User manual SUZUKI FORENZA - 2008

2008 OWNER'S MANUAL Keep With Vehicle At All Times. Contains Important Information On Safety, Operation & Maintenance. Part No. 99011-85Z04-03E July, 2007 Prepared by July, 2007 Part No. 99011-85Z04-03E Printed in U.S.A. TP222 This owner's manual applies to the FORENZA series: 85Z001 NOTE: The illustrated model is one of the FORENZA series. © COPYRIGHT SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION 2007 INTRODUCTION Thank you for choosing SUZUKI and welcome to our growing family. Your choice was a wise one; SUZUKI products are a great value that will give you years of driving pleasure. This Owner's Manual was prepared to help you have a safe, enjoyable, and trouble-free experience with your SUZUKI. In it you will learn about the vehicle's operation, its safety features and maintenance requirements. Please read it carefully before operating your vehicle. Afterwards, keep this Manual in the glove box for future reference. Should you resell the vehicle, please leave this Manual with it for the next owner. In addition to the Owner's Manual, the other booklets provided with your SUZUKI explain the vehicle's warranties. We recommend you read them as well to familiarize yourself with this important information. When planning the regular scheduled maintenance of your SUZUKI, we recommend you visit your local SUZUKI dealership. Their factory-trained technicians will provide the best possible service and use only genuine SUZUKI parts and accessories. SERVICE STATION GUIDE 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Fuel (see section 5) Engine hood (see section 5) Tire changing tools (see section 5) Engine oil dipstick (see section 5) Engine coolant (see section 5) Windshield washer fluid (see section 5) Battery (see section 5) Tire pressure (see tire information label on driver's door lock pillar) Spare tire (see section 5) Engine air cleaner / filter (see section 5) 8 (RHD) 1 10 2 (RHD) 2 3 4 7 9 5 2 (LHD) 6 8 (LHD) 85Z022 LHD: Left Hand Drive RHD: Right Hand Drive NOTE: The illustration is FORENZA. TABLE OF CONTENTS California Proposition 65 Warning SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS FEATURES AND CONTROLS INSTRUMENT PANEL DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE SERVICE AND APPEARANCE CARE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE GENERAL INFORMATION INDEX 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 WARNING Engine exhaust, some of its constituents, and certain product components contain or emit chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. LOCATION OF WARNING MESSAGES Read and follow all of the warnings (labels etc.) on your vehicle. Make sure you understand all of them. Keep them on the vehicle. Do not remove the messages for any reason. If a label comes off or the messages become difficult to read, have it corrected by your SUZUKI dealer. 1. Air Bag Warning Label 2. Passenger Air Bag Warning Label 3. Rear Center Safety Belt Warning Label 4. Jack Warning Label 5. Brake Reservoir Cap Warning Message 6. Cooling Fan Warning Label 7. Surge Tank Cap Warning Message 8. Air Conditioner Warning Label 9. Battery Label 10. Emission Label 11. Tire and Loading Information Label 12. Certification Label 13. Spare Tire Label 14. Side Air Bag Warning Label 13 4 12 11 3 1 14 7 9 2 10 8 6 5 85Z023 FOREWORD All information in this manual is based on the latest product information available at the time of publication. Due to improvements or other changes, there may be discrepancies between information in this manual and your vehicle. SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION reserves the right to make production changes at any time, without notice and without incurring any obligation to make the same or similar changes to vehicles previously built or sold. IF YOU HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH YOUR SUZUKI: Please review the New Vehicle Warranty Information booklet supplied with your SUZUKI. Should you have a question or problem regarding the warranty or service of your vehicle, please take the following action: Consult the Service Manager and the Owner of the Suzuki Automotive Dealership. Explain your problem and ask for their assistance in resolving your problem. The Owner of the dealership is in the very best position to assist you as he or she is vitally concerned with your continued satisfaction. If you are still in need of additional information, or if you are dissatisfied, request that your SUZUKI dealer arrange a meeting with your District Service Manager. If, after doing so, you still require further assistance, and you purchased your SUZUKI in the continental United States, please contact the American Suzuki Customer Relations Department by telephone at 1-800-934-0934 or in writing at: American Suzuki Motor Corporation Automotive Customer Relations 3251 East Imperial Highway Brea, CA 92821-6795 If you purchased your SUZUKI in Canada please contact the Suzuki Canada Customer Relations Department by telephone at 1-905-889-2677 extension 2254 or in writing at: Suzuki Canada Inc. Customer Relations 100 East Beaver Creek Road Richmond Hill, On L4B 1J6 In the event you require assistance related to your SUZUKI, while temporarily travelling in either the United States or Canada, you may wish to contact the Suzuki Customer Relations Department directly of the country in which you are temporarily operating your vehicle. Please be certain to provide us with the following information: the model, Vehicle Identification Number, mileage, accessories involved, event dates, your concern, and any other comments which you may have. When we receive your correspondence, we will be pleased to contact the Owner of your dealership and assist in resolving your concern. For owners outside the continental United States, please refer to the distributor's address listed in your Warranty Information booklet. SUZUKI MOTOR CORPORATION believes in conservation and protection of Earth's natural resources. To that end, we encourage every vehicle owner to recycle, trade in, or properly dispose of, as appropriate, used motor oil, coolant, and other fluids, batteries and tires. 0-1 IMPORTANT WARNING/CAUTION/NOTE Please read this manual and follow its instructions carefully. To emphasize special information, the symbol and the words WARNING, CAUTION and NOTE have special meanings. Pay special attention to the messages highlighted by these signal words: MODIFICATION WARNING WARNING Do not modify this vehicle. Modification could adversely affect safety, handling, performance or durability and may violate governmental regulations. In addition, damage or performance problems resulting from modification may not be covered under warranty. 75F135 WARNING Indicates a potential hazard that could result in death or injury. CAUTION Improper installation of mobile communication equipment such as cellular telephones or CB (Citizen's Band) radios may cause electronic interference with your vehicle's ignition system, resulting in vehicle performance problems. Consult your SUZUKI dealer or qualified service technician for advice on installing such mobile communication equipment. CAUTION Indicates a potential hazard that could result in vehicle damage. NOTE: Indicates special information to make maintenance easier or instructions clearer. The circle with a slash in this manual means "Don't do this" or "Don't let this happen". 0-2 Vehicle Symbols Your vehicle has components and labels that use symbols instead of text. Symbols, used on your vehicle, are shown along with the text describing the operation or information relating to a specific component, control, message, gauge or indicator. If you need help figuring out a specific name of a component, gauge or indicator, reference the following topics: · Seats and Restraint Systems in Section 1 · Features and Controls in Section 2 · Instrument Panel Overview in Section 3 · Climate Controls in Section 3 · Warning Lights, Gauges and Indicators in Section 3 · Audio System(s) in Section 3 · Engine Compartment Overview in Section 5 These are some examples of vehicle symbols you may find on your vehicle: WARNING POSSIBLE INJURY PROTECT EYES BY SHIELDING SULFURIC BATTERY ACID CAN CAUSE BLINDNESS OR SEVERE BURNS AIR BAG MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP DOOR AJAR LIGHT TURN SIGNALS ENGINE COOLANT TEMP INSTRUMENT PANEL BRIGHTNESS EMERGENCY TRUNK RELEASE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT HOLD MODE ACTIVE LIGHT SPEED SENSITIVE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT FASTEN SEAT BELTS WASHER FLUID POWER STEERING FLUID DO NOT INSTALL A REAR-FACING CHILD RESTRAINT IN THIS SEATING POSITION TRUNK AJAR LIGHT HAZARD WARNING FLASHER BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM FUEL BRAKE OWNER'S MANUAL COOLANT AVOID SPARKS OR FLAMES FLUSH EYES IMMEDIATELY WITH WATER FUEL FILLER TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM ACTIVE LIGHT HIGHBEAM ON LIGHT ENGINE OIL PRESSURE HOOD RELEASE POWER WINDOW DOOR LOCK UNLOCK FOG LAMPS ANTI-LOCK BRAKES DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS L3U0002CS 0-3 0-4 SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS Front Seats .......................................................................... 1-1 Rear Seats ............................................................................ 1-4 Safety Belts .......................................................................... 1-5 Child Restraints ................................................................... 1-16 Supplemental Restraint System (air bags) ....................... 1-27 Restraint System Check ..................................................... 1-34 1 SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS Front Seats Manual Seats (With Sliding Storage Tray) WARNING Never attempt to adjust the driver's seat or seatback while driving. The seat or seatback could move unexpectedly, causing loss of control. Make sure that the driver's seat and seatback are properly adjusted before you start driving. If your vehicle does not have a sliding storage tray under the front seat, the manual seat bar looks like this. N4U1001A WARNING To avoid excessive safety belt slack, which reduces the effectiveness of the safety belts as a safety device, make sure that the seats are adjusted before the safety belts are fastened. If your vehicle has a sliding storage tray under the front seat, the manual seat lever looks like this. Pull up and hold the lever located under the front of the seat to unlock it. Slide the seat to where you want it and release the lever. Then try to move the seat forward or rearward to make sure the seat is locked into place. N4U1002A Manual Seats (Without Sliding Storage Tray) WARNING Never attempt to adjust the driver's seat or seatback while driving. The seat or seatback could move unexpectedly, causing loss of control. Make sure that the driver's seat and seatback are properly adjusted before you start driving. Pull up and hold the bar located under the front of the seat to unlock it. Slide the seat to where you want it and release the bar. Then try to move the seat with your body, to make sure the seat is locked into place. 1-1 SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS Driver Seat Height Adjuster Manual Lumbar Your vehicle may have manually operated lumbar support for the driver's seat. Reclining Seatbacks N4U1003A N4U1005A To adjust the height of the driver's seat cushion, turn the knobs located on the outboard side of the seat cushion. · Turn the front knob to adjust the height of the front portion of the seat cushion. · Turn the rear knob to adjust the height of the rear portion of the seat cushion. N4U1004A To adjust the front seat lumbar support, use the lever located on the outboard side of the seatback. Push the lever down to adjust the support for the lower part of the seatback. Pull the lever up to return the support to its original position. To adjust the seatback angle, lift the lever located on the outboard side of the seat and move the seatback to the desired position. Release the lever and push rearward on the seatback to make sure it is locked. Pull up on the lever without pushing on the seatback and the seatback will move to an upright position. 1-2 SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS Head Restraints Pull up the head restraint in order to adjust the position upward. L3U1009A Do not have your a seatback reclined when your vehicle is moving. 75F123 N4U1010A WARNING All seatbacks should always be in a fairly upright position when driving, or safety belt effectiveness may be reduced. Safety belts are designed to offer maximum protection when seatbacks are in the fully upright position. Head restraints are designed to help reduce the risk of neck injuries in case of an accident. Adjust the head restraint to the position which places the center of the head restraint closest to the top of your ears. If this is not possible for very tall passengers, adjust the head restraint as high as possible. Push in the release button and press downward on the head restraint in order to adjust the position downward. To remove the head restraint, pull the head restraint all the way up. Then push in the release button and lift the head restraint from the guide sleeve. Replace the head restraint and reset it in the original position before driving. The rear seat head restraints may also be adjusted. Push in the release button and move the head restraint to the desired position. WARNING · Never drive the vehicle with the head restraints removed. · Removed or improperly adjusted head restraints can result in serious head and neck injuries in case of a collision. · Do not attempt to adjust the head restraint while driving. 1-3 SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS Rear Seats Folding Rear Seat Your vehicle has rear seatbacks that can be folded down to increase cargo space. To fold down the seatback, do the following: To return the seatback to the upright position, 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 rearward firmly on the top of the seatback until it latches securely in the fully upright position. 3) For the sedan model, reconnect the center safety belt latch plate into the buckle with the black button, and make sure that the webbing is not twisted. See "Rear Center Safety Belt" later in this section. N4U1006A 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 pushing it forward fully and releasing it. 2) Push the head restraint forward carefully until it is adjusted to the desired position. 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. N4U1007A 1) For the sedan model, disconnect the center safety belt latch plate from the buckle with the black button, and allow the belt to retract. See "Rear Center Safety Belt" later in this section. 2) Push the rear head restraints as far down as possible. 3) Press down on the release button located on top of the rear seatback. 4) Fold the rear seatback forward and down. 1-4 SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS WARNING A safety belt that is improperly routed, not properly attached, or twisted won't provide the protection needed in a crash. The person wearing 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. Safety Belts Safety Belt: They are for Everyone This section of the manual tells you how to use safety belts properly. It also tells you some things you should not do with safety belts. S4U1008A WARNING Don't let anyone ride where he or she can't wear a safety belt properly. If you are in a crash and you're not wearing a safety belt, your injuries can be much worse. You can hit things inside the vehicle or be ejected from it. You can be severely injured or killed. In the same crash, you might not be, if you are buckled up. Always fasten your safety belt, and check that your passengers' belts are fastened properly too. Your vehicle has a light that comes on as a reminder to buckle up. See "Safety Belt Reminder Light" in section 3. In most states and in all Canadian provinces, the law says to wear safety belts. Here's why: They work. You never know if you'll be in a crash. If you do have a crash, you don't know if it will be a bad one. A few crashes are mild, and some crashes can be so serious that even buckled up, a person wouldn't survive. But most crashes are in between. In many of them, people who buckle up can survive and sometimes walk away. Without belts they could have been badly hurt or killed. After more than 30 years of safety belts in vehicles, the facts are clear. In most crashes buckling up does matter ... a lot! WARNING · Do not stack luggage or other cargo higher than the front seats. · Do not allow passengers to sit on the folded seatbacks while the vehicle is in motion. · Unrestrained luggage or passengers on a folded seatback can be thrown about or ejected from the vehicle in a sudden stop or accident. Serious injuries or death can result. WARNING It is extremely dangerous to ride in a cargo area, inside or outside of a vehicle. In a collision, people riding in these areas are more likely to be severely injured or killed. Do not allow people to ride in any area of your vehicle that is not equipped with seats and safety belts. Be sure everyone in your vehicle is in a seat and is using a safety belt properly. 1-5 SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS Why Safety Belts Work When you ride in or on anything, you go as fast as it goes. L3U1017A L3U1019A L3U1015A Get it up to speed. Then stop the vehicle. The rider doesn't stop. or the instrument panel... Take the simplest vehicle. Suppose it's just a seat on wheels. L3U1020A L3U1018A or the safety belts! L3U1016A The person keeps going until stopped by something. In a real vehicle, it could be the windshield... Put someone on it. With safety belts, you slow down as the vehicle does. You get more time to stop. You stop over more distance, and your 1-6 SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS strongest bones take the forces. That's why safety belts make such good sense. 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 control, 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. 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. Questions and Answers About Safety Belts Question: 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. How to Wear Safety Belts Properly This 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. L3U1021A Driver Position This section describes the driver's restraint system. 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 1-7 SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if you ever had to. Shoulder Belt Height Adjuster Before you begin to drive, move the shoulder belt adjuster to the height that is right for you. Adjust the height so that the shoulder portion of the belt is centered on your shoulder. The belt should be away from your face and neck, but not falling off your shoulder. L3U1023A L3U1022A 5) To make the lap part tight, pull down on the buckle end of the belt as you pull up on the shoulder belt. 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 abdomen. 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 crash, or if you pull the belt very quickly out of the retractor. S4U1009A To move it down, squeeze the release button and move the height adjuster to the desired position. You can move the adjuster up just by pushing up on the shoulder belt guide. After you move the adjuster to where you want it, try to move it down without squeezing the release button to make sure it has locked into position. 1-8 SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS Question: What's wrong with this? Question: What's wrong with this? WARNING Be sure that the shoulder belt is positioned on the center of the outside shoulder. The belt should be away from your face and neck, but not falling off your shoulder. Misadjustment of the belt could reduce the effectiveness of the safety belt in a crash. L3U1025A L3U1026A Answer: The shoulder belt is too loose. It won't give nearly as much protection this way. Answer: The belt is buckled in the wrong place. WARNING WARNING You can be severely hurt if your shoulder belt is too loose. In a crash, you would move forward too much, which could increase injury. The shoulder belt should fit against your body. You can be severely injured if your belt is buckled in the wrong place. In a crash, the belt would slide up over your abdomen. The belt forces would be at the waist, not at the pelvic bones. This could cause serious internal injuries. Always buckle your belt into the buckle nearest you. 1-9 SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS Question: What's wrong with this? Question: What's wrong with this? L3U1029A L3U1027A L3U1028A Answer: The shoulder belt is worn under the arm. It should be worn over the shoulder at all times. Answer: The belt is twisted across the body. To unlatch the belt, just push the button on the buckle. The belt should go back out of the way. Before you close the door, be sure the belt is out of the way. If you slam the door on it, you can damage both the belt and your vehicle. WARNING WARNING You can be severely injured if you wear the shoulder belt under your arm. In a crash, your body would move too far forward, which would increase the chance of head and neck injury. Also, the belt would apply too much force to the ribs, which aren't as strong as shoulder bones. You could also severely injure internal organs like your liver or spleen. You can be severely injured by a twisted belt. In a crash, you wouldn't have the full width of the belt to spread impact forces. If a belt is twisted, make it straight so it can work properly, or ask your SUZUKI dealer to fix it. Safety Belt Use During Pregnancy Safety belts work for everyone, including pregnant women. Like all occupants, they are more likely to be severely injured if they don't wear safety belts. 1-10 SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS Right Front Passenger Position To learn how to wear the right front passenger's safety belt properly, see "Driver Position" in this section. The right front passenger's safety belt works the same way as the driver's safety belt. Lap-Shoulder Belt All rear seating positions have lap-shoulder belts. Here's how to wear one properly. Rear Seat Passengers It's very important for rear seat passengers to buckle up! Accident statistics show that unbelted people in the rear seat are hurt more often in crashes than those who are wearing safety belts. Rear passengers who aren't safety belted can be thrown out of the vehicle in a crash. And they can strike others in the vehicle who are wearing safety belts. L3U1032A L3U1030A A pregnant woman should wear a lapshoulder belt, and the lap portion should be worn as low as possible, below the rounding, throughout the pregnancy. The best way to protect the fetus is to protect the mother. When a safety belt is worn properly, it's more likely that the fetus won't be hurt in a crash. For pregnant women, as for anyone, the key to making safety belts effective is wearing them properly. L3U1031A 1) 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. 2) Push the latch plate into the buckle until it clicks. Be sure you are using the correct buckle and that the latch plate clicks when inserted into the buckle. 1-11 SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS L3U1033A L3U1034A L3U1023A 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 abdomen. 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. 1-12 SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS Rear Center Seat Belt WARNING You can be severely hurt if your shoulder belt is too loose. In a crash, you would move forward too much, which could increase injury. The shoulder belt should fit against your body. The rear center safety belt system includes a retractable safety belt, a detachable connector, and a buckle with red release button. The rear center safety belt buckles are designed to prevent insertion of the wrong latch plate. When the rear seatback is in an upright position, keep the detachable connector latched. Only unlatch the connector when you fold down the rear seat back. (B) S5U1003A (A) To unfasten the belt, push the red button on the buckle (B) and allow the belt to retract. When folding down the rear seat back, insert a narrow-ended tool into the groove (1) located on the connector and allow the belt to retract. After returning the rear seatback to the upright position, push the connector latch plate (1) at the end of the safety belt strap into the connector and make sure the webbing is not twisted. (B) (1) L3U1067A To unlatch the belt, just push the button on the buckle. S8U1001A Before fastening the rear center belt, push the connector latch plate (1) at the end of the safety belt strap into the connector and make sure the webbing is not twisted. To fasten the belt, sit up straight and well back in the seat, pull the latch plate (A) across your body and press it into the buckle (B) until you hear a "click". 1-13 SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS Safety Belt Pretensioner System EXAMPLE pretensioners. For precautions and general information including servicing the pretensioner system, refer to the "Supplemental Restraint System (air bags)" section in addition to this "Safety Belt Pretensioner System" section, and follow all those precautions. The pretensioner is located in each front safety belt retractor. The pretensioner tightens the safety belt so the belt fits the occupant's body more snugly in the event of a frontal crash. The retractors will remain locked after the pretensioners are activated. 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. The driver and all passengers must be properly restrained by wearing safety belts at all times, whether or not a pretensioner is equipped at their seating position, to minimize the risk of severe injury or death in the event of a crash. Sit fully back in the seat; sit up straight; do not lean forward or sideways. Adjust the belt so the lap portion of the belt is worn low across the pelvis, not across the waist. Please refer to the "Front Seats" section and the instructions and precautions about the safety belts in this "Safety Belts" section for details on proper seat and safety belt adjustments. Please note that the pretensioners will activate only in severe frontal collisions. They are not designed to activate in rear 85Z018 52D011 WARNING To minimize risk of severe injury or death in the event of a crash, always wear the rear center safety belt with both latches buckled. WARNING This section of the owner's manual describes your vehicle's SAFETY BELT PRETENSIONER SYSTEM. Please read and follow ALL these instructions carefully to minimize your risk of severe injury or death. Your vehicle is equipped with a safety belt pretensioner system at the front seating positions. You can use the pretensioner safety belts in the same manner as ordinary safety belts. The safety belt pretensioner system is activated based on crash severity. The crash sensors and the electronic controller of the air bag system also control the safety belt 1-14 SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS impacts, side impacts, rollovers or minor frontal collisions. The pretensioners can be activated only once. If the pretensioners are activated, have the pretensioner system serviced by an authorized SUZUKI dealer as soon as possible. If the air bag readiness light on the instrument 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 system components or wiring must be performed only by an authorized SUZUKI dealer who is specially trained. Improper service could result in unintended activation of pretensioners or could render the pretensioners inoperative. Either of these two conditions may result in personal injury. To prevent damage or unintended activation of the pretensioners, be sure the battery is disconnected and the ignition switch has been in the "LOCK" position for at least 60 seconds before performing any electrical 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, ask your SUZUKI dealer, body repair shop or scrap yard for assistance. SUZUKI 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 center of the body could increase the risk of abdominal injury in the event of an accident, and could cause the shoulder belt to be positioned incorrectly. · Make sure to use the correct buckle corresponding 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 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 available 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), your 1-15 SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS WARNING Failure to follow these instructions may increase the risk of injury in a crash. · Only use an extender for the person, 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. Child Restraints Older Children 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. L3U1036A Older 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 additional 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. L3U1037A 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. 1-16 SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS Question: What if a child is wearing a lap-shoulder belt, but the child is so small that the shoulder belt is very close to the child's face or neck? Answer: If the child is sitting in a seat next to a window, move the child toward the center of the vehicle. If the child is sitting in the center rear seat passenger position, move the child toward the safety belt buckle. In either case, be sure that the shoulder belt still is on the child's shoulder, so that in a crash the child's upper body would have the restraint that belts provide. If the child is so small that the shoulder belt is still very close to the child's face or neck, you might want to place the child in a seat that has a lap belt, if your vehicle has one. WARNING Never do this. Here a child is sitting in a seat that has a lap-shoulder belt, but the shoulder part is behind the child. If the child wears the belt in this way, in a crash the child might slide under the belt. The belt's force would then be applied right on the child's abdomen. That could cause serious or fatal injuries. Wherever the child sits, the lap portion of the belt should be worn low and snug on the hips, just touching the child's thighs. This applies belt force to the child's pelvic bones in a crash. choice. Instead, they need to use a child restraint. L3U1039A 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 possible 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 240lb. (110 kg) force on a person's arms. A baby should be secured in an appropriate restraint. Infants and Young Children Everyone in a vehicle needs protection! This includes infants and all other children. Neither the distance traveled nor the age and size of the traveler changes the need to use safety restraints. In fact, the law in every state in the United States and in every Canadian province says children up to some age must be restrained while in a vehicle. L3U1038A Every time infants and young children ride in vehicles, they should have the protection provided by appropriate restraints. Young children should not use the vehicle's adult safety belts alone, unless there is no other 1-17 SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS 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 consideration 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 particular child restraint. In addition, there are many kinds of restraints available for children with special needs. WARNING Newborn infants need complete support, 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 strongest part of an infant's body, the back and shoulders. Infants always should be secured in appropriate infant restraints. L3U1040B 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 children and infants. Neither the vehicle's safety belt system nor its air bag system is designed for them. Young children and infants need the protection that a child restraint system can provide. 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 vehicle'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. 1-18 SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS Child Restraint Systems (D) (B) (A) L3U1041A L3U1042A (C) (E) L3U1043A An 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 surface. 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. A forward-facing child seat (C­E) provides restraint for the child's body with the harness and also sometimes with surfaces such as T-shaped or shelf-like shields. 1-19 SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS injury, the child also has to be secured within the restraint. The vehicle's belt system 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, shelflike 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 securing 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 child restraint instructions are important, so if they are not available, obtain a replacement copy from the manufacturer. Where to Put the Restraint All child restraint systems are designed to be secured in vehicle seats by either safety belts (lap belts or the lap portion of lapshoulder 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, children 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: (F) (G) L3U1044A A booster seat (F­G) 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: work? How do child restraints 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) 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 permanent 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 of 1-20 SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS 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 circumstance, 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-facing child restraint in the right front seat, always move the front passenger seat as far back as it will go. It is better to secure the child restraint in a rear seat. 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 vehicle. Be sure to properly secure any child restraint in your vehicle ­ even when no child is in it. WARNING Children could be endangered in a crash if their child restraints are not properly secured in the vehicle. When installing a child restraint system, be sure to follow the instructions below. Be sure to secure the child in the restraint system according to the manufacturer's instructions. Top Strap Some 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 without 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. S4U1010A In Canada, the law requires that forwardfacing 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 vehicle as the seating position where the child restraint will be placed. 1-21 SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS Sedan Wagon 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 happens. To help prevent injury to people and damage to your vehicle, attach only one child restraint per bracket. 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 instructions say. N4U1008A N5U1001A You will find the anchors on your vehicle behind the rear seat on the filler panel. Pull the front part of the plastic cover upward to access the top strap anchors. Top strap anchors are located at both sides of the floor mat in the rear cargo area behind the rear seat and at the center of the upper rear roof. Top Strap Anchor Location Top strap anchors are already installed in your vehicle for the three rear seating positions. 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. Securing a Child Restraint with Top Strap Install 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 upward to access the top strap anchors. For the Wagon model, open the plastic cover to access the center top strap anchor. Side top strap anchors are 1-22 SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS located at both sides of the luggage compartment floor. 4) Hook the top strap to the anchor bracket and tighten the top strap according to the instructions provided by the child restraint system manufacturer. Be sure to attach the top strap to the corresponding anchor located directly behind the child restraint. 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 happens. To help prevent injury to people and damage to your vehicle, attach only one child restraint per bracket. N5U1003A N4U1009A 5) When routing the top strap, be sure to pass it between the head restraint and the rear seatback as shown. (Refer to "Head Restraints" in this 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. The disks are located near the base of the two rear outside seating positions. Canada only This symbol indicates the presence of a lower connector system on a child restraint system or booster cushion. Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for Children (LATCH System) Your vehicle has a LATCH system. You'll find anchors (A) in the rear outside seat positions. To assist you in locating the lower anchors, each seating position with the LATCH system has a circular disk on the seatback at each lower anchor position. 86Z004 1-23 SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS Securing a Child Restraint Designed for the LATCH System (Rear) 1) Find the anchors for the seating position you want to use, where the bottom of the seatback meets the back of the seat cushion. 2) Put the child restraint on the seat. 3) Attach the anchor points on the child restraint to the anchors in the vehicle. The child restraint instructions will show you how. 4) If the child restraint is forward-facing, attach the top strap to the top strap anchor. See "Top Strap" in this section. Tighten the top strap according to the child restraint instructions. 5) Push and pull the child restraint in different directions to be sure it is secure. To remove the child restraint, simply unhook the top strap from the top tether anchor and then disconnect the lower anchor points. L3U1047A A C B L3U1050A B A With this type of child restraint, use the LATCH system instead of the vehicle's safety belts to secure the child restraint. WARNING L3U1049A In order to use the system, you need either a forward-facing child restraint that has attaching points (B) at its base and a top tether anchor (C), or a rear-facing child restraint that has attaching points (B), as shown here. If a LATCH-type child restraint isn't attached to its anchorage points, the restraint won't be able to protect the child correctly. In a crash, the child could be severely injured or killed. Make sure that a LATCH-type child restraint is properly installed using the anchorage points. If your child restraint is not designed for the LATCH system, use the vehicle's safety belts to secure the restraint, following the instructions that came with that restraint, and also the instructions in this manual. 1-24 SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS Securing a Child Restraint in a Rear Seat Position L3U1031A If your child restraint is equipped with the LATCH system, see "Lower Anchorages and Top Tethers for Children (LATCH System)" in this section. See "Top Strap" in this section if the child restraint has one. If your child restraint does not have the LATCH system, you will be using the lapshoulder belt to secure the child restraint in this position. Be sure to follow the instructions that came with the child restraint. Secure the child in the child restraint when and as the instructions say. 1) Put the restraint on the seat. 2) Pick up the latch plate, and run the lap and shoulder portions of the vehicle's safety belt through or around the restraint. The child restraint instructions will show you how. L3U1052A L3U1054A 3) Buckle the belt. Make sure the release button is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if you ever had to. 5) To tighten the belt, feed the shoulder belt back into the retractor while you push down on the child restraint. If you're using a forward-facing child restraint, you may find it helpful to use your knee to push down on the child restraint as you tighten the belt. 6) Push and pull the child restraint in different directions to be sure it is secure. To remove the child restraint, just unbuckle the vehicle's safety belt and let it go back all the way. The safety belt will move freely again and be ready to work for an adult or larger child passenger. L3U1053A 4) Pull the rest of the shoulder belt all the way out of the retractor to set the lock. 1-25 SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS Securing a Child Restraint in the Right Front Seat Position 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. Even though the passenger sensing system is designed to turn off the passenger's frontal air bag under certain conditions, no system is failsafe, and no one can guarantee that an air bag will not deploy under some unusual circumstance, even though it is turned off. Always secure a rearfacing child restraint in the rear seat, even if the air bag is off. If you need to secure a forward-facing child restraint in the right front seat position, move the seat as far back as it will go before securing the forward-facing child restraint. See "Manual Seats" in this section. If you need to secure a forward-facing child restraint in the right front seat, you will be using the lap-shoulder belt to secure the child restraint, even if the child restraint is equipped with the LATCH system. Be sure to follow the instructions that came with the child restraint. Secure the child in the child restraint when and as the instructions say. 1) Your vehicle has a right front passenger's frontal air bag. See "Passenger Sensing System" in this section. Always secure a rear-facing child restraint in the rear seat, even if the air bag is off. If your child restraint is forward-facing, move the seat as far back as it will go before securing the child restraint in this seat. See "Manual Seats" in this section. When the passenger sensing system has turned off the right front passenger's frontal and side air bag, the passenger air bag off indicator should light. See "Passenger Sensing System" in this section. A thick layer of additional material such as a blanket, or aftermarket equipment such as seat covers heaters or massagers, located between the seat cushion and the child restraint or small occupant, can affect how the passenger sensing system operates. Remove any additional material from the seat cushion before installing/securing the child restraint or small occupant. 2) Put the child restraint on the seat. 3) Pick up the latch plate, and run the lap and shoulder portions of the vehicle's safety belt through or around the restraint. The child restraint instructions will show you how. L3U1068A Your vehicle has a right front passenger air bag. A rear seat is a safer place to secure a child restraint. See "Where to Put the Restraint" in this section. In addition, your vehicle has a passenger sensing system. The passenger sensing system is designed to turn off the right front passenger's frontal and side air bag when an infant or a small child is detected. See "Passenger Sensing System" and "Manual Seats" in this section for more information on this including important safety information. 1-26 SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS Supplemental Restraint System (air bags) This section explains the frontal and side impact air bag systems. WARNING This section of the owner's manual describes the protection provided by your vehicle's SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (advanced air bags). Please read and follow ALL these instructions carefully to minimize your risk of severe injury or death in the event of a collision. Your vehicle has an advanced frontal air bag for the driver and an advanced frontal air bag for the right front passenger. Your vehicle also has side impact air bags for the driver and right front passenger. Your vehicle is equipped with a Supplemental Restraint System consisting of the following components in addition to a lapshoulder belt at each front seating position. L3U1069A L3U1061A L3U1060A 4) Buckle the belt. Make sure the release button is positioned so you would be able to unbuckle the safety belt quickly if you ever had to. 6) To tighten the belt, feed the shoulder belt back into the retractor while you push down on the child restraint. You may find it helpful to use your knee to push down on the child restraint as you tighten the belt. 7) Push and pull the child restraint in different directions to be sure it is secure. 8) If the air bag is off, the passenger air bag off indicator located in the clock display in the center of the instrument panel will be lit. To remove the child restraint, just unbuckle the vehicle's safety belt and let it go back all the way. The safety belt will move freely again and be ready to work for an adult or larger child passenger. L3U1059A 5) Pull the rest of the shoulder belt all the way out of the retractor to set the lock. 1-27 SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Driver's air bag Front passenger's air bag Safety belt pretensioner Air bag controller (SDM) Occupant classification module "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" indicator Air bag readiness light Early crash sensor Side air bag Side air bag sensor 8 1 2 6 7 9 3 10 4 9 10 3 85Z008 5 S4U1014A The words AIR BAG will appear on the side of the front seatback closest to the door, to indicate the presence of a side impact air bag. Frontal air bags are designed to help reduce the risk of injury from the force of a frontal crash. Side impact air bags are designed to help reduce the risk of injury from the force of a side impact crash. But 1-28 SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS these air bags must inflate very quickly to do their job. Here are the most important things to know about the air bag systems. WARNING (Continued) The side impact air bags are designed to inflate only in moderate to severe crashes where something hits the side of your vehicle. They aren't designed to inflate in frontal, in rollover or in rear crashes. Everyone in your vehicle should wear a safety belt properly ­ whether or not there's an air bag for that person. WARNING Do not attach any objects to, or place any objects over, the steering wheel or dashboard. Do not place any objects between the air bag and the driver or front passenger. These objects may interfere with air bag operation or may be propelled by the air bag in the event of a crash. Either of these conditions may cause severe injury. WARNING You can be severely injured or killed in a crash if you aren't wearing your safety belt ­ even if you have air bags. Wearing your safety belt during a crash helps reduce your chance of hitting things inside the vehicle or being ejected from it. Air bags are designed to work with safety belts but don't replace them. Frontal air bags for the driver and right front passenger are designed to deploy only in moderate to severe frontal and near frontal crashes. They aren't designed to inflate at all in rollover, rear or low-speed frontal crashes, or in many side crashes. And, for some unrestrained occupants, frontal air bags may provide less protection in frontal crashes than more forceful air bags have provided in the past. (Continued) WARNING Air bags inflate with great force, faster than the blink of an eye. If you're too close to an inflating air bag, as you would be if you were leaning forward, it could severely injure you. Safety belts help keep you in position for air bag inflation before and during a crash. Always wear your safety belt, even with frontal air bags. The driver should sit as far back as possible while still maintaining control of the vehicle. Front occupants should not lean on or sleep against the door. WARNING Anyone who is 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 the best protection for adults, but not for young children and infants. Neither the vehicle's safety belt system nor its air bag system is designed for them. Young children and infants need the protection that a child restraint system can provide. Always secure children properly in your vehicle. To read how, see the part of this manual called "Older Children" or "Infants and Young Children." 1-29 SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS Where Are the Air Bags? S4U1015A There is an air bag readiness light on the instrument panel, which shows the air bag symbol. The air bag readiness system checks the air bag electrical system for malfunctions. The light tells you if there is an electrical problem. See "Air Bag Readiness Light" in section 3 for more information. N6U1001A L3U1063A The driver's frontal air bag is in the middle of the steering wheel. The side impact air bag is in the side of the front seatback closest to the door. WARNING Don't put anything between an occupant and an air bag, and don't attach or put anything on the steering wheel hub or on or near any other air bag covering. If something is between an occupant and an air bag, the bag might not inflate properly or it might force the object into that person causing severe injury or even death. The path of an inflating air bag must be kept clear. Don't use seat covers on the front seats. L3U1064A The right front passenger's frontal air bag is in the instrument panel on the passenger's side. 1-30 SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS Passenger Sensing System Your vehicle has a passenger sensing system for the right front passenger position. The passenger air bag off indicator will be visible when you turn your ignition key to ON or START. The words "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" will be visible in the clock display located in the center of the instrument panel during the system check. When the system check is complete, the words "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" should go out unless the passenger sensing system has turned off the front passenger's frontal and side air bags. See "Passenger Air bag Off Indicator" in Section 3. 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. 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 circumstance, even though it is turned off. Always secure a rear-facing child restraint in the rear seat, even if the air bags are off. The passenger sensing system is designed to turn off the right front passenger's frontal air bag and side air bag when the weight on the front seat is 25.6 kg (56.4 lbs) or less. The air bag should be turned off in the following situations. · the right front passenger seat is unoccupied. · the system determines that an infant or a small child is present in the right front passenger seat. · a right front passenger takes his/her weight off of the seat for a period of time. · there is a critical problem with the air bag system or the passenger sensing system. When the passenger sensing system has turned off the passenger's frontal air bag and side air bag, the passenger air bag off indicator in the clock display will light and stay lit to remind you that the air bags are off. See "Passenger Air Bag Off Indicator" in Section 3. Accident statistics show that children are safer if they are restrained in the rear rather than the front seat. We recommend that child restraints be secured in the rear seat. For some children who have outgrown child restraints and for very small adults, the passenger sensing system may or may not turn off the right front passenger's frontal air bag and side air bag, depending upon the person's seating posture and body build. Everyone in your vehicle who has outgrown child restraints should wear a safety belt properly ­ whether or not there is an air bag for that person. If a person of adult-size is sitting in the right front passenger's seat, but the passenger air bag off indicator is lit, it could be because that person is not sitting properly in the seat. If this happens, do one of the following: · Turn the vehicle off and ask the person to place the seatback in the fully upright PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF N5U1002AS The passenger sensing system will turn off the right front passenger's frontal air bag and side air bag under certain conditions. The driver's frontal air bag and side air bag are not part of the passenger sensing system. The passenger sensing system works with sensors that are part of the right front passenger's seat cushion. The sensors are designed to detect the presence of a properly-seated occupant and determine if the passenger's frontal air bag and side air bag should be enabled (may inflate) or not. 1-31 SEATS AND RESTRAINT SYSTEMS position, then sit upright in the seat, centered on the seat cushion, with the person's legs comfortably extended. Restart the vehicle and have the person remain in this position for about three minutes. This will allow the system to detect that person and then enable the passenger's air bag. · With the vehicle parked, ask the right front passenger to get out of the seat for more than three seconds, place the seatback in the fully upright position, and then sit upright in the seat, centered on the seat cushion, with the person's legs comfortably extended. Have the person remain in this position for about three minutes. This will allow the system to detect that person and then enable the passenger's air bag. When Should an Air Bag Inflate? WARNING A thick layer of additional material such as a blanket, or aftermarket equipment such as seat covers, seat heaters and seat massagers can affect how well the passenger sensing system operates. Remove any additional material from the seat cushion before allowing a passenger to use the front passenger's seat, and do not use aftermarket equipment such as seat covers. The driver's and right front passenger's frontal air bags are designed to inflate in moderate to severe frontal or near-frontal crashes. But they are designed to inflate only if the impact speed is above the system's designed "threshold level." If the front of your vehicle goes straight into a wall that doesn't move or deform, the threshold level is about 9 to 14 mph (14.5 to 23 km/h). The threshold level can vary, however, with specific vehicle design, so that it can be somewhat above or below this range. If your vehicle strikes something that will move or deform, such as a parked car, the threshold level will be higher. The driver's and right front passenger's frontal air bags are not designed to inflate in rollovers, rear impacts, or in many side impacts because inflation would not help the occupant. A side impact air bag is designed to inflate in moderate to severe side crashes involving the front door. A side impact air bag will inflate if the crash severity is above the system's designed "threshold level". The threshold level can vary with specific vehicle design. A side impact air bag is not designed to inflate in frontal or near-frontal impacts, rollovers or rear impacts, because inflation would not help the occupant. In any particular crash, no one can say whether an air bag should have inflated simply because of the damage to a vehicle Adding Equipment to Your Air BagEquipped Vehicle Question: Because I have a disability, I have to get my vehicle modified. How can I find out whether this will affect my advanced air bag system? Answer: Changing or moving any parts of the front seats, safety belts, the air bag sensing and diagnostic module can affect the operation of the advanced air bag system. If it is necessary to modify the advanced air bag system to accommodate a person with disabilities, owners in the continental United States can call American Suzuki toll-free at 1-800-934-0934, or write to: American Suzuki Motor Corporation Automotive Customer Relations 3251 East Imperial Highway Brea, CA 92821-6795