3-22
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
74LH0-74E
Starting off:
1) Start the engine as instructed in “Start-
ing the engine” in this section.
2) With your foot on the brake pedal, shift
the gearshift lever to the “M” position.
When the gearshift lever is shifted to
the “M” position, the gear will be shifted
to 1st. Before starting off, always make
sure that the intended gear is engaged
by checking the gear position indicator,
then depress the accelerator pedal.NOTE:
If 1st gear cannot be engaged even
though the gearshift lever has been
shifted from the “N” to the “M” position,
the system will re-try shifting automati-
cally. This will take some time, noise
may be heard from the gears, and shift-
ing gear shock may occur. However,
they do not indicate a malfunction.
The “N” indicator will flash, the depress
brake pedal indicator will come on and a
warning buzzer (long pulse sound) will
sound if any of the following cases
occur;
– If you shift the gearshift lever from the
“N” to the “M” position without
depressing the brake pedal
– If the system is unable to re-try shifting
You should depress the brake pedal and
shift the gearshift lever to “N” position,
then shift to “M” position again a few
seconds later.
3) Release the parking brake and brake
pedal. Depress the accelerator pedal
slowly for smooth starting.Starting off on an uphill/downhill slope:
Uphill
1) Apply the parking brake firmly so that
the vehicle does not roll backwards.
2) Shift the gearshift lever to the “M” posi-
tion while depressing the brake pedal.
Make sure that the gear position indica-
tor in the instrumental cluster displays
1st gear.
3) Release the brake pedal and depress
the accelerator pedal gradually, and
when the vehicle starts to move,
NOTICE
If the gearshift lever cannot shift
into any position, or the gear is
changed to “N” position automati-
cally when the vehicle speed
becomes less than 10 km/h, there
may be a systematic malfunction. In
this case, ask your MARUTI SUZUKI
dealer to inspect the Auto Gear Shift
system as soon as possible.
The manual (M) mode does not
upshift even if the engine speed
reaches the rev-limit.
The system will not allow shifting up
or down to a gear that would cause
engine over-revving or under-rev-
ving.
If frequently driving at low speed
using a high gear position, the life
cycle of the clutch may be reduced.
Frequent downshifting (more than 3
positions consecutively) causes the
reduction of transaxle life.
WA R N I N G
Always keep your foot on the brake
pedal or pull up the parking lever
while stopped with the engine run-
ning. These operations prevent the
vehicle from starting due to unin-
tended activation of the creeping
function.
NOTICE
Do not operate the system as
described below. The life cycle of the
clutch may be reduced.
Using the accelerator pedal to hold
the vehicle on an uphill slope oper-
ation with the gearshift lever in the
“M” or “D” position. If you perform
this operation for a certain period
of time, a warning buzzer will
sound.
Shifting the gearshift lever to the
“M”, “D” or “R” position while rac-
ing the engine.
Driving at low speed using a high
gear.
Stopping on a slope using the
creeping function. If you perform
this operation for a certain period
of time, a warning buzzer will
sound.
3-25OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
74LH0-74E
Parking cancel
Depress the brake pedal, turn the ignition
switch to the “ON” position, and shift the
gearshift lever to the “N” position. The gear
will be disengaged.
Warning functions
A warning buzzer will sound or the indica-
tor will blink under the following conditions.Warning buzzer
The clutch is heated due to excessive
load.
The creeping function is being activated
for a long period of time.
The ignition switch is turned to the
“LOCK” position with the gear in 2nd,
3rd, 4th or 5th. In this case, turn the igni-
tion switch to the “ON” position and shift
the gearshift lever in the “N” position,
shift it to the “D” or “M” or “R” position,
then turn the ignition switch to “LOCK”.
During a stop, the driver’s door is
opened with the gearshift lever in the
“R”, “D” or “M” position while the engine
is running.
“N” indicator blinking
When the gear indicator lamp blinks “N”,
you should depress the brake pedal and
shift the gearshift lever to “N” position.
“1st” indicator blinking
When the gear indicator lamp blinks “1st”,
you should depress the brake pedal and
shift the gearshift lever to “N” position, then
shift to “D” or “M” position again a few sec-
onds later.“R” indicator blinking
When the gear indicator lamp blinks “R”,
you should depress the brake pedal and
shift the gearshift lever to “N” position, then
shift to “R” position again a few seconds
later.
Parking Sensors (if equipped) The parking sensor system uses ultra-
sonic sensors to detect obstacles near
the rear bumpers. If obstacles are
sensed while you are parking or moving
the vehicle slowly, the system warns you
by sounding a buzzer.
The system emits an ultrasonic wave
and the relevant sensor detects the
return of the wave reflected by an obsta-
cle. The system measures the time
taken by the ultrasonic wave to reach the
obstacle and return from it, from which it
determines the obstacle’s position.
The parking sensor function can be used
when the ignition switch is turned to the
“ON” or the engine switch is pressed to
change the ignition mode to “ON”, the
gearshift lever is in the “R” position and
the parking sensor switch is in the “ON”
position. This function is helpful in the
following cases: pulling over to the curb;
parallel-parking the vehicle; steering the
vehicle into a garage; driving along an
alley; and moving slowly in a place with
obstacles.
