4-4
DRIVING TIPS
79K21-03E
Keep the air cleaner clean
60A183S
If the air cleaner is clogged with dust, there
will be greater intake resistance, resulting
in decreased power output and increased
fuel consumption.
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 tire pressure correct
Underinflation of the tires can waste fuel
due to increased running resistance of the
tires. Keep your tires inflated to the correct
pressure shown on the label located below
the driver’s side door latch striker.
On-Pavement DrivingGovernment data show that most rollover
accidents for multi-purpose vehicles are
caused when a driver loses control of the
vehicle and leaves the paved portion of the
roadway striking a ditch, curb or other off-
road object that causes the vehicle to over-
turn. The following driving practices may
reduce the risk of rollover.
Vehicle Slides Off-Road
You can reduce the risk of this kind of roll-
over accident by always keeping the vehi-
cle under control. Typically, drivers lose
control of vehicles, often resulting in roll-
over accidents, when the driver is impaired
because of alcohol or other drugs, falls
asleep at the wheel or is otherwise inatten-
tive, or is driving too fast for the road condi-
tions.
Rollovers On the Roadway
If, for any reason, your vehicle slides side-
ways or spins out of control at highway
speeds, while on the paved portion of the
roadway, the risk of rollover is greatly
increased. This condition can be created
when two or more wheels drop off onto the
shoulder and you steer sharply in an
attempt to reenter the roadway. To reduce
the risk of rollover in these circumstances,
if conditions permit, you should hold the
steering wheel firmly and slow down
before pulling back into the travel lanes
with controlled steering movements.All Types of Rollover Accidents
As with many kinds of automobile acci-
dents, rollovers can be greatly reduced by
doing what all prudent drivers should do,
i.e., don’t drink and drive, don’t drive when
tired and don’t do anything behind the
wheel that could cause a loss of attention
to the driving task.
Additional guidelines are set out below for
your on-road driving.
Know Your Vehicle
Take time to familiarize yourself with the
unique handling characteristics of your
vehicle by first driving around in an area
away from traffic. Practice turning the vehi-
cle at a variety of speeds and in different
directions. Get a feel for the greater steer-
ing response that your vehicle has over a
conventional car.
Wear Your Seat Belts at All Times
The driver and all passengers should be
properly restrained at all times, using the
seat belts provided. Refer to the “Seat
Belts and Child Restraint Systems” section
for instructions on proper use of the seat
belts.
EXAMPLE
Off-Road Driving: NO
4-6
DRIVING TIPS
79K21-03E
Off-Road DrivingYour vehicle has specific design character-
istics for off-road driving. When you leave
the pavement, you will encounter driving
surfaces of all kinds which may change
continually as you drive. In most cases, off-
road driving requires the use of 4-wheel
drive. If your vehicle is a 2-wheel drive
vehicle, you should limit your off-road driv-
ing only to hard, flat, nonslippery surfaces.
2-wheel drive vehicles have far less trac-
tion on off-road surfaces than 4-wheel
drive vehicles. It is important when driving
off-road to follow the guidelines below.
Use Caution on Steep Inclines
Always inspect hills before you attempt to
drive up them. Know what is on the other
side and how you will get back down. If you
have any doubt that it is safe, do not
attempt to drive over a hill. Never drive
your vehicle up an extremely steep incline.
Coming down a steep hill can be trickier
than getting up one. Keep the vehicle
heading straight down the hill and use low
gear. Do not lock the brakes. If the vehicle
begins to slide, accelerate slightly to regain
steering control.Do Not Turn on or Drive Across the Side
of Hills
Turning on or driving across the side of a
hill can be extremely hazardous. Most of
the vehicle’s weight will be transferred to
the downhill tires, which could result in the
vehicle rolling sideways. Whenever possi-
ble, avoid this potential hazard. Also, if you
have to exit your vehicle on a side-hill,
always get out on the uphill side.
Wear Your Seat Belts at All Times
You and your passengers should use the
seat belts at all times when driving off-
road. For proper seat belt use, refer to the
“Seat Belts and Child Restraint Systems”
section in this manual.
Avoid Sudden Reactions in Mud, Ice or
Snow
Be careful when off-road conditions are
slick. Reduce your speed and avoid sud-
den movements of the vehicle. If your vehi-
cle is a 2-wheel drive vehicle, do not drive
in deep snow or mud. If your vehicle is a 4-
wheel drive vehicle, be aware that driving
in deep snow or mud can cause a loss of
traction and an increase in the resistance
to the vehicle’s forward motion. Use 4WD
low gear (4L) and maintain a steady but
moderate speed with a light touch on the
steering wheel and brakes.Do not drive in the field covered with
grown grass
If you drive in the field covered with grass,
it may cause unexpected accident or vehi-
cle damage by getting caught in grown
grass.
If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck
If your vehicle gets stuck in snow, mud or
sand, follow the directions below:
1) (For vehicles equipped with transfer
switch) Turn the transfer switch to “4H
LOCK” or “4L LOCK”.
2) Shift the transmission back and forth
between a forward range (or first gear
for manual transmission) and reverse.
This will create a rocking motion which
may give you enough momentum to
free the vehicle. Press gently on the
accelerator to keep wheel spin to a min-
imum. Remove your foot from the
accelerator while shifting.
Do not race the engine. Excessive
wheel spin will cause the tires to dig
deeper, making it more difficult to free
the vehicle.
3) If your vehicle remains stuck after a few
minutes of rocking, get another vehicle
to pull you out.
4-8
DRIVING TIPS
79K21-03E
WARNING
In addition to following the driving
tips in this section, it is important to
observe the following precautions for
on-road and off-road driving.
Driver and passengers should wear
seat belts at all times.
Do not let anyone else drive your
vehicle unless they are also aware
of the vehicle characteristics and
handling differences described in
this section.
Avoid loaning your vehicle to any-
one unless you accompany them.
Make sure your tires are in good
condition and always maintain the
specified tire pressure. Refer to
“Tires” in the “INSPECTION AND
MAINTENANCE” section for
details.
Do not use tires other than those
specified by SUZUKI. Never use dif-
ferent sizes or types of tires on the
front and rear wheels. For informa-
tion regarding the specified tires,
refer to the Tire Inflation Pressure
Label located on the driver’s side
door pillar or the “SPECIFICA-
TIONS” section.
(Continued)
WARNING
(Continued)
Never use oversized tires or special
shocks and springs to raise (jack
up) your vehicle. This will raise the
center of gravity of the vehicle and
change its handling characteris-
tics. Oversized tires may also rub
against the fender over bumps,
causing vehicle damage or tire fail-
ure.
After driving through water, mud or
sandy ground, 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.
Do not use “4H LOCK” or “4L
LOCK” drive for normal driving.
After extended operation in mud,
sand or water, have the brakes
inspected by your authorized
SUZUKI dealer as soon as possi-
ble.
INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
7
79K21-03E
60G410
INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCEMaintenance Schedule ....................................................... 7-2
Periodic Maintenance Schedule ........................................ 7-3
Maintenance Recommended under Severe Driving
Conditions ........................................................................... 7-7
Drive Belt ............................................................................. 7-9
Engine Oil and Filter ........................................................... 7-10
Engine Coolant .................................................................... 7-13
Air Cleaner ........................................................................... 7-16
Spark Plugs ......................................................................... 7-16
Gear Oil ................................................................................ 7-17
Clutch Pedal ........................................................................ 7-20
Automatic Transmission Fluid ........................................... 7-20
Brakes .................................................................................. 7-22
Steering Wheel .................................................................... 7-24
Tires ...................................................................................... 7-25
Battery .................................................................................. 7-36
Fuses .................................................................................... 7-36
Headlight Aiming ................................................................. 7-39
Bulb Replacement ............................................................... 7-40
Wiper Blades ....................................................................... 7-46
Windshield Washer Fluid ................................................... 7-49
Air Conditioning System .................................................... 7-49
7-1INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
79K21-03E
60A187S
WARNING
You should take extreme care when
working on your vehicle to prevent
accidental injury. Here are a few pre-
cautions that you should be espe-
cially careful to observe:
To prevent damage or unintended
inflation of the air bag system, be
sure the battery is disconnected
and the ignition switch has been in
the “LOCK” position for at least 90
seconds before performing any
electrical service work on your
SUZUKI. Do not touch air bag sys-
tem components or wires. The
wires are wrapped with yellow tape
or yellow tubing, and the couplers
are yellow for easy identification.
(Continued)
WARNING
(Continued)
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 moving fan
and fan belt.
When it is necessary to do service
work with the engine running, make
sure that the parking brake is set
fully and the transmission is in
Neutral (for manual transmission
vehicles) or Park (for automatic
transmission vehicles).
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 fuel 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.
(Continued)
WARNING
(Continued)
Be careful not to cause accidental
short circuits between the positive
and negative battery terminals.
Keep used oil, engine coolant and
other fluids away from children and
pets. Dispose of used fluids prop-
erly; never pour them on the
ground, into sewers, etc.
7-3INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
79K21-03E
Periodic Maintenance ScheduleR: Replace or change
I : Inspect, clean, adjust, lubricate or replace as necessary
#2: Be sure to perform the engine coolant level check under the daily inspection in “OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE” section.
If you replace the engine coolant other than the SUZUKI LLC: Super (Blue), follow the schedule of SUZUKI LLC: Standard (Green).Interval: This interval should be judged by
odometer reading or months, whichever comes
first.miles (x 1000) 7.5 15 22.5 30 37.5 45 52.5 60 67.5 75
km (x 1000) 12.5 25 37.5 50 62.5 75 87.5 100 112.5 125
months 7.5 15 22.5 30 37.5 45 52.5 60 67.5 75ENGINE & EMISSION CONTROL
1. Drive belt
Inspect for damage
–
–
–
I
–
–
–
I
–
–
*2. Valve lash (clearance) (for 2.4 L engine) – – – – – – – I – –
3.Engine oil and oil filter
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
*4. Cooling system hoses and connections – – – I – – – I – –
5.Engine coolant
SUZUKI LLC: Standard (Green)
–
–
–
R
–
–
–
R
–
–
SUZUKI LLC: Super (Blue) (#2) First time only: Replace at 150000 km (90000 miles) or 90 months
Second time and after: Replace every 75000 km (45000 miles) or 45 months
*6. Exhaust pipes and mountings – – – I – – – I&(R) – –
*7.
EVAP canister
Replace every 250000 km (150000 miles) or 180 months
*8. Emission-related hoses & tubes – – – – – – – I – –
9.Spark plugs
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
R
–
–
*10. Ignition coil (Plug cap) – – – I – – – I – –
*11.
Fuel tank & cap
–
–
–
I
–
–
–
I
–
–
12. Air cleaner filter element – – – R – – – R – –
*13.
Fuel filter
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
*14. Fuel lines and connections – – – I – – – I – –
*15.
Canister air suction filter
Replace every 250000 km (150000 miles) or 180 months
Periodic Maintenance Schedule: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10
7-4
INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
79K21-03E
R: Replace or change
I : Inspect, clean, adjust, lubricate or replace as necessary
#1: Inspect at 250000 km (150000 miles) or 180 months.
#2: Be sure to perform the engine coolant level check under the daily inspection in “OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE” section.
If you replace the engine coolant other than the SUZUKI LLC: Super (Blue), follow the schedule of SUZUKI LLC: Standard (Green).
NOTE:
The maintenance services enclosed with rectangle are recommended maintenance items.
Item 6 (R) is applicable to the exhaust mounting rubber only.Interval: This interval should be judged by
odometer reading or months, whichever comes
first.miles (x 1000) 82.5 90 97.5 105 112.5 120 127.5 135 142.5 150
km (x 1000) 137.5 150 162.5 175 187.5 200 212.5 225 237.5 250
months 82.5 90 97.5 105 112.5 120 127.5 135 142.5 150ENGINE & EMISSION CONTROL
1. Drive beltInspect for damage
–
I
–
–
–
I
–
–
–
I
*2. Valve lash (clearance) (for 2.4 L engine) – – – – – I – – – –3.Engine oil and oil filter
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
R
*4. Cooling system hoses and connections – I – – – I – – – I5.Engine coolant
SUZUKI LLC: Standard (Green)
–
R
–
–
–
R
–
–
–
R
SUZUKI LLC: Super (Blue) (#2) First time only: Replace at 150000 km (90000 miles) or 90 months
Second time and after: Replace every 75000 km (45000 miles) or 45 months
*6. Exhaust pipes and mountings – I – – – I&(R) – – – I
*7.
EVAP canister
Replace every 250000 km (150000 miles) or 180 months
*8. Emission-related hoses & tubes – – – – – I – – – I9.Spark plugs
–
–
–
–
–
R
–
–
–
–
*10. Ignition coil (Plug cap) – I – – – I – – – I*11.
Fuel tank & cap
–
I
–
–
–
I
–
–
–
I (#1)
12. Air cleaner filter element – R – – – R – – – R*13.
Fuel filter
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
R
*14. Fuel lines and connections – I – – – I – – – I (#1)*15.
Canister air suction filter
Replace every 250000 km (150000 miles) or 180 months
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or the California Air Resources Board has determined that the failure to perform recom-
mended maintenance items enclosed with a rectangle will not nullify the emission warranty or limit recall liability prior to the completion
of the vehicle’s useful life. SUZUKI, however, urges that all recommended maintenance services be performed at the indicated inter-
vals and the maintenance recorded.
Periodic Maintenance Schedule: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10
7-8
INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
79K21-03E
NOTE:
I – Inspect, clean, adjust, lubricate or replace as necessary
T – Tighten to the specified torque
R – Replace or change
L – Lubricate
*1 Inspect more frequently if the vehicle is used under dusty conditions.
*2 Clean more frequently if the air flow from the air conditioner decreases. Severe
Condition CodeMaintenanceMaintenance
OperationMaintenance Interval
– B – – E H Automatic transmission (A/T) fluid REvery 25000 km (15000 miles)
or 15 months
– B – – E H Transfer, Differential and Extension oil REvery 25000 km (15000 miles)
or 15 months
– B – – – – Bolts and nuts on suspension TEvery 10000 km (6000 miles)
or 6 months
– B C D – – Drive belt (Engine accessory) IEvery 25000 km (15000 miles)
or 15 months
– – C D – – Air conditioner filter element *2IEvery 10000 km (6000 miles)
or 6 months
REvery 50000 km (30000 miles)
or 30 months
Maintenance Recommended under Severe Driving Condi-
tions: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10