check engine SUZUKI FORENZA 2008 1.G Owner's Manual

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If you are in an area of extreme cold,
where the temperature falls below –22°F
(–30°C), it is recommended that you use
either an SAE 5W-30 synthetic oil or an
SAE 0W-30 oil. Both will provide easier
cold starting and better protection for your
engine at extremely low temperatures.
Engine Oil Additives
Don’t add anything to your oil. The recom-
mended oils with the starburst symbol are
all you will need for good performance and
engine protection.
When to Change Engine Oil
If any one of these is true for you, use the
short trip/city maintenance schedule:
 Most trips are less than 5 miles (8 km).
This is particularly important when out-
side temperatures are below freezing.
 Most trips include extensive idling (such
as frequent driving in stop-and-go traf-
fic).
 The vehicle is used for delivery service,
police, taxi or other commercial applica-
tion.Driving under these conditions causes
engine oil to break down sooner. If any one
of these is true for your vehicle, then you
need to change your oil and filter every
3,750 miles (6,000 km) or 3 months –
whichever occurs first.
If none of them is true, use the long trip/
highway maintenance schedule. Change
the oil and filter every 7,500 miles (12,000
km) or 6 months – whichever occurs first.
Driving a vehicle with a fully warmed
engine under highway conditions will
cause engine oil to break down slower.
What to Do with Used Oil
Used engine oil contains certain elements
that may be unhealthy for your skin and
could even cause cancer. Don’t let used oil
stay on your skin for very long. Clean your
skin and nails with soap and water, or a
good hand cleaner. Wash or properly dis-
pose of clothing or rags containing used
engine oil. See the manufacturer’s warn-
ings about the use and disposal of oil prod-
ucts.
Used oil can be a threat to the environ-
ment. If you change your own oil, be sure
to drain all the oil from the filter before dis-
posal. Never dispose of oil by putting it in
the trash, pouring it on the ground, into
sewers, or into streams or bodies of water.
Instead, recycle it by taking it to a place
that collects used oil. If you have a problem
properly disposing of your used oil, askyour SUZUKI dealer, a service station or a
local recycling center for help.
Engine Air Cleaner/FilterThe engine air cleaner/filter is located on
the passenger’s side of the engine com-
partment. See “Engine Compartment
Overview” in this section for more informa-
tion on location.
When to Inspect the Engine Air Cleaner/
Filter
Inspect the air cleaner/filter every 7,500
miles (12,000 km) or 6 months – whichever
occurs first.
Replace every 30,000 miles (48,000 km)
or 24 months – whichever comes first.
If you are driving in dusty/dirty conditions,
inspect the filter every 3,750 miles (6,000
CAUTION
Use only engine oil with the Ameri-
can Petroleum Institute Certified For
Gasoline Engines starburst symbol.
Failure to use the recommended oil
can result in engine damage not cov-
ered by your warranty.
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km) or 3 months. If necessary, clean or
replace it.
How to Inspect the Engine Air Cleaner/
Filter
To inspect the air cleaner/filter, remove the
filter from the vehicle and lightly shake the
filter to release loose dust and dirt. If the fil-
ter remains “caked” with dirt, a new filter is
required.
To inspect or replace the filter, do the fol-
lowing:
1) Remove the four screws on the cover.
2) Lift off the cover.
3) Check or replace the engine air
cleaner/filter. See “Normal Mainte-
nance Replacement Parts” in this sec-
tion for replacement part numbers.
4) Reinstall the filter, put the cover back on
tightly, and tighten the screws.
Automatic Transmission FluidTo ensure proper functioning, efficiency,
and durability of the automatic transmis-
sion, be sure to keep the transmission fluid
at the proper level. Too much or too little
fluid can cause problems.
The fluid level must be checked with the
engine running and the selector lever in P
(Park). The vehicle must be up to normal
operating temperature and parked on level
ground.
The normal operating temperature for the
fluid will be reached after driving about 10
minutes.
Checking Automatic Transmission Fluid
Level
If the fluid is contaminated or discolored,
change the automatic transmission fluid.
A decrease in the fluid level indicates a
leak in the automatic transmission. If
noted, contact your SUZUKI dealer for
repair as soon as possible.1) Start the engine.
