2008 SUZUKI SX4 brakes

7-3DRIVING TIPS
80J21-03E
Tire ChainsTire chains should only be used if they are
needed to increase traction or are required
by law. Make sure that the chains you use
are small-link chains or cable-type chains
and are the correct size for your vehicle’s
tires. Also make sure that there is enough
clearance between the fenders and the
chains as installed on the tires.
Install the chains on the front tires tightly,
according to the chain manufacturer’s
instructions. Retighten the chains after
driving about 1.0 km (1/2 mile) if neces-
sary. With the chains installed, drive slowly.Do not drive through deep or rushing
water
Driving in deep or rushing water can be
hazardous. You could lose control of the
vehicle and the occupants could drown.
Also, your vehicle could be seriously dam-
aged. To avoid these risks, observe the fol-
lowing instructions and precautions.
 Do not drive through deep or rushing
water. Deep or rushing water, such as
fast-moving streams or floodwaters,
could carry your vehicle away from your
intended path. The water is too deep if it
covers your wheel hubs, axles or
exhaust tailpipe. Know the depth of the
water before you attempt to drive
through it.
 If water blocks the tailpipe, the engine
may not start or run. If the water is deep
enough to get drawn into the engine
intake system, the engine will be badly
damaged.
 Submerged brakes will have poor brak-
ing performance. Drive slowly and care-
fully. Driving slowly will also help avoid
water splashing onto the ignition system,
which could cause the engine to stall.
 Even when driving through shallow or
still waters, drive carefully since the
water may be hiding ground hazards
such as holes, ditches or bumps.
54G638S
CAUTION
Do not continue rocking the vehicle
for more than a few minutes. Pro-
longed rocking can cause engine
overheating, transaxle or transfer
case damage or tire damage.
CAUTION
If you hear the chains hitting against
the vehicle body while driving, stop
and tighten them.
If your vehicle is equipped with full
wheel caps, remove the wheel caps
before installing the chains or the
wheel caps can be damaged by the
chain bands.
WARNING
In addition to following the driving
tips in this section, it is important to
observe the following precautions.
 Make sure your tires are in good
condition and always maintain the
specified tire pressure. Refer to
“Tires” in the “INSPECTION AND
MAINTENANCE” section for
details.
 Do not use tires other than those
specified by SUZUKI. Never use dif-
ferent sizes or types of tires on the
front and rear wheels. For informa-
tion regarding the specified tires,
refer to the Tire Information Label
located on the driver’s side door
pillar.
(Continued)
Driving on Slippery Roads: NO

7-4
DRIVING TIPS
80J21-03E
WARNING
(Continued)
 Never use oversized tires or special
shocks and springs to raise (jack
up) your vehicle. This will change
its handling characteristics. Over-
sized tires may also rub against the
fender over bumps, causing vehicle
damage or tire failure.
 After driving through water, test the
brakes while driving at a slow
speed to see if they have main-
tained their normal effectiveness. If
the brakes are less effective than
normal, dry them by repeatedly
applying the brakes while driving
slowly until the brakes have
regained their normal effective-
ness.
Driving on Slippery Roads: NO

INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
9
80J21-03E
60G410
INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCEMaintenance Schedule ....................................................... 9-2
Periodic Maintenance Schedule ........................................ 9-3
Maintenance Recommended under Severe Driving
Conditions ........................................................................... 9-7
Engine Oil and Filter ........................................................... 9-11
Gear Oil ................................................................................ 9-14
Automatic Transaxle Fluid ................................................. 9-16
Engine Coolant .................................................................... 9-17
Windshield Washer Fluid ................................................... 9-19
Air Cleaner ........................................................................... 9-19
Spark Plugs ......................................................................... 9-20
Brakes .................................................................................. 9-21
Steering Wheel .................................................................... 9-23
Clutch Pedal ........................................................................ 9-24
Tires ...................................................................................... 9-24
Battery .................................................................................. 9-35
Fuses .................................................................................... 9-35
Headlight Aiming ................................................................. 9-39
Bulb Replacement ............................................................... 9-39
Wiper Blades ....................................................................... 9-44
Air Conditioning System .................................................... 9-48

9-18
INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
80J21-03E
Coolant Level CheckCheck the engine coolant level at the
reserve tank, not at the radiator. With the
engine cool, the engine coolant level
should be between the “FULL” and “LOW”
marks.Adding CoolantIf the engine coolant level is below the
“LOW” mark, more engine coolant should
be added. Remove the reserve tank cap
and add engine coolant until the reserve
tank level reaches the “FULL” mark. Never
fill the reserve tank above the “FULL” mark.
Coolant ReplacementSince special procedures are required, we
recommend you take your vehicle to your
SUZUKI dealer for coolant replacement.
CAUTION
(Continued)
 Do not add extra inhibitors or addi-
tives. They may not be compatible
with your cooling system.
 Do not mix different types of base
coolants. Doing so may result in
accelerated seal wear and/or the
possibility of severe overheating
and extensive engine/automatic
transaxle damage.
CAUTION
 The mixture you use should con-
tain 50% concentration of anti-
freeze.
 If the lowest ambient temperature
in your area is expected to be –
35°C (–31°F) or below, use higher
concentrations up to 60% following
the instructions on the antifreeze
container.
 When putting the cap on the reser-
voir tank, line up the arrow on the
cap and the arrow on the tank. Fail-
ure to follow this can result in cool-
ant leakage.
WARNING
Engine coolant is harmful or fatal if
swallowed or inhaled. Do not drink
antifreeze or coolant solution. If swal-
lowed, do not induce vomiting. Imme-
diately contact a poison control
center or a physician. Avoid inhaling
mist or hot vapors; if inhaled, remove
to fresh air. If coolant gets in eyes,
flush eyes with water and seek medi-
cal attention. Wash thoroughly after
handling. Solution can be poisonous
to animals. Keep out of the reach of
children and animals.
Brakes: 6

9-19INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
80J21-03E
Windshield Washer Fluid
65D108
80J008
Check that there is washer fluid in the tank
by looking at the washer fluid level gauge
which is attached to the cap of the washer
fluid tank. If the fluid level is near “E” mark,
refill it.
Use a good quality windshield washer
fluid, diluted with water as necessary.
Air Cleaner
80J003
If the air cleaner is clogged with dust, there
will be greater intake resistance, resulting
in decreased power output and increased
fuel consumption.
Unclamp the side clamps, and remove the
element from the air cleaner case. If it
appears to be dirty, replace it with a new
one.
(or opposite side)
WARNING
Do not use “anti-freeze” solution in
the windshield washer reservoir. This
can severely impair visibility when
sprayed on the windshield, and also
damage your vehicle’s paint.
CAUTION
Damage may result if the washer
motor is operated with no fluid in the
washer tank.
CAUTION
The air cleaner element should be
replaced every 50000 km (30000
miles). More frequent replacement is
necessary when you drive under
dusty conditions.
Brakes: 6

9-20
INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
80J21-03E
Spark Plugs
65D180
You should inspect spark plugs periodically
for carbon deposits. When carbon accu-
mulates on a spark plug, a strong spark
may not be produced. Remove carbon
deposits with a wire or pin and adjust the
spark plug gap.
To access the spark plugs,
1) disconnect the coupler while pushing
the release lever,
2) remove the bolt, and
3) pull the ignition coil out.
80G093
EXAMPLE
CAUTION
 When servicing the iridium/plati-
num spark plugs (slender center
electrode type plugs), do not touch
the center electrode, as it is easy to
damage.
 When installing the spark plugs,
screw them in with your fingers to
avoid stripping the threads. Tighten
with a torque wrench to 25 Nm (2.5
kg-m, 18.0 lb-ft). Do not allow con-
taminants to enter the engine
through the spark plug holes when
the plugs are removed.
 Never use spark plugs with the
wrong thread size.
CAUTION
When replacing spark plugs, you
should use the brand and type speci-
fied for your vehicle. For the speci-
fied plugs, refer to the
“SPECIFICATIONS” section at the
end of this book. If you wish to use a
brand of spark plug other than the
specified plugs, consult your SUZUKI
dealer.
1.0 – 1.1 mm
(0.039 – 0.043 in.)
Brakes: 6
Steering Wheel: 6

9-21INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
80J21-03E
BrakesBrake Fluid
80J004
Check the brake fluid level by looking at
the reservoir in the engine compartment.
Check that the fluid level is between the
“MAX” and “MIN” lines. If the brake fluid
level is near the “MIN” line, fill it up to the
“MAX” line with DOT3 brake fluid.
80J104
EXAMPLE
WARNING
Failure to follow the guidelines below
can result in personal injury or seri-
ous damage to the brake system.
 If the brake fluid in the reservoir
drops below a certain level, the
brake warning light on the instru-
ment panel will come on (the
engine must be running with the
parking brake fully disengaged.)
Should the light come on, immedi-
ately ask your SUZUKI dealer to
inspect the brake system.
 A rapid fluid loss indicates a leak in
the brake system which should be
inspected by your SUZUKI dealer
immediately.
 Brake fluid can harm your eyes and
damage painted surfaces. Use cau-
tion when refilling the reservoir.
(Continued)
or
WARNING
(Continued)
 Do not use any fluid other than
DOT3 brake fluid. Do not use
reclaimed fluid or fluid that has
been stored in old or open contain-
ers. It is essential that foreign parti-
cles and other liquids are kept out
of the brake fluid reservoir.
WARNING
Brake fluid is harmful or fatal if swal-
lowed, and harmful if it comes in con-
tact with skin or eyes. If swallowed,
do not induce vomiting. Immediately
contact a poison control center or a
physician. If brake fluid gets in eyes,
flush eyes with water and seek medi-
cal attention. Wash thoroughly after
handling. Solution can be poisonous
to animals. Keep out of the reach of
children and animals.
CAUTION
The brake fluid should be replaced
according to the maintenance sched-
ule. Have the brake fluid replaced by
your SUZUKI dealer.
Clutch Pedal: 6
Tires: 6

9-22
INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
80J21-03E
NOTE:
With disc brakes, the fluid level can be
expected to gradually fall as the brake
pads wear.Brake Pedal
65D345
With the engine running and the parking
brake set, measure the distance between
the brake pedal and floor carpet when the
pedal is depressed with approximately 300
N (66 lbs, 30 kg) of force. The minimum
distance required is as specified. Since
your vehicle’s brake system is self-adjust-
ing, there is no need for pedal adjustment.
If the pedal to floor carpet distance asmeasured above is less than the minimum
distance required, have your vehicle
inspected by your SUZUKI dealer.
60G104
NOTE:
When measuring the distance between the
brake pedal and floor wall, be sure not to
include the floor mat or rubber on the floor
wall in your measurement.
Pedal to floor carpet minimum distance
“a”
40 mm (1.6 in.)
“a”
Floor carpet
WARNING
If you experience any of the following
problems with your vehicle’s brake
system, have the vehicle inspected
immediately by your SUZUKI dealer.
 Poor braking performance
 Uneven braking (Brakes not work-
ing uniformly on all wheels.)
 Excessive pedal travel
 Brake dragging
 Excessive noise
 (Except ABS equipped vehicle)
Pedal pulsation (Pedal pulsates
when pressed for braking.)
Tires: 6