Get Operating Your Vehicle -> Using transaxle Guide for Suzuki Baleno 4 Door First Generation (1995-2002)

3-18

OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE

68PM2-01E

Using transaxle

Manual transaxle

79MH0303

Starting off

To start off, depress the clutch pedal all the

way to the floor and shift into 1st gear.

After releasing the parking brake, gradually

release the clutch. When you hear a

change in the engine’s sound, slowly press

the accelerator while continuing to gradu-

ally release the clutch.

Shifting

All forward gears are synchronized and

provide quiet and easy shifting. Always

depress the clutch pedal all the way to the

floor before shifting gears. Keep the

engine speed from rising into the red zone

of the tachometer.

Downshifting maximum allowable

speeds

For K10C engine models

For K12C engine models

*NOTE:

You may not accelerate to the maximum

allowable speed because of the driving sit-

uation and/or the vehicle condition.

EXAMPLE

Downshifting km/h (mph)

2nd to 1st 45 (28)

3rd to 2nd 85 (53)

4th to 3rd 135 (84)

5th to 4th 190 (118)*

Downshifting km/h (mph)

2nd to 1st 45 (28)

3rd to 2nd 85 (53)

4th to 3rd 130 (81)

5th to 4th 180 (112)*

NOTICE

Do not downshift to a lower gear at

the speed faster than the maximum

allowable speeds for the next lower

speed, or severe engine damage can

result.

3-19

OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE

68PM2-01E

6-Speed automatic transaxle

Gearshift lever

71LS10302

The gearshift lever is designed so that it

cannot be shifted out of “P” position unless

the ignition switch is in “ON” position or the

ignition mode is “ON” and the brake pedal

is depressed.

Use the gearshift lever positions as fol-

lows:

P (Park)

Use this position to lock the transaxle

when the vehicle is parked or when start-

ing the engine. Shift into Park only when

the vehicle is completely stationary.

R (Reverse)

Use this position to reverse the vehicle

from stop. Make sure that vehicle is com-

pletely stationary before shifting into

Reverse.

N (Neutral)

Use this position for starting the engine if

the engine stalls and you need to restart it

while the vehicle is moving. You may also

shift into Neutral and depress the brake

pedal to hold the vehicle stationary during

idling.

D (Drive)

Use this position for all normal driving.

With the gearshift lever in “D” range you

can get an automatic downshift by press-

ing the accelerator pedal. The higher the

vehicle speed is, the more you need to

press the accelerator pedal to get a down-

shift.

WARNING

• Reduce your speed and downshift

to a lower gear before going down

a long or steep hill. A lower gear

will allow the engine to provide

braking. Avoid riding the brakes or

they may overheat, resulting in

brake failure.

• When driving on slippery roads,

slow down before downshifting.

Excessive and/or sudden changes

in engine speed may cause loss of

traction, which could cause you to

lose control.

NOTICE

Check that the vehicle is completely

stationary before you shift into

reverse.

NOTICE

• To help avoid clutch damage, do

not use the clutch pedal as a foot-

rest while driving or use the clutch

to keep the vehicle stationary on a

slope. Depress the clutch fully

when shifting.

• When shifting or starting off, do not

race the engine. Racing the engine

can shorten engine life and cause

negative effect to smooth shifting.

3-20

OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE

68PM2-01E

M (manual mode)

Use this position for driving in the manual

mode.

Refer to “Manual mode” later in this section

for details on how to use the manual mode.

The gearshift lever has a lock mechanism

to help prevent accidental shifting. Shift the

gearshift lever as follows:

54P010311

(1) knob button

WARNING

Always depress the brake pedal

before shifting from “P” (Park) (or

“N” (Neutral) if the vehicle is station-

ary) to a forward or reverse gear, to

help prevent the vehicle from moving

unexpectedly when you shift.

Shift with the knob button

pushed in and the brake pedal

depressed.

Shift with the knob button

pushed in.

Shift without the knob button

pushed in.

(1)

EXAMPLE

NOTICE

• Do not shift the gearshift lever into

“R” while moving forward, or the

transaxle may be damaged. If you

shift into “R” when the vehicle

speed is over 11 km/h (7 mph), the

transaxle will not shift into reverse.

• Be sure to take the following pre-

cautions to help avoid damage to

the automatic transaxle:

– Make sure that the vehicle is

completely stationary before

shifting into “P” or “R”.

– Do not shift from “P” or “N” to

“R”, “D” or “M” when the engine

is running above idle speed.

– Do not rev the engine with the

transaxle in a drive position (“R”,

“D” or “M”) and the front wheels

not moving.

– Do not use the accelerator to

hold the vehicle on a hill. Use the

vehicle’s brakes.

3-21

OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE

68PM2-01E

NOTE:

• Always shift the gearshift lever without

pushing in the knob button except when

you shift from “P” to “R”, from “D” to “M”,

from “N” to “R” or from “R” to “P”. If you

always push in the knob button when

shifting the gearshift lever, you could

shift into “P”, “R” or “M” by mistake.

• If driver’s or passenger’s knee hits the

gearshift lever while driving, the lever

could move and the gear could be

changed unexpectedly.

Manual mode

The automatic transaxle can shift gears

automatically. When using the manual

mode, you can shift gears in the same

manner as conventional manual transaxle.

To use the manual mode, shift the gearshift

lever from “D” to “M”.

71LS10304

68PM00305

(1) Manual mode indicator

(2) Gear position

The information display shows the manual

mode indicator and the current gear posi-

tion.

NOTE:

• The indicated gear position on the infor-

mation display when you shift from “D” to

“M” is the gear position that was

selected automatically when the gear-

shift lever was in “D”.

• You can change to the manual mode

temporarily by pulling the shift paddle on

the steering wheel toward you when the

gearshift lever is in “D”.

Shifting in the manual mode

You can shift gears from 1st to 6th depend-

ing on driving speed.

NOTE:

• When the engine is revved, the gear is

shifted up automatically to prevent dam-

age to the engine and the transaxle.

• When the driving speed becomes slow,

the gear shifts down automatically, and

when the vehicle stops, the gear position

will be in 1st gear without shifting the

gearshift lever.

• If you depress the accelerator pedal a

certain amount, the gear shifts down

automatically even if the gearshift lever

is in the manual mode.

(1)(1)(2) (2)

EXAMPLE

3-22

OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE

68PM2-01E

NOTE:

When you change gear, sometimes the

transaxle may not shift to the desired gear

but a buzzer sounds instead. This is to

maintain good drivability and to protect the

transaxle.

Using the shift paddle

68PM00306

To shift up, pull “+” side shift paddle,

located on right side of the steering wheel,

toward you. When you release your finger

from the switch, the switch will return to the

original position.

To shift down, pull “–” side shift paddle,

located on left side of the steering wheel,

toward you. When you release your finger

from the switch, the switch will return to the

original position.

NOTE:

• To shift gears continuously, release your

finger from the shift paddle, then pull the

shift paddle again. You cannot shift

gears continuously while holding the

shift paddle toward you.

• When you pull the both “+” and “–” shift

paddle simultaneously, the gear may not

shift.

Canceling the manual mode

To cancel the manual mode, shift the gear-

shift lever from “M” to “D”.

Temporary manual mode

Pull the shift paddle toward you when driv-

ing with the gearshift lever in “D”. The

information display shows the manual

mode indicator and the current gear posi-

tion.

68PM00305

(1) Manual mode indicator

(2) Gear position

The temporary manual mode will be can-

celed automatically in the following situa-

tions.

• When you press and hold the accelera-

tor pedal for a certain period of time with-

out shifting gears.

• When driving speed becomes slow.

(1)(1)(2) (2)

EXAMPLE

3-23

OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE

68PM2-01E

If you cannot shift automatic tran-

saxle gearshift lever out of “P”

(PARK)

Left hand drive vehicle

71LS10310

The automatic transaxle vehicles have an

electrically operated park-lock feature. If

the vehicle’s battery is discharged, or there

is some other electrical failure, the auto-

matic transaxle cannot be shifted out of

Park in the normal way. Jump starting may

correct the condition. If not, follow the pro-

cedure described below. This procedure

will permit shifting the transaxle out of

Park.

1) Be sure the parking brake is firmly

applied.

2) If the engine is running, stop the

engine.

3) Make sure the key is in “ON” or “ACC”

position, or the ignition mode is “ON” or

“ACC”.

4) Remove the cover (1) over the button.

5) With the release button (1) pushed by

the key or the flat end rod, push the

knob button (2) and shift the gearshift

lever to the desired position.

This procedure is for emergency use only.

If repeated use of this procedure is neces-

sary, or the procedure does not work as

described, take the vehicle to your dealer

for repair.

Right hand drive vehicle

71LS10311

The automatic transaxle vehicles have an

electrically operated parklock feature. If the

vehicle’s battery is discharged, or there is

some other electrical failure, the automatic

transaxle cannot be shifted out of Park in

the normal way. Jump starting may correct

the condition. If not, follow the procedure

described below. This procedure will per-

mit shifting the transaxle out of Park.

(1)

(2)

(1)

(2)

3-24

OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE

68PM2-01E

1) Be sure the parking brake is firmly

applied.

2) If the engine is running, stop the

engine.

3) Make sure the key is in “ON” or “ACC”

position, or the ignition mode is “ON” or

“ACC”.

4) With the release button (1) pushed,

push the knob button (2) and shift the

gearshift lever to the desired position.

This procedure is for emergency use only.

If repeated use of this procedure is neces-

sary, or the procedure does not work as

described, take the vehicle to your dealer

for repair.

Continuously Variable Transaxle

(CVT)

68PM00307

(1) S (sport) mode switch

68PM00308

(2) Sport mode indicator

S (sport) mode switch

The sport mode switch (1) is used to turn

on and off the sport mode.

To turn on the sport mode, push in the

switch and sport mode indicator (2) will

appear on the information display. To turn

off the sport mode, push in the switch

again and sport mode indicator will go off.

When the engine restarts, the sport mode

is turned to the off automatically.

The sport mode is suitable for the following

driving conditions:

• Driving on hilly, winding roads

– You can drive more smoothly with less

frequent gear changing

• Going down a steep hill

– Some engine braking is provided

(1)

EXAMPLE

(2) (2)

EXAMPLE

3-25

OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE

68PM2-01E

Gearshift lever

68PM00309

(1) knob button

The gearshift lever is designed so that it

cannot be shifted out of “P” position unless

the ignition switch is in “ON” position or the

ignition mode is “ON” and the brake pedal

is depressed.

The gearshift lever has a lock mechanism

to help prevent accidental shifting. To shift

the gearshift lever:

NOTE:

• Always shift the gearshift lever without

pushing in the knob button (1) except

when you shift from “P” to “R”, from “D”

to “L”, from “N” to “R” or from “R” to “P”. If

you always push in the knob button (1)

when shifting the gearshift lever, you

could shift into “P”, “R” or “L” by mistake.

• If driver’s or passenger’s knee hits the

gearshift lever while driving, the lever

could move and the gear could be

changed unexpectedly.

Use the gearshift lever positions as

described below:

P (Park)

Use this position to lock the transaxle

when the vehicle is parked or when start-

ing the engine. Shift into Park only when

the vehicle is completely stationary.

R (Reverse)

Use this position to reverse the vehicle

from stop. Make sure that vehicle is com-

pletely stationary before shifting into

Reverse.

N (Neutral)

Use this position for starting the engine if

the engine stalls and you need to restart it

while the vehicle is moving. You may also

shift into Neutral and depress the brake

pedal to hold the vehicle stationary during

idling.

D (Drive)

Use this position for all normal driving.

With the gearshift lever in “D” range you

can get an automatic downshift by pressing

the accelerator pedal. The higher the vehi-

cle speed is, the more you need to press

the accelerator pedal to get a downshift.

WARNING

Always depress the brake pedal

before shifting from “P” (Park) (or

“N” (Neutral) if the vehicle is station-

ary) to a forward or reverse gear, to

help prevent the vehicle from moving

unexpectedly when you shift.

(1)

EXAMPLE

Shift with the knob button (1)

pushed in and the brake pedal

depressed.

Shift with the knob button (1)

pushed in.

Shift without the knob button (1)

pushed in.

NOTICE

Do not shift the gearshift lever into

“R” while moving forward, or the

transaxle may be damaged. If you

shift into “R” when the vehicle speed

is over 10 km/h (6 mph), the transaxle

will not shift into reverse.

3-26

OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE

68PM2-01E

L (Low)

Use this position to provide maximum

power when climbing steep hills or driving

through deep snow or mud, or to provide

maximum engine braking when going

down steep hills.

NOTE:

If you move the gearshift lever to a lower

gear while driving faster than the maximum

allowable speed for the lower gear, the

transaxle will not actually downshift until

your speed drops below the maximum

speed for the lower gear.

If you cannot shift CVT gearshift

lever out of “P” (PARK)

Left hand drive vehicle

68PM00310

Vehicles with a CVT have an electrically

operated park-lock feature. If the vehicle’s

battery is discharged, or there is some

other electrical failure, the CVT cannot be

shifted out of Park in the normal way. Jump

starting may correct the condition. If not,

follow the procedure described below. This

procedure will permit shifting the transaxle

out of Park.

1) Be sure the parking brake is firmly

applied.

2) If the engine is running, stop the

engine.

3) Make sure the key is in “ON” or “ACC”

position, or the ignition mode is “ON” or

“ACC”.

4) Remove the cover (1) over the button.

5) With the release button (1) pushed by

the key or the flat end rod, push the

knob button (2) and shift the gearshift

lever to the desired position.

This procedure is for emergency use only.

If repeated use of this procedure is neces-

sary, or the procedure does not work as

described, take the vehicle to your dealer

for repair.

NOTICE

Be sure to take the following precau-

tions to help avoid damage to the

CVT:

• Make sure that the vehicle is com-

pletely stationary before shifting

into “P” or “R”.

• Do not shift from “P” or “N” to “R”,

“D”, or “L” when the engine is run-

ning above idle speed.

• Do not rev the engine with the tran-

saxle in a drive position (“R”, “D”,

or “L”) and the front wheels not

moving.

• Do not use the accelerator to hold

the vehicle on a hill. Use the vehi-

cle’s brakes.

(2)

(1)

EXAMPLE

3-27

OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE

68PM2-01E

Right hand drive vehicle

68PM00311

Vehicles with a CVT have an electrically

operated park-lock feature. If the vehicle’s

battery is discharged, or there is some

other electrical failure, the CVT cannot be

shifted out of Park in the normal way. Jump

starting may correct the condition. If not,

follow the procedure described below. This

procedure will permit shifting the transaxle

out of Park.

1) Be sure the parking brake is firmly

applied.

2) If the engine is running, stop the

engine.

3) Make sure the key is in “ON” or “ACC”

position, or the ignition mode is “ON” or

“ACC”.

4) With the release button (1) pushed,

push the knob button (2) and shift the

gearshift lever to the desired position.

This procedure is for emergency use only.

If repeated use of this procedure is neces-

sary, or the procedure does not work as

described, take the vehicle to your dealer

for repair.

Gearshift indicator

68PH02218

(1) Gearshift indicator

In the following cases, the gearshift indica-

tor is indicated on the information display

when the ignition switch is in “ON” position

or the ignition mode is “ON”.

• For manual transaxle vehicle, when the

gearshift lever is in a position other than

“N” (Neutral).

• For automatic transaxle vehicle, when

using the manual mode.

• For vehicles equipped with the cruise

control, when the system is not in use.

(2)

(1)

EXAMPLE

Operating Your Vehicle -> Using transaxle for Your Suzuki Baleno 4 Door First Generation (1995-2002)

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