1999 SUZUKI BALENO Engine oul

S0G-74E
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE

OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE

Exhaust Gas Warning 7-1

Daily Inspection Checklist 7-1

Starting the Engine 7-2

Using the Transmission 7-3

Braking 7-4

Running-in 7-5

Catalytic Converter (if equipped) 7-6

Improving Fuel Economy 7-7

Trailer Towing 7-7

OPERATING YOUR VECHILE

60G-74E

EXHAUST GAS WARNING
DAILY INSPECTION CHECKLIST

60G-07-001E

Avoid breathing exhaust gases.

Exhaust gases contain carbon

monoxide, a potentially lethal gas that

is colourless and odourless. Since

carbon monoxide is difficult to detect

by itself, be sure to take the following

precautions to help prevent carbon

monoxide from entering your vehicle.

• Do not leave the engine running in

garages or other confined areas.

• Do not park with the engine running

for a long period of time, even in an

open area. If it is necessary to sit for

a short time in a parked vehicle <=>
with the engine running, make sure

the air intake lever is set to "FRESH

AIR" and the fan is at high speed.

To allow proper operation of your

vehicle's ventilation system, keep

the air inlet grille in front of the

windscreen clear of snow, leaves, or

other obstructions at all times.

Keep the exhaust tailpipe area clear

of snow and other material to help

reduce the buildup of exhaust gases

under the vehicle.This is particularly

important when parked in blizzard

conditions.

Have the exhaust system inspected

periodically for damage and leaks.

Any damage or leaks should be

repaired immediately.

7-1
70F-05-007

Before driving:

1) Make sure that windows, mirrors, lights,

and reflectors are clean and unobstructed.

2) Check the tyres.

3) Look for fluid and oil leaks.

NOTE:

It is normal for water to drip from the air

conditioning system after use.

4) Adjust the seat/head restraint.

5) Check the brake pedal and the parking

brake lever.

6) Adjust the mirrors.

7) Make sure that you and passengers have

properly fastened your seat belts.

8) Make sure that all warning lights come on

as the key is turned to the "ON" or "START'

position.

9) Check all gauges.

10) Make sure that the brake fluid level

warning light is off when the parking brake

is released with the ignition switch in "ON"

position.

66
65

60G-74E
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE

Once a week, or each time you fill your fuel

tank, perform the following under-bonnet

checks:

1) Engine oil level.

2) Coolant level.

3) Brake fluid level.

4) Power steering (if equipped) fluid level.

5) Windscreen washer fluid level.

6) Battery solution level.

7) Bonnet latch operation.

Pull the bonnet release handle inside the

vehicle. Make sure that you can not open

the hood all the way without releasing the

secondary latch. Be sure to close the hood

securely after checking for proper

operation. See "All Latches, Hinges &

Locks" of "PERIODIC MAINTENANCE

SCHEDULE" in the "INSPECTION AND

MAINTENANCE" section for lubrication

schedule.

Make sure the bonnet is fully closed

and latched before driving. If it is not,

it can fly up unexpectedly during

driving, obstructing your view and

resulting in an accident.
STARTING THE ENGINE

Before starting the engine:

1) Make sure the parking brake is applied

fully.

2) Manual Transmission - Shift into "N"

(neutral) and depress the clutch pedal all

the way to the floor. Hold it while starting

the engine.

Make sure that the parking brake is

applied fully and the transmission is in

Neutral before attempting to start the

engine.

CAUTION

Stop turning the starter immediately

after the engine has started or the

starter system can be damaged.

Do not crank the engine for more

than 15 seconds at a time. If the

engine doesn't start on the first try,

wait about 15 seconds before trying

again.
Starting a Cold Engine

Engine which is started after 6 hours should

be treated as cold engine.

For Electronic fuel injection models

• With your foot off the accelerator pedal,

crank the engine by turning the ignition

key to "START1. Release the key when the

engine starts.

• If the engine does not start after 15

seconds of cranking, wait about 15

seconds, then press down the accelerator

pedal to 1/3 of its travel and try cranking

the engine again. Release the key and

accelerator pedal when the engine starts.

• If the engine still does not start, try holding

the accelerator pedal all the way to the

floor while cranking. This should clear the

engine if it is flooded.

Starting a Warm Engine

For Electronic fuel injection models:

Use the same procedure as for "Starting a cold

Engine".

67

7-2

OPERATING YOUR VECHILE

60G-74E

USING THE TRANSMISSION

70F-04-005E

Starting off

To start off, depress and maintain pressure

upon the clutch pedal and change into 1st

gear. After releasing the parking brake,

gradually release the clutch. When you hear

a change in the engine's sound (speed), gently

apply pressure to the accelerator to keep the

engine sound (speed) constant whilst

continuing to gradually release the clutch.
Gear changing

All forward gears are synchronized, which

provides for quiet, easy changing. Always

depress the clutch pedal fully before changing

gears.The following table shows the maximum

allowable speed for each gear.
GEAR

First

Second

Third

Fourth

Fifth
MAXIMUM SPEED

50 km/h

95 km/h

140 km/h

Top Speed

Top Speed

7-3
68

60G-74E
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE

Reduce your speed and change

down to a lower gear before going

down a long or steep hill. A lower

gear will allow the engine to provide

braking. Avoid riding the brakes or

they may overheat, resulting in brake

failure.

When driving on slippery roads, be

sure to slow down before changing

down. Excessive and or sudden

changes in engine speed may cause

loss of traction, which could cause

you to lose control.

Make sure that the vehicle is

completely stationary before you

change into reverse.
CAUTION

To help avoid clutch damage, do not

use the clutch pedal as a footrest

while driving or use the clutch to

keep the vehicle stationary on a hill.

Depress the clutch fully when

changing gear.

When changing gears or starting off,

do not race the engine. Racing the

engine can shorten engine life and

prevent smooth operation.
BRAKING

The distance needed to bring any vehicle to a

halt increases with the speed of the vehicle.

The braking distance needed, for example, at

60 km/h will be approximately 4 times greater

than the braking distance needed at 20 km/h.

Start to brake the vehicle when there is plenty

of distance between your vehicle and the

stopping point, and slow down gradually.

69

7-4

OPERATING YOUR VECHILE

60G-74E

RUNNING-IN

Servo assisted brakes

Your vehicle has servo assisted brakes which

works with the assistance of engine vacuum.

Do not switch off the engine while

vehicle is in motion, for example, while

driving down a hill as this will cause

loss of vacuum assistance leading to

reduction of braking efficiency

substantially.

If servo assistance is lost due to a stalled

engine or other failures, the system is still fully

operational on reserve power and you can

bring the vehicle to a complete stop by

pressing the brake pedal once and holding it

down. The reserve power is partly used up

each time you depress the brake pedal. Apply

smooth and constant pressure to the pedal.

Do not pump the pedal.
Even without reserve power in the

brake system, you can still stop the

vehicle by pressing the brake pedal

harder than normally required.

However, the stopping distance may be

lonaer.

On loose surface where the wheels can

easily loose traction (such as gravel,

etc.), the stopping distance required for

your vehicle may be greater than for a

comparable vehicle with a conventional

brake system. Allow for extra stopping

distance when driving on loose

surfaces.
CAUTION

The future performance and reliability

of the engine depends on the care and

restraint exercised during its early life.

It is especially important to observe the

following precautions during the initial

1000 km of vehicle operation.

• After starting, do not race the

engine. Warm it up gradually.

• Avoid prolonged vehicle operation at

a constant speed. Moving parts will

bed in better if you vary your speed.

• Do not exceed 100 km/h.

• Start off from a stop slowly. Avoid

full throttle starts.

• If possible, avoid hard braking,

especially during the first 300 km of

driving.

• Do not drive slowly with the

transmission in a high gear.

• Drive the vehicle at moderate engine

speeds.

7-5
70
If water gets into the brake drums,

brake performance may become poor

and unpredictable. After driving

through water or washing the

underside of the vehicle, test the brakes

while driving at a slow speed to see if

they have maintained their normal

effectiveness. If the brakes are less

effective than normal, dry them by

repeatedly applying the brakes while

driving slowly until the brakes have

regained their normal effectiveness.

60G-74E
DRIVING TIPS AND SAFE DRIVING

DRIVING TIPS AND SAFE DRIVING

High Speed Driving 8-1

Driving on Hills 8-1

Driving on Slippery Roads 8-2

Driving on Wet Roads 8-2

Do's and Don'ts for Safe Driving 8-3

73

DRIVING TIPS AND SAFE DRIVING

60G-74E

70F-06-001

Wear Your Seat Belts at All Times.

The driver and passengers should

be property restrained at all times,

using the seatbelts provided. Refer

to the "SEATBELTS" section for

instructions on proper use of the

seatbelts.

Never drive while under the

influence of alcohol or other drugs.

Alcohol and drugs can seriously

impair your ability to drive safely,

greatly increasing the risk of injury

to yourself and others. You should

also avoid driving when you are

tired, sick, irritated, or under stress.
HIGH-SPEED DRIVING

When driving at a high-speed, pay attention to

the following:

• Stopping distance progressively increases

with vehicle speed. Apply the brakes far

enough ahead of the stopping point to

allow for the extra stopping distance.

• On rainy days, "Aquaplaning" can occur.

"Aquaplaning" is the loss of direct contact

between the road surface and the vehicle's

tyres due to a water film forming between

them. Steering or braking the vehicle while

"Aquaplaning" can be very difficult, and

loss of control can occur. Keep speed

down when the road surface is wet.

• At high speeds, the vehicle may be

affected by side winds. Therefore, reduce

speed and be prepared for unexpected

buffeting, which can occur at the exits of

tunnels, when passing by a cut of a hill, or

when being overtaken by large vehicles,

etc.

DRIVING ON HILLS

• When climbing steep hills, the vehicle may

begin to slow down and show a lack of

power. If this happens, you should change

to a lower gear so that the engine will again

be operating in its normal power range.

Change rapidly to prevent the vehicle from

losing momentum.
When driving down a hill, the engine

should be used for braking by shifting to

next lower gear.

Try not to hold the brake pedal down

too long or too often while going down

a steep or long hill. This could cause

the brakes to overheat, resulting in

reduced braking efficiency. Failure to

take this precaution could result in loss

of vehicle control.

CAUTION

When descending a down hill, NEVER

turn the ignition key to the "OFF"

position. Emission control system and

automatic transmission (if equipped)

damage may result.

DRIVING ON SLIPPERY ROADS

Under wet road conditions you should drive

at a lower speed than on dry roads due to

possible slippage of tyres during braking.

When driving on icy, snowcovered, or muddy

roads, reduce your speed and avoid sudden

acceleration, abrupt braking, or sharp steering

movements.

8-1

60G-74E
INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE

INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE

Periodic Maintenance Schedule.. 9-2

Engine Oil and Filter 9-7

Gear OH 9-10

Engine Coolant 9-11

Windscreen Washer Fluid 9-13

Air Cleaner 9-13

Spark Plugs 9-14

Brakes 9-15

Steering 9-17

Power Steering (if equipped) 9-18

Clutch Pedal 9-18

Tyres... 9-19

Battery 9-22

Fuses 9-23

Bulb Replacement , 9-25

Wiper Blades 9-29

83

INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE

60G-74E

70F-05-002

You should take extreme care when

working on your vehicle to prevent

accidental injury. Here are a few

precautions that you should be

especially careful to observe:

• Do not leave the engine running in

garages or other confined areas.

• When the engine Is running, keep

hands, clothing, tools, and other

objects away from the fan and water

pump belt. Even though the fan may

not be moving, it can automatically

turn on without warning. ^
When it is necessary to do service

work with the engine running, make

sure that the parking brake is applied

fully and the transmission is in

Neutral.

