2008 SUZUKI SX4 warning

2-24
BEFORE DRIVING
80J21-03E
Lap-Shoulder BeltEmergency Locking Retractor (ELR)
The seat belt has an emergency locking
retractor (ELR), which is designed to lock
the seat belt only during a sudden stop or
impact. It also may lock if you pull the belt
across your body very quickly. If this hap-
pens, let the belt go back to unlock it, then
pull the belt across your body more slowly.
Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR)
The front passenger’s seat belt and the
rear seat belts have emergency locking
retractors (ELRs) that can be temporarily
converted to function as automatic locking
retractors (ALRs). The ALR mode should
be used if you need to secure a child
restraint system in the seat. Refer to the
“Child Restraint Systems” section for
details.Safety reminder
60A038
60A040
To reduce the risk of sliding under the belt
during a collision, position the lap portion
of the belt across your lap as low on your
hips as possible and adjust it to a snug fit
WARNING
(Continued)
 Infants and small children should
never be transported unless they
are properly restrained. Restraint
systems for infants and small chil-
dren can be purchased commer-
cially and should be used. Make
sure that the system you purchase
meets Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards. Read and follow all the
directions provided by the manu-
facturer.
 Avoid contamination of seat belt
webbing by polishes, oils, chemi-
cals and particularly battery acid.
Cleaning may safely be carried out
using mild soap and water.
 For children, if the shoulder belt
irritates the neck or face, move the
child closer to the center of the
vehicle.
 All seatbacks should always be in
an upright position when driving,
or seat belt effectiveness may be
reduced. Seat belts are designed to
offer maximum protection when
seatbacks are in the upright posi-
tion.
Sit up straight and
fully back
Low on hips
Low on hips
Seat Belts and Child Restraint Systems: 3

2-26
BEFORE DRIVING
80J21-03E
60A039
To unfasten the belt, push the red
“PRESS” button on the buckle and allow
the belt to retract.
Seat Belt ReminderDriver’s seat belt reminder light
80J020
Front passenger’s seat belt reminder
light
80J021
When the driver and front passenger don’t
buckle their seat belts, the driver’s seat belt
reminder light in the instrument cluster and
the front passenger’s seat belt reminder
light in the information display will come on
and a buzzer will sound as a reminder to
the driver and front passenger to buckle
their seat belts.
The seat belt reminder functions as shown
in the figure below. There are some differ-
ences between the driver’s seat belt
reminder and the front passenger’s seat
belt reminder. For more details, refer to the
explanation below.
WARNING
It is absolutely essential that the
driver and passengers wear their seat
belts at all times. Persons who are
not wearing seat belts have a much
greater risk of injury if an accident
occurs. Make a regular habit of buck-
ling your seat belt before putting the
key in the ignition.
Seat Belts and Child Restraint Systems: 3

2-28
BEFORE DRIVING
80J21-03E
Front passenger’s seat belt reminder
The front passenger’s seat belt reminder
will activate only when there is a passen-
ger sitting in the front seat. In some situa-
tions, however, such as when you place
heavy objects in the front seat, the seat
belt reminder can be activated as if there
were a passenger present. The front pas-
senger’s seat belt reminder works in the
same manner as the driver’s seat belt
reminder, except that it is not activated
until 10 seconds after the ignition switch is
turned to the “ON” position.
Shoulder Anchor Height Adjuster
64J198
Adjust the shoulder anchor height so that
the shoulder belt rides on the center of the
outside shoulder. To adjust the shoulder
anchor height, slide the anchor up or down
while pulling the lock knob out. After
adjustment, make sure that the anchor is
securely locked.
Seat Belt Hanger (if equipped)SX4
79J035
WARNING
Be sure that the shoulder belt is posi-
tioned on the center of the outside
shoulder. The belt should be away
from your face and neck, but not fall-
ing off your shoulder. Misadjustment
of the belt could reduce the effective-
ness of the safety belt in a crash.
EXAMPLE
CAUTION
When you move a seatback, make
sure the belt webbing is hooked in
the seat belt hangers so the seat
belts are not caught by the seatback,
seat hinge, or seat latch. This helps
prevent damage to the belt system.EXAMPLE
Seat Belts and Child Restraint Systems: 3

2-29BEFORE DRIVING
80J21-03E
Seat Belt Inspection
65D209S
Periodically inspect the seat belts to make
sure they work properly and are not dam-
aged. Check the webbing, buckles, latch
plates, retractors, anchorages and guide
loops. Replace any seat belts which do not
work properly or are damaged.
Child Restraint Systems
60G332
Infant restraint - rear seat only
65D202
EXAMPLE
WARNING
Be sure to inspect all seat belt
assemblies after any collision. Any
seat belt assembly which was in use
during a collision (other than a very
minor one) should be replaced, even
if damage to the assembly is not
obvious. Any seat belt assembly
which was not in use during a colli-
sion should be replaced if it does not
function properly, it is damaged in
any way or the seat belt pretension-
ers were activated.
EXAMPLE
Seat Belts and Child Restraint Systems: 3

2-30
BEFORE DRIVING
80J21-03E
Infant restraint - rear seat only
80JC007
Booster seat
80JC008
SUZUKI highly recommends that you use
a child restraint system to restrain infants
and small children. Many different types of
child restraint systems are available; make
sure that the restraint system you select
meets Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Stan-
dards.
All child restraint systems are designed to
be secured in vehicle seats by either seat
belts (lap belts or the lap portion of lap-
shoulder belts) or by special rigid lower
anchor bars built into the seats. Whenever
possible, SUZUKI recommends that child
restraint systems be installed on the rear
seat. According to accident statistics, chil-
dren are safer when properly restrained in
rear seating positions than in front seating
positions.
If you must use a front-facing child restraint
in the front passenger’s seat, be sure to
move the front passenger’s seat as far
back as possible.
65D607
EXAMPLEEXAMPLE
WARNING
Do not install a rear-facing child
restraint in the front passenger’s
seat. If the passenger’s air bag
inflates, a child in a rear-facing child
restraint could be killed or seriously
injured. The back of a rear-facing
child restraint would be too close to
the inflating air bag.
Seat Belts and Child Restraint Systems: 3

2-31BEFORE DRIVING
80J21-03E
65D608
65D609
Installation with Lap-Shoulder Seat
Belts (child restraint with no top
strap)
83E031
Install your child restraint system accord-
ing to the instructions provided by the child
restraint system manufacturer. If you install
the child restraint system in the front seat,
be sure to slide the seat to the rearmost
position. After making sure that the seat
belt is securely latched:
WARNING
Children could be endangered in a
crash if their child restraints are not
properly secured in the vehicle.
When installing a child restraint sys-
tem, be sure to follow the instruc-
tions below. Be sure to secure the
child in the restraint system accord-
ing to the manufacturer’s instruc-
tions.
EXAMPLE
Seat Belts and Child Restraint Systems: 3

2-32
BEFORE DRIVING
80J21-03E
83E035
1) Pull all of the remaining webbing out of
the retractor. You will hear a click, which
means that the emergency locking
retractor (ELR) has converted to func-
tion as an automatic locking retractor
(ALR).
83E032
2) Allow the extra webbing to retract, and
pull the webbing toward the retractor to
take up any slack. Make sure that the
lap portion of the belt is tight around the
child restraint system and the shoulder
portion of the belt is positioned so that it
can not interfere with the child’s head or
neck.
83E036
3) Make sure that the retractor has con-
ver ted to the ALR mode by trying to pull
webbing out of the retractor. If the
retractor is in the ALR mode, the belt
will be locked.
EXAMPLE
EXAMPLE
WARNING
If the retractor is not in the ALR
mode, the child restraint system can
move or tip over when your vehicle
turns or stops abruptly.EXAMPLE
Seat Belts and Child Restraint Systems: 3

2-33BEFORE DRIVING
80J21-03E
65D234
65D235
4) Try moving the child restraint system in
all directions, to make sure it is securely
installed. If you need to tighten the belt,
pull more webbing toward the retractor.To revert from ALR to ELR
65D267
When you unbuckle the seat belt and allow
it to retract to a certain length, the retractor
will automatically revert back to the normal
ELR mode.
WARNING
Before installing a child restraint in
the rear center seat, follow these
steps for secure installation:
 Make sure the detachable connec-
tor is securely latched and the web-
bing is not twisted.
 Make sure the seat belt is passed
through the seat belt guide.
EXAMPLE
Move to check
EXAMPLE
Pull to tighten
EXAMPLE
Seat Belts and Child Restraint Systems: 3