Get DRIVING TIPS Guide for Suzuki Vitara SUV 2020

DRIVING TIPS

Running-in

Catalytic converter

NOTICE

The future performance and reliabil-

ity of the engine depends on the care

and restraint exercised during its

early life. It is especially important to

observe the following precautions

during the first 960 km (600 miles) of

vehicle operation.

• After starting, do not race the

engine. Warm it up gradually.

• Avoid prolonged vehicle operation

at a constant speed. Moving parts

will break in better if you vary your

speed.

• Start off from a stop slowly. Avoid

full throttle starts.

• Avoid hard braking, especially

during the first 320 km (200 miles)

of driving.

• Do not drive slowly with the trans-

axle in a high gear.

• Drive the vehicle at moderate

engine speeds.

52D078S

WARNING

• Fasten your seat belts at all times.

Even though air bags are equipped

at the front seating positions, the

driver and all passengers should

be properly restrained at all times,

using the seat belts provided. Refer

to “Seat belts and child restraint

systems” section for instructions

on proper use of the seat belts.

• Never drive under the influence of

alcohol or other drugs. Alcohol and

drugs can seriously impair your

ability to drive safely, greatly

increasing the risk of injury to

yourself and others. You should

also avoid driving when you are

tired, sick, irritated or under stress.

80G106

The purpose of the catalytic converter is to

minimize the amount of harmful pollutants

in your vehicle’s exhaust. Use of leaded

fuel in vehicles equipped with catalytic

converters is prohibited, because lead

deactivates the pollutant-reducing compo-

nents of the catalyst system.

The converter is designed to last the life of

the vehicle under normal usage and when

unleaded fuel is used. No special mainte-

nance is required on the converter. How-

ever, it is very important to keep the engine

properly tuned. Engine misfiring, which can

result from an improperly tuned engine,

may cause overheating of the catalytic

converter. This may result in permanent

• Do not tow a trailer during the first

960 km (600 miles) of vehicle oper-

ation.

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DRIVING TIPS

heat damage to the catalytic converter and

other vehicle components.

Improving fuel economy

The following instructions will help you

improve fuel economy.

NOTICE

To minimize the possibility of cata-

lytic converter or other vehicle dam-

age:

• Maintain the engine in the proper

operating condition.

• In the event of an engine malfunc-

tion, particularly one involving

engine misfire or other apparent

loss of performance, have the vehi-

cle serviced promptly.

Avoid excessive idling

If you park your vehicle for more than one

minute, stop the engine and start it again

later. When warming up a cold engine,

allow the engine to idle until the tempera-

ture gauge pointer comes up to “C” posi-

tion (if the idling is not prohibited). In this

position, the engine is sufficiently warm for

starting off.

54G584S

• Do not turn off the engine or inter-

rupt the ignition when the transaxle

is in gear and the vehicle is in

motion.

• Do not try to start the engine by

pushing or towing the vehicle, or

coasting down a hill.

• Do not idle the engine with any

spark plug wires disconnected or

removed, such as during diagnos-

tic testing.

• Do not idle the vehicle for pro-

longed periods if idling seems

rough or there are other malfunc-

tions.

Avoid fast starts

Fast starts away from lights or stop signs

will consume fuel unnecessarily and

shorten engine life. Start off slowly.

WARNING

Be careful where you park and drive;

the catalytic converter and other

exhaust components can get very

hot. As with any vehicle, do not park

or operate this vehicle in areas where

combustible materials such as dry

grass or leaves can come in contact

with a hot exhaust system.

Avoid unnecessary stops

Avoid unnecessary deceleration and stop-

ping. Try to maintain a slow, steady speed

whenever possible. Slowing down and

then accelerating again uses more fuel.

Keep a steady cruising speed

Drive at a constant speed that road and

traffic conditions will permit.

• Do not allow the fuel tank to get

near the empty level.

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DRIVING TIPS

Keep the air cleaner clean

EXAMPLE

Highway driving

Driving on hills

When driving at highway speeds, pay

attention to the following:

• Stopping

distance

progressively

increases with vehicle speed. Apply the

brakes far enough ahead of the stopping

point to allow for the extra stopping dis-

tance.

• On rainy days, hydroplaning can occur.

Hydroplaning is the loss of direct contact

between the road surface and the vehi-

cle’s tires due to a water film forming

between them. Steering or braking the

vehicle during hydroplaning can be very

difficult, and loss of control can occur.

Keep speed down when the road sur-

face is wet.

• At high speeds, the vehicle may be

affected by side winds. Therefore,

reduce speed and be prepared for unex-

pected buffeting, which can occur at the

exits of tunnels, when passing by a cut

of a hill, or when being overtaken by

large vehicles, etc.

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60A183S

• When climbing steep hills, the vehicle

may begin to slow down and show a lack

of power. If this happens, you should

shift to a lower gear so that the engine

will again be operating in its normal

power range. Shift rapidly to prevent the

vehicle from losing momentum.

• When driving down a hill, the engine

should be used for braking by shifting to

the next lower gear.

If the air cleaner is clogged with dust, there

will be greater intake resistance, resulting

in decreased power output and increased

fuel consumption.

Keep weight to a minimum

The heavier the load is, the more fuel the

vehicle consumes. Unload any unneces-

sary luggage or cargo.

Keep tire pressures correct

Under-inflation of the tires can waste fuel

due to increased running resistance of the

tires. Keep your tires inflated to the correct

pressure shown on the label on the driver’s

side door or the driver’s door lock pillar.

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DRIVING TIPS

models are not sport/utility vehicles, and

are not designed for off-road use.

Driving on slippery roads

WARNING

Do not hold the brake pedal down too

long or too often while going down a

steep or long hill. This could cause

the brakes to overheat, resulting in

reduced braking efficiency. Failure to

take this precaution could result in

loss of vehicle control.

Tire chains

Tire chains should only be used if they are

needed to increase traction or are required

by law. Check that the chains you use are

the correct size for your vehicle’s tires.

Also check that there is enough clearance

between the fenders and the chains as

installed on the tires.

NOTICE

Install the chains on the front tires tightly,

according to the chain manufacturer’s

instructions. Retighten the chains after

driving about 1.0 km (1/2 mile) if neces-

sary. With the chains installed, drive slowly.

When descending a downhill, Never

turn the ignition key to “LOCK” posi-

tion or press the engine switch to

change the ignition mode to “LOCK”

(OFF). Emission control system dam-

age may result.

60G089S

On wet roads, you should drive at a lower

speed than you do on dry roads due to

possible slippage of tires during braking.

When driving on icy, snow-covered or

muddy roads, reduce your speed and

avoid sudden acceleration, abrupt braking,

or sharp steering movements.

NOTICE

• If you hear the chains hitting

against the vehicle body while driv-

ing, stop and tighten them.

• If your vehicle is equipped with full

wheel caps, remove the wheel caps

before installing the chains or the

wheel caps can be damaged by the

chain bands.

Four-mode 4WD models

Your four-mode 4WD is designed to get

better traction on slippery roads than 2-

wheel drive models. However, your four-

mode 4WD will not have as much traction

in deep snow, mud or sand as multipur-

pose 4WD vehicles. You should not

attempt to drive your four-mode 4WD in

deep snow, mud or sand. Four-mode 4WD

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DRIVING TIPS

Stuck vehicle

WARNING

If your vehicle gets stuck in snow, mud or

sand, follow the directions below:

Do not allow anyone to stand near

the vehicle when you are rocking it,

and do not spin the wheels faster

than an indicated 40 km/h (25 mph)

on the speedometer. Personal injury

and/or vehicle damage may result

from spinning the wheels too fast.

1) Shift the transaxle back and forth

between a forward range (or first gear

for manual transaxle) and reverse. This

will create a rocking motion which may

give you enough momentum to free the

vehicle. Press gently on the accelerator

to keep wheel spinning to a minimum

wheel rpm. Remove your foot from the

accelerator while shifting.

NOTICE

Do not continue rocking the vehicle

for more than a few minutes. Pro-

longed rocking can cause engine

overheating or transaxle damage.

Do not race the engine. Excessive

wheel spin will cause the tires to dig

deeper, making it more difficult to free

the vehicle.

54G638S

WARNING

In addition to following the driving

tips in this section, it is important to

observe the following precautions.

• Check that your tires are in good

condition and always maintain the

specified tire pressure. Refer to

“Tires” in “INSPECTION AND

NOTE:

If your vehicle is equipped with the ESP^®,

you may have to turn the ESP^®system off

in order to spin the wheels.

2) If your vehicle remains stuck after a few

minutes of rocking, we recommend you

to consult your SUZUKI dealer or a

roadside assistance service. If a towing

service is not available in an emer-

gency, your vehicle may be temporarily

towed by a towing cable or chain

secured to the towing hook either on

the front of the vehicle or on the rear of

the vehicle. Refer to “Frame hooks” in

“OTHER CONTROLS AND EQUIP-

MENT” section.

MAINTENANCE”

details.

section

for

(Continued)

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DRIVING TIPS

WARNING

(Continued)

• Do not use tires other than those

specified by SUZUKI. Never use dif-

ferent sizes or types of tires on the

front and rear wheels. For informa-

tion regarding the specified tires,

refer to the tire information label

located on the driver’s door lock

pillar.

• Never use oversized tires or spe-

cial shock absorbers and springs

to raise (jack up) your vehicle. This

will change the handling character-

istics. Oversized tires may also rub

against the fender over bumps,

causing vehicle damage or tire fail-

ure.

• After driving through water, test the

brakes while driving at a slow

speed to see if they have main-

tained their normal effectiveness. If

the brakes are less effective than

normal, dry them by repeatedly

applying the brakes while driving

slowly until the brakes have

regained their normal effective-

ness.

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DRIVING TIPS for Your Suzuki Vitara SUV 2020

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