power steering MERCEDES-BENZ G500 2007 W463 Owner's Manual

Contents
Settings menu .............................. 146
Trip computer menu..................... 157
TEL menu ..................................... 159
Automatic transmission ..................... 162
Gear selector lever ....................... 162
Shifting procedure ....................... 163
Gear selector lever positions ....... 164
Driving tips ................................... 166
Gear ranges ................................. 167
One-touch gearshifting................. 168
Emergency operation
(Limp-Home Mode) ...................... 169
Transfer case ..................................... 170
Transfer case position .................. 170
Switching transfer case................ 170
Differential locks ............................... 173
A few words about differentials
and differential locks.................... 174
Switching differential locks on
and off.......................................... 175
Good visibility .................................... 177
Headlamp cleaning system .......... 177
Rear view mirrors ......................... 177
Sun visors .................................... 179
Windshield defroster .................... 180
Rear window defroster ................. 181Climate control ................................... 182
Deactivating the climate control
system .......................................... 185
Operating the climate control
system in automatic mode............ 185
Setting the temperature................ 185
Adjusting air distribution............... 186
Adjusting air volume ..................... 186
Front defroster.............................. 187
Air recirculation mode .................. 188
Air conditioning............................. 189
Residual heat and ventilation ........ 190
Rear passenger compartment
adjustable air vents....................... 191
Power windows .................................. 192
Opening and closing ..................... 192
Summer opening feature .............. 193
Convenience closing feature......... 194
Power tilt/sliding sunroof................... 195
Opening and closing ..................... 195
Driving systems .................................. 197
Cruise control ............................... 197
Rear Parking Assist ....................... 200
Rear view camera ......................... 203Loading .............................................. 206
Roof rack ...................................... 206
Expanding cargo compartment ..... 206
Split rear seat bench .................... 206
Loading instructions ..................... 208
Cargo tie-down rings..................... 209
Partition net* (MB Accessory) ...... 210
Cargo compartment cover blind ... 214
Useful features ................................... 215
Storage compartments ................. 215
Ashtrays........................................ 220
Cigarette lighter ............................ 222
Electrical outlet............................. 223
Floormats ..................................... 224
Heated steering wheel .................. 225
Telephone* ................................... 226
Tele Aid ......................................... 229
Garage door opener ...................... 236

39 Getting started
Unlocking
Press unlock button Πon the
SmartKey.

All turn signal lamps flash once.

The locking knobs in the doors
move up.

The anti-theft alarm system is
disarmed.

The locator lighting comes on if the
feature is enabled in the control
system (
page 152).
Enter the vehicle and insert the
SmartKey in the starter switch.
For more information, see “Locking and
unlocking” (
page 100).
Starter switch positions
SmartKey
Starter switch
0For removing SmartKey
The steering is locked when the
SmartKey is removed from the starter
switch.
1Power supply for some electrical
consumers, such as seat adjustment
2Ignition (power supply for all electrical
consumers) and driving position
All lamps (except high beam headlamp
indicator lamp and turn signal indicator
lamps unless activated) in the instru-
ment cluster come on. If a lamp in the
instrument cluster fails to come on
when the ignition is switched on, have
it checked and replaced if necessary. If
a lamp in the instrument cluster
remains on after starting the engine or
comes on while driving, refer to “Lamps
in instrument cluster” (
page 324).
3Starting position
Warning!G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch, take it
with you, and lock the vehicle. 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.

41 Getting started
Adjusting
Adjusting
Seats
Warning!G
All seat, head restraint, steering wheel, and
rear view mirror adjustments, as well as fas-
tening of seat belts, must be done before
the vehicle is put into motion.
Warning!G
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 ride in a moving vehicle with the seat
back 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. That could cause
serious or fatal injuries.
The seat backrest and seat belts provide the
best restraint when the wearer is in a nearly
upright position and seat belts are properly
positioned on the body. Your seat must be
adjusted so that you can correctly fasten
your seat belt (
page 48).
Observe the following points:

Adjust the backrest until your arms are
slightly angled when holding the
steering wheel.

Adjust the seat to a comfortable seating
position that still allows you to reach the
accelerator/brake pedal safely. The po-
sition should be as far back as possible
with the driver still able to operate the
controls properly.

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.

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.
Warning!G
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 power seats can be
operated when the respective door is open.
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.

62 Getting started
Parking and locking
You have now completed your first drive.
You have properly stopped and parked
your vehicle. End your drive as follows.Parking brake
Warning!G
With the engine not running, there is no
power assistance for the brake and the
steering system. In this case, it is important
to keep in mind that a considerably higher
degree of effort is necessary to brake and
steer the vehicle.
Warning!G
Do not park this vehicle in areas where
combustible materials such as grass, hay or
leaves can come into contact with the hot
exhaust system, as these materials could be
ignited and cause a vehicle fire.
To reduce the risk of personal injury or
damage to the vehicle drivetrain as a result
of vehicle movement, before turning off the
engine and leaving the vehicle always:

Keep right foot on brake pedal.

Pull the parking brake lever up as many
notches as possible.

Move the gear selector lever to park
positionP.

Slowly release brake pedal.

When parked on an incline, turn front
wheels towards the road curb.

Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
position0 and remove.

Take the SmartKey with you and lock
vehicle when leaving.
Warning!G
Engaging the parking brake while the vehicle
is in motion can cause the rear wheels to
lock up. You could lose control of the vehicle
and cause an accident. In addition, the
vehicle’s brake lights do not light up when
the parking brake is engaged.

64 Getting started
Parking and locking
Switching off headlamps
Turn the exterior lamp switch toM
(
page 56).
For more information, see “Lighting”
(
page 117).
Turning off engine
Move the gear selector lever to park
positionP.Apply the parking brake (
page 62).
Turn SmartKey in the starter switch to
position0.
Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
The immobilizer is activated.
Releasing seat belts
Press seat belt release button
(
page 50).
Allow the retractor to completely
rewind the seat belt by guiding latch
plate.
Warning!G
Do not turn off the engine before the vehicle
has come to a complete stop. With the
engine not running, there is no power assis-
tance for the brake and steering systems. In
this case, it is important to keep in mind that
a considerably higher degree of effort is
necessary to brake and steer the vehicle.
iAlways set the parking brake in addition to
shifting to park positionP (
page 164).
On slopes, turn the front wheels towards the
road curb.
iThe SmartKey can only be removed from the
starter switch with the gear selector lever in park
positionP and the SmartKey in starter switch
position0.
!M a k e s u r e t h e s e a t b e l t r e t r a c t s f u l l y s o t h a t
the seat belt and/or latch plate cannot get
caught or pinched in the door or in the seat
mechanism. This can damage the seat belt and
impair the effectiveness of the seat belt, and/or
cause damage to the door and/or door trim
panel. Such damage is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Damaged seat belts must be replaced. Contact
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.

89 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
Continuous steady brake pedal pressure
yields the advantages provided by the ABS,
namely braking power and the ability to
steer the vehicle.
On slippery road surfaces, the ABS will
respond even to light brake pressure. The
pulsating brake pedal can be an indication
of hazardous road conditions and func-
tions as a reminder to take extra care while
driving.
The -indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster (
page 26) comes on when you
turn the SmartKey to position2. It goes
out when the engine is running.Braking
At the instant one of the wheels is about to
lock up, a slight pulsation can be felt in the
brake pedal, indicating that the ABS is in
the regulating mode.
Keep firm and steady pressure on the
brake pedal while experiencing the
pulsation.Emergency brake maneuver
Keep continuous full pressure on the
brake pedal.
Warning!G
When the ABS is malfunctioning, the BAS,
the EBB, the ESP®, and the 4-ETS are also
switched off. The basic driving and braking
functions are still available.
When the ABS is malfunctioning, the wheels
may lock during hard braking, reducing
steering capability and extending the brak-
ing distance.

115 Controls in detail
Memory function
The memory button and memory position
button are located on each front door.
1Memory button
1, 2, 3Memory position button
Switch on the ignition (page 39).
or
Open the respective door.
Storing positions into memory
Adjust the seats (page 42).
On the driver’s side, additionally adjust
the steering wheel (
page 44) and
exterior rear view mirrors (
page 46)
to the desired positions.
Press memory button1.
Release memory button1 and press
memory position button1, 2, or3 with-
in 3 seconds.
All settings are stored to the selected
position.
Recalling positions from memory
Press and hold memory position
button1, 2, or3 until the seat, steering
wheel and exterior rear view mirrors
have fully moved to the stored posi-
tions.
!Do not operate the power seats using
memory button1 if the seat backrest is in an
excessively reclined position. Doing so could
cause damage to front or rear seats.
Move seat backrest to an upright position first.
iReleasing the memory position button stops
movement to the stored positions immediately.

