are installed properly.

Folding the Rear Seatback

The rear seat in your vehicle folds to provide more cargo
space. T o fold the rear seats:

JE–11–0005–X

1. Fold the seat belt buckles and center safety belt
(if equipped) into the pocket of the rear seatback.

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JE–11–0006–X

2. Pull the release straps located near the center of the
vehicle to release the seat cushion. Fold the seat
cushion forward.

JE–11–0008–X

3. Remove the head restraint from the seatback by
raising the head restraint fully. Push the release
button and remove the head restraint from
the seatback.

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Store the head restraint
in the top of the folded
seat cushion.

JE–11–0010–X

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JE–11–0007–X

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4. Pull up on the seatback
release knob(s) on top of
the seatback and fold the
seatback down.

On 2

-door models, you

must pull up on both
release knobs at the
same time to lower
the seatback.

5. Reach between the seatback and cushion to remove
the anchor plate strap.

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6. Hook the anchor plate

JE–11–0011–X

T o raise the rear seat:

1. Fold the rear seatback up and make sure it is locked
in position. Push and pull on the seatback to ensure
it’s locked in position.

2. Remove the head restraint and insert it into the
seatback. Make sure the head restraint is secure in
the seatback.

3. Insert the anchor plate into its storage slot on the
bottom of the seat cushion.

4. Fold the seat cushion back and make sure it is locked
into position.

5. Remove the seat belt buckles and center seat belt
from the seatback pocket.

over the button on the
seat back.

Safety Belts: They’re for Everyone

This part of the manual tells you how to use safety belts
properly. It also tells you some things you should not do
with safety belts.

And it explains the Supplemental Restraint System
(SRS), or air bag system.

CAUTION:

Don’t let anyone ride where he or she can’t wear
a safety belt properly. If you are in a crash and
you’re not wearing a safety belt, your injuries
can be much worse. You can hit things inside the
vehicle or be ejected from it. You can be seriously
injured or killed. In the same crash, you might
not be if you are buckled up. Always fasten your
safety belt, and check that your passengers’ belts
are fastened properly too.

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CAUTION:

It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo area,
inside or outside of a vehicle. In a collision,
people riding in these areas are more likely to be
seriously injured or killed. Do not allow people to
ride in any area of your vehicle that is not
equipped with seats and safety belts. Be sure
everyone in your vehicle is in a seat and using a
safety belt properly.

Your vehicle has a light

X–01–2040–T

that comes on as a reminder
to buckle up. (See “Safety
Belt Reminder Light” in
the Index.)

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In most states and Canadian provinces, the law says to
wear safety belts. Here’s why: They work.

You never know if you’ll be in a crash. If you do have a
crash, you don’t know if it will be a bad one.

A few crashes are mild, and some crashes can be so
serious that even buckled up a person wouldn’t survive.
But most crashes are in between. In many of them,
people who buckle up can survive and sometimes walk
away . Without belts they could have been badly hurt
or killed.

After more than 30 years of safety belts in vehicles, the
facts are clear. In most crashes buckling up does
matter ... a lot!

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Why Safety Belts Work

When you ride in or on anything, you go as fast as it goes.

AM115003

T ake the simplest vehicle. Suppose it’s just a seat
on wheels.

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AM115004

Put someone on it.

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AM115005

Get it up to speed. Then stop the vehicle. The rider
doesn’t stop.

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AM115006

The person keeps going until stopped by something.
In a real vehicle, it could be the windshield ...

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AM115007

or the instrument panel ...

AM115008

or the safety belts!
With safety belts, you slow down as the vehicle does.

You get more time to stop. You stop over more distance,
and your strongest bones take the forces. That’s why
safety belts make such good sense.

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Here Are Questions Many People Ask
About Safety Belts

Won’t I be trapped in the vehicle after an

Q:

accident if I’m wearing a safety belt?

-- and the Answers

A: You could be -- whether you’re wearing a safety

belt or not. But you can unbuckle a safety belt,
even if you’re upside down. And your chance of
being conscious during and after an accident, so
you can unbuckle and get out, is much greater if
you are belted.

Q: If my vehicle has air bags, why should I have to

wear safety belts?

A: Air bags are in many vehicles today and will

be in most of them in the future. But they are
supplemental systems only; so they work with
safety belts
system ever offered for sale has required the use of
safety belts. Even if you’re in a vehicle that has air
bags, you still have to buckle up to get the most
protection. That’s true not only in frontal collisions,
but especially in side and other collisions.

-- not instead of them. Every air bag

Q: If I’m a good driver, and I never drive far from

home, why should I wear safety belts?

A: You may be an excellent driver, but if you’re in an

accident
your passengers can be hurt. Being a good driver
doesn’t protect you from things beyond your
control, such as bad drivers.

Most accidents occur within 25 miles (40 km) of
home. And the greatest number of serious injuries
and deaths occur at speeds of less than 40 mph
(65 km/h).

Safety belts are for everyone.

-- even one that isn’t your fault -- you and

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How to Wear Safety Belts Properly

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Adults

This part is only for people of adult size.
Be aware that there are special things to know about

safety belts and children. And there are different rules for
smaller children and babies. If a child will be riding in
your vehicle, see the part of this manual called
“Children.” Follow those rules for everyone’s protection.

First, you’ll want to know which restraint systems your
vehicle has.

We’ll start with the driver position.

Driver Position

This part describes the driver’s restraint system.

Lap-Shoulder Belt

The driver has a lap-shoulder belt. Here’s how to wear
it properly.

1. Close and lock the door.

2. Adjust the seat (to see how, see “Seats” in the Index)
so you can sit up straight.

AX120070

3. Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt across you.
Don’t let it get twisted.

The shoulder belt may lock if you pull the belt across
you very quickly. If this happens, let the belt go back
slightly to unlock it. Then pull the belt across you
more slowly.

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4. Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks.
Pull up on the latch plate to make sure it is secure.

If the belt isn’t long enough, see “Safety Belt
Extender” at the end of this section.

Make sure the release button on the buckle is
positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the
safety belt quickly if you ever had to.

AX120180

5. T o make the lap part tight, pull down on the buckle
end of the belt as you pull up on the shoulder belt.

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AM120007

The lap part of the belt should be worn low and snug on
the hips, just touching the thighs. In a crash, this applies
force to the strong pelvic bones. And you’d be less likely
to slide under the lap belt. If you slid under it, the belt
would apply force at your abdomen. This could cause
serious or even fatal injuries. The shoulder belt should go
over the shoulder and across the chest. These parts of the
body are best able to take belt restraining forces.

The safety belt locks if there’s a sudden stop or crash, or
if you pull the belt very quickly out of the retractor.

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Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster

Before you begin to drive, move the shoulder belt
adjuster to the height that is right for you.

AX120254

T o move it down, pull out the knob and move the height
adjuster to the desired position. You can move the
adjuster up just by pulling out the knob and sliding the
adjuster up. After you move the adjuster to where you
want it, try to move it down without pulling out the
knob to make sure it has locked into position.

Adjust the height so that the shoulder portion of the belt
is centered on your shoulder. The belt should be away
from your face and neck, but not falling off
your shoulder.

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Q: What’s wrong with this?

AM120015

A: The shoulder belt is too loose. It won’t give nearly

as much protection this way.

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CAUTION:

You can be seriously hurt if your shoulder belt is
too loose. In a crash, you would move forward
too much, which could increase injury. The
shoulder belt should fit against your body.

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Q: What’s wrong with this?

AM120016

A: The belt is buckled in the wrong place.

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CAUTION:

You can be seriously injured if your belt is
buckled in the wrong place like this. In a crash,
the belt would go up over your abdomen. The
belt forces would be there, not at the pelvic
bones. This could cause serious internal injuries.
Always buckle your belt into the buckle
nearest you.

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Q: What’s wrong with this?

AM125001

A: The shoulder belt is worn under the arm. It should

be worn over the shoulder at all times.

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CAUTION:

You can be seriously injured if you wear the
shoulder belt under your arm. In a crash, your
body would move too far forward, which would
increase the chance of head and neck injury.
Also, the belt would apply too much force to the
ribs, which aren’t as strong as shoulder bones.
You could also severely injure internal organs
like your liver or spleen.

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Q: What’s wrong with this?

AM125002

A: The belt is twisted across the body.

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CAUTION:

You can be seriously injured by a twisted belt.
In a crash, you wouldn’t have the full width of
the belt to spread impact forces. If a belt is
twisted, make it straight so it can work properly,
or ask your dealer to fix it.

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AX120071

T o unlatch the belt, just push the button on the buckle.
The belt should go back out of the way.

Before you close the door, be sure the belt is out of the
way . If you slam the door on it, you can damage both the
belt and your vehicle.

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Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy

Safety belts work for everyone, including pregnant
women. Like all occupants, they are more likely to be
seriously injured if they don’t wear safety belts.

AR135001

A pregnant woman should wear a lap-shoulder belt, and
the lap portion should be worn as low as possible, below
the rounding, throughout the pregnancy.

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The best way to protect the fetus is to protect the
mother. When a safety belt is worn properly, it’s more
likely that the fetus won’t be hurt in a crash. For
pregnant women, as for anyone, the key to making
safety belts effective is wearing them properly.

Right Front Passenger Position

To learn how to wear the right front passenger’s safety belt
properly, see “Driver Position” earlier in this section.

The right front passenger’s safety belt works the same way
as the driver’ s safety belt
pull the shoulder portion of the belt out all the way, you will
engage the child restraint locking feature. If this happens,
just let the belt go back all the way and start again.

-- except for one thing. If you ever

Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)

This part explains the Supplemental Restraint System
(SRS) or air bag system.

Your vehicle has “Next Generation” frontal air
bags

-- one air bag for the driver and another air bag

for the right front passenger.
Next Generation frontal air bags are designed to help

reduce the risk of injury from the force of an inflating
air bag. But even these air bags must inflate very
quickly if they are to do their job and comply with
federal regulations.

Here are the most important things to know about the air
bag system:

CAUTION:

You can be severely injured or killed in a crash if
you aren’t wearing your safety belt
have air bags. Wearing your safety belt during a
crash helps reduce your chance of hitting things
inside the vehicle or being ejected from it. Air
bags are “supplemental restraints” to the safety
belts. All air bags
bags

-- are designed to work with safety belts,

but don’t replace them. Air bags are designed to
work only in moderate to severe crashes where
the front of your vehicle hits something. They
aren’t designed to inflate at all in rollover, rear,
side or low
unrestrained occupants, Next Generation air
bags may provide less protection in frontal
crashes than more forceful air bags have
provided in the past. Everyone in your vehicle
should wear a safety belt properly
not there’s an air bag for that person.

-speed frontal crashes. And, for

-- even Next Generation air

-- even if you

-- whether or

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CAUTION:

Air bags inflate with great force, faster than the
blink of an eye. If you’re too close to an inflating
air bag, as you would be if you were leaning
forward, it could seriously injure you. This is true
even with Next Generation frontal air bags.
Safety belts help keep you in position before and
during a crash. Always wear your safety belt,
even with Next Generation air bags. The driver
should sit as far back as possible while still
maintaining control of the vehicle.

CAUTION:

Children who are up against, or very close to, any
air bag when it inflates can be seriously injured
or killed. This is true even though your vehicle
has Next Generation frontal air bags. Air bags
plus lap
for adults, but not for young children and
infants. Neither the vehicle’s safety belt system
nor its air bag system is designed for them.
Young children and infants need the protection
that a child restraint system can provide. Always
secure children properly in your vehicle. To read
how, see the part of this manual called
“Children” and see the caution labels on the
sunvisors and the right front passenger’s
safety belt.

-shoulder belts offer the best protection

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