
2-39
BEFORE DRIVING
53MH0-74E
Lighting Operation
Ty p e 1
53M-04-105
Ty p e 2
53M-04-106
To turn the lights on or off, twist the knob
on the end of the lever. There are three
positions:OFF (1)
All lights are off.
(2)
Front position lights, tail lights, license
plate light and instrument lights are on, but
headlights are off.
(3)
Front position lights, tail lights, license
plate light, instrument lights and head
lights are on.
Ty p e 1
53M-04-107
Ty p e 2
53M-04-108
With the headlights on, push the lever for-
ward to switch to the high beams (main
beams) or pull the lever toward you to
switch to the low beams. When the high
beams (main beams) are on, a light on the
instrument panel will come on. To momen-
tarily activate the high beams (main
beams) as a passing signal, pull the lever
slightly toward you and release it when you
have completed the signal.
EXAMPLE
EXAMPLE
EXAMPLE
EXAMPLE

2-41
BEFORE DRIVING
53MH0-74E
Lane change signal
Ty p e 1
53M-04-113
Ty p e 2
53M-04-114
Sometimes, such as when changing lanes,
the steering wheel is not turned far enough
to cancel the turn signal. For convenience,
you can flash the turn signal by moving the
lever part way and holding it there. The
lever will return to its normal position when
you release it.
Hazard Warning Switch
53MH0227
Push in the hazard warning switch to acti-
vate the hazard warning lights. All turn sig-
nal lights and both turn signal indicators
will flash simultaneously. To turn off the
lights, push the switch again.
Use the hazard warning lights to warn
other traffic during emergency parking or
when your vehicle could otherwise become
a traffic hazard.
Windshield Wiper and Washer
Lever
65D611
Wiper and Washer Operation
When the ignition switch is in the “ON”
position, you can use the wiper/washer
lever or switch (if equipped).
EXAMPLE
EXAMPLE
EXAMPLE
WA R N I N G
To avoid possible injury, do not oper-
ate controls by reaching through the
steering wheel.
EXAMPLE

3-1
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
53MH0-74E
Exhaust Gas Warning
52D334
Daily Inspection Checklist
Before Driving
60A187S
1) Make sure that windows, mirrors, lights,
and reflectors are clean and unob-
structed.
2) Visually check the tires for the following
points:
– the depth of the tread groove
– abnormal wear, cracks and damage
– loose wheel nuts
– existence of foreign material such as
nails, stones, etc.
Refer to “Tires” in “INSPECTION AND
MAINTENANCE” section for details.
3) Look for fluid and oil leaks.
NOTE:
It is normal for water to drip from the air
conditioning system during use.WA R N I N G
Avoid breathing exhaust gases.
Exhaust gases contain carbon mon-
oxide, a potentially lethal gas that is
colorless and odorless. Since carbon
monoxide is difficult to detect by
itself, be sure to take the following
precautions to help prevent carbon
monoxide from entering your vehicle.
• Do not leave the engine running in
garages or other confined areas.
(Continued)
EXAMPLE
WA R N I N G
(Continued)
• Do not park with the engine run-
ning for a long period of time, even
in an open area. If it is necessary to
sit for a short time in a parked vehi-
cle with the engine running, make
sure the air intake selector is set to
“FRESH AIR” and the fan is at high
speed.
• Avoid operating the vehicle with
the tailgate or trunk open. If it is
necessary to operate the vehicle
with the tailgate or trunk open,
make sure all windows are closed,
and the blower is at high speed
with the air intake selector set to
“FRESH AIR”.
• To allow proper operation of your
vehicle’s ventilation system, keep
the air inlet grille in front of the
windshield clear of snow, leaves, or
other obstructions at all times.
• Keep the exhaust tailpipe area clear
of snow and other material to help
reduce the buildup of exhaust
gases under the vehicle. This is
particularly important when parked
in blizzard conditions.
• Have the exhaust system inspected
periodically for damage and leaks.
Any damage or leaks should be
repaired immediately.
EXAMPLE

3-2
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
53MH0-74E
4) Make sure the hood is fully closed and
latched.
5) Check the headlights, turn signal lights,
brake lights and horn for proper opera-
tion.
6) Adjust the seat and head restraint
(if equipped).
7) Check the brake pedal and the parking
brake lever.
8) Adjust the mirrors.
9) Make sure that you and all passengers
have properly fastened your seat belts.
10)Make sure that all warning lights come
on as the key is turned to the “ON” posi-
tion.
11)Check all gauges.
12)Make sure that the BRAKE SYSTEM
WARNING light turns off when the
parking brake is released.
Once a week, or each time you fill your fuel
tank, perform the following under-hood
checks:
1) Engine oil level
2) Coolant level
3) Brake fluid level
4) Windshield washer fluid level
5) Battery solution level
6) Hood latch operation
Pull the hood release handle inside the
vehicle. Make sure that you cannot
open the hood all the way without
releasing the secondary latch. Be sure
to close the hood securely after check-
ing for proper latch operation. See “Alllatches, hinges & locks” of “CHASSIS
AND BODY” in the “Periodic Mainte-
nance Schedule” in the “INSPECTION
AND MAINTENANCE” section for lubri-
cation schedule.
Once a month, or each time you fill your
fuel tank, check the tire pressure using a
tire pressure gauge. Also check the tire
pressure of the spare tire.Engine Oil Consumption
It is normal for the engine to consume
some engine oil during normal vehicle
operation.
The amount of engine oil consumed
depends on the viscosity of the oil, the
quality of the oil and the conditions the
vehicle is driven under.
More oil is consumed during high-speed
driving and when there is frequent acceler-
ation and deceleration. Under high loads,
your engine also will consume more oil.
A new engine also consumes more oil,
since its pistons, piston rings and cylinder
walls have not yet become conditioned.
New engines reach the normal level of oil
consumption only after approximately 5000
km (3000 miles) driving.
Oil consumption:
Max. 1.0 L per 1000 km
When judging the amount of oil consump-
tion, note that the oil may become diluted
and make it difficult to accurately judge the
true oil level.
As an example, if a vehicle is used for
repeated short trips, and consumes a nor-
mal amount of oil, the dipstick may not
show any drop in the oil level at all, even
after 1000 km or more of driving. This is
because the oil is gradually becoming
diluted with fuel or moisture, making it
appear that the oil level has not changed.
WA R N I N G
Make sure the hood is fully closed
and latched before driving. If it is not,
it can fly up unexpectedly during
driving, obstructing your view and
resulting in an accident.

4-6
DRIVING TIPS
53MH0-74E
82PHM04001
Do’s and Dont’s for Safe
Driving
Exercise care in handling your vehicle. Be
conscious of not only your own safety but
also the safety of others on the road, and
thus enjoy the best and most comfortable
driving experience.
Following are basic rules for safe driving.
Read them carefully for good understand-
ing of the content so that you can enjoy
safe and pleasant driving in your vehicle.
Starting
1) Adjust the driver’s seat for the proper
driving posture.
2) Adjust the rear view mirror so as to
obtain the best possible rear view.
72F08002
3) Before moving, look around your vehi-
cle to confirm safety.
4) Don’t accelerate suddenly, since it is
dangerous and wastes fuel.
General Driving
1) Be sure to stop before a stop light or
stop sign. When moving into an inter-
section without any traffic lights or
signs, drive slowly to confirm safety.
2) Always follow other vehicles at a safe
distance in order to prevent a rear-end
collision, in case the vehicle ahead
makes a sudden stop.
72F08008
3) Turn ON the turn signal at least 30
meters before making a turn or chang-
ing the lane so as not to be hit.
4) Before entering a corner, decelerate to
a safe speed. Don’t apply brakes during
cornering, or skidding may occur.
5) When overtaking other vehicles, watch
out for oncoming vehicles and carefully
ensure safety.
6) Don’t attempt zigzag driving as it will
hinder your control over the vehicle and
may cause an accident.
7) Avoid reckless high speed driving and
try to drive at a safe speed suitable for
the road conditions while maintaining a
constant speed.
8) The higher the speed, the narrower the
driver’s visual range becomes. In such
a state, it is difficult to anticipate any
hazard and the driver feels fatigued.

4-8
DRIVING TIPS
53MH0-74E
Night time driving
72F08020
1) Drive at lower speeds during the night
than in the daytime, as the visual range
is restricted at night.
2) Avoid overtaking other vehicles at night.
Darkness bothers your sense of speed
and hinders your judgment of vehicle-
to-vehicle distance.
72F08021
3) Don’t use headlights on high beam
unless its use is inevitable. It may cause
visual impairment to the driver of the
oncoming vehicle or the vehicle ahead
of you, which may cause an accident.
53M06015
4) Always keep the window glasses clean.
Don’t operate the windshield wiper
when the windshield glass is dry else
the wiper blade and glass may get dam-
aged.
Margin for Safety
It is important to allow yourself a margin for
safety during driving so that you can cope
with erroneous or unexpected driving of
other drivers. For that, observe the follow-
ing.
Drive at a safe speed.
Maintain a sufficient distance between
your vehicle and the vehicle ahead.
Don’t force yourself to overtake other
vehicles.
Don’t accelerate suddenly, steer sharply
or stop suddenly.
Keep ample gaps between driving
schedules.
Observe traffic rules and regulations.
Conclusion
A perfect driver does not exist. The
endeavour of every motorist should be to
strive for perfection. Safety consciousness
not only ensures your safety and the safety
of other road users, it also helps reduce
the wear and tear on your vehicle, length-
ens its life, gives better fuel efficiency and
ensures a comfortable driving experience.
Follow the do’s and dont’s listed, and
driving will never be the same again.

5-18
OTHER CONTROLS AND EQUIPMENT
53MH0-74E
Selecting the reception BAND
Press the BAND button (1). Each time the
button is pressed, the reception band will
change as follows:
53M-07-061
Seek tuning
Hold down the seek Up button (2) or the
seek Down button (3) for 1 second or lon-
ger.
The unit stops searching for a station at a
frequency where a broadcast station is
available.
Manual tuning
Press seek Up button (2) or the seek Down
button (3).
The frequency being received is displayed.
Which receiving FM stereo broadcasting.
ST lights up.
Preset memory
1) Select the desired station.
2) Hold down a desired button ([1] to [6])
of the Preset buttons (4) to which you
want to store the station for 2 seconds
or longer.
Auto store
Hold down the AST button (5) for 1 second
or longer. Six stations in good reception
will automatically be stored to the Preset
buttons (4) in order, starting from a station
whose frequency is the lowest.
NOTE:
• Auto store can be released by pressing
AS button (5) while auto store is under
way.
• When the auto store is performed, the
station previously stored in the memory
at the position is over written.
• When there are fewer than 6 stations
that can be stored even if 2 rounds of
auto store operation is performed, no
station will be stored at the remaining
Preset buttons (4).
• 6 stations can be preset for FM1, FM2
and FM3 in common, and 6 stations for
AM in auto store mode.
Radio Reception
Radio reception can be affected by envi-
ronment, atmospheric conditions, or radio
signal’s power and distance from the sta-
tion. Nearby mountains and buildings may
interfere or deflect radio reception, causing
poor reception. Poor reception or radio
static can also be caused by electric cur-
rent from overhead wires or high voltage
power lines.

7-27
INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
53MH0-74E
Bulb ReplacementInterior Light
53M-09-046
Pull down the lens by using a flat blade
screwdriver covered with a soft cloth as
shown. To install it, simply push it back in.
The bulb can be removed by simply pulling
it out. When replacing the bulb, make sure
that the contact springs are holding the
bulb securely.
Headlight
53M-09-049
Disconnect the coupler (1). Remove the
sealing rubber (2). Push the retaining
spring (3) forward and unhook it. Then
remove the bulb. Install a new bulb in the
reverse order.
CAUTION
• Light bulbs can be hot enough to
burn your finger right after being
turned off. This is true especially
for halogen headlight bulbs.
Replace the bulbs after they
become cool enough.
• The headlight bulbs are filled with
pressurized halogen gas. They can
burst and injure you if they are hit
or dropped. Handle them carefully.
NOTICE
The oils from your skin may cause a
halogen bulb to overheat and burst
when the lights are on. Grasp a new
bulb with a clean cloth.
NOTICE
Frequent replacement of a bulb indi-
cates the need for an inspection of
the electrical system. This should be
carried out by your MARUTI SUZUKI
dealer.
EXAMPLEEXAMPLE