ECU SUZUKI RENO 2008 1.G Owners Manual

1-4
SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
85Z14-03E
If your vehicle is equipped with the tiltable
front head restraints, do the following to
adjust it.
1) Place it in its upright position by push-
ing it forward fully and releasing it.
2) Push the head restraint forward care-
fully until it is adjusted to the desired
position.
Rear SeatsFolding Rear SeatYour vehicle has rear seatbacks that can
be folded down to increase cargo space.
To fold down the seatback, do the follow-
ing:
1) Push the rear head restraints as far
down as possible.
2) Press down on the release button
located on top of the rear seatback.
3) Fold the rear seatback forward and
down.
To return the seatback to the upright posi-
tion, do the following:
1) Lift up the seatback and push it to its
original position. Ensure that the safety
belts are not twisted or caught under
the seatback.2) Push back firmly on the top of the seat-
back until it latches securely in the fully
upright position.
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WARNING
If the seatback isn’t locked, it could
move forward in a sudden stop or
crash. That could cause injury to the
person sitting there. Always press
rearward on the seatback to be sure it
is locked.
WARNING
A safety belt that is improperly
routed, not properly attached, or
twisted won’t provide the protection
needed in a crash. The person wear-
ing the belt could be severely injured.
After raising the rear seatback,
always check to be sure that the
safety belts are properly routed and
attached, and are not twisted.
Front Seats:
Rear Seats:

1-7SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
85Z14-03E
strongest bones take the forces. That’s
why safety belts make such good sense.Questions and Answers About
Safety BeltsQuestion: Won’t I be trapped in the
vehicle after an accident if I’m wearing a
safety belt?
Answer: You could be – whether you’re
wearing a safety belt or not. But you can
unbuckle a safety belt, even if you’re
upside down. And your chance of being
conscious during and after an accident, so
you can unbuckle and get out, is much
greater if you are belted.
Question: If my vehicle has air bags,
why should I have to wear safety belts?
Answer: Air bags are in many vehicles
today and will be in most of them in the
future. But they are supplemental systems
only; so they work with safety belts – not
instead of them. Every air bag system ever
offered for sale has required the use of
safety belts. Even if you’re in a vehicle that
has air bags, you still have to buckle up to
get the most protection. That’s true not
only in frontal collisions, but especially in
side and other collisions.Question: If I’m a good driver, and I
never drive far from home, why should I
wear safety belts?
Answer: You may be an excellent driver,
but if you’re in an accident – even one that
isn’t your fault – you and your passengers
can be hurt. Being a good driver doesn’t
protect you from things beyond your con-
trol, such as bad drivers.
Most accidents occur within 25 miles (40
km) of home. And the greatest number of
serious injuries and deaths occur at
speeds of less than 40 mph (65 km/h).
Safety belts are for everyone.
How to Wear Safety Belts ProperlyThis section is only for people of adult size.
Be aware that there are special things to
know about safety belts and children. And
there are different rules for smaller children
and babies. If a child will be riding in your
vehicle, see “Older Children” or “Infants
and Young Children” in this section. Follow
those rules for everyone’s protection.
First, you’ll want to know which restraint
systems your vehicle has.
We’ll start with the driver position.Driver PositionThis section describes the driver’s restraint
system.Lap-Shoulder Belt
The driver has a lap-shoulder belt. Here’s
how to wear it properly.
1) Close and lock the door.
2) Adjust the seat so you can sit up
straight. To see how, see “Seats” in the
Index.
3) Pick up the latch plate and pull the belt
across you. Don’t let it get twisted.
The shoulder belt may lock if you pull
the belt across you very quickly. If this
happens, let the belt go back slightly to
unlock it. Then pull the belt across you
more slowly.
4) Push the latch plate into the buckle until
it clicks.
Pull up on the latch plate to make sure
it is secure.
Make sure the release button on the
buckle is positioned so you would be
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Safety Belts:

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SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
85Z14-03E
Pull up on the latch plate to make sure
it is secure.
Make sure the release button on the
buckle is positioned so you would be
able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly
if you ever had to.3) To make the lap part tight, pull down on
the buckle end of the belt as you pull up
on the shoulder part.The lap part of the belt should be worn low
and snug on the hips, just touching the
thighs. In a crash this applies force to the
strong pelvic bones so you’d be less likely
to slide under the lap belt. If you slid under
it, the belt would apply force at your abdo-
men. This could cause serious or even
fatal injuries. The shoulder belt should go
over the shoulder and across the chest.
These parts of the body are best able to
take belt-restraining forces.
The safety belt locks if there’s a sudden
stop or a crash, or if you pull the belt very
quickly out of the retractor.
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Safety Belts:

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SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
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impacts, side impacts, rollovers or minor
frontal collisions. The pretensioners can be
activated only once. If the pretensioners
are activated, have the pretensioner sys-
tem serviced by an authorized SUZUKI
dealer as soon as possible.
If the air bag readiness light on the instru-
ment cluster does not blink or come on
briefly when the ignition switch is turned to
the “ON” position, stays on for more than
10 seconds, or comes on while driving, the
pretensioner system or the air bag system
may not work properly. Have both systems
inspected by an authorized SUZUKI dealer
as soon as possible.
Service on or around the pretensioner sys-
tem components or wiring must be per-
formed only by an authorized SUZUKI
dealer who is specially trained. Improper
service could result in unintended activa-
tion of pretensioners or could render the
pretensioners inoperative. Either of these
two conditions may result in personal
injury.
To prevent damage or unintended activa-
tion of the pretensioners, be sure the bat-
tery is disconnected and the ignition switch
has been in the “LOCK” position for at least
60 seconds before performing any electri-
cal service work on your SUZUKI. Do not
touch pretensioner system components or
wiring. The wires are wrapped with yellow
tape or yellow tubing, and the couplers are
yellow. When scrapping your SUZUKI, askyour SUZUKI dealer, body repair shop or
scrap yard for assistance.
Safety Belt Extender
65D613
(1) Center of body
(2) Less than 152 mm (6 inches)
(3) Open end of extender buckle
If a safety belt cannot be fastened securely
because it is not long enough, see your
authorized SUZUKI dealer for a safety belt
extender. Safety belt extenders are avail-
able for each seating position except for
the rear center position. After inspecting
the relationship between the safety belt
length, the occupant’s body size, and the
seat adjustment (the driver’s seat should
always be adjusted as far back as possible
while still maintaining control of the vehicle,
and other adjustable seats should be
adjusted as far back as possible), yourSUZUKI dealer can select the appropriate
safety belt extender.
 A safety belt extender should only be
used for the person, vehicle and seating
location it was provided for.
 When using the extender, ensure that
both ends are latched securely. Do not
use the extender if the open end of the
extender’s buckle is within 152 mm (6
inches) of the center of the occupant’s
body (See diagram). Use of the extender
when the buckle is too close to the cen-
ter of the body could increase the risk of
abdominal injury in the event of an acci-
dent, and could cause the shoulder belt
to be positioned incorrectly.
 Make sure to use the correct buckle cor-
responding to your seating position.
 Safety belt extenders are not intended
for use by pregnant women, and should
only be used upon approval by their
medical advisors.
 Remove and stow the extender when it
is not being used.
Safety Belts:

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Child RestraintsOlder ChildrenOlder children who have outgrown booster
seats should wear the vehicle’s safety
belts.
Question: What is the proper way to
wear safety belts?
Answer: If possible, an older child should
wear a lap-shoulder belt and get the addi-
tional restraint a shoulder belt can provide.
The shoulder belt should not cross the face
or neck. The lap belt should fit snugly
below the hips, just touching the top of the
thighs. It should never be worn over the
abdomen, which could cause severe or
even fatal internal injuries in a crash.Accident statistics show that children are
safer if they are restrained in the rear seat.
In a crash, children who are not buckled up
can strike other people who are buckled
up, or can be thrown out of the vehicle.
Older children need to use safety belts
properly.
WARNING
Failure to follow these instructions
may increase the risk of injury in a
crash.
 Only use an extender for the per-
son, vehicle and seating position it
was provided for.
 A front safety belt extender must
only be used in a front seating
position, and a rear safety belt
extender must only be used in a
rear seating position.
 Safety belt extenders are not
intended for use by pregnant
women, and should only be used
upon approval by their medical
advisors.
 The extender has been designed
for adults. Never use it for securing
child seats.
 Do not use a safety belt extender if
the open end of the extender’s
buckle is within 152 mm (6 inches)
of the center of the occupant’s
body (See diagram).
 Remove and stow the extender
when it is not being used.
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WARNING
Never do this.
Here two children are wearing the
same belt. The belt can’t properly
spread the impact forces. In a crash,
the two children can be crushed
together and severely injured. A belt
must be used by only one person at a
time.
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Safety Belts:
Child Restraints:

1-17SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
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Question: What are the different types
of add-on child restraints?
Answer: Add-on child restraints, which are
purchased by the vehicle’s owner, are
available in four basic types. Selection of a
particular restraint should take into consid-
eration not only the child’s weight, height
and age but also whether or not the
restraint will be compatible with the motor
vehicle in which it will be used.
For most basic types of child restraints,
there are many different models available.
When purchasing a child restraint, be sure
it is designed to be used in a motor vehicle.
If it is, the restraint will have a label saying
that it meets federal motor vehicle safety
standards.
The restraint manufacturer’s instructions
that come with the restraint, state the
weight and height limitations for a particu-
lar child restraint. In addition, there are
many kinds of restraints available for chil-
dren with special needs.
WARNING
People should never hold a baby in
their arms while riding in a vehicle. A
baby doesn’t weigh much – until a
crash occurs. During a crash a baby
will become so heavy it is not possi-
ble to hold it. For example, in a crash
at only 25 mph (40 km/h), a 12-lb. (5.5
kg) baby will suddenly become a 240-
lb. (110 kg) force on a person’s arms.
A baby should be secured in an
appropriate restraint.
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WARNING
Children who are up against, or very
close to, any air bag when it inflates
can be severely injured or killed. Air
bags plus lap-shoulder belts offer
outstanding protection for adults and
older children, but not for young chil-
dren and infants. Neither the vehi-
cle’s safety belt system nor its air bag
system is designed for them. Young
children and infants need the protec-
tion that a child restraint system can
provide.
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Child Restraints:

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SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
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Child Restraint SystemsAn infant car bed (A), a special bed made
for use in a motor vehicle, is an infant
restraint system designed to restrain or
position a child on a continuous flat sur-
face. Make sure that the infant’s head rests
toward the center of the vehicle.A rear-facing infant seat (B) provides
restraint with the seating surface against
the back of the infant. The harness system
holds the infant in place and, in a crash,
acts to keep the infant positioned in the
restraint.
WARNING
Newborn infants need complete sup-
port, including support for the head
and neck. This is necessary because
a newborn infant’s neck is weak and
its head weighs so much compared
with the rest of its body. In a crash,
an infant in a rear-facing seat settles
into the restraint, so the crash forces
can be distributed across the stron-
gest part of an infant’s body, the back
and shoulders. Infants always should
be secured in appropriate infant
restraints.
WARNING
The body structure of a young child
is quite unlike that of an adult or
older child, for whom the safety belts
are designed. A young child’s hip
bones are still so small that the vehi-
cle’s regular safety belt may not
remain low on the hip bones, as it
should. Instead, it may settle up
around the child’s abdomen. In a
crash, the belt would apply force on a
body area that’s unprotected by any
bony structure. This alone could
cause serious or fatal injuries. Young
children always should be secured in
appropriate child restraints.
(A)
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(B)
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85Z14-03E
A forward-facing child seat (C–E) provides
restraint for the child’s body with the har-
ness and also sometimes with surfaces
such as T-shaped or shelf-like shields.A booster seat (F–G) is a child restraint
designed to improve the fit of the vehicle’s
safety belt system. Some booster seats
have a shoulder belt positioner, and some
high-back booster seats have a five-point
harness. A booster seat can also help a
child to see out the window.
Question: How do child restraints
work?
Answer: A child restraint system is any
device designed for use in a motor vehicle
to restrain, seat, or position children. A
built-in child restraint system is a perma-
nent part of the motor vehicle. An add-on
child restraint system is a portable one,
which is purchased by the vehicle’s owner.
For many years, add-on child restraints
have used the adult belt system in the
vehicle. To help reduce the chance ofinjury, the child also has to be secured
within the restraint. The vehicle’s belt sys-
tem secures the add-on child restraint in
the vehicle, and the add-on child restraint’s
harness system holds the child in place
within the restraint.
One system, the three-point harness, has
straps that come down over each of the
infant’s shoulders and buckle together at
the crotch. The five-point harness system
has two shoulder straps, two hip straps
and a crotch strap. A shield may take the
place of hip straps. A T-shaped shield has
shoulder straps that are attached to a flat
pad which rests low against the child’s
body. A shelf- or armrest-type shield has
straps that are attached to a wide, shelf-
like shield that swings up or to the side.
When choosing a child restraint, be sure
the child restraint is designed to be used in
a vehicle. If it is, it will have a label saying
that it meets federal motor vehicle safety
standards.
Then follow the instructions for the
restraint. You may find these instructions
on the restraint itself or in a booklet, or
both. These restraints use the belt system
in your vehicle, but the child also has to be
secured within the restraint to help reduce
the chance of personal injury. When secur-
ing an add-on child restraint, refer to the
instructions that come with the restraint
which may be on the restraint itself or in a
booklet, or both, and to this manual. The
(D)
(C) (E)
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(F) (G)
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SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
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child restraint instructions are important,
so if they are not available, obtain a
replacement copy from the manufacturer.Where to Put the RestraintAll child restraint systems are designed to
be secured in vehicle seats by either safety
belts (lap belts or the lap portion of lap-
shoulder belts) or by special rigid lower
anchor bars built into the seats. Whenever
possible, SUZUKI recommends that child
restraint systems be installed on the rear
seat. According to accident statistics, chil-
dren are safer when properly restrained in
rear seating positions than in front seating
positions. Never put a rear-facing child
restraint in the front passenger seat.
Here’s why:
Wherever you install it, be sure to secure
the child restraint properly.
Keep in mind that an unsecured child
restraint can move around in a collision or
sudden stop and injure people in the vehi-
cle. Be sure to properly secure any child
restraint in your vehicle – even when no
child is in it.
To p S t r a pSome child restraints have a top strap, or
“top tether.” It can help restrain the child
restraint during a collision. For it to work, a
top strap must be properly anchored to the
vehicle. Some top strap-equipped child
restraints are designed for use with or with-
out the top strap being anchored. Others
require the top strap always to be
anchored. Be sure to read and follow the
instructions for your child restraint. If yours
requires that the top strap be anchored,
don’t use the restraint unless it is anchored
properly.
If the child restraint does not have a top
strap, one can be obtained, in kit form, for
many child restraints. Ask the child
restraint manufacturer whether or not a kit
is available.
WARNING
A child in a rear-facing child restraint
can be severely injured or killed if the
right front passenger’s frontal air bag
inflates. This is because the back of
the rear-facing child restraint would
be very close to the inflating air bag.
(Continued)
WARNING
(Continued)
Even though the passenger sensing
system is designed to turn off the
passenger’s frontal air bag and side
air bag under certain conditions, no
system is fail-safe, and no one can
guarantee that an air bag will not
deploy under some unusual circum-
stance, even though it is turned off.
Always secure a rear-facing child
restraint in the rear seat, even if the
air bags are off.
If you need to secure a forward-fac-
ing child restraint in the right front
seat, always move the front passen-
ger seat as far back as it will go. It is
better to secure the child restraint in
a rear seat.
WARNING
Children could be endangered in a
crash if their child restraints are not
properly secured in the vehicle.
When installing a child restraint sys-
tem, be sure to follow the instruc-
tions below. Be sure to secure the
child in the restraint system accord-
ing to the manufacturer’s instruc-
tions.
Child Restraints:

1-21SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS
85Z14-03E
In Canada, the law requires that forward-
facing child restraints have a top strap, and
that the strap be anchored. In the United
States, some child restraints also have a
top strap. If your child restraint has a top
strap, it should be anchored.
Anchor the top strap to an anchor point
specified in “Top Strap Anchor Location” in
this section. Be sure to use an anchor
point located on the same side of the vehi-
cle as the seating position where the child
restraint will be placed.Once you have the top strap anchored,
you’ll be ready to secure the child restraint
itself. Tighten the top strap when and as
the child restraint manufacturer’s instruc-
tions say.
Top Strap Anchor LocationTop strap anchors are already installed in
your vehicle for the three rear seating posi-
tions.
Do not use a child restraint with a top strap
in the right front passenger’s position
because there is no place to anchor the
top strap.Top strap anchors are located at both sides
and at the center of the lower rear tail
member in the rear cargo area.
Pull the front part of the plastic cover
downward to access the top strap anchors.
Securing a Child Restraint with Top
StrapInstall the child restraint system as follows:
1) Remove the luggage compartment
cover (if equipped).
2) Secure the child restraint on the rear
seat using the procedure described in
“Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear
Seat Position” of this section.
3) Pull the front part of the plastic cover
downward to access the top strap
anchors.
4) Hook the top strap to the anchor
bracket and tighten the top strap
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WARNING
Each top tether bracket is designed
to anchor only one child restraint.
Attaching more than one child
restraint to a single bracket could
cause the anchor to come loose or
even break during a crash. A child or
others could be injured if this hap-
pens. To help prevent injury to people
and damage to your vehicle, attach
only one child restraint per bracket.
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Child Restraints: