flat tire MERCEDES-BENZ G500 2008 W463 Owner's Manual

Contents
Operation......................................... 243
The first 1 000 miles (1 500 km) ......... 244
Driving instructions ............................ 245 Drive sensibly – save fuel ............. 245
Drinking and driving ..................... 245
Pedals .......................................... 245
Power assistance ......................... 246
Brakes .......................................... 246
Driving off..................................... 247
Parking ......................................... 248
Tires ............................................. 248
Hydroplaning ................................ 249
Tire traction .................................. 249
Tire speed rating .......................... 250
Winter driving instructions ........... 251
Standing water ............................. 252
Passenger compartment .............. 252
Off-road driving ............................ 253
Driving abroad .............................. 261
Control and operation of radio
transmitters.................................. 261
Catalytic converter ....................... 262
Emission control........................... 263
Coolant temperature .................... 263 At the gas station .............................. 264
Refueling ...................................... 264
Check regularly and before a
long trip........................................ 265
Engine compartment ......................... 267 Hood ............................................ 267
Engine oil ..................................... 269
Transmission fluid level ................ 273
Coolant level ................................ 274
Windshield/rear window washer
system and headlamp
cleaning system ........................... 275
Tires and wheels ................................ 277 Important guidelines .................... 277
Tire care and maintenance ........... 278
Direction of rotation ..................... 280
Loading the vehicle ...................... 280
Recommended tire inflation
pressure ....................................... 286
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 288
Tire labeling.................................. 294
Load identification ....................... 298
DOT, Tire Identification Number
(TIN) ............................................. 299
Maximum tire load ....................... 300
Maximum tire inflation pressure .. 301 Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (U.S. vehicles) ............. 302
Tire ply material ........................... 304
Tire and loading terminology........ 304
Rotating tires ............................... 307
Winter driving .................................... 309 Winter tires .................................. 309
Block heater (Canada only) .......... 310
Snow chains................................. 310
Maintenance...................................... 311 Maintenance service indicator
message ...................................... 311
Calling up the maintenance
service indicator display .............. 313
Resetting the maintenance
service indicator .......................... 313
Vehicle care....................................... 314 Cleaning and care of the vehicle .. 314
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Contents
Practical hints................................. 323
What to do if … .................................. 324 Lamps in instrument cluster ........ 324
Lamp in center console ................ 335
Vehicle status messages in the
multifunction display .................... 336
Where will I find...? ............................ 364
First aid kit ................................... 364
Vehicle tool kit ............................. 364
Vehicle jack.................................. 365
CD changer .................................. 366
Spare wheel ................................. 366
Unlocking/locking in an emergency .. 368 Unlocking the vehicle ................... 368
Locking the vehicle ...................... 369
Fuel filler flap ............................... 370
Manually unlocking the gear
selector lever ............................... 371
Opening/closing in an emergency..... 372 Tilt/sliding sunroof ...................... 372
Brush guard ....................................... 373 Lowering and raising brush guard 373
Replacing SmartKey batteries ........... 374 Replacing bulbs .................................. 375
Bulbs ............................................. 375
Replacing bulbs for front lamps .... 378
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps ..... 383
Replacing wiper blades....................... 386 Wiper blades ................................. 386
Flat tire ............................................... 388 Preparing the vehicle .................... 388
Mounting the spare wheel ............ 389
Battery................................................ 394 Disconnecting, removing,
reinstalling and reconnecting the
battery .......................................... 396
Charging the battery ..................... 396
Jump starting ...................................... 397
Towing the vehicle .............................. 399 Transporting the vehicle ............... 401
Towing the vehicle -
various problem scenarios ............ 401
Front towing eye ........................... 402
Rear towing eye ............................ 402
Stranded vehicle ........................... 402 Fuses.................................................. 403
Main fuse box in passenger
compartment ................................ 404
Fuse box in front passenger
footwell ......................................... 404
Fuse box in middle tunnel ............. 405
Fuse box in battery box ................ 406
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23
At a glance
Exterior view
ItemPage
1Tailgate105
Cargo compartment

