
2-74
BEFORE DRIVING
54P00-01E
IC AC (ENG A-STOP system setting)
(if equipped)
• When using the automatic heating and
air conditioning system (if equipped),
you can select one of the following
engine auto stop settings.
– Standard
– Economy
–Comfort
• When “Economy” is selected, engine
auto stop condition is eased, compared
with “Standard”. Engine auto stop condi-
tion will occur more frequently, the stop
time will be longer, leading to reduction
of fuel consumption.
• When “Comfort” is selected, engine auto
stop condition becomes severe, com-
pared with “Standard”. Engine auto stop
condition will occur less frequently, the
stop time will be shorter, leading to more
comfortable cabin condition by air condi-
tioner.
Default (initialization setting)
If you select “YES” and push the indicator
selector knob (2), all settings will be reini-
tialized.Warning and indicator messages
The display shows warning and indicator
messages to let you know about certain
vehicle problems.
A tone may also sound to alert you.
If warning and indicator messages appear
on the display, follow the messages.
Master warning indicator light
78K049
When the display shows warning and indi-
cator messages, the master warning indi-
cator light may also blink.NOTE:
• When the problem that causes a mes-
sage to appear is corrected, the mes-
sage will disappear.
• If a message is displayed, and other
problems requiring a message occur, the
message for each of the problems will
be alternately displayed about every 5
seconds.
• When you push and hold the indicator
selector knob (2) for about 2 seconds
while a message is displayed, the mes-
sage will disappear temporarily. If the
problem that caused the message is not
corrected, the message will appear
again after 5 seconds.

2-89
BEFORE DRIVING
54P00-01E
Refer to “Tire pressure monitoring system
(TPMS) (if equipped)” in “OPERATING
YOUR VEHICLE” section for additional
details on the tire pressure monitoring sys-
tem. Refer to “Tires” in “INSPECTION AND
MAINTENANCE” section for information
on maintaining proper tire pressure.
WA R N I N G
The load-carrying capacity of your
tires is reduced at lower inflation
pressures. If your tires are even mod-
erately under-inflated, the load on the
tires may exceed the load-carrying
capacity of the tires, which could lead
to tire failure. The low tire pressure
warning light will not alert you to this
condition, because it only comes on
when one or more of your tires
becomes significantly under-inflated.
Check and adjust your tire inflation
pressure at least once a month. Refer
to “Tires” in “INSPECTION AND
MAINTENANCE” section.
WA R N I N G
Continuing to drive with the low tire
pressure warning light on can lead to
an accident, resulting in severe injury
or death.
If the low tire pressure warning light
comes on and stays on, reduce your
speed and avoid abrupt steering and
braking. Be aware that driving on a
significantly under-inflated tire can
cause the tire to overheat and can
lead to tire failure, and may affect
steering control and brake effective-
ness. Stop the vehicle in a safe place
as soon as possible and check your
tires.
• If you have a flat tire, replace it with
the spare tire (if equipped). Refer to
“Jacking instructions” in “EMER-
GENCY SERVICE” section for the
tire replacement method. Also refer
to “Replacing tires and/or wheels”
for instructions on how to restore
normal operation of the TPMS after
you have had a flat tire.
(Continued)
WA R N I N G
(Continued)
• If your vehicle is equipped with a
flat tire repair kit instead of a spare
tire, refer to “Flat tire repair kit (if
equipped)” in “EMERGENCY SER-
VICE” section for instructions on
how to perform an emergency
repair of a flat tire.
• If one or more of your tires is
under-inflated, adjust the inflation
pressure of all tires to the recom-
mended inflation pressure as soon
as possible.

2-90
BEFORE DRIVING
54P00-01E
Brake system warning light
65D477
Three different types of operations exist
depending on the vehicle’s specification.
• The light comes on briefly when the igni-
tion switch is turned to “ON” position or
the engine switch is pressed to change
the ignition mode to “ON”.
• The light comes on when the parking
brake is engaged with the ignition switch
in “ON” position or the ignition mode is
“ON”.
• The light comes on 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
reservoir 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:
1) Pull off the road and stop carefully.
2) Test the brakes by carefully starting and
stopping the vehicle on the shoulder of
the road.
3) If you determine that it is safe, drive the
vehicle cautiously at low speed to the
nearest dealer for repairs or tow the
vehicle to the nearest 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. Check that the parking brake is
fully released and the brake system warn-
ing 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 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 “ON” posi-
tion 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.

3-1
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
54P00-01E
Exhaust gas warning
52D334
Daily inspection checklist
Before driving
60A187S
1) Check that windows, mirrors, lights and
reflectors are clean and unobstructed.
2) Visually check the tires for the following
points:
– the depth of the tread groove
– abnormal wear, cracks and damage
– loose wheel bolts
– existence of foreign material such as
nails, stones, etc.
Refer to “Tires” in “INSPECTION AND
MAINTENANCE” section for details.
3) Look for fluid and oil leakage.
WA R N I N G
Avoid breathing exhaust gases.
Exhaust gases contain carbon mon-
oxide, a potentially lethal gas that is
colorless and odorless. Since carbon
monoxide is difficult to detect by
itself, take the following precautions
to help prevent carbon monoxide
from entering your vehicle.
• Do not leave the engine running in
garages or other confined areas.
(Continued)
WA R N I N G
(Continued)
• Do not park with the engine run-
ning for a long period of time, even
in an open area. If it is necessary to
sit for a short time in a parked vehi-
cle with the engine running, check
that the air intake selector is set to
“FRESH AIR” and the blower is at
high speed.
• Avoid operating the vehicle with
the tailgate or trunk open. If it is
necessary to do so, check that the
sunroof (if equipped) and all win-
dows are closed, and the blower is
at high speed with the air intake
selector set to “FRESH AIR”.
• To allow proper operation of your
vehicle’s ventilation system, keep
the air inlet grill in front of the wind-
shield 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 leak-
age. Any damage or leakage
should be repaired immediately.

3-2
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
54P00-01E
NOTE:
It is normal for water to drip from the air
conditioning system after use.
4) Check that the hood is fully closed and
latched.
5) Check the headlights, turn signal lights,
brake lights and horn for proper opera-
tion.
6) Adjust the seat and head restraint.
7) Check the brake pedal and the parking
brake lever.
8) Adjust the mirrors.
9) Check that you and all passengers
have properly fastened your seat belts.
10)Check that all warning lights come on
as the ignition switch is turned to “ON”
position or the engine switch is pressed
to change the ignition mode to “ON”.
11)Check all gauges.
12)Check that the brake system warning
light turns off when the parking brake is
released.
Once a week, or each time you fill your fuel
tank, perform the following under-hood
checks:
1) Engine oil level
2) Coolant level
3) Brake fluid level
4) Battery solution level
5) Windshield washer fluid level
6) Hood latch operation
Pull the hood release handle inside the
vehicle. Check that you cannot openthe hood all the way without releasing
the secondary latch. Close the hood
securely after checking for proper latch
operation. See the item “All latches,
hinges and locks” of “Chassis, body
and others” in “Maintenance schedule”
in “INSPECTION AND MAINTE-
NANCE” section for lubrication sched-
ule.
Once a month, or each time you fill your
fuel tank, check the tire pressure using a
tire pressure gauge. Also check the tire
pressure of the spare tire.Engine oil consumption
It is normal for the engine to consume
some engine oil during normal vehicle
operation.
The amount of engine oil consumption
depends on viscosity and quality of the oil
and your driving conditions.
More oil is consumed during high-speed
driving and when there is frequent acceler-
ation and deceleration. Under high loads,
your engine also will consume more oil.
A new engine also consumes more oil,
since its pistons, piston rings and cylinder
walls have not yet become conditioned.
New engines reach the normal level of oil
consumption only after approximately
5000 km (3000 miles) driving.
Oil consumption:
Max. 1.0 L per 1000 km
(1 Qt. per 600 miles)
When judging the amount of oil consump-
tion, note that the oil may become diluted
and it is difficult to judge the accurate oil
level.
As an example, if a vehicle is used for
repeated short trips, and consumes a nor-
mal amount of oil, the dipstick may not
show any drop in the oil level at all, even
after 1000 km (600 miles) or more of driv-
ing. This is because the oil gradually
becomes diluted with fuel or moisture,
WA R N I N G
Check that 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.

3-15
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
54P00-01E
NOTE:
• You do not need to keep the engine
switch pressed to start the engine.
• The engine will not start unless the
clutch pedal is depressed.
• During the engine starting procedure,
messages on the information display will
help you. Refer to “Information display”
in “BEFORE DRIVING” section for
details.
• You should turn off such loads as the
headlights and air conditioning system to
facilitate starting of the engine.
• Even if you fail to start the engine, the
starter motor will stop turning automati-
cally after a short time. After the starter
motor has stopped or if there is some
problem with the system, the starter
motor will rotate only while the engine
switch is being pressed.
Stopping engine
• Depress the engine switch to stop the
engine after the vehicle stopped com-
pletely.
• In case of emergency, you can stop the
engine by quickly pushing the engine
switch more than 3 times, or pushing
and holding the engine switch for more
than 2 seconds while the vehicle is in
motion.
NOTE:
Except in cases of emergency, do not stop
the engine while the vehicle is in motion.
The steering and braking operation will
require more effort when the engine is
stopped.
Refer to “Braking” in this section.
• If the engine remains stopped for while
after it was stopped unexpectedly or was
raced before stopping, a clicking sound
may be heard from around the engine
when it is restarted. This is not a mal-
function. Always let the engine idle
before stopping it.
Starting a cold and warm engine
(For gasoline engine model)
With your foot taken off the accelerator
pedal, crank the engine by pressing the
engine switch to change the ignition mode
to “START”.
After pressing the engine switch to change
the ignition mode to “START”, the starter
cranks the engine for about 12 seconds
before it can start the engine. If the engine
fails to start at the first attempt, wait about
15 seconds, and then try again while keep-
ing the engine switch pressed while press-
ing down the accelerator pedal 1/3 of full
capacity. Release the 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.
If you are unable to start the engine using
this procedure, consult your SUZUKI
dealer.NOTICE
• Do not depress the accelerator
during the engine starting proce-
dure.
• If the engine does not respond
when you try to start it with the
engine switch or if the engine
switch repeats cycling through
“LOCK” (OFF) - “ACC” - “ON”
mode, the vehicle battery may be
discharged. Check the voltage of
the vehicle battery before trying
again.
NOTICE
Do not crank the engine for more
than 12 seconds at a time.
If the engine does not start on the
first try, wait about 15 seconds before
trying again.

3-24
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
54P00-01E
the other hand, the driving mode does not
return to the LOCK mode automatically. You
should select the LOCK mode according to
the driving conditions.
NOTE:
• The information display shows current
driving mode.
• When the ignition switch is turned to
“ON” position or the engine switch is
pressed to change the ignition mode to
“ON”, the AUTO mode is selected auto-
matically.
• The driving mode switch can be oper-
ated when the vehicle is either stopped
or moving.
• Check that the front wheels are in the
straight ahead position when operating
the driving mode switch.
• While making turns or accelerating and
decelerating, operating the driving mode
switch, turning the ignition switch to
“ACC” or “LOCK” position or pressing
the engine switch to change the ignition
mode to “ACC” or “LOCK” may cause a
shock, but this is not a system malfunc-
tion.
• When you operate your vehicle under
conditions that involve wheel spin, such
as driving off-road in the sand or water
or when a wheel has run off the road, the
difference in the amount of revolution
between front wheels and rear wheels
increases (wheels run idle). If this state
continues, the oil temperature of the
driving system parts increases. The 4WD warning light warns of this
condition by blinking. At the same time,
the information display shows this mes-
sage: “AWD SYSTEM HIGH TEMP
AWD IS OFF”.
57L30042
When the 4WD warning light blinks, park
the vehicle at a safe place and run the
engine idle. After a while, the 4WD warn-
ing light will go out and the system will
resume.
Warning and indicator messages
The information display shows the warning
and indicator message when the four-
mode 4WD system is operated, or has a
problem.
NOTICE
• Note that 4WD vehicles are not all-
around vehicles. Observe the fol-
lowing instructions when driving
your vehicle.
– Do not drive through water such
as by crossing a river.
– Do not drive continuously in
places such as sand and mud
where front wheels tend to race.
– When any wheel is in the air for
such reason as running off the
road, do not race it needlessly.
(Continued)
NOTICE
(Continued)
• If the 4WD warning light comes on
or blinks when driving, there may
be something wrong with the four-
mode 4WD system. Have the sys-
tem inspected by an authorized
SUZUKI dealer.
NOTICE
Unevenly worn tires can cause prob-
lems with the 4WD system. Rotate the
tires according to the maintenance
schedule. Refer to “Tires” and “Main-
tenance schedule” in “INSPECTION
AND MAINTENANCE” section for
proper tire rotation procedure.

3-29
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
54P00-01E
ENG A-STOP system
(engine auto stop start
system) (if equipped)
The ENG A-STOP system (engine auto
stop start system) automatically stops and
restarts the engine without operating the
ignition switch or the engine switch when
the vehicle is stopped, such as at a traffic
signal or in a traffic jam, to reduce exhaust
gases and fuel consumption.
• When the vehicle will be stopped for a
long time or when you will leave the
vehicle unattended, turn the ignition
switch to “LOCK” position or press the
engine switch to stop the engine.
NOTE:
If your vehicle is equipped with the auto air
conditioning system, you can change the
auto engine stop condition via the informa-
tion display. Refer to “Information display”
in “BEFORE DRIVING” section.
72M2042
The ENG A-STOP system is automatically
activated when the ignition switch is turned
to “ON” position or the engine switch is
pressed to change the ignition mode to
“ON”.
The system activation also requires the fol-
lowing conditions:
• Driver’s seat belt is fastened.
• Driver’s door is closed.
• Engine hood is closed.
For more details, refer to the explanation
below.
WA R N I N G
• Do not get out of the vehicle when
the engine is stopping by the ENG
A-STOP system. If the driver’s seat
belt is unfastened and the driver’s
door is opened, the engine will
stall.
• When the engine does not restart
automatically even if you operate it
properly, start the engine using the
ignition switch or engine switch.
– Continuously stopping on the
road may result in rear crash.
– In case the vehicle moves, the
steering and braking operation
will require more efforts.
NOTICE
Only use the vehicle battery types
that have been approved by SUZUKI
vehicle manufacturer, otherwise you
could damage your vehicle, and the
ENG A-STOP system could not be
available. If a vehicle battery has to
be replaced, consult your authorized
SUZUKI dealer.