Traction Control System (Tcs); Braking In Emergencies - Suzuki 2008 XL7 Owner's Manual

DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE
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 might hear the anti-lock
pump or motor operate, and feel the brake
pedal pulsate, but this is normal.

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.
Panic Brake Assist
Your vehicle has a Panic Brake Assist fea-
ture designed to assist the driver in stop-
ping or decreasing vehicle speed in
emergency driving conditions. This feature
uses the Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
hydraulic brake control module to supple-
ment the power brake system under condi-
tions where the driver has quickly and
forcefully applied the brake pedal in an
attempt to quickly stop or slow down the
vehicle. The ESC hydraulic brake control
module increases brake pressure at each
corner of the vehicle until the Antilock
Brake System (ABS) activates. Minor
brake pedal pulsations or pedal movement
4-3
during this time is normal and the driver
should continue to apply the brake pedal
as the driving situation dictates. The Panic
Brake Assist feature will automatically dis-
engage when the brake pedal is released
or brake pedal pressure
decreased.

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.
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 leave
the 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-
is quickly 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.
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.
1545635
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.
78J001