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DRIVING TIPS
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Keep weight to a minimum The heavier the load, the more fuel the vehicle consumes. Take out any luggageor cargo when it is not necessary.
Keep tire pressures correct Underinflation of the tires can waste fuel due to increased running resistance of the tires. Keep your tires inflated to the correctpressure shown on the label on the driver’s side door or the driver’s door lock pillar.
Highway Driving
When driving at highway speeds, pay attention to the following: Stopping distance progressively increases with vehicle speed. Apply the brakes far enough ahead of the stoppingpoint to allow for the extra stopping dis- tance. On rainy days, “Hydroplaning” can occur.“Hydroplaning” is the loss of direct con- tact between the road surface and the vehicle’s tires due to a water film formingbetween them. Steering or braking the vehicle while “Hydroplaning” 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 beaffected by side winds. Therefore, reduce speed and be prepared for unex- pected buffeting, which can occur at theexits of tunnels, when passing by a cut of a hill, or when being overtaken by large vehicles, etc.
Driving on Hills
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When climbing steep hills, the vehiclemay begin to slow down and show a lackof power. If this happens, you should shift to a lower gear so that the engine will again be operating in its normalpower range. Shift rapidly to prevent the vehicle from losing momentum. When driving down a hill, the engineshould be used for braking by shifting into a lower gear.
Driving on Slippery Roads
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Under wet road conditions you should drive at a lower speed than on dry roadsdue to possible slippage of tires during braking. When driving on icy, snow-cov- ered, or muddy roads, reduce your speedand avoid sudden acceleration, abrupt braking, or sharp steering movements.
Tire Chains (if equipped)Tire chains should only be used if they are needed to increase traction or are required by law. Make sure that the chains you use
WA R N I N G
Try not to hold the brake pedal down too long or too often while goingdown a steep or long hill. This could cause the brakes to overheat, result- ing in reduced braking efficiency.Failure to take this precaution could result in loss of vehicle control.
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NOTICE
When descending a down hill, NEVER turn the igni tion key to the “LOCK” position. Emission control system damage may result.
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INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
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Tires
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The front and rear tire pressure specifica- tions for your vehicle are listed on the TireInformation Label. Both the front and rear tires should have the specified tire pres- sure.Note that the value does not apply to the compact spare tire, if equipped.
Tire InspectionInspect your vehicle’s tires at least once a month by performing the following checks:
1) Measure the air pressure with a tire gauge. Adjust the pressure if neces- sary. Remember to check the spare tire, too.
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(1) Tread wear indicator(2) Indicator location mark
2) Check that the depth of the tread groove is more than 1.6 mm (0.06 in.).To help you check this, the tires have molded-in tread wear indicators in the grooves. When the indicators appearon the tread surface, the remaining depth of the tread is 1.6 mm (0.06 in.) or less and the tire should be replaced.3) Check for abnormal wear, cracks and damage. Any tires with cracks or other damage should be replaced. If any tiresshow abnormal wear, have them inspected by your MARUTI SUZUKI dealer.
4) Check for loose wheel nuts. 5) Check that there are no nails, stones orother objects sticking into the tires.
EXAMPLE
WA R N I N G
• Air pressures should be checkedwhen the tires are cold or you mayget inaccurate readings. • Check the inflation pressure from time to time whil e inflating the tire gradually, until the specified pres- sure is obtained. • Never under inflate or over inflatethe tires. Under inflation can cause unusual handling characteristics or cancause the rim to slip on the tire bead, resulting in an accident or damage to the tire or rim.• Overinflation can cause the tire to burst, resulting in personal injury. Overinflation can also causeunusual handling characteristics which may result in an accident.
(1)
(2)
EXAMPLE
CAUTION
Hitting curbs and running over rocks can damage tires and affect wheelalignment. Be sure to have tires and wheel alignment checked periodi- cally by your MARUTI SUZUKI dealer.
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EMERGENCY SERVICE
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3) Make jump lead connections as follows:
1. Connect one end of the first jump lead to the positive (+) terminal of the flat battery (1). 2. Connect the other end to the positive(+) terminal of the booster battery (2). 3. Connect one end of the second jumplead to the negative (–) terminal of the booster battery (2). 4. Make the final connection to anunpainted, heavy metal part (i.e. engine mount bracket (3)) of the engine of the vehicle with the flatbattery (1).
4) If the booster battery you are using is fitted to another vehicle, start the
engine of the vehicle with the booster battery. Run the engine at moderate speed.5) Start the engine of the vehicle with the flat battery. 6) Remove the jump leads in the exactreverse order in which you connected them.
Towing
If you need to have your vehicle towed, contact a professional service. Your dealercan provide you with detailed towing instructions.
2-Wheel Drive (2WD) Manual Tran- saxle or Auto Gear ShiftManual transaxle vehicles or Auto Gear Shift vehicles may be towed using either of the following methods.
1) From the front, with the front wheels lifted and the rear wheels on the ground. Before towing, make sure thatthe parking brake is released. 2) From the rear, with the rear wheels lifted and the front wheels on theground, provided the steering and drivetrain are in operational condition. Before towing, make sure that transaxleis in neutral, the steering wheel is
unlocked (the ignition key should be in the “ACC” position), and the steering wheel is secured with a clampingdevice designed for towing service.
WA R N I N G
Never connect the jump lead directlyto the negative (–) terminal of the dis- charged battery, or an explosion may occur.
CAUTION
Connect the jump le ad to the engine mount bracket securely. If the jump lead disconnects from the engine mount bracket because of vibrationat the start of the engine, the jump lead could be caught in the drive belts.
NOTICE
To help avoid damage to your vehicle during towing, proper equipment and towing procedures must be used.
NOTICE
After shifting the Auto Gear Shiftlever to the “N” position, always check the gear position indicator in the instrument cluster shows the “N”position to make sure that the transaxle is disengaged. If the transaxle cannot be put in neu-tral, turn the key from the “LOCK” to the “ON” position, and move the Auto Gear Shift lever from “N” to “D”,“M” or “R”, then back to “N” again. Then turn the key from the “ON” to the “LOCK” position.These procedures may help put the transaxle in neutral. If the transaxle still cannot be put in neutral, you can-not tow the vehicle without using a towing dolly. The steering column is not strongenough to with stand shocks trans- mitted from the fr ont wheels during towing. Always unlock the steeringwheel before towing.
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EMERGENCY SERVICE
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If the Starter Does Not
Operate
1) Try turning the ignition switch to the “START” position with the headlights turned on to determine the battery con- dition. If the headlights go excessivelydim or go off, it usually means that either the battery is flat or the battery terminal contact is poor. Recharge thebattery or correct battery terminal con- tact as necessary. 2) If the headlights remain bright, checkthe fuses. If the reason for failure of the starter is not obvious, there may be a major electrical problem. Have the vehi-cle inspected by your authorized MAR- UTI SUZUKI dealer.
If the Engine is Flooded
If the engine is flooded with petrol, it may be hard to start. If this happens, press theaccelerator pedal all the way to the floor and hold it there while cranking the engine. For petrol engine model, do not operatethe starter motor for more than 12 sec- onds. For diesel engine model, do not operatethe starter motor for more than 30 sec- onds.
If the Engine Overheats
The engine could overheat temporarily under severe driving conditions. If the highengine coolant temperature warning light comes on as overheating during driving: 1) Turn off the air conditioner, if equipped.2) Take the vehicle to a safe place and park. 3) Let the engine run at the normal idlespeed for a few minutes until the high engine coolant temperature warning light goes off.
If the high engine coolant temperature warning light does not go off: 1) Turn off the engine and check that the water pump belt and pulleys are notdamaged or slipping. If any abnormality is found, correct it.
2) Check the coolant level in the reservoir. If it is found to be lower than the “LOW” line, look for leaks at the radiator, waterpump, and radiator and heater hoses. If you locate any leaks that may have caused the overheating, do not run theengine until these problems have been corrected. 3) If you do not find a leak, carefully addcoolant to the reservoir and then the radiator, if necessary. (Refer to “Engine Coolant” in the “INSPECTION ANDMAINTENANCE” section.)
NOTE: If your engine overheats and you are unsure what to do, contact your MARUTI SUZUKI dealer.
WA R N I N G
If you see or hear escaping steam,stop the vehicle in a safe place andimmediately turn off the engine to let it cool. Do not open the hood when steam is present. When the steamcan no longer be seen or heard, open the hood to see if the coolant is still boiling. If it is, you must wait until itstops boiling before you proceed.
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