Do not touch ignition wires or other

ignition system parts when starting

the engine or when the engine is

running, or you could receive an

electric shock.

Be careful not to touch a hot engine,

exhaust manifold and pipes, muffler,

radiator and water hoses.

Do not allow smoking, sparks, or

flames around gasoline or the

battery. Flammable fumes are

present.

Do not get under your vehicle if it is

supported only with the portable

jack provided in your vehicle.

Be careful not to cause accidental

short circuits between the positive

and negative battery terminals.

Keep used oil, coolant, and other

fluids away from children and pets.

Dispose of used fluids properly;

never pour them on the ground, into

sewers, etc.

9-1
84

60G-74E
INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE

PERIODIC MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE

The following table shows when regular

maintenance on your vehicle is required. This

table shows in kilometres and months when

inspections, adjustments, lubrication and other

services should be performed.

Maruti recommends that maintenance

on your Maruti vehicle be performed by

Maruti Authorised Dealer/Service

Station.
CAUTION

Whenever it becomes necessary to

replace parts on your vehicle, it is

recommended that you use MARUTI

GENUINE PARTS (MGP).

85

9-2

INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE

6OG-74E

PERIODIC MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE

A....Ad]ust. l....lnspect and correct or replace If necessary.

T....Tighten to specified torque. C....CIean.

R....Replace or change. O....Rotate

L....Lubrlcate.

Note:

This table includes services as scheduled up to 80,000 km mileage. Beyond 80,000 km, carry out the same services at the same intervals

respectively.

Interval: This interval should be judged

by odometer reading or months,

whichever comes first.
km (x 1,000)

months

ENGINE

1. Water pump drive belt (tension, wear)

2. Engine coolant (level, leakage)

3. Engine oil (API GRADE SF, SG, SH) & Oil filter

4. Cooling system hoses and connections (leakage, damage)

5. Engine bolts (All cylinder head and manifold fixings)

6. Engine mounting (loose, damage)

7. Valve clearance

8. Camshaft timing belt (damage, wear)

9. Exhaust system (noise, leakage or otherwise defective)

10. Positive crankcase ventilation System (Hoses, connections and valve;

IGNITION

1. Ignition wiring, (damage, deterioration)

2. Spark plugs (clean and adjust the gap)
FREE INSPECTIONS

1

1

A

I

R

I

-

-

-

_
5

6

I

I

I

I

-

-

A

-
10

12

I

I

R

I

T

T

-

-
PERIODIC MAINTENANCE SERVICE AT COST

20

24

I

R

R

I

-

-

A

I

Replace every 1,00,000 km

-

-

-
I

I

-

-
-

-

-

I
I

I

I

R
30

36

I

I

R

I

T

T

-

-

-

-

-

I
40

48

I

R

R

I

-

-

A

I

I

I

I

R
SO

60

I

I

R

I

T

T

-

-

-

-

-

I
60

72

R

R

R

I

-

-

A

I

I

I

I

R
70

84

A

I

R

I

T

T

-

-

-

-

-

I
80

96

I

R

R

I

-

-

A

I

I

I

I

R

9-3
86

60G-74E
INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE

Interval: This Interval should be judged

by odometer reading or months,

whichever comes first.
km (x 1,000)

months

ROAD TEST

1. Operation of Brakes, Gear shifting & speedometer

2. Body and Chassis noise

AIR CONDITIONER (if equipped)

1. Check belt tension

2. Check Receiver Drier bubbles.

3. Tighten compressor mounting bolts

4. Check all hose joints, tighten if necessary

5. Check functioning of Recirc flap .*

6. Clean condenser with low pressure water

7. Check belt for frayed edges, change if necessary

8. Check all mounting bolts
FREE

1

1

I

I

I

I

—

I

I

_

-

-
INSPECTIONS

5

6

I

I

I

I

T

I

I

C

I

I
10

12

I

I

I

I

T

I

I

C

I

I
PERIODIC

20

24

I

I

I

I

T

I

I

C

I

I
30

36

I

I

I

I

T

I

I

C

I

I
MAINTENANCE

40

48

I

I

I

I

T

I

I

C

I

I
50

60

I

I

I

I

T

I

I

C

I

I
SERVICE

60

72

I

I

I

I

T

I

I

C

I

I
AT,

70

84

I

I

I

I

T

I

I

C

I

I
COST

80

96

I

I

I

I

T

I

I

C

I

I

The rear shock absorbers are filled with

high pressure gas. Never attempt to

disassemble it or throw it into a fire.

Avoid storing it near a heater or heating

device. When scrapping the absorber,

the gas must be released from the

absorber safely. Ask your dealer for

assistance.

89

9-6

INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
60G-74E

All maintenance should be carried

out with the Ignition switch in the

"OFF" position and the car parked

securely on the level ground unless

otherwise specified.

If you are In any way unsure of your

ability to undertake a task, then do

not start it but contact your Maruti

dealer to perform the work for you.
ENGINE OIL AND FILTER

Specified oil

Be sure that the engine oil you use comes

under the API classification of SF, SG or SH.

Select the appropriate oil viscosity according

to the above chart.

9-7
90
70F-07-004E

60G-74E
INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE

60G-09-002E

Oil Level Cheek

It is important to keep the engine oil at the

correct level for proper lubrication of your

vehicle's engine. Check the oil level with the

vehicle on a level surface. The oil level

indication may be inaccurate if the vehicle is

on a slope. The oil level should be checked

either before starting the engine or at least 5

minutes after stopping the engine.

Pull out the oil dipstick, wipe oil off with a clean

cloth, insert the dipstick all the way into the

engine, then remove it again. The oil on the

stick should be between the upper and lower

limits shown on the stick. If the oil level

indication is near the lower limit, add enough

oil to raise the level to the upper limit.

91
60G-09-003E

Refilling

Remove the oil filler cap and pour oil slowly

through the filler hole to bring the oil level to the

upper limit on the dipstick. Be careful not to

overfill. Too much oil is almost as bad as too

little oil. After refilling, start the engine and allow

it to idle for about a minute. Stop the engine,

wait for five minutes and check the oil level again.

Changing Engine Oil and Fitter

Drain the engine oil while the engine is still

warm.

1) Remove the oil filler cap.

2) Place a drain pan under the drain plug.

3) Using the correct spanner remove the

drain plug and drain out the engine oil.
60G-09-004

The engine oil temperature may be high

enough to burn your fingers when the

drain plug Is loosened. Watt until the

drain plug is cool enough to touch with

your bare hands.

9-8

INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
60G-74E

New and used oil can be hazardous.

Children and pets may be harmed by

swallowing new or used oil. Keep new

and used oil and used oil fitters away

from children and pets.

Continuous contact with used engine

oil has been found to cause (skin)

cancer in laboratory animals. Brief

contact with used oil may irritate skin.

To minimize your exposure to used oil,

wear a long-sleeve shirt and

moistureproof gloves (such 'as

dishwashing gloves) when changing

oil. If oil contacts your skin, wash

thoroughly with soap and water.

Launder any clothing or rags if wet with

oil.

Recycle or properly dispose of used oil

and filters.

4) Reinstall the drain plug and gasket.

Tighten the plug to a torque of

5.0 kg-m (36.5 Ib-ft).
70F-07-010

Replace the oil filter

1) Using an oil filter wrench, turn the oil filter

counterclockwise and remove it.

2) Using a clean rag, wipe off the mounting

surface on the engine where the new filter

will be seated.

3) Smear a little engine oil around the rubber

gasket of the new oil filter.

4) Screw on the new filter by hand until the

filter gasket contacts the mounting

surface.
60G-09-005

CAUTION

To tighten the oil filter properly, it is

important to accurately identify the

position at which the filter gasket first

contacts the mounting surface.

5) Tighten the filter 3/4 turn from the point of

contact with the mounting surface, [or to

1.4 kg-m (10.5 Ib-ft)] using an oil filter

wrench.

9-9
92