ECU MERCEDES-BENZ GL 2014 Owner's Manual

Overview: changing bulbs/bulb types
You can change the following bulbs. The bulb
type can be found in the legend.
Halogen headlamps
CLow-beam headlamp: H7 55 W
DHigh-beam headlamp: H7 55 W
Tail lamp
CBrake lamp: P 21 W-L
Changing the front bulbs
Removing and installing the cover in the
front wheel housing
You must remove the cover from the front
wheel housing before you can change the
front bulbs.
XTo remove:switch off the lights.
XTurn the front wheels inwards.
XRemove securing pinDusing a suitable
tool.
XSlide coverCup and remove it.
XTo install:insert coverCagain and slide
it down until it engages.
XInsert securing pinD.
Low-beam headlamps (halogen
headlamps)
XRemove the cover in the front wheel
housing (Ypage 138).
XTurn housing coverCcounter-clockwise
and pull it out.
XTurn bulb holderDcounter-clockwise and
pull it out.
XTake the bulb out of bulb holderD.
XInsert the new bulb into bulb holderD.
XInsert bulb holderDinto the lamp and turn
it clockwise.
138Replacing bulbs
Lights and windshield wipers

Using the SmartKey:
RMake sure that the ignition is switched on.
RWhen the vehicle is stationary, depress the
brake pedal and keep it depressed.
RShift to neutralN.
RRelease the brake pedal.
RIf the electric parking brake is engaged,
release it.
RSwitch off the ignition and leave the
SmartKey in the ignition lock.
Using KEYLESS-GO:
RMake sure that the ignition is switched on.
RWhen the vehicle is stationary, depress the
brake pedal and keep it depressed.
REngage park positionP.
RRelease the brake pedal.
RRemove the Start/Stop button from the
ignition lock.
RInsert the SmartKey into the ignition lock.
RSwitch on the ignition.
RDepress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed.
RShift to neutralN.
RRelease the brake pedal.
RIf the electric parking brake is engaged,
release it.
RSwitch off the ignition and leave the
SmartKey in the ignition lock.
Engaging drive position D
XWhen the vehicle is stationary, depress the
brake pedal.
XPush the DIRECT SELECT lever down past
the first point of resistance.
Transmission positions
EPark position
Do not shift the transmission into
positionP(Ypage 188) unless the
vehicle is stationary. The parking
lock should not be used as a brake
when parking. Always apply the
electronic parking brake in
addition to the parking lock in order
to secure the vehicle.
If the vehicle electronics are
malfunctioning, the transmission
may be locked in positionP. Have
the vehicle electronics checked
immediately at a qualified
specialist workshop.
The automatic transmission shifts
toPautomatically if you:
Rremove the SmartKey
Rswitch off the engine when inR
orDand open one of the front
doors
FReverse gear
Only shift the transmission toR
when the vehicle is stationary.
Automatic transmission175
Driving and parking
Z

water. Seek medical assistance without
delay.
RChange out of clothing contaminated with
DEF immediately.
!Only use DEF in accordance with
ISO 22241. Do not mix any additives with
DEF, and do not dilute DEF with water. This
may destroy the BlueTEC exhaust gas
aftertreatment system.
!The vehicle must be parked on level
ground to fill the DEF tank. The DEF tank
can only be filled as intended with the
vehicle parked on a level surface. This
avoids false level readings. Filling the tank
is not permitted if the vehicle is not parked
on a level surface. There is a danger of
overfilling, which could result in damage to
components of the BlueTEC exhaust gas
aftertreatment.
!Rinse surfaces that have come into
contact with DEF immediately with water or
remove DEF using a damp cloth and cold
water. If the DEF has already crystallized,
use a sponge and cold water to clean it. DEF
residues crystallize after time and
contaminate the affected surfaces.
!DEF is not a fuel additive and must not be
added to the fuel tank. If DEF is added to
the fuel tank, this can lead to engine
damage.
For further information on DEF, see
(Ypage 448).
You will find further information on DEF in the
printed Operator's Manual under "Technical
data".
Opening the DEF filler cap
The fuel filler flap is unlocked or locked
automatically when you open or close the
vehicle with the SmartKey or with KEYLESS-
GO.
XSwitch the ignition off.
XPress the fuel filler flap in the direction of
arrowC.
The fuel filler flap swings up.
XTurn blue DEF filler capDcounter-
clockwise and remove it.
DEF filler capDis secured with a plastic
strip.
DEF refill bottle
!Only screw on the DEF refill bottle hand-
tight. It could otherwise be damaged.
XUnscrew the protective cap from DEF refill
bottleC.
XPlace DEF refill bottleCon the filler neck
as shown and screw it on clockwise until
hand-tight.
Refueling187
Driving and parking
Z

