
2-18
FEATURES AND CONTROLS
85Z04-03E
Shifting Into Park (P)
(Automatic Transmission)1) Hold the brake pedal down and set the
parking brake.
2) Move the shift lever into PARK (P) posi-
tion.
3) Turn the ignition key to LOCK.
4) Remove the key and take it with you. If
you can leave your vehicle with the igni-
tion key in your hand, your vehicle is in
PA R K ( P ) .Leaving Your Vehicle with the Engine
Running
If you have to leave your vehicle with the
engine running, be sure your vehicle is in
PARK (P) and your parking brake is firmly
set before you leave it. After you’ve moved
the shift lever into PARK (P), hold the regu-
lar brake pedal down. Then, see if you can
move the shift lever away from PARK (P)
without first pushing the button. If you can,
it means that the shift lever wasn’t fully
locked into PARK (P).To r q u e L o c k
If you are parking on a hill and you don’t
shift your transmission into PARK (P) prop-
erly, the weight of the vehicle may put too
much force on the parking pawl in the
transmission. You may find it difficult to pull
the shift lever out of PARK (P). This is
called “torque lock.” To prevent torque lock,
set the parking brake and then shift into
PARK (P) properly before you leave the
driver’s seat. To find out how, see “Shifting
Into Park (P)” in this section.
When you are ready to drive, move the
shift lever out of PARK (P) before you
release the parking brake.
If torque lock does occur, you may need to
have another vehicle push yours a little
uphill to take some of the pressure from
the parking pawl in the transmission, so
you can pull the shift lever out of PARK (P).
Shifting Out of Park (P)
(Automatic Transmission)Your vehicle has a brake transmission shift
interlock system which locks the shift lever
in PARK (P) when the ignition is in the
LOCK position. You have to apply your reg-
ular brakes before you can shift from PARK
(P) when the ignition is in the ON position.
See “Automatic Transmission Operation” in
this section.
If you cannot shift out of PARK (P) while
you hold the brake pedal down, try this:
1) Set the parking brake fully.
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. Don’t
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 won’t move, even when
you’re on fairly level ground, use the
steps that follow.
WARNING
It can be dangerous to leave your
vehicle with the engine running. Your
vehicle could move suddenly if the
shift lever is not fully in PARK (P)
with the parking brake firmly set.
And, if you leave the vehicle with the
engine running, it could overheat and
even catch fire. You or others could
be injured. Don’t leave your vehicle
with the engine running.
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle:

2-19FEATURES AND CONTROLS
85Z04-03E
2) Turn the key to LOCK and remove the
key from the ignition switch.
3) Remove the hole cover from the shift
lock slot with a screwdriver
4) Insert the key into the shift lock slot and
press and hold it.
5) Shift to NEUTRAL (N).
6) Remove the key from the slot, insert it
into the ignition switch and start the
engine.
7) Apply and hold the regular brake fully
and release the parking brake.
8) Shift to the drive gear you want.
9) Have your vehicle fixed as soon as you
can.
Parking Your Vehicle
(Manual Transmission)Before leaving your vehicle, do the follow-
ing:
1) Hold the brake pedal down and firmly
apply the parking brake.
2) Fully press in the clutch pedal and
place the shift lever into the appropriate
position as stated below:
– When parking on level ground, place
the shift lever into FIRST (1) or
REVERSE (R).
– When parking downhill, place the shift
lever in REVERSE (R).
– When parking uphill, place the shift
lever in FIRST (1).
3) After shifting to the appropriate posi-
tion, turn the ignition key to LOCK,
remove the key and release the clutch.
Parking Over Things That Can Burn
N4U2017A
WARNING
Things that can burn could touch hot
exhaust parts under your vehicle and
ignite. Don’t park over papers,
leaves, dry grass or other things that
can burn.
L3U2020A
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle:

2-26
FEATURES AND CONTROLS
85Z04-03E
windshield glass to avoid causing breaks in
the resistive material heating element
which can adversely affect radio and
defogger performance. See your SUZUKI
dealer for details.
SunroofIf your vehicle has this feature, the switch
is located between the map lamp buttons.
The sunroof will only operate when the
ignition is in the ON position. The sunroof
can be opened to a vent position or it can
be opened all the way.
You must manually open and close the
sunroof cover.
To open the sunroof to the vent position,
push the front part of the switch. To return
the sunroof to its original position, push the
rear part of the switch and hold it until the
sunroof reaches the desired position.
To fully open the sunroof, push the rear
part of the switch. The sunroof will open
automatically until you push either the front
or the rear part of the switch again. To
close the sunroof, push the front part of theswitch and hold it until the sunroof is
closed. The sunroof will stop if the switch is
released during operation.
In both the vent and fully open positions,
the air flow can be adjusted for driving
comfort by pushing and holding the switch
until the sunroof moves to the desired posi-
tion.
The sunroof glass panel cannot be opened
or closed if your vehicle has an electrical
failure.
N4U2024A
WARNING
Never allow any part of your body
such as hands or head to stick out
of the sunroof opening while the
vehicle is moving.
Be sure there are no hands or other
obstructions in the path of the sun-
roof when you close the sunroof.
Always remove the ignition key
when leaving the vehicle even if for
a short time. Also do not leave chil-
dren alone in a parked vehicle.
Unattended children could use the
sunroof switches and get trapped
by the sunroof.
Do not put your body weight on the
roof around the sunroof such as by
sitting on it.
When leaving the vehicle unat-
tended, close the sunroof fully.
Sunroof:

3-3INSTRUMENT PANEL
85Z04-03E
Hazard Warning FlashersYour hazard warning flashers let you warn
others. They also let police know you have
a problem. Your front and rear turn signal
lamps will flash on and off.The hazard warning flasher button is
located on the center of the instrument
panel.
Your hazard warning flashers work no mat-
ter what position your key is in, and even if
the key isn’t in.
Press the button to make the front and rear
turn signal lamps flash on and off. Press
the button again to turn the flashers off.
When the hazard warning flashers are on,
your turn signals won’t work. Make sure
the hazard warning flasher button is turned
off all the way for normal turn signal opera-
tion.
Other Warning DevicesIf you carry reflective triangles, you can set
one up at the side of the road about 300
feet (100m) behind your vehicle.HornYou can sound the horn by pressing the
horn symbol on your steering wheel.
N4U3002B
(Sedan) (Wagon)
Instrument Panel Overview:

3-19INSTRUMENT PANEL
85Z04-03E
Trip OdometerThe trip odometer can record the number
of kilometers or miles traveled for up to two
trips.
The trip odometer button is located in the
lower right area of the speedometer.
There are two independent trip odometers,
which measure the distances your vehicle
has traveled since you last reset this func-
tion.
You can switch the trip odometer display
between Trip A and Trip B by pressing the
trip odometer button.
To reset each trip meter to zero, press and
hold the trip odometer button until it resets.
TachometerThe tachometer shows your engine speed
in revolutions per minute (rpm).
Safety Belt Reminder LightWhen the key is turned to ON, a chime will
come on for several seconds to remind
people to fasten their safety belts, unless
the driver’s safety belt is already buckled.
The safety belt light will also come on and
stay on until the driver’s safety belt is buck-
led.
If the driver’s belt is already buckled, nei-
ther the chime nor the light will come on.Safety Belt Reminder ToneIf your vehicle has this feature, a tone
(instead of a chime) will sound for several
seconds when the ignition is ON to remind
people to fasten their safety belts. The tone
will not sound if the driver’s safety belt is
fastened.
CAUTION
Keep track of your odometer reading
and check the maintenance schedule
regularly for required services.
Increased wear or damage to certain
parts can result from failure to per-
form required services at the proper
mileage intervals.
CAUTION
Do not operate the engine with the
tachometer in the red area, or engine
damage may occur. The damage
would not be covered by your war-
ranty.
Warning Lights, Gauges and Indicators:

3-20
INSTRUMENT PANEL
85Z04-03E
Air Bag Readiness LightThere is an air bag readiness light on the
instrument panel. The air bag readiness
system checks the air bag’s electrical sys-
tem for malfunctions. The light tells you if
there is an electrical problem. The system
check includes the air bag sensor, the air
bag modules, the wiring and the crash
sensing and diagnostic module. For more
information on the air bag system, see “Air
Bag Systems” in section 1.
This light will come on when you start your
vehicle, and it will flash for a few seconds.
Then the light should go out. This means
the system is ready.If the air bag readiness light stays on after
you start the vehicle or comes on or
flashes when you are driving, the air bag
system may not work properly. Have your
vehicle serviced right away.
The air bag readiness light should be illu-
minated for a few seconds when you turn
the ignition key to ON. If the light doesn’t
come on then, have it fixed so it will be
ready to warn you if there is a problem.
Charging System LightThe charging system light will come on
when you turn on the ignition, and the
engine is not running, as a check to show
you it is working.
When the engine is running, the light
should go out.
If it stays on, or comes on while you are
driving, you may have a problem with the
electrical charging system. It could indicate
that you have a loose generator drive belt,
or another electrical problem. Have it
checked right away. Driving while this light
is on could drain your battery.
If you must drive a short distance with the
light on, be certain to turn off all your
accessories, such as the radio and air con-
ditioner.
WARNING
It is absolutely essential that the
driver and passengers wear their
safety belts at all times. Persons who
are not wearing safety belts have a
much greater risk of injury if an acci-
dent occurs. Make a regular habit of
buckling your safety belt before put-
ting the key in the ignition.
S4U3042A
WARNING
If the air bag readiness light stays on
after you start your vehicle, it means
the air bag system may not be work-
ing properly. The air bags in your
vehicle may not inflate in a crash, or
they could even inflate without a
crash. To help avoid injury to yourself
or others, have your vehicle serviced
right away if the air bag readiness
light stays on after you start your
vehicle.
Warning Lights, Gauges and Indicators:

