2021 SUZUKI ALTO Engine

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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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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
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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

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7-3OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
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Starting off
To start off, depress and maintain pressure
upon the clutch pedal and change into 1st
gear. After releasing the parking brake, GEAR MAXIMUM SPEED
First 37 km/h
Second 66 km/h
Third 98 km/h
Fourth Top Speed
Fifth
Top SpeedUSING THE TRANSMISSIONMANUAL TRANSMISSION
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To help avoid clutch damage, do not
use the clutch pedal as a footrest while
driving or use the clutch to keep the
vehicle stationary on a hill. Depress the
clutch fully when changing gear.
When changing gears or starting off,
do not race the engine. Racing the
engine can shorten engine life and
prevent smooth operation.
Reduce your speed and change down to
a lower gear before going down a long
or steep hill. A lower gear will allow the
engine to provide braking. Avoid riding
the brakes or they may overheat, result-
ing in brake failure.
When driving on slippery roads, be sure to slow down before changing down.
Excessive and or sudden changes in
engine speed may cause loss of traction,
which could cause you to lose control.
Make sure that the vehicle is completely
stationary before you change into re-
verse.
gradually release the clutch. When you hear
a change in the engine’s sound (speed),
gently apply pressure to the accelerator to
keep the engine sound (speed) constant whilst
continuing to gradually release the clutch.
Gear changing
All forward gears are synchronized, which
provides for quiet, easy changing. Always
depress the clutch pedal fully before changing
gears. The following table shows the
maximum allowable speed for each gear.
ALTO
ALTO K10
GEAR MAXIMUM SPEED
First 43 km/h
Second 80 km/h
Third 119 km/h
Fourth Top Speed
Fifth Top Speed
ALTO
ALTO K10

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7-4
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
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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 will be approximately
4 times greater than the braking distance
needed at 30 km/h. Start to brake the
vehicle when there is plenty of distance
between your vehicle and the stopping
point, and slow down gradually.
If water gets into the brake drums, brake
performance may become poor and
unpredictable. After driving through water
or washing the underside 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.Servo assisted brakes
Your vehicle has servo assisted brakes
which works with the assistance of engine
vacuum.Do not switch off the engine while vehicle
is in motion, for example, while driving
down a hill as this will cause loss of
vacuum assistance leading to reduction of
braking efficiency substantially.If servo 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 each time you depress the brake pedal.
Apply smooth and constant pressure to the
pedal. Do not pump the pedal.
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To avoid shock loads on the driveline and
consequent driveline breakage, it is strongly
recommended not to exceed the following
speeds when downshifting:-
GEAR MAXIMUM SPEED
2nd to 1st 9 km/h
3rd to 2nd 33 km/h
4th to 3rd 49 km/h
5th to 4th Any Speed OK
ALTO
ALTO K10
GEAR MAXIMUM SPEED
2nd to 1st 10 km/h
3rd to 2nd 37 km/h
4th to 3rd 55 km/h
5th to 4th Any Speed OK

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7-5OPERATING YOUR VEHICLERUNNING-IN
The future performance and reliability
of the engine depends on the care
and restraint exercised during its early
life. It is especially important to
observe the following precautions
during the initial 1000 km of vehicle
operation.
After starting, do not race theengine. Warm it up gradually.
Avoid prolonged vehicle operation at a constant speed. Moving parts will
bed in better if you vary your speed.
Do not exceed 100 km/h.
Start off from a stop slowly. Avoid full throttle starts.
If possible, avoid hard braking, especially during the first 300 km
of driving.
Do not drive slowly with the transmission in a high gear.
Drive the vehicle at moderate engine speeds.
CAUTION
Even without reserve power in the
brake system, you can still stop the
vehicle by pressing the brake pedal
harder than normally required.
However, the stopping distance may
be longer.
On loose surface where the wheels
can easily loose traction (such as
gravel, etc.), the stopping distance
required for your vehicle may be
greater than for a comparable vehicle
with a conventional brake system.
Allow for extra stopping distance
when driving on loose surfaces.
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CATALYTIC CONVERTERThe purpose of the catalytic converter
installed on your vehicle is to convert
exhaust pollutants to harmless water vapour,
carbon dioxide, and nitrogen. Use of leaded
fuel in vehicles equipped with catalytic
converters is prohibited, because lead
deactivates the pollutant-reducing compo-
nents of the catalyst system.
It is very important to keep the engine
properly tuned. Engine misfiring, which can
result from an improperly tuned engine, may
cause overheating of the catalyst. This may
result in permanent heat damage to the
catalyst and other vehicle components.
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7-6
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
Be careful where you park and drive;
the catalytic converter and other
exhaust components can get very hot.
As with any vehicle, do not park or
operate this vehicle in areas where
combustible materials such as dry
grass or leaves can come in contact
with a hot exhaust system.
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To minimize the possibility of catalyst
or other vehicle damage:
Maintain the engine in the proper
operating condition.
In the event of an engine
malfunction, particularly one
involving engine misfire or other
apparent loss of performance, have
the vehicle serviced promptly.
Do not turn off the engine or interrupt the ignition when the
transmission is in gear and the
vehicle is in motion.
Do not try to start the engine by pushing or towing the vehicle, or
coasting down a hill.
Do not idle the engine with any spark plug wires disconnected or
removed, such as during diagnostic
testing.
Do not idle the vehicle for
prolonged periods if idling seems
rough or there are other
malfunctions.
Do not allow the fuel tank to get
near the empty level.
CAUTION
IMPROVING FUEL ECONOMYThe following instructions will help you
improve fuel economy.
Avoid excessive idling:
If you are to wait for more than a minute
while you are parked, stop the engine and
start it again later. When warming up a cold
engine, allow the engine to idle for some
time.
Avoid “fast” starts:
Fast starts away from lights or stop signs
will consume fuel unnecessarily and shorten
engine life. Start off slowly.
Avoid unnecessary stops:
Avoid unnecessary deceleration and
stopping. Try to maintain a slow, steady
speed whenever possible. Slowing down
and then accelerating again uses more fuel.
Keep a steady cruising speed:
Keep as constant a speed as road and
traffic conditions will permit.
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7-7
TRAILER TOWINGYour MARUTI SUZUKI is designed to carry
people and a normal amount of cargo, not
to tow a trailer. Maruti does not recommend
you use your vehicle to tow a trailer. Towing
a trailer can adversely affect handling,
durability, and fuel economy.
Keep the air cleaner clean:
A dirty air cleaner will cause the fuel system
to supply too much fuel to the engine for
the amount of air being supplied. The result
is waste of fuel due to incomplete
combustion.
Keep weight to a minimum:
The heavier the load, the more fuel the
vehicle consumes. Take out any luggage or
cargo when it is not necessary.
Keep tyre pressures correct:
Under-inflation of the tyres can waste fuel
due to increased running resistance of the
tyres. Keep your tyres inflated to the correct
pressure shown on the label on the driver’s
side door or door lock pillar.OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
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Wear Your Seat Belts at All Times.The driver and passengers should
be properly restrained at all times,
using the seatbelts provided. Refer
to the “SEATBELTS” section for
instructions on proper use of the
seat belts.
Never drive while under the
influence of alcohol or other drugs.
Alcohol and drugs can seriously
impair your ability to drive safely,
greatly increasing the risk of injury
to yourself and others. You should
also avoid driving when you are
tired, sick, irritated, or under stress.
HIGH-SPEED DRIVING
When driving down a hill, the engine should be used for braking by shifting to
next lower gear.
Try not to hold the brake pedal down
too long or too often while going
down a steep or long hill. This could
cause the brakes to overheat,
resulting in reduced braking efficiency.
Failure to take this precaution could
result in loss of vehicle control.
When descending a down hill, NEVER
turn the ignition key to the “OFF”
position. Emission control system
damage may result.DRIVING ON SLIPPERY ROADSUnder wet road conditions you should drive
at a lower speed than on dry roads due to
possible slippage of tyres during braking.
When driving on icy, snowcovered, or
muddy roads, reduce your speed and avoid
sudden acceleration, abrupt braking, or
sharp steering movements.
When driving at a high-speed, pay attention
to the following:
Stopping distance progressively increases
with vehicle speed. Apply the brakes far
enough ahead of the stopping point to
allow for the extra stopping distance.
On rainy days, “Aquaplaning” can occur. “Aquaplaning” is the loss of direct
contact between the road surface and
the vehicle’s tyres due to a water film
forming between them. Steering or
braking the vehicle while “Aquaplaning”
can be very difficult, and loss of control
can occur. Keep speed down when the
road surface is wet.
At high speeds, the vehicle may be affected by side winds. Therefore, reduce
speed and be prepared for unexpected
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 When climbing steep hills, the vehiclemay begin to slow down and show a
lack of power. If this happens, you
should change to a lower gear so that
the engine will again be operating in its
normal power range. Change rapidly to
prevent the vehicle from losing
momentum.
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8-1DRIVING TIPS AND SAFE DRIVING
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