2008 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA Owners Manual

9-18
INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
66J22-03E

Engine Coolant Replacement
66J151
1) When the engine is cool, remove the
radiator cap by turning it slowly to the
left until a “stop” is felt. Do not press
down while turning the cap. Wait until
any pressure is released, then press
down on the cap and continue turning it
to the left.
66J191
2) Remove the reservoir by lifting it up,
and drain the reservoir completely.
CAUTION
 The mixture you use should con-
tain 50% concentration of anti-
freeze.
 If the lowest ambient temperature
in your area is expected to be –35
°C (–31°F) or below, use higher
concentrations up to 60% following
the instructions on the antifreeze
container.
 When putting the cap on the
reserve tank, line up the arrow on
the cap and the arrow on the tank.
Failure to follow this can result in
coolant leakage.
WARNING
Engine coolant is harmful or fatal if
swallowed or inhaled. Do not drink
antifreeze or coolant solution. If swal-
lowed, do not induce vomiting. Imme-
diately contact a poison control
center or a physician. Avoid inhaling
mist or hot vapors; if inhaled, remove
to fresh air. If coolant gets in eyes,
flush eyes with water and seek medi-
cal attention. Wash thoroughly after
handling. Solution can be poisonous
to animals. Keep out of the reach of
children and animals.
OpenClose
WARNING
It is hazardous to remove the radiator
cap when the engine coolant temper-
ature is high, because scalding fluid
and steam may be blown out under
pressure. Wait until the engine cool-
ant temperature has lowered before
removing the cap.
Windshield Washer Fluid: 3
Air Cleaner: 1, 2

9-19INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
66J22-03E
64J191
3) Loosen the drain plug attached to the
lower part of the radiator and drain the
engine coolant into a suitable container.
4) Reinstall the reservoir and fill it with
engine coolant to the “FULL” line.
5) Tighten the drain plug on the radiator,
fill the radiator with engine coolant and
install the radiator cap.
6) After filling, let the engine idle for about
2 – 3 minutes to get rid of air in the
cooling system. Then, stop the engine.
7) Check the engine coolant level in the
radiator again. If the level has gone
down, add more engine coolant.
Windshield Washer FluidFront and rear (if equipped)
66J008
66J116
Check that there is washer fluid in the tank
by looking at the washer fluid level gauge
which is attached to the cap of the washerfluid tank. If the fluid level is near empty,
refill it.
Use a good quality windshield washer
fluid, diluted with water as necessary.
CAUTION
The engine coolant must be replaced
with the vehicle on level ground.EXAMPLE
(or opposite side)
EXAMPLE
WARNING
Do not use “anti-freeze” solution in
the windshield washer reservoir. This
can severely impair visibility when
sprayed on the windshield, and also
damage your vehicle’s paint.
CAUTION
Damage may result if the washer
motor is operated with no fluid in the
washer tank.
Spark Plugs: 1, 2
Brakes: 6

9-20
INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
66J22-03E
Air Cleaner
66J167
If the air cleaner is clogged with dust, there
will be greater intake resistance, resulting
in decreased power output and increased
fuel consumption.
Check and clean periodically according to
the following procedure:
1) Take off the air cleaner case cover.
Remove the element from the air
cleaner case cover.
2) This air cleaner element is of dry type.
Remember that it needs cleaning
according to the following method.
3) Blow off dust on cleaner element by
compressed air from inside the ele-
ment, or replace the element as neces-
sary.
Spark Plugs
66J009
65D434
You should inspect spark plugs periodically
for carbon deposits. When carbon accu-
mulates on a spark plug, a strong spark
may not be produced. Remove carbon
CAUTION
The air cleaner element should be
replaced every 50000 km (30000
miles). More frequent replacement is
necessary when you drive under
dusty conditions.
Brakes: 6

9-21INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
66J22-03E
deposits with a wire or pin and adjust the
spark plug gap.
To access the spark plugs:
1) Remove the engine cover.
2) Disconnect the coupler (1) while push-
ing the release lever.
3) Remove the bolt.
4) Pull the ignition coil out.
80G093
BrakesBrake Fluid
64J154
Check the brake fluid level by looking at
the reservoir in the engine compartment.
Check that the fluid level is between the
“MAX” and “MIN” lines. If the brake fluid
level is near the “MIN” line, fill it up to the
“MAX” line with DOT3 brake fluid.
65D477
CAUTION
When replacing spark plugs, you
should use the brand and type speci-
fied for your vehicle. For the speci-
fied plugs, refer to the
“SPECIFICATIONS” section at the
end of this book. If you wish to use a
brand of spark plug other than the
specified plugs, consult your SUZUKI
dealer.1.0 – 1.1 mm
(0.039 – 0.043 in.)
WARNING
Failure to follow the guidelines below
can result in personal injury or seri-
ous damage to the brake system.
 If the brake fluid in the reservoir
drops below a certain level, the
brake warning light on the instru-
ment panel will come on (the
engine must be running with the
parking brake fully disengaged.)
Should the light come on, immedi-
ately ask your SUZUKI dealer to
inspect the brake system.
 A rapid fluid loss indicates a leak in
the brake system which should be
inspected by your SUZUKI dealer
immediately.
 Brake fluid can harm your eyes and
damage painted surfaces. Use cau-
tion when refilling the reservoir.
(Continued)
Brakes: 6

9-22
INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
66J22-03E
NOTE:
With disc brakes, the fluid level can be
expected to gradually fall as the brake
pads wear.Brake Pedal
65D345
With the engine running and the parking
brake set, measure the distance between
the brake pedal and floor carpet when the
pedal is depressed with approximately 300
N (66 lbs, 30 kg) of force. The minimum
distance required is as specified. Since
your vehicle’s brake system is self-adjust-
ing, there is no need for pedal adjustment.
If the pedal to floor carpet distance asmeasured above is less than the minimum
distance required, have your vehicle
inspected by your SUZUKI dealer.
NOTE:
When measuring the distance between the
brake pedal and floor wall, push in the floor
carpet as far as it goes and measure the
distance between the carpet surface and
the brake pedal.
WARNING
(Continued)
 Do not use any fluid other than
DOT3 brake fluid. Do not use
reclaimed fluid or fluid that has
been stored in old or open contain-
ers. It is essential that foreign parti-
cles and other liquids are kept out
of the brake fluid reservoir.
WARNING
Brake fluid is harmful or fatal if swal-
lowed, and harmful if it comes in con-
tact with skin or eyes. If swallowed,
do not induce vomiting. Immediately
contact a poison control center or a
physician. If brake fluid gets in eyes,
flush eyes with water and seek medi-
cal attention. Wash thoroughly after
handling. Solution can be poisonous
to animals. Keep out of the reach of
children and animals.
CAUTION
The brake fluid should be replaced
according to the maintenance sched-
ule. Have the brake fluid replaced by
your SUZUKI dealer.
Pedal to floor carpet minimum distance
“a”
70 mm (2.8 in.)
“a”
Floor carpet
Steering Wheel: 6
Clutch Pedal: 6

9-23INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
66J22-03E
60G104
Parking Brake Lever
60A226
Check the parking brake for proper adjust-
ment by counting the number of clicks
made by the ratchet teeth as you slowly
pull up on the parking brake lever to the
point of full engagement. The parking
brake lever should stop between the speci-
fied ratchet teeth and the rear wheels
should be securely locked. If the parking
brake is not properly adjusted or the
brakes drag after the lever has been fully
released, have the parking brake inspected
and/or adjusted by your SUZUKI dealer.
Steering Wheel
66J233
Check the play of the steering wheel by
gently turning it from left to right and mea-
suring the distance that it moves before
you feel slight resistance. The play should
be between the specified values. Check
that the steering wheel turns easily and
smoothly without rattling by turning it all the
way to the right and to the left while driving
very slowly in an open area. If the amount
of free play is outside the specification or
you find anything else to be wrong, an
inspection must be performed by your
SUZUKI dealer.
WARNING
If you experience any of the following
problems with your vehicle’s brake
system, have the vehicle inspected
immediately by your SUZUKI dealer.
 Poor braking performance
 Uneven braking (Brakes not work-
ing uniformly on all wheels.)
 Excessive pedal travel
 Brake dragging
 Excessive noise
 (Except ABS equipped vehicle)
Pedal pulsation (Pedal pulsates
when pressed for braking.)
Ratchet tooth specification “b”
5th – 7th
200 N (44 lbs, 20 kg)
“b”
EXAMPLE
Steering wheel play “c”
0 – 30 mm (0.0 – 1.2 in.)
“c”
EXAMPLE
Tires: 6

9-24
INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
66J22-03E
Power Steering (if equipped)
64J155
(1) UPPER
(2) LOWER
Check the steering box case, vane pump
and hose connections for leaks or damage.Power Steering FluidCheck the fluid level by looking at the res-
ervoir in the engine compartment when the
fluid is cold (about room temperature).
Check that the fluid level is between the (1)
and (2) lines. If the fluid level is near the (2)
line, fill it up to the (1) line with an auto-
matic transmission fluid equivalent to ATF
DEXRON
®-II (Esso JWS 2326) or
DEXRON®-III. Do not overfill.
Clutch Pedal
64J154
Check the clutch pedal for smooth opera-
tion and clutch fluid level from time to time.
If clutch dragging is felt with the pedal fully
depressed, have the clutch inspected by
your SUZUKI dealer. If the clutch fluid level
is near the “MIN” line, fill it up to the “MAX”
line with DOT3 brake fluid.
TiresFor safe operation of your vehicle, it is
important that the tires be the correct type
and size, in good condition, and properly
inflated. Be sure to follow the requirements
and recommendations in this section.Tire Sidewall LabelingUseful information about a tire is molded
into its sidewall. The example below shows
a typical passenger car tire.
Typical Passenger Car Tire Sidewall
67D027
A. Tire Manufacturer
The name of the tire manufacturer is
shown here.
B. Tire Name/Model
The tire name or model is shown
here.
(1)
(2)
AH B
G
E
FD
J I
C
EXAMPLE
Tires: 6

9-25INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
66J22-03E
C. Tire Size
The tire size code is a combination of
letters and numbers used to define a
particular tire’s width, height, aspect
ratio, construction type, and service
description. See the “Tire Size” expla-
nation later in this section for more
details.
D. U.S. DOT Tire Identification Number
The Department of Transportation
(DOT) marking indicates that the tire
is in compliance with the U.S. Depart-
ment of Transportation Motor Vehicle
Safety Standards. The letters and
numbers following the DOT marking
is the Tire Identification Number
(TIN). The TIN identifies the tire man-
ufacturer and plant, tire size, and date
the tire was manufactured.
E. Uniform Tire Quality Grading (UTQG)
Tire manufacturers are required to
grade tires based on three perfor-
mance factors: treadwear, traction
and temperature resistance. Refer to
the “Uniform Tire Quality Grading”
section for more details.
F. Load Rating
Load rating is the maximum weight a
tire is designed to support in normal
service.
G. Max Inflation Pressure
Max inflation pressure is the maxi-
mum inflation pressure a tire is
designed for.
H. Tire Ply Material
These tire markings describe the typeof cord and number of plies in the
sidewall and under the tread.
I. Load Index and Speed Rating
The two- or three-digit number is the
tire’s load index, the maximum load a
tire can carry at the speed indicated
by its speed symbol at the maximum
inflation pressure. The higher the
number is, the greater the load carry-
ing capacity. The letter symbol
denotes the speed at which a tire is
designed to be driven for extended
periods of time. (Ratings are listed
below.)
*The letters ZR may be used on tires with a
maximum speed capability over 149 mph
and will always be used on tires with a
maximum speed capability over 186 mph.J. M+S Marking
This marking indicates the tire has
some mud and snow capabilities and
is designed for all-season use.
Tire SizeThe following illustration shows an exam-
ple of a typical passenger car tire size.
67D028
A. Tire Type
This letter code indicates the primary
intended use of the tire. The letter “P”
identifies a tire primarily intended for
use on a passenger vehicle.
B. Tire Width
This three-digit number indicates the
tire section width in millimeters from
sidewall to sidewall.
C. Aspect Ratio
This two-digit number represents the
tire section height divided by the tire
section width. Letter Rating Speed Rating
Q 99 mph
R106 mph
S112 mph
T118 mph
U124 mph
H130 mph
V149 mph
W 168 mph*
Y 186 mph*
A
B
C
D
E
EXAMPLE
Tires: 6