2008 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA Owners Manual

2-36
BEFORE DRIVING
66J22-03E
Seat Belt Pretensioner System
(for front seat belt only)
52D011
Your vehicle is equipped with a seat belt
pretensioner system at the front seating
positions. You can use the pretensioner
seat belts in the same manner as ordinary
seat belts.
The seat belt pretensioner system works
with the SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT
SYSTEM (advanced air bags). The crashsensors and the electronic controller of the
air bag system also control the seat belt
pretensioners. The pretensioners are trig-
gered only when the air bags are triggered
and the seat belts are fastened. If the seat
belts are not fastened, the respective pre-
tensioner system will not be activated. For
precautions and general information
including servicing the pretensioner sys-
tem, refer to the “Supplemental Restraint
System (air bags)” section in addition to
this “Seat Belt Pretensioner System” sec-
tion, and follow all those precautions.
The pretensioner is located in each front
seat belt retractor. The pretensioner tight-
ens the seat belt so the belt fits the occu-
pant’s body more snugly in the event of a
frontal crash. The retractors will remain
locked after the pretensioners are acti-
vated. Upon activation, some noise will
occur and some smoke may be released.
These conditions are not harmful and do
not indicate a fire in the vehicle.
The driver and all passengers must be
properly restrained by wearing seat belts
at all times, whether or not a pretensioner
is equipped at their seating position, to
minimize the risk of severe injury or death
in the event of a crash. Sit fully back in the
seat; sit up straight; do not lean forward or
sideways. Adjust the belt so the lap portion
of the belt is worn low across the pelvis,
not across the waist. Please refer to the
“Seat Adjustment” section and the instruc-
tions and precautions about the seat belts
WARNING
Failure to follow these instructions
may increase the risk of injury in a
crash.
 Only use an extender for the per-
son, vehicle and seating position it
was provided for.
 Do not use if open end of
extender’s buckle is within 152 mm
(6 inches) of center of occupant’s
body (See diagram).
 Remove and stow the extender
when it is not being used.
WARNING
This section of the owner’s manual
describes your SUZUKI’s SEAT BELT
PRETENSIONER SYSTEM. Please
read and follow ALL these instruc-
tions carefully to minimize your risk
of severe injury or death.
Seat Belts and Child Restraint Systems: 14
Supplemental Restraint System (air bags): 3, 9, 12

2-37BEFORE DRIVING
66J22-03E
in this “Seat Belts and Child Restraint Sys-
tems” section for details on proper seat
and seat belt adjustments.
Please note that the pretensioners along
with the front air bags will activate only in
severe frontal collisions. They are not
designed to activate in rear impacts, side
impacts, rollovers or minor frontal colli-
sions. The pretensioners can be activated
only once. If the pretensioners are acti-
vated (that is, if the front air bags are acti-
vated), have the pretensioner system
serviced by an authorized SUZUKI dealer
as soon as possible.
If the “AIR BAG” light on the instrument
cluster does not blink or come on briefly
when the ignition switch is turned to the
“ON” position, stays on for more than 10
seconds, or comes on while driving, the
pretensioner system or the air bag system
may not work properly. Have both systems
inspected by an authorized SUZUKI dealer
as soon as possible.
Service on or around the pretensioner sys-
tem components or wiring must be per-
formed only by an authorized SUZUKI
dealer who is specially trained. Improper
service could result in unintended activa-
tion of pretensioners or could render the
pretensioner inoperative. Either of these
two conditions may result in personal
injury.
To prevent damage or unintended activa-
tion of the pretensioners, be sure the bat-tery is disconnected and the ignition switch
has been in the “LOCK” position for at least
90 seconds before performing any electri-
cal service work on your SUZUKI. Do not
touch pretensioner system components or
wiring. The wires are wrapped with yellow
tape or yellow tubing, and the couplers are
yellow. When scrapping your SUZUKI, ask
your SUZUKI dealer, body repair shop or
scrap yard for assistance.
Supplemental Restraint
System (air bags)
54G022
Your vehicle has advanced front air bags
and side air bags for the driver and right
front passenger. Your vehicle also has side
curtain air bags.
WARNING
This section of the owner’s manual
describes the protection provided by
your SUZUKI’s SUPPLEMENTAL
RESTRAINT SYSTEM (air bags).
Please read and follow ALL these
instructions carefully to minimize
your risk of severe injury or death in
the event of a collision.EXAMPLE
Supplemental Restraint System (air bags): 3, 9, 12

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BEFORE DRIVING
66J22-03E
66J126
1
2
8
3
5 89
3 4 7
1010
6
66J132
Your vehicle is equipped with a Supple-
mental Restraint System consisting of the
following components in addition to a lap-
shoulder belt at each front seating position.
1. Driver’s front air bag
2. Front passenger’s front air bag
3. Seat belt pretensioners
4. Air bag controller
5. Occupant classification module
6. “PASS AIR BAG OFF” indicator
7. Forward crash sensor
8. Side air bags
9. Side curtain air bags
10. Side crash sensor
11. Front passenger’s sensor mat
11
Supplemental Restraint System (air bags): 3, 9, 12

2-39BEFORE DRIVING
66J22-03E
63J030
If the “AIR BAG” light on the instrument
cluster does not blink when the ignition
switch is first turned to the “ON” position,
or the “AIR BAG” light stays on, or comes
on while driving, the air bag system (or the
seat belt pretensioner system) may not
work properly. Have the air bag system
inspected by an authorized SUZUKI dealer
as soon as possible.
Front Air Bags
63J259
64J032
The driver’s front air bag is located behind
the center pad of the steering wheel. The
words “SRS AIRBAG” are molded into the
air bag cover to identify the location of theair bag. The front passenger’s front air bag
is located behind the passenger’s side of
the dashboard. The words “SRS AIRBAG”
are molded into the air bag cover to identify
the location of the air bag.
Frontal collision range
60G032
Front air bags are designed to inflate only
in severe frontal collisions.
EXAMPLEEXAMPLE
Supplemental Restraint System (air bags): 3, 9, 12

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BEFORE DRIVING
66J22-03E
Front air bags will not inflate
65D236
Front air bags will probably not inflate
65D237
They are not designed to inflate in rear
impacts, side impacts, rollovers or minor
frontal collisions, since they would offer no
protection in those types of accidents.
Remember, since air bags deploy only one
time during an accident, seat belts are
needed to restrain occupants from further
movements during the accident.
Therefore, an air bag is NOT a substitute
for seat belts. To maximize your protection,
ALWAYS WEAR YOUR SEAT BELTS. Be
aware that no system can prevent all pos-
sible injuries that may occur in an accident.
Your vehicle has “dual stage” front air
bags, which adjust the air bag inflation
force according to crash severity. Also,
your vehicle has a front passenger sensing
system, which turns off the front passen-
ger’s air bag and seat belt pretensioner
under certain conditions.
Side Air Bags and Side Curtain Air
Bags
62J114
64J033
Side air bags are located in the part of the
front seatbacks closest to the doors. The
words “SRS AIRBAG” are molded into the
WARNING
An air bag supplements, or adds to,
the crash protection offered by seat
belts. The driver and all passengers
must be properly restrained by wear-
ing seat belts at all times, whether or
not air bags are mounted at their
seating position, to minimize the risk
of severe injury or death in the event
of a crash.
EXAMPLE
Supplemental Restraint System (air bags): 3, 9, 12

2-41BEFORE DRIVING
66J22-03E
side air bag cover to identify the location of
the side air bags.
64J034
Side curtain air bags are located in the roof
lining. The words “SRS AIRBAG” are
molded into the pillar to identify the loca-
tion of the side curtain air bags.Side collision range
64J036
Side air bags and side curtain air bags
will not inflate
54G027
Side air bags and side curtain air bags
will probably not inflate
54G028
Side air bags and side curtain air bags are
designed to inflate only in severe side
impact collisions. They are not designed to
inflate in frontal or rear collisions, rollovers
or minor side collisions, since they would
offer no protection in those types of acci-
dents. Only the side air bag and side cur-
tain air bag on the side of the vehicle that
is struck will inflate. Remember, since an
air bag deploys only one time during an
accident, seat belts are needed to restrain
occupants from further movements during
the accident.
Therefore, an air bag is NOT a substitute
for seat belts. To maximize your protection,
ALWAYS WEAR YOUR SEAT BELTS. Be
aware that no system can prevent all pos-
sible injuries that may occur in an accident.
Supplemental Restraint System (air bags): 3, 9, 12