XPress DEF refill bottleCtowards the filler
neck.
The DEF tank is filled. This may take up to
one minute.
iWhen DEF refill bottleCis no longer
pressed, filling stops and the bottle may be
taken off again after being only partially
emptied.
XRelease DEF refill bottleC.
XTurn DEF refill bottleCcounter-clockwise
and remove it.
XScrew the protective cap onto DEF refill
bottleCagain.
DEF refill bottles can be obtained at many gas
stations or at an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center. Refill bottles without a threaded cap
do not provide overfill protection. DEF may
leak if overfilled. Mercedes Benz offers
special refill bottles with a threaded seal.
These are available at any authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Closing the DEF filler cap
XMount DEF filler capDon the filler neck
and turn it clockwise.
XTo close the fuel filler flap, press it in the
direction of arrowC.
XDrive faster than 10 mph (16 km/h).
TheCheck Additive See Operator'sCheck Additive See Operator's
ManualManualmessage goes out after
approximately one minute.
iIf theCheck Additive SeeCheck Additive See
Operator's ManualOperator's Manualmessage continues
to be shown in the multifunction display,
you must add more DEF.
Parking
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Flammable material such as leaves, grass or
twigs may ignite if they come into contact with
hot parts of the exhaust system or exhaust
gas flow. There is a risk of fire.
Park the vehicle so that no flammable
materials come into contact with parts of the
vehicle which are hot. Take particular care not
to park on dry grassland or harvested grain
fields.
GWARNING
If you switch off the ignition while driving,
safety-relevant functions are only available
with limitations, or not at all. This could affect,
for example, the power steering and the brake
boosting effect. You will require considerably
more effort to steer and brake. There is a risk
of an accident.
Do not switch off the ignition while driving.
GWARNING
If you leave children unsupervised in the
vehicle, they could set it in motion by, for
example:
Rrelease the parking brake.
Rshift the automatic transmission out of the
parking positionP.
Rstart the engine.
In addition, they may operate vehicle
equipment and become trapped. There is a
risk of an accident and injury.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. Never
leave children unsupervised in the vehicle.
!Always secure the vehicle correctly
against rolling away. Otherwise, the vehicle
or its drivetrain could be damaged.
188Parking
Driving and parking

To ensure that the vehicle is secured against
rolling away unintentionally:
Rthe electric parking brake must be applied.
Rthe transmission must be in positionPand
the SmartKey must be removed from the
ignition lock.
Rthe front wheels must be turned towards
the curb on steep uphill or downhill
gradients.
Rthe empty vehicle must be secured at the
front axle with a wheel chock or similar, for
example, on uphill or downhill gradients.
Ra laden vehicle must also be secured at the
rear axle with a wheel chock or similar, for
example, on uphill or downhill gradients.
Switching off the engine
Important safety notes
GWARNING
The automatic transmission switches to
neutral positionNwhen you switch off the
engine. The vehicle may roll away. There is a
risk of an accident.
After switching off the engine, always switch
to parking positionP. Prevent the parked
vehicle from rolling away by applying the
parking brake.
Using the SmartKey
XApply the electric parking brake.
XShift the transmission to positionP.
XTurn the SmartKey to position0in the
ignition lock and remove it.
The immobilizer is activated.
iIf you turn off the engine with the
SmartKey and then remove it from the
ignition lock or open a front door, the
automatic transmission shifts toP
automatically.
If you shift the automatic transmission to
Nbefore switching off the engine, the
automatic transmission remains inNeven
if a door is opened.
Using KEYLESS-GO
XApply the electric parking brake.
XShift the transmission to positionP.
XPress the Start/Stop button (Ypage 167).
The engine stops and all the indicator
lamps in the instrument cluster go out.
iIf you turn off the engine with the Start/
Stop button, the automatic transmission
shifts toN. If you then open one of the front
doors, the automatic transmission shifts to
P.
iIn the event of an emergency, the engine
can be turned off while the vehicle is in
motion by pressing and holding the Start/
Stop button for three seconds.
Electric parking brake
General notes
GWARNING
If you leave children unsupervised in the
vehicle, they could set it in motion by, for
example:
Rrelease the parking brake.
Rshift the automatic transmission out of the
parking positionP.
Rstart the engine.
In addition, they may operate vehicle
equipment and become trapped. There is a
risk of an accident and injury.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. Never
leave children unsupervised in the vehicle.
Parking189
Driving and parking
Z

The function of the electric parking brake is
dependent on the on-board voltage. If the on-
board voltage is low or there is a malfunction
in the system, it may not be possible to apply
the released parking brake.
XIf this is the case, only park the vehicle on
level ground and secure it to prevent it
rolling away.
XShift the automatic transmission to
positionP.
It may not be possible to release an applied
parking brake, if the on-board voltage is low
or there is a malfunction in the system.
Contact a qualified specialist workshop.
iThe electric parking brake performs a
function test at regular intervals while the
engine is switched off. The sounds that can
be heard while this is occurring are normal.
Applying/releasing manually
XTo engage:push handleC.
When the electric parking brake is
engaged, theI(USA only) or$
(Canada only) red indicator lamp lights up
in the instrument cluster.
iThe electric parking brake can also be
applied when the SmartKey is removed.
XTo release:pull handleC.
The redI(USA only) or$(Canada
only) indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out.
iThe electric parking brake can only be
released:
Rif the SmartKey is in position1in the
ignition lock or
Rif the ignition was switched on using the
Start/Stop button.
To ensure that you do not roll backwards
when pulling away on an uphill slope, engage
the electric parking brake (Ypage 170).
Applying automatically
The electric parking brake is applied
automatically:
Rif DISTRONIC PLUS brings the vehicle to a
standstill or
Rif the HOLD function is keeping the vehicle
stationary
In addition, at least one of the following
conditions must be fulfilled:
Rthe engine is switched off.
Rthe driver's door is open and the seat belt
is not fastened.
Rthe vehicle is stationary for a lengthy
period.
The redI(USA only) or$(Canada
only) indicator lamp in the instrument cluster
lights up.
Releasing automatically
The electric parking brake is released
automatically when all of the following
conditions are fulfilled:
Rthe engine is running.
Rthe transmission is in positionDorR.
Rthe seat belt has been fastened.
Ryou depress the accelerator pedal.
If the transmission is in positionR, the trunk
lid must be closed.
If your seat belt is not fastened, the following
conditions must be fulfilled to automatically
release the electric parking brake:
Rthe driver's door is closed.
Ryou have shifted out of transmission
positionPor you have previously driven
faster than 2 mph (3 km/h).
190Parking
Driving and parking

