2008 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA brake

6-20
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
66J22-03E
NOTE:
When you disconnect and re-connect the
battery, ESP
® system functions other than
ABS will be deactivated and the slip indica-
tor light will blink 1 time per second. In this
case, use the following procedure to re-
activate the ESP
® systems:
1) Drive your vehicle straight ahead with-
out tire slippage at a speed greater than
approximately 15 km/h (9 mph) for a
few seconds
2) The slip indicator light will go out and
the ESP
® systems (other than ABS) will
be re-activated
It may take more than few seconds before
the slip indicator light goes out depending
on the road surface condition.
“ESP” Warning Light
66J031
When the ESP
® systems (other than ABS)
have a system malfunction, the “ESP”
warning light in the instrument cluster
comes on.NOTE:
When the “ESP” warning light comes on,
or stays on while driving, indicating a mal-
function of the ESP
® systems (other than
ABS), the brake system will function as an
ordinary ABS that has no additional ESP
®
functions.“ESP OFF” Indicator Light
66J032
You should turn the ESP
® on during your
ordinary driving, so that you have the ben-
efits of all of the ESP
® systems.
It may be required to turn the ESP
® sys-
tems (other than ABS) off if your vehicle is
stuck in sand, mud, or snow, or when driv-
ing in extreme off-road conditions where
wheel spin is necessary.“ESP OFF” switch
66J039
When the “ESP OFF” switch located at the
center of the instrument panel is pushed
and held to turn off the ESP
® systems
(other than ABS), the “ESP OFF” indicator
light in the instrument cluster comes on.
When you push and hold the “ESP OFF”
switch again, the “ESP OFF” indicator light
will go out and all of the ESP
® systems will
be activated.
NOTE:
 When the vehicle speed is greater than
approximately 30 km/h (19 mph), the
ESP
® systems (other than ABS) will turn
on automatically and the “ESP OFF”
indicator light will go out.
 When the transfer switch (if equipped) is
turned to the “4L LOCK” position, the
ESP® systems (other than ABS) will be
canceled to provide improved vehicle
CAUTION
If the “ESP” warning light comes on,
or stays on while driving, there may
be a malfunction of the ESP
® sys-
tems (other than ABS). You should
have the systems inspected by an
authorized SUZUKI dealer.
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS):

6-21OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
66J22-03E
traction, and the “ESP OFF” indicator
light will come on.
When the transfer switch (if equipped) is
turned to the “4L LOCK” position, brake-
traction control can be activated. Brake-
traction control brakes the spinning
wheel to distribute drive power to the
other wheels for increased climbing abil-
ity or for better performance on a rolling
hill or a slippery surface.
 If the ESP
® systems operate continu-
ously, such as when driving on slippery
roads, the traction control functions of
the ESP
® systems may be canceled
temporarily to avoid overheating the
brake pads, and the “ESP OFF” indicator
light will come on. After a short period of
time, the ESP
® systems (other than
ABS) will turn on automatically and the
“ESP OFF” indicator light will go out.
ABS Warning Light / Brake System
Warning LightSee “Braking” in the “OPERATING YOUR
VEHICLE” section.
Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (TPMS) (if equipped)The tire pressure monitoring system is
designed to alert you when one or more of
the tires on your vehicle is significantly
under-inflated. A Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (TPMS) sensor containing a
unique identification code is mounted on
each wheel. The TPMS sensors transmit
tire pressure signals to a central receiver
which relays the information to a tire pres-
sure monitoring system controller. When
the inflation pressure of one or more tires
indicates significant under-inflation, the low
tire pressure warning light shown below
comes on.
NOTE:
The TPMS controller is not programmed to
recognize the ID code of the TPMS sensor
in your spare tire. The tire pressure moni-
toring system will only work with the spare
tire if you bring your vehicle to an autho-
rized SUZUKI dealer to register the ID
code of the spare tire sensor. Refer to
“Replacing Tires and/or Wheels” in this
section.
Low Tire Pressure Warning Light
52D305
WARNING
Each tire, including the spare (if pro-
vided), should be checked monthly
when cold and inflated to the inflation
pressure recommended by the vehi-
cle manufacturer on the vehicle plac-
ard or tire inflation pressure label. (If
your vehicle has tires of a different
size than the size indicated on the
vehicle placard or tire inflation pres-
sure label, you should determine the
proper tire inflation pressure for
those tires.)
As an added safety feature, your
vehicle has been equipped with a tire
pressure monitoring system (TPMS)
that illuminates a low tire pressure
telltale when one or more of your
tires is significantly under-inflated.
(Continued)
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS):
Break-In: 6

6-23OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
66J22-03E
The low tire pressure warning light can
come on due to normal causes such as
natural air leaks and pressure changes
caused by changes in temperature or
atmospheric pressure. Adjusting the air
pressure in the tires to the pressure shownon the tire information placard should
cause the low tire pressure warning light to
turn off.
If the light turns on again shortly after
adjusting the pressure in your tires, you
may have a flat tire. If you have a flat tire,
replace it with the spare tire. Refer to
“Jacking Instructions” in the “EMER-
GENCY SERVICE” section. Refer to
“Replacing Tires and/or Wheels” for
instructions on how to restore normal oper-
ation of the tire pressure monitoring sys-
tem after you have had a flat tire.
NOTE:
 When the tire inflation pressure is
adjusted in high altitude areas, the low
tire pressure light may not turn off even
after tire inflation pressure adjustment.
In this case, adjust the inflation pressure
to a slightly higher pressure than is
shown on the tire information placard.
 The low tire pressure warning light may
turn off temporarily after coming on. This
could be due to surface temperature
increases after long distance driving or
traveling to a high temperature area.
Even if the tire pressure warning light
turns off after coming on, make sure to
check the inflation pressure of all tires.
 To reduce the chance that the low tire
pressure warning light will come on due
to normal changes in temperature and
atmospheric pressure, it is important to
check and adjust the tire pressureswhen the tires are cold. Tires that
appear to be at the specified pressure
when checked after driving, when the
tires are warm, could have pressure
below the specification when the tires
cool down. Also, tires that are inflated to
the specified pressure in a warm garage
may have pressure below the specifica-
tion when the vehicle is driven outside in
very cold temperature. If you adjust the
tire pressure in a garage that is warmer
than the outside temperature, you
should add 1 psi to the recommended
cold tire inflation pressure for every 10°F
difference between garage temperature
and outside temperature.
For tire inflation pressure information, refer
to “Tire Inflation Pressure” in the “INSPEC-
TION AND MAINTENANCE” section.
TPMS Malfunction Indicator
WARNING
If the low tire pressure warning light
comes on and stays on, reduce your
speed and avoid abrupt steering and
braking. Stop in a safe place as soon
as possible and check your tires.
 If you have a flat tire, replace it with
the spare tire. Refer to “Jacking
Instructions” in the “EMERGENCY
SERVICE” section. Refer to
“Replacing Tires and/or Wheels”
for instructions on how to restore
normal operation of the tire pres-
sure monitoring system after you
have had a flat tire.
 If one or more of your tires is
under-inflated adjust the inflation
pressure in all of your tires to the
recommended inflation pressure as
soon as possible.
Be aware that driving on a signifi-
cantly under-inflated tire can cause
the tire to overheat and can lead to
tire failure, and may affect steering
control and brake effectiveness. This
could lead to an accident, resulting in
severe injury or death.
WARNING
Your vehicle also has been equipped
with a TPMS malfunction indicator to
indicate when the system is not oper-
ating properly.
Catalytic Converter: NO
Improving Fuel Economy: NO

7-4
DRIVING TIPS
66J22-03E
Off-Road DrivingYour vehicle has specific design character-
istics for off-road driving. When you leave
the pavement, you will encounter driving
surfaces of all kinds which may change
continually as you drive. In most cases, off-
road driving requires the use of 4-wheel
drive. If your vehicle is a 2-wheel drive
vehicle, you should limit your off-road driv-
ing only to hard, flat, nonslippery surfaces.
2-wheel drive vehicles have far less trac-
tion on off-road surfaces than 4-wheel
drive vehicles. It is important when driving
off-road to follow the guidelines below.
Use Caution on Steep Inclines
Always inspect hills before you attempt to
drive up them. Know what is on the other
side and how you will get back down. If you
have any doubt that it is safe, do not
attempt to drive over a hill. Never drive
your vehicle up an extremely steep incline.
Coming down a steep hill can be trickier
than getting up one. Keep the vehicle
heading straight down the hill and use low
gear. Do not lock the brakes. If the vehicle
begins to slide, accelerate slightly to regain
steering control.Do Not Turn on or Drive Across the Side
of Hills
Turning on or driving across the side of a
hill can be extremely hazardous. Most of
the vehicle’s weight will be transferred to
the downhill tires, which could result in the
vehicle rolling sideways. Whenever possi-
ble, avoid this potential hazard. Also, if you
have to exit your vehicle on a side-hill,
always get out on the uphill side.
Wear Your Seat Belts at All Times
You and your passengers should use the
seat belts at all times when driving off-
road. For proper seat belt use, refer to the
“Seat Belts and Child Restraint Systems”
section in this manual.
Avoid Sudden Reactions in Mud, Ice or
Snow
Be careful when off-road conditions are
slick. Reduce your speed and avoid sud-
den movements of the vehicle. If your vehi-
cle is a 2-wheel drive vehicle, do not drive
in deep snow or mud. If your vehicle is a 4-
wheel drive vehicle, be aware that driving
in deep snow or mud can cause a loss of
traction and an increase in the resistance
to the vehicle’s forward motion. Use 4WD
low gear (4L) and maintain a steady but
moderate speed with a light touch on the
steering wheel and brakes.Do not drive in the field covered with
grown grass
If you drive in the field covered with grass,
it may cause unexpected accident or vehi-
cle damage by getting caught in grown
grass.
If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck
If your vehicle gets stuck in snow, mud or
sand, follow the directions below:
1) (For vehicles equipped with transfer
switch) Turn the transfer switch to “4H
LOCK” or “4L LOCK”.
2) Shift the transmission back and forth
between a forward range (or first gear
for manual transmission) 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 spin to a min-
imum. 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.
3) If your vehicle remains stuck after a few
minutes of rocking, get another vehicle
to pull you out.
Off-Road Driving: NO

7-5DRIVING TIPS
66J22-03E
Tire ChainsTire chains should only be used if they are
needed to increase traction or are required
by law. Make sure that the chains you use
are small-link chains or cable-type chains
and are the correct size for your vehicle’s
tires. Also make sure that there is enough
clearance between the fenders and the
chains as installed on the tires.
Install the chains on the rear tires tightly,
according to the chain manufacturer’s
instructions. Retighten the chains after
driving about 1.0 km (1/2 mile) if neces-
sary. With the chains installed, drive slowly.Do not drive through deep or rushing
water
Driving in deep or rushing water can be
hazardous. You could lose control of the
vehicle and the occupants could drown.
Also, your vehicle could be seriously dam-
aged. To avoid these risks, observe the fol-
lowing instructions and precautions.
 Do not drive through deep or rushing
water. Deep or rushing water, such as
fast-moving streams or floodwaters,
could carry your vehicle away from your
intended path. The water is too deep if it
covers your wheel hubs, axles or
exhaust tailpipe. Know the depth of the
water before you attempt to drive
through it.
 If water blocks the tailpipe, the engine
may not start or run. If the water is deep
enough to get drawn into the engine
intake system, the engine will be badly
damaged.
 Submerged brakes will have poor brak-
ing performance. Drive slowly and care-
fully. Driving slowly will also help avoid
water splashing onto the ignition system,
which could cause the engine to stall.
 Even when driving through shallow or
still waters, drive carefully since the
water may be hiding ground hazards
such as holes, ditches or bumps.
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 (25 mph)
on the speedometer. Personal
injury and/or vehicle damage may
result from spinning the wheels too
fast.
 Be sure to turn the transfer switch
from “4H” to “4H LOCK” or “4L
LOCK” when the tires slip in “4H”.
The continuing tires slip in “4H”
can cause the limited slip differen-
tial gear damage in the center dif-
ferential.
CAUTION
Release the accelerator pedal when
operating the gearshift lever. Operat-
ing the lever with the engine racing
can damage the gears.
CAUTION
Do not continue rocking the vehicle
for more than a few minutes. Pro-
longed rocking can cause engine
overheating, transmission or trans-
fer case damage or tire damage.
CAUTION
If you hear the chains hitting against
the vehicle body while driving, stop
and tighten them.
Off-Road Driving: NO

7-6
DRIVING TIPS
66J22-03E
WARNING
In addition to following the driving
tips in this section, it is important to
observe the following precautions for
on-road and off-road driving.
 Driver and passengers should wear
seat belts at all times.
 Do not let anyone else drive your
vehicle unless they are also aware
of the vehicle characteristics and
handling differences described in
this section.
 Avoid loaning your vehicle to any-
one unless you accompany them.
 Make sure 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 SUZUKI. Never use dif-
ferent sizes or types of tires on the
front and rear wheels. For informa-
tion regarding the specified tires,
refer to the Tire Inflation Pressure
Label located on the driver’s side
door pillar or the “SPECIFICA-
TIONS” section.
(Continued)
WARNING
(Continued)
 Never use oversized tires or special
shocks and springs to raise (jack
up) your vehicle. This will raise the
center of gravity of the vehicle and
change its handling characteris-
tics. Oversized tires may also rub
against the fender over bumps,
causing vehicle damage or tire fail-
ure.
 After driving through water, mud or
sandy ground, test the brakes while
driving at a slow speed to see if
they have maintained 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
effectiveness.
 Do not use “4H LOCK” or “4L
LOCK” drive for normal driving.
 After extended operation in mud,
sand or water, have the brakes
inspected by your authorized
SUZUKI dealer as soon as possi-
ble.

8-2
VEHICLE LOADING AND TOWING
66J22-03E
Trailer TowingYou can use your SUZUKI to tow a trailer,
but you should always observe the require-
ments and recommendations in this sec-
tion. If you intend to tow a trailer, it is
essential to select a trailer and trailer tow-
ing equipment which are compatible. A
reputable trailer dealer can help you.
For Automatic transmission vehicles, shift
into “3” (Low 2) or “L” (Low 1) (if necessary)
and frequently monitor the coolant temper-
ature gauge when towing up a steep hill. If
the gauge indicates overheating, park the
vehicle in a safe place and let the enginecool down. Refer to “If the Engine Over-
heats” section for details on how to deal
with overheating.
HitchesUse only a trailer hitch bracket that is
designed to bolt to the frame of your vehi-
cle, and a hitch that is designed to bolt to
this bracket. We recommend that you use
a genuine SUZUKI trailer hitch bracket and
trailer hitch (available as options), or equiv-
alent.Safety ChainsAlways attach safety chains between your
vehicle and trailer. Cross safety chains
under the tongue of the trailer so that the
tongue will not drop to the road if the trailer
becomes separated from the hitch. Follow
the manufacturer’s recommendation for
attaching safety chains. Always leave just
enough slack to permit full turning. Never
allow safety chains to drag on the road.
Trailer LightsMake sure your trailer is equipped with
lights which meet federal, state and local
requirements. Always check for the proper
operation of all trailer lights before you
start to tow.Brakes CAUTION
Trailer towing puts additional stress
on the engine, drive train and brakes
of your vehicle. Never tow a trailer
during the first 960 km (600 miles) of
vehicle operation.
CAUTION
Because towing a trailer puts addi-
tional stress on your vehicle, more
frequent maintenance will be
required than under normal driving
conditions. Follow the schedule for
Maintenance Recommended Under
Severe Driving Conditions or perform
more frequent maintenance as nec-
essary.
CAUTION
Towing in “D” range up a steep hill
can cause coolant overheating which
may result in engine/automatic trans-
mission damage.
WARNING
Never use a bumper hitch or a hitch
which attaches to the axle of your
vehicle.
WARNING
Never attach safety chains to the
bumper of your vehicle. Secure con-
nections so that they can’t come
loose.
WARNING
Never splice trailer lights directly into
your vehicle’s electrical system, or
electrical system damage may occur.
WARNING
If trailer brakes are used, you should
follow all instructions provided by the
manufacturer. Never tap into the
brake system of your vehicle.
Trailer Towing: 5, 11, 13

8-3VEHICLE LOADING AND TOWING
66J22-03E
Tires
MirrorsCheck to see if your vehicle’s mirrors meet
federal, state and local requirements for
mirrors used on towing vehicles. If they do
not, you must install required mirrors
before you tow.Vehicle/Trailer Weight LimitsBefore towing, you must make sure that
gross trailer weight, gross combined
weight, trailer tongue weight, gross vehicle
weight and gross axle weight (front and
rear) are within specified limits as
described below. You can measure vehicle
and trailer weights using a vehicle scale
and can measure tongue weight using a
bathroom scale.Gross Trailer Weight
60A378
Gross Trailer Weight is the weight of the
trailer plus all cargo in it (measured with
the trailer disconnected from the towing
vehicle). Gross trailer weight must never
exceed 1350 kg (3000 pounds).
If you intend to tow a trailer having a gross
trailer weight greater than 450 kg (1000
pounds), the trailer must be equipped with
trailer brakes.Gross Combined Weight
60A381
Gross Combined Weight is the weight of
the fully loaded vehicle (including all the
occupants, accessories and cargo) plus
the weight of the fully loaded trailer. Gross
combined weight must never exceed:
 2WD – 3400 kg (7500 pounds)
 4WD – 3450 kg (7600 pounds)
WARNING
When towing a trailer, it is very
important for your vehicle and trailer
to have properly inflated tires. Your
vehicle’s tires should be inflated to
the recommended pressures listed
on your vehicle’s Tire Inflation Pres-
sure label. Inflate trailer tires accord-
ing to the specifications provided by
the trailer manufacturer.
Trailer Towing: 5, 11, 13