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

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(60 km/h), traction control is no longer
active.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

Restoring the factory settings
X
Press the 0036 and 0037 buttons
simultaneously for approximately six
seconds until battery check lamp 0043
flashes twice. Mechanical key
General notes If the vehicle can no longer be unlocked with
the SmartKey, use the mechanical key.
If you use the mechanical key to unlock and
open the driver's door or the rear door, the
anti-theft alarm system will be triggered
(Y page 65).
X
To end the alarm: insert
the SmartKey
into
the ignition lock.
Removing the mechanical key 0043
Release catch
0044 Mechanical key X
Push release catch 0043 in the direction of
the arrow and at the same time remove
mechanical key 0044 from the SmartKey. SmartKey battery
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Batteries contain toxic and corrosive
substances. If batteries are

swallowed, it can
result in severe health problems. There is a
risk of fatal injury.
Keep batteries out of the reach of children. If
a battery is swallowed, seek medical attention
immediately.
The SmartKey batteries contain perchlorate
material, which may require special handling
and regard for the environment. National
guidelines must be observed during disposal.
In California, see www.dtsc.ca.gov/
HazardousWaste/Perchlorate/
index.cfm.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you have
the batteries replaced at a qualified specialist
workshop.
Checking the battery X
Press the 0037 or 0036 button.
The battery is working properly if battery
check lamp 0043 lights up briefly.70
SmartKey
Opening/closing

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

Rear door
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
Combustion engines emit poisonous exhaust
gases such as carbon monoxide. If the rear
door is open when the engine is running,
particularly if the vehicle is moving, exhaust
fumes could enter the passenger
compartment. There is a risk of poisoning.
Turn off the engine before opening the rear
door. Never drive with the rear door open.
! The tailgate swings out to the side when
opened. Therefore, make sure

that there is
sufficient clearance.
i Do not leave the SmartKey in the cargo
compartment. Otherwise, you could lock
yourself out. Opening
You can only open the rear door after
unlocking it first.
X Press the 0036 button on the SmartKey. X
Press release button 0043 and pull door
handle 0044.
X Open the rear door. Closing
X Push the rear door closed from outside the
vehicle.
X If necessary, lock the vehicle with the
0037 button on the SmartKey. Rear door
77
Opening/closing Z

You can ventilate the vehicle before you start
driving. To do this, the SmartKey is used to
carry out the following functions
simultaneously:
R
unlock the vehicle
R open the side windows
R open the sliding sunroof
R switch on the seat ventilation for the
driver's seat and front-passenger seat
X Point the tip of the SmartKey at the driver's
door handle.
X Press and hold the 0036 button until the
side windows and the
sliding sunroof are in
the desired position.
X To interrupt convenience opening:
release the 0036 button.Problems with the side windows
G
WARNING
Closing the side windows with increased force
or without the anti-entrapment feature could
lead to serious or

even fatal injury. Make sure
that nobody can become trapped when
closing the side windows.
Problem: a side window cannot be closed
because objects are trapped between the
side window and the door frame.
X Remove the objects.
X Close the side window.
Problem: a side window cannot be closed
and you cannot see the cause.
If a side window is obstructed during closing
and reopens again slightly:
X Immediately after the window blocks, pull
the corresponding switch again until the
side window has closed. If a side window is obstructed again during
closing and reopens again slightly:
X
Immediately after the window blocks, pull
the corresponding switch again until the
side window has closed.
i If a side window
no longer opens or closes
due to a malfunction, contact a qualified
specialist workshop. Sliding sunroof
Important safety notes
! Only open the sliding sunroof if it is free
of snow and ice. Otherwise, malfunctions
may occur.
Do not allow anything

to protrude from the
sliding sunroof. Otherwise, the seals could
be damaged.
! If the sliding sunroof still cannot be
opened or closed as a result of a
malfunction, contact a qualified specialist
workshop.
! The weather can change abruptly. It could
start to rain or snow. Make sure that the
sliding sunroof is closed when you leave the
vehicle. The vehicle electronics can be
damaged if water enters the vehicle
interior.
i Resonance noises can occur in addition
to the usual airflow noises when the sliding
sunroof is open. They are caused by minor
pressure fluctuations in the vehicle interior.
Change the position of the sliding sunroof
or open a side window slightly to reduce or
eliminate these noises. Sliding sunroof
79
Opening/closing Z

X
Reconnect the electrical connections.
X Re-install rear panel trim 0087.
When doing so, hook lugs 0084 of rear panel
trim 0087 into vehicle side wall 006B.
X Re-install edge protection 0043.
X Close the rear door. Problems with the sliding sunroof
G
WARNING
You could be severely or even fatally injured
when closing the sliding sunroof with
increased closing force or if the anti-
entrapment feature is deactivated.
Make sure
that nobody can become trapped when
closing the sliding sunroof.
! If the sliding sunroof still cannot be
opened or closed as a result of a
malfunction, contact a qualified specialist
workshop.
Problem: the sunroof cannot be closed
and you cannot see the cause. If the sliding sunroof is obstructed during
closing and reopens again slightly:
X
Immediately after the sliding sunroof
blocks, pull the 006A switch in the
overhead control panel down to the point
of resistance and hold it until the sliding
sunroof is closed.
If the sliding sunroof is obstructed again
during closing and reopens again slightly:
X Immediately after the sliding sunroof
blocks, pull the 006A switch in the
overhead control panel down to the point
of resistance and hold it until the sliding
sunroof is closed. Sliding sunroof
81
Opening/closing Z

Seats
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
The seats can still be adjusted when there is
no key in the ignition lock. For this reason,
children should never be left unsupervised in
the vehicle. They could otherwise become
trapped when adjusting the seat. G
WARNING
In order to avoid possible loss of vehicle
control, all seat, head restraint, steering
wheel and rear view mirror adjustments, as
well as fastening of seat belts, must be done
before setting the vehicle in motion. G
WARNING
Do not adjust the driver's seat while driving.
Adjusting the seat while driving could cause
the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
Never travel in a
moving vehicle with the seat
backrest in an excessively reclined position as
this can be dangerous. You could slide under
the seat belt in a collision. If you slide under
it, the seat belt would apply force at the
abdomen or neck. This could cause serious or
fatal injuries. The seat backrest and seat belts
provide the best restraint when the wearer is
in a position that is as upright as possible and
seat belts are properly positioned on the
body. G
WARNING
Your seat belt must be adjusted so that you
can correctly fasten your seat belt.
Observe the following points:
R adjust the seat backrest

until your arms are
slightly angled when holding the steering
wheel.
R adjust the seat to a comfortable seating
position that still allows you to reach the
accelerator/brake pedal safely. The
position should be as far back as possible with the driver still able to operate the
controls properly.
R 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.
R never place hands under the seat or near
any moving parts while a seat is being
adjusted.
Failure to do so could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury. G
WARNING
According to accident statistics, children are
safer when properly restrained on the rear
seats than on the

front-passenger seat. Thus,
we strongly recommend that children be
placed in the rear seat whenever possible.
Regardless of seating position, children 12
years old and under must be seated and
properly secured in an appropriately sized
child restraint system or booster seat
recommended for the size and weight of the
child. For additional information, see the
"Children in the vehicle" section.
A child's risk of serious or fatal injuries is
significantly increased if the child restraints
are not properly secured in the vehicle and/
or the child is not properly secured in the child
restraint. 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.
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat head
restraints. Head restraints are intended to
help reduce injuries during an accident. Seats
85
Seats, steering wheel and mirrors Z

The system automatically switches down
from level 2to level1 after approximately
10 minutes.
The system automatically switches off
approximately 35 minutes after it is set to
level
1.
Problems with the seat heating If the on-board voltage is too low, the seat
heating is switched off automatically.
X
Switch off electrical consumers which you
do not need, such as the rear window
defroster or interior lighting.
If the on-board voltage is only interrupted
briefly, the seat heating
will switch back on
automatically. If the seat heating is not
switched on automatically:
X Switch the seat heating on manually
(Y page 89) Switching the seat ventilation on/off
Activating/deactivating Seat ventilation is only available for the front
seats.
The three blue
indicator

lamps in the buttons
indicate the ventilation level you have
selected.
X Make sure that the SmartKey is in
position 2 (Y page 139) in

the ignition lock.
X To switch on: press button 0043 repeatedly
until the desired ventilation level is set. i
If you open the side windows and the
sliding sunroof using the SmartKey
(Y page 78), the driver's seat ventilation
automatically switches
to the

highest level.
X To switch off: press button 0043 repeatedly
until all the indicator lamps go out.
i If the battery voltage is too low, the seat
ventilation may switch off.
Problems with the seat ventilation If one or all of the indicator lamps in the seat
ventilation button are flashing, the seat
ventilation has switched off automatically.
The vehicle's electrical system voltage is too
low because too many electrical consumers
are switched on.
X
Switch off electrical consumers that you do
not need, such as the rear window
defroster or interior lighting.
Once the
battery is

sufficiently charged, the
seat ventilation will switch back on
automatically. Steering wheel
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Do not adjust the steering wheel while driving.
Adjusting the steering wheel while driving
could cause the driver to lose control of the
vehicle.
The electrical steering wheel adjustment
feature can be operated at any time.
Therefore, do not leave children unattended
in the vehicle, 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. 90
Steering wheel
Seats, steering wheel and mirrors

If steering wheel heating indicator lamp
0087 is
flashing, the steering wheel heating has
switched off automatically. The vehicle's
electrical system voltage is too low because
too many electrical consumers are switched
on.
X Switch off electrical
consumers that you do
not need, such as the rear window
defroster or interior lighting.
Once the battery is

sufficiently charged, the
steering wheel heating will switch back on
automatically. Steering wheel EASY-ENTRY/EXIT
feature
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Make sure that nobody can become trapped
when you activate the EASY-ENTRY/EXIT
feature.
If there is a risk of someone becoming
trapped, stop the adjustment procedure. To
halt the procedure:
R press the steering column adjustment
button.
R press one of the memory function position
buttons.
The steering column stops moving
immediately.
Do not keep the memory function position
button pressed as this will start the memory
function and set the steering wheel and seat
in motion.
Do not leave children unattended in the
vehicle. They could open

the driver's door and
thereby unintentionally activate the EASY-
ENTRY/EXIT feature and become trapped. G
WARNING
Let the system complete the adjustment
procedure before setting the vehicle in
motion. All steering wheel adjustment must
be completed before setting the vehicle in motion. Driving off with the steering wheel
still adjusting could cause the driver to lose
control of the vehicle.
! Do not activate the EASY-ENTRY/EXIT
feature, if the seat

backrest is reclined too
far backwards. This can damage the front
or rear seats. You must first move the
backrest to a vertical position.
The EASY-ENTRY/EXIT feature makes getting
in and out of your vehicle easier.
You can activate and deactivate the EASY-
ENTRY/EXIT feature in the on-board
computer (Y page 221).
Position of the steering wheel when the
EASY-ENTRY/EXIT feature is active The steering wheel moves upwards and
towards the dashboard if:
R
you remove the SmartKey

from the ignition
lock or
R you open the driver's door with the
SmartKey in position 0 or 1 in the ignition
lock.
i The steering wheel only moves upwards
and towards the dashboard if it has not
already reached the upper end stop.
Position of the steering wheel for
driving The steering wheel is moved to the last
selected position when:
R
the driver's door is closed.
R you insert the SmartKey into the ignition
lock.
The last position of the steering wheel is
stored when you switch off the ignition or
when you store the setting with the memory
function ( Y page 95).92
Steering wheel
Seats, steering wheel and mirrors