MERCEDES-BENZ G500 2006 W463 Service Manual

40 Getting started
Adjusting
Steering wheelThe lever is located on the steering column
(lower left).
1Adjusting steering column, in or out
2Adjusting steering column, up or down
Switch on the ignition (page 35).
or
Open the driver’s door.Adjusting steering column in or out
Move lever forward or back in the di-
rection of arrow1 until a comfortable
steering wheel position is reached with
your arms slightly bent at the elbow.
Adjusting steering column up or down
Move lever up or down in the direction
of arrow2.
Make sure your legs can move freely
and that all the displays (incl. malfunc-
tion and indicator lamps) on the instru-
ment cluster are clearly visible.
For more information, see “Heated steer-
ing wheel” (
page 215).
Warning!G
Do not adjust the steering wheel while driv-
ing. Adjusting the steering wheel while driv-
ing could cause the driver to lose control of
the vehicle.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch, take it
with you, and lock the vehicle.
Even with the SmartKey removed from the
starter switch, the steering wheel adjust-
ment feature can be operated when the driv-
er’s door is open. Therefore, do not leave
children unattended in the vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle. Unsuper-
vised use of vehicle equipment may cause
an accident and/or serious personal injury.
i
The memory function (page 107) lets
you store the setting for the steering
wheel together with the setting for the
seat position and the exterior rear view
mirrors.

41 Getting started
Adjusting
Mirrors
Adjust the interior and exterior rear view
mirrors before driving so that you have a
good view of the road and traffic condi-
tions.
Interior rear view mirror
Adjust the interior rear view mirror
manually.Exterior rear view mirrors
Warning!G
In case of an accident, liquid electrolyte may
escape the mirror housing if the mirror glass
breaks.
Electrolyte has an irritating effect. Do not al-
low the liquid to come into contact with
eyes, skin, clothing, or the respiratory sys-
tem. In case it does, immediately flush af-
fected area with water, and seek medical
help if necessary.
!
Electrolyte drops coming into contact
with the vehicle paint finish can only be
completely removed while in their
liquid state and by applying plenty of
water.
Warning!G
Exercise care when using the passen-
ger-side exterior rear view mirror. The mirror
surface is convex (outwardly curved surface
for a wider field of view). Objects in mirror
are closer than they appear. Check your in-
terior rear view mirror or glance over your
shoulder before changing lanes.

42 Getting started
Adjusting
The buttons are located above the exterior
lamp switch.
1Adjustment button
2Driver’s side exterior rear view mirror
3Passenger-side exterior rear view
mirrorSwitch on the ignition (page 35).
Press switch2 or3 to select the
respective exterior rear view mirror.
Push adjustment button1 up, down,
left, or right according to the desired
setting.
For more information, see “Storing exterior
rear view mirror parking position”
(
page 109).
!
If an exterior rear view mirror housing
is forcibly pushed forward (hit from the
rear) or rearward (hit from the front),
reposition it by applying firm pressure
until it snaps into place. The exterior
rear view mirror housing is now proper-
ly positioned and you can adjust the
mirror normally.
i
At low ambient temperatures, the exte-
rior rear view mirrors will be heated au-
tomatically.
i
The memory function (page 107) lets
you store the setting for the exterior
rear view mirrors together with the set-
tings for the steering wheel and the
seat position.

43 Getting started
Driving
Driving
Fastening the seat belt
Warning!G
Do not lay any objects in the driver’s foot-
well. Be careful that floor mats or carpets in
the driver’s footwell have sufficient clear-
ance for the pedals.
During sudden driving or braking maneu-
vers, the objects could get caught between
the pedals. You could then no longer brake
or accelerate.Warning!G
Always fasten your seat belt before driving
off. Always make sure your passengers are
properly restrained, even those sitting in the
rear and pregnant women.
Failure to wear and properly fasten and po-
sition your seat belt greatly increases your
risk of injuries and their likely severity in an
accident. You and your passengers should
always wear seat belts.
If you are ever in an accident, your injuries
can be considerably more severe without
your seat belt properly buckled. Without
your seat belt buckled, you are much more
likely to hit the interior of the vehicle or be
ejected from it. You can be seriously injured
or killed.
In the same crash, the possibility of injury or
death is lessened if you are wearing your
seat belt. The airbags can only provide the
protection they were designed to afford if
the occupants are using their seat belts
(
page 62).

44 Getting started
Driving
Warning!G
Children 12 years old and under must never
ride in the front seat, except in a
Mercedes-Benz authorized BabySmart
TM1
compatible child seat, which operates with
the BabySmart
TM system installed in the ve-
hicle to deactivate the passenger front air-
bag when it is properly installed. Otherwise
they will be struck by the airbag when it in-
flates in a crash. If this happens, serious or
fatal injury will result.
According to accident statistics, children
are safer when properly restrained in the
rear seating positions than in the front seat-
ing positions. Infants and small children
must ride in back seats and be seated in an
appropriate infant or child restraint system,
which is properly secured with the vehicle’s
seat belt and top tether strap, or secured via
lower anchors and top tether strap, fully in
accordance with the child seat manufactur-
er’s instructions.
1BabySmartTM is a trademark of Siemens
Automotive Corp.
A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is
significantly increased if the child restraints
are not properly secured in the vehicle and
the child is not properly secured in the child
restraint.
Warning!G
Never ride 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 belt would apply force at the ab-
domen or neck. That could cause serious or
even fatal injuries. The seat backrest and
seat belt provide the best restraint when the
wearer is in a nearly upright position and the
belt is properly positioned on the body.
Warning!G
Never let more people ride in the vehicle
than there are seat belts available. Be sure
everyone riding in the vehicle is correctly re-
strained with a separate seat belt. Never use
a seat belt for more than one person at a
time.
Warning!G
Read and observe the additional warning no-
tices printed in the “Safety and Security”
section (
page 66) and (page 68).

45 Getting started
Driving
Front seat belts and rear outer seat
belts
1Latch plate
2Buckle
3Release buttonWith a smooth motion, pull the belt
from the belt outlet.
Place the shoulder portion of the belt
across the top of your shoulder and the
lap portion across your hips.
Push latch plate1 into buckle2 until
it clicks.
If necessary, tighten the lap portion to
a snug fit by pulling shoulder portion
up.Rear center seat belt
Overview
1Attachment for latch plates
2Buckle for fixed latch plate
3Release button for fixed latch plate
4Fixed latch plate
5Buckle for free-sliding latch plate
6Release button for free-sliding latch
plate
7Free-sliding latch plate

46 Getting started
Driving
Fastening the rear center seat belt
Pull both latch plates1 and2 out of
the attachment (
page 45).
The seat belt has two latch plates:
Plate1 is fixed at the end of the belt.
Latch plate2 is free-sliding across the
belt.
With a smooth motion, pull the belt
from the belt outlet.
Push fixed latch plate1 into
buckle3 until it clicks.Guide the seat belt at free-sliding latch
plate2 across your body.
Place the shoulder portion of the belt
across the top of your shoulder and the
lap portion across your hips.
Push free-sliding latch plate2 into
buckle4 until it clicks.
If necessary, tighten the lap portion to
a snug fit by pulling shoulder portion
up.

47 Getting started
Driving
Opening the rear center seat belt
Press release button6 on buckle5
for the free-sliding latch plate
(
page 45).
Press release button3 on buckle2
for the fixed latch plate (
page 45).
Storing the rear center seat belt
Allow rear center seat belt to retract to
its end stop.
Guide both latch plates4 and7
once after the other into
attachment1 (
page 45).Proper use of seat belts

Do not twist the belt when fastening.

Adjust seat belt so that the shoulder
portion is located as close as possible
to the middle of the shoulder (it should
not touch the neck). Never pass the
shoulder portion of the belt under your
arm.

Position the lap belt as low as possible
on your hips (over hip joint) and not
across the abdomen.

Place the seat backrest on adjustable
seat backrests in a nearly upright
position.

Never use a seat belt for more than one
person at a time.

Do not fasten a seat belt around a
person and another object at the same
time.

When using a seat belt to secure infant
or toddler restraints or children in
booster seats, always follow the child
seat manufacturer’s instructions.

Check your seat belt during travel to
make sure it is properly positioned.

Make sure the seat belt is always fitted
snugly. Take special care of this when
wearing loose clothing.
Warning!G
To help prevent the possibility of injury,
always store the rear center seat belt latch
plates in the attachment when the rear
center seat belt is not in use.
Warning!G
Do not pass belts over sharp edges. They
could tear.
Do not allow the belt to get caught in the
door or in the seat adjustment mechanism.
This could damage the belt.
Never attempt to make modifications to
seat belts. This could impair the effective-
ness of the belts.
Do not bleach or dye seat belts as this may
severely weaken them. In a crash, they may
not be able to provide adequate protection.
Damaged seat belts or belts that were highly
stressed in an accident must be replaced.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.

48 Getting started
Driving
Seat belt height adjustment
Adjust the height so that the upper part of
the belt runs over the middle of the shoul-
der.
1Button for belt outlet height
adjustmentAdjusting belt outlet higher
Slide belt outlet upward.
The belt outlet engages in five various
positions.
Adjusting belt outlet lower
Pull and hold release button1.
Slide belt outlet in desired position.
Let go of release button1.
Please comply with the instructions for
“Proper use of seat belts” (
page 47).
Starting the engine
Warning!G
Inhalation of exhaust gas is hazardous to
your health. All exhaust gas contains carbon
monoxide, and inhaling it can cause uncon-
sciousness and lead to death.
Do not run the engine in confined areas
(such as garage) which are not properly ven-
tilated. If you think that exhaust gas fumes
are entering the vehicle while driving, have
the cause determined and corrected imme-
diately. If you must drive under these condi-
tions, drive only with at least one window
fully open.

49 Getting started
Driving
Automatic transmission
Gearshift pattern for automatic
transmission
PPark position with gear selector lever
lock
RReverse gear
NNeutral
DDrive position
For more information, see “Automatic
transmission” (
page 149).Starting
Place the gear selector lever in
positionP.
Do not depress the accelerator.
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position3 and hold until the engine
starts (
page 35).
Depress the brake pedal.
The gear selector lever lock is released.
For information on turning off the engine,
see “Turning off engine” (
page 58).Starting difficulties
If the engine does not start as described,
carry out the following steps:
Turn SmartKey in starter switch to
position0 and repeat starting proce-
dure.
Remember that extended starting at-
tempts can drain the battery.
Get a jump start (page 356).
If the engine does not start after several
starting attempts, there could be a mal-
function in the engine electronics or in the
fuel supply system.
Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center.
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You can also use the “touch-start”
function. Turn the SmartKey to
position3 and release it again immedi-
ately. The engine then starts automati-
cally.