2-43BEFORE DRIVING
80J23-03E
54G183
3) Use your hands to carefully align the
connecting bar tips with the anchors.
Take care not to pinch your fingers.
54G184
4) Push the child restraint toward the
anchors so that the connecting bar tips
are partially hooked to the anchors.
Use your hands to confirm the position.
54G185
5) Grasp the front of the child restraint and
push the child restraint forcefully to
latch the connecting bars. Make sure
they are securely latched by trying to
move the child restraint system in all
directions, especially forward.
6) Return the seatback if folded. Attach
the top tether strap, if applicable.
EXAMPLE
EXAMPLE
WARNING
The seatback should always be
securely latched in a fairly upright
position when any type of child seat
is installed. An unlatched or reclined
seatback will reduce the intended
effectiveness of the child restraint
system.EXAMPLE
2-44
BEFORE DRIVING
80J23-03E
Installation of Child Restraint with
To p S t r a pSX4
80JS072
SX4 SEDAN
80JC102
Some child restraint systems require the
use of a top strap. Top strap anchor brack-
ets are provided in your vehicle at the loca-
tions shown in the illustrations. Install the
child restraint system as follows:
1) For SX4, remove the luggage compart-
ment cover.
2) Secure the child restraint on the rear
seat using the procedure described
above for securing a restraint system
that does not require a top strap.
3) For SX4 SEDAN, open the cover that is
marked with the anchor bracket symbol
to access the anchor bracket. Close the
cover when not using the anchor
bracket.
4) Hook the top strap to the anchor
bracket and tighten the top strap
according to the instructions provided
by the child restraint system manufac-
turer. Be sure to attach the top strap to
the corresponding anchor located
directly behind the child restraint. Do
not attach the top strap to the luggage
restraint loops (if equipped).
80JC029
EXAMPLE
Front
EXAMPLE
Front
WARNING
Do not attach the child restraint top
strap to the luggage restraint loops
(if equipped). Incorrectly attached top
strap will reduce the intended effec-
tiveness of the child restraint system.
Ty p e 2 Ty p e 1
Ty p e 3
2-47BEFORE DRIVING
80J23-03E
The driver and all passengers must be
properly restrained by wearing seat belts
at all times, whether or not a pretensioner
is equipped at their seating position, to
help minimize the risk of severe injury or
death in the event of a crash.
Sit fully back in the seat; sit up straight; do
not lean forward or sideways. Adjust the
belt so the lap portion of the belt is worn
low across the pelvis, not across the waist.
Please refer to the “Seat Adjustment” sec-
tion and the instructions and precautions
about the seat belts in this “Seat Belts and
Child Restraint Systems” section for details
on proper seat and seat belt adjustments.
Please note that the pretensioners along
with the air bags will activate only in severe
frontal or side collisions. They are not
designed to activate in rear impacts, roll-
overs or minor frontal collisions. The pre-
tensioners can be activated only once. If
the pretensioners are activated (that is, if
the air bags are activated), have the pre-
tensioner system serviced by an autho-
rized SUZUKI dealer as soon as possible.
If the AIR BAG light on the instrument clus-
ter does not blink or come on briefly when
the ignition switch is turned to the “ON”
position, stays on for more than 10 sec-
onds, or comes on while driving, the pre-
tensioner system or the air bag system
may not work properly. Have both systems
inspected by an authorized SUZUKI dealer
as soon as possible.Service on or around the pretensioner sys-
tem components or wiring must be per-
formed only by an authorized SUZUKI
dealer who is specially trained. Improper
service could result in unintended activa-
tion of pretensioners or could render the
pretensioner inoperative. Either of these
two conditions may result in personal
injury.
To prevent damage or unintended activa-
tion of the pretensioners, be sure the bat-
tery is disconnected and the ignition switch
has been in the “LOCK” position for at least
90 seconds before performing any electri-
cal service work on your SUZUKI. Do not
touch pretensioner system components or
wiring. The wires are wrapped with yellow
tape or yellow tubing, and the couplers are
yellow. When scrapping your SUZUKI, ask
your SUZUKI dealer, body repair shop or
scrap yard for assistance.
Supplemental Restraint
System (air bags)
54G022
Your vehicle has advanced front air bags
and side air bags for the driver and right
front passenger. Your vehicle also has side
curtain air bags.
WARNING
This section of the owner’s manual
describes the protection provided by
your SUZUKI’s SUPPLEMENTAL
RESTRAINT SYSTEM (air bags).
Please read and follow ALL these
instructions carefully to minimize
your risk of severe injury or death in
the event of a collision.EXAMPLE
2-54
BEFORE DRIVING
80J23-03E
When the ignition switch is turned to the
“ON” position, the “PASS AIR BAG OFF”
indicator comes on for several seconds to
let you know the system is working. When
the front passenger sensing system has
turned off the front passenger’s front air
bag including the seat belt pretensioner,
the “PASS AIR BAG OFF” indicator will
come on and stay on to remind you that
the front passenger’s front air bag is off.
The front passenger sensing system uses
front seat pressure measurements and
pressure locations to determine whether to
activate or deactivate the front passenger’s
front air bag. The front passenger sensing
system may or may not turn off the front air
bag, depending on the front passenger’s
seating posture and body build. The air
bag should be turned off in the following
situations:
There is no occupant in the front pas-
senger seat.
The occupant of the front passenger
seat lifts his or her weight off of the seat
for a period of time.
The occupant of the front passenger
seat is an infant or small child in a child
restraint system or a small child in a
booster seat.
A smaller person, such as a child who
has outgrown child restraints or a very
small adolescent is seated in the front
passenger seat.NOTE:
If the front passenger seat is unoccupied,
the “PASS AIR BAG OFF” indicator will not
come on but the front passenger’s front air
bag will not deploy and the seat belt pre-
tensioner will not operate.
If you have secured a child in the front pas-
senger seat in a forward-facing child
restraint system or booster seat and the
“PASS AIR BAG OFF” indicator light is not
on, turn the vehicle off, remove the child
restraint or booster seat from the vehicle
and reinstall it following the child restraint
or booster seat manufacturer’s directions.
Also refer to “Seat Belts and Child
Restraint Systems” in this section. If, after
reinstalling the child restraint and restart-
ing the vehicle, the “PASS AIR BAG OFF”
indicator is still not lit, check to make sure
that the vehicle’s seatback is not pressing
the child restraint into the seat cushion. If
this happens, slightly recline the vehicle’s
seatback and adjust the seat cushion if
possible. Also make sure the child restraint
is not trapped under the vehicle head
restraint. If this happens, adjust the head
restraint. If the “PASS AIR BAG OFF” indi-
cator is still not on, secure the child in the
child restraint or booster seat in a rear seat
position in the vehicle and check with your
dealer.
65D607
According to accident statistics, children
are safer when properly restrained in rear
seating positions than in front seating posi-
tions. Whenever possible, SUZUKI recom-
mends you install child restraints in the
rear seat.
WARNING
Do not install a rear-facing child
restraint in the front passenger’s
seat. If the passenger’s front air bag
inflates, a child in a rear-facing child
restraint could be seriously injured.
The back of a rear-facing child
restraint would be too close to the
inflating air bag.
2-56
BEFORE DRIVING
80J23-03E
How the System WorksIn a frontal collision, the crash sensors will
detect rapid deceleration and send a signal
to the controller. If the controller judges
that the deceleration represents a severe
frontal crash, the controller will trigger the
inflators. The controller also judges:
Whether the front air bags should deploy
at reduced power or at full power accord-
ing to crash severity.
Whether the air bags should deploy at
reduced power or at full power according
to crash severity, driver’s seat fore/aft
position and whether or not the front
passenger’s seat belt is fastened.
Whether the front passenger’s front air
bag should deploy or not based on clas-
sification of the occupant of the front
passenger’s seat.
Since your vehicle is equipped with side air
bags, and side curtain air bags, crash sen-
sors will detect a side collision, and if the
controller judges that the side collision is
severe enough, it will trigger the side air
bag and side curtain air bag inflators.
The inflators inflate the appropriate air
bags with nitrogen or argon gas. The
inflated air bags provide a cushion for your
head (front air bags and side curtain air
bags only) and upper body. The air bag
inflates and deflates so quickly that you
may not even realize that it has activated.
The air bag will neither hinder your view
nor make it harder to exit the vehicle.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.
WARNING
Do not spill any liquids on the seat.
Liquids can damage the sensors
under the front seat.
Have the driver’s seat position sen-
sor and the front passenger’s sen-
sor mat inspected by your dealer
after a collision.
Do not replace the front seats. If
you replace them, the air bags and
front passenger sensing system
may not work properly.
Do not use a seat cover. If you use
a seat cover, the front passenger
sensing system may not work prop-
erly.
2-64
BEFORE DRIVING
80J23-03E
Oil Pressure Light
50G051
This light comes on when the ignition
switch is turned to the “ON” position, and
goes out when the engine is started. The
light will come on and remain on if there is
insufficient oil pressure. If the light comes
on when driving, pull off the road as soon
as you can and stop the engine. Check the
oil level and add oil if necessary. If there is
enough oil, the lubrication system should
be inspected by your SUZUKI dealer
before you drive the vehicle again.
Charging Light
50G052
This light comes on when the ignition
switch is turned to the “ON” position, and
goes out when the engine is started. The
light will come on and remain on if there is
something wrong with the battery charging
system. If the light comes on when the
engine is running, the charging system
should be inspected immediately by your
SUZUKI dealer.
Driver’s Seat Belt Reminder Light
60G049
If the driver’s seat belt is unbuckled when
the ignition switch is turned to the “ON”
position, 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 conditions until the
driver’s seat belt is buckled. After repeating
several times, the reminder will be can-
celed 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.
CAUTION
If you operate the engine with this
light on, severe engine damage can
result.
Do not rely on the Oil Pressure
Light to indicate the need to add
oil. Be sure to periodically check
the engine oil level.
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.
3-6
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
80J23-03E
81A297S
Parking Brake Lever
52D122
(1) To set
(2) To release
(3) To release
The parking brake lever is located between
the seats. To set the parking brake, hold
the brake pedal down and pull the parking
brake lever all the way up. To release the
parking brake, hold the brake pedal down,
pull up slightly on the parking brake lever,
push the button on the end of the lever with
your thumb and lower the lever to its origi-
nal position.
WARNING
For manual transaxle vehicles,
never remove the ignition key while
the vehicle is moving. The steering
wheel will lock and you will not be
able to steer the vehicle.
Always remove the ignition key
when leaving the vehicle even if
only for a short time. Also do not
leave children or pets alone in a
parked vehicle. Unattended chil-
dren could cause accidental move-
ment of the vehicle or could tamper
with power windows. Children or
pets could suffer from heatstroke
in warm or hot weather, which
could result in severe injury or
even death.
CAUTION
Do not turn the starter motor for
more than 15 seconds at a time. If
the engine does not start, wait 15
seconds before trying again. If the
engine does not start after several
attempts, check the fuel and igni-
tion systems or consult your
SUZUKI dealer.
Do not leave the ignition switch in
the “ON” position if the engine is
not running or the battery will dis-
charge.
Rear Window Wiper/Washer Switch: 8
Tilt Steering Lock Lever: 6
Cruise Control: 7, 8
4-1DRIVING TIPS
80J23-03E
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