2007 SUZUKI XL7 tow

1-42 SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
78J00-03E
Servicing Your Airbag-Equipped
VehicleAirbags affect how your vehicle should be
serviced. There are parts of the airbag
system in several places around your vehi-
cle. You do not want the system to inflate
while someone is working on your vehicle.
Your dealer and the service manual have
information about servicing your vehicle
and the airbag system.
The airbag system does not need regular
maintenance.
Adding Equipment to Your Airbag-
Equipped VehicleQuestion:
Is there anything I might add to the front
or sides of the vehicle that could keep
the airbags from working properly?
Answer:
Yes. If you add things that change your
vehicle’s frame, bumper system, height,
front end or side sheet metal, they may
keep the airbag system from working prop-
erly. Also, the airbag system may not work
properly if you relocate any of the airbag
sensors. If you have any questions about
this, you should contact Customer Assis-
tance before you modify your vehicle.
Question:
Because I have a disability, I have to get
my vehicle modified. How can I find out
whether this will affect my airbag sys-
tem?
Answer:
Changing or moving any parts of the front
seats, safety belts, the airbag sensing and
diagnostic module, rollover sensor module,
steering wheel, instrument panel, over-
head console, ceiling headliner, ceiling
and pillar garnish trim, roof-mounted roll-
over airbag modules, or airbag wiring can
affect the operation of the airbag system. If
you have questions, call Customer Assis-
tance.
Restraint System CheckChecking the Restraint SystemsNow and then, make sure the safety belt
reminder light and all your belts, buckles,
latch plates, retractors and anchorages are
working properly. Look for any other loose
or damaged safety belt system parts. If you
see anything that might keep a safety belt
system from doing its job, have it repaired.
Keep safety belts clean and dry. Refer to
“Care of Safety Belts” in “Appearance
Care” in the “Service and Appearance
Care” section for more information.
Torn or frayed safety belts may not protect
you in a crash. They can rip apart under
impact forces. If a belt is torn or frayed, get
a new one right away.
Also look for any opened or broken airbag
covers, and have them repaired or
replaced. The airbag system does not
need regular maintenance.
WARNING
Stowing of articles under the passen-
ger’s seat or between the passen-
ger’s seat cushion and seatback may
interfere with the proper operation of
the passenger sensing system.
WARNING
For up to 10 seconds, after the igni-
tion is turned off and the battery is
disconnected, an airbag can still
inflate during improper service. You
can be injured if you are close to an
airbag when it inflates. Avoid yellow
connectors. They are probably part of
the airbag system. Be sure to follow
proper service procedures, and make
sure the person performing work for
you is qualified to do so.

2-12 FEATURES AND CONTROLS
78J00-03E
Starting and Operating Your
VehicleNew Vehicle Break-InIgnition Positions
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With the key in the ignition switch, you can
turn it to four different positions. A warning
tone will sound if you open the driver’s
door when the key has not been removed
from the ignition. (LOCK):
You will only be able to remove your key
when the ignition is turned to LOCK.
The ignition switch cannot be turned to
LOCK unless the shift lever is in PARK (P).
ACC (Accessory):
This position operates some of your elec-
trical accessories.
(RUN):
This is the position the switch returns to
after you start your engine and release the
switch. The switch stays in the RUN posi-
tion when the engine is running. But even
when the engine is not running, you can
use RUN to operate your electrical acces-
sories and to display some warning and
indicator lights.
The battery could be drained if you leave
the key in the ACC or RUN position with
the engine off. You may not be able to start
your vehicle if the battery is allowed to
drain for an extended period of time.
(START):
This position starts the engine. When the
engine starts, release the key. The ignition
switch will return to RUN for normal driv-
ing.
Key In the Ignition
Never leave your vehicle with the keys
inside, as it is an easy target for joy riders
or thieves. If you leave the key in the igni-
CAUTION
Your vehicle does not need an elabo-
rate break-in. But it will perform bet-
ter in the long run if you follow these
guidelines:
 Do not drive at any one constant
speed, fast or slow, for the first 500
miles (805 km). Do not make full-
throttle starts. Avoid downshifting
to brake, or slow, the vehicle.
 Avoid making hard stops for the
first 200 miles (322 km) or so. Dur-
ing this time your new brake linings
are not yet broken in. Hard stops
with new linings can mean prema-
ture wear and earlier replacement.
Follow this breaking-in guideline
every time you get new brake lin-
ings.
 Do not tow a trailer during break-in.
Refer to “Towing a Trailer” in “Tow-
ing” in the “Driving Your Vehicle”
section for the trailer towing capa-
bilities of your vehicle and more
information.
Following break-in, engine speed and
load can be gradually increased.
CAUTION
Using a tool to force the key from the
ignition switch could cause damage
or break the key. Use the correct key
and turn the key only with your hand.
Make sure the key is in all the way. If
none of this works, then your vehicle
needs service.

2-15 FEATURES AND CONTROLS
78J00-03E
started because the vehicle cannot move
easily.
Make sure the shift lever is fully in PARK
(P) before starting the engine. The vehicle
has an automatic transaxle shift lock con-
trol system. You must fully apply your reg-
ular brakes first and then press the shift
lever button, before you can shift from
PARK (P) when the ignition is in RUN. If
you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease
pressure on the shift lever and push the
shift lever all way into PARK (P) as you
maintain brake application. Then press the
shift lever button and move the shift leverinto another gear. Refer to “Shifting Out of
Park (P)” in this section.
REVERSE (R):
Use this gear to back up.
To rock the vehicle back and forth to get
out of snow, ice, or sand without damaging
the transaxle, refer to “If Your Vehicle is
Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snow” in “Your
Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle” in the
“Driving Your Vehicle” section.
NEUTRAL (N):
In this position, the engine does not con-
nect with the wheels. To restart when the
vehicle is already moving, use NEUTRAL
(N) only. Also, use NEUTRAL (N) when the
vehicle is being towed.DRIVE (D):
This position is for normal driving. It pro-
vides the best fuel economy for your vehi-
cle. If the vehicle needs more power for
passing, and it is:
 Going less than 35 mph (55 km/h), push
the accelerator pedal about halfway
down.
 Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) or more,
push the accelerator pedal all the way
down. The vehicle will shift down to the
next gear and have more power.
WARNING
It is dangerous to get out of your
vehicle if the shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) with the parking brake
firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Do not leave your vehicle when the
engine is running unless you have to.
If you have left the engine running,
the vehicle can move suddenly. You
or others could be injured. To be sure
your vehicle will not move, even
when you are on fairly level ground,
always set your parking brake and
move the shift lever to PARK (P).
Refer to “Shifting Into Park (P)” in
this section. If you are pulling a
trailer, refer to “Towing a Trailer” in
“Towing” in the “Driving Your Vehi-
cle” section.
CAUTION
Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your
vehicle is moving forward could dam-
age the transaxle. The repairs would
not be covered by your warranty.
Shift to REVERSE (R) only after your
vehicle is stopped.
WARNING
Shifting into a drive gear while your
engine is running at high speed is
dangerous. Unless your foot is firmly
on the brake pedal, your vehicle
could move very rapidly. You could
lose control and hit people or
objects. Do not shift into a drive gear
while your engine is running at high
speed.
CAUTION
Shifting out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL
(N) while the engine is running at
high speed may damage the tran-
saxle. The repairs would not be cov-
ered by your warranty. Be sure the
engine is not running at high speeds
when shifting your vehicle.

2-17 FEATURES AND CONTROLS
78J00-03E
SECOND (2) Gear Start Feature
When accelerating your vehicle from a
stop in snowy and icy conditions, you may
want to shift into SECOND (2). A higher
gear, and light application of the gas pedal,
may allow you to gain more traction on
slippery surfaces.
With the MANUAL SHIFT MODE, the vehi-
cle can accelerate from a stop in SECOND
(2).
1) Move the shift lever from DRIVE (D)
into the MANUAL SHIFT MODE (M)
position.
2) With the vehicle stopped, press the
plus (+) paddle forward to select SEC-
OND (2). The vehicle will start from a
stop position in SECOND (2).
3) Once the vehicle is moving select the
desired drive gear.
Parking Brake
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The parking brake lever is located to the
right of the driver’s seat.
To set the parking brake, hold the brake
pedal down and pull up on the parking
brake lever. If the ignition is on, the brake
system warning light will come on.
To release the parking brake, hold the
brake pedal down. Pull the parking brake
lever up until you can press the release
button. Hold the release button in as you
move the brake lever all the way down.
Make sure to release the parking brake
before driving the vehicle.
If the parking brake is applied and the vehi-
cle is moving at least 4 mph (6 km/h), a
chime will activate to remind you to release
the parking brake.
Shifting Into Park (P)1) Hold the brake pedal down and set the
parking brake.
2) Move the shift lever into the PARK (P)
position by holding in the button on the
shift lever and pushing it all the way
toward the front of the vehicle.
3) Turn the ignition key to LOCK.
CAUTION
If you attempt a third gear start while
trailering or towing a heavy load, you
will notice reduced engine power.
This could overheat and damage
your transaxle. Do not attempt a third
gear start while trailering or towing
your vehicle.
CAUTION
Driving with the parking brake on can
overheat the brake system and cause
premature wear or damage to brake
system parts. Verify that the parking
brake is fully released and the brake
warning light is off before driving.
WARNING
It can be dangerous to get out of your
vehicle if the shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) with the parking brake
firmly set. Your vehicle can roll. If
you have left the engine running, the
vehicle can move suddenly. You or
others could be injured. To be sure
your vehicle will not move, even
when you are on fairly level ground,
use the steps that follow. If you are
pulling a trailer, refer to “Towing a
Trailer” in “Towing” in the “Driving
Your Vehicle” section.

2-19 FEATURES AND CONTROLS
78J00-03E
Engine Exhaust Running the Engine While Parked
It is better not to park with the engine run-
ning. But if you ever have to, here are
some things to know.
Follow the proper steps to be sure your
vehicle will not move. Refer to “Shifting
Into Park (P)” in this section.
If you are parking on a hill and if you are
pulling a trailer, also refer to “Towing a
Trailer” in “Towing” in the “Driving Your
Vehicle” section.
WARNING
Engine exhaust can kill. It contains
the gas carbon monoxide (CO), which
you cannot see or smell. It can cause
unconsciousness and death.
You might have exhaust coming in if:
 The exhaust system sounds
strange or different.
 Your vehicle gets rusty under-
neath.
 Your vehicle was damaged in a col-
lision.
 Your vehicle was damaged when
driving over high points on the
road or over road debris.
 Repairs were not done correctly.
 Your vehicle or the exhaust system
has been modified improperly.
If you ever suspect exhaust is com-
ing into your vehicle:
 Drive it only with all the windows
down to blow out any CO; and
 Have your vehicle fixed immedi-
ately.
WARNING
Idling the engine with the climate
control system off could allow dan-
gerous exhaust into your vehicle.
Refer to the earlier caution under
“Engine Exhaust” in this section.
Also, idling in a closed-in place can
let deadly carbon monoxide (CO) into
your vehicle even if the climate con-
trol fan is at the highest setting. One
place this can happen is a garage.
Exhaust – with CO – can come in eas-
ily. NEVER park in a garage with the
engine running.
Another closed-in place can be a bliz-
zard. Refer to “Winter Driving” in
“Your Driving, the Road, and Your
Vehicle” in the “Driving Your Vehi-
cle” section.
WARNING
It can be dangerous to get out of your
vehicle if the shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) with the parking brake
firmly set. Your vehicle can roll. Do
not leave your vehicle when the
engine is running unless you have to.
If you have left the engine running,
the vehicle can move suddenly. You
or others could be injured. To be sure
your vehicle will not move, even
when you are on fairly level ground,
always set your parking brake and
move the shift lever to PARK (P).

2-20 FEATURES AND CONTROLS
78J00-03E
MirrorsManual Rearview MirrorTo adjust the angle of the mirror, move the
mirror to a position that allows you see to
out of the back window. To adjust the
height of the mirror, adjust the arm that
connects the mirror to the windshield.
To reduce glare from lights behind you,
move the lever toward you to the night
position.Automatic Dimming Rearview
MirrorIf the vehicle has this feature, the auto-
matic dimming mirror automatically dims to
the proper level to minimize glare at night
from lights behind your vehicle.
On/Off:
This is the on/off button. A light near the
on/off button will come on to indicate the
automatic dimming is on.
If the automatic dimming function is off,
press and hold the on/off button for four
seconds to manually turn the system back
on.
Cleaning the Mirror
When cleaning the mirror, use a paper
towel or similar material dampened with
glass cleaner. Do not spray glass cleaner
directly on the mirror as that may cause
the liquid cleaner to enter the mirror hous-
ing.
Automatic Dimming Rearview
Mirror with CompassYour vehicle may have an automatic-dim-
ming rearview mirror with a compass.
Mirror Operation
When turned on, this mirror automatically
dims to the proper level to minimize glare
from any headlamps behind you after dark.
On/Off:
This is the on/off button for the automatic
dimming feature and compass. Press the
far left button, located below the mirror
face, for up to four seconds to turn the fea-
ture on and off. A light on the mirror will be
lit while the feature is turned on.
Compass Operation
Press the on/off button once to turn the
compass on or off.
There is a compass display in the window
in the upper right corner of the mirror face.
The compass displays a maximum of two
characters. For example, “NE” is displayed
for north-east.
Compass Calibration
Press and hold the on/off button down for
nine seconds to activate the compass cali-
bration mode. CAL will be displayed in the
compass window on the mirror.
The compass can be calibrated by driving
the vehicle in circles at 5 mph (8 km/h) or
less until the display reads a direction.Compass Variance
Compass variance is the difference
between earth’s magnetic north and true
geographic north. The mirror is set to zone
eight upon leaving the factory. It will be
necessary to adjust the compass to com-
pensate for compass variance if you live
outside zone eight. Under certain circum-
stances, such as during a long distance
cross-country trip, it will be necessary to
adjust for compass variance. If not
adjusted to account for compass variance,
your compass could give false readings.
To adjust for compass variance, do the fol-
lowing:
1) Find your current location and variance
zone number on the map.
806305
2) Press and hold the on/off button for six
seconds. Release the button when

3-4 INSTRUMENT PANEL
78J00-03E
To signal a turn, move the lever all the way
up or down. When the turn is finished, the
lever will return automatically.
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An arrow on the instrument panel cluster
will flash in the direction of the turn or lane
change.
To signal a lane change, raise or lower the
lever until the arrow starts to flash. Hold it
there until you complete the lane change.
The lever will return by itself when you
release it.
As you signal a turn or a lane change, if
the arrows flash rapidly, a signal bulb may
be burned out and other drivers won’t see
your turn signal.
If a bulb is burned out, replace it to help
avoid an accident. If the arrows do not go
on at all when you signal a turn, check the
fuse, refer to “Fuses and Circuit Breakers”
in “Electrical System” in the “Service and
Appearance Care” section and for burned-
out bulbs.Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
To change the headlamps from low beam
to high, push the turn signal lever away
from you. To change from high beam to low
beam, pull the turn signal lever towards
you. To flash the high beams from low
beam, pull the turn signal lever all the way
towards you. Then release it.
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When the high beams are on, this light on
the instrument panel cluster will also be
on.
Flash-to-Pass
This feature lets you use your high-beam
headlamps to signal a driver in front of you
that you want to pass.
To flash the high beams from low beam,
pull the turn signal/multifunction lever all
the way towards you. Then release it.Windshield WipersBe sure to clear ice and snow from the
wiper blades before using them. If the
wiper blades are frozen to the windshield,
gently loosen or thaw them. If the blades
do become damaged, install new blades or
blade inserts. Refer to “Windshield WiperBlade Replacement” in the “Service and
Appearance Care” section.
Heavy snow or ice can overload the wiper
motor. A circuit breaker will stop the motor
until it cools down. Clear away snow or ice
to prevent an overload.
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Use the lever on the right side of the steer-
ing column to operate the windshield wip-
ers.
(High Speed):
Move the lever to this position for steady
wiping at high speed.
(Low Speed):
Move the lever to this position for steady
wiping at low speed.
(Delay):
Move the lever to this position to set a
delay between wipes.

3-13 INSTRUMENT PANEL
78J00-03E
(Rear):
Press this button to turn the rear window
defogger on or off. An indicator light on the
button comes on to let you know that the
rear window defogger is activated.
The rear window defogger only works
when the ignition is in RUN. The rear win-
dow defogger stays on for approximately
15 minutes after the button is pressed,
unless the ignition is turned to ACC or
LOCK. If turned on again, the defogger
only runs for about five minutes before
turning off. The defogger can also be
turned off by pressing the button again or
by turning off the engine.
Outlet AdjustmentUse the louvers located on the air outlets
to change the direction of the airflow.
Operation Tips
 Clear away any ice, snow, or leaves from
the air inlets at the base of the vehicle
that may block the flow of air into your
vehicle.
 Do not use any non-SUZUKI approved
hood deflectors that could adversely
affect the performance of the system.
 Keep the path under the front seats clear
of objects to help circulate the air inside
of your vehicle more effectively.Rear Air Conditioning and Heating
SystemIf your vehicle has this system, the rear
controls are three knobs located on the
rear of the center floor console. The sys-
tem can be controlled from the front con-
trols as well as the rear controls.
To turn the system on, press the AUX but-
ton on the front climate control system, an
indicator light will be lit. Pressing the AUX
button the first time will turn the rear sys-
tem on in a mimic mode. In this mode, the
airflow in the rear will be similar to the air-
flow direction, temperature, and fan speed
of the front controls. The rear system can
be turned off by pressing the AUX button
again or by turning the rear fan control
knob counterclockwise all the way.If the rear controls are adjusted after the
AUX button is pressed, the system will
enter a rear independent mode. Airflow in
the rear is then directed according to the
settings of the rear controls.
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Fan Knob
Turn the left knob clockwise or counter-
clockwise to increase or decrease the fan
speed. Turn the knob all the way counter-
clockwise to turn the rear system off.
Temperature Knob
The middle knob on the control panel lets
you select the temperature of the air flow-
ing into the passenger area. Turn the knob
clockwise toward the red area for warmer
air. Turn the knob counterclockwise toward
the blue area for cooler air.
CAUTION
Do not use anything sharp on the
inside of the rear window. If you do,
you could cut or damage the warm-
ing grid, and the repairs would not be
covered by your warranty. Do not
attach a temporary vehicle license,
tape, a decal or anything similar to
the defogger grid.