2012 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA Towing your vehicle

7-34
INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
79K21-03E
exceed the total load capacity of the
vehicle.
Total Load Capacity – Maximum per-
missible weight a vehicle can carry
including the weight of all the occu-
pants, accessories, cargo, plus trailer
tongue weight (if towing a trailer).
The weight of any accessories already
installed on your vehicle at the time of
purchase, or that you or the dealer
install after purchase, must be sub-
tracted from the total load capacity to
determine how much capacity remains
available for occupants, cargo, and
trailer tongue weight (if towing a
trailer). Contact your dealer for further
information.
Actual weight of the loaded vehicle
and actual loads at the front and rear
axles can only be determined by
weighing the vehicle using a vehicle
scale. To measure the weight and
load, try making your vehicle to a high-
way weighing station, shipping com-
pany or inspection station for trucks,
etc. Compare these weights to the
GVWR and GAWR (front and rear)
listed on the Safety Certification Label.
If the gross vehicle weight or the load
on either axle exceeds these ratings,
you must remove enough weight tobring the load down to the rated
capacity.
Steps for Determining Correct Load
Limit
1) Locate the statement “The com-
bined weight of occupants and
cargo should never exceed XXX kg
or XXX lbs” on your vehicle’s plac-
ard.
2) Determine the combined weight of
the driver and passengers that will
be riding in your vehicle.
3) Subtract the combined weight of
the driver and passengers from
XXX kg or XXX lbs.
4) The resulting figure equals the
available amount of cargo and lug-
gage load capacity. For example, if
the “XXX” amount equals 1400 lbs
and there will be five 150 lb passen-
WARNING
Never overload your vehicle.
Overloading your vehicle can
cause damage to your tires and
lead to poor steering and braking
which can result in an accident.
The gross vehicle weight (sum of
the weights of the loaded vehicle,
driver and passengers) must
never exceed the Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating (GVWR) listed on
the Safety Certification Label. In
addition, never distribute a load
so that the weight on either the
front or rear axle exceeds the
Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GAWR) listed on the Safety Certi-
fication Label.
WARNING
 Always distribute cargo evenly.
 To avoid personal injury or
damage to your vehicle, always
secure cargo to prevent it from
shifting if the vehicle moves
suddenly.
 Place heavier objects on the
floor and as far forward in the
cargo area as possible. Never
pile cargo higher than the top of
the seatbacks.
Fuses: 7

7-35INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
79K21-03E
gers in your vehicle, the amount of
available cargo and luggage load
capacity is 650 lbs (1400 – 750 (5 x
150) = 650 lbs).
5) Determine the combined weight of
luggage and cargo being loaded on
the vehicle. That weight may not
safely exceed the available cargo
and luggage load capacity calcu-
lated in Step 4.
6) If your vehicle will be towing a
trailer, load from your trailer will be
transferred to your vehicle. Consult
this manual to determine how this
reduces the available cargo and
luggage load capacity of your vehi-
cle.
Vehicle Loading Example
As an example, suppose that the Tire
and Loading Information label on your
vehicle indicates that your vehicle’s
total load capacity is 950 lbs. If you
were to drive your vehicle with one
passenger, and the total combined
weight of you and your passenger was
350 lbs, then the cargo and luggage
capacity of your vehicle would be 600
lbs (950 – 350 = 600 lbs).
If you later added 2 more passengers,
having a combined weight of 325 lbs,
the cargo and luggage capacity of
your vehicle would be reduced from600 lbs to 275 lbs (600 – 325 = 275
lbs). As you can see, as the number
and combined weight of vehicle occu-
pants increase, the vehicle’s cargo
and luggage capacity decreases.
Suppose again, that you were to take
a trip in your vehicle with the same
three passengers described above,
and you decided to tow a trailer having
a trailer tongue weight of 75 lbs. The
cargo and luggage capacity would be
reduced again, to 200 lbs (275 – 75 =
200 lbs).
Determining Compatibility of Tire
and Vehicle Load Limits
The tires on your vehicle, when they
are inflated to the recommended tire
inflation pressure, have a load-carry-
ing capacity that is greater than the
load that will be on the tires when the
vehicle is at its GVWR or GAWR limit.
Never use replacement tires that have
a load-carrying capacity less than the
original tires on your vehicle. Tire load-
carrying capacity information is
molded into the tire sidewall typically
shown as “Max. Load”. Use of replace-
ment tires with a lower load-carrying
capacity than the original tires, or fail-
ure to keep the tires inflated to recom-
mended tire pressure, may reduce the
GVWR or GAWR limit of your vehicle.NOTE:
Use of replacement tires with a higher
load-carrying capacity than the origi-
nal tires, or using a tire inflation pres-
sure higher than the recommended
tire inflation pressure, will not increase
the GVWR or GAWR limit of your vehi-
cle.
Fuses: 7
Headlight Aiming:
Bulb Replacement: 7

8-4
EMERGENCY SERVICE
79K21-03E
NOTE:
Remove the full wheel cover from the bot-
tom part to the upper part. Otherwise, the
claws may be broken.
(Half cover type)
78K060
NOTE:
If your vehicle is equipped with the half
cover, remove the center bolt (4), then
remove the outer cover (5) of the spare
wheel half cover.
78K153
5) Pull out the lock cover (B) fitted on the
lock nut of the spare wheel while insert-
ing the key full into the key hole of the
lock cover (B).
6) Remove the lock nut and wheel nuts of
the spare wheel, then remove the spare
wheel with both hands.
To change the wheel:
1) Loosen, but do not remove the wheel
nuts.
2) Jack up the vehicle (follow the jacking
instructions in this section)
3) Remove the wheel nuts and wheel.
4) Before installing the new wheel, clean
any mud or dirt off from the surface of
the wheel and hub with a clean cloth.
Clean the hub carefully; it may be hot
from driving.
5) Install the new wheel and replace the
wheel nuts with their cone shaped endfacing the wheel. Tighten each nut
snugly by hand until the wheel is
securely seated on the hub.
81A057
Tightening torque for wheel nut
100 Nm (10.0 kg-m, 72.3 lb-ft)
6) Lower the jack and fully tighten the nuts
in a crisscross fashion with a wrench as
shown in the illustration.
(5) (4)
(B)
EXAMPLE
Jump Starting Instructions: 7
Towing a Disabled Vehicle: 6
If the Starter Does Not Operate: 2, 9

8-7EMERGENCY SERVICE
79K21-03E
Jump Starting Instructions
When jump starting your vehicle, use
the following procedure:
60A269
1) Use only a 12-volt battery to jump start
your vehicle. Position the good 12-volt
battery close to your vehicle so that the
jumper cables will reach both batteries.
When using a battery installed on
another vehicle, DO NOT LET THE
VEHICLES TOUCH. Set the parking
brakes fully on both vehicles.2) Turn off all vehicle accessories, except
those necessary for safety reasons (for
example, headlights or hazard lights).
60A270
52D129
WARNING
 Never attempt to jump start your
vehicle if the battery appears to be
frozen. Batteries in this condition
may explode or rupture if jump
starting is attempted.
 When making jumper cable con-
nections, be certain that your
hands and the jumper cables
remain clear from pulleys, belts or
fans.
 Batteries produce flammable
hydrogen gas. Keep flames and
sparks away from the battery or an
explosion may occur. Never smoke
when working near the battery.
 If the booster battery you use for
jump starting is installed in another
vehicle, make sure the two vehicles
are not touching each other.
 If your battery discharges repeat-
edly, for no apparent reason, have
your vehicle inspected by an autho-
rized SUZUKI dealer.
 To avoid harm to yourself or dam-
age to your vehicle or battery, fol-
low the jump starting instructions
below precisely and in order. If you
are in doubt, call for qualified road
service.
CAUTION
Your vehicle should not be started by
pushing or towing. This starting
method could result in permanent
damage to the catalytic converter.
Use jumper cables to start a vehicle
with a weak or run-down battery.12V BATTERY
EXAMPLE
Engine Hook
Charged Battery
Discharged
Battery
EXAMPLE

8-8
EMERGENCY SERVICE
79K21-03E
3) Make jumper cable connections as fol-
lows:
1. Connect one end of the first jumper
cable to the positive (+) terminal of
the discharged battery (1).
2. Connect the other end to the positive
(+) terminal of the booster battery
(2).
3. Connect one end of the second
jumper cable to the negative (–) ter-
minal of the booster battery (2).
4. Make the final connection to an
unpainted, heavy metal part (i.e.
engine hook (3)) of the engine of the
vehicle with the discharged battery
(1).
4) If the booster battery you are using is
installed on another vehicle, start the
engine of the vehicle with the booster
battery. Run the engine at moderate
speed.
5) Start the engine of the vehicle with the
discharged battery.
6) Remove the jumper cables in the exact
reverse order in which you connected
them.
Towing a Disabled VehicleEmergency TowingIf your vehicle is disabled, it may be towed
by a tow truck using one of the following
methods:
1) Tow the vehicle with two wheels lifted
by the tow truck and the other two
wheels on a towing dolly.
2) Use the appropriate towing method
specified for your vehicle in the “Towing
Your Vehicle (recreational towing)” sec-
tion, but with the wheels lifted by the
tow truck instead of on a towing dolly.
Be sure to carefully follow the specific
instructions provided in the “Towing
Your Vehicle (recreational towing)” sec-
tion.
If the Starter Does Not
Operate1) Try turning the ignition switch to the
“START” position with the headlights
turned on to determine the battery con-
dition. If the headlights go excessively
dim or go off, it usually means that
either the battery has run down or bat-
tery terminal contact is poor. Recharge
the battery or correct battery terminal
contact if necessary.
2) If the headlights remain bright, check
the fuses. If the reason for failure of the
starter is not obvious, there may be a
major electrical problem. Have the vehi-
cle inspected by your authorized
SUZUKI dealer.
WARNING
Never connect the jumper cable
directly to the negative (–) terminal of
the discharged battery, or an explo-
sion may occur.
CAUTION
If vehicle damage (such as steering
or drivetrain damage, inability to
operate free axle mechanism, etc.)
prevent normal use of the towing pro-
cedures for your vehicle described in
the “Towing Your Vehicle (recre-
ational towing)” section, have your
vehicle towed with two wheels lifted
by the tow truck and the other two
wheels on a towing dolly.

13-5
INDEX79K21-03E
Tire Chains
...........................................................................4-7
Tire Changing Tool
..............................................................8-1
Tire Inflation Pressure .........................................................7-27
Tire Inspection
.....................................................................7-28
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
.........................3-38
Tire Rotation
........................................................................7-31
Tire Sidewall Labeling
.........................................................7-25
Tire Size
................................................................................7-26
Tires
......................................................................................7-25
Towing a Disabled Vehicle
.................................................8-8
Towing Your Vehicle (recreational towing)
.......................6-7
Traction Control System
.....................................................3-31
Trailer Towing
......................................................................6-2
Transfer Position Indicator Light
.......................................2-64
Trip meter
.............................................................................2-70
Troubleshooting
..................................................................5-34
,
................................................................................................5-60
Turn Signal Control Lever
..................................................2-78
Turn Signal Indicators
.........................................................2-63
Turn Signal Operation .........................................................2-79
UUnderfloor Bins
...................................................................5-77
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
.............................................7-30
Using the Transfer Switch
..................................................3-15
Using the Transmission
......................................................3-11
VVehicle Cleaning
..................................................................9-3
Vehicle Identification Number
............................................10-1
Vehicle Loading
........................................................... 6-1
, 7-33
Vehicle With Keyless Start System
....................................3-4
Vehicle Without Keyless Start System
..............................3-3
WWarning and Indicator Lights
............................................ 2-55
Warning and Indicator Messages
...................................... 2-72
Warranties
........................................................................... 10-2
Washing
............................................................................... 9-4
Waxing ................................................................................. 9-5
Windows .............................................................................. 2-15
Windshield Washer
............................................................. 2-80
Windshield Washer Fluid
................................................... 7-49
Windshield Wiper and Washer Lever
................................ 2-79
Windshield Wipers
.............................................................. 2-80
Wiper Blades
....................................................................... 7-46