2008 SUZUKI FORENZA mirror

4-8
DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE
85Z04-03E
steer the way you want the vehicle to go. If
you start steering quickly enough, your
vehicle may straighten out. Always be
ready for a second skid if it occurs.
Of course, traction is reduced when water,
snow, ice, gravel or other material is on the
road. For safety, you’ll want to slow down
and adjust your driving to these conditions.
It is important to slow down on slippery
surfaces because stopping distance will be
longer and vehicle control more limited.
While driving on a surface with reduced
traction, try your best to avoid sudden
steering, acceleration or braking (including
engine braking by shifting to a lower gear).
Any sudden changes could cause the tires
to slide. You may not realize the surface is
slippery until your vehicle is skidding.
Learn to recognize warning clues – such
as enough water, ice or packed snow on
the road to make a “mirrored surface” –
and slow down when you have any doubt.
If you have the anti-lock braking system,
remember: It helps avoid only the braking
skid. If you do not have anti-lock, then in a
braking skid (where the wheels are no
longer rolling), release enough pressure
on the brakes to get the wheels rolling
again. This restores steering control. Push
the brake pedal down steadily when you
have to stop suddenly. As long as the
wheels are rolling, you will have steering
control.
Driving at NightNight driving is more dangerous than day
driving. One reason is that some drivers
are likely to be impaired – by alcohol or
drugs, with night vision problems, or by
fatigue.
Here are some tips on night driving.
 Drive defensively.
 Don’t drink and drive.
 Adjust your inside rearview mirror to
reduce the glare from headlamps behind
you.
 Since you can’t see as well, you may
need to slow down and keep more space
between you and other vehicles.
 Slow down, especially on higher speed
roads. Your headlamps can light up only
so much road ahead.
 In remote areas, watch for animals. If you’re tired, pull off the road in a safe
place and rest.
No one can see as well at night as in the
daytime. But as we get older these differ-
ences increase. A 50-year-old driver may
require at least twice as much light to see
the same thing at night as a 20-year-old.
What you do in the daytime can also affect
your night vision. For example, if you
spend the day in bright sunshine you are
wise to wear sunglasses. Your eyes will
have less trouble adjusting to night. But if
you’re driving, don’t wear sunglasses at
night. They may cut down on glare from
headlamps, but they also make a lot of
things invisible.
You can be temporarily blinded by
approaching headlamps. It can take a sec-
ond or two, or even several seconds, for
your eyes to readjust to the dark. When
you are faced with severe glare (as from a
driver who doesn’t lower the high beams,
or a vehicle with misaimed headlamps),
slow down a little. Avoid staring directly
into the approaching headlamps.
Keep your windshield and all the glass on
your vehicle clean – inside and out. Glare
at night is made much worse by dirt on the
glass. Even the inside of the glass can
build up a film caused by dust. Dirty glass
makes lights dazzle and flash more than
clean glass would, making the pupils of
your eyes contract repeatedly.
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle:

4-11DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE
85Z04-03E
time and energy. See the next part,
“Freeway Driving.”
 Treat a green light as a warning signal. A
traffic light is there because the corner is
busy enough to need it. When a light
turns green, and just before you start to
move, check both ways for vehicles that
have not cleared the intersection or may
be running the red light.Freeway DrivingMile for mile, freeways (also called thru-
ways, parkways, expressways, turnpikes or
superhighways) are the safest of all roads.
But they have their own special rules.
The most important advice on freeway
driving is: Keep up with traffic and keep to
the right. Drive at the same speed most of
the other drivers are driving. Too-fast or
too-slow driving breaks a smooth trafficflow. Treat the left lane on a freeway as a
passing lane.
At the entrance, there is usually a ramp
that leads to the freeway. If you have a
clear view of the freeway as you drive
along the entrance ramp, you should begin
to check traffic. Try to determine where you
expect to blend with the flow. Try to merge
into the gap at close to the prevailing
speed. Switch on your turn signal, check
your mirrors and glance over your shoulder
as often as necessary. Try to blend
smoothly with the traffic flow.
Once you are on the freeway, adjust your
speed to the posted limit or to the prevail-
ing rate if it’s slower. Stay in the right lane
unless you want to pass.
Before changing lanes, check your mirrors.
Then use your turn signal.
Just before you leave the lane, glance
quickly over your shoulder to make sure
there isn’t another vehicle in your “blind”
spot.
Once you are moving on the freeway,
make certain you allow a reasonable fol-
lowing distance.
Expect to move slightly slower at night.
When you want to leave the freeway, move
to the proper lane well in advance. If you
miss your exit, do not, under any circum-
stances, stop and back up. Drive on to the
next exit.The exit ramp can be curved, sometimes
quite sharply. The exit speed is usually
posted. Reduce your speed according to
your speedometer, not to your sense of
motion. After driving for any distance at
higher speeds, you may tend to think you
are going slower than you actually are.
Before Leaving on a Long TripMake sure you’re ready. Try to be well
rested. If you must start when you’re not
fresh – such as after a day’s work – don’t
plan to make too many miles that first part
of the journey. Wear comfortable clothing
and shoes you can easily drive in.
Is your vehicle ready for a long trip? If you
keep it serviced and maintained, it’s ready
to go. If it needs service, have it done
before starting out. Of course, you’ll find
experienced and able service experts in
SUZUKI dealerships all across North
America. They’ll be ready and willing to
help if you need it.
Here are some things you can check
before a trip:
 Windshield Washer Fluid: Is the reser-
voir full? Are all windows clean inside
and outside?
 Wiper Blades: Are they in good shape?
 Fuel, Engine Oil, Other Fluids: Have you
checked all levels?
 Lamps: Are they all working? Are the
lenses clean?
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle:

4-12
DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE
85Z04-03E
 Tires: They are vitally important to a
safe, trouble-free trip. Is the tread good
enough for long-distance driving? Are
the tires all inflated to the recommended
pressure?
 Weather Forecasts: What’s the weather
outlook along your route? Should you
delay your trip a short time to avoid a
major storm system?
 Maps: Do you have up-to-date maps?Highway HypnosisIs there actually such a condition as “high-
way hypnosis”? Or is it just plain falling
asleep at the wheel? Call it highway hyp-
nosis, lack of awareness, or whatever.
There is something about an easy stretch
of road with the same scenery, along with
the hum of the tires on the road, the drone
of the engine, and the rush of the wind
against the vehicle that can make you
sleepy. Don’t let it happen to you! If it does,
your vehicle can leave the road in less than
a second, and you could crash and be
injured.
What can you do about highway hypnosis?
First, be aware that it can happen.
Then here are some tips:
 Make sure your vehicle is well ventilated,
with a comfortably cool interior.
 Keep your eyes moving. Scan the road
ahead and to the sides. Check your rear-
view mirrors and your instruments fre-
quently. If you get sleepy, pull off the road into a
rest, service or parking area and take a
nap, get some exercise, or both. For
safety, treat drowsiness on the highway
as an emergency.
Hill and Mountain RoadsDriving on steep hills or mountains is differ-
ent from driving in flat or rolling terrain.
If you drive regularly in steep country, or if
you’re planning to visit there, here are
some tips that can make your trips safer
and more enjoyable.
 Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check
all fluid levels and also the brakes, tires,
cooling system and transmission. These
parts can work hard on mountain roads.
 Know how to go down hills. The most
important thing to know is this: let your
engine do some of the slowing down.Shift to a lower gear when you go down
a steep or long hill.
 Know how to go uphill. You may want to
shift down to a lower gear. The lower
gears help cool your engine and trans-
mission, and you can climb the hill bet-
ter.
 Stay in your own lane when driving on
two-lane roads in hills or mountains.
Don’t swing wide or cut across the cen-
ter of the road. Drive at speeds that let
you stay in your own lane.
