2-28
BEFORE DRIVING
79K21-03E
Lap-Shoulder BeltEmergency Locking Retractor (ELR)
The lap-shoulder seat belt has an emer-
gency locking retractor (ELR), which is
designed to lock the seat belt only during a
sudden stop or impact. It also may lock if
you pull the belt across your body very
quickly. If this happens, let the belt go back
to unlock it, then pull the belt across your
body more slowly.
Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR)
The front passenger’s seat belt and the
rear seat belts have emergency locking
retractors (ELRs) that can be temporarily
converted to function as automatic locking
retractors (ALRs). The ALR mode should
be used if you need to secure a child
restraint system in the seat. Refer to the
“Child Restraint Systems” section for
details.
WARNING
(Continued)
Do not wear your seat belt over
hard or breakable objects in your
pockets or on your clothing. If an
accident occurs, objects such as
glasses, pens, etc. under the seat
belt can cause injury.
Never use the same seat belt on
more than one occupant and never
attach a seat belt over an infant or
child being held on an occupant’s
lap. Such seat belt use could cause
serious injury in the event of an
accident.
Periodically inspect seat belt
assemblies for excessive wear and
damage. Seat belts should be
replaced if webbing becomes
frayed, contaminated, or damaged
in any way. It is essential to replace
the entire seat belt assembly after it
has been worn in a severe impact,
even if damage to the assembly is
not obvious.
Children age 12 and under should
ride properly restrained in the rear
seat, if equipped.
(Continued)
WARNING
(Continued)
Infants and small children should
never be transported unless they
are properly restrained. Restraint
systems for infants and small chil-
dren can be purchased commer-
cially and should be used. Make
sure that the system you purchase
meets Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards. Read and follow all the
directions provided by the manu-
facturer.
Avoid contamination of seat belt
webbing by polishes, oils, chemi-
cals and particularly battery acid.
Cleaning may safely be carried out
using mild soap and water.
For children, if the shoulder belt
irritates the neck or face, move the
child closer to the center of the
vehicle.
All seatbacks should always be in
an upright position when driving,
or seat belt effectiveness may be
reduced. Seat belts are designed to
offer maximum protection when
seatbacks are in the upright posi-
tion.
Seat Belts and Child Restraint Systems: 14
2-33BEFORE DRIVING
79K21-03E
Seat Belt Inspection
65D209
Periodically inspect the seat belts to make
sure they work properly and are not dam-
aged. Check the webbing, buckles, latch
plates, retractors, anchorages and guide
loops. Replace any seat belts which do not
work properly or are damaged.
Child Restraint Systems
60G332
Infant restraint - rear seat only
65D202
EXAMPLE
WARNING
Be sure to inspect all seat belt
assemblies after any collision. Any
seat belt assembly which was in use
during a collision (other than a very
minor one) should be replaced, even
if damage to the assembly is not
obvious. Any seat belt assembly
which was not in use during a colli-
sion should be replaced if it does not
function properly, it is damaged in
any way or the seat belt pretension-
ers were activated (that is, if the front
air bags were activated).
EXAMPLE
Seat Belts and Child Restraint Systems: 14
2-34
BEFORE DRIVING
79K21-03E
Infant restraint - rear seat only
65D584
Booster seat
65D203
SUZUKI highly recommends that you use
a child restraint system to restrain infants
and small children. Many different types of
child restraint systems are available; make
sure that the restraint system you select
meets Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Stan-
dards.
All child restraint systems are designed to
be secured in vehicle seats by either seat
belts (lap belts or the lap portion of lap-
shoulder belts) or by special rigid lower
anchor bars built into the seats. Whenever
possible, SUZUKI recommends that child
restraint systems be installed on the rear
seat. According to accident statistics, chil-
dren are safer when properly restrained in
rear seating positions than in front seating
positions.
If you must use a front-facing child restraint
in the front passenger’s seat, be sure to
move the front passenger’s seat as far
back as possible.
EXAMPLE
WARNING
Children could be endangered in a
crash if their child restraints are not
properly secured in the vehicle.
When installing a child restraint sys-
tem, be sure to follow the instruc-
tions below. Be sure to secure the
child in the restraint system accord-
ing to the manufacturer’s instruc-
tions.
WARNING
In an accident or sudden stop, the
rear seat armrest (if equipped) could
fall forward. If there is a child in a
rear-facing child restraint in the cen-
ter seating position, the falling arm-
rest could injure the child. Make sure
the armrest is back in the seat and
locked when not in use.
Seat Belts and Child Restraint Systems: 14
2-49BEFORE DRIVING
79K21-03E
“PASS AIR BAG OFF” Indicator
66J244
The “PASS AIR BAG OFF” indicator is
located on the center of the instrument
panel.
When the ignition switch is turned to the
“ON” position, the “PASS AIR BAG OFF”
indicator comes on for several seconds to
let you know the system is working. When
the front passenger sensing system has
turned off the front passenger’s front air
bag including the seat belt pretensioner,
the “PASS AIR BAG OFF” indicator will
come on and stay on to remind you that
the front passenger’s front air bag is off.
The front passenger sensing system uses
front seat pressure measurements and
pressure locations to determine whether to
activate or deactivate the front passenger’s
front air bag. The front passenger sensing
system may or may not turn off the front airbag, depending on the front passenger’s
seating posture and body build. The air
bag should be turned off in the following
situations:
There is no occupant in the front pas-
senger seat.
The occupant of the front passenger
seat lifts his or her weight off of the seat
for a period of time.
The occupant of the front passenger
seat is an infant or small child in a child
restraint system or a small child in a
booster seat.
A smaller person, such as a child who
has outgrown child restraints or a very
small adolescent is seated in the front
passenger seat.
NOTE:
If the front passenger seat is unoccupied,
the “PASS AIR BAG OFF” indicator will not
come on but the front passenger’s front air
bag will not deploy and the seat belt pre-
tensioner will not operate.
If you have secured a child in the front pas-
senger seat in a forward-facing child
restraint system or booster seat and the
“PASS AIR BAG OFF” indicator light is not
on, turn the vehicle off, remove the child
restraint or booster seat from the vehicle
and reinstall it following the child restraint
or booster seat manufacturer’s directions.
Also refer to “Seat Belts and Child
Restraint Systems” in this section. If, after
reinstalling the child restraint and restart-ing the vehicle, the “PASS AIR BAG OFF”
indicator is still not lit, check to make sure
that the vehicle’s seatback is not pressing
the child restraint into the seat cushion. If
this happens, slightly recline the vehicle’s
seatback and adjust the seat cushion if
possible. Also make sure the child restraint
is not trapped under the vehicle head
restraint. If this happens, adjust the head
restraint. If the “PASS AIR BAG OFF” indi-
cator is still not on, secure the child in the
child restraint or booster seat in a rear seat
position in the vehicle and check with your
dealer.