SUZUKI XL7 2007 2.G Owners Manual

4-13 DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE
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does, your vehicle can leave the road in
less than a second, and you could crash
and be injured.
What can you do about highway hypnosis?
First, be aware that it can happen.
Then here are some tips:
 Make sure your vehicle is well ventilated,
with a comfortably cool interior.
 Keep your eyes moving. Scan the road
ahead and to the sides. Check your
vehicle’s mirrors and instruments fre-
quently.
 If you get sleepy, pull off the road into a
rest, service, or parking area and take a
nap, get some exercise, or both. For
safety, treat drowsiness on the highway
as an emergency.
Hill and Mountain Roads
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Driving on steep hills or mountains is differ-
ent from driving in flat or rolling terrain.
If you drive regularly in steep country, or if
you are planning to visit there, here are
some tips that can make your trips safer
and more enjoyable.
 Keep your vehicle in good shape. Check
all fluid levels and also the brakes, tires,
cooling system, and transaxle. These
parts can work hard on mountain roads. Know how to go down hills. The most
important thing to know is this: let your
engine do some of the slowing down.
Shift to a lower gear when you go down
a steep or long hill.
 Know how to go uphill. You may want to
shift down to a lower gear. The lower
gears help cool your engine and tran-
saxle, and you can climb the hill better.
 Stay in your own lane when driving on
two-lane roads in hills or mountains. Do
not swing wide or cut across the center
WARNING
If you do not shift down, the brakes
could get so hot that they would not
work well. You would then have poor
braking or even none going down a
hill. You could crash. Shift down to
let the engine assist the brakes on a
steep downhill slope.
WARNING
Coasting downhill in NEUTRAL (N) or
with the ignition off is dangerous.
The brakes will have to do all the
work of slowing down. They could
get so hot that they would not work
well. You would then have poor brak-
ing or even none going down a hill.
You could crash. Always have the
engine running and your vehicle in
gear when you go downhill.

4-14 DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE
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of the road. Drive at speeds that let you
stay in your own lane.
 As you go over the top of a hill, be alert.
There could be something in your lane,
like a stalled car or an accident.
 You may see highway signs on moun-
tains that warn of special problems.
Examples are long grades, passing or
no-passing zones, a falling rocks area,
or winding roads. Be alert to these and
take appropriate action.Winter Driving
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Here are some tips for winter driving:
 Have your vehicle in good shape for win-
ter.
 You may want to put winter emergency
supplies in your vehicle.Also refer to “Tires” in the “Service and
Appearance Care” section.
Include an ice scraper, a small brush or
broom, a supply of windshield washer fluid,
a rag, some winter outer clothing, a small
shovel, a flashlight, a red cloth, and a cou-
ple of reflective warning triangles. And, if
you will be driving under severe conditions,
include a small bag of sand, a piece of old
carpet, or a couple of burlap bags to help
provide traction. Be sure you properly
secure these items in your vehicle.
Driving on Snow or Ice
Most of the time, those places where the
tires meet the road probably have good
traction.
However, if there is snow or ice between
the tires and the road, you can have a very
slippery situation. You will have a lot less
traction, or grip, and will need to be very
careful.
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What is the worst time for this? Wet ice.
Very cold snow or ice can be slick and hard
to drive on. But wet ice can be even more
trouble because it may offer the least trac-
tion of all. You can get wet ice when it is
about freezing, 32°F (0°C), and freezing
rain begins to fall. Try to avoid driving on
wet ice until salt and sand crews can get
there.
Whatever the condition – smooth ice,
packed, blowing, or loose snow – drive
with caution.
Traction control improves your ability to
accelerate when driving on a slippery road.
But you can turn the traction system off if
you ever need to. You should turn the trac-
tion system off if your vehicle ever gets
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow. Refer to
“If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice,
or Snow” in this section. Even though your

4-15 DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE
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vehicle has a traction system, you will want
to slow down and adjust your driving to the
road conditions. Under certain conditions,
you may want to turn the traction system
off, such as when driving through deep
snow and loose gravel, to help maintain
vehicle motion at lower speeds. Refer to
“Traction Control System (TCS)” and
“Electronic Stability Control” in this section.
The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
improves your vehicle’s stability when you
make a hard stop on a slippery road. Even
though you have ABS, you will want to
begin stopping sooner than you would on
dry pavement. Refer to “Anti-Lock Brake
System (ABS)” in this section.
 Allow greater following distance on any
slippery road.
 Watch for slippery spots. The road might
be fine until you hit a spot that is covered
with ice. On an otherwise clear road, ice
patches may appear in shaded areas
where the sun cannot reach, such as
around clumps of trees, behind build-
ings, or under bridges. Sometimes the
surface of a curve or an overpass may
remain icy when the surrounding roads
are clear. If you see a patch of ice ahead
of you, brake before you are on it. Try not
to brake while you are actually on the
ice, and avoid sudden steering maneu-
vers.If You Are Caught in a Blizzard
If you are stopped by heavy snow, you
could be in a serious situation. You should
probably stay with your vehicle unless you
know for sure that you are near help and
you can hike through the snow. Here are
some things to do to summon help and
keep yourself and your passengers safe:
 Turn on your hazard flashers.
 Tie a red cloth to your vehicle to alert
police that you have been stopped by the
snow.
 Put on extra clothing or wrap a blanket
around you. If you do not have blankets
or extra clothing, make body insulators
from newspapers, burlap bags, rags,
floor mats – anything you can wrap
around yourself or tuck under your cloth-
ing to keep warm.
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You can run the engine to keep warm, but
be careful.
Run your engine only as long as you must.
This saves fuel. When you run the engine,
make it go a little faster than just idle. That
is, push the accelerator slightly. This uses
less fuel for the heat that you get and it
keeps the battery charged.
You will need a well-charged battery to
restart the vehicle, and possibly for signal-
ing later on with your headlamps. Let the
heater run for a while.
Then, shut the engine off and close the
window almost all the way to preserve the
heat. Start the engine again and repeat
this only when you feel really uncomfort-
WARNING
Snow can trap exhaust gases under
your vehicle. This can cause deadly
CO (carbon monoxide) gas to get
inside. CO could overcome you and
kill you. You cannot see it or smell it,
so you might not know it is in your
vehicle. Clear away snow from
around the base of your vehicle,
especially any that is blocking the
exhaust pipe. And check around
again from time to time to be sure
snow does not collect there.
Open a window just a little on the
side of the vehicle that is away from
the wind. This will help keep CO out.

4-16 DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE
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able from the cold. But do it as little as pos-
sible. Preserve the fuel as long as you can.
To help keep warm, you can get out of the
vehicle and do some fairly vigorous exer-
cises every half hour or so until help
comes.If Your Vehicle is Stuck in Sand,
Mud, Ice, or SnowIn order to free your vehicle when it is
stuck, you will need to spin the wheels, but
you do not want to spin your wheels too
fast. The method known as rocking can
help you get out when you are stuck, but
you must use caution.For information about using tire chains on
your vehicle, refer to “Tire Chains” in
“Tires” in the “Service and Appearance
Care” section.
Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It Out
First, turn the steering wheel left and right.
That will clear the area around the front
wheels. If your vehicle has traction control,
you should turn the traction control system
off. Refer to “Traction Control System
(TCS)” in this section. Then shift back and
forth between REVERSE (R) and a for-
ward gear, spinning the wheels as little as
possible. Release the accelerator pedal
while you shift, and press lightly on the
accelerator pedal when the transaxle is in
gear. By slowly spinning the wheels in the
forward and reverse directions, you will
cause a rocking motion that may free your
vehicle. If that does not get your vehicle
out after a few tries, it may need to be
towed out. If your vehicle does need to be
towed out, refer to “Towing Your Vehicle”
in this section.
Loading Your VehicleIt is very important to know how much
weight your vehicle can carry. Two labels
on your vehicle show how much weight it
may properly carry, the Tire and Loading
Information label and the Vehicle Certifica-
tion label.
WARNING
If you let your vehicle’s tires spin at
high speed, they can explode, and
you or others could be injured. And,
the transaxle or other parts of the
vehicle can overheat. That could
cause an engine compartment fire or
other damage. When you are stuck,
spin the wheels as little as possible.
Do not spin the wheels above 35 mph
(55 km/h) as shown on the speedom-
eter.
CAUTION
Spinning the wheels can destroy
parts of your vehicle as well as the
tires. If you spin the wheels too fast
while shifting the transaxle back and
forth, you can destroy the transaxle.
Refer to “Rocking Your Vehicle to
Get It Out” in this section.
WARNING
Do not load your vehicle any heavier
than the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR), or either the maximum front
or rear Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GAWR). If you do, parts on your
vehicle can break, and it can change
the way your vehicle handles. These
could cause you to lose control and
crash. Also, overloading can shorten
the life of your vehicle.

4-17 DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE
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Tire and Loading Information Label
Label Example
1556694
A vehicle specific Tire and Loading Infor-
mation label is attached to the vehicle’s
center pillar (B-pillar). With the driver’s
door open, you will find the label attached
below the door lock post (striker). The tire
and loading information label lists the num-
ber of occupant seating positions (A), and
the maximum vehicle capacity weight (B)
in kilograms and pounds. The vehicle
capacity weight includes the weight of all
occupants, cargo, and all nonfactory-
installed options.
The Tire and Loading Information label
also lists the tire size of the original equip-
ment tires (C) and the recommended cold
tire inflation pressures (D). For more infor-
mation on tires and inflation, refer to “Tires”
in the “Service and Appearance Care” sec-tion and “Inflation - Tire Pressure” in “Tires”
in the “Service and Appearance Care” sec-
tion.
There is also important loading information
on the Certification/Tire label. It tells you
the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)
and the Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR)
for the front and rear axles. See “Certifica-
tion/Tire Label” later in this section.
Steps for Determining Correct Load
Limit
1) Locate the statement “The combined
weight of occupants and cargo should
never exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs” on
your vehicle’s placard.
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 luggage load
capacity. For example, if the “XXX”
amount equals 1400 lbs and there will
be five 150 lb passengers in your vehi-
cle, 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 lug-
gage and cargo being loaded on the
vehicle. That weight may not safely
exceed the available cargo and luggage
load capacity calculated in Step 4.6) If your vehicle will be towing a trailer,
the load from your trailer will be trans-
ferred to your vehicle. Consult this man-
ual to determine how this reduces the
available cargo and luggage load
capacity for your vehicle.
If your vehicle can tow a trailer, refer to
“Towing a Trailer” in this section for impor-
tant information on towing a trailer, towing
safety rules, and trailering tips.

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Example 1
1273153
Example 2
1273154
Example 3
1273155
Refer to your vehicle’s tire and loading
information label for specific information
about your vehicle’s maximum vehicle
capacity weight and seating positions. The
combined weight of the driver, passengers,
and cargo should never exceed your vehi-
cle’s maximum vehicle capacity weight. Item Descripion Total
AMaximum Vehicle
Capacity Weight for
Example 1 =1000 lbs
(453 kg)
BSubtract Occupant
Weight 150 lbs (68
kg) x 2 =300 lbs
(136 kg)
CAvailable Occupant
and Cargo Weight = 700 lbs
(317 kg)
Item Descripion Total
AMaximum Vehicle
Capacity Weight for
Example 2 =1000 lbs
(453 kg)
BSubtract Occupant
Weight 150 lbs (68
kg) x 2 =750 lbs
(340 kg)
CAvailable Occupant
Weight = 250 lbs
(113 kg)
Item Descripion Total
AMaximum Vehicle
Capacity Weight for
Example 3 =1000 lbs
(453 kg)
BSubtract Occupant
Weight 200 lbs (91
kg) × 5 =1000 lbs
(453 kg)
CAvailable Cargo
Weight = 0 lbs
(0 kg)

4-19 DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE
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Certification Label
52D059
A vehicle specific Certification/Tire label is
found on the rear edge of the driver’s door.
The label shows the size of your original
tires and the inflation pressures needed to
obtain the gross weight capacity of your
vehicle. This is called the Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating (GVWR). The GVWR
includes the weight of the vehicle, all occu-
pants, fuel, and cargo.
The Certification/Tire label also tells you
the maximum weights for the front and rear
axles, called the Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GAWR). To find out the actual loads on
your front and rear axles, you need to go to
a weigh station and weigh your vehicle.
Your dealer can help you with this. Be sure
to spread out your load equally on both
sides of the centerline.Never exceed the GVWR for your vehicle
or the GAWR for either the front or rear
axle.
If you put things inside your vehicle – like
suitcases, tools, packages, or anything
else – they will go as fast as the vehicle
goes. If you have to stop or turn quickly, or
if there is a crash, they will keep going.
WARNING
Do not load your vehicle any heavier
than the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR), or either the maximum front
or rear Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GAWR). If you do, parts on your
vehicle can break, and it can change
the way your vehicle handles. These
could cause you to lose control and
crash. Also, overloading can shorten
the life of your vehicle.
WARNING
Overloading your vehicle may cause
damage. Repairs would not be cov-
ered by your warranty. Do not over-
load your vehicle.
WARNING
Things you put inside your vehicle
can strike and injure people in a sud-
den stop or turn, or in a crash.
 Put things in the cargo area of your
vehicle. Try to spread the weight
evenly.
 Never stack heavier things, like
suitcases, inside the vehicle so that
some of them are above the tops of
the seats.
 Do not leave an unsecured child
restraint in your vehicle.
 When you carry something inside
the vehicle, secure it whenever you
can.
 Do not leave a seat folded down
unless you need to.

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TowingTowing Your VehicleConsult your dealer or a professional tow-
ing service if you need to have your dis-
abled vehicle towed.
If you want to tow your vehicle behind
another vehicle for recreational purposes
(such as behind a motorhome), refer to
“Recreational Vehicle Towing” following.Recreational Vehicle TowingRecreational vehicle towing means towing
your vehicle behind another vehicle – such
as behind a motorhome. The two most
common types of recreational vehicle tow-
ing are known as “dinghy towing” (towing
your vehicle with all four wheels on the
ground) and “dolly towing” (towing your
vehicle with two wheels on the ground and
two wheels up on a device known as a
“dolly”).
With the proper preparation and equip-
ment, many vehicles can be towed in these
ways. See “Dinghy Towing” and “Dolly Tow-
ing”, following.
Here are some important things to con-
sider before you do recreational vehicle
towing:
 What’s the towing capacity of the towing
vehicle? Be sure you read the tow vehi-
cle manufacturer’s recommendations. How far will you tow? Some vehicles
have restrictions on how far and how
long they can tow.
 Do you have the proper towing equip-
ment? See your dealer or trailering pro-
fessional for additional advice and
equipment recommendations.
 Is your vehicle ready to be towed? Just
as you would prepare your vehicle for a
long trip, you’ll want to make sure your
vehicle is prepared to be towed. Refer to
“Before Leaving on a Long Trip” in this
section.
Dinghy Towing
If you have an all-wheel-drive vehicle or a
front-wheel-drive vehicle, it was not
designed to be towed with all of its wheels
on the ground. It can be towed with car
carrier equipment. If you have a front-wheel-drive vehicle, it can be towed with its
two front wheels off the ground. See “Dolly
Towing” following.
Dolly Towing
If you have a front-wheel-drive vehicle, it
can be towed with the two front wheels off
the ground. To dolly tow your vehicle, do
the following:
1) Put the front wheels on a dolly.
2) Put the vehicle in PARK (P).
3) Set the parking brake and then remove
the key.
4) Clamp the steering wheel in a straight-
ahead position with a clamping device
designed for towing.
5) Release the parking brake.
If you have an all-wheel-drive vehicle, it
cannot be towed with any of its wheels on
CAUTION
Towing an all-wheel-drive vehicle
with all four wheels or even only two
wheels on the ground will damage
drivetrain or transmission compo-
nents. Towing a front-wheel-drive
vehicle with all four wheels on the
ground will damage drivetrain or
transmission components. Do not
tow an all-wheel-drive vehicle with
two or four wheels on the ground or a
front-wheel-drive vehicle if all four
wheels will be on the ground.
CAUTION
Towing an all-wheel-drive vehicle
with all four wheels or even only two
wheels on the ground will damage
drivetrain or transmission compo-
nents. Towing a front-wheel-drive
vehicle with all four wheels on the
ground will damage drivetrain or
transmission components. Do not
tow an all-wheel-drive vehicle with
two or four wheels on the ground or a
front-wheel-drive vehicle if all four
wheels will be on the ground.

4-21 DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE
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the ground. It can be towed with car carrier
equipment.Level ControlYour vehicle may have this feature. This
self-adjusting type of level control is fully
automatic and will provide a better leveled
riding position as well as better handling
under a variety of passenger and loading
conditions. The system is activated when
sufficient weight is added to the vehicle,
and will automatically adjust vehicle height
thereafter. A hydraulic pump inside each
rear shock absorber raises the rear of the
vehicle to the proper height, based on
inputs from the road surface, while the
vehicle is being driven. It takes approxi-
mately two miles (3.2 km) of driving for the
leveling to complete, depending on the
road surface conditions.
If the loaded vehicle is not moved for
approximately twelve hours, the leveling
system may bleed down to a lower height.
This can be especially apparent if a trailer
is left attached to a parked vehicle for long
periods of time. The vehicle must be driven
to re-level the vehicle. If a self-equalizing
hitch is being used, the vehicle should be
driven approximately two miles (3.2 km)
with the trailer prior to adjusting (leveling)
the hitch.
Towing a TrailerTo identify the trailering capacity of your
vehicle, you should read the information in
“Weight of the Trailer” that appears later in
this section. Trailering is different than just
driving your vehicle by itself. Trailering
means changes in handling, acceleration,
braking, durability, and fuel economy. Suc-cessful, safe trailering takes correct equip-
ment, and it has to be used properly.
That is the reason for this section. In it are
many time-tested, important trailering tips
and safety rules. Many of these are impor-
tant for your safety and that of your pas-
sengers. So please read this section
carefully before you pull a trailer.
If You Do Decide To Pull A Trailer
If you do, here are some important points:
 There are many different laws, including
speed limit restrictions, having to do with
trailering. Make sure your rig will be
legal, not only where you live but also
where you will be driving. A good source
for this information can be state or pro-
vincial police.
 Consider using a sway control. Refer to
“Hitches” later in this section.
 Do not tow a trailer at all during the first
500 miles (800 km) your new vehicle is
driven. Your engine, axle or other parts
could be damaged.
 During the first 500 miles (800 km) that
you tow a trailer, do not drive over 50
mph (80 km/h) and do not make starts at
full throttle. This helps your engine and
other parts of your vehicle wear in at the
heavier loads.
WARNING
If you do not use the correct equip-
ment and drive properly, you can lose
control when you pull a trailer. For
example, if the trailer is too heavy,
the brakes may not work well – or
even at all. You and your passengers
could be seriously injured. Pull a
trailer only if you have followed all
the steps in this section. Ask your
dealer for advice and information
about towing a trailer with your vehi-
cle.
CAUTION
Pulling a trailer improperly can dam-
age your vehicle and result in costly
repairs that would not be covered by
your warranty. Always follow the
instructions in this section and check
with your dealer for more information
about towing a trailer with your vehi-
cle.

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Three important considerations have to do
with weight:
 Weight of the trailer
 Weight of the trailer tongue
 Weight on your vehicle’s tires
Weight of the Trailer
How heavy can a trailer safely be?
Your vehicle can tow up to 2,900 lbs (1300
kg) with up to five occupants or up to 3,500
lbs (1575 kg) with up to two occupants. But
even that can be too heavy.
It depends on how you plan to use your rig.
For example, speed, altitude, road grades,
outside temperature and how much your
vehicle is used pull a trailer are all impor-
tant. It can also depend on any special
equipment that you have on your vehicle,
and the amount of tongue weight vehicle
can carry. Refer to “Weight of the Trailer
Tongue” later in this section for more infor-
mation.
Maximum trailer weight is calculated
assuming only the driver is in the tow vehi-
cle and it has all the required trailering
equipment. The weight of additional
optional equipment, passengers and cargo
in the tow vehicle must be subtracted from
the maximum trailer weight.
You can ask your dealer for our trailering
information or advice, or you can write us
at our Customer Assistance Offices.Weight of the Trailer Tongue
The tongue load (A) of any trailer is an
important weight to measure because it
affects the total or gross weight of your
vehicle. The Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW)
includes the curb weight of the vehicle, any
cargo you may carry in it, and the people
who will be riding in the vehicle. If you have
a lot of options, passengers, or cargo in
the vehicle, it will reduce the tongue weight
your vehicle can carry, which will also
reduce the trailer weight your vehicle can
tow. And if you will tow a trailer, you must
add the tongue load to the GVW because
your vehicle will be carrying that weight,
too. Refer to “Loading Your Vehicle” in this
section for more information about your
vehicle’s maximum load capacity.
806596
If you are using a weight-carrying or a
weight-distributing hitch, the trailer tongue
weight (A) should be 10 percent to 15 per-cent of the total loaded trailer weight (B).
Do not exceed the maximum allowable
tongue weight for your vehicle (400 lbs/181
kg).
After you have loaded your trailer, weigh
the trailer and then the tongue, separately,
to see if the weights are proper. If they are
not, you may be able to get them right sim-
ply by moving some items around in the
trailer.
Total Weight on Your Vehicle’s Tires
Be sure your vehicle’s tires are inflated to
the upper limit for cold tires. You will find
these numbers on the Certification/Tire
Label at the rear edge of the driver’s door,
or refer to “Loading Your Vehicle” in this
section. Then be sure you do not go over
the GVW limit for your vehicle, including
the weight of the trailer tongue.
Hitches
It is important to have the correct hitch
equipment. Crosswinds, large trucks going
by and rough roads are a few reasons why
you will need the right hitch. Here are
some rules to follow:
 If you will be pulling a trailer that, when
loaded, will weigh more than 2000 lbs
(900 kg), be sure to use a properly
mounted, weight-carrying hitch and sway
control of the proper size. This equip-
ment is very important for proper vehicle
loading and good handling when you’re
driving.