3-2
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
76MH1-74E
76MH1-74E
NOTE: It is normal for water to drip from the air conditioning system after use.
4) Make sure 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 (if equipped). 7) Check the brake pedal and the parkingbrake lever. 8) Adjust the mirrors. 9) Make sure that you and all passengershave properly fastened your seat belts. 10)Make sure that all warning lights come on as the key is turned to the “ON” posi-tion. 11)Check all gauges. 12)Make sure that the BRAKE SYSTEMWARNING 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 level3) Brake fluid level 4) Windshield washer fluid level 5) Battery solution level6) Hood latch operation Pull the hood release handle inside the vehicle. Make sure that you cannotopen the hood all the way without
releasing the secondary latch. Be sure to close the hood securely after check- ing for proper latch operation. See “Alllatches, hinges & locks” of “CHASSIS AND BODY” in the “Periodic Mainte- nance Schedule” in the “INSPECTIONAND MAINTENANCE” section for lubri- cation schedule.
Once a month, or each time you fill your fuel tank, check the tire pressure using a tire pressure gauge. Also check the tirepressure 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 consumed depends on the viscosity of the oil, thequality of the oil and the conditions the vehicle is driven under. More oil is consumed during high-speeddriving 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 5000km (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 make it difficult to accurately judge thetrue 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 is gradually becoming diluted with fuel or moisture, making it appear that the oil level has notchanged. You should also be aware that the diluting ingredients evaporate out when the vehicleis subsequently driven at high speeds, such as on an expressway, making it appear that oil is excessively consumedafter high-speed driving.
WA R N I N G
Make sure the hood is fully closed and latched before driv ing. If it is not, it can fly up unexpectedly duringdriving, obstructing your view and resulting in an accident.
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3-3
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
76MH1-74E
76MH1-74E
Ignition Switch
65D611
52KM052
The ignition switch has the following four positions: LOCK This is the normal parking position. It is theonly position in which the key can be removed.
60G033
You must push in the key to turn it to the “LOCK” position. It lo cks the ignition, and prevents normal use of the steering wheel after the key is removed.
To release the steering lock, insert the key and turn it clockwise to one of the other positions. If you have trouble turning thekey to unlock the steering, try turning the steering wheel slightly to the right or left while turning the key.
ACC Accessories such as the radio can oper-ate, 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 bereleased from this position as soon as the engine starts.
Ignition key reminder (if equipped) A buzzer sounds intermittently to remind you to remove the ignition key if it is in theignition switch when the driver’s door is opened.
81A297S
WA R N I N G
To avoid possible injury, do not oper- ate controls by reaching through thesteering wheel.
EXAMPLE
Turn to “LOCK”
Push
WA R N I N G
• Never remove the ignition keywhile the vehicle is moving. The steering wheel will lock and you will not be able to steer the vehicle.(Continued)
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3-4
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
76MH1-74E
76MH1-74E
Parking Brake Lever
62J100
(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 theparking brake, hold the brake pedal down, pull up slightly on the parking brake lever, push the button on the end of the lever withyour thumb, and lower the lever to its origi- nal position.
WA R N I N G
(Continued) • Always remove the ignition keywhen leaving the vehicle even if only for a short time. Also do not leave children alone in a parkedvehicle. Unattended children could cause accidental movement of the vehicle or could tamper with powerwindows or power sunroof. They also could suffer from heat stroke in warm or hot weather. Thesecould result in severe injury or even death.
NOTICE
• Do not use the starter motor for more than 12 seconds at a time.For diesel engine model, do not use the starter motor for more than 30 seconds at a time. If the enginedoes not start, wait 15 seconds before trying again. If the engine does not start after severalattempts, 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.
(2)
(3)
(1)EXAMPLE
WA R N I N G
• Never drive your vehicle with theparking brake on: rear brake effec-tiveness can be reduced from over- heating, brake life may be shortened, or permanent brakedamage may result. • If the parking brake does not hold the vehicle securely or does notfully release, have your vehicle inspected immediately by an autho- rized MARUTI SUZUKI dealer.
WA R N I N G
Always set the pa rking brake fully 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 theparking brake fully.
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3-5
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
76MH1-74E
76MH1-74E
NOTE: (For Auto Gear Shift Model)For details on how to use the gearshift lever to park the vehicle, refer to “Parking” in “Auto Gear Shift” in this section.
Parking Brake Reminder Buzzer (if
equipped)A buzzer sounds intermittently to remind you to release the parking brake if youstart 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.
Pedal
Manual transaxle
80J2121
Auto Gear Shift
80J2122
Clutch Pedal (1)
(For manual transaxle)The clutch pedal is used to disengage the drive to the wheels when starting theengine, stopping, or shifting the gearshift lever. Depressing the pedal disengages the clutch.
Brake Pedal (2)Your MARUTI SUZUKI vehicle is equipped with front disc brakes and rear drum brakes. Depressing the brake pedalapplies 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 co ld, wet, snow, etc.
WA R N I N G
When parking the vehicle in extremely cold weather, the followingprocedure should be used: 1) Set the parking brake. 2) Manual transaxl e - turn off the engine, then shift into reverse or first gear. Auto Gear Shift – shift into reverseor first gear and check the gear position indicato r in the instru- ment cluster to ma ke sure that the transaxle is engaged in 1st or reverse, then turn off the engine. 3) Get out of the vehicle and putchocks 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.
(2)(1)
(3)
EXAMPLE
(3)
(2)
EXAMPLE
WA R N I N G
Do not drive with your foot resting onthe clutch pedal. It could result inexcessive clutch wear, clutch dam- age, or unexpected loss of engine braking.
WA R N I N G
If brake squeal is excessive andoccurs each time the brakes areapplied, you should have the brakes checked by your MARUTI SUZUKI dealer.
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3-7
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
76MH1-74E
76MH1-74E
Restarting diesel engine after fuel- empty stopIf the engine stops and the low fuel warn- ing light and the malfunction indicator light come on, use the following procedure:1) Fill the fuel tank. 2) Hold the ignition key in
3-8
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
76MH1-74E
76MH1-74E
Auto Gear ShiftAuto Gear Shift is a 5-speed forward/ reverse transaxle. Auto Gear Shift has the basic features of conventional manual transaxle, but clutchoperation and transaxle gear shifting are controlled electronically.
NOTE: When you open the driver’s door, the Auto Gear Shift systems run automatically and you may hear an operating noise. Thissound does not indicate a malfunction.
The features are as follows:
76MH0A054
76MH0A055
Depress brake pedal indicator
76MH0A047
This light will come on if you do not depress the brake pedal in the following situations. When starting the engine. When the engine is on and the gearshift lever is shifted from “N” position to “D”,“M” or “R” position. When the ignition switch is in the “ON” position and the engine is off, the gear-shift lever is shifte d into any position. This light will also come on if one of the gears cannot be engaged and the systemis unable to re-try shifting when you shift the gearshift lever from “N” position to “D”, “M” or “R” position.
Starting the engine When starting the engine, always place thegearshift lever in the “N” position and depress the brake pedal firmly. The engine cannot be started unless the gearshiftlever is in the “N” position and the brake pedal is depressed.
76MH0A056
Clutch operationYou can select either the Drive (D) mode or the Manual (M) mode. Since this vehiclecontrols clutch operation electronically in either mode, you do not need to operate the clutch.
NOTICE
• To help avoid clutch damage, donot use the clutch pedal as a foot-rest while driving or use the clutch to keep the vehicle stationary on a slope. Depress the clutch fullywhen shifting. • When shifting or starting off, do not race the engine. Racing the enginecan shorten engine life and affect smooth shifting.
NOTICE
Do not depress both the brake pedaland accelerator pedal simultane- ously. This can cause damage oroverheating to the clutch.
R
N
D
-
M
+
R
N
D
-
M
+
R
N
D
-
M
+
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3-14
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
76MH1-74E
76MH1-74E
If the gearshift lever is in the “M” posi- tion, the gear will be downshifted to 1st when the vehicle stops.
Parking Unlike an automatic transaxle, Auto GearShift does not have a parking position. The vehicle can be parked with the gearshift lever in any position.1) Apply the parking brake firmly. 2) While depressing the brake pedal, shift the gearshift lever to the “R” position ona downhill slope, and to the 1st position in the drive (D) mode or the “M(1)” posi- tion in the manual (M) mode on anuphill slope and confirm the gear posi- tion by checking the gear position indi- cator.3) Stop the engine.
NOTE: • After the engine is stopped, the gear in the transaxle does not change even ifyou shift the gearshift lever in any posi- tion. Always shift the gearshift lever before stop the engine.• Check the transaxle gear position by looking at the gear position indicator, then turn the ignition switch off to stopthe engine. Release the brake pedal after a few seconds. The gearshift lever will be locked in the position it was inwhen the ignition switch was turned off.
Parking cancel Depress the brake pedal, turn the ignition switch to the “ON” position, and shift thegearshift lever to the “N” position. The gear will be disengaged.
WA R N I N G
• When stopping, for example, at a traffic light, be su re 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 inan 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. If you need to leavethe vehicle with the engine running, apply the parking brakes firmly, and shift the gearshift lever to the“N” position. Otherwise, the vehi- cle may move unexpectedly and may cause an accident.
NOTICE
• On a slope, never hold the vehicleat a stop using only the acceleratorpedal or the creeping function. If you perform this operation for a certain period of time, a warningbuzzer will sound, and in some cases the engine will stall. This can also cause excessive damage tothe clutch. • If the gearshift lever is operated more than necessary, the systemmay not allow operation of the gearshift lever for a certain period of time, and the gear may not beshifted appropriately. Therefore, do not operate the gearshift lever if not necessary.
WA R N I N G
• If the gear is not engaged properlyand completely be fore the ignition switch is turned off, the vehicle may not be parked with the gearengaged. Always confirm the gear position by checking the gear posi- tion indicator when parking.• On a downhill slope, the gear should be put in reverse, and in 1st gear on an uphill slope. Otherwise,the vehicle may move, and cause an unexpected accident. If the gear is left in the “N” position, the vehi-cle cannot be parked with a gear engaged.
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3-16
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
76MH1-74E
76MH1-74E
Brake Assist System (if equipped)When you slam the brakes on, the brake assist system judges as an emergencystop and provides more powerful braking for a driver who cannot hold down the brake pedal firmly.
NOTE: If you quickly and forcefully depress thebrakes, you may hear a clicking sound in the brake pedal. This is normal and indi- cates that the brake a ssist system is acti- vated properly.
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 controlwhen braking on slippery surfaces or when braking hard. The ABS works automatically, so you donot need any special braking technique. Just push the brake pedal down without pumping. The ABS will operate whenever itsenses 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 (6 mph).
63J081
(1) ABS warning light (2) Brake system warning light
WA R N I N G
Even without reserve power in the brake system, you can still stop thevehicle by pressing the brake pedal harder than normally required. How- ever, the stopping distance may belonger.WA R N I N G
• On some types of loose surfaces(such as gravel, snow-coveredroads, etc.) the stopping distance required for an ABS-equipped vehi- cle may be slightly greater than fora comparable vehicle with a con- ventional brake system. With a con- ventional brake system, skiddingtires are able to “plow” the gravel or snow layer, shortening the stop- ping distance, ABS minimizes thisresistance effect. Allow for extra stopping distance when driving on loose surfaces.• On regular paved roads, some driv- ers may be able to obtain slightly shorter stopping distances withconventional 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 thatABS 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.
WA R N I N G
• If the ABS warning light (1) on the instrument panel comes on and stays on while driving, there maybe a problem with the ABS system. Ask your MARUTI SUZUKI dealer to inspect the ABS system immedi-ately. If the ABS system becomes inoperative, the brake system will function as an ordinary brake sys-tem that has no ABS. (Continued)
(1)(2)
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