2013 SUZUKI ALTO Owners Manual

8-8
EMERGENCY SERVICE
53MH0-74E
Warning Triangle
53M-10-014
In case of vehicle break-down or during
emergency stopping, where, your vehicle
could become a potential traffic hazard,
keep the warning triangle, provided with
your vehicle, on the road free from any
obstacles behind your vehicle so as to
warn the approaching traffic, at an approxi-
mate distance of 50-100 m. The reflecting
side of the triangle should face the on com-
ing traffic. Please activate the hazard
warning lamps before alighting the vehicle
to keep the warning triangle.
53M-10-015
Remove the warning triangle carefully
from the cover as shown by arrow 1.
Open both the reflector arms as shown
by arrow and lock the arms with each
other with the clip provided in the right
arm. Open the bottom stand in counter
clock-wise direction as shown by arrow
3. Position the warning triangle behind
the vehicle on a plain surface.
Reverse the removal procedure for keep-
ing inside the cover.
53M-10-016
EXAMPLE
EXAMPLE
EXAMPLE

APPEARANCE CARE
9
53MH0-74E
APPEARANCE CARE
Corrosion Prevention ......................................................... 9-1
Vehicle Cleaning ................................................................. 9-2

9-1
APPEARANCE CARE
53MH0-74E
Corrosion Prevention
It 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
Corrosion
Common causes of corrosion
1) Accumulation of road salt, dirt, mois-
ture, 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 abra-
sion by 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 tem-
perature range is just above the freez-
ing 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.
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 Corrosion
Wash 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 winter.
Keep your vehicle, particularly the under-
side, as clean and dry as possible. If you
frequently drive on salted roads, your vehi-
cle 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 berequired. 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. 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.
Keep passenger and luggage 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 cargos 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.

9-2
APPEARANCE CARE
53MH0-74E
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.Vehicle Cleaning
76G044S
Cleaning the Interior
Vinyl 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.
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 the dirt is loosened,
rinse the mat thoroughly with water and
dry it in the shade.
WA R N I N G
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.
WA R N I N G
When cleaning the interior or exterior
of the vehicle, NEVER USE flammable
solvents such as lacquer thinners,
gasoline, benzene or cleaning materi-
als such as bleaches or strong
household detergents. The materials
could cause personal injury or dam-
age to the vehicle.
EXAMPLE

9-3
APPEARANCE CARE
53MH0-74E
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
Caring for Aluminum Wheels
NOTE:
• Do not use an acidic or alkaline deter-
gent to wash aluminum wheels. These
types of detergent will cause permanent
spots, discoloration and cracks on fin-
ished surfaces.
• Do not use a bristle brush and soap con-
taining an abrasive material. These will
damage finished surfaces.
Washing
60B212S
When washing the vehicle, park it where
direct sunlight does not fall on it and 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.
NOTICE
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.
WA R N I N G
• 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.
EXAMPLE
NOTICE
When washing the vehicle:
• Avoid directing steam or hot water
of more than 80°C (176°F) on plas-
tic parts.
• To avoid damaging engine compo-
nents, do not use pressurized
water in the engine compartment.
NOTICE
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.

9-4
APPEARANCE CARE
53MH0-74E
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.
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.
NOTICE
When using a commercial car wash
product, observe the cautions speci-
fied by the manufacturer. Never use
strong household detergents or
soaps.
NOTICE
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.
EXAMPLE