2008 SUZUKI FORENZA Owners Manual

3-5INSTRUMENT PANEL
85Z04-03E
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 don’t go on
at all when you signal a turn, check for
burned-out bulbs and then check the fuse.
See “Fuses and Circuit Breakers” in sec-
tion 5.
Headlamp High/Low-Beam Changer
To change the headlamps from low beam
to high beam, push the turn signal multi-
function lever away from you.When the high beams are on, a light on the
instrument panel cluster also will be on if
the ignition is ON.
To change the headlamps from high beam
to low beam, pull the turn signal/multifunc-
tion lever toward you.
Flash-to-Pass Feature
This feature lets you use your high-beam
headlamps to signal a driver in front of you
that you want to pass.
To use it, pull the turn signal/multifunction
lever toward you until the high-beam head-
lamps come on, then release the lever to
turn them off.
Windshield Wiper/Washer LeverThe windshield wiper/washer lever is
located on the right side of the steering
wheel.
Windshield Wiper
Use the windshield wiper/washer lever to
operate the windshield wipers.
HI (High Speed):
Move the lever to this position for wiping at
high speed.
LO (Low Speed):
Move the lever to this position for steady
wiping at low speed.
INT (Intermittent):
Move the lever to this position to choose a
delayed wiping cycle. Turn the band on the
windshield wiper lever toward FAST or
SLOW for a shorter or longer delay
N6U3003A
Instrument Panel Overview:

3-6
INSTRUMENT PANEL
85Z04-03E
between wipes. The wiper speed can only
be adjusted when the lever is in the INT
position.
OFF (Off):
Move the lever to this position to turn off
the windshield wipers.
Misting Function
Move the lever toward, but not completely
in, the INT position for a single wiping
cycle. Hold it there until the windshield wip-
ers start; then let go. The windshield wip-
ers will stop after one cycle. If you want
more wipes, hold the lever toward the INT
position longer.
Remember that damaged wiper blades
may prevent you from seeing well enough
to drive safely. To avoid damage, be sure to
clear ice and snow from the wiper blades
before using them.
If they’re frozen to the windshield, carefully
loosen or thaw them. If your blades do
become damaged, get new blades or
blade inserts.
Heavy snow or ice can overload the wiper
motor. A circuit breaker will stop the motor
until it cools. Clear away snow or ice to
prevent an overload.Windshield Washer
To wash your windshield, pull the wind-
shield wiper/washer lever toward you with
the ignition in the ON position.
When you release the lever, the washers
will stop, but the wipers will continue to
wipe for about three cycles and will either
stop or will resume the speed you were
using before.
WARNING
 In freezing weather, don’t use your
washer until the windshield is
warmed. Otherwise the washer
fluid can form ice on the wind-
shield, blocking your vision.
 Do not use radiator antifreeze in
the windshield washer reservoir. It
can severely impair visibility when
sprayed on the windshield, and can
also damage your vehicle’s paint.
CAUTION
To help prevent damage to wind-
shield wiper and washer system
components, you should take the fol-
lowing precautions:
 Do not continue to hold in the lever
when there is no windshield
washer fluid being sprayed or the
washer motor can be damaged.
 Do not attempt to remove dirt from
a dry windshield with the wipers or
you can damage the windshield
and the wiper blades. Always wet
the windshield with washer fluid
before operating the wipers.
 Clear ice or packed snow from the
wiper blades before using the wip-
ers.
(Continued)
Instrument Panel Overview:

3-7INSTRUMENT PANEL
85Z04-03E
Rear Window Washer/WiperIf your vehicle has this feature, operate the
rear window washer/wiper system by
pushing the windshield wiper/washer lever
away from you. The wiper operates contin-
uously when the lever is in the first posi-
tion.Washer fluid sprays onto the rear window
and the wiper operates continuously when
the lever is pushed to the second position.
Cruise ControlCruise Control
If your vehicle has cruise control, you can
maintain a speed of about 24 mph (39 km/
h) or more without keeping your foot on the
accelerator. This can really help on long
trips. Cruise control does not work at
speeds below 24 mph (39 km/h).
When you apply your brakes, or depress
the clutch pedal if you have a manual
transmission, the cruise control shuts off.Setting Cruise Control
CAUTION
(Continued)
 Check the washer fluid level regu-
larly. Check it often when the
weather is bad.
 Only fill the washer fluid reservoir
3/4 full during cold weather to allow
room for expansion if the tempera-
ture falls low enough to freeze the
solution.
N4U30460A
FASTSLOW
WARNING
 Do not spray washer fluid on the
liftgate window in freezing weather.
 Warm the tailgate window before
you operate the liftgate window
washer.
Washer fluid can form ice on a frozen
liftgate window and obstruct your
vision.
WARNING
Cruise control can be dangerous
where you cannot drive safely at a
steady speed. So, do not use your
cruise control on winding roads or in
heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous on
slippery roads. On such roads, fast
changes in tire traction can cause
excessive wheel slip, and you could
lose control. Do not use cruise con-
trol on slippery roads.
WARNING
If you leave your cruise control on
when you are not using cruise, you
might hit a button and go into cruise
when you do not want to. You could
be startled and even lose control.
Keep the cruise control switch off
until you want to use cruise control.
Instrument Panel Overview:

3-8
INSTRUMENT PANEL
85Z04-03E
The cruise control pad is located on the
right side of the steering wheel.
1) Press the ON/OFF button to turn cruise
control on.
2) Accelerate to the speed you want.
3) Press the SET button and release it. An
indicator light on the instrument panel
cluster will come on to show you that
the cruise control is on. See “Cruise
Control Light” in this section.
4) Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
Resuming a Set Speed
Suppose you set your cruise control at a
desired speed and then you apply the
brake pedal, or depress the clutch pedal if
you have a manual transmission. This, of
course, shuts off the cruise control. But
you do not need to reset it. Once you aregoing about 24 mph (39 km/h) or more,
you can tap the RESUME button.
You will go right back up to your chosen
speed and stay there.
If you hold in the RESUME button longer,
the vehicle will keep going faster until you
release the button or apply the brake
pedal. So unless you want to go faster, do
not hold in the RESUME button.
Increasing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
There are two ways to go to a higher
speed:
 Use the accelerator pedal to get to a
higher speed. Press the SET button,
then release the button and the acceler-
ator pedal. You will now cruise at the
higher speed.
 Press the RESUME button. Hold it there
until you get up to the speed you want,
and then release the button. To increase
your speed in very small amounts, tap
the RESUME button and then release it.
Each time you do this, your vehicle will
go about 1 mph (1.6 km/h) faster. The
accelerate feature will only work after
you turn on the cruise control by press-
ing the SET button.
Reducing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
There are two ways to reduce your speed
while using cruise control: Press the SET button until you reach the
lower speed you want, then release it.
 To slow down in very small amounts, tap
the SET button. Each time you do this,
you will go about 1 mph (1.6 km/h)
slower.
Passing Another Vehicle While Using
Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase your
speed. When you take your foot off the
pedal, your vehicle will slow down to the
cruise control speed you set earlier.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on
hills depends upon your speed, load and
the steepness of the hills. When going up
steep hills, you may have to step on the
accelerator pedal to maintain your speed.
When going downhill, you may have to
brake or shift to a lower gear to keep your
speed down. Of course, applying the brake
pedal takes you out of cruise control. Many
drivers find this to be too much trouble and
do not use cruise control on steep hills.
Disengaging Cruise Control
There are two ways to turn off the cruise
control:
 Step lightly on the brake pedal, or
depress the clutch pedal, if you have a
manual transmission.
 Press the ON/OFF button on the cruise
control pad.
G7U3001A
RESUME
ACC
CRUISE
SET
COASTON-OFF
Instrument Panel Overview:

3-9INSTRUMENT PANEL
85Z04-03E
Erasing Speed Memory
When you turn off the cruise control or the
ignition, your cruise control set speed
memory is erased.Exterior LampsThe lever on the left side of the steering
column operates the exterior lamps.
The exterior lamp band has three posi-
tions:
(Headlamps):
Turn the band to this position to turn on the
headlamps, together with the following:
 Tail Lamps
 License Plate Lamp
 Instrument Panel Lights
The headlamps will turn off automatically
when the ignition switch is turned to LOCK
or ACC. (Parking Lamps):
Turn the band to this position to turn on the
parking lamps, together with the previously
listed lamps and lights.
OFF (Off):
Turn the band to this position to turn all
lamps off except the Daytime Running
Lamps (DRL).
Lamps On Reminder
You will hear a warning chime when the
exterior lamp band is in the or
position and driver’s door is open.
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make
it easier for others to see the front of your
vehicle during the day. DRL can be helpful
in many different driving conditions, but
they can be especially helpful in the short
periods after dawn and before sunset.
The DRL system will make your low-beam
headlamps come on in daylight when the
following conditions are met:
 The ignition is on, and
 the exterior lamp band is in OFF or in the
parking lamp position, and
 the parking brake is released.
When the DRL system is on, the tail lamps,
side marker lamps, parking lamps and
instrument panel lights will not be illumi-
nated unless you have turned the exterior
lamps control to the parking lamp position.An indicator light on the secondary infor-
mation center will come on when the DRL
system is on. See “Daytime Running
Lamps Indicator Light” in this section.
The DRL system will turn off under the fol-
lowing conditions:
 The ignition is off, or
 the parking brakes are on, or
 the high-beam headlamps are on, or
 the low-beam headlamps are on, or
 flash-to-pass is used.
As with any vehicle, you should turn on the
regular headlamp system when you need
it.
Fog Lamps
If your vehicle has this feature, use your
fog lamps for better visibility in foggy or
misty conditions.
The control for your front fog lamps is
located on the middle of the turn signal/
multifunction lever. To turn on front fog
lamps, turn the fog lamp band to ON. To
turn off the front fog lamps, turn the fog
lamp band to OFF.
N6U3004A
Instrument Panel Overview:

3-10
INSTRUMENT PANEL
85Z04-03E
An indicator light on the secondary infor-
mation center will come on when the fog
lamps are on. See “Fog Lamp Light” in this
section.
When using fog lamps, the ignition must be
on as well as the parking lamps or low-
beam headlamps.
The fog lamps will turn off whenever the
high-beam headlamps are turned on.
When the high beams are turned off, the
fog lamps will come on again.
Interior LampsInstrument Panel Brightness
This feature controls the brightness of the
instrument panel lights.
The thumbwheel for this feature is located
on the instrument panel to the left of the
steering wheel.
Turn the thumbwheel up to brighten the
instrument panel lights or down to dim
them. Dome Lamp
The switch on this lamp has three posi-
tions.
ON:
The light comes on and stays on regard-
less of whether a door is open or closed.
• (Door):
The light comes on when a door is opened.
After all doors are closed, the light stays on
for about 7 seconds, and then fades out.
OFF:
The light remains off even when a door is
opened.
Map Lamps
Your vehicle has map lamps. To turn a
lamp on, press the button next to it. Press
the button again to turn it off.
Instrument Panel Overview:

3-11INSTRUMENT PANEL
85Z04-03E
Accessory Power OutletWith the accessory power outlet you can
plug in auxiliary electrical equipment such
as a cellular phone or CB radio.
The accessory power outlet is located on
the front side of the center console below
the front ashtray. Another power outlet is
located on the left side of the luggage area
only in the Wagon models.
To use the outlet, remove the cover. When
not in use, always cover the outlet with the
protective cap. The accessory power outlet
is operational when the ignition is in the
ACC or ON positions.Certain electrical accessories may not be
compatible with the accessory power outlet
and could result in blown vehicle or
adapter fuses. If you experience a prob-
lem, see your SUZUKI dealer for additional
information on the accessory power outlet.
When adding electrical equipment, be sure
to follow the proper installation instructions
included with the equipment.
Ashtrays and Cigarette LighterThe front ashtray is located at the lower
part of the center of the instrument panel.
To remove the front ashtray for cleaning,
open the ashtray fully, lift the inner case up
and then pull it out.
The rear ashtray is located at the bottom of
the rear center console. Pull the ashtray
toward the rear of the vehicle to open it. To
remove the rear ashtray, press in the
retaining spring and pull the bin out.
N5U3006A
(Sedan/Wagon) (Wagon only)
CAUTION
When using the accessory power
outlet, the maximum electrical load
must not exceed 12V-10A. Be sure to
turn off any electrical equipment
when not in use. Leaving electrical
equipment on for extended periods
can drain the battery.
CAUTION
Adding some electrical equipment to
your vehicle can damage it or keep
other things from working as they
should. This wouldn’t be covered by
your warranty. Check with your
SUZUKI dealer before adding electri-
cal equipment, and never use any-
thing that exceeds the amperage
rating.
CAUTION
Power outlets are designed for acces-
sory plugs only. Do not hang any
type of accessory or accessory
bracket from the plug. Improper use
of the power outlet can cause dam-
age not covered by your warranty.
Instrument Panel Overview:

3-12
INSTRUMENT PANEL
85Z04-03E
The cigarette lighter is located to the right
of the front ashtray.
To use it, turn the ignition to ACC or ON,
push the cigarette lighter in all the way and
let go. When it’s ready, it will pop back out
by itself.
ClockThe time is displayed in the digital clock
when the ignition is on. The clock is
located in the center of the instrument
panel. There are three adjusting buttons
for the digital clock:
H (Hour):
To go forward one hour, press the “H” but-
ton once, with the ignition on. To go for-
ward more than one hour, press and hold
the button until the correct hour is reached.M (Minute):
To go forward one minute, press the “M”
button once, with the ignition on. To go for-
ward more than one minute, press and
hold the button until the correct minute is
reached.
S (Set):
To reset the time to the nearest hour, press
the “S” button.
For example, if this button is pressed while
the time is between 8:00 and 8:29, the dis-
play is set to 8:00. If this button is pressed
while the time is between 8:30 and 8:59,
the display is set to 9:00.
After disconnecting the battery or after
replacing the fuse, reset the clock.
WARNING
Don’t put papers or other flammable
items into your ashtrays. Hot ciga-
rettes or other smoking materials
could ignite them, causing a damag-
ing fire.
CAUTION
Don’t hold a cigarette lighter in with
your hand while it is heating. If you
do, it won’t be able to back away from
the heating element when it’s ready.
That can make it overheat, damaging
the lighter and the heating element.
Instrument Panel Overview:
Climate Controls: