2008 SUZUKI FORENZA stop start

5-9SERVICE AND APPEARANCE CARE
85Z04-03E
If you are in an area of extreme cold,
where the temperature falls below –22°F
(–30°C), it is recommended that you use
either an SAE 5W-30 synthetic oil or an
SAE 0W-30 oil. Both will provide easier
cold starting and better protection for your
engine at extremely low temperatures.
Engine Oil Additives
Don’t add anything to your oil. The recom-
mended oils with the starburst symbol are
all you will need for good performance and
engine protection.
When to Change Engine Oil
If any one of these is true for you, use the
short trip/city maintenance schedule:
 Most trips are less than 5 miles (8 km).
This is particularly important when out-
side temperatures are below freezing.
 Most trips include extensive idling (such
as frequent driving in stop-and-go traf-
fic).
 The vehicle is used for delivery service,
police, taxi or other commercial applica-
tion.Driving under these conditions causes
engine oil to break down sooner. If any one
of these is true for your vehicle, then you
need to change your oil and filter every
3,750 miles (6,000 km) or 3 months –
whichever occurs first.
If none of them is true, use the long trip/
highway maintenance schedule. Change
the oil and filter every 7,500 miles (12,000
km) or 6 months – whichever occurs first.
Driving a vehicle with a fully warmed
engine under highway conditions will
cause engine oil to break down slower.
What to Do with Used Oil
Used engine oil contains certain elements
that may be unhealthy for your skin and
could even cause cancer. Don’t 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 dis-
pose 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 in
the 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 problem
properly disposing of your used oil, askyour SUZUKI dealer, a service station or a
local recycling center for help.
Engine Air Cleaner/FilterThe engine air cleaner/filter is located on
the passenger’s side of the engine com-
partment. See “Engine Compartment
Overview” in this section for more informa-
tion on location.
When to Inspect the Engine Air Cleaner/
Filter
Inspect the air cleaner/filter every 7,500
miles (12,000 km) or 6 months – whichever
occurs first.
Replace every 30,000 miles (48,000 km)
or 24 months – whichever comes first.
If you are driving in dusty/dirty conditions,
inspect the filter every 3,750 miles (6,000
CAUTION
Use only engine oil with the Ameri-
can Petroleum Institute Certified For
Gasoline Engines starburst symbol.
Failure to use the recommended oil
can result in engine damage not cov-
ered by your warranty.
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5-10
SERVICE AND APPEARANCE CARE
85Z04-03E
km) or 3 months. If necessary, clean or
replace it.
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.
To inspect or replace the filter, do the fol-
lowing:
1) Remove the four screws on the cover.
2) Lift off the cover.
3) Check or replace the engine air
cleaner/filter. See “Normal Mainte-
nance Replacement Parts” in this sec-
tion for replacement part numbers.
4) Reinstall the filter, put the cover back on
tightly, and tighten the screws.
Automatic Transmission FluidTo ensure proper functioning, efficiency,
and durability of the automatic transmis-
sion, be sure to keep the transmission fluid
at the proper level. Too much or too little
fluid can cause problems.
The fluid level must be checked with the
engine running and the selector lever in P
(Park). The vehicle must be up to normal
operating temperature and parked on level
ground.
The normal operating temperature for the
fluid will be reached after driving about 10
minutes.
Checking Automatic Transmission Fluid
Level
If the fluid is contaminated or discolored,
change the automatic transmission fluid.
A decrease in the fluid level indicates a
leak in the automatic transmission. If
noted, contact your SUZUKI dealer for
repair as soon as possible.1) Start the engine.
2) Warm up the engine until the tempera-
ture of the automatic transmission fluid
reaches approximately 40°C (104°F).
3) Move the selector lever from “P” to “1”
and return to “P”. Wait for a few sec-
onds at each select position until the
selected gears are fully engaged.
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 flame if the engine backfires. If it
isn’t there and the engine backfires,
you could be burned. Don’t drive with
it off, and be careful working on the
engine with the air cleaner/filter off.
CAUTION
If the air cleaner/filter is off, a backfire
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’re driving.
WARNING
This work requires special skill and
equipment. Before attempting to do
the work, be sure you are fully
acquainted with doing this job.
Have your SUZUKI dealer do this
work if you are not confident you can
complete the task safely.
Otherwise, you could be injured or
could damage the vehicle.
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5-15SERVICE AND APPEARANCE CARE
85Z04-03E
If the warning continues and you have not
stopped, pull over, stop, and park your
vehicle right away.
If there’s still no sign of steam, you can idle
the engine for three minutes while you’re
parked. If you still have the warning, turn
off the engine and get everyone out of the
vehicle until it cools down.
You may decide not to lift the hood, but to
get service help right away.Cooling SystemThe engine coolant surge tank is located in
the rear of the engine compartment on the
driver’s side.If the coolant inside the coolant surge tank
is boiling, don’t do anything else until it
cools down. The vehicle should be parked
on a level surface. Make sure that the air
conditioning is turned off.
The coolant level should be between the
MIN and MAX marks on the coolant surge
tank when the engine is cool. If it isn’t, you
may have a leak at the pressure cap or in
the radiator hoses, heater hoses, radiator,
water pump or somewhere else in the cool-
ing system.If there seems to be no leak, with the
engine on, check to see if the electric
engine cooling fan is running. If the engine
is overheating, the fan should be running.
If it isn’t, your vehicle needs service.
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Surge Tank
If you haven’t found a problem yet, check
to see if coolant is visible in the surge tank.
If coolant is visible but the coolant level
isn’t between the MIN and MAX marks,
add a 60/40 mixture of clean, drinkable
water and proper coolant at the coolant
surge tank, but be sure the cooling system,
including the coolant surge tank pressure
cap, is cool before you do it. See “Engine
Coolant” in this section for more informa-
tion.
If no coolant is visible in the surge tank,
add coolant as follows:
WARNING
An electric engine cooling fan under
the hood can start up even when the
engine is not running and can injure
you. Keep hands, clothing and tools
away from any underhood electric
fan.
WARNING
Heater and radiator hoses, and other
engine parts, can be very hot. Don’t
touch them. If you do, you can be
burned.
Don’t run the engine if there is a leak.
If you run the engine, it could lose all
of the coolant. That could cause an
engine fire, and you could be burned.
Get any leak fixed before you drive
the vehicle.
CAUTION
Engine damage from running your
engine without coolant isn’t covered
by your warranty.
CAUTION
This vehicle has a specific coolant fill
procedure. Failure to follow this pro-
cedure could cause your engine to
overheat and be severely damaged.
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SERVICE AND APPEARANCE CARE
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Brake Pedal Travel
See your SUZUKI dealer if the brake pedal
does not return to normal height, or if there
is a rapid increase in pedal travel. This
could be a sign of brake trouble.
Brake Adjustment
Every time you make a moderate brake
stop, your disc brakes adjust for wear. If
you rarely make a moderate or heavier
stop, then your brakes might not adjust
correctly. If you drive in that way, then –
very carefully – make a few moderate
brake stops about every 1,000 miles
(1,600 km), so your brakes will adjust prop-
erly.
Replacing Brake System Parts
The braking system on a vehicle is com-
plex. Its many parts have to be of top qual-
ity and work well together if the vehicle is
to have really good braking. When you
replace parts of your braking system – for
example, when your brake linings wear
down and you need new ones put in – be
sure you get new approved SUZUKI
replacement parts. If you don’t, your
brakes may no longer work properly. For
example, if someone puts in brake linings
that are wrong for your vehicle, the balance
between your front and rear brakes can
change – for the worse. The braking per-
formance you’ve come to expect can
change in many other ways if someone
puts in the wrong replacement brake parts.
BatteryYour new vehicle comes with a mainte-
nance free battery. When it’s time for a new
battery, get one that has the replacement
number shown on the original battery’s
label. See “Engine Compartment Over-
view” in this section for battery location.
Vehicle Stor ag e
If you’re not going to drive your vehicle for
25 days or more, remove the black, nega-
tive (–) cable from the battery. This will
help keep your battery from running down.
Contact your SUZUKI dealer to learn how
to prepare your vehicle for longer storage
periods.
Jump StartingIf your battery has run down, you may want
to use another vehicle and some jumper
cables to start your vehicle. Be sure to fol-
low the steps below to do it safely.
1) Check the other vehicle. It must have a
12-volt battery with a negative ground
system.
WARNING
Battery posts, terminals and related
accessories contain lead and lead
compounds, chemicals known to the
State of California to cause cancer
and reproductive harm. Wash hands
after handling.
WARNING
Batteries have acid that can burn you
and gas that can explode. You can be
badly hurt if you aren’t careful. See
the next section, “Jump Starting”, for
tips on working around a battery
without getting hurt.
WARNING
Batteries can hurt you. They can be
dangerous because:
 They contain acid that can burn
you.
 They contain gas that can explode
or ignite.
 They contain enough electricity to
burn you.
If you don’t follow these steps
exactly, some or all of these things
can hurt you.
CAUTION
Ignoring the following steps could
result in costly damage to your vehi-
cle that wouldn’t be covered by your
warranty.
Trying to start your vehicle by push-
ing or pulling it won’t work, and it
could damage your vehicle.
Checking Things Under the Hood: