warning lights SUZUKI XL7 2007 2.G User Guide

2-11 FEATURES AND CONTROLS
78J00-03E
If you are driving and the security light
comes on and stays on, you may be able
to restart your engine. Your PASS-Key
®
III+ system, however, may not be working
properly and must be serviced by your
dealer.
If you lose or damage your PASS-Key
®
III+ key, see your dealer or a locksmith
who can service PASS-Key
® III+ to have a
new key made.
Daily Inspection ChecklistBefore Driving1) Make sure that windows, mirrors, lights
and reflectors are clean and unob-
structed.
2) Visually check the tires for the following
points:
– the depth of the tread groove
– abnormal wear, cracks and damage
– loose wheel nuts
– existence of foreign material such as
nails, stones, etc.
Refer to “Tires” in the “SERVICE AND
APPEARANCE CARE” section for details.
3) Look for oil or other fluid leaks.
NOTE:
It is normal for water to drip from the air
conditioning system after use.
4) Make sure the hood is fully closed and
latched.
5) Check the headlights, turn signal lights,
brake lights and horn for proper opera-
tion.
6) Lock all doors.
7) Adjust the seat and adjustable head
restraints (if equipped).
8) Check the brake pedal.
9) Adjust the mirrors.
10)Make sure that you and all passengers
have properly fastened your safety
belts.11)Make sure that all warning lights come
on as the key is turned to the “ON” or
“START” position.
12)Check all gauges.
13)Make sure that the BRAKE light turns
off when the parking brake is released.
Once a week, or each time you fill your fuel
tank, perform the following under-hood
checks:
1) Engine oil level
2) Coolant level
3) Brake fluid level
4) Power steering (if equipped) fluid level
5) Windshield washer fluid level
6) Hood latch operation
Pull the hood release handle inside the
vehicle. Make sure that you cannot
open the hood all the way without
releasing the secondary latch. Be sure
to close the hood securely after check-
ing for proper latch operation. Refer to
“Lubricate body components” under
“Scheduled Maintenance” in the
“Maintenance Schedule” section for the
lubrication schedule.
WARNING
Make sure the hood is fully closed
and latched before driving. If it is not,
it can fly up unexpectedly during
driving, obstructing your view and
resulting in an accident.

2-12 FEATURES AND CONTROLS
78J00-03E
Starting and Operating Your
VehicleNew Vehicle Break-InIgnition Positions
1410037
With the key in the ignition switch, you can
turn it to four different positions. A warning
tone will sound if you open the driver’s
door when the key has not been removed
from the ignition. (LOCK):
You will only be able to remove your key
when the ignition is turned to LOCK.
The ignition switch cannot be turned to
LOCK unless the shift lever is in PARK (P).
ACC (Accessory):
This position operates some of your elec-
trical accessories.
(RUN):
This is the position the switch returns to
after you start your engine and release the
switch. The switch stays in the RUN posi-
tion when the engine is running. But even
when the engine is not running, you can
use RUN to operate your electrical acces-
sories and to display some warning and
indicator lights.
The battery could be drained if you leave
the key in the ACC or RUN position with
the engine off. You may not be able to start
your vehicle if the battery is allowed to
drain for an extended period of time.
(START):
This position starts the engine. When the
engine starts, release the key. The ignition
switch will return to RUN for normal driv-
ing.
Key In the Ignition
Never leave your vehicle with the keys
inside, as it is an easy target for joy riders
or thieves. If you leave the key in the igni-
CAUTION
Your vehicle does not need an elabo-
rate break-in. But it will perform bet-
ter in the long run if you follow these
guidelines:
 Do not drive at any one constant
speed, fast or slow, for the first 500
miles (805 km). Do not make full-
throttle starts. Avoid downshifting
to brake, or slow, the vehicle.
 Avoid making hard stops for the
first 200 miles (322 km) or so. Dur-
ing this time your new brake linings
are not yet broken in. Hard stops
with new linings can mean prema-
ture wear and earlier replacement.
Follow this breaking-in guideline
every time you get new brake lin-
ings.
 Do not tow a trailer during break-in.
Refer to “Towing a Trailer” in “Tow-
ing” in the “Driving Your Vehicle”
section for the trailer towing capa-
bilities of your vehicle and more
information.
Following break-in, engine speed and
load can be gradually increased.
CAUTION
Using a tool to force the key from the
ignition switch could cause damage
or break the key. Use the correct key
and turn the key only with your hand.
Make sure the key is in all the way. If
none of this works, then your vehicle
needs service.

INSTRUMENT PANEL
3
78J00-03E
INSTRUMENT PANELInstrument Panel Overview ................................................ 3-1
Climate Controls ................................................................. 3-10
Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators ............................ 3-15
Driver Information Center (DIC) ......................................... 3-27
Audio System(s) .................................................................. 3-39

3-7 INSTRUMENT PANEL
78J00-03E
the vehicle’s speed for approximately 60
seconds, cruise control will disengage.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on
hills depends upon your speed, load, and
the steepness of the hills. When going up
steep hills, you may have to step on the
accelerator pedal to maintain your vehi-
cle’s speed. When going downhill, you may
have to brake or shift to a lower gear to
limit the vehicle’s speed. Of course, apply-
ing the brakes ends cruise control. Many
drivers find this to be too much trouble and
do not use cruise control on steep hills.
Ending Cruise Control
There are three ways to end cruise control:
 Step lightly on the brake pedal.
 Press the cancel button on the steering
wheel.
 Press the On/Off button on the steering
wheel.
Erasing Speed Memory
When the cruise control or the ignition is
turned off, the cruise control set speed
memory is erased.
HeadlampsThe exterior lamp control is located on the
turn signal/multifunction lever.
(Exterior Lamp Control):
Turn the control with this symbol on it to
operate the exterior lamps.
The exterior lamp control has the following
positions:
AUTO (Off/Automatic Headlamps):
Turn the control to this position to put the
headlamps in automatic mode. Automatic
mode will turn the exterior lamps on and off
depending upon how much light is avail-
able outside of the vehicle.
(Parking Lamps):
Turn the control to this position to turn on
the parking lamps together with the follow-
ing:
 Sidemarker Lamps
 Taillamps
 License Plate Lamps
 Instrument Panel Lights
(Headlamps):
Turning the control to this position turns on
the headlamps, together with the previ-
ously listed lamps and lights.
Headlamps on Reminder
If you open the driver’s door with the igni-
tion off and the lamps on, you will hear a
warning chime.Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make
it easier for others to see the front of your
vehicle during the day. DRL can be helpful
in many different driving conditions, but
they can be especially helpful in the short
periods after dawn and before sunset.
Fully functional daytime running lamps are
required on all vehicles first sold in Can-
ada.
A light sensor on top of the instrument
panel makes the DRL work, so be sure it is
not covered.
The DRL system’s automatic headlamp
control will make the low-beam headlamps
come on at a reduced brightness when the
following conditions are met:
 The ignition is in RUN.
 The exterior lamps control is in AUTO.
 The engine is running.
When the DRL are on, only the low-beam
headlamps, at a reduced level of bright-
ness, will be on. The headlamps, taillamps,
sidemarker, and other lamps will not be on.
The instrument panel and cluster will also
not be lit.
When it is dark enough outside, the DRL
will turn off and the headlamps and parking
lamps will turn on. The other lamps that
come on with the headlamps will also
come on.

3-15 INSTRUMENT PANEL
78J00-03E
Warning Lights, Gages, and
IndicatorsThis part describes the warning lights and
gages that may be on your vehicle. The
pictures will help you locate them.
Warning lights and gages can signal that
something is wrong before it becomes seri-
ous enough to cause an expensive repair
or replacement. Paying attention to your
warning lights and gages could also save
you or others from injury.
Warning lights come on when there may
be or is a problem with one of your vehi-
cle’s functions. As you will see in the
details on the following pages, some warn-
ing lights come on briefly when you start
the engine just to let you know they are
working. If you are familiar with this sec-
tion, you should not be alarmed when this
happens.
Gages can indicate when there may be or
is a problem with one of your vehicle’s
functions. Often gages and warning lights
work together to let you know when there
is a problem with your vehicle.
When one of the warning lights comes on
and stays on when you are driving, or
when one of the gages shows there may
be a problem, check the section that tells
you what to do about it. Please follow this
manual’s advice. Waiting to do repairs can
be costly and even dangerous. So pleaseget to know your warning lights and gages.
They are a big help.
Instrument Panel ClusterYour instrument panel cluster is designed
to let you know at a glance how your vehi-
cle is running. You will know how fast you
are going, how much fuel you are using,
and many other things you will need to
drive safely and economically.
United States version shown,
Canada similar
1716507
Speedometer and OdometerYour speedometer lets you see your speed
in both miles per hour (mph) and kilome-
ters per hour (km/h).
Your odometer shows how far your vehicle
has been driven, in either miles (used in
the United States) or kilometers (used in
Canada).
Your vehicle has a tamper resistant odom-
eter. The digital odometer will read 999999
if someone tries to turn it back.
You may wonder what happens if your
vehicle needs a new odometer installed. If
the new one can be set to the mileage total
of the old odometer, then it must be. If not,
then it is set at zero and a label must be
put on the driver’s door to show the old
mileage reading when the new odometer
was installed.Trip OdometerYour trip odometer is located in the Driver
Information Center and shows how far your
vehicle has been driven since the trip
odometer was last reset. For more infor-
mation refer to “DIC Operation and Dis-
plays” in this section.

3-18 INSTRUMENT PANEL
78J00-03E
If the word ON or the on symbol is lit on the
passenger airbag status indicator, it means
that the right front passenger’s frontal air-
bag is enabled (may inflate).If the word OFF or the off symbol is lit on
the airbag status indicator, it means that
the passenger sensing system has turned
off the right front passenger’s frontal air-
bag. Refer to “Passenger Sensing System”
in “Airbag System” in the “Seats and
Restraint Systems” section for more on
this, including important safety information.
If, after several seconds, all status indicator
lights remain on, or if there are no lights at
all, there may be a problem with the lights
or the passenger sensing system. See
your dealer for service.
WARNING
Even though the passenger sensing
system is designed to turn off the
passenger’s frontal airbag if the sys-
tem detects a rear-facing child
restraint, no system is fail-safe, and
no one can guarantee that an airbag
will not deploy under some unusual
circumstance, even though it is
turned off. We recommend that rear-
facing child restraints be trans-
ported in vehicles with a rear seat
that will accommodate a rear-facing
child restraint, whenever possible.
WARNING
If the on indicator comes on when
you have a rear-facing child restraint
installed in the right front passen-
ger’s seat, it means that the passen-
ger sensing system has not turned
off the passenger’s frontal airbag. A
child in a rear-facing child restraint
can be seriously injured or killed if
the right front passenger’s airbag
inflates. This is because the back of
the rear-facing child restraint would
be very close to the inflating airbag.
Do not use a rear-facing child
restraint in the right front passen-
ger’s seat if the airbag is turned on.
WARNING
If the off indicator and the airbag
readiness light ever come on
together, it means that something
may be wrong with the airbag sys-
tem. If this ever happens, have the
vehicle serviced promptly, because
an adult-size person sitting in the
right front passenger seat may not
have the protection of the frontal air-
bag. Refer to “Airbag Readiness
Light” in this section.

4-3 DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE
78J00-03E
There is something else about drinking
and driving that many people do not know.
Medical research shows that alcohol in a
person’s system can make crash injuries
worse, especially injuries to the brain, spi-
nal cord, or heart. This means that when
anyone who has been drinking – driver or
passenger – is in a crash, that person’s
chance of being killed or permanently dis-
abled is higher than if the person had not
been drinking.Control of a VehicleYou have three systems that make your
vehicle go where you want it to go. They
are the brakes, the steering, and the accel-
erator. All three systems have to do their
work at the places where the tires meet the
road.
Sometimes, as when you are driving on
snow or ice, it is easy to ask more of those
control systems than the tires and roadcan provide. That means you can lose con-
trol of your vehicle.
Adding non-Suzuki accessories can affect
your vehicle’s performance. Refer to
“Accessories and Modifications” in “Ser-
vice” in the “Service and Appearance
Care” section.
BrakingRefer to “Brake System Warning Light” in
“Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators” in
the “Instrument Panel” section.
Braking action involves perception time
and reaction time.
First, you have to decide to push on the
brake pedal. That is perception time. Then
you have to bring up your foot and do it.
That is reaction time.
Average reaction time is about three-
fourths of a second. But that is only an
average. It might be less with one driver
and as long as two or three seconds or
more with another. Age, physical condition,
alertness, coordination, and eyesight all
play a part. So do alcohol, drugs, and frus-
tration. But even in three-fourths of a sec-
ond, a vehicle moving at 60 mph (100 km/
h) travels 66 feet (20 m). That could be a
lot of distance in an emergency, so keeping
enough space between your vehicle and
others is important.
And, of course, actual stopping distances
vary greatly with the surface of the road,whether it is pavement or gravel; the con-
dition of the road, whether it is wet, dry, or
icy; tire tread; the condition of the brakes;
the weight of the vehicle; and the amount
of brake force applied.
Avoid needless heavy braking. Some peo-
ple drive in spurts – heavy acceleration fol-
lowed by heavy braking – rather than
keeping pace with traffic. This is a mistake.
The brakes may not have time to cool
between hard stops. The brakes will wear
out much faster if you do a lot of heavy
braking. If you keep pace with the traffic
and allow realistic following distances, you
will eliminate a lot of unnecessary braking.
That means better braking and longer
brake life.
If your vehicle’s engine ever stops while
you are driving, brake normally but do not
pump the brakes. If you do, the pedal may
get harder to push down. If the engine
stops, you will still have some power brake
assist. But you will use it when you brake.
Once the power assist is used up, it may
take longer to stop and the brake pedal will
be harder to push.
Adding non-Suzuki accessories can affect
your vehicle’s performance. Refer to
“Accessories and Modifications” in “Ser-
vice” in the “Service and Appearance
Care” section.
WARNING
Drinking and then driving is very dan-
gerous. Your reflexes, perceptions,
attentiveness, and judgment can be
affected by even a small amount of
alcohol. You can have a serious – or
even fatal – collision if you drive after
drinking. Please do not drink and
drive or ride with a driver who has
been drinking. Ride home in a cab; or
if you are with a group, designate a
driver who will not drink.

4-4 DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE
78J00-03E
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
Your vehicle has the Anti-Lock Brake Sys-
tem (ABS), an advanced electronic braking
system that will help prevent a braking
skid.
When you start the engine and begin to
drive away, ABS will check itself. You may
hear a momentary motor or clicking noise
while this test is going on, and you may
even notice that the brake pedal moves a
little. This is normal.
807057
If there is a problem with ABS, this warning
light will stay on. Refer to “Anti-Lock Brake
System Warning Light” in “Warning Lights,
Gages, and Indicators” in the “Instrument
Panel” section.
1527213
Let us say the road is wet and you are driv-
ing safely. Suddenly, an animal jumps out
in front of you. You slam on the brakes and
continue braking. Here is what happens
with ABS:
A computer senses that wheels are slow-
ing down. If one of the wheels is about to
stop rolling, the computer will separately
work the brakes at each wheel.
ABS can change the brake pressure faster
than any driver could. The computer is pro-
grammed to make the most of available tire
and road conditions. This can help you
steer around the obstacle while braking
hard.
1527212
As you brake, the computer keeps receiv-
ing updates on wheel speed and controls
braking pressure accordingly.
Remember: ABS does not change the time
you need to get your foot up to the brake
pedal or always decrease stopping dis-
tance. If you get too close to the vehicle in
front of you, you will not have time to apply
the brakes if that vehicle suddenly slows or
stops. Always leave enough room up
ahead to stop, even though you have ABS.
Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the
brake pedal down firmly and let anti-lock
work for you. You may hear the anti-lock
pump or motor operate, and feel the brake
pedal pulsate, but this is normal.

