2013 SUZUKI ALTO fuel

4-1
DRIVING TIPS
53MH0-74E
68PHM4001
Running-in Catalytic Converter
80G106
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, because lead
deactivates the pollutant-reducing compo-
nents of the catalyst system.
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.
WA R N I N G
• WEAR YOUR SEAT BELTS AT ALL
TIMES. Even though air bags may
be equipped at the front seating
positions, the driver and all pas-
sengers 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.
NOTICE
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 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 braking, especially
during the first 320 km of driving.
• Do not drive slowly with the
transaxle in a high gear.
• Drive the vehicle at moderate
engine speeds.
• Do not tow a trailer.
EXAMPLE

4-2
DRIVING TIPS
53MH0-74E
54G584S
Improving Fuel Economy
The following instructions will help you
improve fuel economy.
Avoid excessive idling
If you are to wait for more than a minute
while you are parked, stop the engine and
start it again later. When warming up a
cold engine, do not allow the engine to idle
or apply full throttle until the engine has
reached operating temperature. Allow the
engine to warm up while driving.
Avoid sudden acceleration
Sudden acceleration starting from rest or
while driving will consume fuel unneces-
sarily and shorten engine life. Start off
slowly.
Avoid unnecessary stops
Avoid unnecessary deceleration and stop-
ping. Try to maintain a slow, steady speed
whenever possible. Slowing down and then
accelerating again uses more fuel.
Keep a steady cruising speed
Keep as constant a speed as road and traf-
fic conditions will permit.NOTICE
To avoid damaging catalyst or other
vehicle damage:
• Maintain the engine in the proper
operating condition.
• In the event of an engine malfunc-
tion, particularly one involving
engine misfiring or other apparent
loss of performance, have the vehi-
cle serviced promptly.
• Do not turn off the engine or inter-
rupt the ignition when the transaxle
is in gear and the vehicle is in
motion.
• Do not try to start the engine by
pushing or towing the vehicle, or
coasting down a hill.
• Do not idle the engine with any
spark plug wires disconnected or
removed, such as during diagnos-
tic testing.
• Do not idle the vehicle for pro-
longed periods if idling seems
rough or there are other malfunc-
tions.
• Do not allow the fuel tank to get
near the empty level.
• Avoid driving your vehicle at
excessively high engine speed.
WA R N I N G
Be careful about where you park and
drive; the catalytic converter and
other exhaust components can get
very hot. As with any vehicle, do not
park or operate this vehicle in areas
where combustible materials such as
dry grass or leaves can come in con-
tact with a hot exhaust system.
EXAMPLE

4-3
DRIVING TIPS
53MH0-74E
Keep the air cleaner clean
60A183S
If the air cleaner is clogged with dust, there
will be greater intake resistance, resulting
in decreased power output and increased
fuel consumption.
Keep weight to a minimum
Heavier the load, more fuel the vehicle
consumes. Take out any luggage or cargo
when it is not necessary.
Keep tire pressures correct
Underinflation of the tires can waste fuel
due to increased running resistance of the
tires. Keep your tires inflated to the correct
pressure shown on the label on the driver’s
side door or the driver’s door lock pillar.
Highway Driving
When driving at high speeds, pay attention
to the following:
Stopping distance progressively
increases with vehicle speed. Apply the
brakes far enough ahead of the stopping
point to allow for the extra stopping dis-
tance.
On rainy days, hydroplaning can occur.
Hydroplaning is the loss of direct contact
between the road surface and the vehi-
cle’s tires due to a water film forming
between them. Steering or braking the
vehicle while hydroplaning can be very
difficult, and loss of control can occur.
Keep speed down when the road surface
is wet.
At high speeds, the vehicle may be
affected by side winds. Therefore,
reduce speed and be prepared for unex-
pected buffeting, which can occur at the
exits of tunnels, when passing by a cut of
a hill, or when being overtaken by large
vehicles, etc.
Driving on Hills
53M06005
When climbing steep hills, the vehicle
may begin to slow down and show a lack
of power. If this happens, you should
shift to a lower gear so that the engine
will again be operating in its normal
power range. Shift rapidly to prevent the
vehicle from losing momentum.
When driving down a hill, the engine
should be used for braking by shifting
into a lower gear.
EXAMPLE
EXAMPLE

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.

OTHER CONTROLS AND EQUIPMENT
5
53MH0-74E
OTHER CONTROLS AND EQUIPMENT
Manual Heating and Air Conditioning System
(if equipped) ......................................................................... 5-1
Fuel Filler Cap ..................................................................... 5-6
Engine Hood ........................................................................ 5-7
Sun Visor ............................................................................. 5-8
Interior Light Switch ........................................................... 5-8
Accessory Socket (if equipped) ......................................... 5-9
Assist Grips (if equipped) .................................................. 5-9
Glove Box ............................................................................ 5-10
Cup Holder and Storage Area ............................................ 5-10
Floor Mats ............................................................................ 5-10
Shopping Hook (if equipped) ............................................. 5-11
Luggage Compartment Cover (if equipped) ..................... 5-11
Frame Hooks ....................................................................... 5-12
Front Speaker Provision ..................................................... 5-12
Audio System (if equipped) ................................................ 5-13

5-4
OTHER CONTROLS AND EQUIPMENT
53MH0-74E
Fresh Air (f)
When this mode is selected by moving the
lever to right, outside air is used.
Recirculated Air (g)
When this mode is selected by moving the
lever to left, outside air is shut out and
inside air is recirculated. This mode is suit-
able when driving through dusty or polluted
air such as in a tunnel, or when attempting
to quickly cool down the interior.
NOTE:
If you select RECIRCULATED AIR for an
extended period of time, the air in the vehi-
cle can become contaminated. Therefore,
you should occasionally select FRESH
AIR.
Air conditioning switch (5) (if equipped)
To turn on the air conditioning system, set
the blower speed selector to a position
other than “OFF” and push in the “A/C”
switch. With this “A/C” switch operation, a
indicator light will come on when the air
conditioning system is on. To turn off the
air conditioning system, push “A/C” switch
again.
During operation of the air conditioner, you
may notice slight changes in engine
speed. These changes are normal, the
system is designed so that the compressor
turns on or off to maintain the desired tem-
perature.Less operation of the compressor results
in better fuel economy.
System Operating Instructions
Natural ventilation
Select VENTILATION and FRESH AIR, the
temperature selector to the desired tem-
perature position, and the blower speed
selector to off. Fresh air will flow through
the vehicle during driving.
Forced ventilation
The control settings are the same as for
natural ventilation except you set the
blower speed selector to a position other
than off.
Normal heating (using outside air)
Select HEAT and FRESH AIR, the tem-
perature selector to the desired tempera-
ture position and the blower speed selector
to the desired blower speed position. Set-
ting the blower speed selector to a higher
blower speed position increases heating
efficiency.
Quick heating (using recirculated air)
The control settings are the same as for
normal heating except you select RECIR-
CULATED AIR. If you use this heating
method for an extended period of time, the
air in the vehicle can become contami-
nated and the windows can become misty.
Therefore, use this method only for quick
heating and change to the normal heating
method as soon as possible.Head cooled/Feet warmed heating
Select BI-LEVEL and FRESH AIR, the
temperature selector to the desired tem-
perature position, and the blower speed
selector to the desired blower speed posi-
tion. Unless the temperature selector is in
the fully cold position or fully hot position,
the air that comes out of the center and
side outlets will be cooler than the air that
comes out of the floor outlets.
Normal cooling
Set the air flow selector to VENTILATION,
the temperature selector to the desired
temperature position and the blower speed
selector to the desired blower speed posi-
tion, and turn on the “A/C” switch. Setting
the blower speed selector to a higher
blower speed position increases cooling
efficiency.
You can switch the air intake selector to
either FRESH AIR or RECIRCULATED
AIR as you desire. Choosing RECIRCU-
LATED AIR increases cooling efficiency.
Quick cooling (using recirculated air)
The control settings are the same as for
normal cooling except you select RECIR-
CULATED AIR and the highest blower
speed.
NOTE:
• To turn on the air conditioning system,
push in the “A/C” switch and set the
blower speed selector to a position other
than OFF. With this “A/C” switch opera-

5-5
OTHER CONTROLS AND EQUIPMENT
53MH0-74E
tion, an indicator light will come on when
the air conditioning system is on. To turn
off the air conditioning system, push the
“A/C” switch again.
• During operation of the air conditioner,
you may notice slight changes in engine
speed. These changes are normal, the
system is designed so that the compres-
sor turns on or off to maintain the
desired temperature. Less operation of
the compressor results in better fuel
economy.
NOTE:
• If you select RECIRCULATED AIR for an
extended period of time, the air in the
vehicle can become contaminated.
Therefore, you should occasionally
select FRESH AIR.
• If your vehicle has been left in the sun
with the windows closed, it will cool
faster if you open the windows briefly
while you operate the air conditioner with
the air intake selector at FRESH AIR and
the blower at high speed.
Dehumidifying
Set the air flow selector to a desired air
flow selector position, the temperature
selector to the desired temperature posi-
tion and the blower speed selector to the
desired blower speed position. Also select
FRESH AIR and turn on the “A/C” switch.NOTE:
Because the air conditioner dehumidifies
the air, turning it on will help keep the win-
dows clear, even when blowing heated air
using the DEFROST or HEAT &
DEFROST functions.
53MH0511
NOTE:
If you need maximum defrosting:
• set the air flow selector to DEFROST,
• set the blower speed selector to high,
• adjust the temperature selector to the
hot end, and
• adjust the side outlets so the air blows
on the side windows.
Maintenance
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.
NOTE:
Your vehicle uses the air conditioning
refrigerant HFC-134a, commonly called
“R-134a”. R-134a replaced R-12 around
1993 for automotive applications. Other
refrigerants are available, including recy-
cled R-12, but only R-134a should be used
in your vehicle.
EXAMPLE
NOTICE
Using the wrong refrigerant may
damage your air conditioning sys-
tem. Use R-134a only. Do not mix or
replace the R-134a with other refrig-
erants.