warning lights MERCEDES-BENZ GLA 2016 User Guide

You can select between the following states
of ESP ®
:R
ESP ®
is activated.R
SPORT handling mode is activated. R
ESP ®
is deactivated.
G WARNING
When SPORT handling mode is activated,
there is a greater risk of skidding and acci-
dents.
Only activate SPORT handling mode in the sit-
uations described in the following.
G WARNING
If you deactivate ESP ®
, ESP ®
no longer sta-
bilizes the vehicle. There is an increased risk
of skidding and an accident.
Only deactivate ESP ®
in the situations descri-
bed in the following.
In the following situations, it may be better to
activate SPORT handling mode or deactivate
ESP ®
: R
when using snow chains R
in deep snow R
on sand or gravel R
on specially designated roads when the
vehicle's own oversteering and understeer-
ing characteristics are desired
Driving in SPORT handling mode or without
ESP ®
requires an extremely qualified and
experienced driver.
i Activate ESP ®
as soon as the situations
described above no longer apply. ESP ®
will
otherwise not be able to stabilize the vehi-
cle if the vehicle starts to skid or a wheel
starts to spin.
! Avoid spinning the driven wheels for an
extended period with ESP ®
deactivated.
You could otherwise damage the drivetrain. Deactivating/activating ESP ®
X
To activate SPORT handling mode:
briefly press button C .
The t SPORT handling mode warning
lamp in the instrument cluster lights up.
The SPORT handling mode message
appears in the multifunction display. X
To deactivate SPORT handling mode:
briefly press button C .
The t SPORT handling mode warning
lamp in the instrument cluster goes out. X
To deactivate ESP ®
: press button C until
the

Mirrors
Rear-view mirror X
Anti-glare mode: flick anti-glare lever C
forwards or back.
Exterior mirrors
Adjusting the exterior mirrors
G WARNING
You could lose control of your vehicle if you do
the following while driving: R
adjust the driver's seat, head restraint,
steering wheel or mirrors R
fasten the seat belt
There is a risk of an accident.
Adjust the driver's seat, head restraint, steer-
ing wheel and mirror and fasten your seat belt
before starting the engine.
G WARNING
The exterior mirror on the front-passenger
side reduces the size of the image. Visible
objects are actually closer than they appear.
This means that you could misjudge the dis-
tance from road users traveling behind, e.g.
when changing lane. There is a risk of an acci-
dent.
For this reason, always make sure of the
actual distance from the road users traveling
behind by glancing over your shoulder. X
Turn the SmartKey to position 1 or 2 in the
ignition lock ( Y
page 149). X
Press button C for the left-hand exterior
mirror or button D for the right-hand exte-
rior mirror.
The indicator lamp in the corresponding
button lights up in red.
The indicator lamp goes out again after
some time. You can adjust the selected
mirror using adjustment button

matically depending on the brightness of
the ambient light. R
With the engine running: if you have acti-
vated the daytime running lamps function
via the on-board computer, the daytime
running lamps or the parking lamps and the
low-beam headlamps are switched on or off
automatically depending on the brightness
of the ambient light. X
To switch on the automatic headlamp
mode: turn the light switch to the X
position.
G WARNING
When the light switch is set to X , the low-
beam headlamps may not be switched on
automatically if there is fog, snow or other
causes of poor visibility due to the weather
conditions such as spray. There is a risk of an
accident.
In such situations, turn the light switch to
X .
The automatic headlamp feature is only an
aid. The driver is responsible for the vehicle's
lighting at all times.
Canada only:
The daytime running lamps improve the visi-
bility of your vehicle during the day. The day-
time running lamps function is required by law
in Canada. It cannot therefore be deactivated.
When the engine is running and the vehicle is
stationary: if you move the selector lever from
a drive position to P , the daytime running
lamps/low-beam headlamps go out after
three minutes.
When the engine is running, the vehicle is
stationary and in bright ambient light: if you
turn the light switch to the ` position, the
daytime running lamps and parking lamps
turn on.
If the engine is running and you turn the light
switch to the X position, the manual set-
tings take precedence over the daytime run-
ning lamps.
USA only: The daytime running lamps improve the visi-
bility of your vehicle during the day. To do this,
the daytime running lamps function must be
switched on using the on-board computer
( Y
page 230).
If the engine is running and you turn the light
switch to the ` or X position, the man-
ual settings take precedence over the day-
time running lamps.
Low-beam headlamps
Even if the light sensor does not detect that it
is dark, the parking lamps and low-beam
headlamps switch on when the ignition is
switched on and the light switch is set to the
X position. This is a pa rticularly useful
fu nction in the event of rain and fog. X
To switch on the low-beam headlamps:
turn the SmartKey in the ignition lock to
position 2 or start the engine. X
Turn the light switch to X .
The green X indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster lights up.
Front fog lamps
In conditions where visibility is poor due to
fog, snow or rain, the fog lamps improve vis-
ibility as well as making it easier for other road
users to see you. They can be operated
together with the parking lamps or together
with the parking lamps and low-beam head-
lamps. X
To switch on the fog lamps: turn the key
in the ignition lock to position 2 or start the
engine. X
Turn the light switch to X or X .X
Press the Z button.
The green Z indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster lights up. X
To switch off the fog lamps: press the
Z button.
The green Z indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster goes out. Exterior lighting 117
Lights and windshield wipers Z

adjusted using COMAND or Audio 20 (see the
separate Operator's Manual).
Manual interior lighting control X
To switch the front interior lighting on:
set the switch to the J position.X
To switch the front interior lighting off:
set the switch to the 3 position or (if the
door is closed) to the center position. X
To switch the rear interior lighting on or
off: press the B button.X
To switch the reading lamp on or off:
press the = button.
Crash-responsive emergency lighting The interior lighting is activated automatically
if the vehicle is involved in an accident. X
To switch off the crash-responsive
emergency lighting: press the hazard
warning lamp button.
or X
Lock and then unlock the vehicle using the
SmartKey.
Replacing bulbs
Important safety notes
Xenon bulbs
G DANGER
Xenon bulbs carry a high voltage. You can get
an electr ic shock if you remove the cover of
the Xenon bulb and touch the electrical con-
tacts. There is a risk of fatal injury.
Never touch the parts or the electrical con-
tacts of the Xenon bulb. Alwa ys have work on
the Xenon bulbs carried out at a qualif ied spe-
cialist worksho p.
If your vehicle is equipped with Xenon bulbs,
you can recognize this by the following: the
cone of light from the Xenon bulbs moves
from the top to the bottom and back again when you start the engine. For this to be
observed, the lights must be switched on
before starting the engine.
Bulbs and lamps are an important aspect of
vehicle safety. You must therefore make sure
that these function correctly at all times.
Have the headlamp setting checked regularly.
Other bulbs
G WARNING
Bulbs, lamps and connectors can get very hot
when operating. If you change a bulb, you
could burn yourself on these components.
There is a risk of injury.
Allow these components to cool down before
changing a bulb.
Do not use a bulb that has been dropped or if
its glass tube has been scratched.
The bulb may explode if: R
you touch it R
it is hot R
you drop it R
you scratch it
Only operate bulbs in enclosed lamps
designed for that purpose. Only install spare
bulbs of the same type and the specified volt-
age.
Marks on the glass tube reduce the service
life of the bulbs. Do not touch the glass tube
with your bare hands. If necessary, clean the
glass tube when cold with alcohol or spirit and
rub it off with a lint-free cloth.
Protect bulbs from moisture during opera-
tion. Do not allow bulbs to come into contact
with liquids.
There are bulbs other than the Xenon bulbs
that you cannot replace. Only replace the
bulbs listed ( Y
page 122). Have the bulbs that
you cannot replace yourself changed at a
qualified specialist workshop.
If you require assistance replacing bulbs, con-
sult a qualified specialist workshop.
If the new bulb still does not light up, consult
a qualified specialist workshop. Replacing bulbs 121
Lights and windshield wipers Z

Switching on/off X
Turn the key to position 0 in the ignition
lock or remove it ( Y
page 149).X
To activate: press the K button.
The indicator lamp in the K button lights
up. X
To deactivate: press the K button.
The indicator lamp in the K button goes
out.
i Residual heat is deactivated automati-
cally: R
after approximately 30 minutes R
when the ignition is switched on R
if the battery voltage drops
Air vents
Important safety notes
G WARNING
Very hot or very cold air can flow from the air
vents. This could result in burns or frostbite in
the immediate vicinity of the air vents. There
is a risk of injury.
Make sure that all vehicle occupants always
maintain a sufficient distance to the air out-
lets. If necessary, redirect the airflow to
another area of the vehicle interior.
In order to ensure the direct flow of fresh air
through the air vents into the vehicle interior,
please observe the following notes: R
keep the air inlet between the windshield
and the hood free of blockages, such as ice,
snow or leaves. R
never cover the air vents or air intake grilles
in the vehicle interior.
i For optimal climate control in the vehicle,
open the air vents completely and set the
adjusters to the central position. Setting the center air vents X
To open the center air vent: turn the
adjuster in one of center air vents C coun-
ter-clockwise to position H .X
To close the center air vent: turn the
adjuster in one of center air vents C clock-
wise as far as it will go to position I .
Setting the side air vents
C
Side window defroster vent D
Side air vent I
Side air vent open J
Side air vent closed X
To open a side air vent: turn the adjuster
in side air vent D to the left in position I .X
To close a side air vent: turn the adjuster
in side air vent D clockwise as far as it will
go to position J .144
Air vents
Climate control

Electric parking brake
General notes
G WARNING
If you leave children unsupervised in the vehi-
cle, they could set it in motion by, for example: R
release the parking brake. R
shift the automatic transmission out of the
parking position P .R
start the engine.
In addition, they may operate vehicle equip-
ment 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.
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. X
If this is the case, only park the vehicle on
level ground and secure it to prevent it roll-
ing away. X
Shift the automatic transmission to posi-
tion P .
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.
The electric parking brake performs a func-
tion test at regular intervals while the engine
is switched off. The sounds that can be heard
while this is occurring are normal. Applying or releasing manually X
To engage: push handle C .
When the electric parking brake is applied,
the red I (USA only) or $ (Canada
only) indicator lamp lights up in the instru-
ment cluster.
The electric parking brake can also be
applied when the SmartKey is removed. X
To release: pull handle C .
The red I (USA only) or $ (Canada
only) indicator lamp in the instrument clus-
ter goes out.
The electric parking brake can only be
released: R
when the SmartKey is in position 1 or 2 in
the ignition lock ( Y
page 149) or R
if the ignition was switched on using the
Start/Stop button
Applying automatically
The electric parking brake is automatically
applied when the transmission is in position P
and: R
the engine is switched off or R
the driver is not wearing a seat belt and the
driver's door is opened.
To prevent the electric parking brake from
being automatically applied, pull handle C .Parking 173
Driving and parking Z

Servicing the brakes
! The brake fluid level may be too low, if: R
if the red brake warning lamp lights up in
the instrument cluster and R
you hear a warning tone while the engine
is running
Observe additional warning messages in
the multifunction display.
The brake fluid level may be too low due to
brake pad wear or leaking brake lines.
Have the brake system checked immedi-
ately. Consult a qualified specialist work-
shop to arrange this.
! A function or performance test should
only be carried out on a 2-axle dynamom-
eter. If you wish to operate the vehicle on
such a dynamometer, please consult a
qualified specialist workshop in advance.
You could otherwise damage the drive train
or the brake system.
! As the ESP ®
system operates automati-
cally, the engine and the ignition must be
switched off (the SmartKey must be in posi-
tion 0 or 1 in the ignition lock) if:R
the electric parking brake is tested on a
brake dynamometer (for a maximum of
ten seconds) R
the vehicle is towed with the front axle
raised.
Braking triggered automatically by ESP ®
may seriously damage the brake system.
All checks and maintenance work on the
brake system must be carried out at a quali-
fied specialist workshop.
Have brake pads installed and brake fluid
replaced at a qualified specialist workshop.
If the brake system has only been subject to
moderate loads, you should test the function-
ality of your brakes at regular intervals.
You can find a description of Brake Assist
(BAS) on ( Y
page 66).
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you only
have brake pads/linings installed on your vehicle which have been approved for
Mercedes-Benz vehicles or which correspond
to an equivalent quality standard. Brake
pads/linings which have not been approved
for Mercedes-Benz vehicles or which are not
of an equivalent quality could affect your vehi-
cle's operating safety.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you only
use brake fluid that has been specially
approved for your vehicle by Mercedes-Benz,
or which corresponds to an equivalent quality
standard. Brake fluid which has not been
approved for Mercedes-Benz vehicles or
which is not of an equivalent quality could
affect your vehicle's operating safety.
Checking brake lining thickness You can measure the break pad/lining thick-
ness using a test gage. Color-coding (green or
red) on the test gage allows you to determine
whether the brake pad/lining thickness is still
sufficient. The test gage is in the vehicle docu-
ment wallet in the glove box.
Front wheel178
Driving tips
Driving and parking

detected vehicle turns a corner and reveals
an obstacle or stationary vehicle, DISTRONIC
PLUS will not brake for these.
Crossing vehicles
DISTRONIC PLUS may detect vehicles that
are crossing your lane by mistake. Activating
DISTRONIC PLUS at traffic lights with cross-
ing traffic, for example, could cause your vehi-
cle to pull away unintentionally.
HOLD function
General notes
The HOLD function can assist the driver in the
following situations: R
when pulling away, especially on steep
slopes R
when maneuvering on steep slopes R
when 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. Important safety notes
G WARNING
When leaving the vehicle, it can still roll away
despite being braked by the HOLD function if: R
there is a malfunction in the system or in
the voltage supply. R
the HOLD function has been deactivated by
pressing the accelerator pedal or the brake
pedal, e.g. by a vehicle occupant. R
the electrical system in the engine com-
partment, the battery or the fuses have
been tampered with. R
the 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 automati-
cally in certain situations.
To prevent damage to the vehicle, deacti-
vate DISTRONIC PLUS and the HOLD func-
tion in the following or other similar situa-
tions: R
when towing the vehicle R
in the car wash
Deactivating the HOLD function
( Y
page 194).
Activation conditions
You can activate the HOLD function if: R
the vehicle is stationary R
the engine is running or if it has been auto-
matically switched off by the ECO start/
stop function R
the driver's door is closed or your seat belt
is fastened R
the electric parking brake is released R
DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated R
the transmission is in position D , R or N on
vehicles with automatic transmission Driving systems 193
Driving and parking Z

Activating/deactivating DSR If you activat e DS R and no spee d has been
set , th e vehicl e decelerate s to 3 mph
(6 km/ h).
Yo u can only activate DSR when driving at
speeds below 20 mph (30 km/h).
Activating DSR X
Press button C .
Indicator lamp D lights up.
The status indicator in the multifunction
display shows, e.g. DSR 6 km/h
.
If the current vehicle speed is too high, the
DSR icon appears in the multifunction dis-
play. You will also see the message: Max.
Speed 30 km/h .
If you enter or exit a parking space using
Active Parking Assist, and press button C ,
indicator lamp D flashes. DSR can then not
be switched on.
Deactivating DSR X
Press button C .
Indicator lamp D goes out.
The DSR symbol appears in the multifunc-
tion display with the Off
message.
DSR switches off automatically if you drive
faster than 22 mph (35 km/h). The DSR sym-
bol appears in the multifunction display with
the Off message. You also hear a warning
tone. Display in the assistance graphic X
Select the Assistance Graphic function
using the on-board computer
( Y
page 227).
When DSR is activated symbol C appears
in the assistance graphics display.
Changing the set speed while the vehi-
cle is in motion
When DSR is activated, you can change the
set speed to a value between 2 mph and
11 mph (Canada: between 4 km/h and
18 km/h) while the vehicle is in motion. X
To increase or decrease in 1 mph incre-
ments (Canada: 1 km/h increments):
briefly press the cruise control lever to the
pressure point, up C for a higher set speed
or down D for a lower set speed.
The set value appears in the status indica-
tor of the multifunction display.198
Driving systems
Driving and parking

Problems with PARKTRONIC Problem
Possible causes/consequences and P Solutions
Only the red segments
in the PARKTRONIC
warning displays are lit.
You also hear a warning
tone for approximately
two seconds.
PARKTRONIC is then
deactivated and the
indicator lamp on the
PARKTRONIC button
lights up. PARKTRONIC has malfunctioned and has switched off. X
If problems persist, have PARKTRONIC checked at a qualified
specialist workshop.
Only the red segments
in the PARKTRONIC
warning displays are lit.
PARKTRONIC is then
deactivated. The PARKTRONIC sensors are dirty or there is interference. X
Clean the PARKTRONIC sensors ( Y
page 317).X
Switch the ignition back on.
The problem may be caused by an external source of radio or
ultrasound waves. X
See if PARKTRONIC functions in a different location.
Active Parking Assist
General notes
Active Parking Assist is an electronic parking
aid with ultrasound. It measures the road on
both sides of the vehicle. A parking symbol
indicates a suitable parking space. Active
steering intervention and brake application
can assist you during parking and when exit-
ing a parking space. You may also use
PARKTRONIC ( Y
page 200).
Important safety notes
Active Parking Assist is merely an aid. It is not
a replacement for your attention to your
immediate surroundings. You are always
responsible for safe maneuvering, parking
and exiting a parking space. Make sure that
no persons, animals or objects are in the
maneuvering range.
When PARKTRONIC is switched off, Active
Parking Assist is also unavailable. G WARNING
While parking or pulling out of a parking
space, the vehicle swings out and can drive
onto areas of the oncoming lane. This could
result in a collision with another road user.
There is a risk of an accident.
Pay attention to other road users. Stop the
vehicle if necessary or cancel the Active Park-
ing Assist parking procedure.
! If unavoidable, you should drive over
obstacles such as curbs slowly and not at a
sharp angle. Otherwise, you may damage
the wheels or tires.
Active Parking Assist may possibly indicate
parking spaces which are not suitable for
parking, for example: R
Where parking or stopping is prohibited R
In front of driveways or entrances and exits R
On unsuitable surfaces Driving systems 203
Driving and parking Z