1999 SUZUKI BALENO operating your vehicle

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
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE

CATALYTIC CONVERTER

(if equipped)

70F-05-005

The purpose of the catalytic converter installed

on your vehicle is to convert exhaust pollutants

to harmless water vapour, carbon dioxide, and

nitrogen. Use of leaded fuel in vehicles

equipped with catalytic converters is

prohibited, because lead deactivates the

pollutant-reducing components of the catalyst

system.

It is very important to keep the engine properly

tuned. Engine misfiring, which can result from

an improperly tuned engine, may cause

overheating of the catalyst. This may result in

permanent heat damage to the catalyst and

other vehicle components.
CAUTION

To minimize the possibility of catalyst

or other vehicle damage:

• Maintain the engine in the proper

operating condition.

• In the event of an engine

malfunction, particularly one

involving engine misfire or other

apparent loss of performance, have

the vehicle serviced promptly.

• Do not turn off the engine or

interrupt the ignition when the

transmission is in gear and the

vehicle is in motion.

• Do not try to start the engine by

pushing or towing the vehicle, or

coasting down a hill.

• Do not idle the engine with any spark

plug wires disconnected or

removed, such as during diagnostic

testing.

• Do not idle the vehicle for prolonged

periods if idling seems rough or

there are other malfunctions.

• Do not allow the fuel tank to get near

the empty level.
60Q-07-002E

Be careful where you park and drive;

the catalytic converter and other

exhaust components can get very hot.

As with any vehicle, do not park or

operate this vehicle in areas where

combustible materials such as dry

grass or leaves can come in contact

with a hot exhaust system.

7-6

OPERATING YOUR VECHILE

60G-74E

IMPROVING FUEL ECONOMY

The following instructions will help you improve

fuel economy.

Avoid excessive idling:

If you are to wait for more than a minute while

you are parked, stop the engine and start it

again later. When warming up a cold engine,

allow the engine to idle until the temperature

gauge pointer comes up to the "C" position. In

this position, the engine is sufficiently warm

for starting off.

Avoid "fast" starts:

Fast starts away from lights or stop signs will

consume fuel unnecessarily and shorten

engine life. Start off slowly.

Avoid unnecessary stops:

Avoid unnecessary deceleration and stopping.

Try to maintain a slow, steady speed whenever

possible. Slowing down and then accelerating

again uses more fuel.

Keep a steady cruising speed:

Keep as constant a speed as road and traffic

conditions will permit.
Air Outlet side

(Facing up)

60G-09-010

Keep the air cleaner clean:

A dirty air cleaner will cause the carburation

system to supply too much fuel to the engine

for the amount of air being supplied. The result

is waste of fuel due to incomplete combustion.

Keep weight to a minimum:

The heavier the load, the more fuel the vehicle

consumes. Take out any luggage or cargo

when it is not necessary.

Keep tyre pressures correct:

Under-inflation of the tyres can waste fuel due

to increased running resistance of the tyres.

Keep your tyres inflated to the correct pressure

shown on the label on the driver's side door

or door lock pillar.
TRAILER TOWING

Your MARUTI was originally designed to carry

people and a normal amount of cargo, not to

tow a trailer. Maruti does not recommend you

use your vehicle to tow a trailer.Towing a trailer

can adversely affect handling, durability, and

fuel economy.

7-7

72
71

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

TABLE OF CONTENTS
MAINTENANCE SERVICE RECORD

WARRANTY POLICY

BEFORE DRIVING

STEERING COLUMN CONTROLS

INSTRUMENT PANEL

OTHER CONTROLS AND EQUIPMENT

OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE

DRIVING TIPS AND SAFE DRIVING

INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE

EMERGENCY SERVICE

BODY WORK CARE

GENERAL INFORMATION

SPECIFICATIONS

SERVICE NETWORK

60G-74E

FOREWORD

This manual is an essential part of your

vehicle and should be kept with the vehicle

at all times. Please read this manual carefully

and review it from time to time. It contains

important information on safety, operation,

and maintenance. It is especially important

that this manual remain with the vehicle at

the time of resale. The next owner will need

this information also.

You are invited to avail the three free

inspection services as described in this

manual.Three free inspection coupons are

attached to this manual. Please show this

manual to your dealer when you take your

vehicle for any service.

To prolong the life of your vehicle and reduce

maintenance cost, the periodic maintenance

must be carried out according to the

"PERIODIC MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE"

described in "INSPECTION AND

MAINTENANCE" section of this manual.

Periodic maintenance is essential for

preventing trouble and accidents to ensure

your satisfaction and sefety.

Daily Inspection and Care as per "DAILY

INSPECTION CHECKLIST described in the

"INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE" section

of this Manual is essential for prolonging the

operating lite of the vehicle and for safe driving.
MARUTI UDYOG LIMITED believes in

conservation and protection of Earth's

natural resources.

To that end, we encourage every vehicle

owner to recycle, trade in, or properly

dispose of, as appropriate, used motor oil,

coolant, and' other fluids; batteries; and

tyres.

MARUTI UDYOG LIMITED

All information in this manual is

based on the latest product

information available at the time of

publication. Due to improvements

or other changes, there may be

discrepancies between information

in this manual and your vehicle.

Maruti reserves the right to make

changes at any time without notice.

This vehicle may not comply with

standards or regulations of other

countries. Before attempting to

register this vehicle in any other

country, check all applicable

regulations and make any necessary

modifications.
IMPORTANT

WARNING/CAUTION/NOTE

Please read this manual and follow its

instructions carefully. To emphasise special

information, the words WARNING,

CAUTION, and NOTE have special

meanings. Information following these signal

words should be carefully reviewed.

WARNING

The personal safety of the driver,

passengers, or by standers may be

involved. Disregarding this information

could result in their injury or death.

CAUTION

These instructions point out special

service procedures or precautions that

must be followed to avoid damaging

the vehicle.

NOTE:

This provides special information to make

maintenance easier or important instructions

clearer.

0-1
3

60G-74E

MODIFICATION WARNING

60G-00-004

The circle with a slash in this manual

means "Don't do this" or "Don't let this

happen".
Do not modify this vehicle. Modification

could adversely affect safety, handling,

performance, or durability and may

contravene regulations. In addition,

damage or performance problems

resulting from modification may not be

covered under warranty.
Improper installation of mobile

communication equipment such as

cellular talephones or CB (Citizen's

Band) radios may cause electronic

interference with your vehicle's ignition

system, resulting in vehicle

performance problems. Consult your

MARUTI dealer or qualified service

technician for advice on installing such

mobile communication equipment.

0-2
Copying, quoting or reproduction of any

part of this manual is not permitted without

explicit approval by MARUTI UDYOG

LIMITED.

60G-74E

WARRANTY POLICY

WARRANTY POLICY

Maruti Udyog Limited (hereinafter called "Maruti"), warrants that each

new Maruti vehicle distributed in India by Maruti and sold by an

authorised Maruti dealer will be free, under normal use and service,

from any defects in material and workmanship at the time of

manufacture SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING TERMS AND

CONDITIONS:

(1) Qualification:

To qualify for this warranty:

(a) The Maruti vehicle must be delivered by Maruti authorised

dealer and set-up, serviced by Maruti authorised dealer/

service station.

(b) The warranty registration card in respect of each vehicle

must be completed by the dealer at the time of delivery

of the vehicle and dealer should retain the same.

(2) Term:

The term of the warranty shall be twenty four (24) months

or 40,000 kilometers (whichever occurs first) from the date

of delivery to the first owner.

(3) Maruti's Warranty Obligation:

If any defect(s) should be found in a Maruti vehicle within the

term stipulated above, Maruti's only obligation is to repair or

replace at its sole discretion any part shown to be defective,

with a new part or the equivalent at no cost to the owner for

parts or labour, when Maruti acknowledges that such a defect

is attributable to faulty material or workmanship at the time of

manufacture. The owner is responsible of any repair or

replacements which are not covered by this warranty.
(4) Limitation:

This warranty shall not apply to:

(a) normal maintenance service required other than the three

free services, including without limitation, oil and fluid

changes, headlight aiming, fastener retightening, wheel

balancing, wheelalignment and tyre rotation, cleaning of

injectors, adjustments of carburettor, ignition timing, clutch

and valve clearance.

(b) the replacement of normal wear parts including without

limitation, bulbs, battery, tyres and tubes, spark plugs, belts,

hoses, filters, wiper blades, brushes, contact points, fuses,

clutch disc, brake shoes, brake pads, cable and all rubber

parts (except oil seal and glass run).

(c) any vehicle which has been used for competition or racing.

(d) any repairs or replacement required as a result of accidents

or collision.

(e) any defects caused by misuse, negligence, abnormal use or

insufficient care.

(f) any vehicle which has been modified or altered, including

without limitation, the installation of performance accessories.

(g) any vehicle on which parts or accessories not approved by

Maruti have been used.

(h) any vehicle which has not been operated in accordance with

the operating instructions in the Maruti Owner's Manual,

(i) any vehicle which has not received, during the warranty

term, the service inspections prescribed in the Maruti

Owner's Manual.

G) any vehicle which has been assembled, disassembled,

adjusted or repaired by other than an Maruti authorised

2-1