4-6
DRIVING TIPS
79K21-03E
Off-Road DrivingYour vehicle has specific design character-
istics for off-road driving. When you leave
the pavement, you will encounter driving
surfaces of all kinds which may change
continually as you drive. In most cases, off-
road driving requires the use of 4-wheel
drive. If your vehicle is a 2-wheel drive
vehicle, you should limit your off-road driv-
ing only to hard, flat, nonslippery surfaces.
2-wheel drive vehicles have far less trac-
tion on off-road surfaces than 4-wheel
drive vehicles. It is important when driving
off-road to follow the guidelines below.
Use Caution on Steep Inclines
Always inspect hills before you attempt to
drive up them. Know what is on the other
side and how you will get back down. If you
have any doubt that it is safe, do not
attempt to drive over a hill. Never drive
your vehicle up an extremely steep incline.
Coming down a steep hill can be trickier
than getting up one. Keep the vehicle
heading straight down the hill and use low
gear. Do not lock the brakes. If the vehicle
begins to slide, accelerate slightly to regain
steering control.Do Not Turn on or Drive Across the Side
of Hills
Turning on or driving across the side of a
hill can be extremely hazardous. Most of
the vehicle’s weight will be transferred to
the downhill tires, which could result in the
vehicle rolling sideways. Whenever possi-
ble, avoid this potential hazard. Also, if you
have to exit your vehicle on a side-hill,
always get out on the uphill side.
Wear Your Seat Belts at All Times
You and your passengers should use the
seat belts at all times when driving off-
road. For proper seat belt use, refer to the
“Seat Belts and Child Restraint Systems”
section in this manual.
Avoid Sudden Reactions in Mud, Ice or
Snow
Be careful when off-road conditions are
slick. Reduce your speed and avoid sud-
den movements of the vehicle. If your vehi-
cle is a 2-wheel drive vehicle, do not drive
in deep snow or mud. If your vehicle is a 4-
wheel drive vehicle, be aware that driving
in deep snow or mud can cause a loss of
traction and an increase in the resistance
to the vehicle’s forward motion. Use 4WD
low gear (4L) and maintain a steady but
moderate speed with a light touch on the
steering wheel and brakes.Do not drive in the field covered with
grown grass
If you drive in the field covered with grass,
it may cause unexpected accident or vehi-
cle damage by getting caught in grown
grass.
If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck
If your vehicle gets stuck in snow, mud or
sand, follow the directions below:
1) (For vehicles equipped with transfer
switch) Turn the transfer switch to “4H
LOCK” or “4L LOCK”.
2) Shift the transmission back and forth
between a forward range (or first gear
for manual transmission) 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 spin to a min-
imum. 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.
3) If your vehicle remains stuck after a few
minutes of rocking, get another vehicle
to pull you out.
5-12
OTHER CONTROLS AND EQUIPMENT
79K21-03E
Turning power on/off
Press the power on/off knob (1).
The unit starts in the function mode it was
in when the power was turned off last.
Adjusting the volume
Turn the volume control knob (1).
Turning it clockwise increases the volume;
turning it counterclockwise decreases the
volume.
NOTE:
While driving, adjust the volume to an
extent that sound and/or noise coming
from outside the car can be heard.
Adjusting the clock
1) Press the clock button H (5) to adjust
the hours.
Press the clock button M (6) to adjust
the minutes.
2) Hold the button depressed to automati-
cally increment the number.
3) To reset the clock to an hour signal,
press the clock button H (5) while hold-
ing the clock button M (6) depressed.
NOTE:
When the clock has not been set, the time
“12:00” will flash in the display.
Clock reset is effected as follows:
When minutes are between 00 and 29,
the clock will reset to the current hour.
(example: 12:23 ➔ 12:00) When minutes are between 30 and 59,
the clock will reset to the next hour.
(example: 12:38 ➔ 1:00)
Adjusting bass/treble/balance/fader
1) Press the tone/balance/fader control
knob (2).
Each time it is pressed, sound adjust-
ment is changed as follows:
66J224
2) Turn the tone/balance/fader control
knob (2) to adjust the sound.Adjusting the AVC (Auto volume con-
trol)
The Auto Volume Control (AVC) function
automatically adjusts (increases/
decreases) the sound volume in accor-
dance with vehicle speed. The AVC control
is provided with three selectable levels
(LEVEL OFF, 1, 2, 3). The range of volume
adjustment increases together with the
LEVEL number,
1) Press the tone/balance/fader control
knob (2) until the AVC adjustment mode
is selected.
2) Turn the tone/balance/fader control
knob (2) to select the desired AVC
adjustment level. (Initial setting: LEVEL
2)
Adjusting the contrast of the display
1) Press the tone/balance/fader control
knob (2) and preset button 5 (3), preset
button 6 (4) simultaneously.
2) To adjust the contrast of the display,
turn the power on/off knob (1).
Cancel the dimmer condition
Each time you press the power on/off knob
(1) for two seconds with the lighting switch
on, the background brightness of the audio
display will switch between normal and
dimmed.