2) Warm up the engine until the tempera-
ture of the automatic transmission fluid
reaches approximately 40°C (104°F).
3) Move the selector lever from “P” to “1”
and return to “P”. Wait for a few sec-
onds at each select position until the
selected gears are fully engaged.
WARNING
Operating the engine with the air
cleaner/filter off can cause you or
others to be burned. The air cleaner
not only cleans the air, it helps to
stop flame if the engine backfires. If it
isn’t there and the engine backfires,
you could be burned. Don’t drive with
it off, and be careful working on the
engine with the air cleaner/filter off.
CAUTION
If the air cleaner/filter is off, a backfire
can cause a damaging engine fire.
And, dirt can easily get into your
engine, which will damage it. Always
have the air cleaner/filter in place
when you’re driving.
WARNING
This work requires special skill and
equipment. Before attempting to do
the work, be sure you are fully
acquainted with doing this job.
Have your SUZUKI dealer do this
work if you are not confident you can
complete the task safely.
Otherwise, you could be injured or
could damage the vehicle.
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4) Remove filler plug.
5) Make sure the fluid reaches the bottom
edge of the filler plug hole.
6) If the level is low, add fluid until it begins
to run out the filler hole.
7) After filling to the correct level, reinstall
the plug securely.
Recommend Automatic Transmission
Fluid and Maintenance Schedule
Change both the fluid and filter every
37,500 miles (60,000 km) if the vehicle is
mainly driven under one or more of these
conditions:
 In heavy city traffic where the outside
temperature regularly reaches 90°F
(32°C) or higher.
 In hilly or mountainous terrain.
 For business uses such as taxi, police or
delivery service.If you do not use your vehicle under any of
these conditions, the fluid and filter do not
require changing.
See “Recommended Fluids and Lubri-
cants” in section 6 for the proper fluid to
use.
Manual Transmission FluidChecking Transmission Fluid Level1) Turn the engine off.
2) Allow the transmission to cool. It must
be cool enough for you to rest your fin-
gers on the transmission case.
3) Remove filler plug.
4) Make sure the fluid reaches the bottom
edge of the filler plug hole.
5) If the level is low, add fluid until it begins
to run out the filler hole.
6) After filling to the correct level, reinstall
the plug securely.
7) Visually check the transmission case
for leaks or damage.
See “Recommended Fluids and Lubri-
cants” in section 6 for the proper fluid to
use.
CAUTION
Use of automatic transmission fluid
labeled other than ESSO LT 71141 or
TOTAL ATF H50235 may damage your
vehicle, and the damages may not be
covered by your warranty. Always
use ESSO LT 71141 or TOTAL ATF
H50235 labeled automatic transmis-
sion fluid.
WARNING
This work requires special skill and
equipment. Before attempting to do
the work, be sure you are fully
acquainted with doing this job.
Have your SUZUKI dealer do this
work if you are not confident you can
complete the task safely.
Otherwise, you could be injured or
could damage the vehicle.
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Hydraulic ClutchThere is one reservoir for both the brake
and the hydraulic clutch fluid. See “Brakes”
in this section for more information.
The hydraulic clutch linkage in your vehicle
is self-adjusting. The master cylinder res-
ervoir is filled with hydraulic fluid.
A fluid loss in this system could indicate a
problem. Have the system inspected and
repaired.
When to Check and What to Use
Refer to the Maintenance Schedule to
determine how often you should check the
fluid level and for the proper fluid. See sec-
tion 6.
How to Check and Add Fluid
To check the fluid level, look on the side of
the reservoir. If the fluid level is betweenthe MIN and the MAX marks on the reser-
voir, the fluid level is correct. The reservoir
is located near the back of the engine com-
partment on the driver’s side of the vehicle.
See “Engine Compartment Overview” in
this section for more information on loca-
tion.
Engine CoolantThe following explains your cooling system
and how to add coolant when it is low. If
you have a problem with engine overheat-
ing, see “Engine Overheating” in this sec-
tion.
What to Use
The cooling system in your vehicle is
designed to use either Dex-cool coolant,
which is red in color, or silicate based cool-
ant, which is blue. These two types of cool-
ant are not compatible with each other and
should never be mixed. Therefore, if the
original coolant in your vehicle’s cooling
system was red, then you should use only
Dex-cool coolant for the life of your vehicle.
If the original coolant in your vehicle's cool-
ing system was blue, then you should use
only silicate based coolant for the life of
your vehicle. Even if the cooling system
has been completely drained before a refill,
do not switch types of coolant.Use a 60/40 mixture of clean, drinkable
water and engine coolant which won’t
damage aluminum parts. If another type of
coolant is used, aluminum parts might be
subject to corrosion.
You can also use a recycled coolant with a
complete coolant flush and refill. If you use
this coolant mixture, you don’t need to add
anything else.
A 60/40 mixture of clean, drinkable water
and proper coolant will:
 Give freezing protection down to –33°F
(–36°C).
 Give boiling protection up to 268°F
(131°C).
 Protect against rust and corrosion.
 Help keep the proper engine tempera-
ture.
 Let the warning lights and gauges work
as they should.
For protection in extremely cold weather
conditions, use a 50/50 mixture of clean,
drinkable water and proper coolant.
WARNING
Do not mix Dex-cool and silicate
based coolant in your coolant sys-
tem.
The mixture can damage the cooling
system.
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If you have to add coolant more than four
times a year, have your SUZUKI dealer
check your cooling system.Checking Coolant
The engine coolant surge tank is located
on the driver’s side of the engine compart-
ment. See “Engine Compartment Over-
view” in this section for more information
on location.The vehicle must be on a level surface.
When your engine is cold, the coolant level
should be between MAX and MIN mark on
the coolant surge tank. The level rises at
engine operation temperature and drops
again when the engine cools down.
Adding Coolant
If the level falls below the MIN mark, add
the proper coolant mixture at the surge
tank, but only when the engine is cool. If
the surge tank is empty, a special fill proce-
dure is necessary. See “Cooling System”
in this section for instructions on “How to
Add Coolant to the Coolant Surge Tank”.
WARNING
Adding only plain water to your cool-
ing system can be dangerous. Plain
water, or some other liquid such as
alcohol, can boil before the proper
coolant mixture will. Your vehicle’s
coolant warning system is set for the
proper coolant mixture. With plain
water or the wrong mixture, your
engine could get too hot but you
wouldn’t get the overheat warning.
Your engine could catch fire and you
or others could be burned. Use a 60/
40 mixture of clean, drinkable water
and the proper coolant.
CAUTION
If you use an improper coolant mix-
ture, your engine could overheat and
be badly damaged. The repair cost
wouldn’t be covered by your war-
ranty. Too much water in the mixture
can freeze and crack the engine, radi-
ator, heater core and other parts.
CAUTION
If you use the proper coolant, you
don’t have to add extra inhibitors or
additives which claim to improve the
system. These can be harmful.
WARNING
Never turn the surge tank pressure
cap – even a little – when the engine
and radiator are hot.
Loosening the surge tank pressure
cap when the engine and radiator are
hot can allow steam and scalding liq-
uids to blow out and burn you badly.
WARNING
Don’t spill coolant on a hot engine.
You can be burned if you spill coolant
on hot engine parts. Coolant con-
tains ethylene glycol, and it will burn
if the engine parts are hot enough.
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When replacing the pressure cap, make
sure it is hand-tight.Coolant Surge Tank Pressure Cap
Engine OverheatingYou will find a coolant temperature gauge
on your vehicle’s instrument panel. See
“Engine Coolant Temperature Gauge” in
section 3.If Steam Is Coming From Your Engine
If No Steam Is Coming From Your
Engine
If you get an engine overheat warning, but
see or hear no steam, the problem may not
be too serious. Sometimes the engine can
get a little too hot when you:
 Climb a long hill on a hot day.
 Stop after high-speed driving.
 Idle for long periods in traffic.
If you get the overheat warning with no
sign of steam, try this for a minute or so:
1) In heavy traffic, let the engine idle in
NEUTRAL while stopped. If it is safe to
do so, pull off the road, shift to PARK
(P) or NEUTRAL and let the engine
idle.
2) Turn on your heater to full hot at the
highest fan speed and open the window
as necessary.
If you no longer have the overheat warn-
ing, you can drive. Just to be safe, drive
slower for about 10 minutes. If the warning
doesn’t come back on, you can drive nor-
mally.
CAUTION
Your coolant surge tank cap is a
pressure-type cap and must be
tightly installed to prevent coolant
loss and possible engine damage
from overheating. See “Capacities
and Specifications” for more informa-
tion.
WARNING
Steam from an overheated engine
can burn you badly, even if you just
open the hood. Stay away from the
engine if you see or hear steam com-
ing from it. Just turn it off and get
everyone away from the vehicle until
it cools down. Wait until there is no
sign of steam or coolant before you
open the hood.
If you keep driving when your engine
is overheated, the liquids in it can
catch fire. You or others could be
badly burned. Stop your engine if it
overheats, and get out of the vehicle
until the engine is cool.
CAUTION
If your engine catches fire because
you keep driving with no coolant,
your vehicle can be badly damaged.
The costly repairs would not be cov-
ered by your warranty.
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If the warning continues and you have not
stopped, pull over, stop, and park your
vehicle right away.
If there’s still no sign of steam, you can idle
the engine for three minutes while you’re
parked. If you still have the warning, turn
off the engine and get everyone out of the
vehicle until it cools down.
You may decide not to lift the hood, but to
get service help right away.Cooling SystemThe engine coolant surge tank is located in
the rear of the engine compartment on the
driver’s side.If the coolant inside the coolant surge tank
is boiling, don’t do anything else until it
cools down. The vehicle should be parked
on a level surface. Make sure that the air
conditioning is turned off.
The coolant level should be between the
MIN and MAX marks on the coolant surge
tank when the engine is cool. If it isn’t, you
may have a leak at the pressure cap or in
the radiator hoses, heater hoses, radiator,
water pump or somewhere else in the cool-
ing system.If there seems to be no leak, with the
engine on, check to see if the electric
engine cooling fan is running. If the engine
is overheating, the fan should be running.
If it isn’t, your vehicle needs service.
How to Add Coolant to the Coolant
Surge Tank
If you haven’t found a problem yet, check
to see if coolant is visible in the surge tank.
If coolant is visible but the coolant level
isn’t between the MIN and MAX marks,
add a 60/40 mixture of clean, drinkable
water and proper coolant at the coolant
surge tank, but be sure the cooling system,
including the coolant surge tank pressure
cap, is cool before you do it. See “Engine
Coolant” in this section for more informa-
tion.
If no coolant is visible in the surge tank,
add coolant as follows:
WARNING
An electric engine cooling fan under
the hood can start up even when the
engine is not running and can injure
you. Keep hands, clothing and tools
away from any underhood electric
fan.
WARNING
Heater and radiator hoses, and other
engine parts, can be very hot. Don’t
touch them. If you do, you can be
burned.
Don’t run the engine if there is a leak.
If you run the engine, it could lose all
of the coolant. That could cause an
engine fire, and you could be burned.
Get any leak fixed before you drive
the vehicle.
CAUTION
Engine damage from running your
engine without coolant isn’t covered
by your warranty.
CAUTION
This vehicle has a specific coolant fill
procedure. Failure to follow this pro-
cedure could cause your engine to
overheat and be severely damaged.
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1) Park the vehicle on a level surface. You
can remove the coolant surge tank
pressure cap when the cooling system,
including the coolant surge tank pres-
sure cap and upper radiator hose, is no
longer hot. Turn the pressure cap
slowly counterclockwise (left) about two
or two and one-half turns. If you hear a
hiss, wait for that to stop. This will allow
any pressure still left to be vented out
the discharge hose.
WARNING
Never turn the cap when the cooling
system, including the coolant surge
tank pressure cap, is hot.
Steam and scalding liquids from a
hot cooling system can blow out and
burn you badly. They are under pres-
sure, and if you loosen the coolant
surge tank pressure cap – even a lit-
tle – they can come out at high
speed. Wait for the cooling system
and coolant surge tank pressure cap
to cool if you ever have to loosen the
pressure cap.
WARNING
Adding only plain water to your cool-
ing system can be dangerous. Plain
water, or some other liquid such as
alcohol, can boil before the proper
coolant mixture will. Your vehicle’s
coolant warning system is set for the
proper coolant mixture. With plain
water or the wrong mixture, your
engine could get too hot but you
wouldn’t get the overheat warning.
