3-4
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
75RM4-01E
Manual transaxle/Auto Gear Shift
60G033
• Manual transaxle/Auto Gear Shift vehi-cles
You must push in the key to turn it to
“LOCK” position. It lo cks the ignition, and
prevents normal use of the steering
wheel after the key is removed.
• CVT vehicles The gearshift lever must be in “P” (Park)
position to turn the key to “LOCK” posi-
tion. It locks the ignition and prevents
normal use of the steering wheel and
gearshift lever.
To release the steering lock, insert the key
and turn it clockwis e to one of the other
positions. If you have trouble turning the
key 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 be
released from this position as soon as the
engine starts.
Ignition key reminder
A buzzer sounds intermittently to remind
you to remove the ignition key if it is in the
ignition switch when the driver’s door is
opened.
81A297S
Turn to “LOCK”
Push
WA R N I N G
• Never return the ignition switch to“LOCK” position and remove the
ignition key while the vehicle is
moving. The steering wheel will
lock and you will not be able to
steer the vehicle. (Continued)
3-6
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
75RM4-01E
CVT – Provided you have the keyless
push start system remote controller with
you, the engine automatically starts when
you press the engine switch to select this
ignition mode after placing the gearshift
lever in the “P” position and depressing the
brake pedal. (If you need to re-start the
engine while the vehicle is moving, shift
into “N”.)
NOTE:
You do not need to keep the engine switch
pressed to start the engine.
NOTE:
In the presence of strong radio signals or
noise, you may not be able to change the
ignition mode to ACC or ON or to start the
engine using the engine switch. In this
case, the information display in the instru-
ment cluster will show the following mes-
sage: KEY FOB NOT DETECTED.
Unreleased steering lock warningIf the steering lock remains engaged when
you press the engine switch to change the
ignition mode to ON, the information dis-
play in the instrument cluster shows the
message: “TRN. STEERING WHEEL TO
RELEASE LOCK”. Refer to “Information
display” in the “BEFORE DRIVING” sec-
tion for details.
NOTE:
The steering lock may not be released and
the immobilizer/keyless push start system
warning light turns on if some load is acting
on the steering wheel . If this happens, turn
the steering wheel to the right or left to
relieve it from the load before you press
the engine switch again to change to the
desired ignition mode.
Keyless push start system (if equipped)Provided the keyless push start system
remote controller is within the interior work-
able area (refer to the related explanation
in this section), you can use the engine
switch for starting the engine and selecting
an ignition mode (ACC or ON). In addition,
the following functions can be used:
• Keyless entry function. Refer to “Keyless push start system r emote controller /
keyless entry system transmitter” in the
“BEFORE DRIVING” se ction for details.
• Locking and unlocking doors (including the tailgate) using a request switch.
Refer to “Keyless push start system
remote controller / keyless entry system
transmitter” in the “BEFORE DRIVING”
section for details.
• Immobilizer (anti-thef t) function. Refer to
“Immobilizer syste m” in the “BEFORE
DRIVING” section for details.
NOTICE
Do not leave the engine switch in
ACC or ON mode when the engine is
not running. Avoid using the radio or
other electric accessories for a long
time when the engine switch is in
ACC or ON mode when the engine is
not running, other wise the lead-acid
battery may discharge.
3-11OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
75RM4-01E
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 buzzerA 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
Always set the parking brake fully
before leaving your vehicle or it may
move, causing injury or damage.
When parking, check that the gear-
shift lever is in one of the following
positions;
• 1st gear or “R” (Reverse) for man-ual transaxle vehicles.
• “P” (Park) for CVT vehicles.
• “D”, “M” or “R” for Auto Gear Shift vehicles. Also, check the instru-
ment cluster to make sure that the
transaxle is engaged in “1” or “R”
position.
Remember, even though the tran-
saxle is in gear or in Park, you must
set the parking brake fully.
WA R N I N G
When parking the vehicle in
extremely cold weather, the following
procedure should be used:
1) Set the parking brake.
2) Manual transaxle – turn off the
engine, then shift into reverse or
first gear.
Auto Gear Shift – shift into “D”,
“M” or “R” and check the gear
position indicator in the instru-
ment cluster to make sure that the
transaxle is engaged in “1” or “R”
position, then tur n off the engine.
CVT – shift into “P” (Park) and
turn off the engine.
3) Get out of the vehicle and put
chocks under the wheels.
4) Release the parking brake. When you return to your vehicle,
first set the parking brake, and
then remove the wheel chocks.
WA R N I N G
Do not leave cigarette lighters, spray
cans, soft drink cans or plastic arti-
cles (such as glasses, CD cases, etc.)
in sun-heated vehicle. The tempera-
ture inside the vehicle may cause as
follows:
• Gas may leak from a cigarette lighter or spray can and may lead
to a fire.
• The glasses, plastic cards or CD cases, etc. may deform or crack.
• Soft drink cans may fracture.
3-12
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
75RM4-01E
PedalManual transaxle
80J2121
Auto Gear Shift or CVT
80J2122
Clutch pedal (1)A clutch pedal is used to disengage the
drive to the wheels when starting the
engine, stopping, or shifting the gearshift
lever. Depressing the pedal disengages
the clutch.Brake pedal (2)Your SUZUKI vehicle is equipped with front
disc brakes and rear drum brakes.
Depressing a brake pedal applies 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 cold, wet, snow, etc.
Accelerator pedal (3)An accelerator pedal controls the speed of
the engine. Depressing the accelerator
pedal increases power output and speed.
(2)
(1)(3)EXAMPLE
(3)
(2)
EXAMPLE
WA R N I N G
Do not drive with your foot resting on
the clutch pedal. It could result in
excessive clutch wear, clutch dam-
age, or unexpected loss of engine
braking.
WA R N I N G
If brake squeal is excessive and
occurs each time the brakes are
applied, you should have the brakes
checked by your SUZUKI dealer.
WA R N I N G
Do not apply brakes continuously or
rest your foot on the brake pedal.
This will result in overheating of the
brakes which could cause unpredict-
able braking action, longer stopping
distances, or permanent brake dam-
age.
3-21OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
75RM4-01E
M (manual mode) (models with manual
mode)
Use this position for driving in the manual
mode.
Refer to “Manual mode” later in this section
for details on how to use the manual mode.
L (Low) (models with switch of S-mode)
Use this position to provide maximum
power when climbing steep hills or driving
through deep snow or mud, or to provide
maximum engine braking when going
down steep hills. Switch of S-mode (models with switch
of S-mode)
75RM051
(1) Switch of S-mode
Switch of S-mode is ON
This mode is suitable when driving on hills
and/or rough roads.
• It will engage the engine brake when driving on down hills.
• It helps to operate powerful and smooth driving on up hills or rough roads with
stable engine revolutions. Switch of S-mode is OFF
This mode is suitable for normal driving.
• You can keep low fuel consumption with
less noise.
• Each time you press the switch, ON and OFF is switched.
• When the switch of S-mode is turned on, the S-mode indicator comes on.
• When you start the engine, the switch of
S-mode will be OFF.
NOTICE
Be sure to take the following precau-
tions to help avoid damage to the
CVT:
• Make sure that the vehicle is com-pletely stationary before shifting
into “P” or “R”.
• Do not shift from “P” or “N” to “R”, “D”, “M” or “L” wh en the engine is
running above idle speed.
• Do not rev the engine with the transaxle in a drive position (“R”,
“D”, “M” or “L”) and the front
wheels not moving.
• Do not use the accelerator to hold the vehicle on a hill. Use the vehi-
cle’s brakes.
(1)
EXAMPLE
3-22
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
75RM4-01E
Manual mode (models with manual
mode)
The CVT can shift gears automatically.
When using the manual mode, you can
shift gears in the same manner as conven-
tional manual transaxle.
To use the manual mode, shift the gearshift
lever from “D” to “M”.
62R0098
75RM325
(1) Manual mode indicator
(2) Gear position The information display shows the manual
mode indicator (1) and the current gear
position (2).
NOTE:
• The indicated gear position on the infor-
mation display when you shift from “D” to
“M” is the gear position that was
selected automatically when the gear-
shift lever was in “D”.
• You can change to the manual mode temporarily by pulling the shift paddle on
the steering wheel toward you when the
gearshift lever is in “D”.
Shifting in the manual mode
You can shift gears from 1st to 7th depend-
ing on driving speed.
NOTE:
• When the engine is revved, the gear is shifted up automatically to prevent dam-
age to the engine and the transaxle.
• When the driving speed becomes slow, the gear shifts down automatically, and
when the vehicle stops, the gear position
will be in 1st gear without shifting the
gearshift lever.
• If you depress the accelerator pedal a
certain amount, the gear shifts down
automatically even if the gearshift lever
is in the manual mode. NOTE:
When you change gear, sometimes the
transaxle may not shift to the desired gear
but a buzzer sounds instead. This is to
maintain good drivability and to protect the
transaxle.
Using the shift paddle
62R0144
To shift up, pull the “+” side shift paddle,
located on right side of the steering wheel,
toward you. When you release your finger
from the switch, the switch will return to the
original position.
EXAMPLE
(1)
(2)
EXAMPLE
3-23OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
75RM4-01E
62R0145
To shift down, pull the “–” side shift paddle,
located on left side of the steering wheel,
toward you. When you release your finger
from the switch, the switch will return to the
original position.
NOTE:
• To shift gears continuously, release yourfinger from the shift paddle, then pull the
shift paddle again. You cannot shift
gears continuously while holding the
shift paddle toward you.
• When you pull the both “+” and “ –” shift
paddle simultaneously, the gear may not
shift.
Canceling the manual mode
To cancel the manual mode, shift the gear-
shift lever from “M” to “D”. Temporary manual mode
Pull the shift paddle toward you when driv-
ing with the gearshift lever in the “D” posi-
tion. The information display shows the
manual mode indicator (1) and the current
gear position (2).
75RM325
(1) Manual mode indicator
(2) Gear position
The temporary manual mode will be can-
celed automatically in the following situa-
tions.
• When you press and hold the accelera- tor pedal for a certain period of time with-
out shifting gears.
• When driving spee d becomes slow.
If you cannot shift CVT gearshift lever out of “P” (PARK)Left Hand Drive Vehicle
75RM052
Vehicles with a CVT have an electrically
operated park-lock feat ure. If the vehicle’s
lead-acid battery is discharged, or there is
some other electrical failure, the CVT can-
not be shifted out of Park in the normal
way. Jump starting may correct the condi-
tion. If not, follow the procedure described
below. This procedure will permit shifting
the transaxle out of Park.
(1)
(2)
EXAMPLE
(1)
(2)
EXAMPLE
3-42
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
75RM4-01E
Conditions to stop the engine automatically
If all of the following conditions are met while the standby conditions are met, the engine is stopped automatically when the vehicle is
decelerating before stopping or when the vehicle is stopped.
#: The engine may not be stopped automatically if the brake peda l was depressed lightly or strongly.
When decelerating
before stopping
Common
• The ABS or ESP
® system has not been activated.
• Brake booster vacuum pressure is normal.
Manual
transaxle • The clutch pedal is depressed, the gearshift lever is shifted
into “N” position, and then the
clutch pedal is released when the vehicle speed is approximately 15 km/h (9 mph) or less.
CVT • The brake pedal is sufficiently depressed. (#)
• The vehicle is decelerating to a speed of approximately 13 km/
h (8 mph) or less.
• The steering wheel is not being operated.
• The accelerator pedal is not depressed.
• The vehicle is not being driven on a steep hill.
• The brake is not applied abruptly.
When the vehicle is
stopped Common
• The ABS or ESP® system has not been activated.
• Brake booster vacuum pressure is normal.
Manual
transaxle • The gearshift lever is in “N” position.
• The clutch pedal is released.
CVT • The steering wheel is not being operated.
• The brake was not app
lied abruptly before the vehicle was stop ped.
• The brake pedal is sufficiently depressed. (#)
• The accelerator pedal is not depressed.
• The vehicle is not s topped on a steep hill.