Get Driving Tips Guide for Suzuki Ignis SUV First Generation (2000-2008)

DRIVING TIPS

60G409

DRIVING TIPS

Running-in ........................................................................... 4-1

Catalytic converter .............................................................. 4-1

Improving fuel economy ..................................................... 4-2

Highway driving .................................................................. 4-3

Driving on hills .................................................................... 4-3

Driving on slippery roads ................................................... 4-4

Driving on wet roads ........................................................... 4-6

Do’s and Dont’s for safe driving......................................... 4-6

Margin for safety .................................................................. 4-9

4-1

DRIVING TIPS

68PHM4001

Running-in Catalytic converter

80G106

The purpose of the catalytic converter is to

minimize the amount of harmful pollutants

in your vehicle’s exhaust. Use of leaded

fuel in vehicles equipped with catalytic

converters is prohibited, because lead

deactivates the pollutant-reducing compo-

nents of the catalyst system.

The converter is designed to last the life of

the vehicle under normal usage and when

unleaded fuel is used. No special mainte-

nance is required on the converter. How-

ever, it is very important to keep the engine

properly tuned. Engine misfiring, which can

result from an improperly tuned engine,

may cause overheating of the catalytic

converter. This may result in permanent

heat damage to the catalytic converter and

other vehicle components.

WARNING

• WEAR YOUR SEAT BELTS AT ALL

TIMES. Even though air bags are

equipped at the front seating posi-

tions, the driver and all passengers

should be properly restrained at all

times, using the seat belts pro-

vided. Refer to “Seat belts and

child restraint systems” section for

instructions on proper use of the

seat belts.

• Never drive under the influence of

alcohol or other drugs. Alcohol and

drugs can seriously impair your

ability to drive safely, greatly

increasing the risk of injury to

yourself and others. You should

also avoid driving when you are

tired, sick, irritated or under stress.

EXAMPLE

NOTICE

The future performance and reliabil-

ity of the engine depends on the care

and restraint exercised during its

early life. It is especially important to

observe the following precautions

during the first 960 km of vehicle

operation.

• After starting, do not race the

engine. Warm it up gradually.

• Avoid prolonged vehicle operation

at a constant speed. Moving parts

will break in better if you vary your

speed.

• Start off from a stop slowly. Avoid

full throttle starts.

• Avoid hard braking, especially

during the first 320 km of driving.

• Do not drive slowly with the trans-

axle in a high gear.

• Drive the vehicle at moderate

engine speeds.

• Do not tow a trailer.

EXAMPLE

4-2

DRIVING TIPS

54G584S

Improving fuel economy

The following instructions will help you

improve fuel economy.

Avoid excessive idling

If you are to wait for more than a minute

while you are parked, stop the engine and

start it again later. When warming up a

cold engine, do not allow the engine to idle

or apply full throttle until the engine has

reached operating temperature. Allow the

engine to warm up by driving.

Avoid sudden acceleration

Sudden acceleration starting from rest or

while driving will consume fuel unneces-

sarily and shorten engine life. Start off

slowly.

Avoid unnecessary stops

Avoid unnecessary deceleration and stop-

ping. Try to maintain a slow, steady speed

whenever possible. Slowing down and

then accelerating again uses more fuel.

Keep a steady cruising speed

Drive at a constant speed that road and

traffic conditions will permit.

NOTICE

To minimize the possibility of cata-

lytic converter or other vehicle dam-

age:

• Maintain the engine in the proper

operating condition.

• In the event of an engine malfunc-

tion, particularly one involving

engine misfire or other apparent

loss of performance, have the vehi-

cle serviced promptly.

• Do not turn off the engine or inter-

rupt the ignition when the transaxle

is in gear and the vehicle is in

motion.

• Do not try to start the engine by

pushing or towing the vehicle, or

coasting down a hill.

• Do not idle the engine with any

spark plug wires disconnected or

removed, such as during diagnos-

tic testing.

• Do not idle the vehicle for pro-

longed periods if idling seems

rough or there are other malfunc-

tions.

• Do not allow the fuel tank to get

near the empty level.

WARNING

Be careful where you park and drive;

the catalytic converter and other

exhaust components can get very

hot. As with any vehicle, do not park

or operate this vehicle in areas where

combustible materials such as dry

grass or leaves can come in contact

with a hot exhaust system.

EXAMPLE

4-3

DRIVING TIPS

Keep the air cleaner clean

60A183S

If the air cleaner is clogged with dust, there

will be greater intake resistance, resulting

in decreased power output and increased

fuel consumption.

Keep weight to a minimum

The heavier the load is, the more fuel the

vehicle consumes. Unload any unneces-

sary luggage or cargo.

Keep tire pressures correct

Under-inflation of the tires can waste fuel

due to increased running resistance of the

tires. Keep your tires inflated to the correct

pressure shown on the label on the driver’s

side door or the driver’s door lock pillar.

Highway driving

When driving at highway speeds, pay

attention to the following:

• Stopping distance progressively

increases with vehicle speed. Apply the

brakes far enough ahead of the stopping

point to allow for the extra stopping dis-

tance.

• On rainy days, hydroplaning can occur.

Hydroplaning is the loss of direct contact

between the road surface and the vehi-

cle’s tires due to a water film forming

between them. Steering or braking the

vehicle during hydroplaning can be very

difficult, and loss of control can occur.

Keep speed down when the road sur-

face is wet.

• At high speeds, the vehicle may be

affected by side winds. Therefore,

reduce speed and be prepared for unex-

pected buffeting, which can occur at the

exits of tunnels, when passing by a cut

of a hill, or when being overtaken by

large vehicles, etc.

Driving on hills

Manual transaxle

75RM260

Auto Gear Shift

66RH046

EXAMPLE

4-4

DRIVING TIPS

• When climbing steep hills, the vehicle

may begin to slow down and show a lack

of power. If this happens, you should

shift to a lower gear so that the engine

will again be operating in its normal

power range. Shift rapidly to prevent the

vehicle from losing momentum.

• When driving down a hill, the engine

should be used for braking by shifting to

the next lower gear.

While moving uphill/gradient from a

stand still condition

• Apply the parking brake firmly so that the

vehicle does not roll backwards.

• Depress the Clutch pedal and Shift the

gearshift lever to 1st Select position.

• Do not slip the clutch.

• When ready to start, press accelerator

pedal and slowly release the clutch

pedal simultaneously. When the vehicle

starts to move, gradually release the

parking brake.

Driving on slippery roads

60G089S

On wet roads, you should drive at a lower

speed than you do on dry roads due to

possible slippage of tires during braking.

When driving on icy, snow-covered or

muddy roads, reduce your speed and

avoid sudden acceleration, abrupt braking,

or sharp steering movements.

WARNING

Do not hold the brake pedal down too

long or too often while going down a

steep or long hill. This could cause

the brakes to overheat, resulting in

reduced braking efficiency. Failure to

take this precaution could result in

loss of vehicle control.

NOTICE

When descending a downhill, Never

turn the ignition key to “LOCK” posi-

tion or press the engine switch to

change the ignition mode to LOCK

(OFF). Emission control system dam-

age may result.

EXAMPLE

4-5

DRIVING TIPS

Tire chains

Tire chains should only be used if they are

needed to increase traction or are required

by law. Check that the chains you use are

the correct size for your vehicle’s tires.

Also check that there is enough clearance

between the fenders and the chains as

installed on the tires.

Install the chains on the front tires tightly,

according to the chain manufacturer’s

instructions. Retighten the chains after

driving about 1.0 km if necessary. With the

chains installed, drive slowly.

Stuck vehicle

If your vehicle gets stuck in snow, mud or

sand, follow the directions below:

1) Shift the transaxle back and forth

between the first gear and reverse. This

will create a rocking motion which may

give you enough momentum to free the

vehicle. Press gently on the accelerator

to keep wheel spinning to a minimum

wheel rpm. Remove your foot from the

accelerator while shifting.

Do not race the engine. Excessive

wheel spin will cause the tires to dig

deeper, making it more difficult to free

the vehicle.

2) If your vehicle remains stuck after a few

minutes of rocking, we recommend you

to consult your authorised Maruti

Suzuki workshop or a roadside assis-

tance service. If a towing service is not

available in an emergency, your vehicle

may be temporarily towed by a towing

cable or chain secured to the towing

hook either on the front of the vehicle or

on the rear of the vehicle. Refer to

“Frame hooks” in the “OTHER CON-

TROLS AND EQUIPMENT” section.

NOTICE

• If you hear the chains hitting

against the vehicle body while driv-

ing, stop and tighten them.

• If your vehicle is equipped with full

wheel caps, remove the wheel caps

before installing the chains or the

wheel caps can be damaged by the

chain bands.

WARNING

Do not allow anyone to stand near

the vehicle when you are rocking it,

and do not spin the wheels faster

than an indicated 40 km/h on the

speedometer. Personal injury and/or

vehicle damage may result from spin-

ning the wheels too fast.

NOTICE

Do not continue rocking the vehicle

for more than a few minutes. Pro-

longed rocking can cause engine

overheating or transaxle damage.

4-6

DRIVING TIPS

Driving on wet roads

82PHM04001

Do’s and Dont’s for safe

driving

Exercise care in handling your vehicle. Be

conscious of not only your own safety but

also the safety of others on the road, and

thus enjoy the best and most comfortable

driving experience.

Following are basic rules for safe driving.

Read them carefully for good understand-

ing of the content so that you can enjoy

safe and pleasant driving in your vehicle.

Starting

1) Adjust the driver’s seat for the proper

driving posture.

2) Adjust the rear view mirror so as to

obtain the best possible rear view.

72F-08-001

NOTICE

• When driving on wet roads, avoid

driving through large amount of

standing water on the road. Large

amount of water entering the

engine compartment may cause

damage to the engine and or elec-

trical components.

• If stuck in deep water, do not start

the engine.

• Water is incompressible substance,

water inside engine is harmful to

the engine.

EXAMPLE

WARNING

In addition to following the driving

tips in this section, it is important to

observe the following precautions.

• Check that your tires are in good

condition and always maintain the

specified tire pressure. Refer to

“Tires” in the “INSPECTION AND

MAINTENANCE” section for

details.

• Do not use tires other than those

specified by MARUTI SUZUKI.

Never use different sizes or types

of tires on the front and rear

wheels. For information regarding

the specified tires, refer to the tire

information label located on the

driver’s door lock pillar.

• Never use oversized tires or spe-

cial shock absorbers and springs

to raise (jack up) your vehicle. This

will change the handling character-

istics. Oversized tires may also rub

against the fender over bumps,

causing vehicle damage or tire fail-

ure.

• After driving through water, test the

brakes while driving at a slow

speed to see if they have main-

tained their normal effectiveness. If

the brakes are less effective than

normal, dry them by repeatedly

applying the brakes while driving

slowly until the brakes have

regained their normal effective-

ness.

EXAMPLE

4-7

DRIVING TIPS

3) Before moving, look around your vehi-

cle to confirm safety.

4) Don’t accelerate suddenly, since it is

dangerous and wastes fuel.

General Driving

1) Be sure to stop before a stop light or

stop sign. When moving into an inter-

section without any traffic lights or

signs, drive slowly to confirm safety.

2) Always follow other vehicles at a safe

distance in order to prevent a rear-end

collision, in case the vehicle ahead

makes a sudden stop.

72F-08-008

3) Turn ON the turn signal at least 30

meters before making a turn or chang-

ing the lane so as not to be hit.

4) Before entering a corner, decelerate to

a safe speed. Don’t apply brakes during

cornering, or skidding may occur.

5) When overtaking other vehicles, watch

out for oncoming vehicles and carefully

ensure safety.

6) Don’t attempt zigzag driving as it will

hinder your control over the vehicle and

may cause an accident.

7) Avoid reckless high speed driving and

try to drive at a safe speed suitable for

the road conditions while maintaining a

constant speed.

8) The higher the speed, the narrower the

driver’s visual range becomes. In such

a state, it is difficult to anticipate any

hazard and the driver feels fatigued.

72F-08-015

9) Do not attempt sharp handling during

high speed driving. You may lose your

control over your vehicle.

10)When overtaking or changing lanes

while driving at a high speed, keep

ample vehicle-to-vehicle distance.

Braking

72F-08-011

1) Use the parking brake when parking

your vehicle and shift the gear shift

lever into the first gear or reverse gear

position for the sake of safety.

2) Don’t use hand-braking unless unavoid-

able. It causes the vehicle to skid and a

collision may occur. It is especially dan-

gerous when the tyres are worn out as

they skid more.

EXAMPLE

4-8

DRIVING TIPS

72F-08-012

Use foot brake in three stages

1. Warn the vehicle behind you.

2. Gradually apply the brake.

3. Bring the vehicle to a halt.

3) When driving downhill, try not to apply

the brake but use the engine brake

effectively. Overuse of the foot-brake

may result in reduction of brake effec-

tiveness.

Long Distance Driving

1) Be sure to perform safety checks before

starting a trip.

2) Take rest at regular intervals to prevent

accidents which may occur due to feel-

ing sleepy or tired.

Night Time Driving

72F-08-020

1) Drive at lower speeds during the night

than in the daytime, as the visual range

is restricted at night.

2) Avoid overtaking other vehicles at night.

Darkness bothers your sense of speed

and hinders your judgment of vehicle-

to-vehicle distance.

72F-08-021

3) Don’t use headlights on high beam

unless its use is inevitable. It may cause

visual impairment to the driver of the

oncoming vehicle or the vehicle ahead

of you, which may cause an accident.

4) Always keep the window glasses clean.

Don’t operate the windshield wiper

when the windshield glass is dry else

the wiper blade and glass may get dam-

aged.

EXAMPLE

4-9

DRIVING TIPS

Margin for safety

It is important to allow yourself a margin for

safety during driving so that you can cope

with erroneous or unexpected driving of

other drivers. For that, observe the follow-

ing.

• Drive at a safe speed.

• Maintain a sufficient distance between

your vehicle and the vehicle ahead.

• Don’t force yourself to overtake other

vehicles.

• Don’t accelerate suddenly, steer sharply

or stop suddenly.

• Keep ample gaps between driving

schedules.

• Observe traffic rules and regulations.

Conclusion

A perfect driver does not exist. The

endeavour of every motorist should be to

strive for perfection. Safety consciousness

not only ensures your safety and the safety

of other road users, it also helps reduce

the wear and tear on your vehicle, length-

ens its life, gives better fuel efficiency and

ensures a comfortable driving experience.

Follow the do’s and dont’s listed, and

driving will never be the same again.

Driving Tips for Your Suzuki Ignis SUV First Generation (2000-2008)

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