2009 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA traction control

2-58
BEFORE DRIVING
79K21-03E
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
Warning Light
65D529
When the ignition switch is turned to the
“ON” position, the light comes on briefly so
you can check that the light is working. If
the light stays on, or comes on when driv-
ing, there may be something wrong with
the ABS.
If the ABS light and the brake system
warning light stay on, or come on simulta-
neously when driving, then there may be
something wrong with both the rear brake
proportioning valve function and anti-lock
function of the ABS system.
If one of these happens, have the system
inspected by your SUZUKI dealer. If the
ABS becomes inoperative, the brake sys-
tem will function as an ordinary brake sys-
tem that has no ABS.
For details of the ABS, refer to “Anti-Lock
Brake system (ABS)” in the “OPERATING
YOUR VEHICLE” section.
SLIP Indicator Light
79K019
ESP
® is a registered trademark of Daimler
AG.
This light blinks 5 times per second when
one of the following systems is activated.
 Stability control system
 Traction control system
 Hill descent control system (if equipped)
If this light blinks, drive carefully.
When the ignition switch is turned to the
“ON” position, the light comes on briefly so
you can check that the light is working. If
the light stays on, or comes on when driv-
ing and remains on, there may be some-
thing wrong with the ESP
® systems (other
than ABS). You should have the system
inspected by an authorized SUZUKI
dealer.
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. Fordetails on how to reactivate the ESP
® sys-
tems, refer to “SLIP Indicator Light” in the
“OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE” section.
For details of the ESP
® systems, refer to
“Electronic Stability Program (ESP
®)” in
the “OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE” sec-
tion.
WARNING
The ESP
® systems cannot prevent
accidents. Always drive carefully.

2-59BEFORE DRIVING
79K21-03E
“ESP” (Electronic Stability
Program) Warning Light
66J031
When the ignition switch is turned to the
“ON” position, the light comes on briefly so
you can check that the light is working. If
the light stays on, or comes on when driv-
ing, there may be something wrong with
the ESP
® systems (other than ABS). You
should have the system inspected by an
authorized SUZUKI dealer.
For details of the ESP
® systems, refer to
“Electronic Stability Program (ESP
®)” in
the “OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE” sec-
tion.
NOTE:
The information display shows the warning
and indicator message when this light
comes on.
“ESP OFF” Indicator Light
66J032
When the ignition switch is turned to the
“ON” position, this light comes on briefly so
you can check that the light is working.
When the “ESP OFF” switch is pushed to
turn off the ESP
® systems (other than
ABS), the “ESP OFF” light comes on and
stays on.
NOTE:
 If the vehicle speed is greater than
approximately 30 km/h (19 mph), the
ESP
® systems (other than ABS) will turn
on automatically and the 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 automatically. The light will
come on and stay on.
 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 light will come on.
After a short period of time, the ESP
®
systems (other than ABS) will turn on
automatically and the light will go out.
 If your vehicle is equipped with a hill
descent control system and a hill hold
control system, these systems will not be
turned off when the “ESP OFF” switch is
pushed to turn off the ESP
® systems.
For details of the ESP
® systems, refer to
“Electronic Stability Program (ESP
®)” in
the “OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE” sec-
tion.

3-11OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
79K21-03E
Using the TransmissionManual Transmission
65D449
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 push in the clutch pedal fully before
shifting gears. Make sure the engine speed
does not rise into the red zone of the
tachometer.
5-Speed Automatic Transmission
66J003
D:
5-speed automatic transmission mode
4:
4-speed automatic transmission mode
The 4-speed mode is suitable for the fol-
lowing driving conditions:
 Driving on hilly, winding roads
– You can drive more smoothly with less
frequent gearshifting
 Going down a steep hill
– Some engine braking is provided
NOTE:
With the transfer switch in the “4L LOCK”
position, the 5-speed automatic transmis-
sion will remain in the 4-speed mode.
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
hill. 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.
Using the Transfer Switch: 10

3-20
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
79K21-03E
4L LOCK (4-wheel drive low range center differential lock)
64J222
In this position, engine power is supplied to
the front and rear axles and you get better
traction and more low-speed torque than
when driving in “4H”. Use this position
when you need better traction than “4H”
provides and more low-speed torque than
“4H LOCK” provides, such as when climb-
ing or descending steep, slippery hills etc.
NOTE:
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 trac-
tion, 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 ability or for
better performance on a rolling hill or a
slippery surface.
ESP® is a registered trademark of Daimler
AG.
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS):

3-31OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
79K21-03E
How the ABS WorksA computer continuously monitors wheel
speed. The computer compares the
changes in wheel speed when braking. If
the wheels slow suddenly, indicating a
skidding situation, the computer will
change braking pressure several times
each second to prevent the wheels from
locking. When you start your vehicle or
when you accelerate after a hard stop, you
may hear a momentary motor or clicking
sound as the system resets or checks
itself.
Electronic Stability Program
(ESP
®)
ESP
® is a registered trademark of Daimler
AG.
The Electronic Stability Program (ESP
®)
helps to control the vehicle during corner-
ing if front wheels or rear wheels skid. It
also assists you in maintaining traction
while accelerating on loose or slippery
road surfaces. It does this by regulating the
engine’s output, and by selectively apply-
ing the brakes. In addition, ESP
® helps to
avoid skidding by controlling braking pres-
sure.The ESP
® has the following three systems:
Stability Control SystemThe vehicle stability control system helps
provide integrated control of systems such
as anti-lock brakes, traction control, engine
control, etc. This system automatically
controls the brakes and engine to help pre-
vent the vehicle from skidding when cor-
nering on a slippery road surface or when
turning the steering wheel abruptly.Traction Control SystemThe traction control system automatically
helps prevent the spinning of wheels when
the vehicle is started or accelerated on
slippery road surfaces. The system oper-
ates only if it senses that some of the
wheels are spinning or beginning to lose
traction. When this happens, the system
operates the front or rear brakes and
reduces engine power to limit wheel spin.
NOTE:
You may hear a clicking sound in the
engine compartment for a few seconds
when you start the engine or just after the
vehicle begins to move. This means that
the above systems are in the self-check
mode. This sound does not indicate a mal-
function.
WARNING
The ABS may not work properly if
tires or wheels other than those
specified in the owner’s manual are
used. This is because the ABS works
by comparing changes in wheel
speed. When replacing tires or
wheels, use only the size and type
specified in this owner’s manual.
WARNING
The ESP
® cannot enhance the vehi-
cle’s driving stability in all situations
and does not control your vehicle’s
entire braking system. The ESP
® can-
not prevent accidents, including
those resulting from excessive speed
in turns, or hydroplaning. Only a safe
and attentive driver can prevent acci-
dents. The capabilities of an ESP
®-
equipped vehicle must never be used
as a substitute for careful driving.

3-32
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
79K21-03E
Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS)ABS will help you avoid skidding by elec-
tronically controlling braking pressure. It
will also help you maintain steering control
when braking on slippery surfaces or when
braking hard. The ABS works automati-
cally, so you do not have to use any special
braking technique. Just push the brake
pedal down without pumping. The ABS will
operate whenever it senses that wheels
are locking up. You may feel the brake
pedal pulsate while the ABS is operating.
(For more information on ABS, see “Brak-
ing” in the “OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE”
section.)
NOTE:
If the ABS system is activated, you may
hear a clunking noise and/or feel pulsating
in the brake pedal. This is normal and indi-
cates that the brake fluid pressure is being
controlled properly.The ESP
® indicator lights are described
below:
SLIP Indicator Light
79K019
The SLIP indicator light in the instrument
cluster blinks 5 times per second when one
of the following systems is activated.
 Stability control system
 Traction control system
 Hill descent control system (if equipped)
NOTE:
When the SLIP indicator light comes on
and stays on while driving, indicating a
malfunction of the ESP
® systems (other
than ABS), the brake system will function
as an ordinary ABS with no additional
ESP
® functions.
WARNING
 The ESP
® may not work properly if
tires or wheels other than those
specified in the Owner’s Manual are
used. When replacing tires or
wheels, use only the size and type
specified in this Owner’s Manual.
 The ESP® may not work properly if
tires are not inflated to the recom-
mended tire inflation pressure.
 The ESP® may not work properly if
tires are fitted with tire chains.
 The ESP® may not work properly if
the tires are excessively worn. Be
sure to replace tires when the tread
wear indicators in the grooves
appear on the tread surface.
 The ESP® is not a substitute for
winter tires or tire chains on a snow
covered road.
WARNING
 The ESP
® may not work properly if
engine related parts such as the
muffler are not equivalent to stan-
dard equipment or are extremely
deteriorated.
 Do not modify the vehicle’s sus-
pension since the ESP
® may not
operate correctly.
CAUTION
If the SLIP indicator light comes on
and 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.

3-34
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
79K21-03E
“ESP OFF” switch
(without hill descent control)
78K045
(1) “ESP OFF” switch
(with hill descent control)
78K046
(1) “ESP OFF” switchWhen 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
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” indicatorlight 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.
 If your vehicle is equipped with a hill
descent control system and a hill hold
control system, these systems will not be
turned off when the “ESP OFF” switch is
pushed to turn off the ESP
® systems.
79K084
NOTE:
If you push the “ESP OFF” switch when the
transfer switch is in the “4H” position, the
ESP
® systems will not be turned off, and
the message shown in the above illustra-
tion will appear on the information display.
You should turn the transfer switch to the
“4H LOCK” position to turn off the ESP
®
systems. Refer to “Using the Transfer
Switch” in this section.ABS Warning Light / Brake System
Warning LightSee “Braking” in the “OPERATING YOUR
VEHICLE” section.
(1)
(1)

4-6
DRIVING TIPS
79K21-03E
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.