tow SUZUKI SX4 2008 1.G User Guide

2-38
BEFORE DRIVING
80J21-03E
5) When routing the top strap, be sure to
pass the top strap as shown in the illus-
tration. For SX4 SEDAN, if the top strap
can not be properly tightened when
passed under the head restraint as
shown in the Type 1 and Type 2 illustra-
tions, pass the top strap over the top of
the head restraint as shown in the Type
3 illustration. (Refer to “Head
Restraints” section for details on how to
raise or lower the head restraint.)
6) Make sure that cargo does not interfere
with routing of the top strap.
Seat Belt Extender
65D613
(1) Center of body
(2) Less than 152 mm (6 inches)
(3) Open end of extender buckle
If a seat belt cannot be fastened securely
because it is not long enough, see your
authorized SUZUKI dealer for a seat belt
extender. Seat belt extenders are available
for each seating position except for the
rear center position. After inspecting the
relationship between the seat 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), your dealer can
select the appropriate seat belt extender. A seat belt extender should only be used
for the person, vehicle and seating loca-
tion 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.
 Seat 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.
Supplemental Restraint System (advanced air bags):
3, 9, 12

2-39BEFORE DRIVING
80J21-03E
Seat Belt Pretensioner System
(for front seat belt only)
52D011
Your vehicle is equipped with a seat belt
pretensioner system at the front seating
positions. You can use the pretensioner
seat belts in the same manner as ordinary
seat belts.
The seat belt pretensioner system works
with the SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT
SYSTEM (advanced air bags). The crash
sensors and the electronic controller of the
air bag system also control the seat belt
pretensioners. The pretensioners are trig-
gered only when there is a frontal crash
severe enough to trigger the front air bags
and the seat belts are fastened. If the seat
belts are not fastened, the respective pre-
tensioner system will not be activated. For
precautions and general information
including servicing the pretensioner sys-
tem, refer to the “Supplemental Restraint
System (air bags)” section in addition to
this “Seat Belt Pretensioner System” sec-
tion, and follow all those precautions.
The pretensioner is located in each front
seat belt retractor. The pretensioner tight-
ens the seat belt so the belt fits the occu-
pant’s body more snugly in the event of a
frontal crash. The retractors will remain
locked after the pretensioners are acti-
vated. Upon activation, some noise will
occur and some smoke may be released.
These conditions are not harmful and do
not indicate a fire in the vehicle.
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.
 Do not use if open end of
extender’s buckle is within 152 mm
(6 inches) of center of occupant’s
body (See diagram).
 Remove and stow the extender
when it is not being used.
WARNING
This section of the owner’s manual
describes your SUZUKI’s SEAT BELT
PRETENSIONER SYSTEM. Please
read and follow ALL these instruc-
tions carefully to minimize your risk
of severe injury or death.
Supplemental Restraint System (advanced air bags):
3, 9, 12

3-5STEERING COLUMN CONTROLS
80J21-03E
Lighting/Turn Signal Control
LeverLighting Operation
80JC031
To turn the lights on or off, twist the knob
on the end of the lever. There are three
positions: in the “OFF” position all lights
are off; in the middle position the front
parking lights, taillights, license plate light,
and instrument lights are on, but the head-
lights are off; in the third position the head-
lights come on in addition to the other
lights.
80JC032
With the headlights on, push the lever for-
ward to switch to the high beams (main
beams) or pull the lever toward you to
switch to the low beams. When the high
beams (main beams) are on, a light on the
instrument panel will come on. To momen-
tarily activate the high beams (main
beams) as a passing signal, pull the lever
slightly toward you and release it when you
have completed the signal.
Daytime Running Light (D.R.L.)
SystemThe headlights light, but are dimmer than
the low beam, when the following three
conditions are all met. Also, the D.R.L. indi-
cator light on the instrument panel comes
on.
Conditions for D.R.L. system operation:
1) The engine is running.
2) The parking brake is released.
3) The lighting switch is at either the “OFF”
or the “Middle” position.
NOTE:
Be sure to turn the lighting switch to the
third position at night or at any time of the
day when driving or weather conditions
require the headlights to operate at full
brightness and the taillights to be on.
Lights “On” reminder (if equipped)
A buzzer/chime sounds to remind you to
turn off the lights if they are left on when
the ignition key is removed and the driver’s
door is opened.
EXAMPLE
EXAMPLE
Windshield Wiper and Washer Lever: 8
Rear Window Wiper/Washer Switch: 8

3-7STEERING COLUMN CONTROLS
80J21-03E
80JC036
If the lever is equipped with the “INT TIME”
control, turn the control forward or rear-
ward to adjust the intermittent wiper opera-
tion to the desired interval.
Windshield Washer
80JC037
To spray windshield washer fluid, pull the
lever toward you. The windshield wipers
will automatically turn on at low speed if
they are not already on and the “INT” posi-
tion is equipped.
EXAMPLE
WARNING
 To prevent windshield icing in cold
weather, turn on the defroster to
heat the windshield before and dur-
ing windshield washer use.
 Do not use radiator antifreeze in
the windshield washer reservoir. It
can severely impair visibility when
sprayed on the windshield, and can
also damage your vehicle’s paint.EXAMPLE
CAUTION
To help prevent damage to the wind-
shield wiper and washer system
components, you should take the fol-
lowing precautions:
 Do not continue to hold in the lever
when there is no windshield
washer fluid being sprayed or the
washer motor can be damaged.
 Do not attempt to remove dirt from
a dry windshield with the wipers or
you can damage the windshield
and the wiper blades. Always wet
the windshield with washer fluid
before operating the wipers.
 Clear ice or packed snow from the
wiper blades before using the wip-
ers.
 Check the washer fluid level regu-
larly. Check it often when the
weather is bad.
 Only fill the washer fluid reservoir
3/4 full during cold weather to allow
room for expansion if the tempera-
ture falls low enough to freeze the
solution.
Cruise Control: 7, 8

4-4
INSTRUMENT PANEL
80J21-03E
Refer to “Tire Pressure Monitoring System”
in the “OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE” sec-
tion for additional details on the tire pres-
sure monitoring system. Refer to “Tires” in
the “INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE”
section for information on maintaining
proper tire pressure.
Brake System Warning Light
65D477
This light comes on briefly when the igni-
tion switch is turned to the “ON” position.
The light also comes on under the follow-
ing conditions: 1) when the parking brake
is engaged and 2) when the fluid in the
brake fluid reservoir falls below the speci-
fied level. The light should go out after fully
releasing the parking brake, if the fluid
level in the brake fluid reservoir is ade-
quate.
If this light and the ABS warning light stay
on, or come on simultaneously when driv-
ing, then there may be something wrong
with both the rear brake proportioning
valve function and anti-lock function of the
ABS.
If the brake system warning light comes on
while you are driving the vehicle, it may
mean that there is something wrong with
the vehicle’s brake system. If this happens,
you should:
1) Pull off the road and stop carefully.2) Test the brakes by carefully starting and
stopping on the shoulder of the road.
3) If you determine that it is safe, drive
cautiously at low speed to the nearest
dealer for repairs,
or
4) Have the vehicle towed to the nearest
dealer for repairs.
WARNING
(Continued)
 If one or more of your tires is
under-inflated, adjust the inflation
pressure in all of your tires to the
recommended inflation pressure as
soon as possible.
Be aware that driving on a signifi-
cantly under-inflated tire can cause
the tire to overheat and can lead to
tire failure, and may affect steering
control and brake effectiveness. This
could lead to an accident, resulting in
severe injury or death.
WARNING
Remember that stopping distance
may be longer, you may have to push
harder on the pedal, and the pedal
may go down farther than normal.
WARNING
If any of the following conditions
occur, you should immediately ask
your SUZUKI dealer to inspect the
brake system.
 If the brake system warning light
does not go out after the parking
brake has been fully released.
 If the brake system warning light
does not come on when the igni-
tion switch is turned to the “ON”
position.
 If the brake system warning light
comes on at any time during vehi-
cle operation.
Warning and Indicator Lights: 8

5-5OTHER CONTROLS AND EQUIPMENT
80J21-03E
79J213
2) Stow the seat belt buckles of the center
and right seating position as shown in
the illustration.
3) Lower the adjustable head restraint
fully.
80J042
4) Pull the release lever on the top of each
split seat, and fold the seatbacks for-
ward.
63J057
5) Pull the lock release strap (1) rearward
to unlatch the seat cushion.
79J124
6) Fold the entire seat forward.
CAUTION
When you fold the rear seatback for-
ward, stow the seat belt buckles of
the center and right seating position
into the seat first. This helps prevent
being caught by the seat and being
damaged.
(1)
WARNING
When you unlatch the rear seat cush-
ion, be careful that your face or
hands are not injured from the seat
popping up.
Folding Rear Seats: 3

5-6
OTHER CONTROLS AND EQUIPMENT
80J21-03E
80J043
7) Push down the adjuster (2) to make the
strap slack, and then unhook the strap
by pushing down the hook (3).
80J044
8) Hook the strap (4) to the front seat head
restraint as shown in the illustration.To return the seat to the normal position,
follow the procedure below.
79J126
1) Unhook the strap from the head
restraint and stow the strap to the back
of the seat cushion as shown in the
illustration. Make sure to adjust the
strap length to avoid any slack or twist.
(2)
(3)
(4)
CAUTION
When securing the folded rear seat
with a strap, adjust the strap length
so that the rear seat will not move.
WARNING
Luggage or other cargo should be
stowed in the luggage compartment
with the rear seat in an upright posi-
tion, whenever possible. If you need
to carry cargo in the passenger com-
partment with the rear seat back
folded forward, be sure to secure the
cargo or it may be thrown about,
causing injury. Never pile cargo
higher than the seatbacks.
Folding Rear Seats: 3

