warning MERCEDES-BENZ GL SUV 2009 Workshop Manual

Adapt your driving style to suit the vehicle
level. ESP ®
cannot reduce the risk of an acci-
dent if you drive too fast. ESP ®
cannot over-
ride the laws of physics.
! When driving on extremely rough terrain,
select a high vehicle level in good time.
Make sure there is always sufficient ground
clearance to prevent damage to the vehi-
cle.
You will find information about driving off-
road in the "Operation" section
(Y page 188).
Basic settings The extent to which the vehicle is raised or
lowered depends on the basic setting selec-
ted.
Select:
R Off-road level 3 for freeing the vehicle in
impassable terrain at low speeds only
R Off-road level 2 for driving on normal off-
road terrain
R Off-road level 1 for driving on easily nego-
tiable off-road terrain
R Highway/high-speed level for normal roads
The individual vehicle levels are:
R Off-road level 3: 90 mm above highway
level
R Off-road level 2: 60 mm above highway
level
R Off-road level 1: 30 mm above highway
level
R Highway level: +/- 0 mm
R High-speed level: 15 mm below highway
level Off-road levels G
Risk of accident
Off-road level 3 is not permitted for use on
public roads. Off-road level 3 gives your vehi-
cle a very high centre of gravity. This increa-
ses the risk of the vehicle tipping over.
R Only select off-road level 3 for driving off-
road in particularly rough terrain.
R Adjust your driving style to the altered han-
dling characteristics.
R Do not drive faster than 20 km/h.
R Avoid sudden major steering movements.
R Take account of the altered handling char-
acteristics.
If you are driving too fast in off-road level 3,
the Bring speed below 20 km/h message
appears in the multi-function display. You
additionally hear a warning tone. The vehicle
is lowered.
i You cannot clear these messages.
Only select an off-road level when this is
appropriate for the road conditions. Other-
wise, fuel consumption increases and han-
dling performance may be affected.
Your selection remains stored even if you
remove the key from the ignition lock. 130
Driving systemsControls
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Range of the sensors
The sensors must be free of dirt, ice and
slush; otherwise, they may not function cor-
rectly. Clean the sensors regularly, taking
care not to scratch or damage them
(Y page 203). Side view
Top view
Front sensors
Centre Approximately 100 cm
Corners Approximately 60 cm
Rear sensors
Centre Approximately 120 cm
Corners Approximately 80 cm
!
When parking, pay particular attention to
objects above or below the sensors, such
as flower pots or trailer towbars. PARK-
TRONIC does not detect such objects when
they are in the immediate vicinity of the vehicle. You could damage the vehicle or
the objects.
Ultrasonic sources such as an automatic
car wash, a lorry's compressed-air brakes
or a pneumatic drill could cause PARK-
TRONIC to malfunction.
Minimum distance Centre Approximately 20 cm
Corners Approximately 15 cm
If there is an obstacle within this range, all
warning displays light up and a tone sounds.
If the distance falls below the minimum clear-
ance, it may no longer be shown.
Warning displays The warning displays show the distance
between the sensors and the obstacle. The
warning display for the front area is located
on the dashboard above the centre air vents.
The warning display for the rear area is in the
roof lamp in the rear compartment. Warning display for front area
:
Left-hand side of the vehicle
; Right-hand side of the vehicle
= Indicator segments
The warning display for each side of the vehi-
cle is divided into five yellow and two red seg-
ments. PARKTRONIC is operational if yellow
indicator segments =light up. 134
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The automatic transmission position deter-
mines which warning display is active when
the engine is running:
Automatic trans-
mission position Warning display
D
Front area activated
R
or N Rear and front areas
activated
P
No areas activated
One or more segments light up as the vehicle
approaches an obstacle, depending on the
vehicle's distance to the obstacle.
From the:
R sixth segment onwards, you will hear an
intermittent warning tone for approx-
imately two seconds.
R seventh segment onwards, you will hear a
warning tone for approximately two sec-
onds. You have reached the minimum dis-
tance.
Deactivating/activating PARKTRONIC :
To deactivate/activate PARKTRONIC
; Indicator lamp
If indicator lamp ;is on, PARKTRONIC is
deactivated. Trailer towing* PARKTRONIC is deactivated for the rear area
when you establish an electrical connection
between your vehicle and a trailer.
!
Remove the detachable trailer coupling if
it is no longer required. PARKTRONIC
measures the minimum detection range to
an obstacle from the bumper, not the ball
coupling. Reversing camera*
The reversing camera is an optical aid. It
shows the area behind your vehicle in the
COMAND APS display. G
Risk of injury
Make sure that no persons or animals are in
the manoeuvring range. Otherwise, they
could be injured.
The reversing camera is located in the handle
strip of the tailgate. :
Reversing camera
View through the camera The area behind the vehicle is displayed in a
mirrored fashion, as in the rear-view mirror.
G
Risk of accident
The reversing camera is only an aid and may
display obstacles in a distorted or incorrect
manner, or may not even display them at all.
The reversing camera does not relieve you of Driving systems
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it is too low for the current operating condi-
tions.
Driving with tyre pressure that is too high or
too low can:
R shorten the service life of the tyres
R increase the likelihood of tyre damage
R have a negative effect on handling charac-
teristics (e.g. by causing aquaplaning)
i The tyre pressure values given for low
loads are minimum values which offer you
good ride comfort characteristics.
However, you can also use the values given
for higher loads. These are permissible and
will not adversely affect the running of the
vehicle.
Also check the tyre pressure of the spare
wheel* or "Minispare" emergency spare
wheel*. H
Environmental note
Check the tyre pressure regularly, at least
every 14 days. Tyre pressure loss warning
While the vehicle is in motion, the tyre pres-
sure loss warning system monitors the set
tyre pressure using the rotational speed of
the wheels. This enables the system to detect
significant pressure loss in a tyre. If the speed
of rotation of a wheel changes as a result of
a loss of pressure, a corresponding warning
message will appear in the multi-function dis-
play. G
Risk of accident
The tyre pressure loss warning system does
not warn you of an incorrectly set tyre pres-
sure. The table on the inside of the fuel filler
flap will help you decide whether the tyre
pressures should be corrected.
The tyre pressure loss warning system does
not replace the need to regularly check your
vehicle's tyre pressures, since an even loss of pressure on several tyres at the same time
cannot be detected by the tyre pressure loss
warning system.
The tyre pressure monitor is not able to warn
you of a sudden loss of pressure, e.g. if the
tyre is penetrated by a foreign object.
In the event of a sudden loss of pressure, bring
the vehicle to a halt by braking carefully. Do
not make any sudden steering movements
when doing so.
The function of the tyre pressure loss warning
system is limited or delayed if:
R snow chains are fitted to your vehicle's
tyres.
R road conditions are wintry.
R you are driving on sand or gravel.
R you adopt a very sporty driving style (cor-
nering at high speeds or driving with high
rates of acceleration).
R you are towing a very heavy or large trailer.
R you are driving with a heavy load (in the
vehicle or on the roof).
Restarting the tyre pressure loss warn-
ing system Restart the tyre pressure loss warning system
if you have:
R
changed the tyre pressure
R changed the wheels or tyres
R fitted new wheels or tyres
X Before restarting, consult the table of tyre
pressures on the inside of the fuel filler flap
to ensure that the tyre pressure in all four
tyres is set correctly for the respective
operating conditions.
X Observe the notes in the section on tyre
pressures (Y page 180). 182
Tyres and wheelsOperation
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G
Risk of accident
The tyre pressure loss warning system can
only give reliable warnings if you have set the
correct tyre pressure.
If an incorrect tyre pressure is set, these
incorrect values will be monitored.
A tyre with insufficient pressure results in
vehicle instability when driving, thus increas-
ing the risk of an accident.
X Make sure that the key is in position
2 (Y page 63) in the ignition lock.
In the multi-function display you will see the
standard display (Y page 98).
X Press *or& to select the Tyre
pressure function.
The
Run Flat Indicator active
Menu: R-Button message is displayed.
X Press the reset button (Y page 25) on the
instrument cluster.
The multi-function display shows the mes-
sage:
Restart Run Flat Indicator?
Yes Cancel
If you wish to confirm the restart:
X Press the Wbutton.
