stop start MERCEDES-BENZ G-CLASS SUV 2012 User Guide

You can open the doors fro
mthe inside at
any time.
You can also deactivate the automatic lock-
ing feature (Y page 223).
i Upshifts take place at higher engine
speeds after a cold start. This helps the
catalytic converter to reach its operating
temperature more quickly.
Hill starta ssist G
WARNING
After a short time, hill start assist will no lon-
ger brake your vehicle and it could roll away.
There is a risk of an accident and injury.
Therefore, quickly move your foot from the
brake pedal to the accelerator pedal. Never
leave the vehicle when it is held by hill start
assist.
Hill start assist helps you when pulling away
forwards or in reverse on an uphill gradient.
It holds the vehicle for a short time after you
have removed your foot from the brake pedal.
This gives you enough time to move your foot
from the brake pedal to the accelerator pedal
and depress it before the vehicle begins to
roll.
X Take your foot off the brake pedal.
i Once you have taken your foot off the
brake pedal, the vehicle is held for around
one second.
X Pull away.
Hill start assist will not function if:
R you are pulling away on a level road or a
downhill gradient.
R the transmission is in position N.
R the parking brake is applied.
R ESP ®
is malfunctioning. ECO start/stop function (AMG vehi-
cles)
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If the engine is switched off automatically and
you exit the vehicle, the engine is restarted
automatically. The vehicle may begin moving.
There is a risk of accident and injury.
If you wish to exit the vehicle, always turn off
the ignition and secure the vehicle against
rolling away.
General notes The ECO start/stop function is only available
for the G 63 AMG.
The ECO start/stop function switches the
engine off automatically if the vehicle stops
moving.
When pulling away again, the engine starts
automatically. The ECO start/stop function
thereby helps you to reduce the fuel con-
sumption and emissions of your vehicle.
The ECO start/stop function is activated each
time the engine is switched on.
The ECO start/stop function is only available
in drive program
C.
The system is operational when the ¤
symbol is shown in green in the multifunction
display.
The system is operational if all conditions for
automatic engine switch-off have been fulfil-
led (Y page 146) and the ¤symbol is
shown in green in the multifunction display.
In addition, the Stop/Start active mes-
sage is shown in the AMG menu in the multi-
function display.
If not all conditions for automatic engine
switch-off are fulfilled (Y page 146), the
¤ symbol is shown in yellow in the multi-
function display.
In addition, the Stop/Start inactive mes-
sage is shown in the AMG menu in the multi-
function display. Driving
145Driving and parking Z

If the ECO start/stop function has been man-
ually deactivated (Y
page 146) or if a mal-
function has caused the system to be deac-
tivated, the ¤symbol is not displayed.
The Stop/Start active or
Stop/Start inactive message in the AMG menu in the
multifunction display goes out.
Activating/deactivating the ECO start/
stop function ECO button
X
To switch off: in drive program C, press
button :.
or
X Switch to drive program Sor M
(Y page 152).
Indicator lamp ;on button :and the
¤ symbol in the multifunction display go
out.
The Stop/Start active or
Stop/Start inactive message in the AMG menu in the
multifunction display goes out.
X To switch on: press button:.
Indicator lamp ;lights up. If drive pro-
gram Sor Mis active, the automatic trans-
missio nswitches to drive program C.
If all conditions for automatic engine
switch-off (Y page 146) are fulfilled, the
¤ symbol is shown in gree ninthe mul-
tifunction display. In addition, the Stop/Start active message is shown in the
AMG menu in the multifunction display.
If not all conditions for automatic engine
switch-off (Y page 146) are fulfilled, the ¤
symbol is not shown. If this is the
case, the ECO start/stop function is not
available. In addition, the Stop/Start inactive message is shown in the AMG
menu in the multifunction display.
i If indicator lamp ;is off, the ECO start/
stop function has been deactivated man-
ually or as the result of a malfunction. The
engine will then not be switched off auto-
matically when the vehicle stops.
i The stop/start function is automatically
activated each time you start the engine
with the ignition key.
Automatic engine switch-off If the vehicle is braked to a standstill in trans-
mission position
Dor N, the ECO start/stop
function switches off the engine automati-
cally.
The ECO start/stop function is operational
and the ¤symbol is displayed in green in
the multifunction display if:
R the indicator lamp in the ECO button is lit
green
R none of the off-road programs are selected
R the vehicle is stationary
R the outside temperature is within the com-
fort range
R the engine is at normal operating temper-
ature
R the set temperature for the vehicle interior
has been reached
R the battery is sufficiently charged
R the system detects that the windscreen is
not misted up when the air-conditioning
system is switched on
R the bonnet is closed
R the driver's door is closed and the driver's
seat belt is fastened
If not all conditions for automatic engine
switch-off are fulfilled, the ¤symbol is
shown in yellow. 146
DrivingDriving and parking

In addition, the
Stop/Start inactive mes-
sage is shown in the AMG menu in the multi-
function display.
i If you shift the transmission from Rto D,
the ECO start/stop function is available
again once the ¤symbol reappears in
green in the multifunction display.
i The engine can be automatically switched
off an unlimited number of times.
i You can also activate the HOLD function
when the vehicle is stationary if the engine
has been switched off automatically. It is
then not necessary to continue applying
the brakes during the automatic stop
phase.W hen you depress the accelerator
pedal, the engine starts automatically and
the braking effect of the HOLD function is
deactivated. Depress the accelerator pedal
gently, as the engine must be started first.
i During automatic engine switch-off, the
climate control system only operates at a
reduced capacity. If you require full climate
control capacity, the ECO start/stop func-
tion can be deactivated by pressing the
ECO button (Y page 146). Automatic engine start The engine is started automatically if:
R
In general:
-you switch off the ECO start/stop func-
tion by pressing the ECO button.
- you release the brakes when in transmis-
sion position Dor N, when the HOLD
function is inactive.
R By the driver:
-you release the brakes when in transmis-
sion position Dor N.
- you depress the accelerator pedal.
- you engage reverse gear R.
- you move the transmission out of posi-
tion P.
- you switch to drive program Sor M.
- you unfasten your seat belt or open the
driver's door.
R By the system:
-the vehicle starts to roll.
- the brake system requires this.
- the temperature in the vehicle interior
deviates from the set range.
- the system detects moisture on the
windscreen when the air-conditioning
system is switched on.
- the battery's charge status is too low.
i Shifting the transmission to position P
does not start the engine. Driving
147Driving and parking Z

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
The coolant tempera-
ture display is showing
more than 120 †. A
display message may
also appearint
he mul-
tifunction display and a
warning tone may
sound. The coolant level is too low. The coolant is too hot and the engine
is no longer being cooled sufficiently.
X Stop as soon as possible and allow the engine and the coolant
to cool down.
X Check the coolant level (Y page 293). Observe the warning
notes as you do so and top up the coolant if necessary. If the coolant level is correct, the radiator fan may be faulty. The
coolant is too hot and the engine is no longer being cooled suffi-
ciently.
X
If the coolant temperature is below 120 †, you can continue
driving to the nearest qualified specialist workshop.
X Avoid heavy loads on the engine as you do so, e.g. driving in
mountainous terrain and stop-start traffic. Automatic transmission
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
If the engine speed is above the idling speed
and you engage transmission position Dor
R, the vehicle could pull away suddenly. There
is a risk of an accident.
When engaging transmission position Dor R,
always firmly depress the brake pedal and do
not simultaneously accelerate.
i Bear in mind that the power transmission
between the engine and the transmission
is interrupted when the engine is switched
off. Therefore, to prevent the vehicle from
rolling away, shift the automatic transmis-
sion to position Pand apply the parking
brake when the engine is switched off and
the vehicle is stationary. Selector lever
Overview of transmission positions !
If the engine speed is too high or if the
vehicle is rolling, do not shift the transmis- sion directly from
Dto R, from Rto Dor
directly to P.
Do not open the driver's door while the
vehicle is in motion. At low speeds in trans-
mission position Dor R, park position Pis
otherwise engaged automatically.
The transmission could be damaged. Selector lever
j
Park position
k Reverse gear
i Neutral
h Drive
When you select a transmission position, the
selector lever subsequently returns to its
original position. Automatic transmission
149Driving and parking Z

The curren
ttransmission position P,R, Nor
D appears in the transmission position dis-
play in the multifunction display.
Transmission position and drive pro-
gram display :
Transmission position
; Drive program
Current transmission position :and current
drive program ;appear in the multifunction
display.
When the selector leve ris in position D, you
can influence the gearshifts made by the
automatic transmission by:
R restricting the shift range
R changing gear yourself
Engaging parkp osition PX
When the vehicle is stationary, depress the
brake pedal and keep it depressed.
X Press the Pbutton in the centre console.
i If you depress the brake pedal and push
the selector lever forwards or back to the
first poin tofresistance, park position Pis
disengaged. The transmission shifts to neu-
tral N. Park position
Pis automatically engaged:
R if you remove the key from the ignition lock
R if you open the driver's door while travelling
at low speed in transmission position Dor
R
R if DISTRONIC PLUS (Y page 182) brakes
your vehicle until it is stationary and at least
one of the following conditions is fulfilled:
- the engine is switched off.
- the driver's door is open and the seat belt
is not fastened.
- there is a system malfunction.
- the power supply is insufficient.
Engaging reverse gear R !
Only shift the automatic transmission to
R when the vehicle is stationary.
X When the vehicle is stationary, depress the
brake pedal and keep it depressed.
X Push the selector lever forwards past the
first point of resistance.
Transmission position Ris engaged.
i For AMG vehicles: when reverse gear is
engaged and the ECO start/stop function
is switched on, the engine starts up auto-
matically (Y page 145).
Shifting to neutral (N) If the vehicle is stationary:
X
Depress the brake pedal.
X Depending on the curren ttransmission
position, press the selector leve rforwards
or backwards to the first point of resist-
ance.
The automatic transmission shifts to N.
When the engine is switched off, the auto-
matic transmission shifts to Nautomatically.
i For AMG vehicles: the ECO start/stop
function switches the engine off automati-
cally if the vehicle is braked to a standstill
when in neutral Nand the brake is still
depressed (Y page 145).150
Automatic transmissionDriving and parking

Staying in neutral (N)
G
WARNING
If children are left unsupervised in the vehicle,
they could:
R open the doors, thus endangering other
people or road users.
R get out and disrupt traffic.
R operate the vehicle's equipment.
Additionally, children could set the vehicle in
motion if, for example, they:
R release the parking brake.
R shift the automatic transmission out of
parking position P.
R start the engine.
There is a risk of an accident and injury.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the key
with you and lock the vehicle. Never leave
children or animals unattended in the vehicle.
Always keep the key out of reach of children.
X Make sure the ignition is switched on.
X When the vehicle is stationary, depress the
brake pedal and keep it depressed.
X Select neutral N.
X Release the brake pedal.
X If the parking brake is applied, release it.
X Switch off the ignition and leave the key in
the ignition lock.
Shifting to transmission position D X
When the vehicle is stationary, depress the
brake pedal and keep it depressed.
X Push the selector lever back past the first
point of resistance.
Transmission position Dis engaged.
i For AMG vehicles: the ECO start/stop
function switches the engine off automati-
cally if the vehicle is braked to a standstill
when in transmission position Dand the
brake is still depressed (Y page 145). Transmission positions
B
Park position
This prevents the vehicle from roll-
ing away when stopped. Do not
shift the transmission into position
P(Y
page 149) unless the vehicle is
stationary.
i The key can only be removed if
the transmission is in position P.
When there is no key in the igni-
tion lock, the selector lever is
locked in position P.
Have the vehicle electronics
checked immediately at a qualified
specialist workshop. C
Reverse gear
Only shift the transmission to
R
when the vehicle is stationary. A
Neutral
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 auto-
matic transmission could be dam-
aged.
If ESP ®
is deactivated or faulty:
only shift the transmission to posi-
tion Nif 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 202).
! Rolling in neutral Ncan lead to
damage to the transmission. 7
Drive
The automatic transmission
changes gear automatically. All
forward gears are available. Automatic transmission
151Driving and parking Z

Problems with the automatic transmission
Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
The transmission has
problems shifting gear. The transmission is losing oil.
X
Have the transmission checked at a qualified specialist work-
shop immediately. The acceleration ability
is deteriorating.
The transmission no
longer changes gear. The transmission is in emergency mode.
It is only possible to shift into
secondgear and reverse gear.
X Stop.
X Shift the transmission to position P.
X Turn the key to position 0in the ignition lock.
X Wait at least ten seconds before restarting the engine.
X Shift the transmission to position Dor R.
If D is selected, the transmission shifts into secondgear; ifRis
selected, the transmission shifts into reverse gear.
X Have the transmission checked at a qualified specialist work-
shop 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 P
X Move the selector lever to P.Refuelling
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Fuel is highly flammable. If you handle fuel
incorrectly, there is a risk of fire and explo-
sion.
You must avoid fire, naked flames, creating
sparks and smoking. Switch off the engine
and, if applicable, the auxiliary heating before
refuelling. G
WARNING
Fuels are poisonous and hazardous to health.
There is a danger of injury.
Do not swallow fuel or let it come into contact
with skin, eyes or clothing. Do not inhale fuel vapours. Keep fuels out of the reach of chil-
dren.
If you or others come into contact with fuel,
observe the following:
R Wash the fuel off any affected areas of skin
with water and soap immediately.
R If you get fuel in your eyes, rinse them thor-
oughly with clean water immediately. Seek
immediate medical attention.
R If fuel is swallowed, seek immediate medi-
cal attention. Do not induce vomiting.
R Change any clothing that has come into
contact with fuel immediately. G
WARNING
Do not use petrol to refuel vehicles with a die-
sel engine. Do not mix diesel with petrol. This 156
RefuellingDriving and parking

drive short distances, you should take a 20
minute trip on a motorway or rural road at
least every 500km. Brakes
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If you shift down on a slippery road surface in
an attempt to increase the engine's braking
effect, the drive wheels could lose their grip.
This increases the risk of skidding and having
an accident.
Do not shift down for additional engine brak-
ing on a slippery road surface.
Downhill gradients On long and steep downhill gradients, espe-
cially if the vehicle is laden or towing a trailer,
you must select shift range
1,2or 3
(Y page 153) in good time.
i This also applies if you have activated
cruise control or SPEEDTRONIC.
This will use the braking effec tofthe engine,
so less braking will be required to prevent the
vehicle from gaining speed. This relieves the
load on the brake system and prevents the
brakes from overheating and wearing too
quickly. If you need additional braking,
depress the brake pedal repeatedly rather
than continuously.
Heavy and light loads G
WARNING
The braking system can overheat if you leave
your foot on the brake pedal while driving.
This increases the braking distance and could
even cause the braking system to fail. There
is a risk of an accident.
Never use the brake pedal as a footrest.Do
not simultaneously depress both the brake
pedal and the accelerato rpedal while driving. If the brakes have been subjected to a heavy
load, do not stop the vehicle immediately, but
drive on for a short while. This allows the air-
flow to cool the brakes more quickly.
If the brakes have been used only moderately,
you should occasionally test their effective-
ness. To do this, brake more firmly from a
higher speed. This improves the grip of the
brakes.
Wet road surfaces
If driving in heavy rain for a prolonged period
of time without braking, there may be a
delayed reaction from the brakes when brak-
ing for the first time. This may also occur after
the vehicle has been washed.
You have to depress the brake pedal more
firmly. Maintain a greater distance from the
vehicle in front.
After driving on a wet road or having the vehi-
cle washed, brake firmly while paying atten-
tion to the traffic conditions .This will warm
up the brake discs, thereby drying them more
quickly and protecting them against corro-
sion.
Limited braking performance on salt-
treated roads If you drive on salt-treated roads, a layer of
salt may form on the brake discs and pads.
This can increase the braking distance con-
siderably.
R
Apply the brakes occasionally in order to
prevent any salt build-up. Ensure that you
do not endanger other road users when
doing so.
R Carefully depress the brake pedal at the
end of the journey and when starting the
next journey.
R Maintain a much greater distance to the
vehicle in front. Driving tips
165Driving and parking Z

Off-road driving
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If you drive up a steep incline at an angle or
turn on a steep incline, the vehicle could slip
sideways, tip and overturn. There is a risk of
an accident.
When driving up an incline, drive into the line
of fall (upwards or downwards in a straight
line) and do not turn.
! G350 BlueTEC:
The level in the AdBlue ®
tank needs to be
sufficiently high to compensate for driving
at extreme angles when driving off-road.
Before driving off-road, make sure that the
tank contains a minimum of ten litres.
When driving off-road, sand, mud and water,
possibly mixed with oil, for example, could get
into the brakes. This may lead to a reduction
in braking performance or total brake failure
as a result of increased wear. The braking
characteristics will vary, depending on the
substances that get int othe brakes. Cleant he
brakes after driving off-road. If you notice
grinding noises or a reduction in braking per-
formance, have the brake system checked at
a qualified specialist workshop immediately.
Adapt your driving style to the altered braking
characteristics.
Driving off-road increases the possibility of
damage to the vehicle, which may cause
assemblies or systems to fail. Adapt your
driving style to the conditions of the terrain.
Drive carefully. Have vehicle damage rectified
immediately at a qualified specialist work-
shop. Observe the following when on hilly roads:
R
Do not shift the transmission to position
N.
R If the gradient is too steep for your vehicle,
back up in reverse gear.
R Do not continuously depress the brake
pedal, as doing so could cause you to lose
control.
General notes H
Environmental note
Protection of the environment is of primary
importance. Treat nature with respect.
Observe all prohibiting signs.
Read this section before driving your vehicle
off-road. Practise by travelling over more gen-
tle off-road terrain first.
The following driving systems are specially
adapted to off-road driving:
R 4ETS (Y page 62)
R Transfer case (Y page 201)
R Differential locks (Y page 204)
Observe the following notes:
R stop your vehicle and, if necessary, shift the
transfer case to LOW
RANGE(Y page 202) before driving off-
road.
R AMG vehicles: to shift the transfer case to
LOW RANGE, deactivate the ECO start/
stop function (Y page 146).
R engage the differential locks, if necessary
(Y page 204)
i ABS,4 ETS, ESP ®
and BAS are deactivated
while the differential locks are engaged.
This allows the front wheels to lock briefly,
so tha tthey can dig into a loose surface.
However, please note that locked wheels
skid and can no longer steer. Driving tips
169Driving and parking Z

X
Make sure that active Blind Spot Assist
(Y page 220) is activated in the on-board
computer.
X Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock.
Warning lamps :in the exterior mirrors
light up red for approximately
1.5 seconds and then turn yellow.
Towing atrailer If you attach a trailer, make sure tha
tyou have
correctly established the electrical connec-
tion. This can be accomplished by checking
the trailer lighting. Active Blind Spot Assist is
then deactivated. The indicator lamp lights up
yellow in the exterior mirrors and the ActiveBlind Spot Assist currently unavail‐
able See Owner's Manual message
appears in the multifunction display. HOLD function
General notes The HOLD function can assist the driver in the
following situations:
R
when pulling away, especially on steep
slopes
R when manoeuvring on steep slopes
R when waiting in traffic
The vehicle is kept stationary without the
driver having to depress the brake pedal.
The braking effect is cancelled and the HOLD
function is deactivated when you depress the
accelerator pedal to pull away.
i Do not use the HOLD function when driv-
ing off-road, on steep uphill or downhill gra-
dients or on slippery or loose surfaces. The
HOLD function cannot hold the vehicle on
such surfaces. Activation conditions You can activate the HOLD function if:
R
the vehicle is stationary.
R the engine is running or it has been
switched off by the ECO start/stop func-
tion (AMG vehicles).
R the engine is running.
R the driver's door is closed or your seat belt
is fastened.
R the transmission is in position D,Ror N.
R DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated.
Activating the HOLD function The vehicle's brakes are applied when the
HOLD function is activated. For this reason,
deactivate the HOLD function while in the car
wash or while towing.
X
Make sure that the activation conditions
are met.
X Depress the brake pedal.
X Quickly depress the brake pedal further
until ë appears in the multifunction dis-
play.
The HOLD function is activated. You can
release the brake pedal.
i If depressing the brake pedal the first
time does not activate the HOLD function,
wait briefly and then try again.
Deactivating the HOLD function G
WARNING
When leaving the vehicle, it can still roll away
despite being braked by the HOLD function if:
R there is a malfunction in the system or in
the voltage supply
R the HOLD function is deactivated by the
accelerator pedal being depressed, e.g. by
a vehicle occupant
R the electrical system in the engine com-
partment, the battery or the fuses are tam-
pered with
R the battery is disconnected 196
Driving systemsDriving and parking