2-58
BEFORE DRIVING
57L20-03E
Frontal collision range
60G032
Front air bags are designed to inflate only
in severe frontal collisions.Front air bags will not inflate
65D236
Front air bags will probably not inflate
65D237
Front air bags are not designed to inflate in
rear impacts, side impacts, rollovers or
minor frontal collisions, since they would
offer no protection in those types of acci-
dents. Remember, since air bags deploy
only one time during an accident, seat
belts are needed to restrain occupants
from further movements during the acci-
dent.
Therefore, an air bag is NOT a substitute
for seat belts. To maximize your protection,
ALWAYS WEAR YOUR SEAT BELTS. Be
aware that no system can prevent all pos-
sible injuries that may occur in an accident.
Your vehicle has “dual stage” front air
bags, which adjust the air bag inflation
force according to crash severity. Also,
your vehicle has a front passenger sensing
system, which turns off the front passen-
ger’s front air bag and seat belt preten-
sioner under certain conditions.
WARNING
An air bag supplements, or adds to,
the crash protection offered by seat
belts. The driver and all passengers
must be properly restrained by wear-
ing seat belts at all times, whether or
not air bags are mounted at their
seating position, to minimize the risk
of severe injury or death in the event
of a crash.
2-61BEFORE DRIVING
57L20-03E
Front side air bags, rear side air bags
and side curtain air bags will probably
not inflate
57L21126
Front side air bags, rear side air bags and
side curtain air bags are not designed to
inflate in frontal or rear collisions, rollovers
or minor side collisions, since they would
offer no protection in those types of acci-
dents. Only the front side air bag, rear side
air bag and side curtain air bag on the side
of the vehicle that is struck will inflate.
However, in a frontal angle collision, the
right and left front side air bags, rear side
air bags and side curtain airbags may
inflate. Remember, since an air bag
deploys only one time during an accident,
seat belts are needed to restrain occu-
pants from further movements during the
accident.
Therefore, an air bag is NOT a substitute
for seat belts. To maximize your protection,ALWAYS WEAR YOUR SEAT BELTS. Be
aware that no system can prevent all pos-
sible injuries that may occur in an accident.
Front Passenger’s Seat Belt Buckle
SensorThe front passenger’s seat belt buckle is
equipped with a sensor to monitor whether
or not the front passenger’s seat belt is fas-
tened.
WARNING
An air bag supplements, or adds to,
the crash protection offered by seat
belts. The driver and all passengers
must be properly restrained by wear-
ing seat belts at all times, whether or
not air bags are mounted at their
seating position, to minimize the risk
of severe injury or death in the event
of a crash.
WARNING
If the AIR BAG light in the instrument
cluster ever comes on and stays on,
it means that something may be
wrong with the air bag system. If this
ever happens, have the vehicle ser-
viced immediately, because the air
bags may not offer the protection for
which they were designed.
WARNING
When the buckle sensor has a prob-
lem, the AIR BAG light on the instru-
ment cluster will turn on. If this
happens, deployment of the front
passenger’s air bag will not include
consideration of whether the front
passenger’s seat belt is fastened or
not. Have the air bag system
inspected by an authorized SUZUKI
dealer as soon as possible.
2-65BEFORE DRIVING
57L20-03E
Air bags must inflate quickly and forcefully
in order to reduce the chance of serious or
fatal injuries. However, an unavoidable
consequence of the quick inflation is that
the air bag may irritate bare skin, such as
the facial area against a front air bag. Also,
upon inflation, a loud noise will occur and
some powder and smoke will be released.
These conditions are not harmful and do
not indicate a fire in the car. Be aware,
however, that some air bag components
may be hot for a while after inflation.
A seat belt helps keep you in the proper
position for maximum protection when an
air bag inflates. Adjust your seat as far
back as possible while still maintaining
control of the vehicle. Sit fully back in your
seat; sit up straight; do not lean over the
steering wheel or dashboard. Front occu-
pants should not lean on or sleep against
the door. Please refer to the “Seat Adjust-
ment” section and the “Seat Belts and
Child Restraint Systems” section in the
“BEFORE DRIVING” section for details on
proper seat and seat belt adjustments.
65D610
54G582
WARNING
The driver should not lean over the
steering wheel. The front passen-
ger should not rest his or her body
against the dashboard, or other-
wise get too close to the dash-
board. For vehicles with side air
bags, rear side air bags and side
curtain air bags, occupants should
not lean on or sleep against the
door. In these situations, the out-of-
position occupant would be too
close to an inflating air bag, and
may suffer severe injury.
Do not attach any objects to, or
place any objects over, the steering
wheel or dashboard. Do not place
any objects between the air bag
and the driver or front passenger.
These objects may interfere with air
bag operation or may be propelled
by the air bag in the event of a
crash. Either of these conditions
may cause severe injury.
For vehicles with front side air
bags, do not place seat covers on
the front seats, because seat cov-
ers could restrict the air bag’s infla-
tion. Also, do not place any cup
holders or other objects on the
door, as these objects could be
propelled by the air bag in the event
of a crash. Either of these condi-
tions may cause severe injury.
2-66
BEFORE DRIVING
57L20-03E
Note that even though your vehicle may be
moderately damaged in a collision, the col-
lision may not have been severe enough to
trigger the front, side, rear side, or side
curtain air bags to inflate. If your car sus-
tains ANY front-end or side damage, have
the air bag system inspected by an autho-
rized SUZUKI dealer to ensure it is in
proper working order.
Your vehicle is equipped with a diagnostic
module which records information about
the air bag system if the air bags deploy in
a crash. The module records information
about overall system status, which sensors
activated the deployment, and whether the
front seat belts were in use.
Servicing the Air Bag SystemIf the air bags inflate, have the air bags and
related components replaced by an autho-
rized SUZUKI dealer as soon as possible.
If your vehicle ever gets in deep water and
the driver’s floor is submerged, the air bag
controller could be damaged. If this hap-
pens, have the air bag system inspected
by the SUZUKI dealer as soon as possible.
Special procedures are required for servic-
ing or replacing an air bag. For that reason,
only an authorized SUZUKI dealer should
be allowed to service or replace your air
bags. Please remind anyone who services
your SUZUKI that it has air bags.
Service on or around air bag components
or wiring must be performed only by an
authorized SUZUKI dealer. Improper ser-
vice could result in unintended air bag
deployment or could render the air bags
inoperative. Either of these two conditions
may result in severe injury.To prevent damage or unintended inflation
of the air bag system, be sure the battery
is disconnected and the engine switch has
been in the “LOCK” (OFF) mode for at
least 90 seconds before performing any
electrical service work on your SUZUKI.
Do not touch air bag system components
or wires. The wires are wrapped with yel-
low tape or yellow tubing, and the couplers
are yellow for easy identification.
Scrapping a car that has an undeployed air
bag can be hazardous. Ask your dealer,
body repair shop or scrap yard for help
with disposal.
2-73BEFORE DRIVING
57L20-03E
Charging Light
50G052
This light comes on when you press the
engine switch to change the ignition mode
to “ON”, and goes out when the engine is
started. The light will come on and remain
on if there is something wrong with the bat-
tery charging system. If the light comes on
when the engine is running, the charging
system should be inspected immediately
by an authorized SUZUKI dealer.
Driver’s Seat Belt Reminder Light
60G049
If the driver’s seat belt is unbuckled when
you press the engine switch to change the
ignition mode to “ON”, this light will come
on and then blink. When the light comes
on, a buzzer will also sound intermittently
for about 6 seconds. The reminder will
repeat several times under certain condi-
tions until the driver’s seat belt is buckled.
After repeating several times, the reminder
will be canceled even if the driver’s seat
belt remains unbuckled.
For details about the seat belt reminder,
refer to “Seat Belts and Child Restraint
Systems” in this section.
AIR BAG Light
63J030
This light monitors inflators, crash sensors,
seat belt pretensioners, the front passen-
ger sensing system, and corresponding
electrical circuits.
This light blinks or comes on for several
seconds when you press the engine switch
to change the ignition mode to “ON”, so
you can check if the light is working. The
light will come on and stay on if there is a
problem in the air bag system or the seat
belt pretensioner system.
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 starting the
engine.
WARNING
If the AIR BAG light does not blink or
come on when you press the engine
switch to change the ignition mode to
“ON”, or stays on or comes on when
driving, the air bag system or the seat
belt pretensioner system may not
work properly. Have both systems
inspected by an authorized SUZUKI
dealer.
3-13OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
57L20-03E
3) Close the engine hood securely before
starting the engine.
Using the TransaxleManual Transaxle
80J2081
Starting off
To start off, depress the clutch pedal all the
way to the floor and shift into 1st gear.
After releasing the parking brake, gradually
release the clutch. When you hear a
change in the engine’s sound, slowly press
the accelerator while continuing to gradu-
ally release the clutch.
Shifting
All forward gears are synchronized, which
provides for quiet, and easy shifting.
Always depress the clutch pedal all the
way to the floor before shifting gears. Keep
the engine speed does not rise into the red
zone of the tachometer.
80J2082
Reverse gear: with lifting up ring, shift the
gearshift lever to the right, engage gear.
CAUTION
Secure the block heater cord back to
its original position or to the routed
position. A loose cord could get
caught in the engine accessory drive
belt(s) or other moving parts.
EXAMPLE
4-1DRIVING TIPS
57L20-03E
52D078S
Break-In Catalytic Converter
68KM085
The purpose of the catalytic converter is to
minimize the amount of harmful pollutants
in your vehicle’s exhaust. Use of leaded
fuel in vehicles equipped with catalytic
converters is prohibited by federal law,
because lead deactivates the pollutant-
reducing components of the catalyst sys-
tem.
The converter is designed to last the life of
the vehicle under normal usage and when
unleaded fuel is used. No special mainte-
nance is required on the converter. How-
ever, it is very important to keep the engine
properly tuned. Engine misfiring, which
can result from an improperly tuned
engine, may cause overheating of the cat-
alyst. This may result in permanent heat
damage to the catalyst and other vehicle
components.
WARNING
Wear Your Seat Belts at All Times.
Even though air bags are equipped
at the front seating positions, the
driver and all passengers should
be properly restrained at all times,
using the seat belts provided. Refer
to the “Seat Belts and Child
Restraint Systems” section for
instructions on proper use of the
seat belts.
Never drive while under the influ-
ence of alcohol or other drugs.
Alcohol and drugs can seriously
impair your ability to drive safely,
greatly increasing the risk of injury
to yourself and others. You should
also avoid driving when you are
tired, sick, irritated or under stress.
CAUTION
The future performance and reliabil-
ity of the engine depends on the care
and restraint exercised during its
early life. It is especially important to
observe the following precautions
during the initial 960 km (600 miles)
of vehicle operation.
After starting, do not race the
engine. Warm it up gradually.
Avoid prolonged vehicle operation
at a constant speed. Moving parts
will break in better if you vary your
speed.
Start off from a stop slowly. Avoid
full throttle starts.
Avoid hard stopping, especially
during the first 320 km (200 miles)
of driving.
Do not drive slowly with the tran-
saxle in a high gear.
Drive the vehicle at moderate
engine speeds.
Instrument Panel: 3, 8
INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
7
57L20-03E
60G410
INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCEMaintenance Schedule ....................................................... 7-2
Periodic Maintenance Schedule except CANADA ........... 7-3
Maintenance Recommended under Severe Driving
Conditions except CANADA .............................................. 7-7
Periodic Maintenance Schedule for CANADA .................. 7-11
Drive Belt ............................................................................. 7-15
Engine Oil and Filter ........................................................... 7-15
Engine Coolant .................................................................... 7-18
Air Cleaner ........................................................................... 7-20
Spark Plugs ......................................................................... 7-20
Gear Oil ................................................................................ 7-22
Clutch Pedal ........................................................................ 7-23
Continuously Variable Transaxle (CVT) Fluid .................. 7-24
Brakes .................................................................................. 7-25
Steering Wheel .................................................................... 7-27
Tires ...................................................................................... 7-28
Battery .................................................................................. 7-39
Fuses .................................................................................... 7-40
Headlight Aiming ................................................................. 7-44
Bulb Replacement ............................................................... 7-45
Wiper Blades ....................................................................... 7-54
Windshield Washer Fluid ................................................... 7-56
Air Conditioning System .................................................... 7-57