WARNING
If the gear is not engaged properly
and completely before the ignition
switch is turned off, the vehicle
may not be parked with the gear
engaged. Always confirm the gear
position by checking the gear posi-
tion indicator when parking.
Remember, even though the
transaxle is in gear, you must set
the parking brake firmly.
On a downhill slope, the gear
should be put in reverse, and in 1st
gear on an uphill slope. In the case
of uphill/downhill slope, after check
the vehicle stopped by the gear
engaged, put chocks under the
wheels. Otherwise, the vehicle may
move, and cause an unexpected
accident. If the gear is left in the
“N” position, the vehicle cannot be
parked with a gear engaged.
NOTICE
In the above cases, pull over to the
side of the road and stop the engine,
and then ask your MARUTI SUZUKI
dealer to inspect your vehicle. Other-
wise, the clutch disc may be dam-
aged.
4-4
DRIVING TIPS
67LH3-74E
Tire ChainsTire chains should only be used if they are
needed to increase traction or are required
by law. Make sure that the chains you use
are the correct size for your vehicle’s tires.
Also make sure that there is enough clear-
ance between the fenders and the chains
as installed on the tires.
Install the chains on the front tires tightly,
according to the chain manufacturer’s
instructions. Retighten the chains after
driving about 1.0 km if necessary. With the
chains installed, drive slowly.
NOTICE
If you hear the chains hittingagainst the vehicle body while driv-
ing, stop and tighten them.
If your vehicle is equipped with full wheel caps, remove the wheel caps
before installing the chains or the
wheel caps can be damaged by the
chain bands.
brake firmly so that the
74LH M0407
Under wet road conditions you should
drive at a lower speed th an on dry roads
d ue to po ssible slipp age of tires during
braking. When driving on icy, snow-cov-
ered, or mud dy road s, re duce yo ur speed
a nd avoid sudden accele ration, ab rupt
braking, or sharp steering movements.
WARNING
Try not to hold the brake pedal down
too lo ng or too of ten while going
down a steep or long hill. This could
cause the brak es to ov erheat, re sult-
ing in redu ced braking ef ficiency.
Fa ilure to ta ke this pr ecaution could
resu lt in lo ss of vehicle control.
NOTICE
When d escending down a hill,
NEVER turn the ignition key to the “L OCK” po sition. Emission control
system damage may result.
Apply the
parking
vehicle does not roll backwards.
Dep ress the Clutch pedal and Shift the
gearshift lever to 1
st Sel ect position.
Do not slip the clutch. W hen ready to start, press accelerator
pedal and s lowly release the c lutch
pedal simultane ously. When the vehicle
starts to move, gradua lly release the
parking brake.
While mov ing uph ill/gradient from a
stand still c ondition
Driving on Slippery RoadsEXAMPLE
4-6
DRIVING TIPS
67LH3-74E
74LHM0408
Do’s and Dont’s for Safe
DrivingExercise 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.Starting1) Adjust the driver’s seat for the proper driving posture.
2) Adjust the rear view mirror so as to obtain the best po ssible rear view.
74LHM0409
3) Before moving, look around your vehi-
cle to confirm safety.
4) Don’t accelerate suddenly, since it is
dangerous and wastes fuel.General driving1) Be sure to stop before a stop light orstop 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.
74LHM0410
3) Turn ON the turn signal at least 30meters before making a turn or chang-
ing the lane so as to not 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) Higher the speed, narrower the driver’s visual range becomes. In such a state,
it is difficult to anticipate any hazard and
the driver feels fatigued.
EXAMPLE
EXAMPLE
EXAMPLE
4-7DRIVING TIPS
67LH3-74E
74LHM0411
9) Do not attempt sharp handling duringhigh speed driving. You may lose your
control over your vehicle.10) When overtaking or changing lanes
while driving at a high speed, keep
ample vehicle-to-vehicle distance.
Braking
74LHM0412
1) Use the parking brake firmly when park-
ing your vehicle and shift the gear shift
lever into the first gear or reverse gear
position for the sake of safety and con-
firm the gear position by checking the
gear position indicator before turn igni-
tion switch OFF. Remember, even
though the transaxle is in gear, you
must see the gear, you must set the
parking brake firmly.
2) Don’t use hand-braking unless unavoidable. It causes the vehicle to skid and a collision may occur. It is
especially dangerous when the tyres
are worn out as they skid more.
74LHM0413
Use foot brake in three stages
1. Warn the vehicle behind you
2. Gradually apply the brake.
3. Bring the vehicle to a halt.
3) When driving downhill, try not to apply the brake but use the engine brake
effectively. Overuse of the foot-brake
may result in reduction of brake effec-
tiveness.Long distance driving1) Be sure to perform safety checks
before starting a trip.
2) Take rest at regular intervals to prevent accidents which may occur due to feel-
ing sleepy or tired.
EXAMPLE
EXAMPLE
EXAMPLE
5-11OTHER CONTROLS AND EQUIPMENT
74LH0-74E
Safety Information Notes on Discs
Precautions
When the inside of the vehicle is very
cold and the player is used soon after
switching on the heater, condensation
may form on the disc or the optical parts
of the player and proper playback may
not be possible. If condensation forms
on the disc, wipe it off with a soft cloth. If
condensation forms on the optical parts
of the player, do not use the player for
about one hour. This will allow the con-
densation to disappear normally.
Driving on extremely bumpy roads which
cause severe vibrations may cause
sound to skip.
This unit uses a precision mechanism.
Even in the event that trouble arises,
never open the case, disassemble the
unit, or lubricate the rotating parts.
Please bring the unit to an authorized
MARUTI SUZUKI dealer.Cautions on Handling
This unit has been designed specifically for
playback of compact discs bearing mark
(A) shown above.
No other discs can be played.
To remove the compact disc from its stor-
age case, press down on the center of the
case and lift the disc out, holding it care-
fully by the edges.
Always handle the compact disc by the
edges. Never touch the surface.
WA R N I N G
If you pay extended attention to oper-
ating the audio system or viewing the
audio system display while driving,
an accident can occur. If you set the
sound volume too loud, it could pre-
vent you from being aware of road
and traffic conditions.
Keep your eyes on the road and
your mind on the drive. Avoid pay-
ing extended attention to operating
the audio system or viewing the
audio system display.
Familiarize yourself with the audio
system controls and operation of
the audio system before driving.
Preset your favorite radio stations
before driving so that you can
quickly tune to them using the pre-
sets.
Set the sound volume to a level
that will allow you to continue to be
aware of road and traffic conditions
while driving.
(A)
Removing the disc
Proper way to hold
the compact disc
5-48
OTHER CONTROLS AND EQUIPMENT
74LH0-74E
Engine Bonnet
63J063
To open the engine hood:
1) Pull the hood release handle located on
the outboard side of the driver’s side of
the instrument panel. This will disen-
gage the engine hood lock halfway.
74LHT0514
2) Push the under-hood release lever up
with your finger, as shown in the illustra-tion. While pushing the lever, lift up the
engine hood.
63J065
3) Continue to lift up the hood until it is
high enough to support with the prop
rod.
To close the engine hood:
1) Lift the hood up slightly and remove the
prop rod from the hole. Put the prop rod
back to the holding clip.
2) Lower the hood to about 20 cm above
the hood latch, then let it drop down.
Make sure the hood is securely latched
after closing.
Sun Visor
79J161
The sun visors can be pulled down to block
glare coming through the windshield, or
they can be unhooked and turned to the
side to block glare coming through the side
window.
Card holder (if equipped)
74LHT0516
(1) Card holder
You can put a card in the card holder (1) on
the back of the sun visor.
EXAMPLE
EXAMPLE
WA R N I N G
Make sure the hood is fully closed
and latched before driving. If it is not,
it can fly up unexpectedly during
driving, obstructing your view and
resulting in an accident.
NOTICE
When unhooking and hooking a sun
visor, be sure to handle it by the hard
plastic parts or the sun visor can be
damaged.EXAMPLE
(1)
6-3VEHICLE LOADING AND TOWING
74LH0-74E
Additional Trailer Towing Warnings
WA R N I N G
Connect trailer lights and hook up
safety chains every time you tow.
NOTICE
Because towing a trailer puts addi-
tional stress on your vehicle, more
frequent maintenance will be
required than under normal driving
conditions.
WA R N I N G
Your vehicle will handle differently
when towing a trailer. For your safety
and the safety of others, you should
observe the following precautions:
Practice turning, stopping, and
reversing before you begin towing
in traffic. Do not tow in traffic until
you are confident that you can han-
dle the vehicle and trailer safely.
Never exceed towing speed limits
or 80 km/h (50 mph), whichever is
lower.
Never drive at a speed that causes
shaking or swaying of the trailer. If
you notice even the slightest sign
of shaking or swaying, slow down.
When roads are wet, slippery or
rough, drive at a slower speed than
you would on dry, smooth roads.
Failure to slow down when road
conditions are bad can result in
loss of control.
Always have someone guide you
when reversing.
Allow adequate stopping distance.
Stopping distance is increased
when you tow a trailer. For each 16
(Continued)
WA R N I N G
(Continued)
km/h (10 mph) of speed, allow at
least one vehicle and trailer length
between you and the vehicle ahead.
Follow at a greater distance if roads
are wet or slippery.
If the trailer has over-run brakes,
apply the brakes gradually to avoid
snatching caused by the trailer
wheels locking.
Slow down before corners and
maintain a steady speed while cor-
nering. Deceleration or accelera-
tion while cornering can result in
loss of control. Remember that a
larger than normal turning radius is
needed because the trailer wheels
will be closer than vehicle wheels
to the inside of the turn.
Avoid sudden acceleration and
stopping of the vehicle. Do not
make quick maneuvers unless they
are necessary.
Slow down in cross winds and be
prepared for gusts of wind from
large passing vehicles.
(Continued)