check engine MERCEDES-BENZ G-CLASS SUV 2013 User Guide

ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
Important safety notes i
Observe the "Important safety notes"
section ( Y page 60). G
WARNING
If the ABS malfunctions, other driving systems
such as the BAS
or the ESP®
are also switched
off. Observe indicator and warning lamps that
may come on as well as messages in the
multifunction display that may appear.
If the ABS malfunctions, the wheels may lock
during hard braking, reducing the steering
capability and extending the braking distance. G
WARNING
If ABS is faulty, the wheels could lock when
braking. The steerability and braking
characteristics may be severely impaired.
Additionally, further driving safety systems
are deactivated. There
is

an increased danger
of skidding and accidents.
Drive on carefully. Have ABS checked
immediately at a qualified specialist
workshop.
ABS regulates brake pressure in such a way
that the wheels do not lock when you brake.
This allows you to continue steering the
vehicle when braking.
Provided that the differential locks are not
active, ABS works from a speed of about
5 mph (8 km/h) upwards, regardless of road-
surface conditions. ABS works on slippery
surfaces, even if you only brake gently.
The yellow 0025 ABS warning lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up when the ignition
is switched on. It goes out when the engine is
running.
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 vigorously until the braking
situation is over.
X To make a full brake application:
depress the brake pedal with full force.
The pulsating brake pedal can be an
indication of hazardous road conditions, and
functions as a reminder to take extra care
while driving.
Off-road ABS If the
LOW RANGE shift range is
selected by
the transfer case, (Y page 199), an ABS
system specifically suited to off-road terrain
is automatically activated.
At speeds below 37 mph (60 km/h), the front
wheels lock cyclically during braking. The
digging-in effect achieved in the process
reduces the stopping distance on off-road
terrain. This limits steering capability. BAS (Brake Assist System)
i Observe the "Important safety notes"
section ( Y page 60). G
WARNING
If BAS is malfunctioning, the braking distance
in an emergency braking situation is
increased. There is a risk of an accident.
In an emergency braking situation, depress
the brake pedal with full force. ABS prevents
the wheels from locking.
BAS operates in emergency braking
situations. 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. Driving safety systems
61
Safety Z

Adaptive brake lamps
If you brake sharply from a speed of more
than 30 mph (50 km/h) or if braking is
assisted by BAS, the brake lamps flash
rapidly. In this way, traffic traveling behind
you is warned in an even more noticeable
manner.
If you brake sharply from a speed of more
than 45 mph (70 km/h) to a standstill, the
hazard warning lamps are activated
automatically. If
the brakes are applied again,
the brake lamps light up continuously. If you
drive faster than 6 mph (10 km/h), the hazard
warning lamps are deactivated automatically.
You can also switch off the hazard warning
lamps using the hazard warning button
(Y page 104). ESP
®
(Electronic Stability Program)
Important safety notes i
Observe the "Important safety notes"
section ( Y page 60).G
WARNING
If ESP ®
is malfunctioning, ESP ®
is unable to
stabilize the vehicle. Additionally, further
driving safety systems are deactivated. This
increases the risk
of

skidding and an accident.
Drive on carefully. Have ESP ®
checked at a
qualified specialist workshop.
! 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.
! A function or performance test should
only be carried out on a two-axle
dynamometer. Before you operate the
vehicle on such a dynamometer, please
consult a qualified workshop. You could
otherwise damage the drive train or the
brake system. ESP
®
monitors driving stability and traction.
Traction is the power transmission between
the tires and the road surface.
ESP ®
is deactivated if

the 00BB warning lamp
in the instrument cluster lights up
continuously when the engine is running.
If the 00E5 warning lamp and the 00BB
warning lamp are lit continuously, ESP ®
is not
available due to a malfunction.
Observe the information on warning lamps
(Y page 252) and any display messages that
appear in the instrument cluster
(Y page 226).
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 00E5 warning lamp
flashes in the instrument cluster.
If ESP ®
intervenes:
X Do not deactivate ESP ®
under any
circumstances.
X Only depress the accelerator pedal as far
as necessary when pulling away.
X Adapt your driving style to suit the
prevailing road and weather conditions.
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.
4ETS (Electronic Traction System) Traction control remains active if you
deactivate ESP
®
. 62
Driving safety systems
Safety

