engine MERCEDES-BENZ GLK SUV 2008 Workshop Manual

wheels to spin in a controlled manner, ach-
ieving an increased driving force (cutting
action). Winter driving
G
Risk of accident
Do not shift down for additional engine brak-
ing on a slippery road surface. This could
cause the drive wheels to lose their grip and
the vehicle could skid.
You should drive particularly carefully on slip-
pery road surfaces. Avoid sudden accelera-
tion, steering and braking manoeuvres.
If the vehicle threatens to skid or cannot be
stopped when moving at low speed:
X Shift the selector lever to N.
X Try to bring the vehicle under control by
using corrective steering. Driving tips
Rolling with the engine switched off
G
Risk of accident
Never switch the engine off while the vehicle
is in motion.
There is no power assistance for the steering
and the service brake when the engine is not
running.
You will require considerably more effort to
steer and brake and you could therefore lose
control of the vehicle and cause an accident. Braking
G
Risk of accident
Do not change down for additional engine
braking on a slippery road surface. This could
cause the drive wheels to lose their grip and
the vehicle could skid. G
Risk of accident
Make sure that other road users are not
endangered by your braking.
Downhill gradients On long and steep downhill gradients, espe-
cially if the vehicle is laden or towing a trailer,
you must select shift range
1,2or3 in 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.
Heavy and light loads If the brakes have been subjected to a heavy
load, do not stop the vehicle immediately, but
drive on for a short while. This allows the air-
flow to cool the brakes more quickly.
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.
If the brakes have been used only moderately,
you should occasionally test their effective-
ness. To do this, brake more firmly from a
higher speed. This improves the grip of the
brakes.
Wet roads If driving in heavy rain for a prolonged period
of time without braking, there may be a
delayed reaction from the brakes when brak-
ing for the first time. You must brake harder. 156 Driving tipsOperation
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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
161Operation
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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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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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and rinse off the treated surface afterwards.
Remove:
R tree resin, oils, fuels and greases by rub-
bing gently with a cloth soaked in petro-
leum ether or lighter fluid.
R tar stain with tar remover
R wax with silicone remover
! Do not affix to painted surfaces or plastic
surfaces:
R stickers
R films
R magnetic plates
R scented oil bottles or similar items
Otherwise, you could damage the paint fin-
ish or plastic. H
Environmental note
Dispose of empty packaging, cleaning cloths
and polishing wads in an environmentally
responsible manner. Vehicle care
! Do not park the vehicle for a long period
of time directly after cleaning, especially if
the wheels have just been cleaned with a
wheel cleaner. Wheel cleaners could cause
rapid corrosion of the brake discs and
brake pads/linings. After cleaning, park
the vehicle when it is at normal operating
temperature.
Automatic car wash You can wash the vehicle in an automatic car
wash from the beginning.
! Do not use a touch-free automatic car
wash that uses chemical agents to wash
the vehicle.
Preferably use automatic car washes without
brushes.
If the vehicle is very dirty, pre-wash it before
cleaning it in an automatic car wash. !
Make sure that the automatic car wash is
suitable for the size of the vehicle. Fold in
the exterior mirrors before the vehicle is
washed. There is otherwise a risk of dam-
age to the exterior mirrors.
! Make sure that the automatic transmis-
sion is not in position Pwhen washing your
vehicle in a tow-through car wash.
Do not remove the key from the ignition
lock. Do not open the driver's or front-
passenger door when the engine is
switched off, as this automatically shifts
the automatic transmission to park posi-
tion Pand locks the wheels, unless you
have previously shifted the automatic
transmission to N.
! Make sure that the side windows are com-
pletely closed, that the ventilation/heater
blower is fully turned off and that the wind-
screen wiper switch is set to 0. Otherwise,
the rain sensor may be activated, triggering
unintended wiper movements. This could
cause damage to the vehicle.
After using an automatic car wash, wipe off
wax and drying agents from the windscreen
and the wiper blades. This will prevent smears
and reduce wiping noises caused by residue
on the windscreen.
High-pressure cleaners G
Risk of accident
Do not use high-pressure cleaners with circu-
lar-jet nozzles (dirt grinders) to clean your
vehicle, in particular the tyres. Otherwise, you
could damage the tyres and cause an acci-
dent.
! Observe the instructions issued by the
equipment manufacturer concerning the
distance to be maintained between the
nozzle of the high-pressure cleaner and the
vehicle (at least 30 cm).
Move the high-pressure cleaner nozzle
around when cleaning your vehicle. 168 CareOperation
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The fire extinguisher is located underneath
the front of the driver's seat.
X
Pull tab :upwards.
X Remove fire extinguisher ;.
Vehicle tool kit, jack, TIREFIT kit and
collapsible spare wheel* The vehicle tool kit, TIREFIT kit and jack can
be found on the left-hand side (when viewed
in the direction of travel) of the stowage well
under the luggage compartment floor.
X
Open the stowage well under the luggage
compartment floor (Y page 136). G
Risk of injury
The jack is designed only to raise and hold the
vehicle for a short time while a wheel is being
changed.
You must use axle stands if you are carrying
out work on the vehicle.
Make sure that the jack is placed on a firm,
non-slip, level surface. Do not use wooden
blocks or similar objects as a jack underlay.
Otherwise, the jack will not be able to achieve
its load-bearing capacity due to the restricted
height.
Do not start the engine at any time while a
wheel is being changed.
Do not lie under the vehicle when it is being
supported by the jack. If you do not raise the
vehicle as described, it could slip off the jack
(e.g. if the engine is started or if a door or the tailgate is opened or closed) and you could be
seriously injured.
i When using the jack, you should also
observe the safety notes in the "Flat tyre"
section (Y page 222).
Vehicles with a TIREFIT kit :
Wheel wrench
; Towing eye
= Jack
? Folding wheel chock
A Electric air pump
B TIREFIT kit (behind the left-hand side pan-
elling)
Vehicles with collapsible emergency
spare wheel* Example
X
Remove stowage well :. Where will I find...?
175Practical advice
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Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
X
X Solutions G
Risk of accident
If the display message is shown and the dwarning lamp
flashes at the same time, ETS (Electronic Traction System) is
deactivated. Otherwise, the brakes on the drive wheels could
overheat.
X Let the brakes cool down until the display message disap-
pears and the dwarning lamp goes out.
ETS is reactivated. Check
brake
fluid
level
G
Risk of accident
There is insufficient brake fluid in the brake fluid reservoir. In
addition, the Jwarning lamp in the instrument cluster
lights up and a warning tone sounds.
X Pull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible,
paying attention to road and traffic conditions.
X Do not continue driving under any circumstances.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop.
Do not top up the brake fluid. This will not rectify the fault. To start
engine,
shift to P
or N To start
engine,
shift to
either P
or N You have attempted to start the engine and the selector lever
is in position
Dor R.
X Move the selector lever to Por N. Clean the
fuel fil-
ter There is water in the fuel filter. The water must be drained
off
28
.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. Top up
coolant The coolant level is too low.
X
Top up the coolant, observing the warning notes before
doing so (Y page 149).
X Have the engine cooling system checked at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop if the coolant needs topping up more often
than usual. 28
Only for certain vehicles. 180 Display
messagesPractical advice
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