tow MERCEDES-BENZ G-CLASS 2011 User Guide
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XKeep the brake pedal firmly depressed until
the emergency braking situation is over.
ABS prevents the wheels from locking.
The brakes will function as usual once you
release the brake pedal. BAS is deactivated.
GWarning
If the BAS malfunctions, the brake system still
functions, but without the additional brake
boost available that the BAS would normally
provide in an emergency braking maneuver.
Therefore, the braking distance may increase.
ESP ®
(Electronic Stability Program)
Important safety notes
GWarning
Observe "Important safety notes"
( Y page 55).
ESP ®
monitors driving stability and traction.
Traction is the power transmission between
the tires and the road surface.
If ESP ®
detects that the vehicle is deviating
from the direction desired by the driver, one
or more wheels are braked to stabilize the
vehicle. If necessary, the engine output is also
modified to keep the vehicle on the desired
course within physical limits. ESP ®
assists
the driver when pulling away on wet or
slippery roads. ESP ®
can also stabilize the
vehicle during braking.
If ESP ®
intervenes, the ÷ warning lamp
flashes in the instrument cluster.
GWarning
Under no circumstances should you
deactivate ESP ®
when the ÷ ESP®
warning lamp in the instrument cluster
flashes. Proceed as follows:
R when driving off, apply as little throttle as
possible.
R while driving, ease up on the accelerator
pedal.
R adapt your speed to suit the prevailing road
and weather conditions.
failure to observe these guidelines could
cause the vehicle to skid. ESP ®
cannot
prevent accidents resulting from excessive
speed.
! Switch the ignition off when:
R the parking brake is being tested using a
dynamometer
R the vehicle is being towed with the front/
rear axle raised
Application of the brakes by ESP ®
may
otherwise destroy the brake system.
! Only operate the vehicle for a maximum
of ten seconds on a brake test
dynamometer. Switch off the ignition.
Application of the brakes by ESP ®
may
otherwise destroy the brake system.
! Function or performance tests may only
be performed on a 2-axle dynamometer. If
you wish to operate the vehicle on such a
dynamometer, please consult an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
beforehand. You could otherwise damage
the drive train or the brake system.
i Only use wheels with the recommended
tire sizes. Only then will ESP ®
function
properly.
i If differential locks are switched on, ABS,
BAS and ESP ®
switch themselves off
automatically.
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XTo arm: lock the vehicle with the
SmartKey.
Indicator lamp : flashes. The alarm
system is armed after approximately 15
seconds.XTo deactivate: unlock the vehicle with the
SmartKey.
i If you then do not open a side door or the
rear door, the alarm system switches itself
back on again after approximately
40 seconds.
XTo stop the alarm: insert the SmartKey
into the ignition lock.
The alarm is switched off.
or
XPress the % or & button on the
SmartKey.
The alarm is switched off.
Tow-away alarm
An audible and visual alarm is triggered if your
vehicle's angle of inclination is altered while
the tow-away alarm is armed. This occurs if
the vehicle is jacked up on one side, for
example.
XTo arm: lock the vehicle with the
SmartKey.
The tow-away alarm is armed after
approximately 30 seconds.XTo deactivate: unlock the vehicle with the
SmartKey.
The tow-away alarm is deactivated
automatically.To prevent a false alarm, deactivate the tow-
away alarm manually if your vehicle:
R is being transported
R is being loaded onto a ferry or car
transporter, for example
R is parked on a movable surface, e.g. in a
split-level garage
Deactivating:XRemove the SmartKey from the ignition
lock.XPress button :.
Indicator lamp ; lights up briefly.XLock the vehicle with the SmartKey.
The tow-away alarm remains deactivated
until the vehicle is unlocked and locked
again.60Anti-theft systemsSafety
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iIt is only possible to lock the vehicle
centrally if all doors are closed.XTo unlock: press button :.XTo lock: press button ;.
You can open a front door from inside the
vehicle even if it has been locked. Only open
the door when the traffic situation permits.