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BEFORE DRIVING
66J22-03E
Front Passenger Sensing SystemThe front passenger sensing system will
turn off the front passenger’s front air bag
and seat belt pretensioner under certain
conditions. This system works using a sen-
sor mat that is part of the front passenger’s
seat. The front passenger sensing system
is designed to detect whether an occupant
is present in the seat and, if an occupant is
present, to determine whether the front
passenger’s front air bag and seat belt pre-
tensioner should be enabled or disabled
(turned off).
NOTE:
The front passenger’s side air bag and the
side curtain air bag are not controlled by
the front passenger sensing system.
66J244
When the ignition switch is turned to the
“ON” position, the “PASS AIR BAG OFF”
indicator comes on for several seconds tolet you know the system is working. When
the front passenger sensing system has
turned off the front passenger’s front air
bag including the seat belt pretensioner,
the “PASS AIR BAG OFF” indicator will
come on and stay on to remind you that
the front passenger’s front air bag is off.
The front passenger sensing system uses
front seat pressure measurements and
pressure locations to determine whether to
activate or deactivate the front passenger’s
front air bag. The front passenger sensing
system may or may not turn off the front air
bag, depending on the front passenger’s
seating posture and body build. The air
bag should be turned off in the following
situations:
 There is no occupant in the front pas-
senger seat.
 The occupant of the front passenger
seat lifts his or her weight off of the seat
for a period of time.
 The occupant of the front passenger
seat is an infant or small child in a child
restraint system or a small child in a
booster seat.
 A smaller person, such as a child who
has outgrown child restraints or a very
small adolescent is seated in the front
passenger seat.
NOTE:
If the front passenger seat is unoccupied,
the “PASS AIR BAG OFF” indicator will not
come on but the front passenger’s front air
WARNING
An air bag supplements, or adds to,
the crash protection offered by seat
belts. The driver and all passengers
must be properly restrained by wear-
ing seat belts at all times, whether or
not air bags are mounted at their
seating position, to minimize the risk
of severe injury or death in the event
of a crash.
WARNING
If the “AIR BAG” light in the instru-
ment cluster ever comes on and
stays on, it means that something
may be wrong with the air bag sys-
tem. If this ever happens, have the
vehicle serviced immediately,
because the air bags may not offer
the protection for which they were
designed.
Supplemental Restraint System (air bags): 3, 9, 12

2-43BEFORE DRIVING
66J22-03E
bag will not deploy and the seat belt pre-
tensioner will not operate.
If you have secured a child in the front pas-
senger seat in a forward-facing child
restraint system or booster seat and the
“PASS AIR BAG OFF” indicator light is not
on, turn the vehicle off, remove the child
restraint or booster seat from the vehicle
and reinstall it following the child restraint
or booster seat manufacturer’s directions.
Also refer to “Seat Belts and Child
Restraint Systems” in this section. If, after
reinstalling the child restraint and restart-
ing the vehicle, the “PASS AIR BAG OFF”
indicator is still not lit, check to make sure
that the vehicle’s seatback is not pressing
the child restraint into the seat cushion. If
this happens, slightly recline the vehicle’s
seatback and adjust the seat cushion if
possible. Also make sure the child restraint
is not trapped under the vehicle head
restraint. If this happens, adjust the head
restraint. If the “PASS AIR BAG OFF” indi-
cator is still not on, secure the child in the
child restraint or booster seat in a rear seat
position in the vehicle and check with your
dealer.
65D607
According to accident statistics, children
are safer when properly restrained in rear
seating positions than in front seating posi-
tions. Whenever possible, SUZUKI recom-
mends you install child restraints in the
rear seat.
The front passenger sensing system is
designed to enable the front passenger’sfront air bag when the system senses a
properly-seated adult in the front passen-
ger’s seat. When the passenger sensing
system has allowed the air bag to be
enabled, the “PASS AIR BAG OFF” indica-
tor will remain off to remind you that the air
bag is active.
If a person of adult size is sitting in the
front passenger’s seat and the “PASS AIR
BAG OFF” indicator comes on, it could be
because that person isn’t sitting properly in
the seat. If this happens, unfasten the seat
belts, sit upright in the center of the seat
with the seatback nearly vertical and your
legs outstretched, and refasten the seat
belt.
52D258
When seated as shown in the above illus-
tration, the front passenger sensing sys-
tem senses a properly-seated occupant
and enables the air bag.
WARNING
Do not install a rear-facing child
restraint in the front passenger’s
seat. If the passenger’s front air bag
inflates, a child in a rear-facing child
restraint could be seriously injured.
The back of a rear-facing child
restraint would be too close to the
inflating air bag.
Supplemental Restraint System (air bags): 3, 9, 12