Get Operating Your Vehicle -> Electronic Stability Program (ESP?) Guide for Suzuki Grand Vitara SUV Second Generation (2005-2015)

3-31

OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE

79K21-03E

How the ABS Works

A computer continuously monitors wheel

speed. The computer compares the

changes in wheel speed when braking. If

the wheels slow suddenly, indicating a

skidding situation, the computer will

change braking pressure several times

each second to prevent the wheels from

locking. When you start your vehicle or

when you accelerate after a hard stop, you

may hear a momentary motor or clicking

sound as the system resets or checks

itself.

Electronic Stability Program

(ESP

)

ESP

is a registered trademark of Daimler

AG.

The Electronic Stability Program (ESP

)

helps to control the vehicle during corner-

ing if front wheels or rear wheels skid. It

also assists you in maintaining traction

while accelerating on loose or slippery

road surfaces. It does this by regulating the

engine’s output, and by selectively apply-

ing the brakes. In addition, ESP

helps to

avoid skidding by controlling braking pres-

sure.

The ESP

has the following three systems:

Stability Control System

The vehicle stability control system helps

provide integrated control of systems such

as anti-lock brakes, traction control, engine

control, etc. This system automatically

controls the brakes and engine to help pre-

vent the vehicle from skidding when cor-

nering on a slippery road surface or when

turning the steering wheel abruptly.

Traction Control System

The traction control system automatically

helps prevent the spinning of wheels when

the vehicle is started or accelerated on

slippery road surfaces. The system oper-

ates only if it senses that some of the

wheels are spinning or beginning to lose

traction. When this happens, the system

operates the front or rear brakes and

reduces engine power to limit wheel spin.

NOTE:

You may hear a clicking sound in the

engine compartment for a few seconds

when you start the engine or just after the

vehicle begins to move. This means that

the above systems are in the self-check

mode. This sound does not indicate a mal-

function.

WARNING

The ABS may not work properly if

tires or wheels other than those

specified in the owner’s manual are

used. This is because the ABS works

by comparing changes in wheel

speed. When replacing tires or

wheels, use only the size and type

specified in this owner’s manual.

WARNING

The ESP

cannot enhance the vehi-

cle’s driving stability in all situations

and does not control your vehicle’s

entire braking system. The ESP

can-

not prevent accidents, including

those resulting from excessive speed

in turns, or hydroplaning. Only a safe

and attentive driver can prevent acci-

dents. The capabilities of an ESP

equipped vehicle must never be used

as a substitute for careful driving.

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OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE

79K21-03E

Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS)

ABS will help you avoid skidding by elec-

tronically controlling braking pressure. It

will also help you maintain steering control

when braking on slippery surfaces or when

braking hard. The ABS works automati-

cally, so you do not have to use any special

braking technique. Just push the brake

pedal down without pumping. The ABS will

operate whenever it senses that wheels

are locking up. You may feel the brake

pedal pulsate while the ABS is operating.

(For more information on ABS, see “Brak-

ing” in the “OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE”

section.)

NOTE:

If the ABS system is activated, you may

hear a clunking noise and/or feel pulsating

in the brake pedal. This is normal and indi-

cates that the brake fluid pressure is being

controlled properly.

The ESP

indicator lights are described

below:

SLIP Indicator Light

79K019

The SLIP indicator light in the instrument

cluster blinks 5 times per second when one

of the following systems is activated.

• Stability control system

• Traction control system

• Hill descent control system (if equipped)

NOTE:

When the SLIP indicator light comes on

and stays on while driving, indicating a

malfunction of the ESP

systems (other

than ABS), the brake system will function

as an ordinary ABS with no additional

ESP

functions.

WARNING

• The ESP

may not work properly if

tires or wheels other than those

specified in the Owner’s Manual are

used. When replacing tires or

wheels, use only the size and type

specified in this Owner’s Manual.

• The ESP

may not work properly if

tires are not inflated to the recom-

mended tire inflation pressure.

• The ESP

may not work properly if

tires are fitted with tire chains.

• The ESP

may not work properly if

the tires are excessively worn. Be

sure to replace tires when the tread

wear indicators in the grooves

appear on the tread surface.

• The ESP

is not a substitute for

winter tires or tire chains on a snow

covered road.

WARNING

• The ESP

may not work properly if

engine related parts such as the

muffler are not equivalent to stan-

dard equipment or are extremely

deteriorated.

• Do not modify the vehicle’s sus-

pension since the ESP

may not

operate correctly.

CAUTION

If the SLIP indicator light comes on

and stays on while driving, there may

be a malfunction of the ESP

sys-

tems (other than ABS). You should

have the systems inspected by an

authorized SUZUKI dealer.

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OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE

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NOTE:

When you disconnect and re-connect the

battery, ESP

system functions other than

ABS will be deactivated and the slip indica-

tor light will blink 1 time per second. In this

case, use the following procedure to re-

activate the ESP

systems:

1) Drive your vehicle straight ahead with-

out tire slippage at a speed greater than

approximately 15 km/h (9 mph) for a

few seconds

2) The slip indicator light will go out and

the ESP

systems (other than ABS) will

be re-activated

It may take more than few seconds before

the slip indicator light goes out depending

on the road surface condition.

“ESP” Warning Light

66J031

When the ESP

systems (other than ABS)

have a system malfunction, the “ESP”

warning light in the instrument cluster

comes on.

NOTE:

When the “ESP” warning light comes on,

or stays on while driving, indicating a mal-

function of the ESP

systems (other than

ABS), the brake system will function as an

ordinary ABS that has no additional ESP

functions.

NOTE:

The information display shows the warning

and indicator message when this light

comes on.

“ESP OFF” Indicator Light

66J032

You should turn the ESP

on during your

ordinary driving, so that you have the ben-

efits of all of the ESP

systems.

It may be required to turn the ESP

sys-

tems (other than ABS) off if your vehicle is

stuck in sand, mud, or snow, or when driv-

ing in extreme off-road conditions where

wheel spin is necessary.

CAUTION

If the “ESP” warning light comes on,

or stays on while driving, there may

be a malfunction of the ESP

sys-

tems (other than ABS). You should

have the systems inspected by an

authorized SUZUKI dealer.

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OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE

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“ESP OFF” switch

(without hill descent control)

78K045

(1) “ESP OFF” switch

(with hill descent control)

78K046

(1) “ESP OFF” switch

When 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” indicator

light 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 Light

See “Braking” in the “OPERATING YOUR

VEHICLE” section.

(1)

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OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE

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Hill descent control System

(if equipped)

The hill descent control system is designed

to reduce the driver’s workload when going

down steep, rough and/or slippery hills

where the vehicle cannot decelerate

enough by engine braking alone. The hill

descent control system helps to control

vehicle speed by automatically engaging

the vehicle’s brakes, as needed, so you

can concentrate on steering the vehicle.

Hill descent control switch

79K051

(1) Hill descent control switch

To activate the hill descent control system:

1) Turn the transfer switch to the “4H

LOCK” or “4L LOCK” position.

2) Shift the gearshift lever into a forward

gear or reverse gear.

3) Push the hill descent control switch (1)

when the vehicle speed is under 25 km/

h (15 mph). The hill descent control

indicator on the instrument cluster will

come on and the hill descent control

system will be activated.

If the transfer switch is in the “4H LOCK”

position, vehicle speed is maintained at

approximately 10 km/h (6 mph) when

going down a hill.

If the transfer switch is in the “4L LOCK”

position, the vehicle speed is maintained at

approximately 5 km/h (3 mph) when going

down a hill.

The brake/tail lights come on and the slip

indicator light blinks while the hill descent

control system applies the brakes to main-

tain the vehicle speed.

If the accelerator or brake pedal is

depressed while the hill descent control

system is activated, the system will stop

working temporarily. As soon as the accel-

erator or brake pedal is released, the hill

descent control system begins to function

again if the hill descent control operating

conditions are fulfilled. However, when the

vehicle speed exceeds 25 km/h (15 mph),

the hill descent control system will be

deactivated automatically.

To deactivate the hill descent control sys-

tem, push the hill descent control switch

again.

WARNING

Do not rely excessively on the hill

descent control system. The hill

descent control system may not con-

trol vehicle speed on a hill under all

load or road conditions. Always be

prepared to control vehicle speed by

applying the brakes. Failure to pay

attention and control vehicle speed

using the brakes when necessary

may result in loss of control or an

accident.

(1)

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OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE

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NOTE:

You may hear a sound coming from the

engine when the hill descent control sys-

tem is activated. This sound is normal and

does not indicate a malfunction.

Hill descent control Indicator Light

79K050

When the ignition switch is turned to the

“ON” position, this light comes on briefly so

you can check that the light is working.

When you push the hill descent control

switch and the hill descent control operat-

ing conditions are fulfilled, the hill descent

control indicator comes on. If the hill

descent control indicator blinks, the hill

descent control will not be activated.

NOTE:

If the hill descent control indicator blinks

when you push the hill descent control

switch, following conditions may not be ful-

filled.

• The transfer switch is in the “4H LOCK”

or “4L LOCK” position

• The gearshift lever is in a forward gear

or reverse gear

• The vehicle speed is under 25 km/h (15

mph)

• The brake system is under normal oper-

ating temperature

NOTE:

If any of the following conditions occur,

there may be a problem with the hill

descent control system or the ESP

sys-

tem. Have your vehicle inspected by an

authorized SUZUKI dealer.

• The hill descent control indicator does

not come on or blink when you push the

hill descent control switch.

• The hill descent control indicator stays

on when driving without pushing the hill

descent control switch.

79K072

If the message shown in the above illustra-

tion appears on the information display,

there may be a problem with the hill

descent control system and the hill hold

control system. Have your vehicle

inspected by an authorized SUZUKI

dealer.

NOTE:

You cannot activate the hill descent control

system while this message is displayed.

CAUTION

• When the hill descent control sys-

tem is used continuously for a long

time, the temperature of the brake

system may increase and the hill

descent control system may be

deactivated temporarily to protect

the device of the brake system. The

hill descent control indicator blinks

to let you know the system is deac-

tivated. Depress the brake pedal

and stop the vehicle in a safe place.

When the temperature of the brake

system goes down, the hill descent

control indicator will come on and

the system is activated again.

• The hill descent control system

may be activated when the gear-

shift lever is in the “N” (Neutral)

position, but engine braking will

not work. Always use the hill

descent control system with the

gearshift lever in a forward gear or

reverse gear.

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OPERATING YOUR VEHICLE

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Hill hold control System

(if equipped)

The hill hold control system is designed to

assist you in starting to move up steep or

slippery hills. When you start to move up a

hill, the system helps to prevent the vehicle

from rolling downward temporarily (for

approximately 2 seconds) while you move

your foot from the brake pedal to the accel-

erator pedal.

The hill hold control system activates for

approximately 2 seconds if your foot is

moved from the brake pedal when the fol-

lowing condition are all fulfilled.

1) The transfer switch is in a position other

than “N”.

2) The gearshift lever is in a forward gear

or reverse gear.

3) The parking brake is released.

NOTE:

You may hear a sound coming from the

engine when the hill hold control system is

activated. This sound is normal and does

not indicate a malfunction.

79K072

If the message shown in the above illustra-

tion appears on the information display,

there may be a problem with the hill

descent control system and the hill hold

control system. Have your vehicle

inspected by an authorized SUZUKI

dealer.

NOTE:

The hill hold control system will not acti-

vate while this message is displayed.

WARNING

• Do not rely excessively on the hill

hold control system. The hill hold

control system may not prevent the

vehicle from rolling downward on a

hill under all load or road condi-

tions. Always be prepared to

depress the brake pedal to prevent

the vehicle from rolling downward.

Failure to pay attention and

depress the brake pedal to hold the

vehicle on a hill when necessary,

may result in loss of control or an

accident.

• The hill hold control system is not

designed to stop the vehicle on a

hill.

(Continued)

WARNING

(Continued)

• After you release your foot from the

brake pedal, start the vehicle to

move up immediately. If you release

your foot from the brake pedal over

2 seconds, the hill hold control sys-

tem will be canceled. If so, the vehi-

cle may roll downward depends on

the degree of the slope which can

result in an accident. And, the

engine may stall and the power

assist for the steering and brakes

will not work so steering and brak-

ing will be much harder than usual

which can result in an accident or

vehicle damage.

Operating Your Vehicle -> Electronic Stability Program (ESP?) for Your Suzuki Grand Vitara SUV Second Generation (2005-2015)

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