If the vehicle has been locked with the central
locking button:
R and the SmartKey is restored to the factory
settings, the entire vehicle is unlocked if a
front door is opened from inside the
vehicle.
R and the SmartKey is set to an individual
setting, only the front door that is opened
from inside the vehicle is unlocked.
If the vehicle has been locked centrally with
the SmartKey, it does not unlock if you use
the central locking button.
Automatic locking feature
The vehicle locks automatically when the
ignition is switched on and the wheels of the
vehicle are moving at a speed of more than
9 mph (15 km/h) . There is therefore a risk of
being locked out when the vehicle is being
pushed, towed or tested on a dynamometer.
You can switch the automatic locking
function on and off using the on-board
computer ( Y page 165).
Unlocking the driver's door
(mechanical key)
If the vehicle can no longer be unlocked
centrally with the SmartKey:XTake the mechanical key out of the
SmartKey ( Y page 63).XInsert the mechanical key into the lock of
the driver's door as far as it will go.XTurn mechanical key ; counter-clockwise
to position 1.
The door is unlocked.XTurn mechanical key ; back and remove
it.
Locking the vehicle
If the vehicle can no longer be locked
centrally with the SmartKey:
XClose the front-passenger door, the rear
doors and the tailgate.XPress the locking button ( Y page 67).XMake sure that the locking knobs on the
doors are still visible. Press down the
locking knobs by hand, if necessary.XClose the driver's door from the outside.68DoorsOpening and closing
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GWarning!
When closing the sliding sunroof, make sure
that there is no danger of anyone being
harmed by the closing procedure.
The opening procedure of the sliding sunroof
can be immediately halted by releasing the
sunroof switch or, if the sunroof switch was
moved past the resistance point and released,
by moving the sunroof switch in any direction.
The closing procedure of the sliding sunroof
can be immediately halted by releasing the
sliding sunroof switch. The closing procedure
of the sliding sunroof can be immediately
reversed by moving the sliding sunroof switch
toward : or ?.
If you are not wearing a seat belt, or are not
wearing it correctly, there is a risk that you
could be thrown through the opening in the
event of the vehicle overturning. An opening
of this kind poses a risk of injury even to
passengers who are wearing their seat belts
correctly, as parts of the body could protrude
from the vehicle interior.
! Only open the sliding sunroof if it is free
of snow and ice. Otherwise, malfunctions
may occur.
Do not allow anything to protrude from the
sliding sunroof. Otherwise, the seals could
be damaged.
! If the sliding sunroof cannot be opened or
closed due to a malfunction, contact a
qualified specialist workshop, e.g. an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
! The weather can change abruptly. It could
start to rain or snow. Make sure that the
sliding sunroof is closed when you leave the
vehicle. The vehicle electronics can be
damaged if water enters the vehicle
interior.
i Resonance noises can occur in addition
to the usual airflow noises when the sliding
sunroof is open. They are caused by minor
pressure fluctuations in the vehicle interior.
Change the position of the sliding sunroof
or open a side window slightly to reduce or
eliminate these noises.
Opening and closing the sliding
sunroof
Overhead control panel
:To raise;To lower=To close?To openXTurn the SmartKey to position 1 or 2 in the
ignition lock.XPress or pull the 2 switch in the
corresponding direction.
i If you press the 2 switch beyond the
point of resistance while opening, an
automatic opening process is started. You
can stop automatic operation by operating
the switch again.
Operating the sliding sunroof
manually
The actuator is located in the cargo
compartment, on the left-hand side behind
the rear wall trim.
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EXIT feature. This could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury.GWarning
Let the system complete the adjustment
procedure before setting the vehicle in
motion. All steering wheel adjustment must
be completed before setting the vehicle in
motion. Driving off with the steering wheel
still adjusting could cause the driver to lose
control of the vehicle.
! Do not activate the EASY-ENTRY/EXIT
feature, if the seat backrest is reclined too
far backwards. This can damage the front
or rear seats. You must first move the
backrest to a vertical position.
