2007 SUZUKI FORENZA warning

1-9 SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
85Z03-03E
Question: What’s wrong with this?
Answer: The shoulder belt is too loose. It
won’t give nearly as much protection this
way. Question: What’s wrong with this?
Answer: The belt is buckled in the wrong
place.
WARNING
Be sure that the shoulder belt is posi-
tioned on the center of the outside
shoulder. The belt should be away
from your face and neck, but not fall-
ing off your shoulder. Misadjustment
of the belt could reduce the effective-
ness of the safety belt in a crash.
WARNING
You can be severely 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.
L3U1025A
WARNING
You can be severely injured if your
belt is buckled in the wrong place. In
a crash, the belt would slide up over
your abdomen. The belt forces would
be at the waist, not at the pelvic
bones. This could cause serious
internal injuries. Always buckle your
belt into the buckle nearest you.
L3U1026A
Safety Belts:

1-10 SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
85Z03-03E
Question: What’s wrong with this?
Answer: The shoulder belt is worn under
the arm. It should be worn over the shoul-
der at all times.Question: What’s wrong with this?
Answer: The belt is twisted across the
body.To 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.
Safety Belt Use During PregnancySafety belts work for everyone, including
pregnant women. Like all occupants, they
are more likely to be severely injured if they
don’t wear safety belts.
WARNING
You can be severely 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.
L3U1027A
WARNING
You can be severely 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 SUZUKI
dealer to fix it.
L3U1028A
L3U1029A
Safety Belts:

1-13 SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
85Z03-03E
To unlatch the belt, just push the button on
the buckle.
Rear Center Safety Belt
(Sedan only)The rear center safety belt system includes
a retractable safety belt, a buckle with a
black release button, and a buckle with a
red release button marked “CENTER”. The
rear center safety belt buckles are
designed so as not to allow a wrong latch
plate to be inserted.
When the rear seatback is in an upright
position, keep the latch plate latched into
the buckle with the black button (1). The
latch plate should only be disconnected
from the buckle with the black button when
you fold the rear seatback down.Before fastening the rear center belt, make
sure that the latch plate is securely latched
into the buckle with the black button (1)
and make sure the webbing is not twisted.
To fasten the belt, sit up straight and well
back in the seat, pull the latch plate (A)
across your body and press it into the
buckle (B) until you hear a “click”.
To unfasten the belt, push the red button
on the buckle (B) and allow the belt to
retract.
When the rear seatback will be folded
down, push the black button on the buckle
(1) and allow the belt to retract.
After returning a rear seatback to the nor-
mal position, push the latch plate (1) at the
end of the safety belt strap into the buckle
with the black button and make sure the
webbing is not twisted.
WARNING
You can be severely 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.
L3U1067A
S4U1017A
(1)(A)
(B)
S4U1018A
(B)
Safety Belts:

1-14 SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
85Z03-03E
85Z018
Safety Belt Pretensioner System
52D011
Your vehicle is equipped with a safety belt
pretensioner system at the front seating
positions. You can use the pretensioner
safety belts in the same manner as ordi-
nary safety belts.
The safety belt pretensioner system is acti-
vated based on crash severity. The crash
sensors and the electronic controller of the
air bag system also control the safety beltpretensioners. For precautions and gen-
eral information including servicing the
pretensioner system, refer to the “Supple-
mental Restraint System (air bags)” sec-
tion in addition to this “Safety Belt
Pretensioner System” section, and follow
all those precautions.
The pretensioner is located in each front
safety belt retractor. The pretensioner
tightens the safety belt so the belt fits the
occupant’s body more snugly in the event
of a frontal crash. The retractors will
remain locked after the pretensioners are
activated. Upon activation, some noise will
occur and some smoke may be released.
These conditions are not harmful and do
not indicate a fire in the vehicle.
The driver and all passengers must be
properly restrained by wearing safety belts
at all times, whether or not a pretensioner
is equipped at their seating position, to
minimize the risk of severe injury or death
in the event of a crash. Sit fully back in the
seat; sit up straight; do not lean forward or
sideways. Adjust the belt so the lap portion
of the belt is worn low across the pelvis,
not across the waist. Please refer to the
“Front Seats” section and the instructions
and precautions about the safety belts in
this “Safety Belts” section for details on
proper seat and safety belt adjustments.
Please note that the pretensioners will acti-
vate only in severe frontal collisions. They
are not designed to activate in rear
WARNING
To minimize risk of severe injury or
death in the event of a crash, always
wear the rear center safety belt with
both latches buckled.
WARNING
This section of the owner’s manual
describes your vehicle’s SAFETY
BELT PRETENSIONER SYSTEM.
Please read and follow ALL these
instructions carefully to minimize
your risk of severe injury or death.
EXAMPLE
Safety Belts:

1-16 SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
85Z03-03E
Child RestraintsOlder ChildrenOlder children who have outgrown booster
seats should wear the vehicle’s safety
belts.
Question: What is the proper way to
wear safety belts?
Answer: If possible, an older child should
wear a lap-shoulder belt and get the addi-
tional restraint a shoulder belt can provide.
The shoulder belt should not cross the face
or neck. The lap belt should fit snugly
below the hips, just touching the top of the
thighs. It should never be worn over the
abdomen, which could cause severe or
even fatal internal injuries in a crash.Accident statistics show that children are
safer if they are restrained in the rear seat.
In a crash, children who are not buckled up
can strike other people who are buckled
up, or can be thrown out of the vehicle.
Older children need to use safety belts
properly.
WARNING
Failure to follow these instructions
may increase the risk of injury in a
crash.
 Only use an extender for the per-
son, vehicle and seating position it
was provided for.
 A front safety belt extender must
only be used in a front seating
position, and a rear safety belt
extender must only be used in a
rear seating position.
 Safety belt extenders are not
intended for use by pregnant
women, and should only be used
upon approval by their medical
advisors.
 The extender has been designed
for adults. Never use it for securing
child seats.
 Do not use a safety belt extender if
the open end of the extender’s
buckle is within 152 mm (6 inches)
of the center of the occupant’s
body (See diagram).
 Remove and stow the extender
when it is not being used.
L3U1036A
WARNING
Never do this.
Here two children are wearing the
same belt. The belt can’t properly
spread the impact forces. In a crash,
the two children can be crushed
together and severely injured. A belt
must be used by only one person at a
time.
L3U1037A
Safety Belts:
Child Restraints:

1-17 SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
85Z03-03E
Question: What if a child is wearing a
lap-shoulder belt, but the child is so
small that the shoulder belt is very
close to the child’s face or neck?
Answer: If the child is sitting in a seat next
to a window, move the child toward the
center of the vehicle. If the child is sitting in
the center rear seat passenger position,
move the child toward the safety belt
buckle. In either case, be sure that the
shoulder belt still is on the child’s shoulder,
so that in a crash the child’s upper body
would have the restraint that belts provide.
If the child is so small that the shoulder belt
is still very close to the child’s face or neck,
you might want to place the child in a seat
that has a lap belt, if your vehicle has one.Wherever the child sits, the lap portion of
the belt should be worn low and snug on
the hips, just touching the child’s thighs.
This applies belt force to the child’s pelvic
bones in a crash.
Infants and Young ChildrenEveryone in a vehicle needs protection!
This includes infants and all other children.
Neither the distance traveled nor the age
and size of the traveler changes the need
to use safety restraints. In fact, the law in
every state in the United States and in
every Canadian province says children up
to some age must be restrained while in a
vehicle.
Every time infants and young children ride
in vehicles, they should have the protection
provided by appropriate restraints. Young
children should not use the vehicle’s adult
safety belts alone, unless there is no otherchoice. Instead, they need to use a child
restraint.
L3U1038A
WARNING
Never do this.
Here a child is sitting in a seat that
has a lap-shoulder belt, but the
shoulder part is behind the child. If
the child wears the belt in this way, in
a crash the child might slide under
the belt. The belt’s force would then
be applied right on the child’s abdo-
men. That could cause serious or
fatal injuries.
WARNING
People should never hold a baby in
their arms while riding in a vehicle. A
baby doesn’t weigh much – until a
crash occurs. During a crash a baby
will become so heavy it is not possi-
ble to hold it. For example, in a crash
at only 25 mph (40 km/h), a 12-lb. (5.5
kg) baby will suddenly become a 240-
lb. (110 kg) force on a person’s arms.
A baby should be secured in an
appropriate restraint.
L3U1039A
Child Restraints:

1-18 SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
85Z03-03E
Question: What are the different types
of add-on child restraints?
Answer: Add-on child restraints, which are
purchased by the vehicle’s owner, are
available in four basic types. Selection of a
particular restraint should take into consid-
eration not only the child’s weight, height
and age but also whether or not the
restraint will be compatible with the motor
vehicle in which it will be used.
For most basic types of child restraints,
there are many different models available.
When purchasing a child restraint, be sure
it is designed to be used in a motor vehicle.
If it is, the restraint will have a label saying
that it meets federal motor vehicle safety
standards.
The restraint manufacturer’s instructions
that come with the restraint, state the
weight and height limitations for a particu-
lar child restraint. In addition, there are
many kinds of restraints available for chil-
dren with special needs.
WARNING
Children who are up against, or very
close to, any air bag when it inflates
can be severely injured or killed. Air
bags plus lap-shoulder belts offer
outstanding protection for adults and
older children, but not for young chil-
dren and infants. Neither the vehi-
cle’s safety belt system nor its air bag
system is designed for them. Young
children and infants need the protec-
tion that a child restraint system can
provide.
L3U1040B
WARNING
Newborn infants need complete sup-
port, including support for the head
and neck. This is necessary because
a newborn infant’s neck is weak and
its head weighs so much compared
with the rest of its body. In a crash,
an infant in a rear-facing seat settles
into the restraint, so the crash forces
can be distributed across the stron-
gest part of an infant’s body, the back
and shoulders. Infants always should
be secured in appropriate infant
restraints.
WARNING
The body structure of a young child
is quite unlike that of an adult or
older child, for whom the safety belts
are designed. A young child’s hip
bones are still so small that the vehi-
cle’s regular safety belt may not
remain low on the hip bones, as it
should. Instead, it may settle up
around the child’s abdomen. In a
crash, the belt would apply force on a
body area that’s unprotected by any
bony structure. This alone could
cause serious or fatal injuries. Young
children always should be secured in
appropriate child restraints.
Child Restraints:

1-20 SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
85Z03-03E
A booster seat (F–G) is a child restraint
designed to improve the fit of the vehicle’s
safety belt system. Some booster seats
have a shoulder belt positioner, and some
high-back booster seats have a five-point
harness. A booster seat can also help a
child to see out the window.
Question: How do child restraints
work?
Answer: A child restraint system is any
device designed for use in a motor vehicle
to restrain, seat, or position children. A
built-in child restraint system is a perma-
nent part of the motor vehicle. An add-on
child restraint system is a portable one,
which is purchased by the vehicle’s owner.
For many years, add-on child restraints
have used the adult belt system in the
vehicle. To help reduce the chance ofinjury, the child also has to be secured
within the restraint. The vehicle’s belt sys-
tem secures the add-on child restraint in
the vehicle, and the add-on child restraint’s
harness system holds the child in place
within the restraint.
One system, the three-point harness, has
straps that come down over each of the
infant’s shoulders and buckle together at
the crotch. The five-point harness system
has two shoulder straps, two hip straps
and a crotch strap. A shield may take the
place of hip straps. A T-shaped shield has
shoulder straps that are attached to a flat
pad which rests low against the child’s
body. A shelf- or armrest-type shield has
straps that are attached to a wide, shelf-
like shield that swings up or to the side.
When choosing a child restraint, be sure
the child restraint is designed to be used in
a vehicle. If it is, it will have a label saying
that it meets federal motor vehicle safety
standards.
Then follow the instructions for the
restraint. You may find these instructions
on the restraint itself or in a booklet, or
both. These restraints use the belt system
in your vehicle, but the child also has to be
secured within the restraint to help reduce
the chance of personal injury. When secur-
ing an add-on child restraint, refer to the
instructions that come with the restraint
which may be on the restraint itself or in a
booklet, or both, and to this manual. Thechild restraint instructions are important,
so if they are not available, obtain a
replacement copy from the manufacturer.
Where to Put the RestraintAll child restraint systems are designed to
be secured in vehicle seats by either safety
belts (lap belts or the lap portion of lap-
shoulder belts) or by special rigid lower
anchor bars built into the seats. Whenever
possible, SUZUKI recommends that child
restraint systems be installed on the rear
seat. According to accident statistics, chil-
dren are safer when properly restrained in
rear seating positions than in front seating
positions. Never put a rear-facing child
restraint in the front passenger seat.
Here’s why:
(F) (G)
L3U1044A
WARNING
A child in a rear-facing child restraint
can be severely injured or killed if the
right front passenger’s frontal air bag
inflates. This is because the back of
the rear-facing child restraint would
be very close to the inflating air bag.
(Continued)
Child Restraints: