Page 108 of 297

3-7OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
80J23-03E
For CVT vehicles, always set the parking
brake before moving the gearshift lever to
the “P” (Park) position. If you park on an
incline and shift into “P” before you set the
parking brake, the weight of the vehicle
may make it difficult to shift out of “P” when
you are ready to drive the vehicle. When
preparing to drive the vehicle, move the
gearshift lever out of the “P” position before
releasing the parking brake.
PedalsManual transaxle
79J072
CVT
79J154
WARNING
 Never drive your vehicle with the
parking brake set: rear brake effec-
tiveness can be reduced from over-
heating, brake life may be
shortened or permanent brake
damage may result.
 If the parking brake does not hold
the vehicle securely or does not
fully release, have your vehicle
inspected immediately by an autho-
rized SUZUKI dealer.
WARNING
Always set the parking brake fully
before leaving your vehicle or it may
roll, causing injury or damage. When
parking, make sure the gearshift
lever for manual transaxle vehicles is
in 1st gear or “R” (Reverse) and the
gearshift lever for CVT vehicles is in
“P” (Park). Remember, even though
the transaxle is in gear or in Park, you
must set the parking brake fully.
(1)
(2)
(3)
EXAMPLE
(2) (3)
EXAMPLE
Cruise Control: 7, 8 
     
        
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3-10
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
80J23-03E
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 
     
        
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3-11OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
80J23-03E
Continuously Variable Transaxle 
(CVT)
80J2065
Gearshift lever
80J2035
WARNING
 Reduce your speed and downshift
to a lower gear before going down
a long or steep hill. Downshifting
will allow the engine to provide
braking. Avoid riding the brakes or
they may overheat, resulting in
brake failure.
 When driving on slippery roads, be
sure to slow down before down-
shifting. Large and sudden
changes in engine speed may
cause loss of traction, which could
cause you to lose control.
 Make sure that the vehicle is com-
pletely stopped before you shift
into reverse.
CAUTION
 To help avoid clutch damage, do
not use the clutch pedal as a foot-
rest while driving or use the clutch
to keep the vehicle stationary on a
slope. Depress the clutch fully
when shifting.
 When shifting or starting off, do not
race the engine. Racing the engine
can shorten engine life and affect
smooth shifting.
WARNING
Always depress the brake pedal
before shifting from “P” (Park) (or
“N” (Neutral) if the vehicle is station-
ary) to a forward or reverse gear, to
help prevent the vehicle from moving
unexpectedly when you shift. 
     
        
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3-12
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
80J23-03E
The gearshift lever has a lock mechanism
to help prevent accidental shifting. To shift
the gearshift lever:
80J2036
NOTE:
 Always shift the gearshift lever without
pushing in the lock button (1) except
when you shift from “P” to “R”, from “N”
to “R” or from “R” to “P”. If you always
push in the lock button (1) when shifting
the gearshift lever, you could shift into
“P” or “R” by mistake.
 If driver’s or passenger’s knee hits the
gearshift lever while driving, the lever
could move and the gear could be
changed unexpectedly.Use the gearshift lever positions as
described below:
P (Park)
Use this position to lock the transaxle
when the vehicle is parked or when start-
ing the engine. Shift into Park only when
the vehicle is completely stationary.
R (Reverse)
Use this position to reverse the vehicle
from stop. Make sure that vehicle is com-
pletely stationary before shifting into
Reverse.
N (Neutral)
Use this position for starting the engine if
the engine stalls and you need to restart it
while the vehicle is moving. You may also
shift into Neutral and depress the brake
pedal to hold the vehicle stationary during
idling. Shift with the lock button (1)
pushed in and the brake pedal
depressed.
Shift with the lock button (1)
pushed in.
Shift without the lock button (1)
pushed in.
(1)
CAUTION
Do not shift the gearshift lever into
“R” while moving forward, or the
transaxle may be damaged. If you
shift into “R” when the vehicle speed
is over 6mph (10km/h), the transaxle
will not shift into reverse. 
     
        
        Page 137 of 297

4-4
DRIVING TIPS
80J23-03E
Driving on Slippery Roads
60G089S
Under wet road conditions you should
drive at a lower speed than on dry roads
due to possible slippage of tires during
braking. When driving on icy, snow-cov-
ered, or muddy roads, reduce your speed
and avoid sudden acceleration, abrupt
braking, or sharp steering movements.intelligent All Wheel Drive (i-AWD) 
ModelsYour i-AWD provides greater traction on
slippery roads than 2-wheel drive models.
However, your i-AWD will not have as
much traction in deep snow, mud or sand
as multipurpose 4WD vehicles. You should
not attempt to drive your i-AWD in deep
snow, mud or sand. i-AWD models are not
sport/utility vehicles, and are not designed
for off-road use.If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck
If your vehicle gets stuck in snow, mud or
sand, follow the directions below:
1) Shift the transaxle back and forth
between a forward range (or first gear
for manual transaxle) and reverse. This
will create a rocking motion which may
give you enough momentum to free the
vehicle. Press gently on the accelerator
to keep wheel spinning to a minimum
wheel rpm. Remove your foot from the
accelerator while shifting. 
Do not race the engine. Excessive
wheel spin will cause the tires to dig
deeper, making it more difficult to free
the vehicle.
2) If your vehicle remains stuck after a few
minutes of rocking, get another vehicle
to pull your vehicle out.
WARNING
Try not to hold the brake pedal down
too long or too often while going
down a steep or long hill. This could
cause the brakes to overheat, result-
ing in reduced braking efficiency.
Failure to take this precaution could
result in loss of vehicle control.
CAUTION
When descending a down hill,
NEVER turn the ignition key to the
“OFF” position. Emission control
system and CVT (if equipped) dam-
age may result.
WARNING
Do not allow anyone to stand near the
vehicle when you are rocking it, and
do not spin the wheels faster than an
indicated 40 km/h (25 mph) on the
speedometer. Personal injury and/or
vehicle damage may result from spin-
ning the wheels too fast.
Warning and Indicator Lights: 8 
     
        
        Page 246 of 297
7-41INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
80J23-03E
Headlights
80J2084
Open the engine food. Disconnect the cou-
pler (1). Then remove the socket cover (2)
and replace the bulb. Install a new bulb in
the reverse order of removal.
Other General LightsBulb holder
54G123
(1) Removal
(2) Installation
To remove a bulb holder from a light hous-
ing, turn the holder counterclockwise and
pull it out. To install the holder, push the
holder in and turn it clockwise.Bulb
54G124
(3) Removal
(4) Installation
There are two types of bulb, “Full glass
type” (1) and “Glass/metal type” (2).
To remove and install a full glass type bulb
(1), simply pull out or push in the bulb.
To remove a glass metal type bulb (2) from
a bulb holder, push in the bulb and turn it
counterclockwise. To install a new bulb,
push it in and turn it clockwise.
You can access the individual bulb or bulb
holders as follows.
(1)(2)
(1)
(1) (2)(2)
EXAMPLE
(1)
(2) (3)
(4)EXAMPLE 
     
        
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7-46
INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
80J23-03E
80JM076
3) Pushing the unguiform prongs (3)
toward inside and remove the bulb
holder (4).
4) Replace the bulbs. 
To install a high-mounted stop light
housing in the reverse order of removal.SX4 SEDAN
80JM132
To remove the high-mounted stop light
housing, pinch both side of the clip (1) and
push it in.
Wiper Blades
80G083
If the wiper blades become brittle or dam-
aged, or make streaks when wiping,
replace the wiper blades.
To install new wiper blades, follow the pro-
cedures below.
NOTE:
Some wiper blades may be different from
the ones described here depending on
vehicle specifications. If so, consult your
SUZUKI dealer for proper replacement
method.
(3) (3)
(4)
(1)
CAUTION
To avoid scratching or breaking the
window, do not let the wiper arm
strike the window while replacing the
wiper blade. 
     
        
        Page 253 of 297
7-48
INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
80J23-03E
52D124
(3) Retainer
4) If the new blade is provided without the
two metal retainers, move them from
the old blade to the new one.Installation
52D125
(4) Locked end
5) Install the new blade in the reverse
order of removal, with the locked end
positioned toward the wiper arm. Make
sure the blade is properly retained by
all the hooks. Grasp the blade near the
locked end and pull in the direction of
the arrows to lock the end into place.
6) Reinstall wiper frame to arm, making
sure that the lock lever is snapped
securely into the arm.To remove some types of rear wiper
frame from the wiper arm:
1) Hold the arm away from the window.
80G146
2) Remove the wiper frame from the arm
as shown.