Position of the steering wheel when the
EASY-ENTRY/EXIT feature is active
The steering wheel moves upwards and
towards the dashboard if:
R an easy-entry/exit steering wheel position
has been stored for the key and
R you remove the key from the ignition lock
or
R you open the driver's door with the key in
position 0 or 1 in the ignition lock.
If you insert the key into the ignition lock with
the driver's door closed, the steering wheel is
automatically moved to the previously set
position.
The last position of the steering wheel is
stored when you switch off the ignition or
when you store the setting with the memory
function ( Y page 88).
i The steering wheel only moves upwards
and towards the dashboard if it has not
already reached the upper end stop.
Mirrors
Rear-view mirror
XAdjust the rear-view mirror by hand so you
have a good overview of the traffic
conditions.
Exterior mirrors
Important safety notes
GWarning
Exercise care when using the passenger-side
exterior rear view mirror. The mirror surface
is convex (outwardly curved surface for a
wider field of view). Objects in mirror are
closer than they appear. Check your interior
rear view mirror and glance over your
shoulder before changing lanes.
At low outside temperatures, the exterior
mirrors are heated automatically.
Adjusting the exterior mirrors
The switches are located on the dashboard
on the left-hand side.
XMake sure that the SmartKey is in position
1 or 2 in the ignition lock.XPress button ; for the right-hand exterior
mirror or button = for the left-hand
exterior mirror.XPress adjustment button : up, down, to
the right or to the left until the exteriorMirrors85Seats, steering wheel and mirrorsZProCarManuals.com
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ANeutral
No power is transmitted from the
engine to the drive wheels.
Releasing the brakes will allow you
to move the vehicle freely, e.g. to
push it or tow it.
Do not shift the transmission to N
while driving. Otherwise, the
automatic transmission could be
damaged.
If ESP ®
is deactivated or faulty:
only shift the transmission to
position N if the vehicle is in danger
of skidding, e.g. on icy roads.
If you want to engage the transfer
case, shift briefly into N
( Y page 126).
! Rolling in neutral N can damage
the drive train.7Drive
The automatic transmission
changes gear automatically. All
forward gears are available.
Changing gears
The automatic transmission shifts to the
individual gears automatically when it is in
transmission position D. This automatic
gearshifting behavior is determined by:
R a shift range restriction, if selected
R the position of the transfer case ( HIGH or
LOW )
R the position of the accelerator pedal
R the road speed
Driving tips
Accelerator pedal position
Your style of driving influences how the
automatic transmission shifts gear:
R little throttle: early upshifts
R more throttle: late upshifts
Kickdown
Use kickdown for maximum acceleration.
XDepress the accelerator pedal beyond the
pressure point.
The transmission shifts to a lower gear
depending on the engine speed.XEase off the accelerator pedal once the
desired speed is reached.
The automatic transmission shifts back up.
Working on the vehicle
GWarning
When working on the vehicle, engage the
parking brake and shift AUTOTRONIC into
park position P. Otherwise the vehicle could
roll away which could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury.
Shift ranges
Introduction
When the automatic transmission is in
position D, it is possible to restrict or
derestrict the shift range ( Y page 123).
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:Shift range selected;Current transfer case position
Selected shift range : and current transfer
case position ; are shown in the cluster
multifunction display. The automatic
transmission shifts only as far as the selected
gear.
! When the transfer case is in the off-road
driving position LOW range, the automatic
transmission does not shift up, even when
the engine has reached the overrevving
limit. There is then a risk of engine damage.
Make sure that you do not exceed the
maximum permissible engine speed.
Driving situations=You can use the engine's braking
effect.5To use the braking effect of the
engine on downhill gradients and
for driving:
R on steep mountain roads
R in mountainous terrain
R in arduous conditions4To use the braking effect of the
engine on extremely steep downhill
gradients and on long downhill
stretchesRestricting the shift rangeXPress the selector lever to the left towards
D– .
The automatic transmission shifts down to
the next gear, depending on the gear
currently selected. This also restricts the
shift range.
i If the engine exceeds the maximum
engine speed when shifting down, the
automatic transmission protects against
engine damage by not shifting down.
i If the maximum engine speed for the shift
range is reached and you continue to
accelerate, the automatic transmission
shifts up in order to prevent the engine
from overrevving, even if the shift range is
restricted.
Derestricting the shift range
XBriefly press the selector lever to the right
towards D+.
The automatic transmission shifts up to the
next gear, depending on the shift range
selected. This also derestricts the shift
range.
Clearing the shift range restriction
XPress and hold the selector lever towards
D+ until D is shown once more in the
multifunction display.
The automatic transmission shifts from the
current shift range directly to D.
Selecting the ideal shift range
XPress the selector lever to the left towards
D– and hold it in position.
The automatic transmission shifts to the
gear which allows optimum acceleration
and deceleration. To do this, the automatic
transmission shifts down one or more
gears.
i The automatic transmission cannot shift
down beyond second gear. To shift into first
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gear, the selector lever must be moved
towards D– again.Automatic transmission125Driving and parkingZProCarManuals.com
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Problems with the automatic transmissionProblemPossible causes/consequences and M SolutionsThe acceleration ability
is deteriorating.
The transmission no
longer changes gear.The transmission is in emergency mode.
It is only possible to shift into second gear and reverse gear.XStop the vehicle.XShift the transmission to position P.XTurn the SmartKey to position 0 in the ignition lock.XWait at least 10 seconds before restarting the engine.XShift the transmission to position D or R.
If D is selected, the transmission shifts into second gear; if R is
selected, the transmission shifts into reverse gear.XHave the transmission checked at a qualified specialist
workshop, e.g. an authorized Mercedes-Benz Service Center,
immediately.You hear a warning
tone.You have:
R switched off the engine
R opened the driver's door
R not moved the selector lever to position PXMove the selector lever to P.Releasing the parking lock manually
In the event of a malfunction, it is possible to
release the selector lever lock manually to
move it out of position P, e.g. if you wish to
have the vehicle towed.XApply the parking brake.XInsert a suitable implement : into the
opening protected by the flap.XPress implement : downwards and
simultaneously move the selector lever out
of position P.XRemove implement :.
The selector lever can now be moved freely
until it is returned to position P.
i
The protective flap only closes completely
if you briefly press to selector lever towards
D- .
Transfer case
General notes
The vehicle has permanent all-wheel drive.
The front and rear axles are being constantly
driven.
For further information on driving off-road,
see ( Y page 142).
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Shift rangesHHIGH
Position for all normal on-road
driving conditions.LLOW
Low-range position for driving off-
road.
Also for use on steep uphill or
downhill gradients, especially
when towing a trailer.
! When the transfer case is in the
off-road driving position LOW
range, the automatic
transmission does not shift up,
even when the engine has
reached the overrevving limit.
There is then a risk of engine
damage. Make sure that you do
not exceed the maximum
permissible engine speed.
The vehicle travels around half the
speed of on-road driving range
HIGH . The drive power is
correspondingly higher.NNeutral
Neutral position.
No power is transmitted to the
drive wheels.
Shifting the transfer case
General notes
GWarning!
Always wait until the procedure of shifting
from HIGH to LOW – and from LOW to HIGH
– has been entirely completed. During this
procedure do not turn off the engine or shift
the automatic transmission into another gear.
If you do not wait until the shifting procedure
has been entirely completed then it might not
be correctly performed. The transfer case
might be in neutral, thus interrupting the
transfer of power between the engine and the
drive axle.
The vehicle is then freely movable, even if a
gear has been selected, and could
unintentionally be set into motion –
particularly on up – or downhill grades. This
could lead to an accident and cause injury to
yourself and others.
Please observe related messages appearing
in the multifunction display.:Current shift range;Current transfer case position
Current shift range : and transfer case
position ; are shown in the instrument
cluster multifunction display.
The switch for the transfer case is on the
lower section of the center console.
Transfer case switch
From HIGH to LOW
! Only carry out the gear selection if:
R the engine is running.
R the vehicle is rolling.
Automatic transmission127Driving and parkingZProCarManuals.com