
2-6
FEATURES AND CONTROLS
85Z14-03E
Using the Rear Door Security Lock
To activate the rear door security lock:
1) Move the lock upward to the lock posi-
tion.
2) Close the door.
3) Do the same thing to the other rear
door lock.
The rear doors on your vehicle cannot be
opened from the inside when this feature is
in use.Opening a Rear Door When the Security
Lock is On
1) Unlock the door from the inside.
2) Then open the door from the outside.
If you don’t cancel the security lock feature,
adults or older children who ride in the rear
won’t be able to open the rear door from
the inside. You should let adults and older
children know how to cancel the locks.
Canceling the Rear Door Security Lock
1) Unlock the door from the inside and
open the door from the outside.
2) Move the lock downward to the unlock
position.
3) Do the same for the other rear door.
The rear door lock will now work normally.
Lockout ProtectionIf your vehicle is equipped with remote key-
less entry, you have lockout protection.
This feature stops the driver’s door from
locking when the power door lock switch is
pressed with the driver’s door open.Leaving Your VehicleIf you are leaving the vehicle, take your
keys. All of the doors, except for the
driver’s door, can be locked from the out-
side by pushing the door lock down and
then closing the door. The driver’s door
can be locked from the outside only with
the key or by using the optional keyless
entry transmitter.
Liftgate
CAUTION
Do not pull the inside door handle
when the rear door security locks are
engaged. The inside door handle
could be damaged.
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WARNING
It can be dangerous to drive with the
liftgate open because carbon monox-
ide (CO) gas can come into your vehi-
cle. You can’t see or smell CO. It can
cause unconsciousness and even
death. If you must drive with the lift-
gate open or if electrical wiring or
other cable connections must pass
through the seal between the body
and the liftgate:
 Make sure all other windows are
shut.
 Turn the fan on your heating or
cooling system to its highest speed
and select the control setting that
will force outside air into your vehi-
cle. See “Climate Control System”
in the Index.
 If you have air outlets on or under
the instrument panel, open them all
the way. See “Engine Exhaust” in
the Index.
Doors and Locks:  

2-23FEATURES AND CONTROLS
85Z14-03E
Rear Seat ArmrestYour vehicle’s rear seat armrest may con-
tain two cupholders. To access the cup-
holders, pull the armrest down from the
rear seatback.AntennaThe antenna is located in the windshield
glass. Be sure that the inside surface of the
windshield glass is not scratched and that
the lines on the glass are not damaged. If
the inside surface is damaged, it could
interfere with radio reception.
Because this antenna is built into your
windshield glass, there is a reduced risk of
damage caused by car washes and van-
dals.If you choose to add a cellular telephone to
your vehicle, and the antenna needs to be
attached to the glass, be sure that you do
not damage the grid lines for the antenna.
There is enough space between the lines
to attach a cellular telephone antenna with-
out interfering with radio reception.
Do not apply aftermarket glass tinting to
the back glass. The metallic film in some
tinting materials will interfere with or distort
the incoming radio reception. Care must
be taken when cleaning the rear window or
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 the
WARNING
Using a razor blade or sharp object to
clear the inside rear window or wind-
shield glass may damage the antenna
and/or the rear window defogger.
Repairs would not be covered by
your warranty. Do not clear the inside
of the windshield glass or rear win-
dow with sharp objects.
WARNING
Do not apply aftermarket glass tinting
with metallic film. The metallic film in
some tinting materials will interfere
with or distort the incoming radio
reception. Any damage caused to
your antenna due to metallic tinting
materials will not be covered by your
warranty.
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Storage Areas: 
Sunroof:  

3-11INSTRUMENT PANEL
85Z14-03E
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.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.
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.
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:  

3-14
INSTRUMENT PANEL
85Z14-03E
 (Floor):
This mode directs most of the air to the
floor outlets. Some of the air will also be
directed to the windshield, instrument
panel side outlets, and rear outlets. Be
sure to keep the area under the front seats
clear to allow the flow of air to the rear
compartment.Recirculation
Press this button when driving in dusty
conditions or to avoid traffic or outside
fumes, and when quick cooling or heating
of the passenger area is required. The
indicator light will illuminate and interior air
will be recirculated. 
Pressing the recirculation mode button
again will draw outside air into the passen-
ger compartment. The indicator will go out.
Your windows may fog if you use the recir-
culation mode for extended periods. If this
happens, select the defrost mode.Air Conditioning
If your vehicle has air conditioning, follow
these steps to use the system. Start the
engine and set the fan control knob to the
desired speed. The air conditioning com-
pressor does not operate when the fan
control knob is in the off position. Press the
air conditioning button to turn the air condi-
tioning system on. When this button is
pressed, the indicator light on the button
will come on to let you know the air condi-
tioning is activated.
To turn off the air conditioning, press the
button again. The indicator button will then
turn off to let you know that the air condi-
tioning is deactivated.
On hot days, open the windows to let hot
inside air escape; then close them. This
helps to reduce the time it takes for your
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Climate Controls:  

3-22
INSTRUMENT PANEL
85Z14-03E
Speed Sensitive Power Steering 
(SSPS) Warning LightIf your vehicle has Speed Sensitive Power
Steering (SSPS), this warning light will
come on briefly when you turn the ignition
to ON as a check to show you the bulb is
working.
Then it should go out after a few seconds.
If the warning light does not come on, have
it fixed so it will be able to warn you if there
is a problem.
If the warning light stays on, or comes on
while you are driving, the SSPS system
may not be working. If this happens, see
your SUZUKI dealer for service.
Hold Mode LightIf your vehicle has this feature, this light will
come on when the Hold mode is active. 
If the HOLD mode light flashes, have your
vehicle checked. 
See “Hold Mode” under “Automatic Trans-
mission Operation” in section 2 for addi-
tional information on this feature.
Engine Coolant Temperature GaugeYour vehicle is equipped with an engine
coolant temperature gauge. With the igni-
tion in the ON position, this gauge shows
the engine coolant temperature.
If the gauge pointer moves into the red
area, your engine is too hot! It means that
your engine coolant has overheated.
If you have been operating your vehicle
under normal driving conditions, you
should pull off the road, stop your vehicle
and turn off the engine as soon as possi-
ble.
See “Engine Overheating” in section 5.
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Warning Lights, Gauges and Indicators:  

5-12
SERVICE AND APPEARANCE CARE
85Z14-03E
Hydraulic ClutchThere is one reservoir for both the brake
and the hydraulic clutch fluid. See “Brakes”
in this section for more information.
The hydraulic clutch linkage in your vehicle
is self-adjusting. The master cylinder res-
ervoir is filled with hydraulic fluid.
A fluid loss in this system could indicate a
problem. Have the system inspected and
repaired.
When to Check and What to Use
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to
determine how often you should check the
fluid level and for the proper fluid. See sec-
tion 6.
How to Check and Add Fluid
To check the fluid level, look on the side of
the reservoir. If the fluid level is betweenthe MIN and the MAX marks on the reser-
voir, the fluid level is correct. The reservoir
is located near the back of the engine com-
partment on the driver’s side of the vehicle.
See “Engine Compartment Overview” in
this section for more information on loca-
tion.
Engine CoolantThe following explains your cooling system
and how to add coolant when it is low. If
you have a problem with engine overheat-
ing, see “Engine Overheating” in this sec-
tion.
What to Use
The cooling system in your vehicle is
designed to use either Dex-cool coolant,
which is red in color, or silicate based cool-
ant, which is blue. These two types of cool-
ant are not compatible with each other and
should never be mixed. Therefore, if the
original coolant in your vehicle’s cooling
system was red, then you should use only
Dex-cool coolant for the life of your vehicle.
If the original coolant in your vehicle's cool-
ing system was blue, then you should use
only silicate based coolant for the life of
your vehicle. Even if the cooling system
has been completely drained before a refill,
do not switch types of coolant.Use a 60/40 mixture of clean, drinkable
water and engine coolant which won’t
damage aluminum parts. If another type of
coolant is used, aluminum parts might be
subject to corrosion.
You can also use a recycled coolant with a
complete coolant flush and refill. If you use
this coolant mixture, you don’t need to add
anything else.
A 60/40 mixture of clean, drinkable water
and proper coolant will:
 Give freezing protection down to –33°F
(–36°C).
 Give boiling protection up to 268°F
(131°C).
 Protect against rust and corrosion.
 Help keep the proper engine tempera-
ture.
 Let the warning lights and gauges work
as they should.
For protection in extremely cold weather
conditions, use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and proper coolant.
WARNING
Do not mix Dex-cool and silicate
based coolant in your coolant sys-
tem.
The mixture can damage the cooling
system.
Checking Things Under the Hood:  

5-14
SERVICE AND APPEARANCE CARE
85Z14-03E
When replacing the pressure cap, make
sure it is hand-tight.Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap
Engine OverheatingYou will find a coolant temperature gauge
on your vehicle’s instrument panel. See
“Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge” in
section 3.If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
If No Steam Is Coming From Your
Engine
If you get an engine overheat warning, but
see or hear no steam, the problem may not
be too serious. Sometimes the engine can
get a little too hot when you:
 Climb a long hill on a hot day.
 Stop after high-speed driving.
 Idle for long periods in traffic.
If you get the overheat warning with no
sign of steam, try this for a minute or so:
1) In heavy traffic, let the engine idle in
NEUTRAL while stopped. If it is safe to
do so, pull off the road, shift to PARK
(P) or NEUTRAL and let the engine
idle.
2) Turn on your heater to full hot at the
highest fan speed and open the window
as necessary.
If you no longer have the overheat warn-
ing, you can drive. Just to be safe, drive
slower for about 10 minutes. If the warning
doesn’t come back on, you can drive nor-
mally.
CAUTION
Your coolant surge tank cap is a
pressure-type cap and must be
tightly installed to prevent coolant
loss and possible engine damage
from overheating. See “Capacities
and Specifications” for more informa-
tion.
WARNING
Steam from an overheated engine
can burn you badly, even if you just
open the hood. Stay away from the
engine if you see or hear steam com-
ing from it. Just turn it off and get
everyone away from the vehicle until
it cools down. Wait until there is no
sign of steam or coolant before you
open the hood.
If you keep driving when your engine
is overheated, the liquids in it can
catch fire. You or others could be
badly burned. Stop your engine if it
overheats, and get out of the vehicle
until the engine is cool.
CAUTION
If your engine catches fire because
you keep driving with no coolant,
your vehicle can be badly damaged.
The costly repairs would not be cov-
ered by your warranty.
Checking Things Under the Hood:  

5-15SERVICE AND APPEARANCE CARE
85Z14-03E
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.
Checking Things Under the Hood: