
46
76G-74E
INSTRUMENT PANEL5-9
HIGH ENGINE COOLANT
TEMPERATURE WARNING
LIGHT (Red Color)When the ignition switch is turned to the
“ON” position, this light comes on briefly so
you can check that the light is working. If
this light blinks while driving, it means the
engine is running hot. Avoid driving condi-
tions that may lead to actual overheating.
If the light stays on without blinking, then
the engine is overheating. Follow the in-
structions in the “If the Engine Over heats”
of “EMERGENCY SERVICE” section.Continuing to drive the vehicle when
engine overheating is indicated can
result in severe engine damage.
CAUTION
76G-05-019
FUEL GAUGEWhen the ignition switch is in the “ON”
position, this gauge gives an approximate
indication of the amount of fuel in the fuel
tank. “F” stands for full and “E” stands for
empty.
When the fuel meter indicator shows only
one segment to “E”, refill the tank as soon
as possible.Note:If the last segment blinks, it means that the
fuel tank is almost empty.
Note:The fuel level indicator varies depending onroad conditions (for example, slope orcurve) and driving conditions because of
fuel moving in the tank.
76G-05-018
The tachometer indicates engine speed
in revolutions per minute.
76G-05-013C
Never drive with the engine speed in-
dicator in the red zone (1) or severe
engine damage can result.
When downshifting to a lower gear,
make sure not to operate with exces-
sive revolution speeds of the engine.
Refer to “Downshifting maximum allow-
able speeds” in the “OPERATING
YOUR VEHICLE” section.
CAUTION
TACHOMETER (if equipped)

5776G-74E
OTHER CONTROLS AND EQUIPMENT
6
OTHER CONTROLS AND EQUIPMENT
Parking Brake Lever
........................................................................\
.................. 6-1
Pedals ........................................................................\
........................................... 6-2
Gear Lever ........................................................................\
................................... 6-3
Fuel Filler Cap ........................................................................\
............................ 6-3
Folding Rear Seats ........................................................................\
.................... 6-5
Sun Visor ........................................................................\
..................................... 6-5
Interior Light Switch........................................................................\
.................. 6-6
Assist Grips ........................................................................\
................................ 6-6
Bonnet ........................................................................\
........................................... 6-6
Frame Hooks (if equipped) ........................................................................\
...... 6-7
Cup Holder (if equipped) ........................................................................\
......... 6-8
Tyre Changing Tools ........................................................................\
................. 6-8
High Mount Stop Lamp ........................................................................\
............ 6-9

58
76G-74E
PARKING BRAKE LEVER
Never drive your vehicle with theparking brake on: rear brake
effectiveness can be reduced from
over heating, brake life may be
shortened, or permanent brake
damage may result.
If the parking brake does not hold the vehicle securely or does not
fully release, have your vehicle
inspected immediately by an
authorized MARUTI SUZUKI dealer.
Always apply the parking brake fully
before leaving your vehicle or it may
move, causing injury or damage.
When parking, make sure the gear
shift lever for manual transmission is
left in first gear or reverse. Remember,
even though the transmission is in
gear, you must always apply the
parking brake fully.
The parking brake lever is located between
the seats. To apply the parking brake, hold
the brake pedal down and pull the parking
brake lever all the way up.
To release the parking brake, hold the brake
pedal down, pull up slightly on the parking
brake lever, push the button on the end of
the lever with your thumb, and lower the
lever to its original position.
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6-1
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OTHER CONTROLS AND EQUIPMENT
76G-06-001
76G-06-002

60
76G-74E
FUEL FILLER CAP
6-3
The fuel filler cap is located on the left rear
side of the vehicle. The fuel filler lid can be
unlocked by pulling up the opener lever (if
equipped) located on the outboard side of
the driver’s seat and locked by simply
closing the lid.
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OTHER CONTROLS AND EQUIPMENT
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GEAR LEVER
Your vehicle is equipped with a manual
transmission. The gear change pattern for
manual transmission is shown in the
illustration. For details on how to use the
transmission, refer to USING THE
TRANSMISSION in the OPERATING YOUR
VEHICLE section.
76G-06-004 76G-06-005
MANUAL TRANSMISSIONALTO
76G-06-004A
ALTO K10TYPE-1 (ALTO / ALTO K10)
Remove the fuel filler cap slowly. The
fuel may be under pressure and may
spray out, causing injury.Petrol is extremely flammable. Do not
smoke when refuelling, and make
sure there are no open flames or
sparks in the area.

72
76G-74E
7-3OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
ww ww
w WARNINGCAUTION
Starting off
To start off, depress and maintain pressure
upon the clutch pedal and change into 1st
gear. After releasing the parking brake, GEAR MAXIMUM SPEED
First 37 km/h
Second 66 km/h
Third 98 km/h
Fourth Top Speed
Fifth
Top SpeedUSING THE TRANSMISSIONMANUAL TRANSMISSION
76G-07-00376G-07-003A
To help avoid clutch damage, do not
use the clutch pedal as a footrest while
driving or use the clutch to keep the
vehicle stationary on a hill. Depress the
clutch fully when changing gear.
When changing gears or starting off,
do not race the engine. Racing the
engine can shorten engine life and
prevent smooth operation.
Reduce your speed and change down to
a lower gear before going down a long
or steep hill. A lower gear will allow the
engine to provide braking. Avoid riding
the brakes or they may overheat, result-
ing in brake failure.
When driving on slippery roads, be sure to slow down before changing down.
Excessive and or sudden changes in
engine speed may cause loss of traction,
which could cause you to lose control.
Make sure that the vehicle is completely
stationary before you change into re-
verse.
gradually release the clutch. When you hear
a change in the engine’s sound (speed),
gently apply pressure to the accelerator to
keep the engine sound (speed) constant whilst
continuing to gradually release the clutch.
Gear changing
All forward gears are synchronized, which
provides for quiet, easy changing. Always
depress the clutch pedal fully before changing
gears. The following table shows the
maximum allowable speed for each gear.
ALTO
ALTO K10
GEAR MAXIMUM SPEED
First 43 km/h
Second 80 km/h
Third 119 km/h
Fourth Top Speed
Fifth Top Speed
ALTO
ALTO K10

7376G-74E
7-4
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
BRAKINGww ww
w WARNING
The distance needed to bring any vehicle
to a halt increases with the speed of the
vehicle. The braking distance needed, for
example, at 60 km/h will be approximately
4 times greater than the braking distance
needed at 30 km/h. Start to brake the
vehicle when there is plenty of distance
between your vehicle and the stopping
point, and slow down gradually.
If water gets into the brake drums, brake
performance may become poor and
unpredictable. After driving through water
or washing the underside of the vehicle,
test the brakes while driving at a slow
speed to see if they have maintained their
normal effectiveness. If the brakes are
less effective than normal, dry them by
repeatedly applying the brakes while
driving slowly until the brakes have
regained their normal effectiveness.Servo assisted brakes
Your vehicle has servo assisted brakes
which works with the assistance of engine
vacuum.Do not switch off the engine while vehicle
is in motion, for example, while driving
down a hill as this will cause loss of
vacuum assistance leading to reduction of
braking efficiency substantially.If servo assistance is lost due to a stalled
engine or other failures, the system is still
fully operational on reserve power and you
can bring the vehicle to a complete stop by
pressing the brake pedal once and holding
it down. The reserve power is partly used
up each time you depress the brake pedal.
Apply smooth and constant pressure to the
pedal. Do not pump the pedal.
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76G-07-004
To avoid shock loads on the driveline and
consequent driveline breakage, it is strongly
recommended not to exceed the following
speeds when downshifting:-
GEAR MAXIMUM SPEED
2nd to 1st 9 km/h
3rd to 2nd 33 km/h
4th to 3rd 49 km/h
5th to 4th Any Speed OK
ALTO
ALTO K10
GEAR MAXIMUM SPEED
2nd to 1st 10 km/h
3rd to 2nd 37 km/h
4th to 3rd 55 km/h
5th to 4th Any Speed OK

74
76G-74E
7-5OPERATING YOUR VEHICLERUNNING-IN
The future performance and reliability
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 1000 km of vehicle
operation.
After starting, do not race theengine. Warm it up gradually.
Avoid prolonged vehicle operation at a constant speed. Moving parts will
bed in better if you vary your speed.
Do not exceed 100 km/h.
Start off from a stop slowly. Avoid full throttle starts.
If possible, avoid hard braking, especially during the first 300 km
of driving.
Do not drive slowly with the transmission in a high gear.
Drive the vehicle at moderate engine speeds.
CAUTION
Even without reserve power in the
brake system, you can still stop the
vehicle by pressing the brake pedal
harder than normally required.
However, the stopping distance may
be longer.
On loose surface where the wheels
can easily loose traction (such as
gravel, etc.), the stopping distance
required for your vehicle may be
greater than for a comparable vehicle
with a conventional brake system.
Allow for extra stopping distance
when driving on loose surfaces.
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w WARNING
CATALYTIC CONVERTERThe purpose of the catalytic converter
installed on your vehicle is to convert
exhaust pollutants to harmless water vapour,
carbon dioxide, and nitrogen. Use of leaded
fuel in vehicles equipped with catalytic
converters is prohibited, because lead
deactivates the pollutant-reducing compo-
nents of the catalyst system.
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 catalyst. This may
result in permanent heat damage to the
catalyst and other vehicle components.
76G-07-005

7576G-74E
7-6
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
Be careful 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 contact
with a hot exhaust system.
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To minimize the possibility of catalyst
or other vehicle damage:
Maintain the engine in the proper
operating condition.
In the event of an engine
malfunction, particularly one
involving engine misfire or other
apparent loss of performance, have
the vehicle serviced promptly.
Do not turn off the engine or interrupt the ignition when the
transmission 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 diagnostic
testing.
Do not idle the vehicle for
prolonged periods if idling seems
rough or there are other
malfunctions.
Do not allow the fuel tank to get
near the empty level.
CAUTION
IMPROVING FUEL ECONOMYThe 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, allow the engine to idle for some
time.
Avoid “fast” starts:
Fast starts away from lights or stop signs
will consume fuel unnecessarily and shorten
engine life. Start off slowly.
Avoid unnecessary stops:
Avoid unnecessary deceleration and
stopping. 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
traffic conditions will permit.
76G-07-006