2008 SUZUKI RENO Owners Manual

5-41SERVICE AND APPEARANCE CARE
85Z14-03E
4) Insert the jack handle and the wheel
wrench into the jack.
5) Raise the vehicle by turning the jack
handle clockwise. Raise the vehicle far
enough off the ground so there is
enough room for the compact spare tire
to fit underneath the wheel well.
6) Remove all of the wheel nuts by turning
them counterclockwise.
7) Remove the flat tire.8) Remove any rust or dirt from the wheel
bolts, mounting surfaces and spare
wheel.9) Place the compact spare tire on the
wheel-mounting surface.
10)Reinstall the wheel nuts with the
rounded end of the nuts toward the
wheel. Tighten each wheel nut by turn-
ing it clockwise with your hand until the
wheel is held against the hub.
11)Lower the vehicle by turning the wheel
handle counterclockwise. Lower the
jack completely.
12)Tighten the wheel nuts firmly in a criss-
cross sequence as shown.
WARNING
Raising your vehicle with the jack
improperly positioned can damage
the vehicle and even make the vehi-
cle fall. To help avoid personal injury
and vehicle damage, be sure to fit the
jack lift head into the proper location
before raising the vehicle.
WARNING
Rust or dirt on the wheel, or on the
parts to which it is fastened, can
make the wheel nuts become loose
after a time. The wheel could come
off and cause an accident. When you
change a wheel, remove any rust or
dirt from the places where the wheel
attaches to the vehicle. In an emer-
gency, you can use a cloth or a paper
towel to do this, but be sure to use a
scraper or wire brush later, if you
need to, to get all the rust or dirt off.
WARNING
Never use oil or grease on studs or
nuts. If you do, the nuts might come
loose. Your wheel could fall off, caus-
ing a serious accident.
Tires:

5-42
SERVICE AND APPEARANCE CARE
85Z14-03E
Don’t try to put a wheel cover on your com-
pact spare tire. It won’t fit. Store the wheel
cover in the trunk until you have the flat tire
repaired or replaced.Storing the Flat Tire and Tools
Store the flat tire in the compact spare tire
compartment. Place the tire in the com-
partment, then secure the retainer. Store
the jack in its housing in the cargo area.
Secure the jack by turning the retainer
clockwise. Store the tools securely in the
foam tray and place the tray on top of the
tire. Replace the trim cover.
Storing the Spare Tire and Tools
The compact spare tire is for temporary
use only. Replace the compact spare tire
with a full-size tire as soon as you can. See
“Compact Spare Tire” in this section.
WARNING
Incorrect wheel nuts or improperly
tightened wheel nuts can cause the
wheel to come loose and even come
off. This could lead to an accident. Be
sure to use the correct wheel nuts. If
you have to replace them, be sure to
get new SUZUKI original equipment
wheel nuts. Stop somewhere as soon
as you can and have the nuts tight-
ened with a torque wrench to the
proper torque specification. See
“Capacities and Specifications” in
the Index for the wheel nut torque
specification.
CAUTION
Improperly tightened wheel nuts can
lead to brake pulsation and rotor
damage. To avoid expensive brake
repairs, evenly tighten the wheel nuts
in the proper sequence and to the
proper torque specification. See
“Capacities and Specifications” in
the index for the wheel nut torque
specification.
CAUTION
If you install a full-size tire rather than
your compact spare tire, reinstall the
wheel cover as follows:
1) Put the wheel cover on the full-
size tire.
2) Fasten the 4 plastic caps snugly
by hand.
3) Tighten the caps by turning them
an additional 90° with the wheel
wrench.
– The proper tightening torque is a
maximum of 5.9 lb-ft (8 N·m).
– Tightening to the improper
torque can cause damage to the
plastic caps.
CAUTION
Wheel covers will not fit on your com-
pact spare. If you try to put a wheel
cover on the compact spare, you
could damage the cover or the spare.
WARNING
Improperly storing a jack, a tire, or
other equipment in the passenger
compartment of the vehicle could
cause injury. In a sudden stop or col-
lision, loose equipment could strike
someone. Store all these items in the
proper place.