WARNING
If you don’t shift down, your brakes
could get so hot that they wouldn’t
work well. You would then have poor
braking or even none going down a
hill. You could crash. Shift down to let
your engine assist your brakes on a
steep downhill slope.
WARNING
Coasting downhill in NEUTRAL (N) or
with the ignition off is dangerous.
Your brakes will have to do all the
work of slowing you down. They
could get so hot that they wouldn’t
work well. You would then have poor
braking or even none going down a
hill. You could crash. Always have
your engine running and your vehicle
in gear when you go downhill.
Your Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle:

5-53SERVICE AND APPEARANCE CARE
85Z04-03E
Fuses Usages
HEAD LAMPS Head Lamp
ECMEngine Control
Module
I/P FUSEInstrument Panel
Fuse
FUEL PUMP Fuel Pump
A/C Air Conditioning
HORN Horn
HI BEAMHead Lamp
High-Beam
DRIVER’S PWR
WNDWDriver’s Power
Window
STOP LAMPS Stop Lamps
DR/LCK Door Lock
MIR HTD Heated Mirror
FRT FOG Front Fog
ILLUM LTLicense Plate Lamp,
Parking Lamp Left
INJ Injector
Fuses Usages
ENG SNSREVAP Canister Purge
Solenoid, HO2S,
Cooling Fan Relay,
CMP Sensor
LOW BEAM LTHead Lamp
Low-Beam Left
ILLUM RTIllumination
Circuit, Parking Lamp
Right
LOW BEAM RTHead Lamp
Low-Beam Right
SPARE Spare
SPARE Spare
SPARE Spare
BATT PWR Battery Power
ABSAntilock Brake
System
HVAC BLWR HVAC Blower
IGN 2 Ignition 2
IGN 1 Ignition 1
FUSE PLR Fuse Puller
COOL FAN LOW Cooling Fan Low
Fuses Usages
DEFOG Defog
COOL FAN HI Cooling Fan High
PWR WNDW Power Window
Relays Usages
COOL FAN LOW Cooling Fan Low
FRT FOG Front Fog
ILLUM Illumination Relay
A/C CMPRSRAir Conditioning
Compressor
HORN Horn
DEFOG Defog
FUEL PUMP Fuel Pump
MAIN Main Relay
COOL FAN HI Cooling Fan High
PWR WNDW Power Window
HEAD LAMPS Headlamp Relay
Capacities and Specifications:

8-3
INDEX85Z04-03E
IIdentification Numbers
........................................................7-1
If a Tire Goes Flat
................................................................5-39
Ignition Positions ................................................................2-12
Infants and Young Children
................................................1-17
Instrument Panel Cluster
....................................................3-18
Instrument Panel Overview (Sedan)
..................................3-1
Instrument Panel Overview (Wagon) .................................3-2
Interior Lamps
......................................................................3-10
JJump Starting
......................................................................5-20
KKeys
......................................................................................2-1
LLap-Shoulder Belt
................................................................1-11
Leaving Your Vehicle
..........................................................2-6
License Plate Lamps ...........................................................5-27
Liftgate (Wagon)
..................................................................2-8
Loading Your Vehicle
..........................................................4-17
Lockout Protection
..............................................................2-6
Loss of Control
....................................................................4-7
Low Fuel Warning Light
......................................................3-25
Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for Children
(LATCH System)
.................................................................1-23
Luggage Compartment Cover (Wagon only)
....................2-25
Luggage Compartment Lamp
.............................................5-26
MMaintenance
.........................................................................6-2
Maintenance Recommended under Normal Driving
Conditions
............................................................................6-2Maintenance Recommended under Severe Driving
Conditions
........................................................................... 6-6
Maintenance Record
........................................................... 6-10
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
............................................... 3-22
Manual Lumbar
................................................................... 1-2
Manual Rearview Mirror
..................................................... 2-21
Manual Seats (With Sliding Storage Tray)
........................ 1-1
Manual Seats (Without Sliding Storage Tray)
.................. 1-1
Manual Transmission Fluid
................................................ 5-11
Manual Transmission Operation
....................................... 2-16
Manual Windows
................................................................. 2-8
Mirrors
.................................................................................. 2-21
NNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA)
............................................................................... 7-4
New Vehicle Break-In
.......................................................... 2-12
OOff-Road Recovery
............................................................. 4-6
Oil Pressure Light ............................................................... 3-24
Older Children
..................................................................... 1-16
On-Board Vehicle Computers and Event Data
Recorders
............................................................................ 7-3
Outlet Adjustment
............................................................... 3-17
Outside Convex Mirror
....................................................... 2-22
Outside Heated Mirrors ...................................................... 2-22
Outside Manual Mirror ........................................................ 2-21
Outside Power Mirrors ....................................................... 2-21
PParking Brake
...................................................................... 2-17
Parking Over Things That Can Burn
................................. 2-19
Parking Your Vehicle (Manual Transmission)
.................. 2-19

8-4INDEX
85Z04-03E
Passenger Air Bag Off Indicator
........................................3-26
Passenger Compartment Air Filter ....................................3-17
Passenger Sensing System
................................................1-31
Power Door Locks
...............................................................2-5
Power Steering Fluid ...........................................................5-17
Power Windows
...................................................................2-9
Power Windows and Other Power Options
.......................5-50
QQuestions and Answers About Safety Belts
.....................1-7
RRadio with Six-Disc CD (Double Display, MP3/WMA)
(AGH-5400)
...........................................................................3-37
Rear Center Seat Belt (Sedan only)
...................................1-13
Rear Door Security Locks
...................................................2-5
Rear Seat Armrest
...............................................................2-23
Rear Seat Passengers
.........................................................1-11
Rear Seats
............................................................................1-4
Rear Sidemarker Lamps
.....................................................5-27
Rear Window and Outside Rearview Mirror Defogger
.....3-16
Rear Window Washer/Wiper
...............................................3-7
Reclining Seatbacks
............................................................1-2
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
..............................6-10
Recreational Vehicle Towing
..............................................4-16
Remote Keyless Entry System ...........................................2-1
Remote Keyless Entry System Operation
.........................2-2
Replacement Bulbs
.............................................................5-27
Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash
.............1-35
Reporting Safety Defects
....................................................7-4
Restraint System Check .....................................................1-34
Right Front Passenger Position
.........................................1-11
Roof Rack (Wagon only)
.....................................................2-25Running Your Engine While You Are Parked
................... 2-20
SSafety Belt: They are for Everyone .................................... 1-5
Safety Belt Extender
........................................................... 1-15
Safety Belt Pretensioner System
....................................... 1-14
Safety Belt Reminder Light
................................................ 3-19
Safety Belt Reminder Tone ................................................ 3-19
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy
.................................... 1-10
Safety Belts
......................................................................... 1-5
Safety Certification Label
................................................... 7-2
Scheduled Maintenance Services
..................................... 6-2
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the LATCH
System
................................................................................. 1-24
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat Position
......... 1-25
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat
Position
................................................................................ 1-26
Securing a Child Restraint with Top Strap
....................... 1-22
Selecting the Right Condition
............................................ 6-1
Service
................................................................................. 5-1
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle
........................ 1-34
Sheet Metal Damage
........................................................... 5-48
Shifting Into Park (P) .......................................................... 2-18
Shifting Out of Park (P) ...................................................... 2-18
Side Storage Box (Wagon only)
........................................ 2-24
Spare Tire
............................................................................ 5-44
Specifications
...................................................................... 5-54
Speed Sensitive Power Steering (SSPS) Warning
Light
..................................................................................... 3-22
Speedometer and Odometer
.............................................. 3-18
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
................................ 2-12
Starting Your Engine
.......................................................... 2-13