3-21INSTRUMENT PANEL
85Z04-03E
Brake System Warning LightYour vehicle’s hydraulic brake system is
divided into two parts. If one part isn’t
working, the other part can still work and
you will be able to stop the vehicle. For
good braking, though, you need both parts
working well.
If the warning light comes on, there is a
brake problem. Have your brake system
inspected right away.
This light should come on briefly when you
turn the ignition key to ON. If it doesn’t
come on then, have it fixed so it will be
ready to warn you if there’s a problem.
When the ignition is on, the brake system
warning light will also come on when you
set your parking brake. The light will stay
on if your parking brake doesn’t release
fully. If the lights stays on after your parking
brake is fully released, it means you have a
brake problem.If the light comes on while you are driving,
pull off the road and stop carefully. You
may notice that the pedal is harder to
push. Or, the pedal may go closer to the
floor. It may take longer to stop. If the light
is still on, have the vehicle towed for ser-
vice. See “Towing Your Vehicle” in section
4.
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning
LightIf your vehicle has an anti-lock brake sys-
tem, the ABS warning light comes on
briefly when you turn the ignition ON. This
indicates that the system is performing a
self-check and the indicator bulb is operat-
ing properly. The light should go out after
several seconds.
Contact your SUZUKI dealer for repairs if
the ABS warning light does any of the fol-
lowing:
Does not come on when the ignition is
turned ON.
Does not go out after several seconds.
Comes on while driving.
If the ABS warning light comes on while
driving, your vehicle may have an ABS
malfunction. Although your vehicle will
operate normally without ABS, have your
SUZUKI dealer check the system and
make any necessary repairs as soon as
possible.
WARNING
If any of the following conditions
occur, you should immediately ask
your SUZUKI dealer to inspect the
brake system.
If the brake system warning light
does not go out after the engine
has been started and the parking
brake has been fully released.
If the brake system warning light
does not come on when the igni-
tion switch is turned to the “ON”
position.
If the brake system warning light
comes on at any time during vehi-
cle operation.
WARNING
If the brake system warning light
comes on, remember that stopping
distance may be longer, you may
have to push harder on the pedal,
and the pedal may go down farther
than normal.
Warning Lights, Gauges and Indicators:

3-23INSTRUMENT PANEL
85Z04-03E
cated by the system before any problem is
apparent. This may prevent more serious
damage to your vehicle. This system is
also designed to assist your service techni-
cian in correctly diagnosing any malfunc-
tion.
When the ignition is on, this light should
come on and should go out after a few sec-
onds as a check to show you it is working.
If the light doesn’t come on, have it
repaired.This light will also come on during a mal-
function in one of two ways:
Light Flashing
A misfire condition has been detected. A
misfire increases vehicle emissions and
may damage the emission control sys-
tem on your vehicle. Diagnosis and ser-
vice may be required.
Light On Steady
An emission control system malfunction
has been detected on your vehicle. Diag-
nosis and service may be required.
If the Light Is Flashing
The following may prevent more serious
damage to your vehicle:
Reducing vehicle speed.
Avoiding hard accelerations.
Avoiding steep uphill grades.
If the light stops flashing and remains on
steady, see “If the Light Is On Steady” fol-
lowing.
If the light continues to flash, when it is
safe to do so, stop the vehicle. Find a safe
place to park your vehicle. Turn the key off,
wait at least 10 seconds and restart the
engine. If the light remains on steady, see
“If the Light Is On Steady” following. If the
light is still flashing, see your SUZUKI
dealer for service as soon as possible. Fol-
low the driving guidelines described above.If the Light Is On Steady
You also may be able to correct the emis-
sion system malfunction by considering the
following:
Did you recently put fuel into your vehicle?
If so, reinstall the fuel cap, making sure to
fully install the cap. See “Filling Your Tank”
in section 5. The diagnostic system can
determine if the fuel cap has been left off
or is improperly installed. A loose or miss-
ing fuel cap will allow fuel to evaporate into
the atmosphere. A few driving trips with the
cap properly installed should turn the light
off.
Did you just drive through a deep puddle of
water?
If so, your electrical system may be wet.
The condition will usually be corrected
when the electrical system dries out. A few
driving trips should turn the light off.
Have you recently changed brands of fuel?
If so, be sure to fuel your vehicle with qual-
ity fuel. See “Gasoline Octane” in section
5. Poor fuel quality will cause your engine
not to run as efficiently as designed. You
may notice stalling after start-up, stalling
when you put the vehicle into gear, misfir-
ing, hesitation on acceleration or stumbling
on acceleration. (These conditions may go
away once the engine is warmed up.) This
will be detected by the system and cause
the light to turn on.
CAUTION
If you keep driving your vehicle with
this light on, your emission controls
may not work as well, your fuel econ-
omy may not be as good, and your
engine may not run as smoothly. This
could lead to costly repairs that may
not be covered by your warranty.
CAUTION
Modifications made to the engine,
transmission, exhaust or intake or
fuel system of your vehicle can affect
your vehicle’s emission controls and
may cause this light to come on.
Modifications to these systems could
lead to costly repairs not covered by
your warranty. This may also result in
a failure to pass a required Emission
Inspection/Maintenance test.
Warning Lights, Gauges and Indicators: