brakes SUZUKI XL7 2007 2.G Owners Manual

2-15 FEATURES AND CONTROLS
78J00-03E
started because the vehicle cannot move
easily.
Make sure the shift lever is fully in PARK
(P) before starting the engine. The vehicle
has an automatic transaxle shift lock con-
trol system. You must fully apply your reg-
ular brakes first and then press the shift
lever button, before you can shift from
PARK (P) when the ignition is in RUN. If
you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease
pressure on the shift lever and push the
shift lever all way into PARK (P) as you
maintain brake application. Then press the
shift lever button and move the shift leverinto another gear. Refer to “Shifting Out of
Park (P)” in this section.
REVERSE (R):
Use this gear to back up.
To rock the vehicle back and forth to get
out of snow, ice, or sand without damaging
the transaxle, refer to “If Your Vehicle is
Stuck in Sand, Mud, Ice, or Snow” in “Your
Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle” in the
“Driving Your Vehicle” section.
NEUTRAL (N):
In this position, the engine does not con-
nect with the wheels. To restart when the
vehicle is already moving, use NEUTRAL
(N) only. Also, use NEUTRAL (N) when the
vehicle is being towed.DRIVE (D):
This position is for normal driving. It pro-
vides the best fuel economy for your vehi-
cle. If the vehicle needs more power for
passing, and it is:
 Going less than 35 mph (55 km/h), push
the accelerator pedal about halfway
down.
 Going about 35 mph (55 km/h) or more,
push the accelerator pedal all the way
down. The vehicle will shift down to the
next gear and have more power.
WARNING
It is dangerous to get out of your
vehicle if the shift lever is not fully in
PARK (P) with the parking brake
firmly set. Your vehicle can roll.
Do not leave your vehicle when the
engine is running unless you have to.
If you have left the engine running,
the vehicle can move suddenly. You
or others could be injured. To be sure
your vehicle will not move, even
when you are on fairly level ground,
always set your parking brake and
move the shift lever to PARK (P).
Refer to “Shifting Into Park (P)” in
this section. If you are pulling a
trailer, refer to “Towing a Trailer” in
“Towing” in the “Driving Your Vehi-
cle” section.
CAUTION
Shifting to REVERSE (R) while your
vehicle is moving forward could dam-
age the transaxle. The repairs would
not be covered by your warranty.
Shift to REVERSE (R) only after your
vehicle is stopped.
WARNING
Shifting into a drive gear while your
engine is running at high speed is
dangerous. Unless your foot is firmly
on the brake pedal, your vehicle
could move very rapidly. You could
lose control and hit people or
objects. Do not shift into a drive gear
while your engine is running at high
speed.
CAUTION
Shifting out of PARK (P) or NEUTRAL
(N) while the engine is running at
high speed may damage the tran-
saxle. The repairs would not be cov-
ered by your warranty. Be sure the
engine is not running at high speeds
when shifting your vehicle.

2-16 FEATURES AND CONTROLS
78J00-03E
Downshifting the transaxle in slippery road
conditions could result in skidding, refer to
“Loss of Control” in “Your Driving, the
Road, and Your Vehicle” in the “Driving
Your Vehicle” section.
MANUAL SHIFT MODE (M):
This position, available on the models with
the Manual Shift Mode (MSM), allows you
to change gears similar to a manual tran-
saxle. If your vehicle has this feature, see
“Manual Shift Mode (MSM)”.
Manual Shift Mode (MSM)
(Automatic Transaxle)
1722685
To use this feature, do the following:
1) Move the shift lever from DRIVE (D) to
the left into the MANUAL SHIFT MODE
(M).
While driving in manual mode, the tran-
saxle will remain in the driver selected
gear.
When coming to a stop in the manual
position, the vehicle will automatically
shift into FIRST (1) gear.
– A shift is required to protect the engine
or transmission or
– The vehicle slows almost to a stop,
and then automatic downshift will
occur.
2) Press the shift lever forward to upshift
or rearward to downshift.A box with the current gear will display in
the middle of the telltale line below the
gear selection.
While using the Manual Shift Mode (MSM)
feature the vehicle will have firmer shifting
and increased performance. You can use
this for sport driving or when climbing hills
to stay in gear longer or to downshift for
more power or engine braking.
The transaxle will only allow you to shift
into gears appropriate for the vehicle
speed and engine revolutions per minute
(RPM):
 The transaxle will not downshift to the
next lower gear if the engine RPM is too
high.
 The transaxle will not automatically shift
to the next higher gear if the engine
RPM is too high.
 When coming to a stop in the manual
mode, the vehicle will automatically
downshift to the proper gear based on
speed. Upon acceleration you will need
to manually upshift to the desired gear.
CAUTION
Spinning the tires or holding the
vehicle in one place on a hill using
only the accelerator pedal may dam-
age the transaxle. If you are stuck, do
not spin the tires. When stopping on
a hill, use the brakes to hold the vehi-
cle in place.

2-18 FEATURES AND CONTROLS
78J00-03E
4) Remove the key and take it with you. If
you can leave your vehicle with the igni-
tion key in your hand, your vehicle is in
PARK (P).
Leaving Your Vehicle With the Engine
Running
If you have to leave your vehicle with the
engine running, be sure your vehicle is in
PARK (P) and your parking brake is firmly
set before you leave it. After you have
moved the shift lever into PARK (P), hold
the regular brake pedal down. Then, see if
you can move the shift lever away from
PARK (P) without first pushing the button.
If you can, it means that the shift lever was
not fully locked into PARK (P).
Torque Lock
If you are parking on a hill and you do not
shift your transaxle into PARK (P) properly,
the weight of the vehicle may put too muchforce on the parking pawl in the transaxle.
You may find it difficult to pull the shift
lever out of PARK (P). This is called
“torque lock.” To prevent torque lock, set
the parking brake and then shift into PARK
(P) properly before you leave the driver’s
seat. To find out how, refer to “Shifting Into
Park (P)” in this section.
When you are ready to drive, move the
shift lever out of PARK (P) before you
release the parking brake.
If torque lock does occur, you may need to
have another vehicle push yours a little
uphill to take some of the pressure from
the parking pawl in the transaxle, so you
can pull the shift lever out of PARK (P).
Shifting Out of Park (P)Your vehicle has an automatic transaxle
shift lock control system. You have to fully
apply your regular brakes before you can
shift from PARK (P) when the ignition is in
RUN.
If you cannot shift out of PARK (P), ease
pressure on the shift lever – push the shift
lever all the way into PARK (P), as you
maintain brake application. Then, press
the button on the shift lever and move the
shift lever into the gear you wish.
If you ever hold the brake pedal down but
still cannot shift out of PARK (P), try this:
1) Turn the key to LOCK.2) Apply and hold the brake until the end
of Step 4.
3) Shift to NEUTRAL (N).
4) Start the vehicle and then shift to the
desired drive gear.
5) Have your vehicle fixed as soon as you
can.
Parking Over Things That Burn
806406
WARNING
It can be dangerous to leave your
vehicle with the engine running. Your
vehicle could move suddenly if the
shift lever is not fully in PARK (P)
with the parking brake firmly set.
And, if you leave the vehicle with the
engine running, it could overheat and
even catch fire. You or others could
be injured. Do not leave your vehicle
with the engine running.
WARNING
Things that can burn could touch hot
exhaust parts under your vehicle and
ignite. Do not park over papers,
leaves, dry grass, or other things that
can burn.

3-6 INSTRUMENT PANEL
78J00-03E
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The cruise control buttons are located on
the left side of the steering wheel.
(On/Off):
Press this button to turn the cruise control
system on and off. The indicator light is on
when cruise control is on and turns off
when cruise control is off.
+RES (Resume):
Press this button to resume a set speed
and to accelerate the speed.
SET– (Set):
Press this button to set a speed and to
decrease the speed.
(Cancel):
Press this button to cancel cruise control
without erasing the set speed from mem-
ory.Setting Cruise Control
The cruise control light on the instrument
panel cluster will come on after the cruise
control has been set to the desired speed.
1) Press the on/off button to turn cruise
control on.
2) Get up to the speed you want.
3) Press the SET– button and release it.
4) Take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
When the brakes are applied, the cruise
control shuts off.
If the vehicle is in cruise control and the
Traction Control System (TCS) begins to
limit wheel spin, the cruise control will
automatically disengage. Refer to “Traction
Control System (TCS)” in “Your Driving,
the Road, and Your Vehicle” in the “Driving
Your Vehicle” section. When road condi-
tions allow, the cruise control can be used
again.
Resuming a Set Speed
Suppose you set your cruise control at a
desired speed and then you apply the
brakes. This shuts off the cruise control.
The cruise symbol in the instrument panel
cluster will also go off indicating cruise is
no longer engaged. To return to your previ-
ously set speed, you do not need to go
through the set process again.
Once you are driving about 25 mph (40
km/h) or more, press the +RES button on
your steering wheel. The vehicle will goback to the previous set speed and stay
there.
Increasing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
There are two ways to go to a higher
speed.
 Press and hold the +RES button on the
steering wheel until you reach your new
desired speed, then release it.
 To increase vehicle speed in small
amounts, press the +RES button. Each
time you do this, you will go about 1 mph
(1.6 km/h) faster.
Reducing Speed While Using Cruise
Control
To reduce your speed while using cruise
control:
 Press and hold the SET– button on the
steering wheel until the desired lower
speed is reached, then release it.
 To slow down in very small amounts,
push the SET– button on the steering
wheel briefly. Each time you do this, the
vehicle will go about 1 mph (1.6 km/h)
slower.
Passing Another Vehicle While Using
Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to increase your
speed. When you take your foot off the
pedal, your vehicle will slow down to the
cruise control speed you set earlier. How-
ever, if you use the accelerator to increase

3-7 INSTRUMENT PANEL
78J00-03E
the vehicle’s speed for approximately 60
seconds, cruise control will disengage.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well your cruise control will work on
hills depends upon your speed, load, and
the steepness of the hills. When going up
steep hills, you may have to step on the
accelerator pedal to maintain your vehi-
cle’s speed. When going downhill, you may
have to brake or shift to a lower gear to
limit the vehicle’s speed. Of course, apply-
ing the brakes ends cruise control. Many
drivers find this to be too much trouble and
do not use cruise control on steep hills.
Ending Cruise Control
There are three ways to end cruise control:
 Step lightly on the brake pedal.
 Press the cancel button on the steering
wheel.
 Press the On/Off button on the steering
wheel.
Erasing Speed Memory
When the cruise control or the ignition is
turned off, the cruise control set speed
memory is erased.
HeadlampsThe exterior lamp control is located on the
turn signal/multifunction lever.
(Exterior Lamp Control):
Turn the control with this symbol on it to
operate the exterior lamps.
The exterior lamp control has the following
positions:
AUTO (Off/Automatic Headlamps):
Turn the control to this position to put the
headlamps in automatic mode. Automatic
mode will turn the exterior lamps on and off
depending upon how much light is avail-
able outside of the vehicle.
(Parking Lamps):
Turn the control to this position to turn on
the parking lamps together with the follow-
ing:
 Sidemarker Lamps
 Taillamps
 License Plate Lamps
 Instrument Panel Lights
(Headlamps):
Turning the control to this position turns on
the headlamps, together with the previ-
ously listed lamps and lights.
Headlamps on Reminder
If you open the driver’s door with the igni-
tion off and the lamps on, you will hear a
warning chime.Daytime Running Lamps (DRL)
Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) can make
it easier for others to see the front of your
vehicle during the day. DRL can be helpful
in many different driving conditions, but
they can be especially helpful in the short
periods after dawn and before sunset.
Fully functional daytime running lamps are
required on all vehicles first sold in Can-
ada.
A light sensor on top of the instrument
panel makes the DRL work, so be sure it is
not covered.
The DRL system’s automatic headlamp
control will make the low-beam headlamps
come on at a reduced brightness when the
following conditions are met:
 The ignition is in RUN.
 The exterior lamps control is in AUTO.
 The engine is running.
When the DRL are on, only the low-beam
headlamps, at a reduced level of bright-
ness, will be on. The headlamps, taillamps,
sidemarker, and other lamps will not be on.
The instrument panel and cluster will also
not be lit.
When it is dark enough outside, the DRL
will turn off and the headlamps and parking
lamps will turn on. The other lamps that
come on with the headlamps will also
come on.

3-19 INSTRUMENT PANEL
78J00-03E
Battery Warning Light
812700
Your vehicle has a battery warning light.
If this light comes on while you are driving,
be sure to turn off accessories such as the
radio and climate control system. Have
your vehicle serviced right away. The SER-
VICE BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM
message may also appear in the Driver
Information Center. Refer to “DIC Warn-
ings and Messages” in this section for
more information.
Brake System Warning LightYour vehicle’s hydraulic brake system is
divided into two parts. If one part is not
working, the other part can still work and
stop you. For good braking, though, you
need both parts working well.
If the brake system warning light comes
on, there is a brake problem. Have your
brake system inspected right away.
United States
1240159
Canada
861215
The brake light is located in the instrument
panel cluster.
This light should come on briefly when you
turn the ignition key to RUN. If it does not
come on then, have it fixed so it will be
ready to warn you if there is a problem.When the ignition is on, the brake light will
come on when you set your parking brake.
The light will stay on if your parking brake
does not release fully. A chime will also
sound if the parking brake is not fully
released and the vehicle is moving. If it
stays on after your parking brake is fully
released, it means you have a brake prob-
lem.
The brake light will also come on to indi-
cate a low brake fluid level. Refer to
“Brakes” in “Checking Things Under the
Hood” in the “Service and Appearance
Care” section for more information.
If the light comes on while you are driving,
pull off the road and stop carefully. You
may notice that the pedal is harder to push
or the pedal may go closer to the floor. It
may take longer to stop. If the light is still
on, have the vehicle towed for service.
Refer to “Towing Your Vehicle” in “Towing”
in the “Driving Your Vehicle” section.
WARNING
Your brake system may not be work-
ing properly if the brake system
warning light is on. Driving with the
brake system warning light on can
lead to an accident. If the light is still
on after you have pulled off the road
and stopped carefully, have the vehi-
cle towed for service.

3-20 INSTRUMENT PANEL
78J00-03E
Anti-Lock Brake System Warning
Light
807057
With the Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS),
the light will come on when your engine is
started and stay on for several seconds.
This is normal.
If the ABS warning light comes on and
stays on, there may be a problem with the
anti-lock portion of the brake system. If the
brake system warning light is not on, you
still have brakes, but you do not have anti-
lock brakes. Refer to “Brake System Warn-
ing Light” in this section for more informa-
tion.
If the light stays on, turn the ignition to
LOCK. If the light comes on when you are
driving, stop as soon as possible and turn
the ignition off. Then start the engine again
to reset the system. If the light still stays
on, or comes on again while you are driv-
ing, your vehicle needs service. If the regu-
lar brake system warning light is not on,
you still have brakes, but you do not have
anti-lock brakes. If the regular brake sys-
tem warning light is also on, you do not
have anti-lock brakes and there is a prob-lem with your regular brakes. Refer to
“Brake System Warning Light” in this sec-
tion for more information.
The ABS warning light should come on
briefly when you turn the ignition key to
RUN. If the light does not come on then,
have it fixed so it will be ready to warn you
if there is a problem.
Traction Control System (TCS)
Warning Light
1545635
Your vehicle has a traction control system
warning light.
This light will come on when your traction
control system is limiting wheel spin. You
may feel or hear the system working, but
this is normal. This light may also come on
after extended heavy braking indicating the
brakes have become too hot to limit wheel
spin.
If the traction control system warning light
comes on and stays on for an extended
period of time when the system is turned
on, your vehicle needs service. Refer to
“Traction Control System (TCS)” in “Your
Driving, the Road, and Your Vehicle” in the“Driving Your Vehicle” section for more
information.
Engine Coolant Temperature
Warning Light
808241
The engine coolant temperature warning
light will come on when the engine has
overheated.
If this happens you should pull over and
turn off the engine as soon as possible.
Refer to “Engine Overheating” in “Check-
ing Things Under the Hood” in the “Service
and Appearance Care” section for more
information.
NOTE:
Driving with the engine coolant tempera-
ture warning light on could cause your
vehicle to overheat. Refer to “Engine Over-
heating” in “Checking Things Under the
Hood” in the “Service and Appearance
Care” section. Your vehicle could be dam-
aged, and it might not be covered by your
warranty. Never drive with the engine cool-
ant temperature warning light on.

4-3 DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE
78J00-03E
There is something else about drinking
and driving that many people do not know.
Medical research shows that alcohol in a
person’s system can make crash injuries
worse, especially injuries to the brain, spi-
nal cord, or heart. This means that when
anyone who has been drinking – driver or
passenger – is in a crash, that person’s
chance of being killed or permanently dis-
abled is higher than if the person had not
been drinking.Control of a VehicleYou have three systems that make your
vehicle go where you want it to go. They
are the brakes, the steering, and the accel-
erator. All three systems have to do their
work at the places where the tires meet the
road.
Sometimes, as when you are driving on
snow or ice, it is easy to ask more of those
control systems than the tires and roadcan provide. That means you can lose con-
trol of your vehicle.
Adding non-Suzuki accessories can affect
your vehicle’s performance. Refer to
“Accessories and Modifications” in “Ser-
vice” in the “Service and Appearance
Care” section.
BrakingRefer to “Brake System Warning Light” in
“Warning Lights, Gages, and Indicators” in
the “Instrument Panel” section.
Braking action involves perception time
and reaction time.
First, you have to decide to push on the
brake pedal. That is perception time. Then
you have to bring up your foot and do it.
That is reaction time.
Average reaction time is about three-
fourths of a second. But that is only an
average. It might be less with one driver
and as long as two or three seconds or
more with another. Age, physical condition,
alertness, coordination, and eyesight all
play a part. So do alcohol, drugs, and frus-
tration. But even in three-fourths of a sec-
ond, a vehicle moving at 60 mph (100 km/
h) travels 66 feet (20 m). That could be a
lot of distance in an emergency, so keeping
enough space between your vehicle and
others is important.
And, of course, actual stopping distances
vary greatly with the surface of the road,whether it is pavement or gravel; the con-
dition of the road, whether it is wet, dry, or
icy; tire tread; the condition of the brakes;
the weight of the vehicle; and the amount
of brake force applied.
Avoid needless heavy braking. Some peo-
ple drive in spurts – heavy acceleration fol-
lowed by heavy braking – rather than
keeping pace with traffic. This is a mistake.
The brakes may not have time to cool
between hard stops. The brakes will wear
out much faster if you do a lot of heavy
braking. If you keep pace with the traffic
and allow realistic following distances, you
will eliminate a lot of unnecessary braking.
That means better braking and longer
brake life.
If your vehicle’s engine ever stops while
you are driving, brake normally but do not
pump the brakes. If you do, the pedal may
get harder to push down. If the engine
stops, you will still have some power brake
assist. But you will use it when you brake.
Once the power assist is used up, it may
take longer to stop and the brake pedal will
be harder to push.
Adding non-Suzuki accessories can affect
your vehicle’s performance. Refer to
“Accessories and Modifications” in “Ser-
vice” in the “Service and Appearance
Care” section.
WARNING
Drinking and then driving is very dan-
gerous. Your reflexes, perceptions,
attentiveness, and judgment can be
affected by even a small amount of
alcohol. You can have a serious – or
even fatal – collision if you drive after
drinking. Please do not drink and
drive or ride with a driver who has
been drinking. Ride home in a cab; or
if you are with a group, designate a
driver who will not drink.

4-4 DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE
78J00-03E
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)
Your vehicle has the Anti-Lock Brake Sys-
tem (ABS), an advanced electronic braking
system that will help prevent a braking
skid.
When you start the engine and begin to
drive away, ABS will check itself. You may
hear a momentary motor or clicking noise
while this test is going on, and you may
even notice that the brake pedal moves a
little. This is normal.
807057
If there is a problem with ABS, this warning
light will stay on. Refer to “Anti-Lock Brake
System Warning Light” in “Warning Lights,
Gages, and Indicators” in the “Instrument
Panel” section.
1527213
Let us say the road is wet and you are driv-
ing safely. Suddenly, an animal jumps out
in front of you. You slam on the brakes and
continue braking. Here is what happens
with ABS:
A computer senses that wheels are slow-
ing down. If one of the wheels is about to
stop rolling, the computer will separately
work the brakes at each wheel.
ABS can change the brake pressure faster
than any driver could. The computer is pro-
grammed to make the most of available tire
and road conditions. This can help you
steer around the obstacle while braking
hard.
1527212
As you brake, the computer keeps receiv-
ing updates on wheel speed and controls
braking pressure accordingly.
Remember: ABS does not change the time
you need to get your foot up to the brake
pedal or always decrease stopping dis-
tance. If you get too close to the vehicle in
front of you, you will not have time to apply
the brakes if that vehicle suddenly slows or
stops. Always leave enough room up
ahead to stop, even though you have ABS.
Using ABS
Do not pump the brakes. Just hold the
brake pedal down firmly and let anti-lock
work for you. You may hear the anti-lock
pump or motor operate, and feel the brake
pedal pulsate, but this is normal.

4-5 DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE
78J00-03E
Braking in Emergencies
With ABS, you can steer and brake at the
same time. In many emergencies, steering
can help you more than even the very best
braking.Traction Control System (TCS)Your vehicle has a traction control system
that limits wheel spin. This is especially
useful in slippery road conditions. The sys-
tem operates only if it senses that one or
both of the front wheels are spinning or
beginning to lose traction. When this hap-
pens, the system reduces engine power to
limit wheel spin.
1545635
This light will come on when your traction
control system is limiting wheel spin.
You may feel or hear the system working,
but this is normal. This light may also come
on after extended heavy braking indicating
the brakes have become too hot to limit
wheel spin.
The traction control system automatically
comes on whenever you start your vehicle.
To limit wheel spin, especially in slippery
road conditions, you should always leavethe system on. But you can turn the trac-
tion control system off if you ever need to.
You should turn the system off if your vehi-
cle ever gets stuck in sand, mud, ice or
snow and rocking the vehicle is required.
Refer to “Rocking Your Vehicle to Get It
Out” in this section.
78J001
The traction control system can be turned
off by pressing the traction control button,
located on the floor console to the left of
the shift lever.
The traction control system can be acti-
vated again by pressing the traction control
button.
If the system is limiting wheel spin when
you press the button, the traction control
off light will appear on the instrument panel
cluster. The system will not turn off until
there is no longer a current need to limit
wheel spin. You can turn the system back
on at any time by pressing the button
again. If the light does not come on, you
may not have traction control and your
vehicle should be serviced by a dealer.
Adding non-SUZUKI accessories can
affect your vehicle’s performance. Refer to“Accessories and Modifications” in “Ser-
vice” in the “Service and Appearance
Care” section for more information.
Electronic Stability ControlThe Electronic Stability Control (ESC) sys-
tem is an advanced computer controlled
system that helps the driver maintain direc-
tional control of the vehicle in difficult driv-
ing conditions. This is accomplished by
selectively applying any one of the vehi-
cle’s brakes and reducing engine power.
The ESC system comes on automatically
whenever you start your vehicle.
The SERVICE STABILITY CTRL message
may be displayed in the DIC after first driv-
ing the vehicle and exceeding 30 mph 48
(km/h) for 30 seconds. The ESC system is
off until the message has turned off. This
could take up to 15 minutes. Refer to “DIC
Warnings and Messages” in “Driver Infor-
mation Center (DIC)” in the “Instrument
Panel” section for more information.
The SERVICE STABILITY CTRL message
will stay on if there is a problem with the
system. When this message is on, the sys-
tem is not operational. Adjust your driving
accordingly. ESC can be turned off using
the traction control button. To disable ESC,
press and hold the traction control button
for five seconds. ESC can be activated
again by pressing the traction control but-
ton.