WARNING
Storing a jack, a tire, or other equip-
ment in the passenger compartment
of the vehicle could cause injury. In a
sudden stop or collision, loose
equipment could strike someone.
Store all these in the proper place.
Appearance Care:

5-43SERVICE AND APPEARANCE CARE
85Z14-03E
Compact Spare TireAlthough the compact spare tire was fully
inflated when your vehicle was new, it can
lose air after a time. Check the inflation
pressure regularly. It should be 60 psi (420
kPa).
After installing the compact spare tire on
your vehicle, you should stop as soon as
possible and make sure your compact
spare tire is correctly inflated. The compact
spare tire is made to perform well at
speeds up to 50 mph (80 km/h), so you
can finish your trip and have your full-size
tire repaired or replaced where you want.
Of course, it’s best to replace your spare
with a full-size tire as soon as you can.
Your spare will last longer and be in good
shape in case you need it again.
Don’t use your compact spare tire on other
vehicles.
And don’t mix your compact spare tire or
wheel with other wheels or tires. They
won’t fit. Keep your compact spare tire and
its wheel together.
CAUTION
When the compact spare tire is
installed, don’t take your vehicle
through an automatic car wash with
guide rails. The compact spare can
get caught on the rails. That can
damage the tire and wheel, and
maybe other parts of your vehicle.
CAUTION
Tire chains won’t fit your compact
spare tire. Using them can damage
your vehicle and can damage the
chains too. Don’t use tire chains on
your compact spare.
WARNING
The compact spare tire and wheel are
intended for temporary emergency
use only. Continuous use of the com-
pact spare tire can result in tire fail-
ure and loss of control. Always
observe these precautions when
using the compact spare tire:
 Your vehicle will handle differently
with this temporary spare.
 Do not exceed 80 km/h (50 mph)
speed.
 Replace the compact spare tire
with a standard tire and wheel as
soon as possible.
 Use of the compact spare tire will
reduce ground clearance.
 Recommended air pressure for the
compact spare tire is 420 kPa (60
psi).
(Continued)
WARNING
(Continued)
 Do not use tire chains on the com-
pact spare tire. If you must use tire
chains, rearrange the wheels so
standard tires and wheels are fitted
to the front axle.
 The compact spare tire has a much
shorter tread life than the conven-
tional tires on your vehicle.
Replace the tire as soon as the
tread wear indicator appears.
 When replacing the compact spare
tire, use a replacement tire with the
exact same size and construction.
Appearance Care:

5-44
SERVICE AND APPEARANCE CARE
85Z14-03E
Appearance CareRemember, cleaning products can be haz-
ardous. Some are toxic. Others can burst
into flames if you strike a match or get
them on a hot part of the vehicle. Some
are dangerous if you breathe their fumes in
a closed space. When you use anything
from a container to clean your vehicle, be
sure to follow the manufacturer’s warnings
and instructions. And always open your
doors or windows when you are cleaning
the inside.
Never use these to clean your vehicle:
 Gasoline
 Benzene
 Naphtha
 Carbon Tetrachloride
 Acetone
 Paint Thinner
 Turpentine
 Lacquer Thinner
 Nail Polish Remover
They can all be hazardous – some more
than others – and they can all damage
your vehicle, too.
Do not use any of these unless this manual
says you can. In many uses, these will
damage your vehicle:
 Alcohol
 Laundry Soap
Bleach
 Reducing Agents
Cleaning the Inside of Your VehicleUse a vacuum cleaner often to get rid of
dust and loose dirt. Wipe vinyl, leather,
plastic and painted surfaces with a clean,
damp cloth.
Cleaning Fabric/Carpet
Your SUZUKI dealer has cleaners for the
cleaning of fabric and carpet. They will
clean normal spots and stains very well.
You can get SUZUKI approved cleaning
products from your SUZUKI dealer. See
“Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials” later
in this section.
Here are some cleaning tips:
 Always read the instructions on the
cleaner label.
 Clean up stains as soon as you can –
before they set.
 Carefully scrape off any excess stain.
 Use a clean cloth or sponge, and change
to a clean area often. A soft brush may
be used if stains are stubborn.
 If a ring forms on fabric after spot clean-
ing, clean the entire area immediately or
it will set.Using Cleaner on Fabric
1) Vacuum and brush the area to remove
any loose dirt.
2) Always clean a whole trim panel or sec-
tion. Mask surrounding trim along stitch
or welt lines.
3) Follow the directions on the container
label.
4) Apply cleaner with a clean sponge.
Don’t saturate the material and don’t
rub it roughly.
5) As soon as you’ve cleaned the section,
use a sponge to remove any excess
cleaner.
6) Wipe cleaned area with a clean, water-
dampened towel or cloth.
7) Wipe with a clean cloth and let dry.
Specific Fabric Cleaning Problems
Stains caused by such things as catsup,
coffee (black), egg, fruit, fruit juice, milk,
soft drinks, vomit, urine and blood can be
removed as follows:
1) Carefully scrape off excess stain, then
sponge the soiled area with cool water.
2) If a stain remains, follow the cleaner
instructions described earlier.
3) If an odor lingers after cleaning vomit or
urine, treat the area with a water/baking
soda solution: 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of bak-
ing soda to 1 cup (250 ml) of lukewarm
water.
4) Let dry.
Appearance Care:

5-45SERVICE AND APPEARANCE CARE
85Z14-03E
Stains caused by candy, ice cream, may-
onnaise, chili sauce and unknown stains
can be removed as follows:
1) Carefully scrape off excess stain.
2) First, clean with cool water and allow to
dry completely.
3) If a stain remains, follow the cleaner
instructions described earlier.
Cleaning Vinyl
Use warm water and a clean cloth.
 Rub with a clean, damp cloth to remove
dirt. You may have to do this more than
once.
 Things like tar, asphalt and shoe polish
will stain if you don’t get them off quickly.
Use a clean cloth and vinyl cleaner. See
your SUZUKI dealer for this product.
Cleaning Leather
Use a soft cloth with lukewarm water and a
mild soap or saddle soap and wipe dry
with a soft cloth. Then, let the leather dry
naturally. Do not use heat to dry.
 For stubborn stains, use a leather
cleaner.
 Never use oils, varnishes, solvent-based
or abrasive cleaners, furniture polish or
shoe polish on leather.
 Soiled or stained leather should be
cleaned immediately. If dirt is allowed to
work into the finish, it can harm the
leather.Cleaning the Top of the Instrument
Panel
Use only mild soap and water to clean the
top surfaces of the instrument panel.
Sprays containing silicones or waxes may
cause annoying reflections in the wind-
shield and even make it difficult to see
through the windshield under certain con-
ditions.
Cleaning Interior Plastic Components
Use only a mild soap and water solution on
a soft cloth or sponge. Commercial clean-
ers may affect the surface finish.
Cleaning Glass Surfaces
Glass should be cleaned often. Glass
Cleaner or a liquid household glass
cleaner will remove normal tobacco smoke
and dust films on interior glass. See “Vehi-
cle Care/Appearance Materials” later in
this section.Care of Safety Belts
Keep belts clean and dry.
WeatherstripsSilicone grease on weatherstrips will make
them last longer, seal better, and not stick
or squeak. Apply silicone grease with a
clean cloth at least every six months. Dur-
ing very cold, damp weather more frequent
application may be required. Cleaning the Outside of Your Vehi-
cleThe paint finish on your vehicle provides
beauty, depth of color, gloss retention and
durability.
Washing Your Vehicle
The best way to preserve your vehicle’s fin-
ish is to keep it clean by washing it often
with lukewarm or cold water.
Don’t wash your vehicle in the direct rays
of the sun. Use a car washing soap. Don’t
use strong soaps or chemical detergents.
Be sure to rinse the vehicle well, removing
all soap residue completely. You can get
approved cleaning products from your
CAUTION
Don’t use abrasive cleaners on glass,
because they may cause scratches.
Avoid placing decals on the inside
rear window, since they may have to
be scraped off later. If abrasive clean-
ers are used on the inside of the rear
window, an electric defogger element
may be damaged. Any temporary
license should not be attached
across the defogger grid.
WARNING
Do not bleach or dye safety belts. If
you do, it may severely weaken them.
