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DRIVING TIPS
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Keep weight to a minimum The heavier the load, the more fuel the vehicle consumes. Take out any luggageor 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 correctpressure shown on the label on the driver’s side door or the driver’s door lock pillar.
Highway Driving
When driving at highway speeds, pay attention to the following: Stopping distance progressively increases with vehicle speed. Apply the brakes far enough ahead of the stoppingpoint to allow for the extra stopping dis- tance. On rainy days, “Hydroplaning” can occur.“Hydroplaning” is the loss of direct con- tact between the road surface and the vehicle’s tires due to a water film formingbetween 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 beaffected by side winds. Therefore, reduce speed and be prepared for unex- pected buffeting, which can occur at theexits of tunnels, when passing by a cut of a hill, or when being overtaken by large vehicles, etc.
Driving on Hills
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When climbing steep hills, the vehiclemay begin to slow down and show a lackof power. If this happens, you should shift to a lower gear so that the engine will again be operating in its normalpower range. Shift rapidly to prevent the vehicle from losing momentum. When driving down a hill, the engineshould be used for braking by shifting into a lower gear.
Driving on Slippery Roads
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Under wet road conditions you should drive at a lower speed than on dry roadsdue to possible slippage of tires during braking. When driving on icy, snow-cov- ered, or muddy roads, reduce your speedand avoid sudden acceleration, abrupt braking, or sharp steering movements.
Tire Chains (if equipped)Tire chains should only be used if they are needed to increase traction or are required by law. Make sure that the chains you use
WA R N I N G
Try not to hold the brake pedal down too long or too often while goingdown a steep or long hill. This could cause the brakes to overheat, result- ing in reduced braking efficiency.Failure to take this precaution could result in loss of vehicle control.
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NOTICE
When descending a down hill, NEVER turn the igni tion key to the “LOCK” position. Emission control system damage may result.
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4-4
DRIVING TIPS
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are the correct size for your vehicle’s tires. Also make sure that there is enough clear- ance between the fenders and the chainsas installed on the tires.
Install the chains on the front tires tightly, according to the chain manufacturer’s instructions. Retight en the chains after driving about 1.0 km (1/2 mile) if neces-sary. With the chains installed, drive slowly.
If Your Vehicle Gets StuckIf your vehicle gets stuck in snow, mud, orsand, follow the directions below:
1) Shift the transaxle back and forth between a forward range (or first gear formanual transaxle) and reverse. This willcreate a rocking motion which may giveyou enough momentum to free the vehi- cle. Press gently on the accelerator to keep wheel spinning to a minimumwheel rpm. Remove your foot from theaccelerator while shifting. Do not race the engine. Excessive wheelspin will cause the tires to dig deeper,making it more difficult to free the vehi- cle.
2) If your vehicle remains stuck after a few minutes of rocking, get another vehicle to pull your vehicle out.
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DRIVING ON WET ROADS
NOTICE
• If you hear the chains hitting against the vehicle body while driving, stopand tighten them.• If your vehicle is equipped with fullwheel caps, remove the wheel caps before installing the chains or the wheel caps can be damaged by thechain bands.
WA R N I N G
Do not allow anyone to stand near the vehicle when you are rocking it,and do not spin the wheels faster than an indicated 40 km/h (25 mph) on the speedometer. Personal injuryand/ or vehicle damage may result from spinning the wheels too fast.
NOTICE
Do not continue rocking the vehicle for more than a few minutes. Pro-longed rocking can cause engine overheating or transaxle damage.
NOTICE
• When driving on wet roads, avoid driving through large amount of standing water on the road. Large amount of water entering theengine compartment may cause damage to the engine and or elec- trical components.• If stuck in deep water, do not start till water level drops. • Water is incompressible substance,water inside engine is harmful to the engine.
WA R N I N G
In addition to following the driving tips in this section, it is important to observe the following precautions. • Make sure your tires are in good condition and always maintain the specified tire pressure. Refer to“Tires” in the “INSPECTIONAND MAINTENANCE” • Di not use tires other than thosespecified by MARUTI SUZUKI.Never use different sizes or types of tires on the front and rear wheels. Forinformation regard ing the specified tires, refer to the Tire Information Label located on the driver’s doorlock pillar(Continued)
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