Your engine could catch fire and you
or others could be burned. Use a 60/
40 mixture of clean, drinkable water
and a proper coolant.
L3U5019A
CAUTION
In cold weather, water can freeze and
crack the engine, radiator, heater
core and other parts. Use the recom-
mended coolant and the proper cool-
ant mixture.
WARNING
You can be burned if you spill coolant
on hot engine parts. Coolant con-
tains ethylene glycol and it will burn
if the engine parts are hot enough.
Don’t spill coolant on a hot engine.
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2) Then keep turning the pressure cap
slowly, and remove it.
3) Fill the coolant surge tank with the
proper mixture to the MAX mark on the
coolant surge tank. Wait about five min-
utes, then check to see if the level is
below the MAX mark. If the level is
below the MAX mark, add additional
coolant to bring the level up to the MAX
mark. Repeat this procedure until the
level remains constant at the MAX mark
for at least five minutes.
4) With the coolant surge tank pressure
cap off, start the engine and let it run
until you can feel the upper radiator
hose getting hot. Watch out for the
engine cooling fan.
By this time, the coolant level inside the
coolant surge tank may be lower. If thelevel is lower than the MAX mark, add
more of the proper mixture to the cool-
ant surge tank until the level reaches
the MAX mark.
5) Then replace the pressure cap. Be sure
the pressure cap is hand-tight and fully
seated. See your SUZUKI dealer, if
necessary.
Power Steering FluidThe power steering fluid reservoir is
located toward the front of the engine com-
partment on the driver’s side of the vehicle.
See “Engine Compartment Overview” in
this section for more information on loca-
tion.
When to Check Power Steering Fluid
It is not necessary to regularly check
power steering fluid unless you suspect
there is a leak in the system or you hear an
unusual noise. A fluid loss in this system
could indicate a problem. Have the system
inspected and repaired.How to Check Power Steering Fluid
Turn the key off and then check the fluid
level. The level should be between the MIN
and MAX marks on the reservoir. If the
level is below the MIN mark, add power
steering fluid.
What to Use
To determine what kind of fluid to use, see
“Recommended Fluids and Lubricants” in
section 6. Always use the proper fluid. Fail-
ure to use the proper fluid can cause leaks
and can damage hoses and seals.
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Windshield Washer FluidThe windshield washer fluid reservoir is
located in the front of the engine compart-
ment on the driver’s side. See “Engine
Compartment Overview” in this section for
more information on location.
What to Use
When you need windshield washer fluid,
be sure to read the manufacturer’s instruc-
tions before use. If you will be operating
your vehicle in an area where the tempera-
ture may fall below freezing, use a fluid
that has sufficient protection against freez-
ing.Adding Washer Fluid
Open the cap with the washer symbol on it.
Add washer fluid until the tank is full.
BrakesBrake Fluid
Your brake master cylinder reservoir is
located near the back of the engine com-
partment on the driver’s side of the vehicle.
It is filled with DOT-3 brake fluid. See
“Engine Compartment Overview” in this
section for the location of the reservoir.
There are only two reasons why the brake
fluid level in the reservoir might go down.
The first is that the brake fluid goes down
to an acceptable level during normal brake
lining wear.
When new linings are put in, the fluid level
goes back up. The other reason is that fluid
is leaking out of the brake system. If it is,
you should have your brake system fixed,
since a leak means that sooner or later
your brakes won’t work well, or won’t work
at all.
So, it isn’t a good idea to “top off ” your
brake fluid. Adding brake fluid won’t correct
a leak. If you add fluid when your linings
are worn, then you’ll have too much fluid
when you get new brake linings. You
should add (or remove) brake fluid, as nec-
essary, only when work is done on the
brake hydraulic system.
CAUTION
 When using concentrated washer
fluid, follow the manufacturer’s
instructions for adding water.
 Don’t mix water with ready-to-use
washer fluid. Water can cause the
solution to freeze and damage your
washer fluid tank and other parts of
the washer system. Also, water
doesn’t clean as well as washer
fluid.
 Fill your washer fluid tank only
three-quarters full when it’s very
cold. This allows for expansion if
freezing occurs, which could dam-
age the tank if it is completely full.
 Don’t use engine coolant (anti-
freeze) in your windshield washer.
It can damage your washer system
and paint.
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