Section 7 SUZUKI GRAND VITARA 2012 Workshop Manual

7-26
INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
79K21-03E
*The letters ZR may be used on tires
with a maximum speed capability over
149 mph and will always be used on
tires with a maximum speed capability
over 186 mph.
J. M+S Marking
This marking indicates the tire
has some mud and snow capabili-
ties and is designed for all-season
use.
Tire SizeThe following illustration shows an
example of a typical passenger car tire
size.
67D028
A. Tire Type
This letter code indicates the pri-
mary intended use of the tire. The
letter “P” identifies a tire primarily
intended for use on a passenger
vehicle.
B. Tire Width
This three-digit number indicates
the tire section width in millime-
ters from sidewall to sidewall.
C. Aspect Ratio
This two-digit number represents
the tire section height divided by
the tire section width.D. Construction Code
This letter code is used to indicate
the type of ply construction in the
tire. The letter “R” means radial
ply tire construction, the letter “D”
means diagonal or bias ply con-
struction, and the letter “B” means
belted-bias ply construction.
E. Rim Diameter
This two-digit number is the wheel
or rim diameter in inches. Letter Rating Speed Rating
Q99 mph
R 106 mph
S 112 mph
T 118 mph
U 124 mph
H 130 mph
V 149 mph
W 168 mph*
Y 186 mph*
A
B
C
D
E
EXAMPLE
WARNING
Your SUZUKI is equipped with
tires which are all the same type
and size. This is important to
ensure proper steering and han-
dling of the vehicle. Never mix
tires of different size or type on
the four wheels of your vehicle.
Mixing tires could cause you to
lose control while driving which
may lead to an accident. The size
and type of tires used should be
only those approved by SUZUKI
Motor Corporation as standard or
optional equipment for your vehi-
cle.
Tires: 6

7-28
INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
79K21-03E
tire gauge until you reach the cor-
rect pressure.
5) If the air pressure is too low, fill the
tire with air at a service station until
it reaches the recommended pres-
sure.
6) Make sure all tires have the same
air pressure (unless the owner’s
manual indicates otherwise).
Tire InspectionInspect your vehicle’s tires at least
once a month by performing the fol-
lowing checks:
1) Measure the air pressure with a tire
gauge. Adjust the pressure if nec-
essary. Remember to check the
spare tire, too. Refer to the “Mea-
suring Air Pressure” section.
54G136
(1) Tread wear indicator
(2) Indicator location mark
2) Check that the depth of the tread
groove is more than 1.6 mm (0.06
in.). To help you check this, the tires
have molded-in tread wear indica-
tors in the grooves. When the indi-
cators appear on the tread surface,
the remaining depth of the tread is
WARNING
 Air pressures should be
checked when the tires are cold
or you may get inaccurate read-
ings.
 Check the inflation pressure
from time to time while inflating
the tire gradually, until the spec-
ified pressure is obtained.
(Continued)
WARNING
(Continued) Never underinflate or overin-
flate the tires.
Underinflation can cause
unusual handling characteris-
tics or can cause the rim to slip
on the tire bead, resulting in an
accident or damage to the tire
or rim.
Underinflation can also cause
tires to overheat, leading to tire
failure.
Overinflation can cause the tire
to burst, resulting in personal
injury.
Overinflation can also cause
unusual handling characteris-
tics which may result in an acci-
dent.
Tires: 6

7-29INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
79K21-03E
1.6 mm (0.06 in.) or less and the
tire should be replaced.
3) Check for abnormal wear, cracks
and damage. Any tires with cracks
or other damage should be
replaced. If any tires show abnor-
mal wear, have them inspected by
your SUZUKI dealer.
4) Check for loose wheel nuts.
5) Check that there are no nails,
stones or other objects sticking into
the tires.
WARNING
Hitting curbs and running over
rocks can damage tires and affect
wheel alignment. Be sure to have
tires and wheel alignment
checked periodically by your
SUZUKI dealer.
WARNING
Your SUZUKI is equipped with
tires which are all the same type
and size. This is important to
ensure proper steering and han-
dling of the vehicle. Never mix
tires of different size or type on
the four wheels of your vehicle.
The size and type of tires used
should be only those approved by
SUZUKI Motor Corporation as
standard or optional equipment
for your vehicle.
WARNING
Replacing the wheels and tires
equipped on your vehicle with
certain combinations of aftermar-
ket wheels and tires can signifi-
cantly change the steering and
handling characteristics of your
vehicle. Oversized tires may also
rub against the fender over
bumps, causing vehicle damage
or tire failure. Therefore, use only
those wheel and tire combina-
tions approved by SUZUKI Motor
Corporation as standard or
optional equipment for your vehi-
cle. For information regarding the
specified tires, refer to the Tire
Information Label located on the
driver’s side door pillar or the
“SPECIFICATIONS” section.
CAUTION
Replacing the original tires with
tires of a different size may result
in false speedometer or odometer
readings. Check with your
SUZUKI dealer before purchas-
ing replacement tires that differ in
size from the original tires.
Tires: 6

7-30
INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
79K21-03E Uniform Tire Quality Grading
The U.S. National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration has developed a
grading system for evaluating the per-
formance of passenger car tires. The
following information will help you
understand the grading system, which
applies to vehicles sold in the U.S.
Consult your SUZUKI dealer or tire
retailer for help in choosing the correct
replacement tires for your vehicle.
Quality grades can be found where
applicable on the tire sidewall between
tread shoulder and maximum section
width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA Tempera-
ture ADOT Quality Grades
Treadwear
Traction AA A B C
Temperature A B CAll Passenger Car Tires Must Conform
To Federal Safety Requirements in
Addition To These Grades
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative
rating based on the wear rate of the
tire when tested under controlled con-
ditions on a specified government testcourse. For example, a tire graded 150
would wear one and one-half (1 1/2)
times as well on the government
course as a tire graded 100. The rela-
tive performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of their use,
however and may depart significantly
from the norm due to variations in driv-
ing habits, service practices and differ-
ences in road characteristics and
climate.
Traction – AA, A, B, C
The traction grades, from highest to
lowest, are AA, A, B and C. Those
grades represent the tire’s ability to
stop on wet pavement as measured
under controlled conditions on speci-
fied government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C
may have poor traction performance.Temperature – A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (the
highest), B and C, representing the
tire’s resistance to the generation of
heat and its ability to dissipate heat
when tested under controlled condi-
tions on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel. Sustained high tempera-
ture can cause the material of the tire
to degenerate and reduce tire life, and
excessive temperature can lead to
sudden tire failure. The grade C corre-
sponds to a level of performance
which all passenger car tires must
meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B
and A represent higher levels of per-
formance on the laboratory test wheel
than the minimum required by law.
WARNING
The traction grade assigned to
this tire is based on straight-
ahead braking traction tests, and
does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning or peak
traction characteristics.
WARNING
The temperature grade for this
tire is established for a tire that is
properly inflated and not over-
loaded. Excessive speed, under-
inflation or excessive loading,
either separately or in combina-
tion, can cause heat buildup and
possible tire failure.
Tires: 6

7-36
INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
79K21-03E
Battery
60A269
Your vehicle is equipped with a battery that
requires infrequent maintenance. You will
never have to add water. You should, how-
ever, periodically check the battery, battery
terminals and battery hold-down bracket
for corrosion. Remove corrosion using a
stiff brush and ammonia mixed with water,
or baking soda mixed with water. After
removing corrosion, rinse with clean water.
The test indicator on the top of the battery
provides information on the condition of
the battery.
If your vehicle is not going to be driven for
a month or longer, disconnect the cable
from the negative terminal of the battery to
help prevent discharge.
FusesYour vehicle has three types of fuses, as
described below:
Main Fuse – The main fuse takes current
directly from the battery.
Primary Fuses – These fuses are between
the main fuse and individual fuses, and are
for electrical load groups.
Individual Fuses – These fuses are for indi-
vidual electrical circuits.
For details on protected circuits, refer to
the “FUSES AND PROTECTED CIR-
CUITS” section in this manual.
WARNING
Batteries produce flammable hydro-
gen gas. Keep flames and sparks
away from the battery or an explosion
may occur. Never smoke when work-
ing near the battery.
WARNING
When checking or servicing the bat-
tery, disconnect the negative cable.
Be careful not to cause a short circuit
by allowing metal objects to contact
the battery posts and the vehicle at
the same time.EXAMPLE
WARNING
To avoid harm to yourself or damage
to your vehicle or battery, follow the
jump starting instructions in the
“EMERGENCY SERVICE” section of
this manual if it is necessary to jump
start your vehicle.
WARNING
Battery posts, terminals and related
accessories contain lead and lead
compounds. Wash hands after han-
dling.
Bulb Replacement: 7

8-1EMERGENCY SERVICE
79K21-03E
Tire Changing Tool
64J124
The jack, wheel brace and jack handle are
stowed in the rear left corner of the lug-
gage compartment. Remove the cover to
access the tools.
To remove the jack, turn its shaft counter-
clockwise and pull the jack out of the stor-
age bracket. To stow the jack, place it in
the storage bracket and turn the shaft
clockwise until the jack is securely held in
place.
Spare Tire Nut Lock
(if equipped)
64J172
A nut lock is used for the spare tire. To
unlock the spare tire nut, insert the ignition
key into the lock as far as the key will go
and remove the lock with the key in. To lock
the spare tire nut, put the lock on the nut
and push the lock in.
WARNING
The tire changing tools should be
used only to change wheels. It is
important to read the jacking instruc-
tions in this section before attempt-
ing to use the jack.
WARNING
After using the tire changing tools,
be sure to stow them securely, or
they could be thrown about in an
accident, causing injury.
To LOCK To UNLOCK
Jacking Instructions: 5

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

8-8
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.

8-9EMERGENCY SERVICE
79K21-03E
If the Engine is FloodedIf the engine is flooded with gasoline, it
may be hard to start. If this happens, press
the accelerator pedal all the way to the
floor and hold it there while cranking the
engine. (Do not operate the starter motor
for more than 15 seconds).
If the Engine OverheatsThe engine could overheat temporarily
under severe driving conditions. If the
engine coolant temperature gauge indi-
cates overheating during driving:
1) Turn off the air conditioner, if equipped.
2) Take the vehicle to a safe place and
park.
3) Let the engine run at normal idle speed
for a few minutes until the indicator is
within the normal, acceptable tempera-
ture range shown by the white band
between “H” and “C”.If the temperature indication does not
come down to within the normal, accept-
able range:
1) Turn off the engine and check that the
water pump belt and pulleys are not
damaged or slipping. If any abnormality
is found, correct it.
2) Check the coolant level in the reservoir.
If it is found to be lower than the “LOW”
line, look for leaks at the radiator, water
pump and radiator and heater hoses. If
you locate any leaks that may have
caused the overheating, do not run the
engine until these problems have been
corrected.
3) If you do not find a leak, carefully add
coolant to the reservoir and then the
radiator, if necessary. (Refer to “Engine
Coolant” in the “INSPECTION AND
MAINTENANCE” section.)
WARNING
If you see or hear escaping steam,
stop the vehicle in a safe place and
immediately turn off the engine to let
it cool. Do not open the hood when
steam is present. When the steam
can no longer be seen or heard, open
the hood to see if the coolant is still
boiling. If it is, you must wait until it
stops boiling before you proceed.
Also, be careful not to touch hot
engine parts (radiator, water hoses,
engine etc.).

9-1APPEARANCE CARE
79K21-03E
Corrosion PreventionIt is important to take good care of your
vehicle to protect it from corrosion.
Listed below are instructions for how to
maintain your vehicle to prevent corrosion.
Please read and follow these instructions
carefully.Important Information About Corro-
sionCommon causes of corrosion
1) Accumulation of road salt, dirt, moisture
or chemicals in hard-to-reach areas of
the vehicle underbody or frame.
2) Chipping, scratches and any damage to
treated or painted metal surfaces
resulting from minor accidents or
impact from stones and gravel.
Environmental conditions which accel-
erate corrosion
1) Road salt, dust control chemicals, sea
air or industrial pollution will all acceler-
ate the corrosion of metal.
2) High humidity will increase the rate of
corrosion particularly when the temper-
ature range is just above the freezing
point.
3) Moisture in certain areas of a vehicle
for an extended period of time may pro-
mote corrosion even though other body
sections may be completely dry.
4) High temperatures will cause an accel-
erated rate of corrosion to parts of thevehicle which are not well ventilated to
permit quick drying.
52D151
This information illustrates the necessity of
keeping your vehicle (particularly the
underbody) as clean and dry as possible. It
is equally important to repair any damage
to the paint or protective coatings as soon
as possible.How to Help Prevent CorrosionWash your vehicle frequently
The best way to preserve the finish on your
vehicle and to help avoid corrosion is to
keep it clean with frequent washing.
Wash your vehicle at least once during the
winter and once immediately after the win-
ter. Keep your vehicle, particularly the
underside, as clean and dry as possible.If you frequently drive on salted roads, your
vehicle should be washed at least once a
month during the winter. If you live near the
ocean, your vehicle should be washed at
least once a month throughout the year.
Wash your vehicle immediately after using
it off-road. For washing instructions, refer
to the “Vehicle Cleaning” section.
Remove foreign material deposits
Foreign material such as salts, chemicals,
road oil or tar, tree sap, bird droppings and
industrial fall-out may damage the finish of
your vehicle if it is left on painted surfaces.
Remove these types of deposits as quickly
as possible. If these deposits are difficult to
wash off, an additional cleaner may be
required. Be sure that any cleaner you use
is not harmful to painted surfaces and is
specifically intended for your purposes.
Follow the manufacturer’s directions when
using these special cleaners.
WARNING
Foreign material can lodge between
the fuel tank of your vehicle and the
skid plate which covers it. You should
periodically clean out any foreign
material which has accumulated in
this area, since it could create a fire
hazard.
Corrosion Prevention: 5