conditions when temperatures are around
the freezing point.
For more information on driving with snow
chains, see (Ypage 407).
For more information on driving with summer
tires, see (Ypage 406).
Observe the notes in the "Winter operation"
section (Ypage 406).
Off-road driving
Important safety notes
GWARNING
If you drive on a steep incline at an angle or
turn when driving on an incline, the vehicle
could slip sideways, tip and rollover. There is
a risk of an accident.
Always drive on a steep incline in the line of
fall (straight up or down) and do not turn the
vehicle.
GWARNING
If the vehicle level is high, the vehicle center
of gravity is raised. This could cause the
vehicle to tip over more easily on uphill or
downhill gradients. There is a risk of an
accident.
Select the lowest possible vehicle level.
When driving off-road, sand, mud and water,
possibly mixed with oil, for example, could get
into the brakes. This could result in a reduced
braking effect or in total brake failure and also
in increased wear and tear. The braking
characteristics change depending on the
material ingressing the brakes. Clean the
brakes after driving off-road. If you detect a
reduced braking effect or grinding noises,
have the brake system checked in a qualified
specialist workshop as soon as possible.
Adapt your driving style to the different
braking characteristics.
Driving off-road increases the likelihood of
damage to the vehicle, which, in turn, can lead
to failure of the mechanical assembly or
systems. Adapt your driving style to suit the
terrain conditions. Drive carefully. Have
damage to the vehicle rectified immediately
at a qualified specialist workshop.
Do not switch to transmission positionN
when driving off-road. You could lose control
of the vehicle if you attempt to brake using
the service brake. If the gradient is too steep,
drive backwards in reverse gear.
General notes
Read this section carefully before driving your
vehicle off-road. Practice by driving over more
gentle off-road terrain first.
Familiarize yourself with the characteristics
of your vehicle and the gear shift operation
before driving through difficult terrain.
The following driving systems are specially
adapted to off-road driving:
ROff-road program 1 and 2 (vehicles with the
ON&OFFROAD package) (Ypage 258)
RLOW RANGE off-road gear (vehicles with
the ON&OFFROAD package)
(Ypage 259)
RDifferential lock (vehicles with the
ON&OFFROAD package) (Ypage 259)
ROff-road ABS (Ypage 68)
RAIRMATIC package (vehicle level)
(Ypage 217)
RDSR (Downhill Speed Regulation)
(Ypage 256)
Observe the following notes:
RStop the vehicle before starting to drive
along an off-road route.
RFor vehicles with the AIRMATIC
package:select a vehicle level that is
suitable for the off-road terrain. To avoid
damaging the vehicle, make sure there is
always sufficient ground clearance.
RCheck that items of luggage and loads are
stowed safely and are well secured
(Ypage 345).
Driving tips197
Driving and parking
Z

Stopping
GWARNING
When leaving the vehicle, even if it is braked
only by DISTRONIC PLUS, it could roll away if:
Rthere is a malfunction in the system or in
the voltage supply.
RDISTRONIC PLUS has been deactivated
with the cruise control lever, e.g. by a
vehicle occupant or from outside the
vehicle.
Rthe electrical system in the engine
compartment, the battery or the fuses have
been tampered with.
Rthe battery is disconnected.
Rthe accelerator pedal has been depressed,
e.g. by a vehicle occupant.
There is a risk of an accident.
If you wish to exit the vehicle, always turn off
DISTRONIC PLUS and secure the vehicle
against rolling away.
If DISTRONIC PLUS detects that the vehicle
in front is stopping, it brakes your vehicle until
it is stationary.
Once your vehicle is stationary, it remains
stationary and you do not need to depress the
brake.
After a time, the electric parking brake
secures the vehicle and relieves the service
brake.
Depending on the specified minimum
distance, your vehicle will come to a standstill
at a sufficient distance behind the vehicle in
front. The specified minimum distance is set
using the control on the cruise control lever.
The electric parking brake automatically
secures the vehicle if DISTRONIC PLUS is
activated and:
Rthe driver's door is open and the driver's
seat belt is unfastened.
Rthe engine is switched off, unless it is
automatically switched off by the ECO
start/stop function.
Ra system malfunction occurs.
Rthe power supply is not sufficient.
On steep uphill or downhill inclines or if there
is a malfunction, the transmission may also
automatically be shifted into positionP.
Setting a speed
Keep in mind that it may take a brief moment
until the vehicle has accelerated or braked to
the speed set.
XPress the cruise control lever upCfor a
higher speed or downDfor a lower speed.
XTo adjust the set speed in 1 mph
increments (1 km/h increments):briefly
press the cruise control lever upCor
downDto the pressure point.
Every time the cruise control lever is
pressed upCor downDthe last speed
stored is increased or reduced.
XTo adjust the set speed in 5 mph
increments (10 km/h increments):
briefly press the cruise control lever
upCor downDto the pressure point.
Every time the cruise control lever is
pressed upCor downD, the last speed
stored is increased or reduced.
iIf you accelerate to overtake, DISTRONIC
PLUS adjusts the vehicle's speed to the last
speed stored after you have finished
overtaking.
208Driving systems
Driving and parking

You will see a message in the multifunction
display, for example:LoweringLowering.
HOLD function
General notes
The HOLD function can assist the driver in the
following situations:
Rwhen pulling away, especially on steep
slopes
Rwhen maneuvering on steep slopes
Rwhen waiting in traffic
The vehicle is kept stationary without the
driver having to depress the brake pedal.
The braking effect is canceled and the HOLD
function deactivated when you depress the
accelerator pedal to pull away.
iDo not use the HOLD function when
driving off-road, on steep uphill or downhill
gradients or on slippery or loose surfaces.
The HOLD function cannot hold the vehicle
on such surfaces.
Important safety notes
GWARNING
When leaving the vehicle, it can still roll away
despite being braked by the HOLD function if:
Rthere is a malfunction in the system or in
the voltage supply.
Rthe HOLD function has been deactivated by
pressing the accelerator pedal or the brake
pedal, e.g. by a vehicle occupant.
Rthe electrical system in the engine
compartment, the battery or the fuses have
been tampered with.
Rthe battery is disconnected
There is a risk of an accident.
If you wish to exit the vehicle, always turn off
the HOLD function and secure the vehicle
against rolling away.
!If DISTRONIC PLUS or the HOLD function
is activated, the vehicle brakes
automatically in certain situations. To
prevent damage to the vehicle, deactivate
DISTRONIC PLUS and the HOLD function in
the following or other similar situations:
Rwhen towing the vehicle
Rin the car wash
Deactivating the HOLD function
(Ypage 217).
Activation conditions
You can activate the HOLD function if:
Rthe vehicle is stationary
Rthe engine is running
Rthe driver's door is closed or your seat belt
is fastened
Rthe electric parking brake is released
Rthe transmission is in positionD,RorN
RDISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated
Activating the HOLD function
XMake sure that the activation conditions
are met.
XDepress the brake pedal.
XQuickly depress the brake pedal further
untilCappears in the multifunction
display.
The HOLD function is activated. You can
release the brake pedal.
iIf depressing the brake pedal the first
time does not activate the HOLD function,
wait briefly and then try again.
216Driving systems
Driving and parking

Deactivating the HOLD function
The HOLD function is deactivated
automatically if:
Ryou accelerate and the transmission is in
positionDorR.
Ryou shift the transmission to positionP.
Ryou depress the brake pedal again with a
certain amount of pressure untilC
disappears from the multifunction display.
Ryou secure the vehicle using the electric
parking brake.
Ryou activate DISTRONIC PLUS.
iAfter a time, the electric parking brake
secures the vehicle and relieves the service
brake.
The electric parking brake automatically
secures the vehicle if the HOLD function is
activated and:
Rthe driver's door is open and the driver's
seat belt is unfastened.
Rthe engine is switched off.
Ra system malfunction occurs.
Rthe power supply is not sufficient.
On steep uphill or downhill inclines or if there
is a malfunction, the transmission may also
be automatically shifted into positionP.
AIRMATIC package
General notes
AIRMATIC regulates the level of your vehicle.
As well as level control (Ypage 218), your
vehicle can be equipped with ADS (Adaptive
Damping System) (Ypage 217) and ACTIVE
CURVE SYSTEM (Ypage 218).
Observe the notes on driving with a trailer
(Ypage 264).
ADS (Adaptive Damping System)
General notes
ADS adapts the damping characteristics to
the current operating and driving situation.
This depends on:
Ryour driving style
Rthe road surface conditions
Rthe ADS setting
Rthe vehicle level setting
Your selection remains stored even if you
remove the SmartKey from the ignition lock.
Sports tuning
Example: vehicles without the ON&OFFROADpackage
CSuspension tuning button
DIndicator lamp for sports tuning