3176G-74E
Do not use the starter motor formore than 15 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 ignition
systems or consult your MARUTI
SUZUKI dealer.
Do not leave the ignition switch in the “ON” position if the engine is
not running as the battery will
discharge.
LIGHTING/TURN SIGNAL
CONTROL LEVER STEERING COLUMN CONTROLS
ACC
Accessories such as the radio can operate,
but the engine is off.
ON
This is the normal operating position. All
electrical systems are on.
START
This is the position for starting the engine
using the starter motor. The key should be
released from this position as soon as the
engine starts.
Never remove the ignition key while the vehicle is moving. The steering
wheel will lock and you will not be
able to steer the vehicle.
Do not leave children alone in a
parked vehicle. Unattended children
could cause accidental movement of
the vehicle, which could result in
severe personal injury.
Always remove the key when parked to prevent unintentional operation of
the vehicle and to improve security.
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CAUTION
4-2
76G-04-005
76G-04-004
ALTO
76G-04-005A
ALTO K10 TYPE-1
42
76G-74E
INSTRUMENT PANEL
If you operate the engine with thislight 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 (see section
"INSPECTION & MANINTENANCE").
5-5
CAUTION
Charging Light
This light comes on when the ignition switch
is turned 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 running, the
charging system should be inspected
immediately by your MARUTI SUZUKI
dealer.
Do not continue driving long with the
charging light ON as this will drain the
battery 'dead'.
CAUTION
76G-05-007 76G-05-008
EXAMPLE
Oil Pressure Light
This light comes on when the ignition switch
is turned 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 (see section "INSPECTION &
MAINTENANCE"). If there is enough oil, the
lubrication system should be inspected by
your MARUTI SUZUKI dealer before you
drive the vehicle again.
76G-05-006
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)
5976G-74EPEDALS
6-2
Clutch Pedal 11 11
1
The clutch pedal is used to disengage the
drive to the wheels when starting the
engine, stopping, or shifting the transmission
lever. Depressing the pedal disengages the
clutch.
Do not drive with your foot resting on
the clutch pedal. It could result in
excessive clutch wear, clutch damage,
or unexpected loss of engine braking. Brake Pedal
22 22
2
Your MARUTI SUZUKI vehicle is equipped
with front disc brakes and rear drum brakes.
Depressing the brake pedal applies both
sets of brakes.
You may hear occasional brake squeal
when you apply the brakes. This is a
normal condition caused by environmental
factors such as cold, wet, snow, etc.
If brake squeal is excessive and
occurs each time the brakes are
applied, you should have the brakes
checked by your MARUTI SUZUKI
dealer.
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CAUTION
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OTHER CONTROLS AND EQUIPMENTDo 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.
Accelerator Pedal 33 33
3
This pedal controls the speed of the
engine. Depressing the accelerator pedal
increases power output and speed.
76G-06-003
6976G-74E
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
7
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
Exhaust Gas Warning
........................................................................\
............... 7-1
Daily Inspection Checklist ........................................................................\
........ 7-1
Starting the Engine ........................................................................\
................... 7-2
Using the Transmission ........................................................................\
............ 7-3
Braking ........................................................................\
......................................... 7-4
Running-in ........................................................................\
.................................... 7-5
Catalytic Converter ........................................................................\
.................... 7-5
Improving Fuel Economy ........................................................................\
......... 7-6
Trailer Towing ........................................................................\
............................. 7-7
70
76G-74E
EXHAUST GAS WARNING
with the engine running, make sure
the air intake lever is set to “FRESH
AIR” and the fan is at high speed.
Avoid operating the vehicle with the rearend door open. If it is necessary
to operate the vehicle with the
rearend door open, make sure all
the windows are closed and the fan
is at high speed with the air intake
lever set to "FRESH AIR".
To allow proper operation of your vehicle’s ventilation system, keep
the air inlet grille in front of the
windscreen clear of snow, leaves, or
other obstructions at all times.
Keep the exhaust tailpipe area clear of snow and other material to help
reduce the buildup of exhaust gases
under the vehicle. This is
particularly important when parked
in blizzard conditions.
Have the exhaust system inspected
periodically for damage and leaks.
Any damage or leaks should be
repaired immediately.
DAILY INSPECTION CHECKLIST
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7-1
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Before driving:
1)
Make sure that windows, mirrors, lights,
and reflectors are clean and unobstructed.
2) Check the tyres.
3) Look for fluid and oil leaks.NOTE:
It is normal for water to drip from the air
conditioning system after use.4) Adjust the seat/head restraint.
5) Check the brake pedal and the parking brake lever.
6) Adjust the mirrors.
7) Make sure that you and passengers have properly fastened your seat belts.
8) Make sure that all warning lights come on as the key is turned to the “ON” or
“START” position.
9) Check all gauges.
10) Make sure that the brake fluid level warning light is off when the parking
brake is released with the engine
running.
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLEAvoid breathing exhaust gases.
Exhaust gases contain carbon
monoxide, a potentially lethal gas that
is colourless and odourless. Since
carbon monoxide is difficult to detect
by itself, be sure to take the following
precautions to help prevent carbon
monoxide from entering your vehicle.
Do not leave the engine running ingarages or other confined areas.
Do not park with the engine running for a long period of time, even in an
open area. If it is necessary to sit
for a short time in a parked vehicle
VV VV
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76G-07-001 76G-07-002
7176G-74E
Before starting the engine:
1) Make sure the parking brake is appliedfully.
2) Manual Transmission - Shift into “N” (neutral) and depress the clutch pedal all
the way to the floor. Hold it while starting
the engine.
Make sure that the parking brake is
applied fully and the transmission is
in Neutral before attempting to start
the engine.
Stop turning the starter immediately after the engine has started or the
starter system can be damaged.
Do not crank the engine for more than 15 seconds at a time. If the
engine doesn’t start on the first try,
wait about 15 seconds before trying
again.
7-2
STARTING THE ENGINE
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OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
Once a week, or each time you fill your fuel
tank, perform the following under-bonnet
checks:
1) Engine oil level.
2) Coolant level.
3) Brake fluid level.
4) Windscreen washer fluid level.
5) Battery solution level.
6) Bonnet latch operation.
Pull the bonnet release handle inside the
vehicle. Make sure that you can not
open the hood all the way without
releasing the secondary latch. Be sure
to close the hood securely after checking
for proper operation. See "All Latches,
Hinges & Locks" of "PERIODIC
MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE" in the
"INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE"
section for lubrication schedule.
Make sure the bonnet 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.
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Starting a Cold Engine
Engine which is started after 6 hours should
be treated as cold engine.
For Electronic fuel injection models
With your foot off the accelerator pedal,
crank the engine by turning the ignition
key to “START”. Release the key when
the engine starts.
If the engine does not start after 15 seconds of cranking, wait about 15
seconds, then press down the
accelerator pedal to 1/3 of its travel and
try cranking the engine again. Release
the key and accelerator pedal when the
engine starts.
If the engine still does not start, try holding the accelerator pedal all the way
to the floor while cranking. This should
clear the engine if it is flooded.
Starting a Warm Engine
For Electronic fuel injection models:
Use the same procedure as for “Starting a
Cold Engine”.
CAUTION
8176G-74E
especially dangerous when the tyres are
worn, for they allow a larger skid.
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 on a downhill, try not to apply the brake but use the engine
brake effectively. Overuse of the
footbrake may result in total brake
failure.
4. Avoid reckless high speed driving and try
to drive at a safe speed suitable for the
road conditions while maintaining a
constant speed. 5. The higher the speed, the narrower the
driver’s visual range becomes. In such
a state, it is difficult to anticipate any
hazard and the driver feels much
fatigued.
6. Never do sharp handling during high
speed driving. You will lose your control
over your vehicle.
7. When overtaking or changing the lane
while driving at a high speed, keep an
ample vehicle-to-vehicle distance.
Long distance driving
1. Be sure to perform safety checks before
starting a trip.
2. Take rest at certain intervals to prevent an accident which may occur when you
are sleepy or tired.
Braking
1. Use the parking brake when parking
your vehicle and shift the gear shift lever
into the first gear or reverse gear
position for the sake of safety.
2. Don’t use handbraking unless unavoidable. It causes the vehicle to skid
and a rearend collision occur. It is
8-4
DRIVING TIPS AND SAFE DRIVING
76G-08-004 76G-08-005 76G-08-006