2013 SUZUKI ALTO check engine

7-13
INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
53MH0-74E
Refill with Oil and Check for Leaks
1) Pour oil through the filler hole and
install the filler cap.
For the approximate capacity of the oil,
refer to the “Capacities” item in the
“SPECIFICATIONS” section.
2) Start the engine and look carefully for
leaks at the oil filter and drain plug. Run
the engine at various speeds for at least
5 minutes.
3) Stop the engine and wait about 5 min-
utes. Check the oil level again and add
oil if necessary. Check for leaks again.
Engine Coolant
Selection of Coolant
To maintain optimum performance and
durability of your engine, use MARUTI
Genuine Coolant or equivalent.
This type of coolant is best for your cooling
system as it:
Helps maintain proper engine tempera-
ture.
Gives proper protection against freezing
and boiling.
Gives proper protection against corro-
sion and rust.
Failure to use the proper coolant can dam-
age your cooling system. Your authorized
MARUTI SUZUKI dealer can help you
select the proper coolant.
Coolant Level Check
Check the coolant level at the reservoir
tank, not at the radiator. With the engine
cool, the coolant level should be between
the “FULL” and “LOW” marks.
NOTICE
• When replacing the oil filter, it is rec-
ommended that you use a genuine
MARUTI SUZUKI replacement filter.
If you use an aftermarket filter, make
sure it is of equivalent quality and
follow the manufacturer’s instruc-
tions.
• Oil leaks from around the oil filter
or drain plug indicate incorrect
installation or gasket damage. If
you find any leaks or are not sure
that the filter has been properly
tightened, have the vehicle
inspected by your MARUTI SUZUKI
dealer.
NOTICE
To avoid damaging your cooling sys-
tem:
• Always use a high quality eth-
yleneglycol base non-silicate type
coolant diluted with distilled water
at the correct mixture concentra-
tion.
• Make sure that the proper mix is 30/
70 coolant to distilled water and in
no case higher than 70/30. Concen-
trations greater than 70/30 coolant
to distilled water will cause over-
heating conditions.
• Do not use straight coolant nor
plain water.
• Do not add extra inhibitors or addi-
tives. They may not be compatible
with your cooling system.
• Do not mix different types of base
coolants. Doing so may result in
accelerated seal wear and/or the
possibility of severe overheating
and extensive engine damage.

7-16
INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
53MH0-74E
60G160S
53MM07010
Spark plug gap “a”ALTO 800
NGK DCPR7E, BOSCH YR7DC
0.8 - 0.9 mm (0.031 - 0.035 in.)
ALTO K10
NGK KR6A-10:
0.95 - 1.05 mm (0.037 - 0.041 in.)
Gear Oil
Manual Transaxle Oil
When adding gear oil, use gear oil with the
appropriate viscosity and grade.
We highly recommend you use: “MARUTI
Genuine GEAR OIL 75W-80” for manual
transaxle gear oil or automated manual
transaxle oil.
Manual transaxle oil (API GL-4)
53M-09-023
Gear Oil Level Check
68KH073
(1) Oil filler and level plug
To check the gear oil level, use the follow-
ing procedure:
1) Park the vehicle on a level surface with
the parking brake applied. Then, stop
the engine.
2) Remove the oil filler plug (1) or (2).
3) Check the inside of the hole with your
finger. If the oil level comes up to the
bottom of the plug hole, the oil level is
correct. If so, reinstall the plug.
4) If the oil level is low, add gear oil
through the oil filler plug hole (1) or (2)
until the oil level reaches the bottom of
the filler hole, then reinstall the plug.
Tightening torque (1):
21 Nm (2.1 kg-m, 15.5 lb-ft)
NOTICE
• When installing the spark plugs,
screw them in with your fingers to
avoid stripping the threads.
Tighten with a torque wrench to
25 Nm (2.5 kg-m, 18.0 lb-ft). Do not
allow contaminants to enter the
engine through the spark plug
holes when the plugs are removed.
• Never use spark plugs with the
wrong thread size.
EXAMPLE
“a”
EXAMPLE
NOTICE
When replacing spark plugs, you
should use the brand and type speci-
fied for your vehicle. For the speci-
fied spark plugs, refer to the
“SPECIFICATIONS” section at the
end of this book.
(1)
EXAMPLE

