engine MERCEDES-BENZ G-CLASS SUV 2008 User Guide

Driving safety sys
tems48 conditions. Maintain sufficient distance
from other road users and objects on the
road. ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
ABS regulates brake pressure in such a way
that the wheels do not lock when you brake.
This allows you to continue steering the vehi-
cle when braking.
ABS works from a speed of about 8 km/h
upwards, regardless of road surface condi-
tions. ABS works on slippery surfaces, even
when you only brake gently. G
Risk of accident
Do not depress the brake pedal several
times in quick succession (pumping).
Depress the brake firmly and evenly. Pump-
ing the brake pedal reduces the braking
effect.
Braking If ABS intervenes when braking, you will feel
a pulsing in the brake pedal.
X If ABS intervenes: continue to depress the
brake pedal with force until the braking sit-
uation is over. X
To make a full brake application:
depress the brake pedal with full force. G
Risk of accident
If ABS is faulty, the wheels could lock when
braking. This limits the steerability of the
vehicle when braking and the braking dis-
tance may increase.
If ABS is deactivated due to a malfunction,
then BAS, ESP ®
and 4ETS are also deacti-
vated. There is an increased risk of your
vehicle skidding in certain situations.
You should always adapt your driving style
to suit prevailing road and weather condi-
tions. BAS (Brake Assist)
BAS operates in emergency braking situa-
tions. If you depress the brake pedal quickly,
BAS automatically boosts the braking force,
thus shortening the stopping distance.
X Keep 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. G
Risk of accident
If BAS has malfunctioned, the braking sys-
tem remains available with full brake boost-
ing effect. However, braking force is not
automatically increased in emergency
braking situations and the stopping dis-
tance may increase. ESP
®
(Electronic Stability Program)
ESP ®
monitors driving stability and traction,
i.e. power transmission between tyres 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 stabilise the
vehicle. The engine output is also modified, if
necessary, to keep the vehicle on the desired
course within physical limits. ESP ®
assists
the driver when pulling away on wet or slip-
pery roads. ESP ®
can also stabilise the vehi-
cle during braking.
When ESP ®
intervenes, the vwarning
lamp flashes in the speedometer. G
Risk of accident
If the v warning lamp in the speedom-
eter flashes, proceed as follows: Safety
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Driving safety sys
tems 49R
do not deactivate ESP ®
under any cir-
cumstances.
R only depress the accelerator pedal as far
as necessary when pulling away.
R adapt your driving style to suit the pre-
vailing road and weather conditions.
The vehicle could otherwise go into a skid.
ESP ®
cannot reduce the risk of an accident
if you drive too fast. ESP ®
cannot override
the laws of physics.
! If:
R the vehicle is being towed with the front
or rear axle raised,
R the parking brake is being tested using a
dynamometer,
the ignition must be switched off (key in
position 0or 1in the ignition lock). Other-
wise, application of the brakes by ESP ®
could destroy the brake system on the front
or rear axle.
! A function or performance test should
only be carried out on a twin-axle dyna-
mometer. If you wish to operate the vehicle
on such a dynamometer, please consult a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre in advance. You could otherwise damage the drive train
or the brake system.
i If differential locks are switched on, ABS,
BAS and ESP ®
switch themselves off auto-
matically.
i Only use wheels with the recommended
tyre sizes. Only then will ESP ®
function
properly.
Activating/deactivating ESP ® ESP
®
is activated automatically when the
engine is running.
It may be best to deactivate ESP ®
in the fol-
lowing situations:
R when using snow chains
R in deep snow
R on sand or gravel G
Risk of accident
Activate ESP ®
as soon as the situations
described above no longer apply. ESP ®
will
otherwise not be able to stabilise the vehi-
cle if the vehicle starts to skid or a wheel
starts to spin. If you deactivate ESP
®
:
R ESP ®
no longer improves driving stability.
R the engine's torque is no longer limited and
the drive wheels can spin. Spinning of the
wheels results in a cutting action, which
provides better grip.
R traction control is still activated.
R ESP ®
still provides support when you
brake.
R and are driving at above 60 km/h, ESP ®
still intervenes when one wheel reaches its
grip limit even though it is switched off.
i If ESP ®
is deactivated and one or more
wheels start to spin, the vwarning lamp
in the instrument cluster flashes. In such
situations ESP ®
will not stabilise the vehi-
cle. Safety
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Driving safety sys
tems501
Activating/deactivating ESP ®
X To deactivate: press button1until the
v warning lamp in the speedometer
lights up. G
Risk of accident
If the v warning lamp in the speedom-
eter is continuously lit when the engine is
running, ESP ®
is deactivated or not availa-
ble due to a malfunction. There is an
increased risk of your vehicle skidding in
certain situations.
You should always adapt your driving style
to suit prevailing road and weather condi-
tions. X
To activate: press button 1until the
v warning lamp in the speedometer
goes out. EBV (electronic brake force distribu-
tion)
EBV monitors and controls the brake pres-
sure on the rear wheels to improve driving
stability under braking. G
Risk of accident
If EBV is malfunctioning, the brake system
is still available with full brake boosting
effect. However, the rear wheels can still
lock, e.g. under full braking. This could
cause you to lose control of your vehicle
and cause an accident. You should there-
fore adapt your driving style to the different
handling characteristics. 4ETS (Electronic Traction System)
4ETS makes it possible to pull away or accel-
erate on a slippery surface. It brakes the
wheels individually if they start to spin.
The v warning lamp in the speedometer
lights up briefly when the engine is started.
This indicates that the warning lamp is opera-
tional.
4ETS switches itself on if at least one tyre has
reached its grip limit. It brakes wheels indi-
vidually until enough traction has been
attained.
4ETS remains active when you deactivate
ESP ®
.
4ETS is no longer active above a speed of
about 60 km/h.
The v warning lamp in the speedometer
flashes at any speed if at least one tyre has
exceeded its tyre grip limit. Safety
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Opening and closing
56 Locking/unlocking the vehicle from
the inside
You can centrally lock or unlock the vehicle
from the inside. This feature may be useful if,
for example, you wish to unlock the
passenger door from the inside or lock the
vehicle before you pull away. G
Risk of accident
Do not leave children unsupervised in the
vehicle. They could open a door from the
inside – even if it is locked – and thereby
endanger themselves and others.
i You cannot unlock the vehicle centrally
from the inside if the vehicle has been
locked from the outside using the key.
i It is only possible to lock the vehicle cen-
trally if all doors are closed. 1
Unlocking button
2 Locking button
X To unlock: press button 1.
X To lock: press button 2. Rear door (Station wagon)
G
Risk of poisoning
When the engine is running and the rear
door is open, exhaust gases could enter the
vehicle interior. This could poison you.
Therefore, you should make sure that the
rear door is always closed when the engine
is running. G
Risk of accident
Do not leave children unsupervised in the
vehicle. They could open the rear door from
the inside and endanger themselves and
others.
! The tailgate swings out to the side when
opened. Therefore, make sure that there is
sufficient clearance.
i In emergencies, you can also unlock and
open the rear door manually
(Y page 229).
Opening from the outside You can only open the rear door after unlock-
ing it first.
X
To unlock centrally: press thekbut-
ton on the key. Controls
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Opening and closing
58
X
Insert emergency key element into the rear
door lock.
X Turn the emergency key element clockwise
to position 1.
i If the vehicle is not unlocked centrally and
you unlock and open the rear door with the
emergency key element, the anti-theft
alarm system* is triggered. Tailgate (Cabriolet)
G
Risk of poisoning
Exhaust fumes could enter the vehicle inte-
rior if the engine is running and the tailgate
is open. This could poison you. Therefore,
you should make sure that the tailgate is
always closed when the engine is running. G
Risk of accident
While the external spare wheel bracket is
folded to the side, the tail lamps may be
blocked from view. Other road users may
then fail to see you and crash into your
vehicle. Additionally, secure your vehicle
using a warning lamp or a warning triangle.
Do not drive with the spare wheel bracket
folded out. Make sure that the spare wheel bracket is
closed correctly.
Otherwise, the freely moving spare wheel
bracket could injure people or cause an
accident.
Opening from the outside You can only open the tailgate after it has
been unlocked.
X
To unlock centrally: press thekbut-
ton on the key. 1
Spare wheel bracket
2 Lever
3 Safety catch X
Raise safety catch 3and pull lever 2in
the direction of the arrow.
X Swing spare wheel bracket 1to one side.
! Make sure that there is sufficient clear-
ance. 4
Quick-locking mechanism
5 Zippers
X Turn quick-locking mechanisms 4clock-
wise.
X Open zippers 5upwards approximately
10 cm.
i When the convertible soft top is open and
the tonneau cover* is attached, you need
only separate the quick-locking mecha-
nisms on the tonneau cover*. Controls
* optional
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Key positions
596
Handle
X Pull handle 6upwards and push down the
tailgate.
! Make sure that there is sufficient clear-
ance.
Closing from the outside G
Risk of injury
Make sure that nobody can become trap-
ped as you close the tailgate. Key positions
Key
Ignition lock
0
To remove the key
1 Power supply for some consumers, e.g.
the sliding/tilting sunroof*
2 Ignition (power supply for all consumers)
and drive position
3 To start the engine
i The indicator and warning lamps light up
on the instrument cluster when you switch
on the ignition. They go out when the
engine is running. This shows that the indi-
cator and warning lamps for each system
are operational. i
You can only remove the key if:
R the key is in position 0in the ignition lock
R the automatic transmission selector
lever is in P Controls
* optional
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Lights
75Correct driver's seat position
G
Risk of accident
Only adjust the driver's seat when the vehi-
cle is stationary. You will otherwise be dis-
tracted from the road and traffic conditions
and you could lose control of the vehicle as
a result of the seat moving. This could
cause an accident. G
Risk of accident
Only adjust the steering wheel when the
vehicle is stationary. Drive only when the
steering wheel is fixed.
X Check whether seat and the head restraint
are adjusted properly (Y page 60).
Make sure that:
R you are as far away from the driver's front
airbag as possible.
R you are sitting in a normal upright posi-
tion.
R you can fasten the seat belt properly.
R you have moved the backrest to an
almost vertical position.
R you have set the seat angle so that your
thighs are gently supported. R
you can depress the pedals properly.
R you have adjusted the head restraint so
that the back of your head is supported
at eye level by the central area of the
head restraint.
X Check whether steering wheel is adjusted
properly (Y page 66).
Make sure that:
R you can hold the steering wheel with your
arms slightly bent.
R you can move your legs freely.
R you can see all the displays in the instru-
ment cluster clearly.
X Check whether you have fastened seat belt
properly (Y page 71).
It should:
R fit snugly across your body
R be routed across the middle of your
shoulder
R routed in your pelvic area across the hip
joints Lights
Light switch
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you drive with the lights switched
on even during the daytime. In some coun-
tries, daytime operation of headlamps varies
due to legal and voluntary requirements. In
these countries, the dipped-beam headlamps
are automatically switched on when the
engine is started.
i If you drive in countries in which traffic
drives on the opposite side of the road to
the country where the vehicle is registered,
oncoming traffic may be dazzled by the
asymmetrical dipped-beam headlamps.
Have the headlamps changed to symmet-
rical dipped beam when driving in these
countries. You can obtain information
about this from any Mercedes-Benz Service
Centre.
The light switch is located on the dashboard
between the steering wheel and the driver's
door. Controls
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Lights
76M
Lights off/constant headlamp mode
U Automatic headlamp mode
C Side lamps, licence plate and instru-
ment lighting
B Dipped-beam headlamps or main-beam
headlamps
g Right-hand parking lamp
a Left-hand parking lamp
¥ Front foglamps indicator lamp
† Rear foglamp indicator lamp
i A warning tone sounds when you remove
the key from the ignition lock and open the
driver's door while the side lamps or
dipped-beam headlamps are switched on.
The Switch off lights message appears
in the multi-function display. Dipped-beam headlamps X
Make sure that the key is in position 2of
the ignition lock or that the engine is run-
ning.
X To switch on: turn the light switch to
B.
The dipped-beam headlamps, parking
lamps and licence plate lamps are switched
on. The green dipped-beam indicator lamp
in the instrument cluster lights up.
Constant headlamp mode In countries in which constant headlamp
mode is not a legal requirement, you can
make this a setting using the on-board com-
puter.
X
Make sure that constant headlamp mode
has been set in the on-board computer
(Y page 107).
i In countries in which constant headlamp
mode is a legal requirement, constant
headlamp mode cannot be deactivated.
X To switch on: turn the light switch to
M.
The dipped-beam headlamps, side lamps
and licence plate lamp are switched on
when the engine is running.
Automatic headlamp mode The side lamps, dipped-beam headlamps and
licence plate lamp are switched on or off
automatically, depending on the brightness of
the ambient light.
G
Risk of accident
When the light switch is set to U, the
lights are not switched on automatically in
foggy conditions. This could endanger you
and others. Therefore, turn the light switch
to B in darkness and fog.
Automatic headlamp mode is only a driving
aid. You are responsible for the vehicle
lighting at all times. Controls
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Lights
77G
Risk of accident
When it is dark or foggy, turn the light
switch from UtoB in good time.
Otherwise, the headlamps could switch off
temporarily and you could cause an acci-
dent.
X To switch on: turn the light switch to
U.
The side lamps are switched on and off
automatically when the key is in position
1 in the ignition lock.
The dipped-beam headlamps, side lamps
and licence plate lamp are switched on
automatically when the engine is running.
When the dipped-beam headlamps are
switched on, the green dipped-beam indi-
cator lamp in the instrument cluster lights
up.
Front foglamps/rear foglamp G
Risk of accident
If you suspect that driving conditions will be
foggy, turn the light switch to Bbefore
you start your journey. Otherwise, your
vehicle may not be visible and you could
endanger yourself and others. G
Risk of accident
When it is dark or foggy, turn the light
switch from UtoB in good time.
Otherwise, the headlamps could switch off
temporarily and you could cause an acci-
dent.
When the light switch is set to Uyou can-
not switch on the front or rear foglamps.
X Make sure that the key is in position 2in
the ignition lock.
X To switch on the front foglamps: turn the
light switch to the Bposition.
X Pull the light switch out to the first stop.
The ¥ green indicator lamp next to the
light switch lights up.
X To switch on the rear foglamp: turn the
light switch to the Bposition.
X Pull the light switch out to the second
detent.
The † yellow indicator lamp next to the
light switch lights up.
X To switch off the front foglamps/rear
foglamp: push in the light switch to the
stop.
The corresponding indicator lamp goes out. Combination switch (turn signals,
main-beam headlamps and headlamp
flasher)
Turn signals Combination switch
1
To indicate a right turn
2 To indicate a left turn
X To switch on: press the combination
switch in the direction of arrow 1or2.
The corresponding turn signal indicator
lamp in the instrument cluster flashes.
i If you only wish to indicate a minor change
of direction, press the combination switch
briefly in the appropriate direction. The cor-
responding turn signal flashes three times. Controls
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Lights
78
Main-beam headlamps/headlamp flas-
her Combination switch
1
Main-beam headlamps
2 Headlamp flasher
Main-beam headlamps
X Make sure that the key is in position 2of
the ignition lock or that the engine is run-
ning.
X Turn the light switch to the Bor position
U 7
position.
X To switch on: press the combination
switch in the direction of arrow 1.
The main-beam indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster lights up. X
To switch off: move the combination
switch back to its normal position.
The main-beam indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster goes out.
Headlamp flasher
X To switch on: briefly pull the combination
switch in the direction of arrow 2.
The main beam indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster lights up briefly. Hazard warning lamps
Centre console
1
Hazard warning lamp button
The hazard warning lamps still operate if the
ignition is switched off. They switch on auto- matically if an airbag or the belt tensioners
are triggered and the key is in position
1in
the ignition lock.
X To activate: press hazard warning lamp
button 1.
All turn signals flash. If you now activate a
turn signal, only those turn signal lamps on
the corresponding side of the vehicle will
flash.
X To deactivate: press hazard warning lamp
button 1. Headlamp cleaning system
1
Button for headlamp cleaning system
7 In position U, the main beam will only switch on when it is dark. Controls
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