SUZUKI SX4 2010 1.G Owners Manual

3-10
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
80J23-03E
3) Close the engine hood securely before
starting the engine.
Using the TransaxleManual Transaxle
80J2081
Starting off
To start off, depress the clutch pedal all the
way to the floor and shift into 1st gear.
After releasing the parking brake, gradually
release the clutch. When you hear a
change in the engine’s sound, slowly press
the accelerator while continuing to gradu-
ally release the clutch.
Shifting
All forward gears are synchronized, which
provides for quiet, and easy shifting.
Always depress the clutch pedal all the
way to the floor before shifting gears. Keep
the engine speed does not rise into the red
zone of the tachometer.
80J2082
Reverse gear: with lifting up ring, shift the
gearshift lever to the right, engage gear.
CAUTION
Secure the block heater cord back to
its original position or to the routed
position. A loose cord could get
caught in the engine accessory drive
belt(s) or other moving parts.
EXAMPLE

3-11OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
80J23-03E
Continuously Variable Transaxle
(CVT)
80J2065
Gearshift lever
80J2035
WARNING
 Reduce your speed and downshift
to a lower gear before going down
a long or steep hill. Downshifting
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 down-
shifting. Large and sudden
changes in engine speed may
cause loss of traction, which could
cause you to lose control.
 Make sure that the vehicle is com-
pletely stopped before you shift
into reverse.
CAUTION
 To help avoid clutch damage, do
not use the clutch pedal as a foot-
rest while driving or use the clutch
to keep the vehicle stationary on a
slope. Depress the clutch fully
when shifting.
 When shifting or starting off, do not
race the engine. Racing the engine
can shorten engine life and affect
smooth shifting.
WARNING
Always depress the brake pedal
before shifting from “P” (Park) (or
“N” (Neutral) if the vehicle is station-
ary) to a forward or reverse gear, to
help prevent the vehicle from moving
unexpectedly when you shift.

3-12
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
80J23-03E
The gearshift lever has a lock mechanism
to help prevent accidental shifting. To shift
the gearshift lever:
80J2036
NOTE:
 Always shift the gearshift lever without
pushing in the lock button (1) except
when you shift from “P” to “R”, from “N”
to “R” or from “R” to “P”. If you always
push in the lock button (1) when shifting
the gearshift lever, you could shift into
“P” or “R” by mistake.
 If driver’s or passenger’s knee hits the
gearshift lever while driving, the lever
could move and the gear could be
changed unexpectedly.Use the gearshift lever positions as
described below:
P (Park)
Use this position to lock the transaxle
when the vehicle is parked or when start-
ing the engine. Shift into Park only when
the vehicle is completely stationary.
R (Reverse)
Use this position to reverse the vehicle
from stop. Make sure that vehicle is com-
pletely stationary before shifting into
Reverse.
N (Neutral)
Use this position for starting the engine if
the engine stalls and you need to restart it
while the vehicle is moving. You may also
shift into Neutral and depress the brake
pedal to hold the vehicle stationary during
idling. Shift with the lock button (1)
pushed in and the brake pedal
depressed.
Shift with the lock button (1)
pushed in.
Shift without the lock button (1)
pushed in.
(1)
CAUTION
Do not shift the gearshift lever into
“R” while moving forward, or the
transaxle may be damaged. If you
shift into “R” when the vehicle speed
is over 6mph (10km/h), the transaxle
will not shift into reverse.

3-13OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
80J23-03E
D (Drive)
Use this position for all normal driving.
With the gearshift lever in “D” range you
can get an automatic downshift by press-
ing the accelerator pedal. The higher the
vehicle speed is, the more you need to
press the accelerator pedal to get a down-
shift.
M (manual mode)
Use this position for driving in the manual
mode.
Refer to “Manual mode” later in this section
for details on how to use the manual mode.Manual mode
The CVT can shift gears automatically.
When using the manual mode, you can
shift gears in the same manner as conven-
tional manual transaxle.
To use the manual mode, shift the gearshift
lever from “D” to “M”.
80J2037
80J2073
(1) Manual mode indicator
(2) Gear positionThe information display shows the manual
mode indicator (1) and the current gear
position (2).
NOTE:
 The indicated gear position on the infor-
mation display when you shift from “D” to
“M” is the gear position that was selected
automatically when the gearshift lever
was in “D”.
 You can change to the manual mode
temporarily by pulling the shift paddle (if
equipped) on the steering wheel toward
you when the gearshift lever is in “D”.
Shifting in the manual mode
You can shift gears from 1st to 6th depend-
ing on driving speed.
NOTE:
 When the engine is revved, the gear is
shifted up automatically to prevent dam-
age to the engine and the transaxle. If
the CVT fluid becomes hot such as
when driving on up hill, the engine speed
at which shifting occurs may be lower
than usual.
 When the driving speed becomes slow,
the gear shifts down automatically, and
when the vehicle stops, the gear position
will be in 1st gear without shifting the
gearshift lever.
 If you depress the accelerator pedal a
certain amount, the gear shifts down
automatically even if the gearshift lever
is in the manual mode.
CAUTION
Be sure to take the following precau-
tions to help avoid damage to the
CVT:
 Make sure that the vehicle is com-
pletely stationary before shifting
into “P” or “R”.
 Do not shift from “P” or “N” to “R”,
“D” or “M” when the engine is run-
ning above idle speed.
 Do not rev the engine with the tran-
saxle in a drive position (“R”, “D”
or “M”) and the front wheels not
moving.
 Do not use the accelerator to hold
the vehicle on a hill. Use the vehi-
cle’s brakes.
(1)
(2)
EXAMPLE

3-14
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
80J23-03E
NOTE:
When you shift gears, the gear may not
shift to the desired position. This is to
maintain good drivability and to protect the
transaxle.
Using the gearshift lever
80J2039
(1) “+” side (shift up)
(2) “–” side (shift down)
To shift up, pull the gearshift lever to the “+”
side (rearward). When you remove your
hand from the gearshift lever, the lever will
return to the “M” position automatically.
To shift down, push the gearshift lever to
the “–” side (forward). When you remove
your hand from the gearshift lever, the
lever will return to the “M” position auto-
matically.NOTE:
To shift gears continuously, remove your
hand from the gearshift lever, then shift the
lever again. You cannot shift gears continu-
ously while holding the lever in the “+” or
“–” position.
Using the shift paddle (if equipped)
80J1358
To shift up, pull the “+” side shift paddle,
located on right side of the steering wheel,
toward you. When you remove your finger
from the switch, the switch will return to the
original position.
80J1359
To shift down, pull the “–” side shift paddle,
located on left side of the steering wheel,
toward you. When you remove your finger
from the switch, the switch will return to the
original position.
NOTE:
 To shift gears continuously, remove your
finger from the shift paddle, then pull the
shift paddle again. You cannot shift
gears continuously while holding the
shift paddle toward you.
 When you pull the both “+” and “–” shift
paddle simultaneously, the gear may not
shift.
(1)
(2)

3-15OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
80J23-03E
Canceling the manual mode
To cancel the manual mode, shift the gear-
shift lever from “M” to “D”.
Temporary manual mode
Pull the shift paddle (if equipped) toward
you when driving with the gearshift lever in
the “D” position. The information display
shows the manual mode indicator (1) and
the current gear position (2).
80J2073
(1) Manual mode indicator
(2) Gear position
The temporary manual mode will be can-
celed automatically in the following situa-
tions.
 When you press and hold the accelera-
tor pedal for a certain period of time with-
out shifting gears.
 When driving speed becomes slow.If You Cannot Shift CVT Gearshift Lever
Out of “P” (PARK)
80J2040
Vehicles with a CVT have an electrically
operated park-lock feature. If the vehicle’s
battery is discharged, or there is some
other electrical failure, the CVT cannot be
shifted out of Park in the normal way. Jump
starting may correct the condition. If not,
follow the procedure described below. This
procedure will permit changing the tran-
saxle out of Park.
1) Be sure the parking brake is firmly
applied.
2) If the engine is running, stop the
engine.
3) Make sure the key is in the “ON” or
“ACC” position.
4) Remove the cover (1) over the button.
5) With pushing the release button by the
key or the flat end rod, shift the gear-
shift lever to the desired position.This procedure is for emergency use only.
If repeated use of this procedure is neces-
sary, or the procedure does not work as
described, take the vehicle to your dealer
for repair.
(1)
(2)
EXAMPLE
(1)

3-16
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
80J23-03E
Using the 2WD/i-AWD
(intelligent All Wheel Drive)
Switch (if equipped)
80J009
This i-AWD system enables you to select
the driving mode according to the driving
conditions by operating the 2WD/i-AWD
switch. With this feature, you can select 3
mode positions, “2WD”, “i-AWD AUTO”
and “i-AWD LOCK” by operating the 2WD/
i-AWD switch even when the vehicle is
moving, provided the front wheels are in
the straight ahead position.Description of 3 Mode 4 x 4 System
Positions2WD
In this position, engine power is supplied to
the front axle only. Use this position for
normal driving (on dry, hard surfaces).i-AWD AUTO
In this position, engine power is supplied to
the front and rear axles at normal speed,
providing greater traction than 2-wheel
drive. Use this position for driving on paved
roads or on slippery roads (icy, snow-cov-
ered, muddy, etc.).
In the AUTO mode, the i-AWD controller
judges the driving conditions using signals
from sensors.
When slipping of the front wheels is
detected, the electronically controlled cou-
pling supplies optimum driving force to the
rear wheels. This function improves driving
stability and running through performance
on rough roads and stabilizes driving per-
formance even on a snow covered up-hill
road or the like.
Also, during normal driving on paved
roads, torque distribution to the rear
wheels is reduced to achieve the nearly
front wheel drive condition, thereby fuel
consumption is improved.
i-AWD LOCK
In this position, engine power is supplied to
the front and rear axles at reduced speed.
Use this position when it is hard to start off
in the “i-AWD AUTO” mode such as in
mud, sand or on snow.
NOTE:
 Avoid operating your vehicle in the “i-
AWD LOCK” on wet pavement as much
as possible. Operating your vehicle in
the “i-AWD LOCK” on wet pavementmay cause severe damage to the drive
train.
 As the vehicle speed increases, the “i-
AWD LOCK” mode is automatically can-
celed and the “i-AWD AUTO” mode is
selected.
 When the ignition switch is turned to the
“OFF” position, the “i-AWD LOCK” mode
is canceled.
2WD/i-AWD Switch OperationOperate the 2WD/i-AWD switch according
to the appropriate procedure described
below:
How to turn on 2WD/i-AWD switch
2WD/i-AWD switch will activate when the
ignition switch is turned on.
From 2WD to i-AWD AUTO
Turn the 2WD/i-AWD switch to the neutral
position, and the “i-AWD AUTO” indicator
will come on.
79J040

3-17OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
80J23-03E
From i-AWD AUTO to i-AWD LOCK
Push the “i-AWD LOCK” switch for a few
seconds until the “i-AWD LOCK” indicator
will come on.
79J100
From i-AWD LOCK to i-AWD AUTO
Push the “i-AWD LOCK” switch, and the “i-
AWD AUTO” indicator will come on.
From i-AWD AUTO or LOCK to 2WD
Push the “2WD” switch, and the “i-AWD
AUTO” or “i-AWD LOCK” indicator will turn
off.
NOTE:
 The 2WD/i-AWD switch can be operated
when the vehicle is either stopped or
moving.
 Make sure that the front wheels are in
the straight ahead position when operat-
ing the 2WD/i-AWD switch.
 While making turns or accelerating and
decelerating, operating the 2WD/i-AWD
switch or turning off the key switch in the
“i-AWD AUTO” or “i-AWD LOCK” mode
may cause a shock, but this is not a sys-
tem malfunction. While driving in the “i-AWD LOCK”
mode, as the vehicle speed increases,
the driving mode changes to the “i-AWD
AUTO” mode automatically. Even when
the vehicle speed reduces, on the other
hand, the driving mode does not return
to the “i-AWD LOCK” mode automati-
cally. You should press the “i-AWD
LOCK” switch according to the driving
conditions.
 Any forcible operation while driving off-
road in the sand or water or when a
wheel has run off the road, the difference
of the revolution between front wheels
and rear wheels increases (wheels run
idle). If this state continues, the oil tem-
perature of the driving system parts
rises.
In such case, the “i-AWD AUTO” indica-
tor light blinks and the driving mode
changes to the 2WD mode to protect the
driving system parts.
When you operate your vehicle in the i-
AWD mode continuously, park the vehi-
cle at a safe place and run the engine
idle. After some time, the “i-AWD AUTO”
indicator light turns on again and the
driving mode returns to the “i-AWD
AUTO” mode.
CAUTION
 Never use the “i-AWD LOCK” mode
when driving on dry paved roads.
Avoid using the “i-AWD LOCK”
mode when driving on wet paved
roads as much as possible. Use of
the “i-AWD LOCK” mode in above
conditions will apply excessive
force to the driving system and
may cause a critical failure. Also,
the tires may wear faster and fuel
consumption may be affected
adversely.
 Note that i-AWD vehicles are not
all-around vehicles. Be sure to
observe following instructions
when driving your vehicle.
– Do not drive through water like
crossing a river.
– Do not drive continuously where
front wheels tend to race in
places such as sand and mud.
– When any wheel is in the air for
such reason as running off the
road, do not race it needlessly.
 If the “i-AWD AUTO” and the “i-
AWD LOCK” indicator lights stay
on and come on simultaneously
when driving, there may be some-
thing wrong the i-AWD system.
Have the system inspected by an
authorized SUZUKI dealer.

3-18
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
80J23-03E
Cruise Control (if equipped)
79JM005
The cruise control system allows you to
maintain a steady speed without keeping
your foot on the accelerator pedal. The
controls for operating the cruise control
system are on the steering wheel.
You can use the cruise control system with
the following conditions:
 For manual transaxle vehicle, the gear
position is in 4th, 5th or 6th.
 For CVT vehicle, the gearshift lever is in
“D” position, or the gear position is in
3rd, 4th, 5th or 6th in the manual mode.
 The vehicle speed is about 25 mph (40
km/h) or higher.
79JM006
(1) “CRUISE” switch
(2) “CANCEL” switch
(3) “SET/COAST” switch
(4) “RES/ACC” switch
CAUTION
Unevenly worn tires can cause prob-
lems in the operation of the 2WD/i-
AWD switch. Be sure to rotate the
tires according to the maintenance
schedule. Refer to “Tires” and “Main-
tenance Schedule” in the “INSPEC-
TION AND MAINTENANCE” section
for proper tire rotation procedures.
WARNING
To help avoid loss of vehicle control,
do not use the cruise control system
when driving in heavy traffic, on slip-
pery or winding roads, or on steep
downgrades.
(1)(2)
(3)(4)

3-19OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
80J23-03E
To Set Cruising Speed1) Turn on the cruise control system by
pushing the “CRUISE” switch (1). When
the “CRUISE” indicator light comes on,
you can set cruising speed.
2) Accelerate or decelerate to the desired
speed.
3) Push the “SET/COAST” switch (3) and
turn on the “SET” indicator light. Take
your foot off the accelerator pedal and
the set speed will be maintained.“CRUISE” indicator light
52D113
When you push the “CRUISE” switch, the
system is on and a “CRUISE” indicator
light on the instrument cluster will be on.
“SET” indicator light
65D474
When the vehicle’s speed is controlled by
the cruise control system, a “SET” indica-
tor light on the instrument cluster will be
on.To Change Speed Temporarily
When the cruising speed is maintained,
you can temporarily accelerate or deceler-
ate.
To accelerate, depress the accelerator
pedal. When you take your foot off the
pedal, your vehicle will return to the set
speed.
To decelerate, depress the brake pedal.
The set speed will be canceled and “SET”
indicator light will go off.
To resume the previously set speed, push
the “RES/ACC” switch (4) and turn on the
“SET” indicator light again when vehicle
speed is above 25 mph (40 km/h). The
vehicle will accelerate to and maintain the
previously set speed.
NOTE:
For CVT vehicle, when the cruising speed
is maintained, you cannot decelerate by
using the engine brake if you downshift
from higher gear to 3rd in the manual
mode.
To decelerate while the cruise control is on,
depress the brake pedal or push the “SET/
COAST” switch (3).
WARNING
If the cruising speed is set by acci-
dent, you cannot decelerate or could
loose control of the vehicle. This
could lead to an accident, resulting in
severe injury or death.
Turn off the cruise control system
and make sure the “CRUISE” indica-
tor light is off when the system is not
in use.