tow SUZUKI RENO 2008 1.G Owner's Manual

5-7SERVICE AND APPEARANCE CARE
85Z14-03E
Engine OilIf the oil pressure light appears on the
instrument cluster, it means you need to
check your engine oil level right away.
For more information, see “Oil Pressure
Light” in section 3.
You should check your engine oil level reg-
ularly; this is an added reminder.
Checking Engine Oil
It’s a good idea to check your engine oil
every time you get fuel. In order to get an
accurate reading, the oil must be warm
and the vehicle must be on level ground.Use the engine oil dipstick to check the oil
level. The dipstick’s handle will be a yellow
ring. See “Engine Compartment Overview”
in this section for the location of the engine
oil dipstick.
Turn off the engine and give the oil several
minutes to drain back into the oil pan. If
you don’t, the oil dipstick might not show
the actual level.
Pull out the dipstick and clean it with a
paper towel or cloth, then push it back in all
the way. Remove it again, keeping the tip
down and check the level.
When to Add Engine OilIf the oil is at or below the MIN mark, then
you’ll need to add at least one quart of oil.
But you must use the right kind. This sec-
tion explains what kind of oil to use. For
engine oil crankcase capacity, see “Capac-
ities and Specifications” in this section.
CAUTION
Don’t add too much oil. If your engine
has so much oil that the oil level gets
above the upper mark that shows the
proper operating range, your engine
could be damaged.
L3U5011A
1.0 L
Checking Things Under the Hood:

5-17SERVICE AND APPEARANCE CARE
85Z14-03E
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.
Checking Things Under the Hood:

5-35SERVICE AND APPEARANCE CARE
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When to Check
Check your tires each time you fill your fuel
tank or at least once a month using a tire
pressure gauge.
Don’t forget your compact spare tire. It
should be at 60 psi (420 kPa).
How to check
Use a good quality pocket-type gauge to
check tire pressure. You can’t tell if your
tires are properly inflated simply by looking
at them. Radial tires may look properly
inflated even when they’re underinflated.
Check the tire’s inflation pressure when the
tires are cold. Cold means your vehicle has
been sitting for at least three hours or
driven no more than 1 mile (1.6 km).
Remove the valve cap from the tire valve
stem. Press the tire gauge firmly onto the
valve to get a pressure measurement. If
the cold tire inflation pressure is low, add
air until you reach the recommended pres-
sure.
If you overfill the tire, release air by push-
ing on the metal stem in the center of the
tire valve. Recheck the tire pressure with
the tire gauge.
Be sure to put the valve caps back on the
valve stems. They help prevent leaks by
keeping out dirt and moisture.
Tire Inspection and RotationInspect your vehicle’s tires at least once a
month.
Tires should be rotated every 7,500 miles
(12,000 km).
Any time you notice unusual wear, rotate
your tires as soon as possible and check
wheel alignment. Also check for damaged
tires or wheels. See “When It Is Time for
New Tires” and “Wheel Replacement” in
this section for more information.
The purpose of regular rotation is to
achieve more uniform wear for all tires on
the vehicle. The first rotation is the most
important. See “Scheduled Maintenance
Services” in section 6, for scheduled rota-
tion intervals.
When rotating your tires, always use the
correct rotation pattern shown here.Don’t include the compact spare tire in
your tire rotation.
After the tires have been rotated, adjust
the front and rear inflation pressures as
shown on the Tire and Loading Information
label. Make certain that all wheel nuts are
properly tightened. See “Wheel Nut
Torque” under “Capacities and Specifica-
tions” in this section.
Vehicle LoadingThe tires on your vehicle, when they are
inflated to the recommended tire inflation
pressure, have a load-carrying capacity
that is greater than the load that will be on
the tires when the vehicle is at its GVWR
or GAWR limit. Never use replacement
tires that have a load-carrying capacity
less than the original tires on your vehicle.
Tire load-carrying capacity information is
WARNING
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the
parts to which it is fastened, can
make wheel nuts become loose after
a time. The wheel could come off and
cause an accident. When you change
a wheel, remove any rust or dirt from
places where the wheel attaches to
the vehicle. In an emergency, you can
use a cloth or a paper towel to do
this, but be sure to use a scraper or
wire brush later, if you need to, to get
all the rust or dirt off. See “Changing
a Flat Tire” in this section.
Tires:

