Get Operating Your Vehicle -> Using the Transaxle Guide for Suzuki S Cross SUV First Generation (2006-2012)

3-10

OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE

80J23-03E

3) Close the engine hood securely before

starting the engine.

Using the Transaxle

Manual Transaxle

80J2081

Starting off

To start off, depress the clutch pedal all the

way to the floor and shift into 1st gear.

After releasing the parking brake, gradually

release the clutch. When you hear a

change in the engine’s sound, slowly press

the accelerator while continuing to gradu-

ally release the clutch.

Shifting

All forward gears are synchronized, which

provides for quiet, and easy shifting.

Always depress the clutch pedal all the

way to the floor before shifting gears. Keep

the engine speed does not rise into the red

zone of the tachometer.

80J2082

Reverse gear: with lifting up ring, shift the

gearshift lever to the right, engage gear.

CAUTION

Secure the block heater cord back to

its original position or to the routed

position. A loose cord could get

caught in the engine accessory drive

belt(s) or other moving parts.

EXAMPLE

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OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE

80J23-03E

Continuously Variable Transaxle

(CVT)

80J2065

Gearshift lever

80J2035

WARNING

• Reduce your speed and downshift

to a lower gear before going down

a long or steep hill. Downshifting

will allow the engine to provide

braking. Avoid riding the brakes or

they may overheat, resulting in

brake failure.

• When driving on slippery roads, be

sure to slow down before down-

shifting. Large and sudden

changes in engine speed may

cause loss of traction, which could

cause you to lose control.

• Make sure that the vehicle is com-

pletely stopped before you shift

into reverse.

CAUTION

• To help avoid clutch damage, do

not use the clutch pedal as a foot-

rest while driving or use the clutch

to keep the vehicle stationary on a

slope. Depress the clutch fully

when shifting.

• When shifting or starting off, do not

race the engine. Racing the engine

can shorten engine life and affect

smooth shifting.

WARNING

Always depress the brake pedal

before shifting from “P” (Park) (or

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

ary) to a forward or reverse gear, to

help prevent the vehicle from moving

unexpectedly when you shift.

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OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE

80J23-03E

The gearshift lever has a lock mechanism

to help prevent accidental shifting. To shift

the gearshift lever:

80J2036

NOTE:

• Always shift the gearshift lever without

pushing in the lock button (1) except

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

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

push in the lock button (1) when shifting

the gearshift lever, you could shift into

“P” or “R” by mistake.

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

gearshift lever while driving, the lever

could move and the gear could be

changed unexpectedly.

Use the gearshift lever positions as

described below:

P (Park)

Use this position to lock the transaxle

when the vehicle is parked or when start-

ing the engine. Shift into Park only when

the vehicle is completely stationary.

R (Reverse)

Use this position to reverse the vehicle

from stop. Make sure that vehicle is com-

pletely stationary before shifting into

Reverse.

N (Neutral)

Use this position for starting the engine if

the engine stalls and you need to restart it

while the vehicle is moving. You may also

shift into Neutral and depress the brake

pedal to hold the vehicle stationary during

idling.

Shift with the lock button (1)

pushed in and the brake pedal

depressed.

Shift with the lock button (1)

pushed in.

Shift without the lock button (1)

pushed in.

(1)

CAUTION

Do not shift the gearshift lever into

“R” while moving forward, or the

transaxle may be damaged. If you

shift into “R” when the vehicle speed

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

will not shift into reverse.

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OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE

80J23-03E

D (Drive)

Use this position for all normal driving.

With the gearshift lever in “D” range you

can get an automatic downshift by press-

ing the accelerator pedal. The higher the

vehicle speed is, the more you need to

press the accelerator pedal to get a down-

shift.

M (manual mode)

Use this position for driving in the manual

mode.

Refer to “Manual mode” later in this section

for details on how to use the manual mode.

Manual mode

The CVT can shift gears automatically.

When using the manual mode, you can

shift gears in the same manner as conven-

tional manual transaxle.

To use the manual mode, shift the gearshift

lever from “D” to “M”.

80J2037

80J2073

(1) Manual mode indicator

(2) Gear position

The information display shows the manual

mode indicator (1) and the current gear

position (2).

NOTE:

• The indicated gear position on the infor-

mation display when you shift from “D” to

“M” is the gear position that was selected

automatically when the gearshift lever

was in “D”.

• You can change to the manual mode

temporarily by pulling the shift paddle (if

equipped) on the steering wheel toward

you when the gearshift lever is in “D”.

Shifting in the manual mode

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

ing on driving speed.

NOTE:

• When the engine is revved, the gear is

shifted up automatically to prevent dam-

age to the engine and the transaxle. If

the CVT fluid becomes hot such as

when driving on up hill, the engine speed

at which shifting occurs may be lower

than usual.

• When the driving speed becomes slow,

the gear shifts down automatically, and

when the vehicle stops, the gear position

will be in 1st gear without shifting the

gearshift lever.

• If you depress the accelerator pedal a

certain amount, the gear shifts down

automatically even if the gearshift lever

is in the manual mode.

CAUTION

Be sure to take the following precau-

tions to help avoid damage to the

CVT:

• Make sure that the vehicle is com-

pletely stationary before shifting

into “P” or “R”.

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

“D” or “M” when the engine is run-

ning above idle speed.

• Do not rev the engine with the tran-

saxle in a drive position (“R”, “D”

or “M”) and the front wheels not

moving.

• Do not use the accelerator to hold

the vehicle on a hill. Use the vehi-

cle’s brakes.

(1) (2)

EXAMPLE

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OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE

80J23-03E

NOTE:

When you shift gears, the gear may not

shift to the desired position. This is to

maintain good drivability and to protect the

transaxle.

Using the gearshift lever

80J2039

(1) “+” side (shift up)

(2) “–” side (shift down)

To shift up, pull the gearshift lever to the “+”

side (rearward). When you remove your

hand from the gearshift lever, the lever will

return to the “M” position automatically.

To shift down, push the gearshift lever to

the “–” side (forward). When you remove

your hand from the gearshift lever, the

lever will return to the “M” position auto-

matically.

NOTE:

To shift gears continuously, remove your

hand from the gearshift lever, then shift the

lever again. You cannot shift gears continu-

ously while holding the lever in the “+” or

“–” position.

Using the shift paddle (if equipped)

80J1358

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

located on right side of the steering wheel,

toward you. When you remove your finger

from the switch, the switch will return to the

original position.

80J1359

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

located on left side of the steering wheel,

toward you. When you remove your finger

from the switch, the switch will return to the

original position.

NOTE:

• To shift gears continuously, remove your

finger from the shift paddle, then pull the

shift paddle again. You cannot shift

gears continuously while holding the

shift paddle toward you.

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

paddle simultaneously, the gear may not

shift.

(1)

(2)

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OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE

80J23-03E

Canceling the manual mode

To cancel the manual mode, shift the gear-

shift lever from “M” to “D”.

Temporary manual mode

Pull the shift paddle (if equipped) toward

you when driving with the gearshift lever in

the “D” position. The information display

shows the manual mode indicator (1) and

the current gear position (2).

80J2073

(1) Manual mode indicator

(2) Gear position

The temporary manual mode will be can-

celed automatically in the following situa-

tions.

• When you press and hold the accelera-

tor pedal for a certain period of time with-

out shifting gears.

• When driving speed becomes slow.

If You Cannot Shift CVT Gearshift Lever

Out of “P” (PARK)

80J2040

Vehicles with a CVT have an electrically

operated park-lock feature. If the vehicle’s

battery is discharged, or there is some

other electrical failure, the CVT cannot be

shifted out of Park in the normal way. Jump

starting may correct the condition. If not,

follow the procedure described below. This

procedure will permit changing the tran-

saxle out of Park.

1) Be sure the parking brake is firmly

applied.

2) If the engine is running, stop the

engine.

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

“ACC” position.

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

5) With pushing the release button by the

key or the flat end rod, shift the gear-

shift lever to the desired position.

This procedure is for emergency use only.

If repeated use of this procedure is neces-

sary, or the procedure does not work as

described, take the vehicle to your dealer

for repair.

(1) (2)

EXAMPLE

(1)

Operating Your Vehicle -> Using the Transaxle for Your Suzuki S Cross SUV First Generation (2006-2012)

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