light MERCEDES-BENZ G-CLASS SUV 2013 Owner's Manual

Your vehicle is equipped with a BabySmart™
system.
Special child restraint systems which are
compatible with BabySmart™ are necessary
for deactivating the front-passenger air bag.
When the special BabySmart™-compatible
child restraint system is installed correctly
and is recognized
by
the sensor system in the
front-passenger seat, the front-passenger air
bag is deactivated. In this case, 00730074
indicator lamp 0043 lights up. If you have any
questions regarding the special BabySmart™-
compatible child restraint systems, consult
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
If the SmartKey has been removed from the
ignition lock or is in position 0, 00730074
indicator lamp 0043 does not light up.
The system does not disable:
R the window curtain air bag
R the Emergency Tensioning Device
System self-test G
WARNING
Do not leave any switched on notebooks,
mobile phones, electronic tags (e.g. a ski
pass) or similar electronic devices on the
front-passenger seat. Signals emitted from
such devices can interfere with the
BabySmart™ air bag deactivation system.
Such interference can lead to the 00730074
indicator lamp not lighting

up during the self-
test.
If the 007E SRS warning lamp and the
0073007C indicator lamp light up simultaneously in the instrument cluster, the
system is malfunctioning. The front-
passenger air bag
could

deploy without cause,
or may fail to deploy in the event of an
accident.
Have the system checked as soon as possible
at an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
The 00730074 indicator lamp lights up when
the SmartKey is turned to position 1 or 2 in
the ignition lock.
The 00730074 indicator lamp goes out after
approximately six seconds.
If the 00730074 indicator lamp does not light
up or is always lit, then the system is
malfunctioning. Have the BabySmart™
system checked at an authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center before transporting a child on
the front-passenger seat.
For further information, see "Problems with
air bag deactivation system" ( Y page 47).46
Occupant safety
Safety

Problems with the air bag deactivation system
G
WARNING
If the 00730074 indicator lamp illuminates and remains illuminated when the weight of a typical
adult or someone larger than a small individual has been detected on the passenger seat, do not
allow any occupant to use the passenger seat until the system has been repaired. Problem Possible causes/consequences and
0050 SolutionsThe 00730074
indicator lamp is
continuously lit. A special BabySmart™-compatible child restraint system is
mounted on the front-passenger seat.
The front-passenger air bag is therefore disabled.
There is no BabySmart™-compatible child restraint system
mounted on the
front-passenger

seat. The BabySmart™ system is
malfunctioning.
X Have the BabySmart™ system checked as soon as possible at
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. The 00730074
indicator lamp does
not
light up and/or remain
lit

when a BabySmart™-
compatible child
restraint system is
installed on the front-
passenger seat. The BabySmart™ system is malfunctioning.
X
Make sure there is nothing between the seat cushion and the
child restraint system.
X Check that the child restraint system is installed correctly.
X If the 00730074 indicator lamp does not light up, have the
BabySmart™ system checked as soon as possible at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Do not transport a child on the front-passenger seat until the
air bag deactivation system has been repaired. NECK-PRO head restraints
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Do not secure any objects (e.g. coat hangers)
on the NECK-PRO head

restraints. Otherwise,
the NECK-PRO head restraints may not
function properly, or in the event of a rear-end
collision may not be able offer the level of
protection they are designed to provide. G
WARNING
Head restraint covers prevent the NECK-PRO
head restraints from triggering correctly.
Consequently, the NECK-PRO head

restraints cannot provide the intended level of
protection. Do not
use

head restraint covers. G
WARNING
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust the head restraint

so that it is as close
to the head as possible and the center of the
head restraint supports the back of the head
at eye level. This will reduce the potential for
injury to the head and neck in the event of an
accident or similar situation.
The NECK-PRO head restraints increase
protection to the driver's and the front
passenger's head and neck. The NECK-PRO
head restraints on the driver's and front- Occupant safety
47
Safety Z

the door trim panel and the seat belt.
Damaged seat belts can no longer fulfill
their protective function and must be
replaced. Visit a qualified specialist
workshop.
X
Press release button 0085 of buckle 0087 and
guide belt tongue 0044 back towards belt
sash guide 0043.
Belt warning for the driver and front
passenger The 0076 seat belt warning lamp in the
instrument cluster is a reminder for all
occupants to fasten their seat belts.
Regardless of whether
the
driver's and front-
passenger seat belts have already been
fastened, the 0076 seat belt warning lamp
lights up for six seconds each time the engine
is started. It then goes out once the driver and
the front passenger have fastened their seat
belts.
If the driver and/or front passenger have not
fastened their seat belts after the engine has
been started, an additional warning tone
sounds. This warning tone switches off after
approximately six seconds or once the
driver's seat belt is fastened. If after six seconds, the driver or front
passenger have not fastened their seat belts
and the doors are closed:
R
the 0076 seat belt warning lamp remains
illuminated as long as

either the driver's or
front-passenger seat belt is not fastened
R and if vehicle speed once exceeds
15 mph (25 km/h), the 0076 seat belt
warning lamp lights up. A warning tone also
sounds with increasing intensity for a
maximum of 60 seconds or until the driver
or front-passenger seat belt has been
fastened.
If the driver or front-passenger seat belt is
unfastened while the vehicle is in motion, the
0076 seat belt warning lamps light up and a
warning tone sounds again.
The warning tone ceases even if the driver or
front-passenger seat belt has still not been
fastened after 60 seconds. The 0076 seat belt
warning lamp stops flashing but remains
illuminated.
After the vehicle comes to a standstill, the
warning tone is reactivated and the 0076 seat
belt warning lamp flashes again if the vehicle
speed again exceeds 15 mph (25 km/h).
The 0076 seat belt warning lamp only goes
out if:
R both the driver and the front passenger
have fastened their seat belts.
or
R the vehicle is stationary and a door is open.
i Further information about the 0076 seat
belt warning lamp (Y page 248).
Emergency Tensioning Devices, belt
force limiters G
WARNING
Pyrotechnic ETDs that were activated must be
replaced.
For your safety, when disposing of the
pyrotechnic ETDs always follow our safety
instructions. These are available at any
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. Occupant safety
53
Safety Z

!
If the front-passenger seat is not
occupied, do not engage the seat belt
tongue in the buckle on the front-
passenger seat. Otherwise, the
Emergency
Tensioning Device could be triggered in the
event of an accident.
X In order to ensure that the pyrotechnic
Emergency Tensioning Devices have not
been triggered, always have the seat belts
checked after an accident.
If the Emergency Tensioning Devices have
been triggered, they must be replaced.
The seat belts for the front seats and rear
outer seats are equipped

with ETDs and seat
belt force limiters.
The ETDs on the driver's and front-passenger
seat consist of pyrotechnic belt buckle
tensioners and belt anchor installation
tensioners that are triggered together. The
belt buckle tensioner is mounted on the B-
pillar and the belt anchor installation is
mounted on the side of the seat. After
deploying, both tensioners must always be
replaced.
The ETDs tighten the seat belts in an accident,
pulling them close against the body.
The ETDs do not correct incorrect seat
positions or incorrectly fastened seat belts.
The ETDs do not pull vehicle occupants back
towards the backrest.
When triggered, seat belt force limiters help
to reduce the peak force exerted by the seat
belt on the vehicle occupant.
The front seat belt force limiters are
synchronized with the front air bags, which
take on a part of the deceleration force. Thus,
the force exerted on the occupant is
distributed over a greater area.
The ETDs can only be activated when:
R the SmartKey is in position 1 or 2 in the
ignition lock.
R the restraint systems are operational; see
"SRS warning lamp" ( Y page 39). R
the belt tongue is

engaged in the buckle on
each of the lap-shoulder belts in the front.
R the front-passenger seat is occupied and
the belt tongue is engaged in the buckle on
the front-passenger side
The Emergency Tensioning Devices are
triggered depending on the type and severity
of an accident, if:
R in the event of a head-on or rear-end
collision, the vehicle decelerates or
accelerates rapidly in a longitudinal
direction during the initial stages of the
impact
R if, in the event of a side impact, on the side
opposite the impact the vehicle
decelerates or accelerates rapidly in a
lateral direction
R in certain situations where the vehicle
overturns and the system determines that
it can provide additional protection
If the ETDs are deployed, you will hear a bang,
and a small amount of powder may also be
released. Only in rare cases will the bang
affect your hearing. The powder that is
released generally does not constitute a
health hazard. The 0075 SRS warning lamp
lights up. Children in the vehicle
Child restraint systems
Important safety notes G
WARNING
According to accident statistics, children are
safer when properly restrained in the rear
seating positions than in the front seating
position. Thus, we strongly recommend that
children be placed in

the rear seats whenever
possible. Regardless of seating position,
children 12 years old and under must be
seated and properly secured in an appropriate
infant restraint, toddler restraint, or booster
seat recommended for the size and weight of
the child. 54
Children in the vehicle
Safety

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 unattended in the
vehicle, even if they are secured in a child
restraint system, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. A child's unsupervised
access to a vehicle
could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury. The children
could:
R injure themselves on parts of the vehicle
R be seriously or fatally injured through
excessive exposure to extreme heat or cold
R injure themselves or cause an accident with
vehicle equipment that can be operated
even if the SmartKey is removed from the
ignition lock or removed from the vehicle,
such as seat adjustment, steering wheel
adjustment, or the memory function
If children open a door, they could injure other
persons or get out of the vehicle and injure
themselves or be injured by following 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 the child could be burned on these
parts. G
WARNING
Do not carry heavy or hard objects in the
passenger compartment or trunk

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
We recommend that all infants and children
be properly restrained using the infant or
child restraint systems at all times while the
vehicle is in motion. Always use a child restraint system that is
compatible with BabySmart™ on the front-
passenger seat.
The use of
infant

or child restraints is required
by law in all 50 states, the District of
Columbia, all U.S. territories and all Canadian
provinces.
Infants and small children must be seated in
an appropriate infant or child restraint system
recommended for the size and weight of the
child. The infant or child restraint system
must be properly secured in accordance with
the manufacturer's instructions. All infant or
child restraint systems must comply with U.S.
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 213
and 225 and Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards 213 and 210.2.
An information label on the child restraint
system indicates whether it meets these
standards. This confirmation can also be
found in the installation instructions that are
included with the child restraint system.
Always read and follow the manufacturer's
instructions when using an infant or child
restraint system or booster seat.
Observe the warning labels in the vehicle
interior or on the infant or child restraint.
If an infant or child is traveling in the vehicle:
X Secure the child with a child or infant seat
restraint system appropriate to

the age and
weight of the child.
X Make sure that the infant or child is
properly secured at all times while the
vehicle is in motion.
Special seat belt retractor G
WARNING
Observe "Important safety notes"
(Y page 54). G
WARNING
Never release the seat belt buckle while the
vehicle is in motion,

since the special seat belt
retractor will be deactivated. 56
Children in the vehicle
Safety

X
Tension Top Tether belt 0087. Comply with
the manufacturer's installation
instructions when doing so.
X Move head restraint back down again
slightly if necessary ( Y page 86). Make
sure that you do not interfere with the
correct routing of Top Tether belt 0087. Child-proof locks
Important safety notes G
WARNING
When children ride on the vehicle's rear seats,
activate the override switch. Otherwise, the
children could be injured, e.g. by trapping
themselves in the rear side window. 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 unattended in the
vehicle, even if they are secured in a child
restraint system, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. A child's unsupervised
access to a vehicle
could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury. The children
could:
R injure themselves on parts of the vehicle
R be seriously or fatally injured through
excessive exposure to extreme heat or cold
R injure themselves or cause an accident with
vehicle equipment that can be operated
even if the SmartKey is removed from the
ignition lock or removed from the vehicle,
such as seat adjustment, steering wheel
adjustment, or the memory function
If children open a door, they could injure other
persons or get out of the vehicle and injure
themselves or be injured by following 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 the child could be burned on these
parts.
Child-proof locks for the rear doors G
WARNING
Children could open a rear door from inside
the vehicle. This could result in serious
injuries or an accident. Therefore, when
children ride in the

rear always secure the rear
doors with the child-proof locks.
You secure each door individually with the
child-proof locks on the rear doors. A door
secured with a child-proof lock cannot be
opened from inside the vehicle. When the
vehicle is unlocked, the door can be opened
from the outside. X
To activate: press the child-proof lock
lever down in the direction of arrow 0044.
X Make sure that the child-proof locks are
working properly.
X To deactivate: press the child-proof lock
lever up in the direction of arrow 0043.
Override feature for the rear side
windows G
WARNING
When children ride on the vehicle's rear seats,
activate the override switch. Otherwise, the
children could be injured, e.g. by trapping
themselves in the rear side window. Children in the vehicle
59
Safety Z

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

X
If appropriate for the driving conditions,
engage the LOW RANGE off-road gear
(Y page 199).
Traction control is part of ESP ®
.
Traction control brakes the drive wheels
individually if they spin. This enables you to
pull away and accelerate
on slippery surfaces,
for example if the road surface is slippery on
one side. In addition, more drive torque is
transferred to the wheel or wheels with
traction.
Traction control remains active if you
deactivate ESP ®
.
At speeds above approximately 37 mph
(60 km/h), traction control is no longer
active.
Traction control brakes the drive wheels
individually if they spin. This enables you to
pull away and accelerate on slippery surfaces,
for example if the road surface is slippery on
one side. In addition, more drive torque is
transferred to the wheel or wheels with
traction.
Deactivating/activating ESP ®G
WARNING
If you deactivate ESP ®
, ESP ®
no longer
stabilizes the vehicle. There is an increased
risk of skidding and an accident.
Only deactivate ESP ®
in the situations
described in the following.
! Avoid spinning the driven wheels for an
extended period with ESP ®
deactivated.
You could otherwise damage

the drivetrain. X
To deactivate: press button 0043 until the
00BB warning lamp lights up in the
instrument cluster.
X To activate: press button 0043 until the
00BB warning lamp goes out in the
instrument cluster.
ESP ®
is activated automatically when the
engine is started.
i Vehicles with the ECO start/stop
function: the ECO start/stop function
automatically switches the engine

off when
the vehicle comes to a stop. The engine
starts automatically when the driver wants
to pull away again. ESP ®
remains in its
previously selected status. Example: if
ESP ®
was deactivated before the engine
was switched off, ESP ®
remains
deactivated when the engine is switched on
again.
It may be best to deactivate ESP ®
in the
following situations:
R when using snow chains
R in deep snow
R on sand or gravel
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. The spinning of
the wheels results in a cutting action, which
provides better grip.
R traction control is still activated. Driving safety systems
63
Safety Z

Useful information
i This Operator's Manual describes all
models and all standard and optional
equipment of your vehicle available at the
time of publication of the Operator's
Manual. Country-specific differences are
possible. Please note that
your vehicle may
not be equipped with all features
described. This also applies to safety-
related systems and functions.
i Read the information on qualified
specialist workshops: ( Y page 23).SmartKey
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 G
WARNING
If you attach heavy or large objects to the
SmartKey, the SmartKey could be
unintentionally turned in the

ignition lock. This
could cause the engine to be switched off.
There is a risk of an accident.
Do not attach any heavy or large objects to
the SmartKey. Remove any bulky keyrings
before inserting the SmartKey into the
ignition lock. SmartKey functions
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 shift the manual transmission into neutral.
R starting the engine.
There is a risk of an accident and injury. 68
SmartKey
Opening/closing