brakes SUZUKI GRAND VITARA 2008 3.G Operating Manual

Downloaded from www.Manualslib.com manuals search engine A WARNING
Always set the parking brake fully before leaving your vehicle or it may
move, causing injury or damage.
When parking, make sure the
gear­shift lever for manual transmission
vehicles is in 1 st gear or "R" (Reverse) and the gearshift lever for
automatic transmission vehicles is in "P" (Park). Never leave the transfer
lever (if equipped) in "N" (Neutral)
when you are parked.
Remember, even though the trans­mission is in gear or in Park, you must set the parking brake fully.
A WARNING
When parking the vehicle in extremely cold weather, the following procedure should be used: 1) Set the parking brake. 2) Shift the manual transmission into
reverse or first gear, or the auto­matic transmission into "P" (Park). 3) With the engine off, get out of the
vehicle and put chocks under the
wheels.
4) Release the parking brake.
When
you return to your vehicle, you must remember to first set the
parking brake, then remove the
wheel chocks.
Pedal
Manual transmission
(2)
(1)
Automatic transmission
(2)
(3)
64JOB2
(3)
64JOB3
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
Clutch Pedal (1) (For manual transmission)
The clutch pedal is used to disengage the
drive to the wheels when, starting the
engine, stopping, or shifting the gearshift
lever or transfer lever (if equipped).
Depressing the pedal disengages the
clutch.
CAUTION
Do not drive with your foot resting-on the clutch pedal. It could result in excessive clutch wear, clutch dam­age, or unexpected loss of engine
braking.
Brake Pedal (2) Your SUZUKI vehicle is equipped with
either front and rear disc brakes or front
disc brakes and rear drum brakes.
Depressing the brake pedal applies both
sets
of brakes.
You may hear occasional brake squeal
when you apply the brakes. This is a nor­mal condition caused by environmental
factors such as cold, wet, snow, etc.
A WARNING
If brake squeal is excessive and
occurs each time the brakes are
applied,
you should 'have the brakes
checked by your SUZUKI dealer.
3-8

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A. WARNING
Do not "ride" the brakes by applying
them continuously or resting your
foot
on the pedal. This will result in overheating of the brakes which
could cause unpredictable braking
action, longer stopping distances, or
permanent brake damage.
Accelerator Pedal (3) This pedal controls the speed of the
engine. Depressing the accelerator pedal
increases power output
and speed.
3-9
Starting the Engine
Before Starting the Engine
64J140
1} Make sure the parking brake is set fully. 2} Manual transmission -Shift into UN" (Neutral) and depress the clutch pedal
all the way to the floor. Hold the clutch
pedal while starting the engine.
Automatic transmission -
If the gear­
shift lever is not in Up" (Park) position,
shift into Up" (Park). (If you need to re­start the engine while the vehicle is moving, shift into UN".)
NOTE: Automatic transmission vehicles have a starter interlock device which is designed to keep the starter from operating if the transmission is in any of the drive posi­
tions.
A. WARNING
Make sure that the parking brake is set fully and the transmission is in Neutral (or Park for vehicles with an automatic transmission) before
attempting to start the engine.

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A WARNING
• Reduce your speed and downshift to a lower gear before going down
a long or steep hill. A lower gear
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 down­shifting. Excessive and or 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 stationary before you shift into reverse.
CAUTION
• To help avoid clutch damage, do not use the clutch pedal as a foot­rest 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.
3-13
5-Speed Automatic Transmission
EXAMPLE
(1) Power mode selector switch
D:
66J055
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 transmis­sion will remain in the 4-speed mode.
Power mode selector switch
A/T
POWER
650448
When you need more power for climbing
hills or smooth starting on slippery road,
push the "AfT POWER" switch. To activate
the power mode selector, push the "AfT POWER" switch, and the "POWER" indica­tor light in the instrument cluster comes on. To deactivate, push the switch again, and
the "POWER" indicator light goes off.
Power driving mode When the "AfT POWER" switch is on with
shift in "0" (Drive), "4" (Low 3) or "3" (Low 2) position, if you depress the accelerator
pedal, the shifting points are delayed so
the engine can rev higher in each gear.
Therefore, you can drive more powerfully than normal driving.

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NOTE: 4-Speed Automatic Transmission If you move the gearshift lever to a ~ower gear while driving faster than the maximum EXAMPLE allowable speed for the lower gear, the
transmission will not actually downshift
until your speed drops below the maximum
speed for the lower gear.
CAUTION
Be sure to take the following precau­tions to help avoid damage to the
automatic transmission:
• Make sure that the vehicle is com­
pletely stationary before shifting
into "P" or "R". • Do not shift from "P" or "N" to "R", "0" "4" "3" or "L" when the
engine is'runni'ng above idle speed. • Do not rev the engine with the
transmission in a drive position ("R", "0", "4", "3", or "L") and the
rear wheels not moving. • Do not use the accelerator to hold the vehicle on a hill. Use the vehi­
cle's brakes.
3-15
(1) Power mode selector switch
0:
64J141
4-speed automatic transmission mode 3: 3-speed automatic transmission mode
The 3-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 4-speed automatic transmis­sion will remain in the 3-speed mode. Power
mode
selector switch
A/T
POWER
650448
When you need more power for climbing hills or smooth starting on slippery road,
push the "AfT POWER" switch. To activate
the power mode selector, push the "AfT POWER" switch, and the "POWER" indica­tor light in the instrument cl~ster c0n:'es on. To deactivate, push the sWitch again, and
the "POWER" indicator light goes off.
Power driving mode When the "AfT POWER" switch is on with
shift in "0" (Drive) or "3" (Low 3), if you
depress the accelerator pedal, .the shifting
points are delayed so the engine can rev
higher
in each gear. Therefore, yo~. can
drive more powerfully than normal driving.

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o (Drive)
Use this position for all normal driving.
With the gearshift
lever in "D" range you can get an automatic downshift by press­
ing the accelerator pedal. The higher the
vehicle speed is, the more you need to
press the accelerator pedal to get a down­
shift.
3
(Low 3) Use this position for driving on moderate uphill and downhill gradients. The engine
braking effect on moderate down hills can be used in this position. The transmission
shifts up only to 3rd gear.
2 (Low 2) Use this position to provide extra power
when climbing hills, or to provide engine
braking when going down hills.
NOTE: In these 3 or 2 positions, if the power mode
selector switch is turned to the "ON" posi­tion, the transmission will not downshift
into "L.:' (Low 1).
L (Low 1)
Use this position to provide maximum
power when climbing steep
hills or driving
through deep snow or mud, or to provide
maximum engine braking when going
down steep hills.
3-17
NOTE:
If you move the gearshift lever to a lower
gear while driving faster than the maximum
allowable speed for the lower gear, the
transmission will not actually downshift
until your speed drops below the maximum
speed for
the lower gear.
CAUTION
Be sure to take the following precau­tions to help avoid damage to the
automatic transmission:
• Make sure that the vehicle is com­pletely stationary before shifting into "P" or "R". • Do not shift from "P" or "N" to "R", "0", "3", "2", or "L:' when the
engine is running above idle speed. • Do not rev the engine with the transmission in a drive position ("R", "0", "3", "2", or "L:') and the rear wheels not moving. • Do not use the accelerator to hold the vehicle on a hill. Use the vehi­cle's brakes.
If You Can Not Shift Automatic
Transmission Gearshift Lever
Out
of "P" (PARK)
Left hand drive vehicle
78K043
Vehicles with an automatic transmission
have an electrically operated park-lock fea­
ture. If the vehicle's battery is discharged,
or there is some other electrical failure, the
automatic transmission cannot be shifted
out of Park in the normal way. Jump start­
ing may correct the condition. If not, follow the procedure described below. This pro­
cedure will permit shifting the transmission
out of Park.
1) Be sure the parking brake is firmly
applied.
2) If the engine is running, stop the
engine.
3) Make sure the key is in the "ON" or "ACC" position.

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4L LOCK (4-wheel drive low range center differential lock)
000
64J222
3-23
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 climb­ing or descending steep, slippery hills etc.
NOTE: When the transfer switch (if equipped) is
turned to the "4L LOCK" position, the ESfiW systems (other than ABS) (if
equipped) 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, brake­traction control can be activated. Brake­traction 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.

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A WARNING
If
water gets into the brake drums,
brake performance may become poor
and unpredictable.
After driving through water or wash­
ing the underside of the vehicle, test
the brakes while driving at a slow speed to see if they have maintained
their normal effectiveness. If the
brakes are less effective than normal, dry them by repeatedly applying the
brakes while driving slowly until the
brakes have regained their normal effectiveness.
Power Assisted Brakes Your vehicle has power assisted brakes. If power assistance is lost due to a stalled engine or other failures, the system is still
fully operational on reserve power and you can bring the vehicle to a complete stop by pressing the brake pedal once and holding it down. The reserve power is partly used
up when you depress the brake pedal and reduces each time the pedal is pressed. Apply smooth and even pressure to the pedal. Do not pump the pedal.
3-31
A WARNING
Even without reserve power in the
brake system, you can still stop the vehicle by pressing the brake pedal harder than normally required. How­ever, the stopping distance may be longer.
Brake Assist System When you slam the brakes on, the brake
assist system judges as an emergency
stop and provides more powerful braking
for a driver who cannot hold down the
brake pedal firmly.
NOTE: If you quickly and forcefully depress the
brakes, you may hear a clicking sound in
the brake pedal. This is normal and indi­
cates that the brake assist system is acti­
vated properly.
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) ASS 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
ASS works automatically, so you do
not need any special braking technique.
Just push the brake pedal down without
pumping. The ASS will operate whenever it
senses that the wheels are locking up. You may feel the brake pedal pulsate while the ASS is operating.
NOTE: The ABS will not work if vehicle speed is under about 5 - 6 kmlh (3 - 4 mph).
A WARNING
•
On some types of loose surfaces
(such as gravel, snow-covered
roads, etc.) the stopping distance
required for
an ABS-equipped vehi­cle may be slightly greater than for
a comparable vehicle with a con­ventional brake system. With a conventional brake system, skid­
ding tires are able to "plow" the gravel or snow layer, shortening
the stopping distance, ABS mini­
mizes this resistance effect. Allow for extra stopping distance when driving on loose surfaces. • On regular paved roads, some driv­
ers may be able to obtain slightly shorter stopping distances with
conventional brake systems than
with
ABS. • In both of the above conditions, ABS wi II still offer the advantage of helping you maintain directional control. However, remember that ABS will not compensate for bad road or weather conditions or poor
driver judgment. Use good judg­
ment and do not drive faster than
conditions will
safely allow.

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Electronic Stability Program
(ESP~ (if equipped)
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 apply­ing the brakes. In addition, ESP® helps to
avoid skidding by controlling braking pres­
sure.
A 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® can­not prevent accidents, including those resulting from excessive speed
in turns, or hydroplaning. Only a safe
and attentive driver can prevent acci­dents. The capabilities of an ESP®­equipped vehicle must never be used
as a substitute for careful driving.
3-33
The ESP® has the following three systems:
Stability Control System The 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 System The 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.
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 automati­cally, 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
controffed properly

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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 slipe,ery surface .. • If the ESpE> systems operate continu­ously, such as when driving on slippery roads, the traction control functions of the ES~ systems may be canceled
temporarily to avoid overheating the brake pads, and the "ESP OFF" indicator
light will come on. After a short period of time, the ES~ 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 ES~ systems.
E'::.F' OFF I-Qf - -a.'ND S\l',/IT'_ H V"/I)R~;',. I-6-t ONL ',' IN 4HL
79K084
NOTE: If, you push the "ESP OFF" switch when the transfer switch is in the "4H" position, the ES~ systems will not be turned off, and the message shown in the above illus­
tration will appear on the information dis­play. You should turn the transfer switch to the "4H LOCK" position to turn off the ES~ systems. Refer to "Using the Transfer Switch" in this section.
ABS Warning Light I Brake System
Warning Light
See 'Braking" in the "OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE" section.
OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE
Hill descent control System
(if equipped)
The hill descent control system is designed
to reduce the driver's workload when going
down steep, rough and/or slippery hills where the vehicle cannot decelerate enough by engine braking alone. The hill descent control system helps to control
vehicle speed by automatically engaging
the vehicle's brakes, as needed, so you can concentrate on steering the vehicle.
A WARNING
Do not rely excessively on the hill
descent control system. The hill
descent control system may not con­trol vehicle speed on a hill under all load or road conditions. Always be prepared to control vehicle speed by applying the brakes. Failure to pay
attention and control vehicle speed
using the brakes when necessary
may
result in loss' of control or an accident.
3-36

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H ill descent control switch
ff--+-(1)
79K051
(1) Hill descent control switch
To activate the hill descent control system: 1) Turn the transfer switch to the "4H LOCK" or "4L LOCK" position. 2) Shift the gearshift lever into a forward
gear or reverse gear.
3) Push the hill descent control switch (1) when the vehicle speed is under 25 km/
h (15 mph). The hill descent control
indicator on the instrument cluster will come on and the hill descent control
system will be activated.
If the transfer switch is in the "4H LOCK" position, vehicle speed is maintained at
approximately 1 0 km/h (6 mph) when
going down a hill. If the transfer switch is in the "4L LOCK" position, the vehicle speed is maintained at
3-37
approximately 5 km/h (3 mph) when going
down a hill. The brake/tail lights come on and the slip
indicator light blinks while the hill descent
control system applies the brakes to main­tain the vehicle speed. If the accelerator or brake pedal is
depressed while the hill descent control
system is activated, the system will stop
working temporarily. As soon as the
accel­erator or brake pedal is released, the hill descent control system begins to function
again if the hill descent control operating
conditions are fulfilled. However, when the
vehicle speed exceeds 25 km/h (15 mph),
the
hill descent control system will be deactivated automatically.
To deactivate the hill descent control sys­tem, push the hill descent control switch
again.
CAUTION
When the hill descent control system
is used continuously for a long time,
the temperature of the brake system
may increase and the hill descent
control system may be disabled
tem­porarily. The hill descent control indi­cator blinks to let you know the
system is disabled. Depress the
brake pedal and stop the vehicle
in a
safe place. When the temperature of
the brake system goes down, the hill
descent control indicator will come
on and the system is activated again.
NOTE: You may hear a sound coming from the engine when the hill descent control sys­tem is activated. This sound is normal and
does not indicate a malfunction.
Hill descent control Indicator Light
79K050
When the hill descent control system is
activated, the hill descent control indicator
comes on.
NOTE: If any of the following conditions occur when the hill descent control system is
activated, the hill descent control indicator
blinks.
• The transfer switch is in the "4H" or "N" position • The gearshift lever is in the "P" position • The gearshift lever is moved to the "N" position while driving • The vehicle speed exceeds 25 kmlh (15
mph)