SUZUKI BALENO 1999 1.G Owner's Guide

OTHER CONTROLS AND EQUIPMENTS
60G-74E

FRONT SEAT BACK POCKET

(if equipped)
REAR SPOILER WITH STOP LAMP

Other Controls (if equipped)

63B-06-022

This pocket is provided for holding light and

soft things such as gloves, newspapers or

magazines.

Do not put hard or breakable objects

In the pocket. If an accident occurs,

objects such as bottles, cans etc. can

injure the occupants in the rear seat.
60G-50-002E

Rear Spoiler is provided to improve

aerodynamic stability at higher speeds and

better asthetics. Stop Lamp (if equipped) is

fitted inside the Rear Spoiler. The stop lamp

will glow as and when the Brake Pedal is

depressed.

CAUTION

Never close the dicky door too hard or

with jerk or lift the dicky by holding

spoiler, rear spoiler may get damaged.

Close the dicky door gently and make

sure it is closed properly.
ALLOY WHEELS

Maintenance with tyre wears (if equipped)

60G-50-003E

Wider alloy wheels are provided in the vehicle

for better grip on the road and more fuel

economy. For balancing of wheels please

consult MARUTI authorised workshop.

CAUTION

Never try to remove the tyre from alloy

wheel rim in convention manner (by

hammering), it will damage the wheel

rim. Always insist on tyre changing

machine.

6-9
62

60G-74E

OTHER CONTROLS AND EQUIPMENT

POWER ANTENNA Other Controls

(if equipped)
LEATHER COVER

Steering Column Controls (if equipped)

60G-50-004E

60G-50-006E

Power antenna on the rear side will

automatically come up on switching on the

AM/FM receiver fitted in the vehicle.
For better control on steering wheel leather

cover is provided.
HIGH MOUNT STOP LAMP

(if equipped)

High mount stop lamp is provided with your

vehicle and is fitted on rear parcel tray. The

stop lamp will glow as when the brake pedal

will be depressed.

To change the bulb of the stop lamp, remove

the clips at both sides of the cover, by

pressing the inner pin inside so that the clip

gets loose and remove the bulb on turning

it anticlock-wise

The rating of bulb is 21W/12V.There are one

bulb in high mount stop lamp.

63

6-10

S0G-74E
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE

OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE

Exhaust Gas Warning 7-1

Daily Inspection Checklist 7-1

Starting the Engine 7-2

Using the Transmission 7-3

Braking 7-4

Running-in 7-5

Catalytic Converter (if equipped) 7-6

Improving Fuel Economy 7-7

Trailer Towing 7-7

OPERATING YOUR VECHILE

60G-74E

EXHAUST GAS WARNING
DAILY INSPECTION CHECKLIST

60G-07-001E

Avoid 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 in

garages 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 <=>
with the engine running, make sure

the air intake lever is set to "FRESH

AIR" and the fan is at high speed.

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.

7-1
70F-05-007

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 ignition switch in "ON"

position.

66
65

60G-74E
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) Power steering (if equipped) fluid level.

5) Windscreen washer fluid level.

6) Battery solution level.

7) 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.
STARTING THE ENGINE

Before starting the engine:

1) Make sure the parking brake is applied

fully.

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.

CAUTION

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.
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 "START1. 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".

67

7-2

OPERATING YOUR VECHILE

60G-74E

USING THE TRANSMISSION

70F-04-005E

Starting off

To start off, depress and maintain pressure

upon the clutch pedal and change into 1st

gear. After releasing the parking brake,

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.
GEAR

First

Second

Third

Fourth

Fifth
MAXIMUM SPEED

50 km/h

95 km/h

140 km/h

Top Speed

Top Speed

7-3
68

60G-74E
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE

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, resulting 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 reverse.
CAUTION

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.
BRAKING

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 20 km/h.

Start to brake the vehicle when there is plenty

of distance between your vehicle and the

stopping point, and slow down gradually.

69

7-4

OPERATING YOUR VECHILE

60G-74E

RUNNING-IN

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.
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

lonaer.

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.
CAUTION

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 the

engine. 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.

7-5
70
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.

60G-74E
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE

CATALYTIC CONVERTER

(if equipped)

70F-05-005

The 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 components 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.
CAUTION

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.
60Q-07-002E

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.