5-13OTHER CONTROLS AND EQUIPMENT
80J21-03E
Frame hooks are provided on the front (1),
rear (2) and side (3) of the vehicle. The
hooks (1) and (2) are used for emergency
situations. The hooks (3) are used for
trailer/train shipping purposes.
To tow your vehicle on the road or highway,
follow the instruction of “Towing” in “EMER-
GENCY SERVICE” or “VEHICLE LOAD-
ING AND TOWING” section.
Tire Changing ToolSX4
80JC014
SX4 SEDAN
80JC045
The jack, wheel brace, jack handle are
stowed in the luggage compartment.
80J048
To remove the spare tire, turn its bolt (1)
counterclockwise and remove it.
79J085
To remove the jack, turn its shaft counter-
clockwise and pull the jack out of the stor-
age bracket.
WARNING
Do not use the frame hooks to tow
another vehicle or to have your vehi-
cle towed on the road or highway.
The hooks (1) and (2) are designed
for use in emergency situations only,
such as if your vehicle or another
vehicle gets stuck in deep mud or
snow.
The hooks (3) are provided for trailer/
train shipping purposes.
CAUTION
Never use the hooks (1) and (2) for
trailer/train shipping purposes to pre-
vent damage to the vehicle.
EXAMPLEEXAMPLE
(1)
EXAMPLE
Cup Holder and Storage Area: 3

5-14
OTHER CONTROLS AND EQUIPMENT
80J21-03E
SX4
79J086
SX4 SEDAN
80JC015
To stow the jack, place it in the storage
bracket and turn the shaft clockwise until
the jack is securely held in place.
Luggage Compartment Cover
(if equipped)
80J049
80J050
WARNING
The jack should be used only to
change wheels. It is important to read
the jacking instructions in the
“EMERGENCY SERVICE” section of
this manual before attempting to use
the jack.
WARNING
After using the jack, jack handle and
wheel wrench, be sure to stow them
securely or they can cause injury if
an accident occurs.
(1) (2)
Front Rear
Accessory Socket: 8
Frame Hooks: 5, 6

5-17OTHER CONTROLS AND EQUIPMENT
80J21-03E
You can use the roof rails or the roof rack
anchors to attach the optional roof rack
which is available at your SUZUKI dealer. If
you use a roof rack, observe the instruc-
tions and precautions in this section and
provided with the roof rack.
 Make sure the roof rack is securely
installed.
 To mount various types of cargo (such
as skis, bicycles, etc.) properly, use suit-
able attachments which are available
from your SUZUKI dealer. Be sure to
install the attachments properly and
securely according to the instructions
provided. Do not mount cargo directly on
the roof panel. The cargo can damage
the roof panel.
 The gross weight of the roof rack plus
cargo must not exceed the loading
capacity (50 kg (110 lbs)). Also, do not
let the gross vehicle weight (fully loaded
vehicle including driver, passengers,
cargo, roof load and trailer tongue
weight) exceed the Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating (GVWR) listed in the
“SPECIFICATIONS” section of this man-
ual.
 Mount and secure the cargo onto the
roof rack properly according to the
instructions provided. Be sure to stow
the heaviest items at the bottom and dis-
tribute the cargo as evenly as possible.
 Do not carry items so large that they
hang over the bumpers or the sides of
the vehicle, or block your view. Secure the front and rear ends of long
items – such as wood panels, surfboards
and so forth – to both the front and rear
of the vehicle. You should protect the
painted surfaces of the vehicle from
scuffing caused by tie-down ropes.
 Check periodically to make sure the roof
rack is securely installed and free from
damage.
 For vehicles with roof rack anchors,
make sure the anchors are covered with
the caps when not in use.
WARNING
 Abrupt maneuvers or failure to
properly secure cargo can allow the
cargo to fly off the vehicle and hit
others, causing personal injury or
property damage.
 Mount cargo securely and avoid
abrupt maneuvers such as “jack-
rabbit” starts, sharp turns, fast cor-
nering and sudden braking. Check
periodically to make sure that
cargo is securely fastened.
 Large, bulky, long, or flat items can
affect vehicle aerodynamics or be
caught by the wind, and can reduce
vehicle control resulting in an acci-
dent and personal injury. Drive cau-
tiously at a safely reduced speed
when carrying this type of cargo.