Engine MERCEDES-BENZ G500 2008 W463 User Guide

54 Getting started
Driving
Starting the engineAutomatic transmission
Gearshift pattern for automatic
transmission
PPark position with gear selector lever
lock
R Reverse gear
N Neutral position
D Drive position
For more information, see “Automatic
transmission” (
page 162). Starting
Make sure the gear selector lever is set
to park position
P.
Do not depress the accelerator.
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position 3 (
page 39) and release it
again immediately. The engine starts
automatically.
For information on turning off the engine,
see “Turning off engine” (
page 64).
Starting difficulties
If the SmartKey is left in starter switch
position 0 for an extended period of time,
it can no longer be turn ed in the switch. In
this case, the steering is locked.
To unlock, remove the SmartKey from
the starter switch and reinsert.
If the engine does not start as described,
carry out the following steps:
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position 0 and repeat the starting
procedure.
Warning!G
Inhalation of exhaust gas is hazardous to
your health. All exhaust gas contains carbon
monoxide (CO), and inha ling it can cause
unconsciousness and possible death.
Do not run the engine in confined areas
(such as garage) whic h 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.
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55
Getting started
Driving
Remember that extended starting
attempts can drain the battery.
Get a jump start (page 397).
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.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center or call Roadside
Assistance.
Parking brake 1
Parking brake lever
2 Release buttonPull up slightly on parking brake
lever 1 and press release button 2.
Push parking brake lever 1 down to
its original position.
The brake warning lamp ;
(USA only) or 3 (Canada only) in
the instrument cluster goes out.
Driving off
Depress the brake pedal.
The gear selector lever lock is released.
Move the gear selector lever to drive
position D or reverse gear R.
Release the brake pedal.
Carefully depress the accelerator.
Warning!G
When leaving the vehicl e, 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. Children
could release the parking brake, which
could result in an accident and/or serious
personal injury.
!In order to avoid damage to the transmis-
sion:

Wait for the gear selection process to com-
plete before setting the vehicle in motion.

Place the gear selector lever in park
position P or reverse gear R only when the
vehicle is stopped.
!If you hear a warning signal and the
message
Release parking brake appears in
the multifunction display when driving off, you
have forgotten to release the parking brake.
Release the parking brake (
page 55).
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56 Getting started
Driving
After a cold start, the transmission shifts at
a higher engine revolution. This allows the
catalytic converter to reach its operating
temperature earlier.
For more information, see “Driving instruc-
tions” (
page 245).
For information on off-road driving, see
“Off-road driving” (
page 253).
Switching on headlamps
Low beam headlamps
The exterior lamp switch is located on the
dashboard to the left of the steering wheel.
Exterior lamp switch
1 Off
2 Low beam headlamps on
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
position B.
The low beam headlamp indicator
lamp B in the instrument cluster
comes on (
page 26).
iOnce the vehicle is in motion, the automatic
central locking system engages and the locking
knobs drop down.
The automatic door lock feature can be deacti-
vated (
page 155).
You can open a locked door from the inside.
Open door only when conditions are safe to do
so.
Warning!G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced vehi-
cle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not pre-
vent this type of loss of control.
Warning!G
It is dangerous to shift the gear selector
lever out of P or N if the engine speed is
higher than idle speed. If your foot is not
firmly on the brake pedal, the vehicle could
accelerate quickl y forward or in reverse. You
could lose control of the vehicle and hit
someone or something. Only shift into gear
when the engine is idling normally and when
your right foot is firmly on the brake pedal.
!Do not run cold engine at high engine speed.
Running a cold engine at high engine speed may
shorten the service life of the engine.
!Simultaneously depressing the accelerator
pedal and applying the brakes reduces engine
performance and causes premature brake and
drivetrain wear.
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58 Getting started
Driving
Windshield wipers
The combination switch is located on the
left of the steering column.
Combination switch
1Single wipe
Wiping with windshield washer fluid
2 Switching on windshield wipers
Switch on the ignition (page 39). Switching on windshield wipers
Turn the combination switch to the
desired position depending on the
intensity of the rain.
0
Windshield wipers off
I Intermittent wiping
II Normal wiper speed
III Fast wiper speed
!Do not operate the windshield wipers when
the windshield is dry. Dust that accumulates on
a windshield might scratch the glass and/or
damage the wiper blades when wiping occurs on
a dry windshield. If it is necessary to operate the
windshield wipers in dry weather conditions,
always operate the windshield wipers with
windshield washer fluid (
page 59).
!If anything blocks the windshield wipers
(leaves, snow, etc.), switch them off
immediately.

For safety reasons, stop the vehicle in a safe
location, turn off the engine and remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch before
attempting to remove any blockage.

Remove blockage.

Turn the windshield wipers on again.
If the windshield wipers fail to function at all with
the combination switch in position I,

set the combination switch to the next
higher wiper speed

have the windshield wipers checked at the
nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.
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61
Getting started
Driving
Problems while driving
The engine runs erratically and misfires

An ignition cable may be damaged.

The engine electronics may not be
operating properly.

Unburned gasoline may have entered
the catalytic converter and damaged it.
Give very little gas.
Have the problem repaired at an
authorized Mercedes
-Benz Light Truck
Center as soon as possible. The coolant temperature is above
248°F (120°C)
The coolant is too hot and is no longer
cooling the engine.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location as
soon as possible and turn off the
engine. Allow engine and coolant to
cool off.
Check the coolant level and add
coolant if necessary (
page 274).
In case of accident
If the vehicle is leaking fuel:
Do not start the engine under any
circumstances.
Notify local fire and/or police
authorities.
If the extent of the damage cannot be
determined:
Contact an authoriz ed Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center or call Roadside
Assistance.
If no damage can be determined on the

major assemblies

fuel system

engine mount:
Start the engine in the usual manner.
iExcessive coolant temperatures trigger a
warning message in the multifunction display
(
page 346).
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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 thes e 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
position P.

Slowly release brake pedal.

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

Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
position 0 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.
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63
Getting started
Parking and locking
1
Parking brake lever
Pull parking brake lever 1 up as many
notches as possible.
When the ignition is switched on or the
engine is running, the brake warning
lamp ; (USA only) or 3 (Canada
only) in the instrument cluster comes
on.
Warning!G
Getting out of your vehicle with the gear
selector lever not fully engaged in park
position P is dangerous. Also, when parked
on an incline, park position P alone may not
prevent your vehicle from moving, possibly
hitting people or objects.
Always set the parking brake in addition to
shifting to park position P (
page 164).
W h e n p a r k e d o n a n i n c l ine, turn front wheels
towards the road curb.
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. Children
could release the parking brake and/or
move the gear selector lever from park
position P, either of which could result in an
accident and/or seri ous personal injury.
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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
position P. Apply the parking brake (
page 62).
Turn SmartKey in the starter switch to
position
0.
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 position P (
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
position P and the SmartKey in starter switch
position 0.
!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.
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68 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
In this section you will learn the most
important facts about the restraint
systems of the vehicle.

Seat belts (page 74)

Child restraints (page 83)

Lower Anchors and Tethers for
CH
ildren (LATCH) (page 82)
Additional protection potential provide

Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)
with

Air bags (page 70)

Air bag control unit (with crash
sensors)

Emergency Tensioning Device
(ETD) for seat belts (
page 77)
Air bag system components with

Front passenger front air bag off
indicator lamp (
page 80)

BabySmartTM air bag deactivation
system (
page 80) Although independent systems, their
protective functions work in conjunction
with each other.
The
1 indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster (
page 27) comes on:

for about 4 seconds when you turn the
SmartKey in the starter switch to
position 1.

for about 4 seconds when you start the
engine by turning the SmartKey. The SRS components are in operational
readiness if the
1indicator lamp is not
lit when the engine is running.
A malfunction in the system has been
detected if the 1 indicator lamp:

fails to go out after approximately
4 seconds.

does not come on at all.

comes on after the engine was started
or while driving.
For more information, see “Practical hints”
(
page 332).
iFor information on infants and children
traveling with you in the vehicle and restraint
systems for infants and children, see “Children
in the vehicle” (
page 77).
iThe 1 indicator lamp remains lit if the
SmartKey is turned to position 2 and left there.
The indicator lamp will go out when you start the
engine.
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74 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Window curtain air bags1 Window curtain air bag
The window curtain air bags are deployed:

on the impacted side of the vehicle

in impacts exceeding a preset deploy-
ment threshold

independently of the front air bags
The window curtain air bags are not
deployed in impacts which do not exceed
the system’s deployment threshold.
Seat belts
The use of seat belts and infant and child
restraint systems is required by law in all
50 states, the District of Columbia, the
U.S. territories and all Canadian provinces.
Even where this is not the case, all vehicle
occupants should have their seat belts fas-
tened whenever the vehicle is in motion.
When the engine is started, the seat belt
telltale < illuminates to remind you and
your passengers to fasten your seat belts.
If the driver’s seat belt is not fastened be-
fore the engine is started, the seat belt tell-
tale < illuminates and a warning chime
sounds for approximately 6 seconds when
the engine is started.
Always wear your seat belt. All vehicle oc-
cupants always need to have their seat
belts fastened and wear them properly. For more information, see “Fastening the
seat belts” (
page 48).
iFor information on infants and children
traveling with you in the vehicle and restraint
systems for infants and children, see “Children
in the vehicle” (
page 77).
Warning!G
Always fasten your seat belt before driving
off. Always make sure your passengers are
properly restrained, even those sitting in the
rear.
Failure to wear and properly fasten and
position 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.
In the same crash, the po ssibility of injury or
death is lessened if you are properly wearing
your seat belt. Air bags can only protect as
they are designed if the occupants are prop-
erly wearing their seat belts.
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