173 Controls in detail
Differential locks
Differential locks
For more information on off-road driving,
see “Off-road driving” (
page 253).
Differential locks improve the vehicle’s
tractive power off-road. Switch on
differential locks:

for off-road driving

to turn the ABS off during off-road
driving

for driving through water

when driving on deep snow and icy or
fouled surfaces
!Do not engage the front axle differential
lock when driving around tight corners. This
restricts steering ability.
!When driving off-road, apply only moderate
pressure to the accelerator pedal if the differen-
tial locks are switched on.
When running on a (single-axle) dynamometer –
no matter how briefly – you must:

raise the non-driven axle
or

disconnect its drive shaft
and

engage the transfer differential lock
Otherwise the transfer case can be damaged,
which is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
Warning!G
Never drive on pavement with differential
locks engaged.
Steering control will be strongly affected
with the differential locks activated.
The ABS, BAS, and ESP
® are switched off
automatically when the transfer case
differential lock is activated.

174 Controls in detail
Differential locks
A few words about differentials and
differential locks
When a vehicle negotiates a turn, wheels
on the outside of the curve must travel
farther and rotate faster than the inside
wheels. The differential, the operation of a
set of gears that allows the powered
wheels in a vehicle to turn at different
speeds, makes this essential function
possible.
The drawback is that the differential also
sends most of the engine’s power to the
wheel with the least load or strain on it. For
example, if one of a vehicle’s powered
wheels sits on a patch of snow and spins
because there is no traction, all of the
engine’s power will go to that wheel
because the power will take the path of
least resistance. Meanwhile, the opposite
wheel, sitting on dry pavement where it
could get enough grip to start the vehicle
moving, sits idle because it receives no
power.The Electronic Traction System (4-ETS)
addresses this problem and provides for
good control and steering ability by auto-
matically slowing the slipping wheel and
thus increasing the power to the other
non-slipping drive wheels to get the vehicle
moving. The ESP
® and 4-ETS in this vehicle
feature such intelligent limited-slip
differential technology, ideally suited for
on-road and light off-road driving. Transfer
case position LOW (
page 170) also
enhances off-road driving capabilities
(
page 253).
More extreme off-road conditions may call
for another solution, engaging a differen-
tial lock or preventing the differential from
operating altogether. As part of its stan-
dard equipment, this vehicle comes with
three differential locks: front, transfer case
(center) and rear. Each can be engaged
simply by pushing dashboard-mounted
switches in sequential order (center, rear,
front) (
page 175). When the transfer
case (center) differential is locked, half of
the engine’s power is automatically
distributed to the front wheels and half to the rear wheels. When the rear differential
is locked, power going to the rear wheels is
equally distributed, so that both rear
wheels turn at the same speed and torque.
When the front differential is locked, all
four wheels now turn with equal power and
torque. Please be aware that engaging the
differential locks will significantly reduce
the steering ability of the vehicle.
For your safety and the safety of others
and to prevent damage to the vehicle, the
differential locks must not be engaged
when driving on paved roads. It is
important to understand that during
on-road/paved driving, differentials are
absolutely necessary for providing the
essential control and steering ability of the
vehicle. The differential locks, therefore,
must not be engaged when driving on
paved roads and should only be used to
the extent necessary to negotiate off-road
conditions which cannot be handled by the
systems (automatic 4-ETS, the ESP®,
manual switch position “LOW” of transfer
case) this vehicle comes equipped with.

225 Controls in detail
Useful features
Heated steering wheel
The steering wheel heating warms up the
leather area of the steering wheel.
The stalk is located on the lower left-hand
side of the steering wheel.
1Switching on
2Switching off
3Indicator lampSwitching on
Switch on the ignition (page 39).
Turn switch at the tip of stalk in
direction of arrow1.
The steering wheel is heated.
Indicator lamp3 comes on.Switching off
Turn switch at the tip of stalk in
direction of arrow2.
The heated steering wheel is switched
off.
Indicator lamp3 goes out.
For information on adjusting the steering
wheel, see “Steering wheel” (
page 44).
iThe steering wheel heating is temporarily
suspended while the indicator lamp3 remains
on when

the temperature of the vehicle interior is
above 86°F (30°C)

the temperature of the steering wheel is
above 95°F (35°C)
When these conditions do not apply anymore,
steering wheel heating continues.
iIndicator lamp3 flashes or goes out

in case of power surge or undervoltage

in case of a steering wheel heating
malfunction
iThe steering wheel heating switches off
automatically when you remove the SmartKey
from the starter switch.