Using the SUZUKI GRAND VITARA 2012 Manual PDF

7-21INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
79K21-03E
NOTE:
Do not check the fluid level if you have just
driven the vehicle for a long time at high
speed, if you have driven in city traffic in
hot weather, or if the vehicle has been pull-
ing a trailer. Wait until the fluid cools down
(about 30 minutes), or the fluid level indica-
tion will not be correct.
3) Park your vehicle on level ground.
4) Apply the parking brake and then start
the engine in “P” (Park). Let it idle for
two minutes and keep it running during
the fluid level check.
5) With your foot on the brake pedal, move
the gearshift lever through each gear,
pausing for about three seconds in
each range. Then move it back to the
“P” (Park) position.
60A205
The handle of the A/T fluid dipstick is col-
ored red for easy identification.
65D109
6) Remove the dipstick, clean it and push
it back in until the cap seats. Pull out
the dipstick and read the fluid level. The fluid level should be between the
two marks in the “HOT” range on the
dipstick.
7) Add just enough specified fluid through
the dipstick hole to fill the transmission
to the proper level.
Changing OilSince special procedures, materials and
tools are required to change the automatic
transmission oil, it is recommended that
you trust this job to your authorized
SUZUKI dealer.
WARNING
Be sure to depress the brake pedal
when moving the gearshift lever, or
the vehicle can move suddenly.
EXAMPLE
or
FULL HOT
LOW HOT
CAUTION
After checking or adding oil, be sure
to insert the dipstick securely.
Brakes: 6

7-27INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
79K21-03E Tire Inflation Pressure
Tire inflation pressure should be
checked when the tire is cold. “Cold
tire inflation pressure” is the pressure
in a tire that has been driven less than
1 mile (1.6 km) or has been standing
for three hours or more.
54G307
The front, rear and spare tire pressure
specifications for your vehicle are
shown below and are listed on the Tire
and Loading Information Label, which
is located on the driver’s door lock pil-
lar. The Tire and Loading Information
Label contains the following informa-
tion:
 Seating Capacity
 Maximum Allowed Combined
Weight of Occupants and Cargo
 Original Tire Size Recommended Cold Tire Inflation
Pressure of Original Tires
NOTE:
The tire inflation pressure will change
due to changes in atmospheric pres-
sure, temperature or tire temperature
when driving. To reduce the chance
that the low tire pressure warning light
will come on due to normal changes in
temperature and atmospheric pres-
sure, it is important to check and
adjust the tire pressures when the tires
are cold. Tires that appear to be at the
specified pressure when checked after
driving, when the tires are warm, could
have pressure below the specification
when the tires cool down. Also, tires
that are inflated to the specified pres-
sure in a warm garage may have pres-
sure below the specification when the
vehicle is driven outside in very coldtemperature. If you adjust the tire
pressure in a garage that is warmer
than the outside temperature, you
should add 1 psi to the recommended
cold tire inflation pressure for every
10°F difference between garage tem-
perature and outside temperature.
Measuring air pressure
Use the following steps to achieve
proper tire inflation:
1) Identify the recommended tire pres-
sure on the vehicle’s Tire and Load-
ing Information Label or in the
owner’s manual.
2) Remove the valve cap from the tire
valve stem.
3) Using a reliable pressure gauge,
measure the tire inflation pressure
by pressing the tire gauge firmly
onto the valve to get a pressure
measurement. Remember that
inflation pressures should be
checked when the tires are “cold”,
meaning before they have been
driven one mile or after sitting for
three hours or more allowing the
tire to cool to ambient air tempera-
ture.
4) If the air pressure is too high, slowly
release the air by pressing on the
tire valve stem with the edge of the
Recommended Cold Tire Inflation
Pressures
Front Tires230 kPa
33 psi
Rear Tires230 kPa
33 psi
Spare230 kPa
33 psi
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

7-31INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
79K21-03E Tire Rotation
4-tire rotation
65D459
To avoid uneven wear of your tires and
to prolong their life, rotate the tires as
illustrated. Tires should be rotated as
recommended in the periodic mainte-
nance schedule. After rotation, adjust
front and rear tire pressures to the
specification listed on your vehicle’s
Tire and Loading Information Label.
WARNING
Rust or dirt on a wheel, or on the
parts to which it is fastened, can
make wheel nuts become loose
after a time. The wheel could
come off and cause an accident.
When you change a wheel,
remove any rust or dirt from
places where the wheel attaches
to the vehicle. In an emergency,
you can use a cloth or a paper
towel to do this; but be sure to
use a scraper or wire brush later,
if you need to, to get all the rust
or dirt off.
WARNING
Vehicle equipped with P225/
65R17 tires have a spare wheel
and tire that are a different size
than the wheels and tires on the
vehicle. The spare wheel and tire
on these vehicles are intended for
temporary emergency use only.
The wheel is painted yellow to
remind you that the wheel and
tire are for temporary use only.
Continuous use of this spare can
result in tire failure and loss of
control. Always observe these
precautions when using this
spare:
 Be aware that your vehicle will
handle differently with this tem-
porary spare.
 Do not exceed 80 km/h (50 mph)
speed.
 Replace the temporary spare
with a standard tire and wheel
as soon as possible.
 Do not operate your vehicle in
“4H LOCK” or “4L LOCK” with
this temporary spare.
(Continued)
Tires: 6

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

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

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

7-41INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
79K21-03E
Spot Light (if equipped)Pull down the lens by using a flat blade
screwdriver covered with a soft cloth as
shown.
Ceiling-mount type (if equipped)
79K061
Remove the bulb holder by turning it coun-
terclockwise. Pull out the bulb.
HeadlightsLow beam
(Halogen headlamp)
79K089
66J108
Open the engine hood. Disconnect the
coupler. Remove the sealing rubber.
Push the retaining spring forward and
unhook it. Then remove the bulb. Install a
new bulb in the reverse order of removal.
High beam
78F072
Open the engine hood. Disconnect the
coupler while pushing the lock release.
Turn the bulb holder counterclockwise to
remove it.
Wiper Blades: 3

7-45INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
79K21-03E
64J182
2) Release the claws of the light housing
by the flat head etc. through the service
holes as shown in the illustration.
64J183
3) Close the tailgate. Remove a high-
mounted stop light housing (2) from the
tailgate.
64J184
4) Remove the each bulb.
5) Replace the bulbs.
To install a high-mounted stop light
housing in the reverse order of removal.
(2)