4-6 DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE
78J00-03E
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) SystemIf your vehicle has all-wheel drive (AWD),
the AWD system operates automatically
without any action required by the driver. If
the front drive wheels begin to slip, the rear
wheels will automatically begin to drive the
vehicle as required. Torque is also applied
to the rear wheels during launches. There
may be a slight engagement noise during
hard use but this is normal.
1710820
This light and the SERVICE ALL WHEEL
DRIVE message in the Driver Information
Center (DIC) will come on and stay on to
indicate that there may be a problem with
the drive system and service is required.
Refer to “Service All-Wheel Drive Light” in
“Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators” in
the “Instrument Panel” section and “DIC
Warnings and Messages” in “Driver Infor-
mation Center (DIC)” in the “Instrument
Panel” section for more information.
1710823
This light will come on along with the ALL
WHEEL DRIVE OFF message when the
rear drive system is overheating. This light
will turn off when the rear drive system
cools down. If this light stays on, it must be
reset. To reset the light, turn the ignition off
and then back again. If the light stays on,
see your dealer for service.
Refer to “All Wheel Drive Off” under “DIC
Warnings and Messages” in “Driver Infor-
mation Center (DIC)” in the “Instrument
Panel” section for more information.SteeringPower Steering
If you lose power steering assist because
the engine stops or the power steering sys-
tem is not functioning, you can steer, but it
will take more effort.
Steering Tips
It is important to take curves at a reason-
able speed.
A lot of the “driver lost control” accidents
mentioned on the news happen on curves.
Here is why:Experienced driver or beginner, each of us
is subject to the same laws of physics
when driving on curves. The traction of the
tires against the road surface makes it pos-
sible for the vehicle to change its path
when you turn the front wheels. If there is
no traction, inertia will keep the vehicle
going in the same direction. If you have
ever tried to steer a vehicle on wet ice, you
will understand this.
The traction you can get in a curve
depends on the condition of your tires and
the road surface, the angle at which the
curve is banked, and your speed. While
you are in a curve, speed is the one factor
you can control.
Suppose you are steering through a sharp
curve. Then you suddenly accelerate. Both
control systems – steering and accelera-
tion – have to do their work where the tires
meet the road. Adding the sudden acceler-
ation can demand too much of those
places. You can lose control. Refer to
“Traction Control System (TCS)” and
“Electronic Stability Control” in this section.
What should you do if this ever happens?
Ease up on the brake or accelerator pedal,
steer the vehicle the way you want it to go,
and slow down.
Speed limit signs near curves warn that
you should adjust your speed. Of course,
the posted speeds are based on good
weather and road conditions. Under less

4-10 DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE
78J00-03E
build up a film caused by dust. Dirty glass
makes lights dazzle and flash more than
clean glass would, making the pupils of
your eyes contract repeatedly.
Remember that the headlamps light up far
less of a roadway when you are in a turn or
curve. Keep your eyes moving; that way, it
is easier to pick out dimly lighted objects.
Just as the headlamps should be checked
regularly for proper aim, so should your
eyes be examined regularly. Some drivers
suffer from night blindness – the inability to
see in dim light – and are not even aware
of it.Driving in Rain and on Wet Roads
1527470
Rain and wet roads can mean driving trou-
ble. On a wet road, you cannot stop, accel-
erate, or turn as well because your tire-to-
road traction is not as good as on dryroads. And, if your tires do not have much
tread left, you will get even less traction. It
is always wise to go slower and be cau-
tious if rain starts to fall while you are driv-
ing. The surface may get wet suddenly
when your reflexes are tuned for driving on
dry pavement.
The heavier the rain, the harder it is to see.
Even if your windshield wiper blades are in
good shape, a heavy rain can make it
harder to see road signs and traffic signals,
pavement markings, the edge of the road,
and even people walking.
It is wise to keep your windshield wiper and
washer system in good shape and keep
your windshield washer fluid reservoir filled
with washer fluid. Replace your windshield
wiper inserts when they show signs of
streaking or missing areas on the wind-
shield, or when strips of rubber start to
separate from the inserts.
Driving too fast through large water pud-
dles or even going through some carwashes can cause problems, too. The
water may affect your brakes. Try to avoid
puddles. But if you cannot, try to slow
down before you hit them.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. So much
water can build up under your tires that
they can actually ride on the water. This
can happen if the road is wet enough and
you are going fast enough. When your
vehicle is hydroplaning, it has little or no
contact with the road.
Hydroplaning does not happen often. But it
can if your tires do not have much tread or
if the pressure in one or more is low. It can
happen if a lot of water is standing on the
road. If you can see reflections from trees,
telephone poles, or other vehicles, and
raindrops dimple the water’s surface, there
could be hydroplaning.
Hydroplaning usually happens at higher
speeds. There just is not a hard and fast
rule about hydroplaning. The best advice is
to slow down when it is raining.
WARNING
Wet brakes can cause accidents.
They may not work as well in a quick
stop and may cause pulling to one
side. You could lose control of the
vehicle. After driving through a large
puddle of water or a car wash, apply
the brake pedal lightly until the
brakes work normally.