2-46
BEFORE DRIVING
74LH0-74E
Warning and Indicator Lights
Brake System Warning Light
65D477
For working check of this light, there are
following three different type of operations
depending on the vehicle's specification.
1) The light comes on briefly when the
ignition switch is turned to the “ON”
position or the engine switch is pressed
to change the ignition mode to “ON”.
2) The light comes on when the parking
brake is engaged with the ignition
switch in the “ON” position or the igni-
tion mode “ON”.
3) The light comes on when under either
or both of above two conditions.
The light also comes on when the fluid in
the brake fluid reservoir falls below the
specified level.The light should go out after starting the
engine and fully releasing the parking
brake, if the fluid level in the brake fluid res-
ervoir is adequate.
The light also comes on together with the
ABS warning light when the rear brake
force control function (proportioning valve
function) of the ABS system fails.
If the brake system warning light comes on
while you are driving the vehicle, it may
mean that there is something wrong with
the vehicle’s brake system. If this happens,
you should:
1) Pull off the road and stop carefully.
2) Test the brakes by carefully starting and
stopping on the shoulder of the road.
3) If you determine that it is safe, drive
cautiously at low speed to the nearest
dealer for repairs,
or
4) Have the vehicle towed to the nearest
MARUTI SUZUKI dealer for repairs.NOTE:
Because the brake system is self-adjust-
ing, the fluid level will drop as the brake
pads become worn. Replenishing the
brake fluid reservoir is considered normal
periodic maintenance.
NOTE:
(Parking Brake Reminder Buzzer)
A buzzer sounds intermittently to remind
you to release the parking brake if you
start the vehicle without releasing the park-
ing brake. Make sure that the parking
brake is fully released and the brake sys-
tem warning light turns off.
WA R N I N G
Remember that stopping distance
may be longer, you may have to push
harder on the pedal, and the pedal
may go down farther than normal.
WA R N I N G
If any of the following conditions
occur, you should immediately ask
your MARUTI SUZUKI dealer to
inspect the brake system.
• If the brake system warning light
does not go out after the engine
has been started and the parking
brake has been fully released.
• If the brake system warning light
does not come on when the igni-
tion switch is turned to the “ON”
position or the engine switch is
pressed to change the ignition
mode to “ON”.
• If the brake system warning light
comes on at any time during vehi-
cle operation.
2-47
BEFORE DRIVING
74LH0-74E
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
Warning Light (if equipped)
65D529
When the ignition switch is turned to the
“ON” position or the engine switch is
pressed to change the ignition mode to
“ON”, the light comes on briefly so you can
check that the light is working.
If the light stays on, or comes on when
driving, there may be something wrong
with the ABS.
If this happens:
1) Pull off the road and stop carefully.
2) Turn the ignition switch to “LOCK” or
change the ignition mode to “LOCK”
(OFF) by pressing the engine switch
and then start the engine again.
If the warning light comes on briefly then
turns off, the system is normal. If the warn-
ing light still stays on, there is something
wrong in the system.If the light and the brake system warning
light stay on, or come on simultaneously
when driving, your ABS system is
equipped with the rear brake force control
function (proportioning valve function) and
there may be something wrong with both
the rear brake force control function and
anti-lock function of the ABS system.
If one of these happens, have the system
inspected by your MARUTI SUZUKI dealer.
If the ABS becomes inoperative, the brake
system will function as an ordinary brake sys-
tem that does not have this ABS system.
Oil Pressure Light
50G051
This light comes on when the ignition switch
is turned to the “ON” position or the engine
switch is pressed to change the ignition
mode to “ON”, and goes out when the
engine is started. The light will come on and
remain on if there is insufficient oil pressure.
If the light comes on when driving, pull off
the road as soon as you can and stop the
engine.
Check the oil level and add oil if necessary.
If there is enough oil, the lubrication sys-
tem should be inspected by your MARUTI
SUZUKI dealer before you drive the vehi-
cle again.
Charging Light
50G052
This light comes on when the ignition
switch is turned to the “ON” position or the
engine switch is pressed to change the
ignition mode to “ON”, and goes out when
the engine is started. The light will come
on and remain on if there is something
wrong with the battery charging system. If
the light comes on when the engine is run-
ning, the charging system should be
inspected immediately by your MARUTI
SUZUKI dealer.
NOTICE
• If you operate the engine with this
light on, severe engine damage can
result.
• Do not rely on the oil pressure light
to indicate the need to add oil. Be
sure to periodically check the
engine oil level.
3-4
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
74LH0-74E
Engine Switch
(Vehicle with Keyless Push
Start System)
61MM0B001
LOCK (OFF)This mode is for parking the vehicle. When
this mode is selected by pressing the engine
switch and then any door is opened or closed,
the steering will be locked automatically.
ACC
Press the engine switch to select this igni-
tion mode to use such electric equipment
as the audio system, outside rearview mir-
rors and accessory socket with the engine
off. When this position is selected, the
information display in the instrument clus-
ter come on. Refer to “Warning and Indica-
tor Lights” in the “BEFORE DRIVING”
section for details.
ON
With the engine off
You can use such electric equipment as
the power windows and wipers with the
engine off. When this ignition mode is
selected by pressing the engine switch,
the information display in the instrument
cluster will come on.
With the engine on
All electric equipment is operational. The
vehicle can be driven when you have
selected this ignition mode by pressing
the engine switch.
START
Automatic transaxle – Provided you have
the keyless push start system remote con-
troller with you, the engine automatically
starts when you press the engine switch to
select this ignition mode after placing the
gearshift lever in the “P” position and
depressing the brake pedal. (If you need to
re-start the engine while the vehicle is
moving, shift into “N”.)
WA R N I N G
(Continued)
Always return the ignition switch to
the “LOCK” position and remove
the ignition key when leaving the
vehicle even if only for a short time.
Also do not leave children alone in
a parked vehicle. Unattended chil-
dren could cause accidental move-
ment of the vehicle or could tamper
with power windows or power sun-
roof. They also could suffer from
heat stroke in warm or hot weather.
These could result in severe injury
or even death.
NOTICE
Do not use the starter motor for
more than 12 seconds at a time. If
the engine does not start, wait 15
seconds before trying again. If the
engine does not start after several
attempts, check the fuel and igni-
tion systems or consult your MAR-
UTI SUZUKI dealer.
Do not leave the ignition switch in
the “ON” position if the engine is
not running as the battery will dis-
charge.
NOTICE
If you stop the engine while the vehi-
cle is in motion, the automatic
transaxle may be damaged. Avoid
stopping the engine while driving.EXAMPLE
Using the Transaxle: 10
3-8
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
74LH0-74E
to start the engine or select the ignition
mode. The “remote controller outside”
warning may not be given at that time.–The remote controller is outside the
vehicle but very close to a door.
–The remote controller is on the instru-
ment panel.Parking Brake Lever
54G039
(1) To set
(2) To release
(3) To release
The parking brake lever is located between
the seats. To set 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 origi-
nal position.
For automatic transaxle vehicles, always
set the parking brake before moving the
gearshift lever to the “P” (PARK) position. Ifyou park on an incline and shift into “P”
before setting the parking brake, the
weight of the vehicle may make it difficult to
shift out of “P” when you are ready to drive
the vehicle.
When preparing to drive the vehicle, move
the gearshift lever out of the “P” position
before releasing the parking brake.
Parking Brake Reminder BuzzerA buzzer sounds intermittently to remind
you to release the parking brake if you
start the vehicle without releasing the park-
ing brake. Make sure that the parking
brake is fully released and the brake sys-
tem warning light turns off.
(2)(3)
(1)
EXAMPLE
WA R N I N G
Never drive your vehicle with the
parking brake on: rear brake effec-
tiveness 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 autho-
rized MARUTI SUZUKI dealer.
WA R N I N G
Always set the parking brake firmly
before leaving your vehicle or it may
move, causing injury or damage.
When parking, make sure the gear-
shift lever is in reverse or first gear.
Remember, even though the
transaxle is in gear, you must set the
parking brake firmly.
WA R N I N G
When parking the vehicle in
extremely cold weather, the following
procedure should be used:
1) Set the parking brake firmly.
2) Manual transaxle - turn off the
engine, then shift into reverse or
first gear.
Auto Gear Shift - shift into reverse
or first gear and check the gear
position indicator in the instru-
ment cluster to make sure that the
transaxle is engaged in 1st or
reverse, then turn off the engine
completely.
Automatic transaxle - shift into
“P” (Park) and turn off the engine.
3) Check the parking brake firmly
again. Get out of the vehicle and
put chocks under the wheels.
4) Release the parking brake.
When you return to your vehicle,
you must remember to first set the
parking brake, then remove the
wheel chocks.
Braking: 6
3-9OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
74LH0-74E
PedalManual transaxle
80J2121
Automatic transaxle/Auto gear shift
80J2122
Clutch Pedal (1)(For manual transaxle)
The clutch pedal is used to disengage the
drive to the wheels when starting the
engine, stopping, or shifting the gearshift
lever. Depressing the pedal disengages
the clutch.
Brake Pedal (2)Your MARUTI SUZUKI vehicle is equipped
with front and rear drum brakes. Depress-
ing the brake pedal applies both sets of
brakes.
You may hear occasional brake squeal
when you apply the brakes. This is a nor-
mal condition caused by environmental
factors such as cold, wet, snow, etc.
Accelerator Pedal (3)This pedal controls the speed of the
engine. Depressing the accelerator pedal
increases power output and speed.
(2)
(1)
(3)EXAMPLE
(3)
(2)
EXAMPLE
WA R N I N G
Do not drive with your foot resting on
the clutch pedal. It could result in
excessive clutch wear, clutch dam-
age, or unexpected loss of engine
braking.
NOTICE
Do not pump the clutch pedal repeat-
edly. It may result in pressure built up
in the clutch circuit and damage to
the clutch system.
WA R N I N G
If brake squeal is excessive and
occurs each time the brakes are
applied, you should have the brakes
checked by your MARUTI SUZUKI
dealer.
WA R N I N G
Do not “ride” the brakes by applying
them continuously or resting your
foot on the pedal. This will result in
overheating of the brakes which
could cause unpredictable braking
action, longer stopping distances, or
permanent brake damage.
Running-in: 6
Catalytic Converter: NO
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.
3-30
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.
4-5DRIVING 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.