R
ESP ®
still provides support when you
brake.
R and are driving at above 37 mph
(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 00E5 warning lamp
in the instrument cluster flashes. In such
situations, ESP ®
will not stabilize the
vehicle.
i If ESP ®
is deactivated, it is automatically
reactivated when you drive faster than
37 mph (60 km/h) or if a predefined lateral
acceleration threshold has been exceeded.
Trailer stabilization G
WARNING
If road and weather conditions are poor,
trailer stabilization will not

be able to prevent
the vehicle/trailer combination from
swerving. Trailers with a high center of gravity
can tip over before ESP ®
can detect this.
There is a risk of an accident.
Always adapt your driving style to the
prevailing road and weather conditions.
Trailer stabilization does not work if ESP ®
is
deactivated because of a malfunction.
If your vehicle with trailer (vehicle/trailer
combination) begins to lurch, you can only
stabilize the vehicle/trailer combination by
depressing the brake firmly.
In this situation, ESP ®
assists you and can
detect if the vehicle/trailer combination
begins to lurch. ESP ®
slows the vehicle down
by braking and limiting the engine output until
the vehicle/trailer combination has
stabilized.
Trailer stabilization is active above speeds of
about 37 mph (60 km/h). EBD (electronic brake force
distribution)
i Observe the "Important safety notes"
section ( Y page 60). G
WARNING
If EBD has malfunctioned, the rear wheels can
still lock, e.g. under full braking. This
increases the risk of

skidding and an accident.
You should therefore adapt your driving style
to the different handling characteristics. Have
the brake system checked at a qualified
specialist workshop.
Observe information regarding indicator and
warning lamps ( Y page 250) as well as
display messages ( Y page 228).
EBD monitors and controls the brake
pressure on the rear wheels to improve
driving stability while braking. ADAPTIVE BRAKE
ADAPTIVE BRAKE provides increased

braking
safety. In addition to the braking function,
ADAPTIVE BRAKE also has the HOLD function
(Y page 192) and hill start assist
(Y page 141). Theft deterrent locking system
Immobilizer
X To activate: remove the SmartKey from
the ignition lock.
X To deactivate: switch on the ignition.
The immobilizer prevents your vehicle from
being started without the correct SmartKey.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. The
engine can be started by anyone with a valid
SmartKey that is left inside the vehicle.
i The immobilizer is always deactivated
when you start the engine. 64
Theft deterrent locking system
Safety

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
0050 SolutionsThe engine cannot be
started using the
SmartKey. The SmartKey has been in position
0(Y page 139) for a
considerable time.
X Remove the SmartKey and reinsert it into the ignition lock.
X Start the engine. The on-board voltage is too low.
X
Switch off non-essential consumers, e.g. seat heating or interior
lighting, and try to turn the SmartKey again.
If this does not work:
X Check the battery and charge it if necessary ( Y page 307).
or
X Jump-start the vehicle (Y page 308).
or
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. Doors
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the ignition lock. Always take
the SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle.
Do not leave children unsupervised in the
vehicle, even if they are secured in a child
restraint system, and do
not give them access
to an unlocked vehicle. A child's unsupervised
access to a vehicle could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury. They could:
R injure themselves on vehicle parts
R be seriously or fatally injured by extreme
heat or cold
R injure themselves or have an accident with
vehicle equipment that may still be in
operation even after the SmartKey has
been removed from the ignition, such as the
seat adjustment, steering wheel
adjustment or memory function.
If children open a door, they could cause
severe or even fatal injury to other persons; if
they get out of the vehicle, they could injure themselves when doing so or be seriously or
even fatally injured by any passing traffic.
Do not expose the child restraint system to
direct sunlight. The child restraint system's
metal parts, for example, could become very
hot, and a child could be burned on these
parts.
G
WARNING
Do not carry heavy or hard objects in the
passenger compartment or cargo
compartment unless they are firmly secured
in place.
Unsecured or improperly positioned cargo
increases a child's risk of injury in the event
of
R strong braking maneuvers
R sudden changes of direction
R an accident Doors
73
Opening/closing Z

