2007 SUZUKI XL7 check engine

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FuelUse of the recommended fuel is an impor-
tant part of the proper maintenance of your
vehicle. To help keep the engine clean and
maintain optimum vehicle performance, we
recommend the use of gasoline advertised
as TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline.Gasoline OctaneUse regular unleaded gasoline with a
posted octane rating of 87 or higher. If the
octane rating is less than 87, you may
notice an audible knocking noise when you
drive, commonly referred to as spark
knock. If this occurs, use a gasoline rated
at 87 octane or higher as soon as possible.
If you are using gasoline rated at 87
octane or higher and you hear heavy
knocking, your engine needs service.
Gasoline SpecificationsAt a minimum, gasoline should meet
ASTM specification D 4814 in the United
States or CAN/CGSB-3.5 in Canada.
Some gasolines contain an octane-
enhancing additive called methylcyclopen-
tadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT).
We recommend against the use of gaso-
lines containing MMT. Refer to “Additives”
in this section for additional information.California FuelIf your vehicle is certified to meet California
Emissions Standards, it is designed to
operate on fuels that meet California spec-
ifications. See the underhood emission
control label. If this fuel is not available in
states adopting California emissions stan-
dards, your vehicle will operate satisfacto-
rily on fuels meeting federal specifications,
but emission control system performance
may be affected. The malfunction indicator
lamp may turn on and your vehicle may fail
a smog-check test. Refer to “Malfunction
Indicator Lamp” in “Warning Lights, Gages,
and Indicators” in the “Instrument Panel”
section. If this occurs, return to your autho-
rized dealer for diagnosis. If it is deter-
mined that the condition is caused by the
type of fuel used, repairs may not be cov-
ered by your warranty.
AdditivesTo provide cleaner air, all gasolines in the
United States are now required to contain
additives that will help prevent engine and
fuel system deposits from forming, allow-
ing your emission control system to work
properly. In most cases, you should not
have to add anything to your fuel. How-
ever, some gasolines contain only the min-
imum amount of additive required to meet
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
regulations. To help keep fuel injectors and
intake valves clean, or if your vehicle expe-
riences problems due to dirty injectors or
valves, look for gasoline that is advertised
as TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline. Also,
your dealer has additives that will help cor-
rect and prevent most deposit-related
problems.
Gasolines containing oxygenates, such as
ethers and ethanol, and reformulated gas-
olines may be available in your area. We
recommend that you use these gasolines,
if they comply with the specifications
described earlier. However, E85 (85% eth-
anol) and other fuels containing more than
10% ethanol must not be used in vehicles
that were not designed for those fuels.

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Some gasolines that are not reformulated
for low emissions may contain an octane-
enhancing additive called methylcyclopen-
tadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT);
ask the attendant where you buy gasoline
whether the fuel contains MMT. We rec-
ommend against the use of such gaso-
lines. Fuels containing MMT can reduce
the life of spark plugs and the performance
of the emission control system may be
affected. The malfunction indicator lamp
may turn on. If this occurs, return to your
dealer for service.
Fuels in Foreign CountriesIf you plan on driving in another country
outside the United States or Canada, the
proper fuel might be hard to find. Never
use leaded gasoline or any other fuel not
recommended in the previous text on fuel.
Costly repairs caused by use of improper
fuel would not be covered by your war-
ranty.
To check the fuel availability, ask an auto
club, or contact a major oil company that
does business in the country where you
will be driving.Filling the Tank
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The tethered fuel cap is located behind a
hinged fuel door on the passenger’s side
of the vehicle.
To remove the fuel cap, turn it slowly coun-
terclockwise. The fuel cap has a spring in
it; if the cap is released too soon, it will
spring back to the right.
CAUTION
Your vehicle was not designed for
fuel that contains methanol. Do not
use fuel containing methanol. It can
corrode metal parts in the fuel sys-
tem and also damage plastic and rub-
ber parts. That damage would not be
covered under your warranty.
WARNING
Fuel vapor burns violently and a fuel
fire can cause bad injuries. To help
avoid injuries to you and others, read
and follow all the instructions on the
pump island. Turn off your engine
when you are refueling. Do not
smoke if you are near fuel or refuel-
ing your vehicle. Do not use cellular
phones. Keep sparks, flames, and
smoking materials away from fuel. Do
not leave the fuel pump unattended
when refueling your vehicle. This is
against the law in some places. Do
not re-enter vehicle while pumping
fuel. Keep children away from the
fuel pump; never let children pump
fuel.
WARNING
If you spill fuel and then something
ignites it, you could be badly burned.
Fuel can spray out on you if you open
the fuel cap too quickly. This spray
can happen if your tank is nearly full,
and is more likely in hot weather.
Open the fuel cap slowly and wait for
any hiss noise to stop. Then unscrew
the cap all the way.

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Checking Things Under the
Hood
Hood ReleaseTo open the hood, do the following:
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1) Pull the handle with this symbol on it. It
is located inside the vehicle, to the left
of the steering column.
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2) Then go to the front of the vehicle and
release the secondary hood release by
pushing the lever up.
3) Lift the hood.Before closing the hood, be sure all the
filler caps are on properly. Then pull the
hood down and close it firmly.
WARNING
An electric fan under the hood can
start up and injure you even when the
engine is not running. Keep hands,
clothing, and tools away from any
underhood electric fan.
WARNING
Things that burn can get on hot
engine parts and start a fire. These
include liquids like fuel, oil, coolant,
brake fluid, windshield washer and
other fluids, and plastic or rubber.
You or others could be burned. Be
careful not to drop or spill things that
will burn onto a hot engine.

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Engine Compartment OverviewWhen you open the hood, here is what you will see:
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A. Engine Air Cleaner/Filter.
Refer to “Engine Air Cleaner/Filter” in this section.
B. Power Steering Fluid Reservoir (Out of View).
Refer to “Power Steering Fluid” in this section.
C. Engine Oil Fill Cap (Out of View). Refer to “When to Add
Engine Oil” under “Engine Oil” in this section.
D. Engine Oil Dipstick.
Refer to “Checking Engine Oil” under “Engine Oil” in this sec-
tion.
E. Brake Fluid Reservoir. Refer to “Brake Fluid” under “Brakes”F. Underhood Fuse Block.
Refer to “Engine Compartment Fuse Block” in this section.
G. Remote Positive (+) Terminal.
Refer to “Jump Starting” in this section.
H. Engine Coolant Recovery Tank.
Refer to “Cooling System” in this section.
I. Windshield Washer Fluid Reservoir. Refer to “Adding
Washer Fluid” under “Windshield Washer Fluid” in this sec-
tion.

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Engine OilChecking Engine Oil
It is a good idea to check your engine oil
every time you get fuel. In order to get an
accurate reading, the oil must be warm
and the vehicle must be on level ground.
The engine oil dipstick handle is a yellow
loop. Refer to “Engine Compartment Over-
view” in this section for the location of the
engine oil dipstick.
1) Turn off the engine and give the oil sev-
eral minutes to drain back into the oil
pan. If you do not do this, the oil dip-
stick might not show the actual level.
2) Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a
paper towel or cloth, then push it back
in all the way. Remove it again, keeping
the tip down, and check the level.When to Add Engine Oil
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If the oil is below the cross-hatched area at
the tip of the dipstick, you need to add at
least one quart/liter of oil. But you must
use the right kind. This section explains
what kind of oil to use. For engine oil
crankcase capacity, refer to “Capacities
and Specifications” in this section.
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SAE 5W-30 may not appear on all caps.
Refer to “Engine Compartment Overview”
in this section for the location of the engine
oil fill cap.
Be sure to add enough oil to put the level
somewhere in the proper operating range
in the cross-hatched area. Push the dip-
stick all the way back in when you are
through.
CAUTION
Do not add too much oil. If the engine
has so much oil that the oil level gets
above the cross-hatched area that
shows the proper operating range,
the engine could be damaged.

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system to work properly, you must reset
the system every time the oil is changed.
When the system has calculated that oil
life has been diminished, it will indicate
that an oil change is necessary. A change
engine oil light and a CHANGE ENGINE
OIL SOON message will come on. Refer to
“Change Engine Oil Light” in “Warning
Lights, Gages, and Indicators” in the
“Instrument Panel” section and “DIC Warn-
ings and Messages” in “Driver Information
Center (DIC)” in the “Instrument Panel”
section. Change your oil as soon as possi-
ble within the next 600 miles (1000 km). It
is possible that, if you are driving under the
best conditions, the oil life system may not
indicate that an oil change is necessary for
over a year. However, your engine oil and
filter must be changed at least once a year
and at this time the system must be reset.
Your dealer has trained service people
who will perform this work and reset the
system. It is also important to check your
oil regularly and keep it at the proper level.
If the system is ever reset accidentally, you
must change your oil at 3000 miles (5000
km) since your last oil change. Remember
to reset the oil life system whenever the oil
is changed.
How to Reset the Engine Oil Life Sys-
tem
The Engine Oil Life System calculates
when to change your engine oil and filter
based on vehicle use. Anytime your oil ischanged, reset the system so it can calcu-
late when the next oil change is required. If
a situation occurs where you change your
oil prior to a change engine oil light or
CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON message
being turned on, reset the system.
1) Turn the ignition key to RUN with the
engine off.
2) Fully press and release the accelerator
pedal three times within five seconds.
The change engine oil light will flash
while the system is resetting.
3) When the light stops flashing, turn the
key to LOCK.
If the light or message comes back on and
stays on when you start your vehicle, the
engine oil life system has not reset.
Repeat the procedure.
What to Do with Used Oil
Used engine oil contains certain elements
that may be unhealthy for your skin and
could even cause cancer. Do not let used
oil stay on your skin for very long. Clean
your skin and nails with soap and water, or
a good hand cleaner. Wash or properly
dispose of clothing or rags containing used
engine oil. See the manufacturer’s warn-
ings about the use and disposal of oil prod-
ucts.
Used oil can be a threat to the environ-
ment. If you change your own oil, be sure
to drain all the oil from the filter before dis-
posal. Never dispose of oil by putting it inthe trash, pouring it on the ground, into
sewers, or into streams or bodies of water.
Instead, recycle it by taking it to a place
that collects used oil. If you have a prob-
lem properly disposing of your used oil,
ask your dealer, a service station, or a
local recycling center for help.
Engine Air Cleaner/FilterThe engine air cleaner/filter is located in
the engine compartment on the passen-
ger’s side of the vehicle. Refer to “Engine
Compartment Overview” in this section for
more information on location.
When to Inspect the Engine Air Cleaner/
Filter
Inspect the air cleaner/filter at the Mainte-
nance II intervals and replace it at the first
oil change after each 50000 mile (83000
km) interval. Refer to “Scheduled Mainte-
nance” in “Maintenance Schedule” in the
“Maintenance Schedule” section for more
information. If you are driving in dusty/dirty
conditions, inspect the filter at each engine
oil change.
How to Inspect the Engine Air Cleaner/
Filter
To inspect the air cleaner/filter remove the
filter from the vehicle and lightly shake the
filter to release loose dust and dirt. If the fil-
ter remains caked with dirt, a new filter is
required.

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To inspect or replace the engine air
cleaner/filter, do the following:
1) Turn off the engine.
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2) Disconnect the air flow sensor electrical
connector.
3) Loosen the screws on the clamps hold-
ing the air outlet duct in place. Do not
pry the clamps off.
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4) Remove the air outlet duct.
5) Undo the clamps on the filter cover. To
remove the cover, pull up on the front
and then pull the cover out.
6) Inspect or replace the engine air
cleaner/filter. Wipe all dust from inside
of the housing and inspect the air
cleaner and air outlet duct for cracks,
cuts, and deterioration. The air outlet
duct must be replaced if damaged.
7) Reinstall the filter cover and latch the
clamps.
8) Reattach the air outlet duct and tighten
the screws on the clamps that hold the
duct in place.
9) Reconnect the air flow sensor electrical
connector.
Automatic Transaxle FluidIt is not necessary to check the transaxle
fluid level. A transaxle fluid leak is the only
reason for fluid loss. If a leak occurs, take
your vehicle to the dealership service
department and have it repaired as soon
as possible.
Change the fluid at the intervals listed in
“Additional Required Services” in “Mainte-
nance Schedule” in the “Maintenance
Schedule” section, and be sure to use the
transaxle fluid listed in “Recommended
WARNING
Operating the engine with the air
cleaner/filter off can cause you or
others to be burned. The air cleaner
not only cleans the air; it helps to
stop flames if the engine backfires. If
it is not there and the engine back-
fires, you could be burned. Do not
drive with it off, and be careful work-
ing on the engine with the air cleaner/
filter off.
CAUTION
If the air cleaner/filter is off, a back-
fire can cause a damaging engine
fire. And, dirt can easily get into your
engine, which will damage it. Always
have the air cleaner/filter in place
when you are driving.

5-12 SERVICE AND APPEARANCE CARE
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If you have to add coolant more than four
times a year, have your dealer check your
cooling system.
Checking Coolant
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The surge tank is located on the driver’s
side of the engine compartment. Refer to“Engine Compartment Overview” in this
section for more information on location.
The vehicle must be on a level surface.
When your engine is cold, the coolant level
should be at the COLD FILL line. When
your engine is warm, the level should be at
the COLD FILL line or a little higher.
Adding Coolant
If you need more coolant, add the proper
DEX-COOL
® coolant mixture at the surge
tank, but only when the engine is cool.
When replacing the pressure cap, make
sure it is hand-tight and fully seated.
Engine OverheatingThere is a coolant temperature gage and a
warning light on the instrument panel clus-
ter that indicate an overheated engine con-
dition. Refer to “Engine Coolant
Temperature Gage” and “Engine Coolant
Temperature Warning Light” in “Warning
Lights, Gages, and Indicators” in the
“Instrument Panel” section for more infor-
mation.
If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
CAUTION
If you use extra inhibitors and/or
additives in your vehicle’s cooling
system, you could damage your vehi-
cle. Use only the proper mixture of
the engine coolant listed in this man-
ual for the cooling system. Refer to
“Recommended Fluids and Lubri-
cants” in “Maintenance Schedule” in
the “Maintenance Schedule” section
for more information.
WARNING
Turning the surge tank pressure cap
when the engine and radiator are hot
can allow steam and scalding liquids
to blow out and burn you badly.
Never turn the surge tank pressure
cap – even a little – when the engine
and radiator are hot.
WARNING
You can be burned if you spill cool-
ant on hot engine parts. Coolant con-
tains ethylene glycol, and it will burn
if the engine parts are hot enough. Do
not spill coolant on a hot engine.
WARNING
Steam from an overheated engine
can burn you badly, even if you just
open the hood. Stay away from the
engine if you see or hear steam com-
ing from it. Turn it off and get every-
one away from the vehicle until it
cools down. Wait until there is no
sign of steam or coolant before you
open the hood.
If you keep driving when the vehicles
engine is overheated, the liquids in it
can catch fire. You or others could be
badly burned. Stop your engine if it
overheats, and get out of the vehicle
until the engine is cool.
Refer to “Overheated Engine Protec-
tion Operating Mode” in this section
for information on driving to a safe
place in an emergency.