MERCEDES-BENZ GLK SUV 2008 Owners Manual

waves. This may cause the maximum per-
missible water depth to be exceeded.
Failure to observe these notes may result
in damage to the engine, electrical systems
and transmission. Off-road driving
Points to remember
Off-road driving is only possible when the off-
road engineering package* ( Ypage 107) is
fitted. G
Risk of accident
Drive slowly in rough terrain with which you
are unfamiliar. This will allow you to detect
unexpected obstacles more easily and, there-
fore, to reduce the risk of an accident.
Do not make U-turns on mountain roads. Oth-
erwise, the vehicle could tip over. If a slope is
too steep for the vehicle, drive back in reverse
gear.
Do not drive at an angle up steep inclines.
Otherwise, the vehicle could tip over. If you
drive up a steep incline at an angle and the
vehicle threatens to overturn, steer into the
line of fall immediately.
Never allow the vehicle to roll backwards. The
braking effect of the engine cannot be utilised
in neutral. If you only use the service brake,
you could lose control of the vehicle. G
Risk of accident
Grains of sand, particles of dirt and other
abrasive materials can enter the brake sys-
tem. This can lead to excessive wear and
unpredictable braking efficiency.
After the brakes have been exposed to dirty
conditions, have them checked and cleaned
at a qualified specialist workshop, e.g. a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre. Otherwise,
there is a risk that braking power may be
insufficient in the event of an emergency, or
that braking efficiency may be unpredictable. Read this section before driving your vehicle
off-road. Practise by travelling over more gen-
tle off-road terrain first.
The following driving systems are specially
adapted to off-road driving:
R
Off-road drive program* (Y page 107)
R Off-road ABS (Y page 51)
R Off-road 4-ETS (Y page 53)
R Off-road ESP ®
(Y page 54)
R DSR (Downhill Speed Regulation)
(Y page 105) Off-road driving
G
Risk of accident
Damage to the vehicle creates the risk of an
accident for yourself and other road users. If
in doubt, have your vehicle checked at a quali-
fied specialist workshop which has the nec-
essary specialist knowledge and tools to carry
out the work required. Mercedes-Benz rec-
ommends that you use a Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre for this purpose. H
Environmental note
Protection of the environment is of primary
importance. Treat nature with respect.
Observe all prohibiting signs.
General information R
Stop your vehicle and, if necessary, select
the off-road drive program* (Y page 107)
before driving off-road.
R suitable for the off-road terrain. Make sure
there is always sufficient ground clearance
to prevent damage to the vehicle.
R Check that items of luggage and loads are
stowed safely and are well secured
(Y page 133).
R Always keep the engine running and in gear
when driving on a downhill gradient. Acti-
vate DSR. 158 Off-road drivingOperation
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R
Drive slowly and evenly, if necessary at a
walking pace.
R Ensure that the wheels are in contact with
the ground at all times.
R Drive with extreme care on unknown off-
road routes where visibility is poor. For
safety reasons, get out of the vehicle first
and survey the off-road route.
R Check the depth of water before fording
rivers and streams.
R Look out for obstacles such as rocks, holes,
tree stumps and furrows.
R Always keep the side windows and the pan-
orama sliding sunroof* closed during the
journey.
R Do not stray from marked routes or paths.
i Information about retrofitting special all-
terrain tyres is available from any
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
Checklist before driving off-road X
Engine oil level: check the engine oil and
top it up if necessary.
X Vehicle toolkit: check that the jack is
working and make sure you have the wheel-
brace, a robust tow cable and a folding
spade in the vehicle.
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 DSR ( Ypage 105).
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 /linings 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 Front approach/departure angle
:is maxi-
mum 23° and rear approach/departure Off-road driving
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angle
;is maximum 25° when the vehicle is
loaded and ready to drive.
Loaded and ready to drive means: a full tank,
all fluids topped up and the driver is in the
vehicle.
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 off-road drive pro-
gram*.
R Observe the warnings for off-road driving
(Y page 158).
R Drive slowly.
R Accelerate gently and make sure that the
wheels are gripping.
R Avoid high engine speeds, except when
driving on sandy and muddy routes with
high driving resistance.
R Select a shift range appropriate to the gra-
dient.
R Before tackling steep downhill gradients,
select shift range 1.
i Depress the brake pedal when stopping
on steep uphill gradients. Hill start assist
will aid you when you pull away again
(Y page 84).
Maximum gradient-climbing capability On good road surfaces, 70% of the maximum
gradient-climbing capability is available.
i If the load on the front axle is reduced
when pulling away on a steep uphill slope,
the front wheels have a tendency to spin.
4ETS recognises this and brakes the
wheels accordingly. The rear wheel torque
is increased and it is easier to pull away.
Brow of hill When driving up an uphill gradient, slightly
reduce pressure on the accelerator immedi-
ately before reaching the brow of the hill. Make use of the vehicle’s own impetus to
travel over the brow.
This style of driving prevents:
R
the vehicle from lifting off the ground on the
brow of a hill
R loss of traction
R the vehicle from travelling too quickly down
the other side
Driving downhill R
Drive slowly.
R Do not drive at an angle down steep
inclines. Steer into the line of fall and drive
with the front wheels aligned straight. Oth-
erwise, the vehicle could slip sideways, tip
and overturn.
R Before tackling steep downhill gradients,
select shift range 1.
R Activate DSR. If this is not sufficient, brake
gently. When doing so, make sure that the
vehicle is facing in the direction of the line
of fall.
R Check that the brakes are working normally
after a long downhill stretch.
i Off-road ABS is activated when the off-
road drive program *is selected.
At speeds below 30 km/h, the front wheels
lock cyclically during braking. The digging-
in effect achieved in the process reduces
the stopping distance when driving off-
road. The steerability of the vehicle is con-
siderably reduced when the wheels lock. Driving over obstacles
Observe the following rules when driving over
tree stumps, large stones and other obsta-
cles:
R Select the off-road drive pro-
gram* (Y page 107).
R Avoid high engine speeds. 160 Off-road drivingOperation
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R
Select shift range 1.
R Drive very slowly.
R As far as possible, try to drive straight over
the centre of obstacles, front wheel first,
then rear wheel.
! Obstacles could damage the floor of the
vehicle or components of the chassis. Ask
passengers for guidance when driving over
large obstacles. Any damage to the vehicle
always increases the risk of an accident. Fording
Water depth
:must not exceed 30 cm when
the vehicle is loaded and ready to drive.
Loaded and ready to drive means: a full tank,
all fluids topped up and the driver is in the
vehicle.
! The depth of water must not exceed
30 cm. Note that the possible water depth
is less in flowing water.
R Establish how deep the water is and the
characteristics of the body of water before
fording.
R Restrict the shift range to 1or 2.
R Avoid high engine speeds.
R Enter and exit the water at a flat place and
at a steady walking pace.
! Under no circumstances should you
accelerate before entering the water. The
bow wave could cause water to enter and damage the engine and neighbouring
assemblies.
R Drive slowly and at an even speed through
the water.
R Do not stop.
! Do not open any of the vehicle’s doors
while fording. Otherwise, water could get
into the vehicle interior and damage the
vehicle’s electronics and interior equip-
ment.
R Water offers a high degree of resistance,
and the ground is slippery and in some
cases unstable. Therefore, it is difficult and
dangerous to pull away in the water.
R Ensure that a bow wave does not form as
you drive.
R Clean any mud from the tyre tread after
crossing a ford.
R Apply the brakes to dry them after crossing
a ford. Driving on sand
Observe the following rules when driving on
sand:
R Select a shift range appropriate to the ter-
rain.
R Drive quickly to overcome the rolling resist-
ance. The vehicle could otherwise dig itself
into the sand.
R Drive in the tracks of other vehicles, if pos-
sible. Make sure that the ruts are not too
deep, that the sand is firm enough and that
your vehicle has sufficient ground clear-
ance. Off-road driving
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Ruts
Observe the following rules when driving
along ruts in off-road terrain or on roads with
loose gravel:
! Check that the ruts are not too deep and
that your vehicle has sufficient clearance.
Otherwise, your vehicle could be damaged
or bottom out and get stuck.
R Select the off-road drive program*
(Y page 107).
R Avoid high engine speeds.
R Select shift range 1.
R Drive slowly.
R Where ruts are too deep, drive with the
wheels on one side on the middle section
of turf if possible. Driving abroad
Points to remember
An extensive Mercedes-Benz Service network
is also available in other countries. The
Service Hotline's current telephone numbers
for use when you are abroad are to be found
in the "Service24h" chapter of the Service
Booklet.
Only low-octane fuel is available in certain
countries.
You can find further information about fuel
grades on (Y page 144). Symmetrical dipped beam
If your journey takes you to countries where
vehicles are driven on sides of the road oppo-
site to the country in which the vehicle is reg-
istered, your headlamps must be switched to
symmetrical dipped beam. Oncoming traffic
will be dazzled less.
X Have the headlamps switched over at a
qualified specialist workshop, e. g. a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre. G
Risk of accident
Remember to set the headlamps back to
asymmetrical dipped beam when you return
to driving on the same side of the road as that
of the country in which your vehicle was reg-
istered. You may otherwise dazzle the oncom-
ing traffic and could cause an accident. Trailer towing*
Fitting the ball coupling
X Make a note of the ball coupling key num-
ber.
i You can use this number to obtain a
replacement key from a Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre. G
Risk of injury
If the ball coupling does not engage correctly
when it is mounted, the vehicle/trailer com-
bination is not secured and the trailer could
come loose. This could cause an accident. Fit
the ball coupling carefully and make sure that
it engages in position correctly.
The detachable ball coupling is located in the
stowage well under the luggage compartment
floor (Y page 136).
X Take the ball coupling and the key from the
stowage well under the luggage compart-
ment floor. 162
Trailer towing*Operation
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X
Pull protective cap :down in the direction
of the arrow out of the ball coupling recess.
X Place protective cap :into the ball cou-
pling recess. X
Pull protective cap ;off the lock in the
handwheel.
X Insert key :into the ignition lock.
The red mark on the handwheel must be
aligned with the green area on the ball cou-
pling (fitting position). If this is not the case:
X Turn key :in the direction of the arrow.
The key is released. X
Pull handwheel ?away from the ball cou-
pling and turn it clockwise until it engages.
The green area on the ball coupling is
aligned with the red mark on the hand-
wheel.
X Insert the ball coupling in the direction of
the arrow into ball coupling recess =until
it engages.
Handwheel ?turns so that green mark
A on the handwheel is aligned with green
area Bon the ball coupling. X
Turn key :to the stop in the direction of
the arrow to lock.
X Remove key :.
X Press protective cap ;onto the lock.
i You can store the key in the ball coupling
stowage compartment in the luggage com-
partment. X
Fold trailer power socket :down. G
Risk of accident
The ball coupling is only securely mounted
when the green mark on the handwheel is
aligned with the green area on the ball cou-
pling and the key can be removed. If the ball
coupling is not securely mounted, it may
come loose.
The ball coupling must be locked and the key
must be removed when towing a trailer. This
is the only way to guarantee that the ball cou-
pling is secured and cannot come loose while
the vehicle is in motion. If the ball coupling
cannot be locked and the key cannot be Trailer towing*
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removed, remove the ball coupling and clean
it.
If the ball coupling can still not be fitted
(locked) after it has been cleaned, remove the
ball coupling. The trailer coupling must then
not be used to tow a trailer, as safe operation
is not guaranteed.
Have the entire trailer coupling checked at a
qualified specialist workshop. Mercedes-
Benz recommends that you use a Mercedes-
Benz Service Centre for this purpose. In par-
ticular, work relevant to safety or on safety-
related systems must be carried out at a quali-
fied specialist workshop. Notes on towing a trailer
G
Risk of accident
When reversing the vehicle towards the
trailer, make sure there is nobody between
the trailer and the vehicle.
Couple and uncouple the trailer carefully. If
you do not couple the trailer to the towing
vehicle correctly, the trailer could become
detached.
Make sure that the following values are not
exceeded:
R the permissible trailer drawbar noseweight
R the permissible trailer load
R the permissible rear axle load of the towing
vehicle
R the maximum permissible gross vehicle
weight of both the towing vehicle and the
trailer
You will find the applicable permissible val-
ues, which must not be exceeded, in the vehi-
cle documents.
You will find the values approved by the man-
ufacturer on the vehicle identification plates
and those for the towing vehicle in the "Tech-
nical data" section. You will find installation dimensions and loads
in the "Technical data" section
(Y page 253).
The maximum drawbar load of the trailer
drawbar on the ball coupling is 80 kg. How-
ever, the actual noseweight must not exceed
the value given on the trailer coupling and
trailer identification plates. The lowest weight
applies.
! Use a noseweight as close as possible to
the maximum permissible noseweight. Do
not use a noseweight of less than 50 kg,
otherwise the trailer may come loose.
Bear in mind that the payload and the rear
axle load are reduced by the actual nose-
weight.
i The height of the ball coupling changes
with the load of the vehicle. If necessary,
use a trailer with a height-adjustable trailer
drawbar.
Coupling up a trailer G
Risk of injury
Do not disconnect a trailer with an engaged
overrun brake. Otherwise, your hand could
become trapped between the bumper and
trailer drawbar.
! Do not disconnect a trailer with an
engaged overrun brake. Otherwise, your
vehicle could be damaged by the rebound-
ing of the overrun brake.
X Position the trailer level behind the vehicle.
X Couple up the trailer.
X Establish the electrical connection
between the vehicle and the trailer.
Driving tips i
Observe the notes on ESP ®
trailer stabi-
lisation (Y page 53).
In Germany, the maximum permitted speed
for vehicle/trailer combinations is 80 km/h. 164
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G
Risk of accident
A maximum speed of 80 km/h should not be
exceeded, even in countries where higher
speeds are permitted for vehicle/trailer com-
binations. This lowers the risk of an accident.
When towing a trailer, your vehicle's handling
characteristics will be different in comparison
to when driving without a trailer.
The vehicle/trailer combination:
R is heavier
R is restricted in its acceleration and gradi-
ent-climbing capability
R has an increased braking distance
R is affected more by strong crosswinds
R demands more sensitive steering
R consumes more fuel
On long and steep downhill gradients, you
must select shift range 1,2or 3in good time.
i This also applies if you have activated
cruise control* or Speedtronic*.
This will use the braking effect of the engine,
so less braking will be required to maintain
the speed. This relieves the load on the brake
system and prevents the brakes from over-
heating and wearing too quickly. If you need
additional braking, depress the brake pedal
repeatedly rather than continuously. G
Risk of accident
Never depress the brake pedal continuously
while the vehicle is in motion, e.g. never cause
the brakes to rub by applying constant slight
pedal pressure. This causes the brake system
to overheat, increases the braking distance
and can lead to the brakes failing completely. Driving tips
R
Maintain a greater distance from the vehi-
cle in front than when driving without a
trailer.
R Avoid braking abruptly. If possible, brake
gently at first to allow the trailer to run on.
Then, increase the braking force rapidly.
R The values given for gradient-climbing
capabilities from a standstill refer to sea
level. When driving in mountainous areas,
note that the power output of the engine,
and consequently the vehicle's gradient-
climbing capability, decrease with increas-
ing altitude.
If the trailer swings from side to side:
X Do not accelerate.
X Do not counter-steer.
X Brake if necessary. G
Risk of accident
On no account should you attempt to draw the
vehicle/trailer combination out by increasing
speed. Removing the ball coupling
X Pull the protective cap off the lock in the
handwheel.
X Insert the key into the lock in the hand-
wheel.
X Turn the key clockwise.
The lock is unlocked.
X Hold the ball coupling. Pull the handwheel
away from the ball coupling and turn it
clockwise until it engages.
The green area on the ball coupling is
aligned with the red mark on the hand-
wheel.
X Pull out the ball coupling downwards.
X Clean the ball coupling if it is dirty.
X Open the stowage well under the luggage
compartment floor. Trailer towing*
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X
Remove the protective cap from the ball
coupling recess.
X Press the protective cap into the ball cou-
pling recess until it engages.
X Store the ball coupling with the key inser-
ted in the ball coupling recess.
X Fold the trailer power socket upwards. G
Risk of accident
Do not carry the ball coupling in the vehicle
interior if it is not secured.
Otherwise, you and others could be injured by
the ball coupling being thrown around if you:
R brake sharply
R change direction suddenly
R are involved in an accident Trailer power supply
When it leaves the factory, your vehicle's
trailer socket outlet is equipped with a per-
manent power supply and a power supply that
is switched on via the ignition lock.
The permanent power supply is supplied via
trailer socket pin 9.
The power supply that is switched on via the
ignition lock is supplied via trailer socket pin
10.
! You can connect consumers with a power
rating of up to 240 W to the permanent
power supply and up to 180 W to the power
supply that is switched on via the ignition
lock.
You must not charge a trailer battery using
the power supply.
The trailer's permanent power supply is
switched off in the event of low vehicle supply
voltage and after six hours at the latest.
The trailer's turn signal lamps are only guar-
anteed to function when bulbs are used.
You can obtain further information about
installing the trailer electrics from a qualified
specialist workshop, e.g. a Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre. X
To switch the connected power supply
on or off: turn the key in the ignition lock
to position 2or 0, respectively. Trailer with 7-pin connector
If your trailer has a 7-pin connector, you can
connect it to the 13-pin socket on the ball
coupling using an adapter or, if necessary, an
adapter cable. Both of these can be obtained
at a qualified specialist workshop, e.g. at a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
Fitting the adapter X
Open the socket cover.
X Insert connector with lug :into
groove ;on the socket and turn the con-
nector clockwise to the stop.
X Make the cover engage.
X If you are using an adapter cable, secure
the cable to the trailer with cable ties.
! Make sure that there is sufficient cable
play so that the cable cannot become
detached when cornering. 166
Traile
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Service
ASSYST PLUS service interval display
The ASSYST PLUS service indicator tells you
when the next service is due.
The service due date is shown in the multi-
function display, for example:
Next service A in .. days
Next service A in ... km
Service A due
The letter indicates which service is due. A
stands for a minor service and Bfor a major
service. A number or another letter may be
displayed after the letter. This figure indicates
any necessary additional maintenance work
to be performed. If you report this displayed
information to a qualified specialist work-
shop, for example a Mercedes-Benz Service
Centre, they can inform you of the costs the
service will incur.
The ASSYST PLUS service interval indicator
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
Multi-function steering wheel (4 but-
tons): pressC.
X Luxury multi-function steering
wheel*(12 buttons): press%or
a.
Service overdue A display message is shown in the multi-func-
tion display, for example:
Service A overdue by ... days Service A overdue by .. km
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 Multi-function steering wheel (4 buttons)
X
Switch on the ignition.
X Use V to select the Servicemenu.
Vehicles with a luxury multi-function
steering wheel*(12 buttons)
X Switch on the ignition.
X Press the =or; button to select the
Service menu.
X Press the 9or: button to select the
ASSYST PLUS submenu and confirm with
a.
The multi-function display shows the
service due date. Care
Notes on care
Regular and proper care maintains the value
of your vehicle.
i It is advisable to use Mercedes-Benz care
products.
Scratches, corrosive deposits, areas affected
by corrosion and damage caused by inade-
quate care cannot always be completely
repaired. In such cases, visit a qualified spe-
cialist workshop immediately, e.g. a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
Remove the following types of dirt immedi-
ately, whilst avoiding rubbing too hard.
Soak:
R insect remains with insect remover
R bird droppings with water Care
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