7-6

OPERATING YOUR VECHILE

60G-74E

IMPROVING FUEL ECONOMY

The 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 until the temperature

gauge pointer comes up to the "C" position. In

this position, the engine is sufficiently warm

for starting off.

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.
Air Outlet side

(Facing up)

60G-09-010

Keep the air cleaner clean:

A dirty air cleaner will cause the carburation

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.
TRAILER TOWING

Your MARUTI was originally 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.

7-7

72
71

60G-74E
DRIVING TIPS AND SAFE DRIVING

DRIVING TIPS AND SAFE DRIVING

High Speed Driving 8-1

Driving on Hills 8-1

Driving on Slippery Roads 8-2

Driving on Wet Roads 8-2

Do's and Don'ts for Safe Driving 8-3

73

DRIVING TIPS AND SAFE DRIVING

60G-74E

70F-06-001

Wear Your Seat Belts at All Times.

The driver and passengers should

be property restrained at all times,

using the seatbelts provided. Refer

to the "SEATBELTS" section for

instructions on proper use of the

seatbelts.

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 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 vehicle may

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.
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.

CAUTION

When descending a down hill, NEVER

turn the ignition key to the "OFF"

position. Emission control system and

automatic transmission (if equipped)

damage may result.

DRIVING ON SLIPPERY ROADS

Under 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.

8-1

60G-74E
DRIVING TIPS AND SAFE DRIVING

Snow Chains

If you must use snow chains to increase tyre

traction, observe the following precautions:

• Choose a safe place away from traffic to

install the chains.

• When installing the chains carefully follow

the manufacturer's instructions.

• Install the chains on the front tyres.

• With the chains on, drive only at slow and

moderate speeds.

• If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck

If your vehicle gets stuck in snow, mud, or

sand, follow the directions below:

1) Change back and forth between first gear

and reverse. This will create a rocking

motion which may give you enough

momentum to free the vehicle. Press

gently on the accelerator to keep wheel

spin to a minimum. Remove your foot from

the accelerator while changing gear.

Do not race the engine. Excessive wheel

spin will cause the tyres to dig deeper,

making it more difficult to free the vehicle.

2) If your vehicle remains stuck after a few

minutes of rocking, get another vehicle to

pull you out.
Do not allow anyone to stand near the

vehicle when you are rocking it, and do

not spin the wheels faster than an

indicated 40 km/h on the speedometer.

Personal injury and/or vehicle damage

may result from spinning the wheels

too fast.

CAUTION

Do not continue rocking the vehicle for

more than a few minutes. Prolonged

rocking can cause engine overheating

or transmission damage.

DRIVING ON WET ROADS

CAUTION

When driving on wet roads, avoid driv-

ing through large amount of standing

water on the road. Large amount of

water entering the engine compart-

ment may cause damage to the engine

and or electrical components.

If stuck in deep water, do not start till

water level drops.

Water Is incompressible substance,

water inside engine is harmful to

the engine."
Make sure your tyres are in good

condition and always maintain the

specified tyre pressure. Refer to

"TYRES" in the "INSPECTION AND

MAINTENANCE" section for details.

Do not use tyres other than those

specified by MARUTI. never use

different sizes or types of tyres on

the front and rear wheels. For

information regarding the specified

tyres, refer to ^"SPECIFICATIONS"

section.

Never use oversized tyres or special

shock absorbers and springs to

raise (jack up) your vehicle.This will

change the handling characteristics.

After driving through water, 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.

75

8-2

DRIVING TIPS AND SAFE DRIVING

60G-74E

DO'S AND DON'TS FOR SAFE

DRIVING

Exercise care in handling your vehicle. Be

conscious of not only your own safety but also

the safety of others on the road, and thus enjoy

the best and most comfortable driving

experience.

This section contains basic rules for safe

driving. Read it carefully for good

understanding of the content so that you can

enjoy safe and pleasant driving in your Maruti

vehicle.

72F-08-001

Starting

1. Adjust the driver's seat for the proper

driving posture.

2. Adjust the rear view mirror so as to obtain

the best possible rear view.

3. Before moving off, look forward and back

to confirm safety.
72F-08-002

72F-08-003

8-3
76

60G-74E
DRIVING TIPS AND SAFE DRIVING

72F-08-004

4. Don't start quickly, for it is dangerous and

wastes fuel.
72F-08-006

72F-08-005

General driving

1. Be sure to stop before the stop light and

stop sign. When moving into the

intersection without any traffic lights or

signs, drive slowly to confirm safety.
Always follow other vehicles at a safe

distance in order to prevent a rear-end

collision, should the vehicle ahead make

a sudden stop.

77

8-4

DRIVING TIPS AND SAFE DRIVING

60G-74E

72F-08-007 72F-08-008
72F-08-009

3.
Turn ON the turn signal at least 30 meters

before making a turn or changing the lane

so as not to be hit from behind.
4. Before entering a corner, decelerate to a

safe speed. Don't apply brakes during

cornering, or a cornering skid may occur.

5. When overtaking other vehicles, watch out

for the oncoming vehicle and carefully

confirm the safety.

6. Don't attempt zigzag driving which will

hinder your control over the vehicle and

cause an accident.

72F-08-010

8-5
78

60G-74E
DRIVING TIPS AND SAFE DRIVING

72F-08-011

Braking

1. Use the parking brake when parking your

vehicle and shift the gear shift lever into

the first gear or reverse gear position for

the sake of safety.
72F-08-012

Don't use handbraking unless

unavoidable. It causes the vehicle to

skid and a rear end collision occur. It is

especially dangerous when the tyres are

worn, for they allow a larger skid.

Use foot brake in three stages

(1) Warn the vehicle behind you

(2) Gradually apply the brake.

(3) Bring the vehicle to a halt.
3. When driving on a downhill, try not to apply

the brake but use the engine brake

effectively. Overuse of the footbrake may

result in total brake failure.

79

8-6

DRIVING TIPS AND SAFE DRIVING

60G-74E

72F-08-014

Avoid reckless high speed driving and try

to drive at a safe speed suitable for the

road conditions while maintaining a

constant speed.
5.
72F-08-015

The higher the speed, the narrower the

driver's visual range becomes. In such a

state, it is difficult to anticipate any hazard

and the driver feels much fatigued.

Never do sharp handling during high

speed driving. You will lose your control

over your car.

When overtaking or changing the lane

while driving at a high speed, keep an

ample car-to-car distance.

72F-08-017

8-7
80
72F-08-013

72F-08-016

60G-74E
DRIVING TIPS AND SAFE DRIVING

72F-08-018

72F-08-019

Long distance driving

1. Be sure to perform safety checks before

starting a trip.
2. Take rest at certain intervals to prevent

an accident which may occur when you

are sleepy or tired.
72F-08-020

Night time driving

1. Drive more slowly at night than in the

daytime, for the visual range is restricted

at night.

81

8-8

DRIVING TIPS AND SAFE DRIVING

60G-74E

72F-08-021

2. Don't overtake other vehicles at night.

Darkness bothers your sense of speed

and hinders your judgement on the car-

to-car distance.

3. Don't use the high headlight beam unless

its use is inevitable. Its dazzle may blitz

the driver of the oncoming vehicle, thus

causing an accident.

4. Always keep the window glasses clean.

Don't operate the windshield wiper when

the windshield glass is dry or the wiper

blade and glass may get damaged.
72F-08-022

72F-08-023
MARGIN FOR SAFETY

It is important to allow yourself a margin for

safety during driving so that you can cope with

erroneous or unexpected driving of other

drivers. For that, observe the following.

• Drive at a safe speed.

• Maintain a sufficient distance between

your vehicle and the vehicle ahead.

• Don't force yourself to overtake other

vehicles.

• Don't make quick start, hard steering or

sudden stops.

• Allow an ample time in the driving

schedule.

• Observe traffic rules and regulations.

CONCLUSION

A perfect driver does not exist. The endeavour

of every motorist should be to strive for

perfection. Safety consciousness not only

ensures your safety and the safety of other

road users, it also helps reduce the wear and

tear on your vehicle, prolongs its life, gives

more mileage and ensures a comfortable

driving experience.

Follow the do's and don'ts listed, and

driving will never be the same again.

8-9
82