Loading instructions208

Expanding206

Cargo tie-down rings209

Partition net*210

Cover blind214
2Rear view camera203
3Rear window defroster181
4Rear lamps376
5Fuel filler flap264
Refueling264
Fuel265,
424
ItemPage
6Exterior rear view mirrors
Adjusting46
Auto-dimming rear view
mirrors177
7Hood267
Engine oil269
Coolant274
8Windshield wipers58
Wiper blades, replacing386
Wiper blades, cleaning319
9Windshield
Cleaning with windshield
washer fluid59
Cleaning319
Windshield defroster180
aPower tilt/sliding sunroof195
ItemPage
bDoors
Locking and unlocking100
Opening and closing104
Locking/unlocking in an
emergency368
cHeadlamp cleaning system177
dFront lamps376
eTires and wheels277,414
Checking tire inflation
pressure288
General information277
Flat tire388
Spare wheel366
fFront towing eye402
Rear towing eye402
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137
Controls in detail
Control system
Menus, submenus and functions
Menu
1Menu2Menu3Menu 4
Standard displayAudioNAVVehicle status message
memory1
1The vehicle status message memory menu is only displayed if there is a message stored.
(page 140)(page 141)(page 144)(page 144)
Commands/submenu
Trip- and main odometerSelecting radio stationRoute guidance instructions,
current direction traveledCalling up malfunction
messages, warning messages,
and system status messages
stored in memory
Checking tire inflation
pressureSelecting satellite radio
station* (USA only)
Calling up digital speedometer
or outside temperatureOperating CD player
Calling up maintenance
service indicator
Checking engine oil level
iThe headings used in the menus table are
designed to facilitate navigation within the
system and are not necessarily identical to those
shown in the control system displays. The first function displayed in each menu will
automatically show you which part of the system
you are in.
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. November 2007 8:41 08

140 Controls in detail
Control system
Standard display menu
In the standard display, the main odometer
and the trip odometer appear in the multi-
function display.
Standard display
1 Trip odometer
2 Main odometer If you see another display instead of the
standard display:
Press button
è orÿ repeatedly
until the standard display appears in
the multifunction display.
Press button k orj to select
the functions in the standard display
menu.
The following functions are available: Calling up digital speedometer or
outside temperature
Press button
k orj repeatedly
until the digital speedometer or the
outside temperature appears in the
multifunction display.
Digital speedometer
FunctionPage
Checking tire inflation pressure288
Calling up digita l speedometer or
outside temperature140
Calling up maintenance service
indicator313
Checking engine oil level270
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233
Controls in detail
Useful features
A voice connection between the Roadside
Assistance dispatcher and the occupants
of the vehicle will be established.
Describe the nature of the need for
assistance.
The Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance
dispatcher will either dispatch a qualified
Mercedes-Benz technician or arrange to
tow your vehicle to the nearest
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center. For
services such as labor and/or towing,
charges may apply. Refer to the Roadside
Assistance Manual for more information.
The following is only available in the USA:

Sign and Drive services: Services such
as jump start, a few gallons of fuel or
the replacement of a flat tire with the
vehicle spare tire are obtainable. Information button
¡
The Information button ¡ is located
below the center armrest cover.
1 Button to open telephone tray
2 Armrest cover
3 Information button ¡
Press button1 and lift up armrest
cover 2.
iThe indicator lamp on the Roadside
Assistance button • remains illuminated in
red for approximately 10 seconds during the
system self-check after switching on the ignition
(together with the SOS button and the
Information button ¡).
See system self-check (
page 230) if the
indicator lamp does not come on in red or stays
on longer than approximately 10 seconds.
If the indicator lamp on the Roadside Assistance
button • is flashing continuously and there
was no voice connection to the Response Center
established, then the Tele Aid system could not
initiate a Roadside Assistance call (e.g. the rele-
vant cellular phone network was not available).
The message
Call failed appears in the
multifunction display.
Roadside Assistance calls can be terminated
using the t button on the multifunction
steering wheel or the END button on the
COMAND system headunit.

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249
Operation
Driving instructions
Treadwear indicators (TWI) are required by
law. These indicators are located in six
places on the tread circumference and
become visible at a tread depth of
approximately
1/16in (1.6 mm), at which
point the tire is considered worn and
should be replaced.
The treadwear indicator appears as a solid
band across the tread. Specified tire inflation pressures must be
maintained. This applies particularly if the
tires are subjected to high loads (e.g. high
speeds, heavy loads, high ambient temper-
atures).
For more information, see “Tires and
wheels” (
page 277).
Hydroplaning
Depending on the depth of the water layer
on the road, hydroplaning may occur, even
at low speeds and with new tires. Reduce
vehicle speed, avoid track grooves in the
road and apply brakes cautiously in the
rain.
Tire traction
The safe speed on a wet, snow covered or
icy road is always lower than on a dry road.
You should pay particular attention to the
condition of the road whenever the outside
temperatures are close to the freezing
point.
Warning!G
Although the applicable federal motor
vehicle safety laws consider a tire to be
worn when the treadw
ear indicators (TWI)
become visible at approximately
1/16in
(1.6 mm), we recommend that you do not
allow your tires to wear down to that level.
As tread depth approaches
1/8in (3.0 mm),
the adhesion properties on a wet road are
sharply reduced.
Depending upon the weather and/or road
surface (conditions), the tire traction varies
widely.
Warning!G
Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire affects
the ability to steer or brake the vehicle. You
may lose control of the vehicle. Continued
driving with a flat tire or driving at high
speed with a flat tire will cause excessive
heat build-up and possibly a fire.
Warning!G
If ice has formed on th e road, tire traction
will be substantially reduced. Under such
weather conditions, drive, steer and brake
with extreme caution.
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254 Operation
Driving instructions
Checklist before off-road driving
Engine oil level

Check the engine oil level with the
control system (
page 270). The
message
Engine oil level OK must
appear in the multifunction display.
Only then can the vehicle obtain a
trouble-free oil supply, even on steep
gradients.
!Observe the following during off-road
driving:

Keep doors, tailgate, windows, and
tilt/sliding sunroof closed.

Switch cruise control off.

Adjust vehicle speed to condition of terrain.
The more uneven, rutty, and steeper the
terrain, the lower the speed should be. Drive
through water slowly at an even speed,
avoiding a bow wave.

Be especially careful when driving in
unknown territory. It may be necessary to
get out of the vehicle and scout the path you
intend to take.

Watch out for obstacles, such as rocks,
holes, tree stumps, and ruts.

Avoid excessive engine speeds – drive at
moderate engine speeds (max. 3 000 rpm).

Before driving through water, determine its
depth.

Do not stop vehicle while immersed in water,
and do not shut off the engine.

In sandy soil, drive at a steady speed as
allowed by conditions. This helps overcome
the vehicle rolling resistance and reduces
the likelihood of the vehicle sinking into the
ground.

Do not initiate jumps with the vehicle. It
interrupts the forward momentum of the
vehicle.

Always drive on slopes with the engine
running and the vehicle in gear.

Inspect the vehicle for possible damage after
each off-road trip.
Warning!G
Do not reduce the tire inflation pressure
before driving through sand. However, if you
do so, remember to correct the tire inflation
pressure (
page 288) before continuing
your trip. Driving with reduced tire inflation
pressure increases the risk of losing control
of the vehicle and rolling over.
!If a engine oil level warning message
(
page 349) appears in the multifunction
display while driving, stop the vehicle in a safe
location or as soon at is safe to do so. Check the
engine oil level (
page 270).
The engine oil level warning messages should
not be ignored. Extended driving with the
message displayed could result in serious engine
damage that is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
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255
Operation
Driving instructions
Tires

Check the tread depth and maintain
specified tire inflation pressure (the
Tire and Loading Information placard
with the recommended tire inflation
pressures is located on the driver’s
door B-pillar (
page 280)).

Check tires for possible damage and
remove foreign objects.

Replace missing valve caps.
Rims

Dented or bent rims can cause tire
inflation pressure loss and damage the
tire beads. For this reason, check and,
if necessary, change rims before
driving off-road.
Vehicle tool kit

Check if the vehicle jack (page 365)
is functional.

In all cases take the vehicle tool kit,
a strong tow rope, a shovel, and a small
plank (to put under the vehicle jack on
sandy soil) with you. Driving in steep terrainSlope angle
1
Overhang angle, front, 37°
2 Overhang angle, rear, 31°

Comply with the warnings
(
page 253) and rules for off-road
driving (
page 253).
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259
Operation
Driving instructions
When driving over tree stumps, big rocks
and other obstacles, observe the following
rules:

Check the vehicle clearance before
crossing obstacles.

Comply with the warnings
(
page 253) and rules for off-road
driving (
page 253).

Select gear range 1 on the automatic
transmission (
page 167).

Cross obstacles very slowly by aiming
one of the front wheels at the center of
the obstacle, and repeat same with the
rear wheel. Driving on sand
When driving on sand, observe the
following rules:

Avoid high engine speeds.

Shift automatic transmission into a
gear range that is appropriate for the
terrain.

In sandy soil, drive at a steady speed as
conditions permit. This helps overcome
the vehicle rolling resistance and
reduce the likelihood of the vehicle
sinking into the ground.

Drive in tracks of other vehicles if they
are not too deep and you have suffi-
cient clearance.
Ruts
A number of off-road tracks or other
byways have deep ruts which can cause
the underbody to come in contact with the
ground.
!Special attention is needed when you cross
obstacles on a steep incline.
The vehicle could slide sideways as a result of its
possible slanted position which in turn may
result in the vehicle tipping or rolling over.
Warning!G
Do not reduce the tire inflation pressure
before driving through sand. However, if you
do so, remember to correct the tire inflation
pressure (
page 288) before continuing
your trip. Driving with reduced tire inflation
pressure increases the risk of losing control
of the vehicle and rolling over.
!Check that the ruts are not too deep and
your vehicle’s clearance is sufficient. Otherwise:

your vehicle may be damaged

the underbody of the vehicle may come in
contact with the ground and you may get
stuck
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