2012 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA full

2-51BEFORE DRIVING
79K21-03E
How the System WorksIn a frontal collision, the crash sensors will
detect rapid deceleration and send a signal
to the controller. If the controller judges
that the deceleration represents a severe
frontal crash, the controller will trigger the
inflators. The controller also judges:
 Whether the front air bags should deploy
at reduced power or at full power accord-
ing to crash severity.
 Whether the front passenger’s front air
bag should deploy or not based on clas-
sification of the occupant of the front
passenger’s seat.
Since your vehicle is equipped with side air
bags, and side curtain air bags, crash sen-
sors will detect a side collision, and if the
controller judges that the side collision is
severe enough, it will trigger the side air
bag and side curtain air bag inflators.
Your vehicle also has rollover sensors that
work with the controller to predict whether
a rollover may occur and if the controller
judges that a severe rollover is about to
occur, it triggers the side curtain air bag
inflators on both sides of the vehicle.
The inflators inflate the appropriate air
bags with nitrogen or argon gas. The
inflated air bags provide a cushion for your
head (front air bags and side curtain air
bags only) and upper body. The air bag
inflates and deflates so quickly that you
may not even realize that it has activated.
WARNING
The front passenger sensing system
may not work properly in the follow-
ing situations:
 The occupant is sitting near the
dashboard or is not sitting in the
proper position.
 Objects placed under the seat are
pushing up on the seat cushion.
WARNING
If the “PASS AIR BAG OFF” indicator
on the instrument panel turns on
even though there is no occupant or
an adult occupant in the front pas-
senger’s seat, it means that some-
thing may be wrong with the
passenger sensing system. Have the
system inspected by an authorized
SUZUKI dealer as soon as possible.
WARNING
 Do not spill any liquids on the seat.
Liquids can damage the sensors
under the front seat.
 Have front passenger’s sensor mat
inspected by your dealer after a
collision.
 Do not replace the front seats. If
you replace them, the air bags and
front passenger sensing system
may not work properly.
 Do not use a seat cover. If you use
a seat cover, the front passenger
sensing system may not work prop-
erly.

2-52
BEFORE DRIVING
79K21-03E
The air bag will neither hinder your view
nor make it harder to exit the vehicle.
Air bags must inflate quickly and forcefully
in order to reduce the chance of serious or
fatal injuries. However, an unavoidable
consequence of the quick inflation is that
the air bag may irritate bare skin, such as
the facial area against a front air bag. Also,
upon inflation, a loud noise will occur and
some powder and smoke will be released.
These conditions are not harmful and do
not indicate a fire in the car. Be aware,
however, that some air bag components
may be hot for a while after inflation.
A seat belt helps keep you in the proper
position for maximum protection when an
air bag inflates. Adjust your seat as far
back as possible while still maintaining
control of the vehicle. Sit fully back in your
seat; sit up straight; do not lean over the
steering wheel or dashboard. Front occu-
pants should not lean on or sleep against
the door. Please refer to the “Seat Adjust-
ment” section and the “Seat Belts and
Child Restraint Systems” section in the
“BEFORE DRIVING” section for details on
proper seat and seat belt adjustments.
65D610
54G582
WARNING
 The driver should not lean over the
steering wheel. The front passen-
ger should not rest his or her body
against the dashboard, or other-
wise get too close to the dash-
board. For vehicles with side air
bags and side curtain air bags,
occupants should not lean on or
sleep against the door. In these sit-
uations, the out-of-position occu-
pant would be too close to an
inflating air bag, and may suffer
severe injury.
 Do not attach any objects to, or
place any objects over, the steering
wheel or dashboard. Do not place
any objects between the air bag
and the driver or front passenger.
These objects may interfere with air
bag operation or may be propelled
by the air bag in the event of a
crash. Either of these conditions
may cause severe injury.
(Continued)

2-57BEFORE DRIVING
79K21-03E
section for information on maintaining
proper tire pressure.Brake System Warning Light
65D477
This light comes on briefly when the igni-
tion switch is turned to the “ON” position.
The light also comes on under the follow-
ing conditions: 1) when the parking brake
is engaged, and 2) when the fluid in the
brake fluid reservoir falls below the speci-
fied level. The light should go out after fully
releasing the parking brake, if the fluid
level in the brake fluid reservoir is ade-
quate.
If the brake system warning light comes on
while you are driving the vehicle, it may
mean that there is something wrong with
the vehicle’s brake system. If this happens,
you should:
1) Pull off the road and stop carefully.2) Test the brakes by carefully starting and
stopping on the shoulder of the road.
3) If you determine that it is safe, drive
cautiously at low speed to the nearest
dealer for repairs,
or
4) Have the vehicle towed to the nearest
dealer for repairs.NOTE:
Because the disc brake system is self-
adjusting, the fluid level will drop as the
brake pads become worn.
Replenishing the brake fluid reservoir is
considered normal periodic maintenance.
WARNING
Remember that stopping distance
may be longer, you may have to push
harder on the pedal, and the pedal
may go down farther than normal.
WARNING
If any of the following conditions
occur, you should immediately ask
your SUZUKI dealer to inspect the
brake system.
 If the brake system warning light
does not go out after the parking
brake has been fully released.
 If the brake system warning light
does not come on when the igni-
tion switch is turned to the “ON”
position.
 If the brake system warning light
comes on at any time during vehi-
cle operation.

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.

2-62
BEFORE DRIVING
79K21-03E
NOTE:
If the fuel filler cap is not installed fully, the
electrical system gets wet (such as by driv-
ing through a deep puddle of water) or the
fuel tank gets nearly empty, the malfunc-
tion indicator lamp may come on. If so, the
lamp will go off after driving a few times
after the fuel filler cap is installed fully, the
electrical system dries out or the fuel tank
is filled.Low Fuel Warning Light
54G343
If this light comes on, fill the fuel tank
immediately.
NOTE:
The activation point of this light varies
depending on road conditions (for exam-
ple, slope or curve) and driving conditions
because of fuel moving in the tank.
NOTE:
The information display shows the warning
and indicator message when this light
comes on.
Open Door Warning Light
54G391
This light remains on until all doors (includ-
ing the tailgate) are completely closed.
NOTE:
The information display shows the warning
and indicator message when this light
comes on.
“CRUISE” Indicator Light
(if equipped)
52D113
When the cruise control system is on, this
light will be on.“SET” Indicator Light (if equipped)
65D474
When the vehicle’s speed is controlled by
the cruise control system, this light will be
on.

2-65BEFORE DRIVING
79K21-03E
Speedometer
79K119
The speedometer indicates vehicle speed
in km/h and mph.
Tachometer
78K039
The tachometer indicates engine speed in
revolutions per minute.
Fuel Gauge
64J052
This gauge gives an approximate indica-
tion of the amount of fuel in the fuel tank.
“F” stands for full and “E” stands for empty.
If the indicator gets off the graduation of
“E” (not character “E”), refill the tank as
soon as possible.
NOTE:
The indicator moves a little depending on
road conditions (for example, slope or
curve) and driving conditions because of
fuel moving in the tank.
If the low fuel warning light (1) comes on,
fill the fuel tank immediately.
EXAMPLE
CAUTION
Never drive with the engine speed
indicator in the red zone or severe
engine damage can result.
When downshifting to a lower gear,
make sure not to operate with exces-
sive revolution speeds of the engine.EXAMPLE
(1) (2)

2-74
BEFORE DRIVING
79K21-03E
(#1) This message will disappear for a while even if the problem that caused the message to appear is not corrected.
NOTE:
 When you operate the transfer switch (if equipped), the information display may show messages other than those in the above chart.
Refer to “Using the Transfer Switch” in the “OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE” section for details.
 When you operate the ESP OFF switch (if equipped), the information display may show messages other than those in the above chart.
Refer to “Electronic Stability Program (ESP
®)” in the “OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE” section for details. Warning and Indicator messageMaster Warning
IndicatorSound Cause and Remedy
79K074
Blinks Off There may be a problem with the 4WD system.
Have your vehicle inspected by an authorized SUZUKI
dealer.
79K075
Off Ding Fuel is low. (#1)
Fill the fuel tank immediately.
79K067
Off Off The outside temperature is near freezing. The road may
be icy. (#1)
You should drive carefully.

2-78
BEFORE DRIVING
79K21-03E
Daytime Running Light (D.R.L.)
SystemThe headlights light, but are dimmer than
the low beam, when the following three
conditions are all met. Also, the D.R.L. indi-
cator light on the instrument panel comes
on.
Conditions for D.R.L. system operation:
1) The engine is running.
2) The parking brake is released.
3) The headlights are off, or the lighting
switch in the “AUTO” position and it is
light around the light sensor.
NOTE:
Be sure to turn the headlights on at night
or at any time of the day when driving or
weather conditions require the headlights
to operate at full brightness and the tail-
lights to be on.
Lights “On” reminder
A buzzer sounds to remind you to turn off
the lights if they are left on when the igni-
tion key is removed and the driver’s door is
opened.
NOTE:
The warning and indicator message and
the illumination indicator light will be shown
on the information display when this
reminder is activated.
Front Fog Light Switch
(if equipped)
64J058
The front fog light comes on when the fog
light switch is pushed in with:
 the headlights are on and the beams set
to the low beam position, or
 the auto-on headlight system on and the
beams set to the low beam position.
Turn Signal Control Lever
65D611
WARNING
To avoid possible injury, do not oper-
ate controls by reaching through the
steering wheel.