Bass adjustment (BASS 0)
Treble adjustment (TREBLE 0)
Balance adjustment (BALANCE 0)
Fader adjustment (FADER 0)
AVC adjustment (AVC LEVEL 2)
Original mode
Sunroof: 5, 8
5-39OTHER CONTROLS AND EQUIPMENT
79K21-03E
Turning power on/off
Press the power on/off knob (1).
The unit starts in the function mode it was
in when the power was turned off last.
Adjusting the volume
Turn the volume control knob (1).
Turning it clockwise increases the volume;
turning it counterclockwise decreases the
volume.
NOTE:
While driving, adjust the volume to an
extent that sound and/or noise coming
from outside the car can be heard.
Adjusting the clock
1) Press the clock button H (5) to adjust
the hours.
Press the clock button M (6) to adjust
the minutes.
2) Hold the button depressed to automati-
cally increment the number.
3) To reset the clock to an hour signal,
press the clock button H (5) while hold-
ing the clock button M (6) depressed.
NOTE:
When the clock has not been set, the time
“12:00” will flash in the display.
Clock reset is effected as follows:
When minutes are between 00 and 29,
the clock will reset to the current hour.
(example: 12:23 ➔ 12:00) When minutes are between 30 and 59,
the clock will reset to the next hour.
(example: 12:38 ➔ 1:00)
Adjusting bass/treble/balance/fader
1) Press the tone/balance/fader control
knob (2).
Each time it is pressed, sound adjust-
ment is changed as follows:
66J224
2) Turn the tone/balance/fader control
knob (2) to adjust the sound.Adjusting the AVC (Auto volume con-
trol)
The Auto Volume Control (AVC) function
automatically adjusts (increases/
decreases) the sound volume in accor-
dance with vehicle speed. The AVC control
is provided with three selectable levels
(LEVEL OFF, 1, 2, 3). The range of volume
adjustment increases together with the
LEVEL number,
1) Press the tone/balance/fader control
knob (2) until the AVC adjustment mode
is selected.
2) Turn the tone/balance/fader control
knob (2) to select the desired AVC
adjustment level. (Initial setting: LEVEL
2)
Adjusting the contrast of the display
1) Press the tone/balance/fader control
knob (2) and preset button 5 (3), preset
button 6 (4) simultaneously.
2) To adjust the contrast of the display,
turn the power on/off knob (1).
Bass adjustment (BASS 0)
Treble adjustment (TREBLE 0)
Balance adjustment (BALANCE 0)
Fader adjustment (FADER 0)
AVC adjustment (AVC LEVEL 2)
Original mode
6-2
VEHICLE LOADING AND TOWING
79K21-03E
Trailer TowingYou can use your SUZUKI to tow a trailer,
but you should always observe the require-
ments and recommendations in this sec-
tion. If you intend to tow a trailer, it is
essential to select a trailer and trailer tow-
ing equipment which are compatible. A
reputable trailer dealer can help you.
For Automatic transmission vehicles, shift
into “3” (Low 2) or “L” (Low 1) (if necessary)
and frequently monitor the coolant temper-
ature gauge when towing up a steep hill. If
the gauge indicates overheating, park the
vehicle in a safe place and let the enginecool down. Refer to “If the Engine Over-
heats” section for details on how to deal
with overheating.
HitchesUse only a trailer hitch bracket that is
designed to bolt to the frame of your vehi-
cle, and a hitch that is designed to bolt to
this bracket. We recommend that you use
a genuine SUZUKI trailer hitch bracket and
trailer hitch (available as options), or equiv-
alent.Safety ChainsAlways attach safety chains between your
vehicle and trailer. Cross safety chains
under the tongue of the trailer so that the
tongue will not drop to the road if the trailer
becomes separated from the hitch. Follow
the manufacturer’s recommendation for
attaching safety chains. Always leave just
enough slack to permit full turning. Never
allow safety chains to drag on the road.
Trailer LightsMake sure your trailer is equipped with
lights which meet federal, state and local
requirements. Always check for the proper
operation of all trailer lights before you
start to tow.Brakes CAUTION
Trailer towing puts additional stress
on the engine, drive train and brakes
of your vehicle. Never tow a trailer
during the first 960 km (600 miles) of
vehicle operation.
CAUTION
Because towing a trailer puts addi-
tional stress on your vehicle, more
frequent maintenance will be
required than under normal driving
conditions. Follow the schedule for
Maintenance Recommended Under
Severe Driving Conditions or perform
more frequent maintenance as nec-
essary.
CAUTION
Towing in “D” range up a steep hill
can cause coolant overheating which
may result in engine/automatic trans-
mission damage.
WARNING
Never use a bumper hitch or a hitch
which attaches to the axle of your
vehicle.
WARNING
Never attach safety chains to the
bumper of your vehicle. Secure con-
nections so that they can’t come
loose.
WARNING
Never splice trailer lights directly into
your vehicle’s electrical system, or
electrical system damage may occur.
WARNING
If trailer brakes are used, you should
follow all instructions provided by the
manufacturer. Never tap into the
brake system of your vehicle.
Trailer Towing: 5, 11, 13
8-6
EMERGENCY SERVICE
79K21-03E
64J196
Snow TiresYour vehicle is equipped with all-season
tires which are designed for use in summer
and most winter conditions. For improved
traction in severe winter conditions,
SUZUKI recommends mounting radial
snow tires on all four wheels. Snow tires
must be the same size as the standard
tires. Also be sure to use the tires of the
same type and brand on all four wheels of
your vehicle.
CAUTION
To avoid the removal of the spare
wheel full cover while driving, be
sure to fit the claws (3) of the outer
cover of the spare wheel full cover to
each hole (4) of the inner cover of the
spare wheel full cover.
(3)
(4)
WARNING
Vehicle equipped with P225/65R17
tires have a spare wheel and tire that
are a different size than the wheels
and tires on the vehicle. The spare
wheel and tire on these vehicles are
intended for temporary emergency
use only. The wheel is painted yellow
to remind you that the wheel and tire
are for temporary use only. Continu-
ous use of this spare can result in tire
failure and loss of control. Always
observe these precautions when
using this spare:
Be aware that your vehicle will han-
dle differently with this temporary
spare.
Do not exceed 80 km/h (50 mph)
speed.
Replace the temporary spare with a
standard tire and wheel as soon as
possible.
Do not operate your vehicle in “4H
LOCK” or “4L LOCK” with this tem-
porary spare.
Do not use tire chains on the spare
tire. If you must use tire chains,
rearrange the wheels so standard
tires and wheels are fitted to the
rear axle.
(Continued)
WARNING
(Continued)
Replace the spare tire with a new
one as soon as the tread wear indi-
cator appears.
When replacing the spare tire, use
a replacement tire with the exact
same size and construction.
If the Engine Overheats: 2, 9
If You Cannot Shift Automatic Transmission Gearshift Le-
ver Out of “P” (PARK): 2, 9
8-9EMERGENCY SERVICE
79K21-03E
If the Engine is FloodedIf 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).
If the Engine OverheatsThe engine could overheat temporarily
under severe driving conditions. If the
engine coolant temperature gauge indi-
cates 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 normal idle speed
for a few minutes until the indicator is
within the normal, acceptable tempera-
ture range shown by the white band
between “H” and “C”.If the temperature indication does not
come down to within the normal, accept-
able range:
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.)
WARNING
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.
Also, be careful not to touch hot
engine parts (radiator, water hoses,
engine etc.).
13-2INDEX
79K21-03E
Cup Holder and Storage Bin
...............................................5-72
DDaily Inspection Checklist
..................................................3-2
Daytime Running Light (D.R.L.) Indicator Light
...............2-63
Daytime Running Light (D.R.L.) System
............................2-78
Door Locks
...........................................................................2-1
Drive Belt
..............................................................................7-9
Driver’s Seat Belt Reminder Light
.....................................2-61
Driving Range
......................................................................2-68
EElectronic Stability Program (ESP®)
.................................3-31
Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) .................................2-28
Emission Compliance Label (for U.S.A.)
...........................10-2
Engine Block Heater
............................................................3-10
Engine Coolant
....................................................................7-13
Engine Coolant Level Check
..............................................7-14
Engine Coolant Replacement .............................................7-15
Engine Hood
........................................................................5-63
Engine Oil and Filter
............................................................7-10
Engine Serial Number .........................................................10-1
Exhaust Gas Warning .........................................................3-1
FFloor Mats
............................................................................5-74
Fluid Level Check
................................................................7-20
Folding Rear Seats ..............................................................2-24
Frame Hooks
........................................................................5-83
Front Air Bags ......................................................................2-45
Front Fog Light Switch
.......................................................2-78
Front Passenger’s Seat Belt Reminder Light
...................2-55
Front Seat Back Pocket
......................................................5-73
Front Seat Heater
.................................................................2-21Front Seats
.......................................................................... 2-18
Fuel Consumption
.............................................................. 2-68
Fuel Filler Cap
..................................................................... 5-62
Fuel Gauge
.......................................................................... 2-65
Fuel Pump Labeling
............................................................ 1-1
Fuel Recommendation ....................................................... 1-1
Fuse under the Dash Board
............................................... 7-38
Fuses
.................................................................................... 7-36
FUSES AND PROTECTED CIRCUITS
................................ 11-1
GGasoline Containing MTBE
................................................ 1-1
Gasoline/Ethanol blends
.................................................... 1-1
Gasoline/Methanol blends ................................................. 1-1
Gear Oil
................................................................................ 7-17
Gear Oil Level Check
.......................................................... 7-19
Gear Oil Replacement ......................................................... 7-19
GLOSSARY OF TIRE TERMINOLOGY
............................... 7-32
Glove Box
............................................................................ 5-71
HHazard Warning Switch
...................................................... 2-79
Head Restraints
..........................................................2-20
, 2-23
Headlight Aiming
................................................................ 7-39
High Beam Indicator Light
................................................. 2-63
Hill descent control Indicator Light
................................... 2-60
Hill descent control System
............................................... 3-35
Hill hold control System
..................................................... 3-37
HomeLink®
.......................................................................... 5-80
Horn
...................................................................................... 2-82
IIdentification Numbers
....................................................... 10-1
If the Engine is Flooded ..................................................... 8-9