In a crash, they might not be able to
provide adequate protection. Clean
safety belts only with mild soap and
lukewarm water.
Appearance Care:

5-46
SERVICE AND APPEARANCE CARE
85Z14-03E
SUZUKI dealer. See “Vehicle Care/
Appearance Materials” later in this section.
Don’t use cleaning agents that are petro-
leum based, or that contain acid or abra-
sives. All cleaning agents should be
flushed promptly and not allowed to dry on
the surface, or they could stain. Dry the fin-
ish with a soft, clean chamois or an all-cot-
ton towel to avoid surface scratches and
water spotting.
High pressure car washes may cause
water to enter your vehicle.
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses
Use only lukewarm or cold water, a soft
cloth and a car washing soap to clean
exterior lamps and lenses. Follow instruc-
tions under Washing Your Vehicle.
Finish Care
Occasional waxing or mild polishing of
your vehicle by hand may be necessary to
remove residue from the paint finish. You
can get SUZUKI-approved cleaning prod-
ucts from your SUZUKI dealer. See “Vehi-
cle Care/Appearance Materials” later in
this section.
Your vehicle has a “basecoat/clearcoat”
paint finish. The clearcoat gives more
depth and gloss to the colored basecoat.
Always use waxes and polishes that are
non-abrasive and made for a basecoat/
clearcoat paint finish.Foreign materials such as calcium chloride
and other salts, ice melting agents, road oil
and tar, tree sap, bird droppings, chemicals
from industrial chimneys, etc., can damage
your vehicle’s finish if they remain on
painted surfaces. Wash the vehicle as
soon as possible. If necessary, use non-
abrasive cleaners that are marked safe for
painted surfaces to remove foreign matter.
Exterior painted surfaces are subject to
aging, weather and chemical fallout that
can take their toll over a period of years.
You can help to keep the paint finish look-
ing new by keeping your vehicle garaged
or covered whenever possible.
Cleaning Windshield and Wiper Blades
If the windshield is not clear after using the
windshield washer, or if the wiper blade
chatters when running, wax, sap or other
material may be on the blade or wind-
shield.
Clean the outside of the windshield with a
full-strength glass cleaning liquid. The
windshield is clean if beads do not form
when you rinse it with water.Grime from the windshield will stick to the
wiper blades and affect their performance.
Clean the blades by wiping vigorously with
a cloth soaked in full-strength windshield
washer solvent. Then rinse the blades with
water.
Check the wiper blades and clean them as
necessary; replace blades that look worn.
Cleaning Aluminum Wheels
Keep your wheels clean using a soft clean
cloth with mild soap and water. Rinse with
clean water. After rinsing thoroughly, dry
with a soft clean towel. A wax may then be
applied.
The surface of these wheels is similar to
the painted surface of your vehicle. Don’t
use strong soaps, chemicals, abrasive pol-
ishes, abrasive cleaners, cleaners with
acid, or abrasive cleaning brushes on them
because you could damage the surface.
Do not use chrome polish on aluminum
wheels.
Don’t take your vehicle through an auto-
matic car wash that has silicone carbide
tire cleaning brushes. These brushes can
also damage the surface of these wheels.
Cleaning Tires
To clean your tires, use a stiff brush with
tire cleaner.
CAUTION
Machine compounding or aggressive
polishing on a basecoat/clearcoat
paint finish may dull the finish or
leave swirl marks.
Appearance Care:
Vehicle Identification:
Electrical System:

5-47SERVICE AND APPEARANCE CARE
85Z14-03E
Sheet Metal DamageIf your vehicle is damaged and requires
sheet metal repair or replacement, make
sure the body repair shop applies anti-cor-
rosion material to parts repaired or
replaced to restore corrosion protection.
Original manufacturer replacement parts
will provide the corrosion protection while
maintaining the warranty.Finish DamageAny stone chips, fractures or deep
scratches in the finish should be repaired
right away. Bare metal will corrode quickly
and may develop into major repair
expense.
Minor chips and scratches can be repaired
with touch-up materials available from your
SUZUKI dealer. Larger areas of finish
damage can be corrected in your SUZUKI
dealer’s body and paint shop.
Underbody MaintenanceChemicals used for ice and snow removal
and dust control can collect on the under-
body. If these are not removed, acceler-
ated corrosion (rust) can occur on the
underbody parts such as fuel lines, frame,
floor pan and exhaust system even though
they have corrosion protection.
At least every spring, flush these materials
from the underbody with plain water. Clean
any areas where mud and debris can col-
lect. Dirt packed in close areas of the
frame should be loosened before being
flushed. Your SUZUKI dealer or an under-
body car washing system can do this for
you.Chemical Paint SpottingSome weather and atmospheric conditions
can create a chemical fallout. Airborne pol-
lutants can fall upon and attack painted
surfaces on your vehicle. This damage can
take two forms: blotchy, ring-shaped discol-
orations, and small, irregular dark spots
etched into the paint surface.Vehicle Care/Appearance MaterialsSee your SUZUKI dealer for more informa-
tion on purchasing the following products.
CAUTION
When applying a tire dressing,
always take care to wipe off any over-
spray or splash from all painted sur-
faces on the body or wheels of the
vehicle. Petroleum-based products
may damage the paint finish and
tires.
Description Usage
Polishing Cloth
Wax-TreatedInterior and exterior
polishing cloth.
Tar and Road
Oil RemoverRemoves tar, road oil
and asphalt.
Chrome
Cleaner and
Po l i s hUse on chrome or
stainless steel.
White Sidewall
Tire CleanerRemoves soil and
black marks from
whitewalls.
Vinyl Cleaner Cleans vinyl tops,
upholstery and con-
ver tible tops.
Glass Cleaner Removes dirt, grime,
smoke and finger-
prints.
Chrome and
Wire Wheel
CleanerRemoves dirt and
grime from chrome
wheels and wire
wheel covers.
Finish
EnhancerRemoves dust, finger-
prints, and surface
contaminants, Spray
on wipe off.
Electrical System:

5-48
SERVICE AND APPEARANCE CARE
85Z14-03E
Vehicle IdentificationVehicle Identification Number (VIN)This is the legal identifier for your vehicle. It
appears on a plate in the front corner of
the instrument panel, on the driver’s side.
You can see it if you look through the wind-
shield from outside your vehicle. The VIN
also appears on the Vehicle Certification
and Service Parts labels and the certifi-
cates of title and registration.
Engine Identification
The 8th character in your VIN is the engine
code. This code will help you identify your
engine, specifications and replacement
parts.
Electrical SystemAdd-On Electrical EquipmentYour vehicle has an air bag system. Before
attempting to add anything electrical to
your vehicle, see “Servicing Your Air Bag-
Equipped Vehicle” in section 1.Headlamp WiringThe headlamp wiring is protected by fuses,
one for each headlamp, in the fuse block.
An electrical overload will cause the lamps
to turn off. If this happens, have your head-
lamp wiring checked right away.Windshield Wiper FusesThe windshield wiper motor is protected by
an internal circuit breaker and a fuse. If the
motor overheats due to heavy snow, etc.,
the wiper will stop until the motor cools. If
the overload is caused by some electrical
problem and not snow, etc., be sure to get
it fixed. Description Usage
Swirl Remover
Po l i s hRemoves swirl marks,
fine scratches and
other light surface
contamination.
Cleaner Wax Removes light
scratches and pro-
tects finish.
Foaming Tire
Shine Low
GlossCleans, shines and
protects in one easy
step, no wiping neces-
sary.
Wash Wax
ConcentrateMedium foaming
shampoo. Cleans and
lightly waxes. Biode-
gradable and phos-
phate free.
Spot Lifter Quickly and easily
removes spots and
stains from carpets,
vinyl and cloth uphol-
stery.
Odor
EliminatorOdorless spray odor
eliminator used on
fabrics, vinyl, leather
and carpet.
See your SUZUKI parts department for
these products.
CAUTION
Don’t add anything electrical to your
vehicle unless you check with your
SUZUKI dealer first. Some electrical
equipment can damage your vehicle
and the damage wouldn’t be covered
by your warranty. Some add-on elec-
trical equipment can keep other com-
ponents from working as they
should.
Electrical System: