esp off SUZUKI GRAND VITARA 2012 User Guide

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)

4-2
DRIVING TIPS
79K21-03E
Shorter Wheelbase
Along with its higher ground clearance,
your vehicle has a shorter wheelbase and
shorter front and rear overhangs than
many passenger cars. These features
combine to allow you to drive your vehicle
over hillcrests without hanging up on them
or damaging the frame and chassis com-
ponents. The shorter wheelbase also
makes the steering of your vehicle more
responsive than that of vehicles with longer
wheelbases.
Narrower Body Width and Track
Your vehicle is narrower than the average
passenger car so that it can pass through
tight spaces.
Without the essential characteristics
described above: higher ground clearance,
shorter wheelbase and narrower body
width and track – your vehicle could not
provide you with excellent off road driving
performance. However, it is also true that
on-pavement driving, handling and steer-
ing will be different from what drivers expe-
rience with a conventional passenger car.
Break-In Catalytic Converter
54G236
The purpose of the catalytic converter is to
minimize the amount of harmful pollutants
in your vehicle’s exhaust. Use of leaded
fuel in vehicles equipped with catalytic
converters is prohibited by federal law,
because lead deactivates the pollutant-
reducing components of the catalyst sys-
tem.
The converter is designed to last the life of
the vehicle under normal usage and when
unleaded fuel is used. No special mainte-
nance is required on the converter. How-
ever, it is very important to keep the engine
properly tuned. Engine misfiring, which
can result from an improperly tuned
engine, may cause overheating of the cat-
alyst. This may result in permanent heat
damage to the catalyst and other vehicle
components.
CAUTION
The future performance and reliabil-
ity of the engine depends on the care
and restraint exercised during its
early life. It is especially important to
observe the following precautions
during the initial 960 km (600 miles)
of vehicle operation.
 After starting, do not race the
engine. Warm it up gradually.
 Avoid prolonged vehicle operation
at a constant speed. Moving parts
will break in better if you vary your
speed.
 Start off from a stop slowly. Avoid
full throttle starts.
 Avoid hard stopping, especially
during the first 320 km (200 miles)
of driving.
 Do not drive slowly with the trans-
mission in a high gear.
 Drive the vehicle at moderate
engine speeds.
 Do not tow a trailer during the first
960 km (600 miles) of vehicle oper-
ation.
EXAMPLE
Important Vehicle Design Features To Know: NO
On-Pavement Driving: NO

4-4
DRIVING TIPS
79K21-03E
Keep the air cleaner clean
60A183S
If the air cleaner is clogged with dust, there
will be greater intake resistance, resulting
in decreased power output and increased
fuel consumption.
Keep weight to a minimum
The heavier the load, the more fuel the
vehicle consumes. Take out any luggage
or cargo when it is not necessary.
Keep tire pressure correct
Underinflation of the tires can waste fuel
due to increased running resistance of the
tires. Keep your tires inflated to the correct
pressure shown on the label located below
the driver’s side door latch striker.
On-Pavement DrivingGovernment data show that most rollover
accidents for multi-purpose vehicles are
caused when a driver loses control of the
vehicle and leaves the paved portion of the
roadway striking a ditch, curb or other off-
road object that causes the vehicle to over-
turn. The following driving practices may
reduce the risk of rollover.
Vehicle Slides Off-Road
You can reduce the risk of this kind of roll-
over accident by always keeping the vehi-
cle under control. Typically, drivers lose
control of vehicles, often resulting in roll-
over accidents, when the driver is impaired
because of alcohol or other drugs, falls
asleep at the wheel or is otherwise inatten-
tive, or is driving too fast for the road condi-
tions.
Rollovers On the Roadway
If, for any reason, your vehicle slides side-
ways or spins out of control at highway
speeds, while on the paved portion of the
roadway, the risk of rollover is greatly
increased. This condition can be created
when two or more wheels drop off onto the
shoulder and you steer sharply in an
attempt to reenter the roadway. To reduce
the risk of rollover in these circumstances,
if conditions permit, you should hold the
steering wheel firmly and slow down
before pulling back into the travel lanes
with controlled steering movements.All Types of Rollover Accidents
As with many kinds of automobile acci-
dents, rollovers can be greatly reduced by
doing what all prudent drivers should do,
i.e., don’t drink and drive, don’t drive when
tired and don’t do anything behind the
wheel that could cause a loss of attention
to the driving task.
Additional guidelines are set out below for
your on-road driving.
Know Your Vehicle
Take time to familiarize yourself with the
unique handling characteristics of your
vehicle by first driving around in an area
away from traffic. Practice turning the vehi-
cle at a variety of speeds and in different
directions. Get a feel for the greater steer-
ing response that your vehicle has over a
conventional car.
Wear Your Seat Belts at All Times
The driver and all passengers should be
properly restrained at all times, using the
seat belts provided. Refer to the “Seat
Belts and Child Restraint Systems” section
for instructions on proper use of the seat
belts.
EXAMPLE
Off-Road Driving: NO

4-5DRIVING TIPS
79K21-03E
Don’t Make Sharp Turns
As mentioned before, small multipurpose
vehicles have specific design characteris-
tics that allow them to perform in a wide
variety of applications. These characteris-
tics also change the cornering behavior
relative to conventional passenger cars.
Remember, small multipurpose vehicles
have more responsive steering and a
higher center of gravity than conventional
passenger cars. If at all possible, avoid
making sharp turns in your vehicle.
Slow Down on Curves
Learn to approach curves cautiously and
at a conservative speed. Do not attempt to
take curves at the same speeds that you
would in a vehicle with a lower center of
gravity. Just as you would not drive a
sports car on a trail, you should not
attempt to drive your vehicle around curves
like a sports car.
Slow Down and Use Caution on Slip-
pery Roads
Under wet road conditions you should
drive at a lower speed than on dry roads
due to possible slippage of tires during
braking. When driving on icy, snowcovered
or muddy roads, reduce your speed and
avoid sudden acceleration, abrupt braking
or sharp steering movements. Use 4-wheel
drive high range (4H) (if equipped) for bet-
ter traction.NOTE:
Avoid operating your vehicle in “4H LOCK”
or “4L LOCK” on wet pavement as much
as possible. Operating your vehicle in “4H
LOCK” or “4L LOCK” on wet pavement
may cause severe damage to the drive
train.
NOTE:
Operating your vehicle in “4H” on dry and
tight corner may cause some vibration on
your vehicle. This is not caused by the
vehicle malfunction, but caused by working
of the limited slip differential gear in the
center differential.
CAUTION
Do not operate your vehicle in “4H
LOCK” or “4L LOCK” on dry, hard
surfaces. Operating your vehicle in
“4H LOCK” or “4L LOCK” on dry,
hard surfaces puts severe stress to
the drive train, especially during tight
cornering, and can damage it. Also,
you may have some difficulty steer-
ing.
CAUTION
Unevenly worn tires can cause prob-
lems in the operation of the transfer
switch. Be sure to rotate the tires
according to the maintenance sched-
ule. Refer to “Tires” and “Mainte-
nance Schedule” in the
“INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE”
section for proper tire rotation proce-
dures.
Off-Road Driving: NO

5-19OTHER CONTROLS AND EQUIPMENT
79K21-03E
NOTE:
About Single CDs (8 cm CDs)
 Since the unit is not compatible with a
single CD, do not load it into the unit.
 Keep in mind the fact that a single CD
cannot be played even using a single CD
adaptor for the unit.
 When a single CD is loaded into the unit
accidentally, it will be ejected immedi-
ately. Please be sure to remove it.
If you forcefully try to push it into the unit
without removing it, the CD cannot be
ejected. This will result in a damage to
the mechanism. Please never do this.Loading one CD
1) Press the load button (1), then press
one of the disc select buttons (2) that
corresponds to the slot into which you
want to load a CD.
66J143
Both the indication “In” and the selected
disc number in the CD indicator will blink
for about 15 seconds.
2) Load the CD into the CD insertion slot
(3). When the CD is loaded, play starts.
The disk number in the CD indicator will
light.Loading multiple CDs
1) Press the load button (1) for 2 seconds
or longer.
The indication “CD ALL” appears in the
display, and then the indication “In” and
a disc number in the CD indicator will
blink for about 15 seconds.
2) Load a CD into the CD insertion slot
(3).
3) The indication “In” and the next disc
number will blink in the display. Load
the next CD.
4) After loading the required number of
CD’s, press any disc select button (2) to
select the desired CD to listen to. If no
select button is pressed, play will start
from the first loaded CD.
Only the numbers in the CD indicator that
correspond to the loaded slots will light.
Ejecting one CD
1) Select the CD you want to remove with
the disc select buttons (2).
2) Press the CD eject button (4).
If you leave the ejected CD without
removing it, it will be drawn into the unit
automatically after about 15 seconds.
(Auto reload function)
The buck up eject mechanism:
This function allows you to eject the CD
loaded in the unit with the unit turned off
only by pressing the CD eject button (4).
CAUTION
You can load a CD only while the indi-
cation “In” is blinking for about 15
seconds. During that period, the
shutter located in the depth of the CD
insertion slot (3) is opened. After 15
seconds time has elapsed, the indi-
cation “In” disappears from the dis-
play and the shutter closes, making it
impossible to load a CD. If you try to
load the CD with the shutter closed,
the CD may damage the shutter.
Never do this.
Tire Changing Tools: 3, 5
Shopping Hook:
Front Seat Back Pocket: 3

7-40
INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
79K21-03E
Bulb ReplacementNOTE:
If it is difficult to replace headlight bulbs or
clearance light bulbs due to under-hood
components trust this job to your dealer.
Center Interior Light (if equipped)
64J159
Pull down the lens by using a flat blade
screwdriver covered with a soft cloth as
shown. To install it, simply push it back in.
The bulb can be removed by simply pulling
it out. When replacing the bulb, make sure
that the contact springs are holding the
bulb securely.
Rear Interior Light (if equipped)
64J160
Pull down the lens by using a flat blade
screwdriver covered with a soft cloth as
shown. To install it, simply push it back in.
The bulb can be removed by simply pulling
it out.
WARNING
 Light bulbs can be hot enough to
burn your finger right after being
turned off. This is true especially
for halogen headlight bulbs.
Replace the bulbs after they
become cool enough.
 The headlight bulbs are filled with
pressurized halogen gas. They can
burst and injure you if they are hit
or dropped. Handle them carefully.
CAUTION
The oils from your skin may cause a
halogen bulb to overheat and burst
when the lights are on. Grasp a new
bulb with a clean cloth.
CAUTION
Frequent replacement of a bulb indi-
cates the need for an inspection of
the electrical system. This should be
carried out by your SUZUKI dealer.
Wiper Blades: 3

9-2
APPEARANCE CARE
79K21-03E
Repair finish damage
Carefully examine your vehicle for damage
to the painted surfaces, especially if it is
used off-road. Should you find any chips or
scratches in the paint, touch them up
immediately to prevent corrosion from
starting. If the chips or scratches have
gone through to the bare metal, have a
qualified body shop make the repair.
Keep passenger and cargo compart-
ments clean
Moisture, dirt or mud can accumulate
under the floor mats and may cause corro-
sion. Occasionally, check under these
mats to ensure that this area is clean and
dry. More frequent checks are necessary if
the vehicle is used off road or in wet
weather.
Certain cargo such as chemicals, fertiliz-
ers, cleaners, salts, etc. are extremely cor-
rosive by nature. These products should
be transported in sealed containers. If a
spill or leak does occur, clean and dry the
area immediately.
Use mud and gravel shields
The use of mud and gravel shields will help
protect your vehicle, especially if you fre-
quently drive on gravel or salted roads.
Full-size shields, which extend as close to
the road as is practical, are the best. The
fittings for such shields should also be cor-
rosion resistant. Please check with yourauthorized SUZUKI dealer for information
on these shields.
Store your vehicle in a dry, well-venti-
lated area
Do not park your vehicle in a damp, poorly
ventilated area. If you often wash your
vehicle in the garage or if you frequently
drive it in when wet, your garage may be
damp. The high humidity in the garage
may cause or accelerate corrosion. A wet
vehicle may corrode even in a heated
garage if the ventilation is poor.Cover your vehicle
50G203
If you cannot regularly park your vehicle in
a garage, we recommend you use a vehi-
cle cover. Years of exposure to midday sun
can cause the colors in paint, plastic parts
and fabrics to fade. Covering your vehicle
with a high-quality, “breathable” vehicle
cover can help protect the finish from the
harmful UV rays in sunlight, and can
reduce the amount of dust and air pollution
reaching the surface. Your SUZUKI dealer
can help you select the right cover for your
vehicle.
WARNING
Do not apply additional undercoating
or rust preventive coating on or
around exhaust system components
such as the catalytic converter,
exhaust pipes, etc. A fire could be
started if the undercoating substance
becomes overheated.
Corrosion Prevention: 5

10-3GENERAL INFORMATION
79K21-03E
On-Board Vehicle Computers
and Event Data RecordersYour vehicle is equipped with on-board
computer systems which monitor and
control several aspects of vehicle per-
formance, including the following:
 Emission-related components and
engine parameters such as engine
speed and throttle position are moni-
tored to provide emissions control
and to provide optimum fuel econ-
omy. Your vehicle also has an on-
board diagnostic system which mon-
itors and records information about
emission-related malfunctions.
 Signals from various sensors are
monitored to provide air bag deploy-
ment.
 If your vehicle is equipped with
antilock brakes, conditions such as
vehicle speed and brake perfor-
mance are monitored, so that the
ABS system can provide effective
antilock braking. If your vehicle has
an Electronic Stability Program
(ESP
®) system, conditions such as
yaw rate, lateral acceleration, and
brake fluid pressure are monitored,
so that the ESP
® system can help
the driver control the vehicle in diffi-
cult driving situations.
Some information may be stored by
the on-board computers during normaloperation of the vehicle. This stored
information can assist technicians in
repairing the vehicle when malfunc-
tions occur. Other information is stored
only in the event of crash, by computer
systems that are commonly called
Event Data Recorders (EDRs).
In a crash event, EDRs such as the
Airbag Sensing and Diagnostic Mod-
ule (SDM) in your vehicle may record
information about the condition of the
vehicle and how it was operated, such
as data related to airbag readiness,
airbag performance, safety belt usage,
and the severity of the collision. These
data can help provide a better under-
standing of the circumstances in which
crashes and injuries occur and lead to
the designing of safer vehicles. The
SDM in your vehicle does not collect
or store personal information.
To read the stored information, special
equipment is needed and access to
the vehicle or storage device is
required. SUZUKI will not access infor-
mation about a crash event or share it
with others other than with the consent
of the vehicle owner or lessee, in
response to an official request from
the police or similar government office,
as part of SUZUKI’s defense of litiga-
tion through the discovery process, or
as required by law.In addition, once SUZUKI collects or
receives data, SUZUKI may use the
data for research conducted by
SUZUKI, make the data available for
outside research if need is shown and
confidentiality is assured, or make
summary data which does not identify
specific vehicles available for outside
research.
Others, such as law enforcement per-
sonnel, may have access to the spe-
cial equipment that can read the
information if they have access to the
vehicle or storage device.
Reporting Safety Defects: NO

13-1
INDEX
13
79K21-03E
INDEXSymbols“AIR BAG” Light
..................................................................2-61
“CRUISE” Indicator Light
...................................................2-62
“ESP OFF” Indicator Light ........................................ 2-59
, 3-33
“ESP” (Electronic Stability Program) Warning Light
.......2-59
“ESP” Warning Light
...........................................................3-33
“SET” Indicator Light ..........................................................2-62
Numerics4-Speed Automatic Transmission
......................................3-13
5-Speed Automatic Transmission ......................................3-11
AA/T Selector Position
..........................................................2-68
Accelerator Pedal
................................................................3-8
Accessory Socket ................................................................5-66
Adding Engine Coolant
.......................................................7-14
Adjusting Seat Position ......................................................2-19
Adjusting Seatbacks
................................................. 2-19
, 2-22
Air Cleaner
...........................................................................7-16
Air Conditioning System
.....................................................7-49
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
..........................................3-29
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) Warning Light
.................2-58
Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS)
.......................................3-32
Armrest
.................................................................................5-73
Assist Grips
.........................................................................5-70
Audio Systems (type A)
......................................................5-8
Audio Systems (type B) ......................................................5-36
Automatic Heating and Air Conditioning System
(Climate Control)
.................................................................5-1Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR)
.................................. 2-28
Automatic Transmission Fluid
.......................................... 7-20
Auto-On Headlight System
................................................ 2-77
Average Speed
.................................................................... 2-68
BBasic Operations
.......................................................5-11
, 5-38
Battery
.................................................................................. 7-36
Brake Assist System
.......................................................... 3-29
Brake Fluid
.......................................................................... 7-22
Brake Pedal ..................................................................3-8
, 7-23
Brake System Warning Light
............................................. 2-57
Brakes
.................................................................................. 7-22
Braking ................................................................................. 3-28
Break-In ................................................................................ 4-2
Brightness Control
............................................................. 2-66
Bulb Replacement ............................................................... 7-40
CCatalytic Converter
............................................................. 4-2
Changing Engine Oil and Filter
......................................... 7-11
Changing Wheels
................................................................ 8-3
Charging Light
.................................................................... 2-60
Child Lock System (rear doors)
......................................... 2-3
Child Restraint Systems
..................................................... 2-33
Cigarette Lighter and Ashtray
........................................... 5-67
Clutch Pedal
.................................................................3-8
, 7-20
Coat Hooks
.......................................................................... 5-70
Corrosion Prevention
......................................................... 9-1
Cruise Control
..................................................................... 3-26