3-23OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
74LH0-74E
release the parking brake and depress
the accelerator pedal to start off.
Downhill
1) Depress the brake pedal and shift the
gearshift lever to the “M” position.
Check the gear position indicator to
make sure that the gear is in 1st.
2) Release the brake pedal and depress
the accelerator pedal slowly. Even
though the accelerator pedal is not
depressed, the clutch will be engaged
when the vehicle speed increases.
Backing up
After the vehicle has stopped completely,
depress the brake pedal and shift the gear-
shift lever to the “R” position. Depress the
accelerator pedal slowly as when starting
off in 1st gear. Before backing up, makesure that reverse gear is selected by
checking the gear position indicator.
76MH0A062
NOTE:
If reverse gear cannot be engaged even
though the gearshift lever has been
shifted from the “N” to the “R” 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 “R” position without depress-
ing 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 “R” position again a few sec-
onds later.
The system will not allow shifting to the
“R” position if the vehicle speed is over
about 3 km/h (2 mph). If the gearshift
lever is operated under this condition,the “N” indicator in the instrument cluster
will blink. However, when the vehicle
speed drops below about 3 km/h (2
mph), the gear will be shifted to reverse.
Make sure that the vehicle has stopped
completely before shifting to the “R”
position.
Stopping
The vehicle can be stopped by depressing
the brake pedal regardless of the gear
position. This is because the clutch is auto-
matically disengaged to prevent the engine
from stopping.
If the gearshift lever is in the “D” position,
the gear will be downshifted to 1st when
the vehicle stops.
If the gearshift lever is in the “M” posi-
tion, the gear will be downshifted to 1st
when the vehicle stops.
NOTICE
On an uphill slope, never hold the
vehicle at a stop using only the accel-
erator pedal or creeping function. If
you perform this operation for a cer-
tain period of time, a warning buzzer
will sound, and in some cases the
engine will stall. This can also cause
excessive damage to the clutch. In
case the warning buzzer is on, shift-
ing to 2nd gear will not be possible is
manual mode. Always use 1st gear
while starting off on an uphill slope,
otherwise you may damage the
clutch.
NOTICE
On a downhill slope, never hold the
vehicle at a stop using only the accel-
erator pedal or the creeping function.
If you perform this operation for a
certain period of time, a warning
buzzer will sound, and in some cases
the engine will stall. This can also
cause excessive damage to the
clutch.
3-24
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
74LH0-74E
Parking
Unlike an automatic transaxle, Auto Gear
Shift does not have a parking position. The
vehicle can be parked with the gearshift
lever at “D” or “R” position. Remember,
even though the transaxle is in gear, you
must set the parking brake firmly
1) Apply the parking brake and the brake
pedal firmly.
2) While depressing the brake pedal, shift
the gearshift lever to the “R” position on
a downhill slope, and to the 1st position
in the drive (D) mode or the “M(1)” posi-
tion in the manual (M) mode on an
uphill slope and confirm the gear posi-tion by checking the gear position indi-
cator.
3) Stop the engine completely.
4) In the case of uphill/downhill slope,
release the parking brake and brake
pedal slowly in order to check the gear
is engaged.
5) After check the vehicle stopped by the
gear engaged, Apply the parking brake
and the brake pedal firmly again.
6) Get out of the vehicle and put chocks
under the wheels.
When you return to your vehicle, you must
remember to remove the wheel chocks.
NOTE:
After the engine is stopped or ignition
switch is OFF, the gear in the transaxle
does not change even if you shift the
gearshift lever in any position. Always
shift the gearshift lever before turn igni-
tion switch OFF.
Check the transaxle gear position by
looking at the gear position indicator,
then turn the ignition switch off to stop
the engine.
WA R N I N G
When stopping, for example, at a
traffic light, be sure to depress the
brake pedal firmly. For your safety,
apply the parking brake, too, when
stopping on a hill.
When racing the engine, make sure
that the gear is in the “N” position
by checking the gear position indi-
cator. If the accelerator is operated
with the gear in any other position,
the vehicle may move resulting in
an unexpected accident.
Do not leave your vehicle unat-
tended while the engine is running.
When leaving the vehicle, stop the
engine and park the vehicle with a
gear engaged. Remember, even
though the transaxle is in gear, you
must set the parking brake firmly. If
you need to leave the vehicle with
the engine running, apply the park-
ing brakes firmly, and shift the
gearshift lever to the “N” position
and confirm the neutral position by
checking the gear position indica-
tor. However basically don’t leave
the vehicle with the engine running.
Otherwise, the vehicle may move
unexpectedly and may cause an
accident.
NOTICE
On a slope, never hold the vehicle
at a stop using only the accelerator
pedal or the creeping function. If
you perform this operation for a
certain period of time, a warning
buzzer will sound, and in some
cases the engine will stall. This can
also cause excessive damage to
the clutch.
If the gearshift lever is operated
more than necessary, the system
may not allow operation of the
gearshift lever for a certain period
of time, and the gear may not be
shifted appropriately. Therefore, do
not operate the gearshift lever if not
necessary.
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.
3-29OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
74LH0-74E
Warning and Indicator MessagesIf there is a problem or warning regarding
the parking sensor system, a buzzer and
the status of the indicator on the parking
sensor inform it. Follow its instruction.
The buzzer sounds intermittently. The
indicated sensor is contaminated. Wipe
it clean with a soft cloth. If the buzzer
does not stop after wiping, there may be
problem with the parking sensor system.
Have your vehicle inspected by an
authorized MARUTI SUZUKI dealer.The indicator does not come on when the
parking sensor switch is pressed. The indica-
tor goes off while operating. There may be a
problem with the parking sensor system,
Have your vehicle inspected by an authorized
MARUTI SUZUKI dealer.Braking
60G165S
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 (37 mph) will be
approximately 4 times greater than the
braking distance needed at 30 km/h (19
mph). Start to brake the vehicle when there
is plenty of distance between your vehicle
and the stopping point, and slow down
gradually.
Power-Assisted Brakes
(if equipped)Your vehicle has power-assisted brakes. If
power 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 when you depress the brake pedal and
reduces each time the pedal is pressed.
Apply smooth and even pressure to the
pedal. Do not pump the pedal.Brake Assist System (if equipped)When you slam the brakes on, the brake
assist system judges as an emergency
stop and provides more powerful braking
for a driver who cannot hold down the
brake pedal firmly.
NOTE:
If you quickly and forcefully depress the
brakes, you may hear a clicking sound in
the brake pedal. This is normal and indi-
cates that the brake assist system is acti-
vated properly.
WA R N I N G
If water gets into the brake drums,
brake performance may become poor
and unpredictable. After driving
through water or washing the under-
side 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.
WA R N I N G
Even without reserve power in the
brake system, you can still stop the
vehicle by pressing the brake pedal
harder than normally required. How-
ever, the stopping distance may be
longer.
3-30
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
74LH0-74E
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
(if equipped)ABS will help you avoid skidding by elec-
tronically controlling braking pressure. It
will also help you maintain steering control
when braking on slippery surfaces or when
braking hard.
The ABS works automatically, so you do
not need any special braking technique.
Just push the brake pedal down without
pumping. The ABS will operate whenever it
senses that the wheels are locking up. You
may feel the brake pedal moves a little
while the ABS is operating.
NOTE:
The ABS will not work if vehicle speed is
under about 10 km/h (6mph).
63J081
(1) ABS warning light
(2) Brake system warning light
WA R N I N G
On some types of loose surfaces
(such as gravel, snow-covered
roads, etc.) the stopping distance
required for an ABS-equipped vehi-
cle may be slightly greater than for
a comparable vehicle with a con-
ventional brake system. With a con-
ventional brake system, skidding
tyres are able to “plow” the gravel
or snow layer, shortening the stop-
ping distance. ABS minimizes this
resistance effect. Allow for extra
stopping distance when driving on
loose surfaces.
(Continued)
WA R N I N G
(Continued)
On regular paved roads, some driv-
ers may be able to obtain slightly
shorter stopping distances with
conventional brake systems than
with ABS.
In both of the above conditions,
ABS will still offer the advantage of
helping you maintain directional
control. However, remember that
ABS will not compensate for bad
road or weather conditions or poor
driver judgment. Use good judg-
ment and do not drive faster than
conditions will safely allow.
(1)
(2)
WA R N I N G
If the ABS warning light (1) on the
instrument panel comes on and
stays on while driving, there may
be a problem with the ABS system.
Contact your MARUTI SUZUKI
dealer to inspect the ABS system
immediately. If the ABS system
becomes inoperative, the brake
system will function as an ordinary
brake system that has no ABS.
If the ABS warning light (1) and the
Brake system warning light (2) on
the instrument panel simultane-
ously stays on or comes on when
driving, both anti-lock function and
rear brake force control function
(proportioning valve function) of
the ABS system may have failed. If
so, the rear wheels may easily skid
or the vehicle can even spin in the
worst case when braking on a slip-
pery road or when hard braking
even on a dry paved road. Contact
your MARUTI SUZUKI dealer to
inspect the ABS system immedi-
ately. Drive carefully, avoiding hard
braking as much as possible.
4-3DRIVING TIPS
67LH3-74E
Keep the air cleaner clean
74LHM0404
If the air cleaner is clogged with dust, there
will be greater intake resistance, resulting
in decreased power output and increased
fuel consumption.
Keep weight to a minimum
Heavier the load, more fuel the vehicle
consumes. Take out any luggage or 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 correct
pressure shown on the label on the driver’s
door lock pillar.
Highway DrivingWhen driving at high speeds, pay attention
to the following:
Stopping distance progressivelyincreases with vehicle speed. Apply the
brakes far enough ahead of the stopping
point to allow for the extra stopping dis-
tance.
On rainy days, hydroplaning can occur. Hydroplaning is the loss of direct contact
between the road surface and the vehi-
cle’s tires due to a water film forming
between them. Steering or braking the
vehicle while hydroplaning can be very
difficult, and loss of control can occur.
Keep speed down when the road sur-
face is wet.
At high speeds, the vehicle may be affected by side winds. Therefore,
reduce speed and be prepared for unex-
pected buffeting, which can occur at the
exits of tunnels, when passing by a cut
of a hill, or when being overtaken by
large vehicles, etc.
Driving on Hills
74LHM0405
When climbing steep hills, the vehicle
may begin to slow down and show a lack
of power. If this happens, you should
shift to a lower gear so that the engine
will again be operating in its normal
power range. Shift rapidly to prevent the
vehicle from losing momentum.
When driving down a hill, the engine should be used for braking by shifting to
next lower gear.
EXAMPLE
R
N
D
-
M+
EXAMPLE
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
4-5DRIVING TIPS
67LH3-74E
If Your Vehicle Gets StuckIf your vehicle gets stuck in snow, mud, or
sand, follow the directions below:
1) Shift the transaxle back and forthbetween a forward range (or first gear
for manual transaxle) 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 spinning to a minimum
wheel rpm. 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.
2) If your vehicle remains stuck after a few
minutes of rocking, we recommend you
to consult your authorised Maruti
Suzuki workshop or a roadside assis-
tance service. If a towing service is not
available in an emergency, your vehicle
may be temporarily towed by a towing
cable or chain secured to the towing
hook either on the front of the vehicle or
on the rear of the vehicle. Refer to
“Frame Hooks” in the “OTHER CON-
TROLS AND EQUIPMENT” section.
Driving on Wet Roads
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 on the
speedometer. Perso nal injury and/or
vehicle damage may result from spin-
ning 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 the
engine compartment may cause
damage to the engine and or elec-
trical components.
If stuck in deep water, do not start the engine.
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 “INSPECTION AND
MAINTENANCE” section for
details.
Do not use tires other than those
specified by MARUTI SUZUKI.
Never use different sizes or types
of tires on the front and rear
wheels. For information regarding
the specified tires, refer to the Tire
Information Label located on the
driver’s door lock pillar.
Never use oversized tires or spe- cial shock absorbers and springs
to raise (jack up) your vehicle. This
will change the handling character-
istics. Oversized tires may also rub
against the vehicle body over
bumps, causing vehicle damage or
tire failure.
After driving through water, test the brakes while driving at a slow
speed to see if they have main-
tained their normal effectiveness. If
they are less effective than normal,
dry them by repeatedly applying
the brakes while driving slowly
until the brakes have regained their
normal effectiveness.