5-39SERVICE AND APPEARANCE CARE
85Z14-03E
it’s much more likely to leak out slowly. But
if you should ever have a “blowout”, here
are a few tips about what to expect and
what to do:
If a front tire fails, the flat tire will create a
drag that pulls the vehicle toward that side.
Take your foot off the accelerator pedal
and grip the steering wheel firmly. Steer to
maintain lane position, and then gently
brake to a stop well out of the traffic lane.
A rear blowout, particularly on a curve,
acts much like a skid and may require the
same correction you’d use in a skid. In any
rear blowout, remove your foot from the
accelerator pedal. Get the vehicle under
control by steering the way you want the
vehicle to go. It may be very bumpy and
noisy, but you can still steer. Gently brake
to a stop, well off the road if possible.If a tire goes flat, the next part shows how
to use your jacking equipment to change a
flat tire safely.
Changing a Flat TireIf a tire goes flat, avoid further tire and
wheel damage by driving slowly to a level
place. Turn on your hazard warning flash-
ers.
The following steps will tell you how to use
the jack to change a tire.
WARNING
Lifting a vehicle and getting under it
to do maintenance or repairs is dan-
gerous without the appropriate safety
equipment and training. The jack pro-
vided with your vehicle is designed
only for changing a flat tire. If it is
used for anything else, you or others
could be badly injured or killed if the
vehicle slips off the jack. Use the jack
provided with your vehicle only for
changing a flat tire.
WARNING
Changing a tire can cause an injury.
The vehicle can slip off the jack and
roll over you or other people. You and
they could be severely injured. Find a
level place to change your tire. To
help prevent the vehicle from mov-
ing:
1) Set the parking brake firmly.
2) Put an automatic transmission
shift lever in PARK (P), or shift a
manual transmission to FIRST (1)
or REVERSE (R).
3) Turn off the engine and do not
restart while the vehicle is raised.
4) Do not allow passengers to
remain in the vehicle.
To be even more certain the vehicle
won’t move, you should put blocks at
the front and rear of the tire farthest
away from the one being changed.
That would be the tire on the other
side, at the opposite end of the vehi-
cle.
Tires:

5-41SERVICE AND APPEARANCE CARE
85Z14-03E
4) Insert the jack handle and the wheel
wrench into the jack.
5) Raise the vehicle by turning the jack
handle clockwise. Raise the vehicle far
enough off the ground so there is
enough room for the compact spare tire
to fit underneath the wheel well.
6) Remove all of the wheel nuts by turning
them counterclockwise.
7) Remove the flat tire.8) Remove any rust or dirt from the wheel
bolts, mounting surfaces and spare
wheel.9) Place the compact spare tire on the
wheel-mounting surface.
10)Reinstall the wheel nuts with the
rounded end of the nuts toward the
wheel. Tighten each wheel nut by turn-
ing it clockwise with your hand until the
wheel is held against the hub.
11)Lower the vehicle by turning the wheel
handle counterclockwise. Lower the
jack completely.
12)Tighten the wheel nuts firmly in a criss-
cross sequence as shown.
WARNING
Raising your vehicle with the jack
improperly positioned can damage
the vehicle and even make the vehi-
cle fall. To help avoid personal injury
and vehicle damage, be sure to fit the
jack lift head into the proper location
before raising the vehicle.
WARNING
Rust or dirt on the wheel, or on the
parts to which it is fastened, can
make the wheel nuts become loose
after a time. The wheel could come
off and cause an accident. When you
change a wheel, remove any rust or
dirt from the places where the wheel
attaches to the vehicle. In an emer-
gency, you can use a cloth or a paper
towel to do this, but be sure to use a
scraper or wire brush later, if you
need to, to get all the rust or dirt off.
WARNING
Never use oil or grease on studs or
nuts. If you do, the nuts might come
loose. Your wheel could fall off, caus-
ing a serious accident.
Tires:

5-44
SERVICE AND APPEARANCE CARE
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Appearance CareRemember, cleaning products can be haz-
ardous. Some are toxic. Others can burst
into flames if you strike a match or get
them on a hot part of the vehicle. Some
are dangerous if you breathe their fumes in
a closed space. When you use anything
from a container to clean your vehicle, be
sure to follow the manufacturer’s warnings
and instructions. And always open your
doors or windows when you are cleaning
the inside.
Never use these to clean your vehicle:
 Gasoline
 Benzene
 Naphtha
 Carbon Tetrachloride
 Acetone
 Paint Thinner
 Turpentine
 Lacquer Thinner
 Nail Polish Remover
They can all be hazardous – some more
than others – and they can all damage
your vehicle, too.
Do not use any of these unless this manual
says you can. In many uses, these will
damage your vehicle:
 Alcohol
 Laundry Soap
Bleach
 Reducing Agents
Cleaning the Inside of Your VehicleUse a vacuum cleaner often to get rid of
dust and loose dirt. Wipe vinyl, leather,
plastic and painted surfaces with a clean,
damp cloth.
Cleaning Fabric/Carpet
Your SUZUKI dealer has cleaners for the
cleaning of fabric and carpet. They will
clean normal spots and stains very well.
You can get SUZUKI approved cleaning
products from your SUZUKI dealer. See
“Vehicle Care/Appearance Materials” later
in this section.
Here are some cleaning tips:
 Always read the instructions on the
cleaner label.
 Clean up stains as soon as you can –
before they set.
 Carefully scrape off any excess stain.
 Use a clean cloth or sponge, and change
to a clean area often. A soft brush may
be used if stains are stubborn.
 If a ring forms on fabric after spot clean-
ing, clean the entire area immediately or
it will set.Using Cleaner on Fabric
1) Vacuum and brush the area to remove
any loose dirt.
2) Always clean a whole trim panel or sec-
tion. Mask surrounding trim along stitch
or welt lines.
3) Follow the directions on the container
label.
4) Apply cleaner with a clean sponge.
Don’t saturate the material and don’t
rub it roughly.
5) As soon as you’ve cleaned the section,
use a sponge to remove any excess
cleaner.
6) Wipe cleaned area with a clean, water-
dampened towel or cloth.
7) Wipe with a clean cloth and let dry.
Specific Fabric Cleaning Problems
Stains caused by such things as catsup,
coffee (black), egg, fruit, fruit juice, milk,
soft drinks, vomit, urine and blood can be
removed as follows:
1) Carefully scrape off excess stain, then
sponge the soiled area with cool water.
2) If a stain remains, follow the cleaner
instructions described earlier.
3) If an odor lingers after cleaning vomit or
urine, treat the area with a water/baking
soda solution: 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of bak-
ing soda to 1 cup (250 ml) of lukewarm
water.
4) Let dry.
Appearance Care:

5-46
SERVICE AND APPEARANCE CARE
85Z14-03E
SUZUKI dealer. See “Vehicle Care/
Appearance Materials” later in this section.
Don’t use cleaning agents that are petro-
leum based, or that contain acid or abra-
sives. All cleaning agents should be
flushed promptly and not allowed to dry on
the surface, or they could stain. Dry the fin-
ish with a soft, clean chamois or an all-cot-
ton towel to avoid surface scratches and
water spotting.
High pressure car washes may cause
water to enter your vehicle.
Cleaning Exterior Lamps/Lenses
Use only lukewarm or cold water, a soft
cloth and a car washing soap to clean
exterior lamps and lenses. Follow instruc-
tions under Washing Your Vehicle.
Finish Care
Occasional waxing or mild polishing of
your vehicle by hand may be necessary to
remove residue from the paint finish. You
can get SUZUKI-approved cleaning prod-
ucts from your SUZUKI dealer. See “Vehi-
cle Care/Appearance Materials” later in
this section.
Your vehicle has a “basecoat/clearcoat”
paint finish. The clearcoat gives more
depth and gloss to the colored basecoat.
Always use waxes and polishes that are
non-abrasive and made for a basecoat/
clearcoat paint finish.Foreign materials such as calcium chloride
and other salts, ice melting agents, road oil
and tar, tree sap, bird droppings, chemicals
from industrial chimneys, etc., can damage
your vehicle’s finish if they remain on
painted surfaces. Wash the vehicle as
soon as possible. If necessary, use non-
abrasive cleaners that are marked safe for
painted surfaces to remove foreign matter.
Exterior painted surfaces are subject to
aging, weather and chemical fallout that
can take their toll over a period of years.
You can help to keep the paint finish look-
ing new by keeping your vehicle garaged
or covered whenever possible.
Cleaning Windshield and Wiper Blades
If the windshield is not clear after using the
windshield washer, or if the wiper blade
chatters when running, wax, sap or other
material may be on the blade or wind-
shield.
Clean the outside of the windshield with a
full-strength glass cleaning liquid. The
windshield is clean if beads do not form
when you rinse it with water.Grime from the windshield will stick to the
wiper blades and affect their performance.
Clean the blades by wiping vigorously with
a cloth soaked in full-strength windshield
washer solvent. Then rinse the blades with
water.
Check the wiper blades and clean them as
necessary; replace blades that look worn.
Cleaning Aluminum Wheels
Keep your wheels clean using a soft clean
cloth with mild soap and water. Rinse with
clean water. After rinsing thoroughly, dry
with a soft clean towel. A wax may then be
applied.
The surface of these wheels is similar to
the painted surface of your vehicle. Don’t
use strong soaps, chemicals, abrasive pol-
ishes, abrasive cleaners, cleaners with
acid, or abrasive cleaning brushes on them
because you could damage the surface.
Do not use chrome polish on aluminum
wheels.
Don’t take your vehicle through an auto-
matic car wash that has silicone carbide
tire cleaning brushes. These brushes can
also damage the surface of these wheels.
Cleaning Tires
To clean your tires, use a stiff brush with
tire cleaner.
CAUTION
Machine compounding or aggressive
polishing on a basecoat/clearcoat
paint finish may dull the finish or
leave swirl marks.
Appearance Care:
Vehicle Identification:
Electrical System:

8-4INDEX
85Z14-03E
Power Windows and Other Power Options
.......................5-49
QQuestions and Answers About Safety Belts
.....................1-7
RRadio with Six-Disc CD (Double Display, MP3/WMA)
(AGH-5400)
...........................................................................3-38
Rear Door Security Locks
...................................................2-5
Rear Seat Armrest
...............................................................2-23
Rear Seat Passengers
.........................................................1-11
Rear Seats
............................................................................1-4
Rear Sidemarker Lamps
.....................................................5-27
Rear Window and Outside Rearview Mirror Defogger
.....3-16
Rear Window Washer/Wiper
...............................................3-6
Reclining Seatbacks
............................................................1-2
Recommended Fluids and Lubricants
..............................6-10
Recreational Vehicle Towing
..............................................4-16
Remote Keyless Entry System ...........................................2-1
Remote Keyless Entry System Operation
.........................2-2
Replacement Bulbs
.............................................................5-27
Replacing Restraint System Parts After a Crash
.............1-34
Reporting Safety Defects
....................................................7-4
Restraint System Check .....................................................1-33
Right Front Passenger Position
.........................................1-11
Running Your Engine While You Are Parked
...................2-19
SSafety Belt: They are for Everyone ....................................1-5
Safety Belt Extender
............................................................1-14
Safety Belt Pretensioner System
.......................................1-13
Safety Belt Reminder Light
.................................................3-19
Safety Belt Reminder Tone .................................................3-19
Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy
....................................1-10Safety Belts
......................................................................... 1-5
Safety Certification Label
................................................... 7-2
Scheduled Maintenance Services
..................................... 6-2
Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the LATCH
System
................................................................................. 1-23
Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat Position
......... 1-24
Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat
Position
................................................................................ 1-25
Securing a Child Restraint with Top Strap
....................... 1-21
Selecting the Right Condition
............................................ 6-1
Service
................................................................................. 5-1
Servicing Your Air Bag-Equipped Vehicle
........................ 1-33
Sheet Metal Damage
........................................................... 5-47
Shifting Into Park (P) .......................................................... 2-17
Shifting Out of Park (P) ...................................................... 2-17
Spare Tire
............................................................................ 5-43
Specifications
...................................................................... 5-53
Speed Sensitive Power Steering (SSPS) Warning
Light
..................................................................................... 3-22
Speedometer and Odometer
.............................................. 3-18
Starting and Operating Your Vehicle
................................ 2-10
Starting Your Engine
.......................................................... 2-11
Steering
................................................................................ 4-5
STEERING WHEEL REMOTE OPERATION
..............3-37
, 3-44
Storage Areas
...................................................................... 2-21
Sun Visors
........................................................................... 2-8
Sunglasses Storage Compartment
................................... 2-22
Sunroof
................................................................................ 2-23
Supplemental Restraint System (air bags)
....................... 1-26
TTachometer
.......................................................................... 3-19

8-5
INDEX85Z14-03E
Tail/Stop Lamps and Rear Turn Signal Lamps
.................5-25
Theft-Deterrent Systems
.....................................................2-8
Tilt Wheel
..............................................................................3-3
Tire Chains ...........................................................................5-38
Tire Inflation Pressure
.........................................................5-34
Tire Inspection and Rotation
..............................................5-35
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
......................................5-32
Tire Pressure Monitoring System Warning Light
.............3-27
Tire Sidewall Labeling
.........................................................5-28
Tire Size
................................................................................5-29
Tires
......................................................................................5-28
Top Strap
..............................................................................1-20
Top Strap Anchor Location
................................................1-21
Towing
..................................................................................4-16
Towing a Trailer
...................................................................4-19
Towing Your Vehicle
...........................................................4-16
Trip Odometer
......................................................................3-18
Turn Signal/Multifunction Lever
.........................................3-3
UUnderbody Maintenance
.....................................................5-47
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
.............................................5-37
VVehicle Care/Appearance Materials
...................................5-47
Vehicle Identification
...........................................................5-48
Vehicle Identification Number
............................................7-1
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
...................................5-48
Vehicle Loading
...................................................................5-35
WWarning Lights, Gauges and Indicators
............................3-18
Warranties
............................................................................7-2
Weatherstrips .......................................................................5-45What Makes an Air Bag Inflate?
........................................ 1-32
What Will You See After an Air Bag Inflates?
.................. 1-32
Wheel Alignment and Tire Balance
................................... 5-37
Wheel Replacement
............................................................ 5-38
When It Is Time for New Tires
............................................ 5-36
When Should an Air Bag Inflate?
...................................... 1-31
When to Add Engine Oil
..................................................... 5-7
Where Are the Air Bags? .................................................... 1-29
Where to Put the Restraint ................................................. 1-20
Windows
.............................................................................. 2-7
Windshield Washer Fluid
................................................... 5-18
Windshield Wiper Blade Replacement
.............................. 5-27
Windshield Wiper Fuses
.................................................... 5-48
Windshield Wiper/Washer Lever
....................................... 3-4
Winter Driving
..................................................................... 4-13
YYour Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle
........................ 4-1