X
Open the rear door.
X To switch off with the rear door open:
press lock 0043 down in the direction of the
arrow until it engages.
The cargo compartment lamp is switched
off.
X To switch on with the rear door open:
press lock cylinder 0044 on the door handle.
The cargo compartment lamp resumes its
normal function.
Rear interior lighting Front overhead control panel
0043
003D Switches the left-hand front reading
lamp on/off
0044 004A Switches the front interior lighting
on
0087 0041 Switches the cargo compartment
lamp/rear interior lighting on/off
0085 0033
Switches the front interior lighting/
automatic interior lighting control off 0083
003D Switches the right-hand reading
lamp on/off
0084 Switches the automatic interior lighting
control on
X To switch on/off: press the 0041 button.
i The rear interior lighting switches on
when you open a rear door. You will then
be unable to switch it off using the 0041
button.
Switch off the rear interior lighting if you
wish to leave the rear doors open for a
longer period. This prevents the battery
from discharging. Replacing bulbs
Important safety notes
Xenon bulbs G
DANGER
Xenon bulbs carry a high voltage. You could
get an electric shock

and be seriously or even
fatally injured if you touch the electric
contacts on Xenon bulbs. Therefore, never
remove the cover from Xenon bulbs.
Do not change the Xenon bulbs yourself, but
have them replaced at a qualified workshop.
If your vehicle is equipped with Xenon bulbs,
you can recognize this by the following: the
cone of light from the Xenon bulbs moves
from the top to the bottom and back again
when you start the engine. For this to be
observed, the lights must be switched on
before starting the engine.
Bulbs and lamps are an important aspect of
vehicle safety. You must therefore make sure
that these function correctly at all times.
Have the headlamp setting checked regularly.
LED lamps You can neither replace Xenon bulbs nor LED
bulbs. Have LED
bulbs

changed at a qualified
specialist workshop. 108
Replacing bulbs
Lights and windshield wipers

X
Remove the SmartKey when the engine is
switched off.
The starter battery could otherwise be
discharged.
If you cannot turn the SmartKey in the ignition
lock, the starter battery may not be charged
sufficiently.
X Check the starter battery and charge it if
necessary ( Y page 307).
or
X Jump-start the vehicle (Y page 308).
i You can only remove the SmartKey if:
R the SmartKey is in position 0 in the
ignition lock.
R the automatic transmission selector
lever is in P.Starting the engine
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Combustion engines emit poisonous exhaust
gases such as carbon monoxide. Inhaling
these exhaust gases leads
to poisoning. There
is a risk of fatal injury. Therefore never leave
the engine running in enclosed spaces
without sufficient ventilation. G
WARNING
Inhalation of exhaust gas is hazardous to your
health. All exhaust gas contains carbon
monoxide (CO), and inhaling it can cause
unconsciousness and possible death.
Do not run the

engine in confined areas (such
as a garage) which are not properly ventilated.
If you think that exhaust gas fumes are
entering the vehicle while driving, have the
cause determined and corrected
immediately. If you must drive under these
conditions, drive only with at least one
window fully open at all times.
! Do not depress the accelerator pedal
when starting the engine. Starting procedure X
Shift the automatic transmission to
position P.
The transmission position display in the
multifunction display shows P.
i For further information about the
automatic transmission, see
(Y page 145).
i If you depress the

brake when starting the
engine, pedal travel is unusually long and
there is less pedal resistance.
X Make sure that the parking brake is
applied.
X Turn the SmartKey in the ignition lock to
position 3 (Y page 139) and release it as
soon as the engine is running.
i You can also use

the touch-start function.
To do this, turn the SmartKey to position 3
(Y page 139) and release it immediately.
The engine then starts automatically. Pulling away
Automatic transmission G
WARNING
If the engine speed is above the idling speed
and you engage transmission position D or
R, the vehicle could

pull away suddenly. There
is a risk of an accident.
When engaging transmission position D or R,
always firmly depress the brake pedal and do
not simultaneously accelerate.
! Only shift the automatic transmission to
reverse gear R or park position P when the
vehicle is stationary. Otherwise, the
automatic transmission could be damaged.
! Do not depress the accelerator pedal
while depressing the brake pedal. This
impairs engine performance and results in
premature wear on the brake system and
drivetrain. 140
Driving
Driving and parking

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
0050 SolutionsThe coolant
temperature display is
showing more than
248 ‡
(120 †). A
display message may
also appear in the
multifunction 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 291). Observe the warning
notes as you do so and add 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
sufficiently.
X
At coolant temperatures below 248 ‡ (120 †),
drive
to the next
qualified specialist workshop.
X Avoid heavy loads on the engine as you do so, e.g. driving in
mountainous terrain and stop-and-go traffic. Automatic transmission
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
If the engine speed is above the idling speed
and you engage transmission position D or
R, the vehicle could

pull away suddenly. There
is a risk of an accident.
When engaging transmission position D or R,
always firmly depress the brake pedal and do
not simultaneously accelerate. G
WARNING
The automatic transmission switches to
neutral position N when you switch off the
engine. The vehicle may roll away. There is a
risk of an accident.
After switching off the engine, always switch
to parking position P. Prevent the parked
vehicle from rolling away by applying the
parking brake.
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
transmission to position P and apply theparking 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
transmission directly from D to R, from R
to D or directly to P.
Do not open the driver's door while the
vehicle is in motion. At low speeds in
transmission position D or R

, park position
P is otherwise engaged automatically.
The transmission could be damaged. Automatic transmission
145
Driving and parking Z

Selector lever
005D
Park position
005E Reverse gear
005C Neutral
005B Drive
When you select a transmission position, the
selector lever subsequently returns to its
original position.
The current transmission position P, R, N or
D appears in the transmission position
display in the multifunction display.
Transmission position and drive
program display !
If the transmission position
display in the
multifunction display is not working, you
should pull away carefully to check whether
the desired transmission position is
engaged. Select transmission position D.
Do not restrict the shift range. 0043
Transmission position
0044 Drive program
Current transmission position 0043 and current
drive program 0044

appear in the multifunction
display. The current position of the selector lever is
shown by the indicators next to the selector
lever.
The
indicators
light up

when the SmartKey is
inserted into the ignition lock. The indicators
go out when the SmartKey is removed from
the ignition lock.
When the selector lever is in position D, you
can influence the gearshifts made by the
automatic transmission by:
R restricting the shift range
R changing gear yourself
Engaging park position P X
When the vehicle is stationary, depress the
brake pedal and keep it depressed.
X Press the P button in the center console.
i If you depress the brake pedal and push
the selector lever forwards or back to the
first point of resistance, park position P is
disengaged. The transmission shifts to
neutral N.
Park position P is automatically engaged:
R if you remove the SmartKey from the
ignition lock
R if you open the

driver's door while traveling
at low speed in transmission position D or
R
R if DISTRONIC PLUS (Y page 177) 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. 146
Automatic transmission
Driving and parking

Transmission positions
0045
Park position
Do not shift the transmission into
position
P (Y page 145) unless the
vehicle is stationary. The parking
lock should not
be used as a brake
when parking. In addition to
engaging the parking lock, you
must always apply the parking
brake to secure the vehicle.
i The SmartKey can only be
removed if the transmission is in
position P. When there is no
SmartKey in the ignition lock, the
selector lever is locked in
position P.
Have the vehicle electronics
checked immediately at a qualified
specialist workshop. 0046
Reverse gear
Only shift the transmission to
R
when the vehicle is stationary. 0044
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
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 199).
! Rolling in neutral N can damage
the drive train. 003A
Drive
The automatic transmission
changes gear automatically. All
forward gears are available.
Changing gear
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
RANGE or LOW RANGE)
R the position of the accelerator pedal
R the road speed148
Automatic transmission
Driving and parking

Problems with the automatic transmission
Problem Possible causes/consequences and
0050 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.
X Stop the vehicle.
X Shift the transmission to position P.
X Turn the SmartKey to position 0 in the ignition lock.
X Wait at least ten seconds before restarting the engine.
X Shift 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.
X Have the transmission checked at a qualified specialist
workshop 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 position P. Refueling
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Gasoline is highly flammable and poisonous.
It burns violently and can cause serious
personal injury.
Never allow sparks, flames or smoking
materials near gasoline.
Turn off the engine before refueling.
Whenever you are around gasoline, avoid
inhaling fumes and any skin or clothing
contact.
Direct skin contact with fuels and the
inhalation of fuel vapors

are damaging to your
health.
! Do not use diesel to refuel vehicles with a
gasoline engine. Even small amounts of the
wrong fuel result in damage to the fuel
system and engine. !
Do not switch on the ignition if you
accidentally refuel with the wrong fuel.
Otherwise, the fuel will

enter the fuel lines.
Notify a qualified specialist workshop and
have the fuel tank and fuel lines drained
completely.
! Overfilling the fuel tank could damage the
fuel system.
! Take care not to spill any fuel on painted
surfaces. You could otherwise damage the
paintwork.
! Use a filter when refueling from a fuel can.
Otherwise, the fuel lines and/or injection
system could be blocked by particles from
the fuel can.
If you overfill the fuel tank, pressure may build
up in the fuel tank. This could cause fuel to
spray out when the fuel pump nozzle is
removed. There is a risk of injury. The fuel
tank is full when the fuel pump nozzle first
switches off. End the refueling process. Refueling
153
Driving and parking Z