2010 SUZUKI SX4 Owners Manual

8-8
EMERGENCY SERVICE
80J23-03E
65D614
WARNING
 It is hazardous to remove the radia-
tor cap when the water temperature
is high, because scalding fluid and
steam may be blown out under
pressure. The cap should only be
taken off when the coolant temper-
ature has lowered.
 To prevent personal injury, keep
hands, tools and clothing away
from the engine cooling fan and air-
conditioner fan (if equipped). These
electric fans can automatically turn
on without warning.

8-9EMERGENCY SERVICE
80J23-03E
MEMO

APPEARANCE CARE
9
80J23-03E
60G412
APPEARANCE CARECorrosion Prevention ......................................................... 9-1
Vehicle Cleaning ................................................................. 9-3

9-1APPEARANCE CARE
80J23-03E
Corrosion PreventionIt is important to take good care of your
vehicle to protect it from corrosion.
Listed below are instructions for how to
maintain your vehicle to prevent corrosion.
Please read and follow these instructions
carefully.Important Information About
CorrosionCommon causes of corrosion
1) Accumulation of road salt, dirt, moisture
or chemicals in hard-to-reach areas of
the vehicle underbody or frame.
2) Chipping, scratches and any damage to
treated or painted metal surfaces
resulting from minor accidents or
impact from stones and gravel.
Environmental conditions which accel-
erate corrosion
1) Road salt, dust control chemicals, sea
air or industrial pollution will all acceler-
ate the corrosion of metal.
2) High humidity will increase the rate of
corrosion particularly when the temper-
ature range is just above the freezing
point.
3) Moisture in certain areas of a vehicle
for an extended period of time may pro-
mote corrosion even though other body
sections may be completely dry.
4) High temperatures will cause an accel-
erated rate of corrosion to parts of thevehicle which are not well ventilated to
permit quick drying.
52D151
This information illustrates the necessity of
keeping your vehicle (particularly the
underbody) as clean and dry as possible. It
is equally important to repair any damage
to the paint or protective coatings as soon
as possible.How to Help Prevent CorrosionWash your vehicle frequently
The best way to preserve the finish on your
vehicle and to help avoid corrosion is to
keep it clean with frequent washing.
Wash your vehicle at least once during the
winter and once immediately after the win-
ter. Keep your vehicle, particularly the
underside, as clean and dry as possible.If you frequently drive on salted roads, your
vehicle should be washed at least once a
month during the winter. If you live near the
ocean, your vehicle should be washed at
least once a month throughout the year.
For washing instructions, refer to the “Vehi-
cle Cleaning” section.
Remove foreign material deposits
Foreign material such as salts, chemicals,
road oil or tar, tree sap, bird droppings and
industrial fall-out may damage the finish of
your vehicle if it is left on painted surfaces.
Remove these types of deposits as quickly
as possible. If these deposits are difficult to
wash off, an additional cleaner may be
required. Be sure that any cleaner you use
is not harmful to painted surfaces and is
specifically intended for your purposes.
Follow the manufacturer’s directions when
using these special cleaners.
Repair finish damage
Carefully examine your vehicle for damage
to the painted surfaces, especially if it is
used off-road. Should you find any chips or
scratches in the paint, touch them up
immediately to prevent corrosion from
starting. If the chips or scratches have
gone through to the bare metal, have a
qualified body shop make the repair.

9-2
APPEARANCE CARE
80J23-03E
Keep passenger and cargo compart-
ments clean
Moisture, dirt or mud can accumulate
under the floor mats and may cause corro-
sion. Occasionally, check under these
mats to ensure that this area is clean and
dry. More frequent checks are necessary if
the vehicle is used off road or in wet
weather.
Certain cargo such as chemicals, fertiliz-
ers, cleaners, salts, etc. are extremely cor-
rosive by nature. These products should
be transported in sealed containers. If a
spill or leak does occur, clean and dry the
area immediately.
Use the body trim
The use of the body trim will help protect
your vehicle, especially if you frequently
drive on gravel or salted roads. The fittings
for such guards should also be corrosion
resistant. Please check with your autho-
rized SUZUKI dealer for information on
these guards.
Store your vehicle in a dry, well-venti-
lated area
Do not park your vehicle in a damp, poorly
ventilated area. If you often wash your
vehicle in the garage or if you frequently
drive it in when wet, your garage may be
damp. The high humidity in the garage
may cause or accelerate corrosion. A wet
vehicle may corrode even in a heated
garage if the ventilation is poor.Cover your vehicle
50G203
If you cannot regularly park your vehicle in
a garage, we recommend you use a vehi-
cle cover. Years of exposure to midday sun
can cause the colors in paint, plastic parts
and fabrics to fade. Covering your vehicle
with a high-quality, “breathable” vehicle
cover can help protect the finish from the
harmful UV rays in sunlight, and can
reduce the amount of dust and air pollution
reaching the surface. Your SUZUKI dealer
can help you select the right cover for your
vehicle.
WARNING
Do not apply additional undercoating
or rust preventive coating on or
around exhaust system components
such as the catalytic converter,
exhaust pipes, etc. A fire could be
started if the undercoating substance
becomes overheated.
Maintenance Schedule: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10

9-3APPEARANCE CARE
80J23-03E
Vehicle Cleaning
76G044S
Cleaning InteriorVinyl upholstery
Prepare a solution of soap or mild deter-
gent mixed with warm water. Apply the
solution to the vinyl with a sponge or soft
cloth and let it soak for a few minutes to
loosen dirt. Rub the surface with a clean,damp cloth to remove dirt and the soap
solution. If some dirt still remains on the
surface, repeat this procedure.
Fabric upholstery
Remove loose dirt with a vacuum cleaner.
Using a mild soap solution, rub stained
areas with a clean damp cloth. To remove
soap, rub the areas again with a cloth
dampened with water. Repeat this until the
stain is removed, or use a commercial fab-
ric cleaner for tougher stains. If you use a
fabric cleaner, carefully follow the manu-
facturer’s instructions and precautions.
Leather upholstery
Remove loose dirt with a vacuum cleaner.
Using a mild soap or saddle soap solution,
wipe dirt off with a clean damp soft cloth.
To remove soap, wipe the areas again with
a soft cloth dampened with water. Wipe the
areas dry with a soft dry cloth. Repeat this
until the dirt or stain is removed, or use a
commercial leather cleaner for tougher dirt
or stains. If you use a leather cleaner, care-
fully follow the manufacture’s instructions
and precautions. Do not use solvent type
cleaners or abrasive cleaners.
Seat belts
Clean seat belts with a mild soap and
water. Do not use bleach or dye on the
belts. They may weaken the fabric in the
belts.Vinyl floor mats
Ordinary dirt can be removed from vinyl
with water or mild soap. Use a brush to
help loosen dirt. After dirt is loosened,
rinse the mat thoroughly with water and
dry it in the shade.
Carpets
Remove dirt and soil as much as possible
with a vacuum cleaner. Using a mild soap
solution, rub stained areas with a clean
damp cloth. To remove soap, rub the areas
again with a cloth dampened with water.
Repeat this until the stain is removed, or
use a commercial carpet cleaner for
tougher stains. If you use a carpet cleaner,
carefully follow the manufacturer’s instruc-
tions and precautions.
Cleaning the Exterior
WARNING
When cleaning the interior or exterior
of the vehicle, NEVER USE flammable
solvents such lacquer thinners, gas-
oline, benzene or cleaning materials
such as bleaches and strong house-
hold detergents. The materials could
cause personal injury or damage to
the vehicle.
CAUTION
It is important that your vehicle be
kept clean and free from dirt. Failure
to keep your vehicle clean may result
in fading of the paint or corrosion to
various parts of the vehicle body.
Periodic Maintenance Schedule: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10

9-4
APPEARANCE CARE
80J23-03E
WashingWhen washing the vehicle, follow the
instructions below:
1) Flush the underside of body and wheel
housings with pressurized water to
remove mud and debris. Use plenty of
water.2) Rinse the body to loosen the dirt.
Remove dirt and mud from the body
exterior with running water. You may
use a soft sponge or brush. Do not use
hard materials which can scratch the
paint or plastic. Remember that the
headlight covers or lenses are made of
plastic in many cases.
3) Wash the entire exterior with a mild
detergent or car wash soap using a
sponge or soft cloth. The sponge or
cloth should be frequently soaked in the
soap solution.
4) Once the dirt has been completely
removed, rinse off the detergent with
running water.
5) After rinsing, wipe off the vehicle body
with a wet chamois or cloth and allow it
to dry in the shade.6) Check carefully for damage to painted
surfaces. If there is any damage,
“touch-up” the damage following the
procedure below:
1. Clean all damaged spots and allow
them to dry.
2. Stir the paint and “touch-up” the
damaged spots lightly using a small
brush.
3. Allow the paint to dry completely.
WARNING
 Never attempt to wash and wax
your vehicle with the engine run-
ning.
 When cleaning the underside of the
body and fender, where there may
be sharp-edged parts, you should
wear gloves and a long-sleeved
shirt to protect your hands and
arms from being cut.
 After washing your vehicle, care-
fully test the brakes before driving
to make sure they have maintained
their normal effectiveness.
CAUTION
 When washing the vehicle, avoid
directing steam or hot water of
more than 80°C (176°F) on plastic
parts.
 To avoid damaging engine compo-
nents, do not use pressurized
water in the engine compartment.
CAUTION
To avoid damage to the paint or plas-
tic surface, do not wipe the dirt off
without ample water. Be sure to fol-
low above procedure.
CAUTION
When using a commercial car wash
product, observe the cautions speci-
fied by the manufacturer. Never use
strong household detergents or
soaps.
CAUTION
If you use an automatic car wash,
make sure that your vehicle’s body
parts, such as spoilers, cannot be
damaged. If you are in doubt, consult
the car wash operator for advice.
Periodic Maintenance Schedule: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10

9-5APPEARANCE CARE
80J23-03E
Waxing
60B211S
After washing the vehicle, waxing and pol-
ishing are recommended to further protect
and beautify the paint.
 Only use waxes and polishes of good
quality.
 When using waxes and polishes,
observe the precautions specified by the
manufacturers.
Maintenance Recommended under Severe Driving Condi-
tions: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10