7-18
INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
53MH0-74E
Brakes
Brake Fluid
53M-09-028
Check the brake fluid level by looking at
the reservoir in the engine compartment.
Check that the fluid level is between the
“MAX” and “MIN” lines. If the brake fluid
level is near the “MIN” line, fill it up to the
“MAX” line with MARUTI GENUINE
BRAKE FLUID (MGBF).NOTE:
With disc brakes, the fluid level can be
expected to gradually fall as the brake
pads wear.
Brake Pedal
Check if the brake pedal stops at the regu-
lar height without “spongy” feeling when
you depress it. If not, have the brake sys-
tem inspected by your MARUTI SUZUKI
dealer. If you doubt the brake pedal for the
regular height, check it as follows:
EXAMPLE
WA R N I N G
Failure to follow the guidelines below
can result in personal injury or seri-
ous damage to the brake system.
• If the brake fluid in the reservoir
drops below a certain level, the
brake warning light on the instru-
ment panel will come on (the
engine must be running with the
parking brake fully disengaged).
Should the light come on, immedi-
ately ask your MARUTI SUZUKI
dealer to inspect the brake system.
• A rapid fluid loss indicates a leak in
the brake system which should be
inspected by your MARUTI SUZUKI
dealer immediately.
• Do not use any fluid other than
MARUTI GENUINE BRAKE FLUID
(MGBF) brake fluid. Do not use
reclaimed fluid or fluid that has
been stored in old or open contain-
ers. It is essential that foreign parti-
cles and other liquids are kept out
of the brake fluid reservoir.
CAUTION
Brake fluid can harm your eyes and
damage painted surfaces. Use cau-
tion when refilling the reservoir.
WA R N I N G
Brake fluid is harmful or fatal if swal-
lowed, and harmful if it comes in con-
tact with skin or eyes. If swallowed,
do not induce vomiting. Immediately
contact a poison control center or a
physician. If brake fluid gets in eyes,
flush eyes with water and seek medi-
cal attention. Wash thoroughly after
handling. Solution can be poisonous
to animals. Keep out of the reach of
children and animals.

7-19
INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
53MH0-74E
53M-09-029
Pedal to floor carpet minimum dis-
tance “a”:
ALTO 800: 72 mm (2.8 in.)
ALTO K10: 79 mm (3.1 in.)
With the engine running, measure the dis-
tance between the brake pedal and floor
carpet when the pedal is depressed with
approximately 30 kg (66 lbs) of force. The
minimum distance required is as specified.
Since your vehicle’s brake system is self-
adjusting, there is no need for pedal
adjustment.
If the pedal to floor carpet distance as
measured above is less than the minimum
distance required, have your vehicle
inspected by your MARUTI SUZUKI dealer.
NOTE:When measuring the distance between the
brake pedal and floor wall, be sure not to
include any accessory floor mat or rubber
mat on the floor carpet in your measure-
ment.
60G104S
Parking Brake
54G109
Ratchet tooth specification “b”:
4th – 9th
Lever pull force (1):
200 N (20 kg, 44 lbs)
Check the parking brake for proper adjust-
ment by counting the number of clicks
made by the ratchet teeth as you slowly
pull up on the parking brake lever to the
point of full engagement. The parking
brake lever should stop between the speci-
fied ratchet teeth and the rear wheels
should be securely locked. If the parking
brake is not properly adjusted or the
brakes drag after the lever has been fully
released, have the parking brake inspected
and/or adjusted by your MARUTI SUZUKI
dealer.
EXAMPLE
WA R N I N G
If you experience any of the following
problems with your vehicle’s brake
system, have the vehicle inspected
immediately by your MARUTI SUZUKI
dealer.
• Poor braking performance
• Uneven braking (brakes not work-
ing uniformly on all wheels).
• Excessive pedal travel
• Brake dragging
• Excessive noise
• Pedal pulsation (pedal pulsates
when depressed).
EXAMPLE
EXAMPLE

7-31
INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
53MH0-74E
NOTE:
When you install the metal retainers (3),
make sure the direction of metal retainers
as shown in the above illustrations.
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. Lock the
blade end into place.
6) Reinstall wiper frame to arm, making
sure that the lock lever is snapped
securely into the arm.Windshield Washer Fluid
Front
53M-09-066
Check that there is washer fluid in the tank.
Refill it if necessary. Use a good quality
windshield washer fluid, diluted with water
as necessary.
Air Conditioning System
If you do not use the air conditioner for a
long period, such as during winter, it may
not give the best performance when you
start using it again. To help maintain opti-
mum performance and durability of your air
conditioner, it needs to be run periodically.
Operate the air conditioner at least once a
month for one minute with the engine
idling. This circulates the refrigerant and oil
and helps protect the internal components.
WA R N I N G
Do not use “anti-freeze” solution in
the windshield washer reservoir. This
can severely impair visibility when
sprayed on the windshield, and also
damage your vehicle’s paint.
NOTICE
Damage may result if the washer
motor is operated with no fluid in the
washer tank.
EXAMPLE

8-6
EMERGENCY SERVICE
53MH0-74E
Towing
If you need to have your vehicle towed,
contact a professional service. Your dealer
can provide you with detailed towing
instructions.
2-Wheel Drive (2WD) Manual Transaxle
or Automated Manual Transaxle
Manual transaxle vehicles or Automated
Manual Transaxle may be towed using
either of the following methods.
1) From the front, with the front wheels
lifted and the rear wheels on the
ground. Before towing, make sure that
the parking brake is released.
2) From the rear, with the rear wheels
lifted and the front wheels on the
ground, provided the steering and
drivetrain are in operational condition.
Before towing, make sure that transaxle
is in neutral, the steering wheel is
unlocked (the ignition key should be in
the “ACC” position), and the steering
wheel is secured with a clamping
device designed for towing service.
If the Starter Does Not
Operate
1) Try turning the ignition switch to the
“START” position with the headlights
turned on to determine the battery con-
dition. If the headlights go excessively
dim or go off, it usually means that
either the battery is flat or the battery
terminal contact is poor. Recharge the
battery or correct battery terminal con-
tact as necessary.
2) If the headlights remain bright, check
the fuses. If the reason for failure of the
starter is not obvious, there may be a
major electrical problem. Have the vehi-
cle inspected by your authorized MAR-
UTI SUZUKI dealer.
If the Engine is Flooded
If the engine is flooded with gasoline, it
may be hard to start. If this happens, press
the accelerator pedal all the way to the
floor and hold it there while cranking the
engine. (Do not operate the starter motor
for more than 15 seconds).
NOTICE
To help avoid damage to your vehicle
during towing, proper equipment and
towing procedures must be used.
NOTICE
After shifting the auto gear shift gear-
shift lever to the “N” position, always
check the gear position indicator in
the instrument cluster shows the “N”
position to make sure that the
transaxle is disengaged.
If the transaxle cannot be put in neu-
tral, turn the key from the “OFF” to
the “ON” position, and move the auto
gear shift gearshift lever from “N” to
“D”, “M” or “R”, then back to “N”
again. Then turn the key from the
“ON” to the “OFF” position.
These procedures may help put the
transaxle in neutral. If the transaxle
still cannot be put in neutral, you can-
not tow the vehicle without using a
towing dolly.
NOTICE
The steering column is not strong
enough to withstand shocks trans-
mitted from the front wheels during
towing. Always unlock the steering
wheel before towing.

8-7
EMERGENCY SERVICE
53MH0-74E
If the Engine Overheats
The engine could overheat temporarily
under severe driving conditions. If the high
engine coolant temperature warning light
comes on as overheating during driving:
1) Turn off the air conditioner, if equipped.
2) Take the vehicle to a safe place and
park.
3) Let the engine run at the normal idle
speed for a few minutes until the high
engine coolant temperature warning
light goes off.
If the high engine coolant temperature
warning light does not go off:
1) Turn off the engine and check that the
water pump belt and pulleys are not
damaged or slipping. If any abnormality
is found, correct it.2) Check the coolant level in the reservoir.
If it is found to be lower than the “LOW”
line, look for leaks at the radiator, water
pump, and radiator and heater hoses. If
you locate any leaks that may have
caused the overheating, do not run the
engine until these problems have been
corrected.
3) If you do not find a leak, carefully add
coolant to the reservoir and then the
radiator, if necessary. (Refer to “Engine
Coolant” in the “INSPECTION AND
MAINTENANCE” section.)
NOTE:
If your engine overheats and you are
unsure what to do, contact your MARUTI
SUZUKI dealer.
65D614
WA R N I N G
If you see or hear escaping steam,
stop the vehicle in a safe place and
immediately turn off the engine to let
it cool. Do not open the hood when
steam is present. When the steam
can no longer be seen or heard, open
the hood to see if the coolant is still
boiling. If it is, you must wait until it
stops boiling before you proceed.
WA R N I N G
• It is hazardous to remove the radia-
tor cap (or degassing tank cap for a
diesel engine) when the water tem-
perature is high, because scalding
fluid and steam may be blown out
under pressure. The cap should
only be taken off when the coolant
temperature has lowered.
• To help 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 warn-
ing.