The multi-function display shows the mes-
sage:
Run Flat Indicator restarted
After a teach-in period, the tyre pressure
loss warning system will monitor the set
tyre pressures of all four tyres.
If you wish to cancel the restart:
X Press the Xbutton.
or
X Wait until the Restart Run Flat Indi‐
cator? Yes Cancel message disappears.
The tyre pressure values stored at the last
restart will continue to be monitored. Tyre pressure monitor*
If a tyre pressure monitor system is fitted, the
vehicle's wheels have sensors fitted that
monitor the tyre pressures in all four tyres.
The tyre pressure monitor warns you when
the pressure drops in one or more of the
tyres. The tyre pressure monitor only func-
tions if the correct wheel electronics units are
fitted to all wheels. G
Risk of accident
The tyre pressure monitor does not warn you
of an incorrectly set tyre pressure. The table
on the inside of the fuel filler flap will help you
decide whether the tyre pressures should be
corrected.
The tyre pressure monitor is not able to warn
you of a sudden loss of pressure, e.g. if the
tyre is penetrated by a foreign object. In the
event of a sudden loss of pressure, bring the
vehicle to a halt by braking carefully. Do not
make any sudden steering movements when
doing so.
i The operation of the tyre pressure moni-
tor can be affected by interference from
radio transmitting equipment (e.g. radio
headphones, two-way radios) that may be
being operated in or near the vehicle.
Checking tyre pressure electronically X
Make sure that the key is in posi-
tion 2(Y page 63) in the ignition lock.
X Press the &or* button to select the
Tyre pressure function.
The current tyre pressure for each wheel will
be displayed in the multi-function display.
If the vehicle has been parked for longer than
20 minutes or if you have not driven faster
than 25 km/h since starting the vehicle, the
following message appears:
i The tyre pressure values indicated by the
on-board computer may differ from those
measured at a filling station with a pressure
gauge. The tyre pressures shown by the on- Tyres and wheels
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board computer refer to those measured at
sea level. At high altitudes, the tyre pres-
sure values indicated by a pressure gauge
are higher than those shown by the on-
board computer. In this case, do not reduce
the tyre pressures.
i After a teach-in period, the tyre pressure
monitor automatically recognises new
wheels or new sensors. As long as a clear
allocation of the tyre pressure values to the
individual wheels is not possible, the dis-
play message Tyre pressure monitor
active is shown instead of the tyre pres-
sure display. The tyre pressures are already
being monitored.
Restarting the tyre pressure monitor When you restart the tyre pressure monitor,
all existing warning messages are deleted and
the warning lamps go out. The monitor uses
the currently set tyre pressures as the speci-
fied values for monitoring.
In most cases, the tyre pressure monitor will
automatically detect the new reference val-
ues, e.g. if you have:
R changed the tyre pressure
R changed the wheels or tyres
R fitted new wheels or tyres
i You will find the menu overview on
(Y page 99).
If you wish to define the new reference values
manually:
X Use the table on the inside of the fuel filler
flap to ensure that the tyre pressure is set
correctly in all four tyres for the current
operating conditions.
Also observe the notes in the section on
tyre pressures (Y page 180).
X Make sure that the key is in position 2in
the ignition lock.
X Press the &or* button to select the
Tyre pressure function or wait until the
following message appears: X
Press the reset button on the instrument
cluster (Y page 25).
The multi-function display shows the mes-
sage:
Restart tyre pressure monitor?
Yes Cancel
X Press the Wbutton.
The multi-function display shows the mes-
sage:
Tyre pressure monitor restarted
The tyre pressure monitor has stored the
pressure of the tyres as a new reference
value.
Cancelling the restart X
Press the Xbutton.
Other messages in the multi-function
display If in multi-function display the following mes-
sage appears:
Please correct tyre pressures
X
Check the tyre pressure on all four wheels
and correct it if necessary.
i If the wheel positions on the vehicle are
interchanged, the tyre pressures may be
displayed for the wrong positions for a
short time. This is rectified after a few
minutes of driving, and the tyre pressures
are displayed for the correct positions. Interchanging the wheels
G
Risk of accident
Interchange the front and rear wheels only if
they have the same dimensions: for example
size, offset, etc.
After a wheel is changed, have the tightening
torque checked at a specialist workshop that
has the necessary specialist knowledge and
tools to carry out the work required.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you use a 184
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Mercedes-Benz Service Centre for this pur-
pose. In particular, work relevant to safety or
on safety-related systems must be carried out
at a qualified specialist workshop.
The wheels could work loose if they are not
tightened to a torque of 150 Nm.
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you only use wheel bolts of the
correct size which have been approved for
Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
The wear patterns on the front and rear tyres
differ, depending on the operating conditions.
Interchange the wheels before a clear wear
pattern has formed on the tyres. Front tyres
typically wear more on the shoulders and the
rear tyres in the centre.
On vehicles that have the same size front and
rear wheels you can interchange the wheels
every 5,000 km to 10,000 km depending on
the degree of tyre wear. Do not reverse the
direction of tyre rotation.
Clean the contact surfaces of the wheel and
the brake disc thoroughly every time a wheel
is interchanged. Check the tyre pressure and,
if necessary, restart the tyre pressure loss
warning system or the tyre pressure moni-
tor*.
! On vehicles fitted with a tyre pressure
monitor*, electronic components are loca-
ted in the wheel.
Tyre-fitting tools should not be applied in
the area of the valve, as this could damage
the electronic components.
Always have the wheels interchanged/
changed at a qualified specialist workshop,
e.g. a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
i Vehicles with a tyre pressure monitor*
If the positions of the wheels on the vehicle
are changed, the tyre pressure may be tem-
porarily displayed in the wrong position.
This is rectified after a few minutes of driv-
ing; the tyre pressures are then displayed
in the correct positions. Winter driving
Points to remember
Have your vehicle winterproofed at a qualified
specialist workshop, e.g. at a Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre, at the onset of winter.
Observe the notes in the "Changing a wheel"
section (Y page 184). Winter tyres
At temperatures below +7 ˚C always use all-
weather tyres or winter tyres and always use
winter tyres in winter road conditions. Only
winter tyres displaying the isnowflake
symbol in addition to the M+S marking pro-
vide optimum grip in wintry road conditions.
Only these tyres will allow the ABS and
ESP ®
driving systems to function optimally in
winter, as these tyres have been designed
specifically for driving in snow.
Use winter tyres of the same make and tread
on all wheels to maintain safe handling char-
acteristics. G
Risk of accident
Winter tyres with a tread depth of less than
4 mm must be replaced immediately. They are
no longer suitable for winter use and can no
longer provide sufficient grip. This could
cause you to lose control of your vehicle and
cause an accident.
Always observe the maximum permissible
speed specified for the winter tyres you have
fitted. If you fit winter tyres which have a
lower maximum permissible speed than that
of the vehicle, affix an appropriate warning
sign in the driver's field of vision. This can be
obtained at a qualified specialist workshop,
e.g. from a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
Under these circumstances, you should also
restrict the maximum speed of the vehicle
using permanent Speedtronic 27
to the maxi-
27 Only available for certain countries. Winter driving
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X
Wheels and tyres: check the tyre tread
depth and tyre pressure.
X Check for damage and remove foreign
objects, e.g. small stones, from the
wheels/tyres.
X Replace any missing valve caps.
X Replace dented or damaged wheels.
Checklist after driving off-road Driving over rough terrain places greater
demands on your vehicle than driving on nor-
mal roads. After driving off-road, check the
vehicle. This allows you to detect damage
promptly and reduce the risk of an accident
to yourself and other road users.
X Deactivate the LOW RANGE off-road gear
(Y page 114).
X Deactivate DSR (Y page 113).
X Set the differential lock setting to AUTO on
the selector wheel (Y page 116).
X Lower the vehicle level again to a level suit-
able to the road conditions, e.g. to the high-
way/high-speed level.
X Clean the headlamps and rear lights and
check for damage.
X Clean the front and rear licence plates.
X Clean the wheels/tyres with a water jet and
remove any foreign objects.
X Clean the wheels, wheel arches and the
vehicle underside with a water jet; check
for foreign objects and damage.
X Check whether twigs or other parts of
plants have become trapped. These
increase the risk of fire and can damage
fuel pipes, brake hoses or the rubber bel-
lows of the axle joints and propeller shafts.
X After the trip, examine without fail the
entire undercarriage, wheels, tyres, brakes,
bodywork structure, steering, chassis and
exhaust system for damage.
X After driving for extended periods across
sand, mud, gravel, water or in similarly dirty
conditions, have the brake discs, wheels, brake pads/l
inings and axle joints checked
and cleaned.
X If you detect strong vibrations after off-road
travel, check for foreign objects in the
wheels and drive train and remove them if
necessary. Foreign objects can disturb the
balance and cause vibrations. Travelling uphill
Approach/departure angle The table shows approach and departure
angles
:and ;when the vehicle is loaded
and ready to drive. :
: ;
; Vehicle level
Off-road level 3 32° 27°
Off-road level 2 31° 26°
Off-road level 1 28° 23°
Highway level 26° 21°
R
Follow the line of fall when driving on slopes
and steep gradients.
R Before driving on extreme uphill and down-
hill gradients, select the LOW RANGE off-
road gear.
R Observe the warnings for off-road driving
(Y page 188).
R Drive slowly. 190
Off-road drivingOperation
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The letters displayed range from
Afor a short
service duration (approx. 1 hour) to Hfor a
long service duration (approx. 8 hours).
The ASSYST PLUS service interval display
does not take into account any periods of
time during which the battery is disconnec-
ted.
Maintaining the time-dependent service
schedule:
X Note down the service due date displayed
before disconnecting the battery.
or
X Subtract the battery disconnection periods
from the service date shown on the display
after reconnecting the battery.
Hiding a service message X
Press the .reset button on the instru-
ment cluster (Y page 25).
Service overdue A display message is shown in the multi-func-
tion display, for example:
Service A exceeded by .. days
Service A exceeded by .. km
You will also hear a warning tone.
i If you fail to have the service performed
by the specified date, you may be violating
applicable laws. Your warranty may be inva-
lidated and goodwill settlements may be
refused.
Calling up a service due date X
Switch on the ignition.
X Press VorU to select the standard
display menu on the steering wheel
(Y page 99).
X Press &or* to select the service
information.
The multi-function display shows the
¯ symbol and the service due date. AdBlue
®
service indicator
i For Blue-TEC vehicles only.
The BlueTEC exhaust gas aftertreatment
must be operated with a reducing agent
(AdBlue ®
) in order for it to function correctly.
AdBlue ®
is topped up as part of maintenance
work. Under normal operating conditions, a
full tank of AdBlue ®
should last until the next
service due date.
Depending on how and where the vehicle is
used, there may be an increase in the
AdBlue ®
consumption. If the AdBlue ®
supply
does not last until the next service, it will be
necessary to top it up sooner.
The following messages tell you about the
AdBlue ®
supply:
Refill AdBlue at workshop See Own‐
er's Manual
Refill AdBlue at workshop No start
in: ... km
Before taking a trip with your vehicle outside
Europe, have the AdBlue ®
supply checked
and, if necessary, topped up at a qualified
specialist workshop. Before using your vehi-
cle for an extended period in countries out-
side Europe, contact a qualified specialist
workshop.
! Have the AdBlue ®
tank topped up at a
qualified specialist workshop only. The
vehicle may otherwise be damaged or
soiled.
Damage or consequential damage is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz implied
warranty.
You can obtain general information about
BlueTEC exhaust gas aftertreatment and
AdBlue ®
from any Mercedes-Benz Service
Centre.
Further information about AdBlue ®
(Y page 288). 200
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Where will I find...?
Warning triangle
The warning triangle is located in the stowage
space under the luggage compartment floor. X
Pull release handle ;.
X Fold luggage compartment floor :
upwards.
Removing the warning triangle X
Remove warning triangle :.Setting up the warning triangle X
Fold feet =down and out to the side.
X Pull side reflectors ;up to form a triangle
and lock them at the top using press-
stud :. First-aid kit
i Check the expiry date of the first-aid kit
annually, and replace the contents when
necessary.
The first-aid kit is located behind the side trim
in the luggage compartment. X
Open the side trim (Y page 259).
X Remove first-aid kit :. Fire extinguisher*
i Have the fire extinguisher refilled after
each use and checked every two years.
Otherwise, it may fail in an emergency. 208
Where will I find...?Practical advice
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