grand vitara - june 06 - 06 driving tips.pdf

7/27/2019 GRAND VITARA - JUNE 06 - 06 DRIVING TIPS.pdf

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DRIVING TIPSDRIVING TIPSImportant Vehicle Design Features to Know .................... 6-1On-Paved Road Driving ...................................................... 6-2Off-Road Driving .................................................................. 6-4

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DRIVING TIPS

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-------AWARNING ----e Wear Your Seat Belts at All Times.Even though air bags are equippedat the front seating positions, thedriver and all passengers shouldbe properly restrained at all times,using the seat belts provided. Referto the "Seat Belts and ChildRestraint Systems" section forinstructions on proper use of theseat belts.o Never drive while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.Alcohol and drugs can seriouslyimpair your ability to drive safely,greatly increasing the risk of injuryto yourself and others. You shouldalso avoid driving when you aretired, sick, irritated, or understress.

Important Vehicle DesignFeatures to KnowA WARNING

Your multipurpose vehicle has handling characteristics that differ fromthose of a conventional passengercar. For the safety of you and yourpassengers, please read the following section very carefully.Multipurpose vehicles such as your newSUZUKI have higher ground clearance anda narrower track than conventional passenger cars, to make them capable of performing in a wide variety of off-roadapplications. Specific design characteristics give them a higher center of gravitythan ordinary cars. An advantage of thehigher ground clearance is a better view ofthe road allowing you to anticipate problems. They are not designed for corneringat the same speed as conventional passenger cars any more than low-slungsports cars are designed to perform satisfactorily under off-road conditions. If at allpossible, avoid sharp turns or abruptmaneuvers. As with other vehicles of thistype, failure to operate this vehicle correctly may result in loss of control or vehicle rollover.Multipurpose vehicles have a significantlyhigher rollover rate than other types ofvehicles.


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In a rollover crash, an unbelted person issignificantly more likely to die than a person wearing a seat belt.Important Differences BetweenYour Multipurpose Vehicle andOrdinary Passenger CarsHigher Ground Clearance .The higher ground clearance of your vehIcle enables it to clear off-road obstacles,such as rocks and tree stumps, that ordinary passenger cars can ~ r i v e over. Anunavoidable result of thiS higher groundclearance is that the vehicle also has ahigher center of gravity. Consequently, y ~ u rvehicle will handle differently than a vehiclewith a lower center of gravity.Shorter WheelbaseAlong with its higher ground clearance,your vehicle has a shorter wheelbase andshorter front and rear overhangs than thetypical passenger car. ~ h e s e featu.rescombine to allow you to dnve your vehicleover hillcrests without hanging up on themor damaging the frame and chassis components. The shorter w h e e l b ~ s e alsomakes the steering of your vehicle moreresponsive than that of vehicles with longerwheelbases.

Narrower Body Width and TrackYour vehicle is narrower than the averagepassenger car so that it can pass throughtight spaces.Without the essential characteristicsdescribed above: higher ground clearance,shorter wheelbase, and narrower bodywidth and track -your vehicle could not provide you with excellent off road driving performance. However, it is also true that onroad driving, handling, and steering willdifferent from what drivers experience witha conventional passenger car.

DRIVING TIPSOn-Paved Road DrivingThe data of accidents show that most rollover accidents for multi-purpose vehiclesare caused when a driver loses control ofthe vehicle and leaves the paved portion ofthe roadway striking a ditch, curb or otheroff-road object that causes the vehicle tooverturn. The following driving practicesmay reduce the risk of rollover.Vehicle Slides Off-RoadYou can reduce the risk of this kind of rollover accident by always keeping the vehicle under control. Typically, drivers losecontrol of vehicles, often resulting in rollover accidents, when the driver is impairedbecause of alcohol or other drugs, fallsasleep at the wheel or is otherwise i n a t t e ~ -tive, or is driving too fast for the road conditions.Rollovers On the RoadwayIf, for any reason, your vehicle slide.s sideways or spins out of control at. highwayspeeds, while on the paved portion of theroadway, the risk of rollover is greatlyincreased. This condition can be createdwhen two or more wheels drop off onto theshoulder and you steer sharply in anattempt to reenter the roadway. To reducethe risk of rollover in these Circumstances,if conditions permit, you should hold thesteering wheel firmly and slow downbefore pulling back into the travel laneswith controlled steering movements.

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DRIVING TIPSAll Types of Rollover AccidentsAs with many kinds of automobile accidents, rollovers can be greatly reduced bydoing what all prudent drivers should do,i.e., don't drink and drive, don't drive whentired and don't do anything behind thewheel that could cause a loss of attentionto the driving task.Additional guidelines are set out below foryour on-road driving.Know Your VehicleTake time to familiarize yourself with theunique handling characteristics of yourvehicle by first driving around in an areaaway from traffic. Practice turning the vehicle at a variety of speeds and in differentdirections. Get a feel for the greater steering response that your vehicle has over aconventional car.Wear Your Seat Belts at All TimesThe driver and all passengers should beproperly restrained at all times, using theseat belts provided. Refer to the "SeatBelts and Child Restraint Systems" sectionfor instructions on proper use of the seatbelts.Don't Make Sharp TurnsAs mentioned before, small multipurposevehicles have specific design characteristics that allow them to perform in a widevariety of applications. These characteristics also change the cornering behavior6-3

relative to conventional passenger cars.Remember, small multipurpose vehicleshave more responsive steering and ahigher center of gravity than conventionalpassenger cars. If at all possible, avoidmaking sharp turns in your vehicle.Slow Down on CurvesLearn to approach curves cautiously andat a conservative speed. Do not attempt totake curves at the same speeds that youwould in a vehicle with a lower center ofgravity. Just as you would not drive asports car on a trail, you should notattempt to drive your vehicle around curveslike a sports car.Slow Down and Use Caution on Slippery RoadsUnder wet road conditions you shoulddrive at a lower speed than on dry roadsdue to possible slippage of tires duringbraking. When driving on icy, snowcovered, or muddy roads, reduce your speedand avoid sudden acceleration, abruptbraking, or sharp steering movements.Use 4-wheel drive high range (4H) (ifequipped) for better traction.

CAUTIONDo not operate your vehicle in "4HLOCK" or "4L LOCK" on dry, hardsurfaces. Operating your vehicle in"4H LOCK" or "4L LOCK" on dry,hard surfaces puts severe stress tothe drive train, especially during tightcornering, and can damage it. Also,you may have some difficulty steering.

NOTE:Avoid operating your vehicle in "4H LOCK"or "4L LOCK" on wet pavement as muchas possible. Operating your vehicle in "4HLOCK" or "4L LOCK" on wet pavementmay cause severe damage to the drivetrain.NOTE:Operating your vehicle in "4H" on dry andtight corner may cause some vibration onyour vehicle. This is not caused by thevehicle malfunction, but caused by workingof the limited slip differential gear in thecenter differential.


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CAUTIONUnevenly worn tires can cause problems in the operation of the transferswitch. Be sure to rotate the tiresaccording to the maintenance schedule. Refer to "Tires" and "Maintenance Schedule" in the"INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE"section for proper tire rotation procedures.

Off-Road DrivingYour vehicle has specific design characteristics for off-road driving. When you leavethe paved road, you will encounter drivingsurfaces of all kinds which may changecontinually as you drive. It is importantwhen driving off-road to follow the guidelines below.Use Caution on Steep InclinesAlways inspect hills before you attempt todrive up them. Know what is on the otherside and how you will get back down. If youhave any doubt that it is safe, do notattempt to drive over a hill. Never driveyour vehicle up an extremely steep incline.Coming down a steep hill can be trickierthan getting up one. Keep the vehicleheading straight down the hill and use lowgear. Do not lock the brakes. If the vehiclebegins to slide, accelerate slightly to regainsteering control.Do not Drive Across the Side of HillsDriving across the side of a hill can beextremely hazardous. Most of the vehicle'sweight will be transferred to the downhilltires, which could result in the vehicle roiling sideways. Whenever possible, avoidthis potential hazard. Also, if you have toexit your vehicle on a side-hill, always getout on the uphill side.

DRIVING TIPSWear Your Seat Belts at All TimesYou and your passengers should use theseat belts at all times when driving offroad. For proper seat belt use, refer to the"Seat Belts" section in this manual.Avoid Sudden Reactions In Mud, Ice, orSnowBe careful when off-road conditions areslippery. Reduce your speed and avoidsudden movements of the vehicle. If yourvehicle is equipped with the transferswitch, be aware that driving in deep snowor mud can cause a loss of traction and anincrease in the resistance to the vehicle'sforward motion. Use 4WD low gear (4L)and maintain a steady but moderate speedwith a light touch on the steering wheeland brakes.Snow ChainsIf you must use snow chains to increasetire traction, observe the following precautions: Use SUZUKI genuine snow chains orequivalent small link chain or wire chain. Choose a safe place away from traffic toinstall the chain. When installing the chains carefully follow the manufacture's instructions. Install the chains on the rear tires. With the chains on, drive only at slowand moderate speeds.

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DRIVING TIPS

CAUTIONIf you hear the c h a i n ~ h i t t i . n ~ againstthe vehicle body while driving, stopand tighten them.

If Your Vehicle Gets StuckIf your vehicle gets stuck in snow, mud, orsand, follow the directions below:1) (For vehicles equipped with transferswitch) Turn the transfer switch to "4HLOCK" or "4L LOCK".2) Shift the transmission back and forthbetween a forward range (or first gearfor manual transmission) and reverse.This will create a rocking motion which

may give you enough momentum tofree the vehicle. Press gently on theaccelerator to keep wheel spin to a minimum. Remove your foot from theaccelerator while shifting.Do not race the engine. Excessivewheel spin will cause the tires to digdeeper, making it more difficult to freethe vehicle.3) If your vehicle remains stuck after a !ewminutes of rocking, get another vehicleto pull you out.

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.. Do not allow anyone to stand nearthe vehicle when you are rocking it,and do not spin the wheels fasterthan an indicated 40 km/h (25 mph)on the speedometer. Personalinjury and/or vehicle damage mayresult from spinning the wheels toofast.

e Be sure to turn the transfer switchfrom "4H" to "4H LOCK" or "4LLOCK" when the tires slip in "4H".The continuing tires slip in "4H"can cause the limited slip differential gear damage in the center differential.CAUTION

Release the accelerator pedal whenoperating the gearshift lever. Operating the lever with the engine racingcan damage the gears.CAUTION

Do not continue rocking the vehiclefor more than a few minutes. Prolonged rocking can cause engineoverheating, transmission or transfer case damage, or tire damage.

Do not drive through deep or rushingwaterDriving in deep or rushing water can behazardous. You could lose control of thevehicle and the occupants could drown.Also, your vehicle could be seriously damaged. To avoid these risks, o b s ~ r v e the fol-lowing instructions and precautions. ... Do not drive through deep or rushmgwater. Deep or rushing water, such asfast-moving streams or floodwaters,could carry your vehicle away from yourintended path. The water is too deep if itcovers your wheel hubs, axles, orexhaust tailpipe. Know the depth of thewater before you attempt to drive~ r o ~ h ~ .

o If water blocks the tailpipe, the eng memay not start or run. If the water is deepenough to get drawn into the engineintake system, the engine will be badlydamaged... Submerged brakes will have poor braking performance. Drive slowly and car';lfully. Driving slowly will ~ I s ? help avoidwater splashing onto the Ignition system,which could cause the engine to stall... Even when driving through shallow orstill waters, drive carefully since thewater may be hiding ground hazardssuch as holes, ditches, or bumps.


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A WARNINGIn addition to following the drivingtips in this section, it is important toobserve the following precautions foron-road and off-road driving. Driver and passengers should wearseat belts at all times. Do not let anyone else drive yourvehicle unless they are also awareof the vehicle characteristics andhandling differences described inthis section. Avoid loaning your vehicle to anyone unless you accompany them. Make sure your tires are in goodcondition and always maintain thespecified tire pressure. Refer to"Tires" in the "INSPECTION ANDMAINTENANCE" section fordetails. Do not use tires other than thosespecified by SUZUKI. Never use different sizes or types of tires on thefront and rear wheels. For information regarding the specified tires,refer to the "SPECIFICATIONS"

section. Never use oversized tires or special shock absorbers and springsto raise (jack up) your vehicle. Thiswill raise the center of gravity ofthe vehicle and change its handlingcharacteristics. (Continued)

A WARNING(Continued) After driving through water, mud,or sandy ground, test the brakeswhile driving at a slow speed to seeif they have maintained their normal effectiveness. If the brakes areless effective than normal, drythem by repeatedly applying thebrakes while driving slowly untilthe brakes have regained their normal effectiveness. Do not use "4H LOCK" or "4LLOCK" drive for normal driving ondry, hard surfaced roads. After extended operation in mud,sand, or water, have the brakesinspected by your authorizedSUZUKI dealer as soon as possible.

DRIVING TIPS

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DRIVING TIPS

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grand vitara - june 06 - 06 driving tips.pdf

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