ignition MERCEDES-BENZ GLK SUV 2012 Owners Manual

G
WARNING
There is a risk of injury if the bonnet is open,
even if the engine is not running.
Some engine components can become very
hot.
To avoid the risk of burns, only touch those
components described in the Owner's Manual
and observe the relevant safety notes. G
WARNING
The radiator fan between the radiator and the
engine can start automatically, even if the key
has been removed from the ignition lock. For
this reason, you must not reach into the fan
rotation area. You could otherwise be injured.
Vehicles with a petrol engine: The elec-
tronic ignition system uses high voltage. For
this reason, you must never touch ignition
system components (ignition coil, ignition
cables, spark plug connectors or test socket)
while:
R the engine is running
R the engine is being started
R the ignition is switched on and the engine
is being cranked by hand
You could otherwise suffer an electric shock
and be seriously or even fatally injured.
Vehicles with a diesel engine: The elec-
tronic injection control uses high voltage. For
this reason, you must never touch injection
system components while:
R the engine is running
R the engine is being started
R the ignition is switched on
You could otherwise suffer an electric shock
and be seriously or even fatally injured.
X Make sure that the windscreen wipers are
switched off. G
WARNING
The windscreen wipers and wiper linkage
could be set in motion. When the bonnet is open, you or others could
be injured by the wiper linkage.
Make sure that the windscreen wipers are
switched off. Remove the key or make sure
that no ignition position has been selected
with KEYLESS-GO. All indicator lamps must be
off in the instrument panel.
X
Pull release lever :on the bonnet.
The bonnet is released.
! Make sure that the windscreen wipers are
not folded away from the windscreen. Oth-
erwise, you could damage the windscreen
wipers or the bonnet. X
Reach into the gap, pull bonnet catch han-
dle ;up and lift the bonnet.
If you lift the bonnet by approximately
40 cm, the bonnet is opened and held open
automatically by the gas-filled struts. 314
Engine compartmentMaintenance and care

Adding engine oil
G
WARNING
If engine oil comes into contact with hot
engine parts, it may ignite and you could burn
yourself. Do not spill any engine oil on hot
engine parts. H
Environmental note
When topping up the oil, take care not to spill
any. If oil enters the soil or waterways, it is
harmful to the environment.
! Only use engine oils and oil filters that
have been approved for vehicles with a
service system. You can obtain a list of the
engine oils and oil filters tested and
approved in accordance with the
Mercedes-Benz Specifications for Service
Products at any Mercedes-Benz Service
Centre.
Damage to the engine or exhaust system is
caused by the following:
R using engine oils and oil filters that have
not been specifically approved for the
service system
R changing the engine oil and oil filter after
missing the change interval required by
the service system
R using engine oil additives
! Do not add too much oil. If the oil level is
above the "max" mark on the dipstick, too
much oil has been added. This can lead to
damage to the engine or the catalytic con-
verter. Have excess oil siphoned off. Example: engine oil filler cap
X
Turn cap :anti-clockwise and remove it.
X Top up the engine oil.
If the oil level is at or below the MIN mark
on the oil dipstick, add 1.0 litre of engine
oil.
X Replace cap :on the filler neck and turn
clockwise.
Make sure that the cap locks securely into
place.
X Check the oil level again with the oil dip-
stick (Y page 315).
For further information on engine oil, see
(Y page 369). Checking and adding other service
products
Checking the coolant level G
WARNING
The cooling system is pressurised. Therefore,
only unscrew the cap once the engine has
cooled down. The coolant temperature gauge
must display less than 70 † . Otherwise, you
could be scalded if hot coolant escapes.
Only check the coolant level if the vehicle is
on a level surface and the engine has cooled
down.
X Turn the key to position 2(Y page 147) in
the ignition lock. 316
Engine compartmentMaintenance and care

i
The vehicle should preferably be washed
by hand using a soft sponge, car shampoo
and plenty of water.
i Use only insect remover and car shampoo
from the range of recommended and
approved Mercedes-Benz care products.
Cleaning the windows G
WARNING
Switch off the windscreen wipers and remove
the key from the ignition lock before cleaning
the windscreen or the wiper blades. On vehi-
cles with KEYLESS-GO, press the Start/Stop
button repeatedly until all indicator lamps in
the instrument cluster have gone off. The
windscreen wipers could otherwise move and
injure you.
! Only fold the windscreen wipers away
from the windscreen when vertical. Other-
wise, you will damage the bonnet.
! Do not use dry cloths, abrasive products,
solvents or cleaning agents containing sol-
vents to clean the inside of the windows.
Do not touch the insides of the windows
with hard objects, e.g. an ice scraper or
ring. There is otherwise a risk of damaging
the windows.
! Clean the water drainage channels of the
windscreen and the rear window at regular
intervals. Deposits such as leaves, petals
and pollen may under certain circumstan-
ces prevent water from draining away. This
can lead to corrosion damage and damage
to electronic components.
X Clean the inside and outside of the win-
dows with a damp cloth and a cleaning
agent that is recommended and approved
by Mercedes-Benz.
Cleaning the wiper blades G
WARNING
Switch off the windscreen wipers and remove
the key from the ignition lock before cleaning the windscreen or the wiper blades. On vehi-
cles with KEYLESS-GO, press the Start/Stop
button repeatedly until all indicator lamps in
the instrument cluster have gone off. The
windscreen wipers could otherwise move and
injure you.
! Only fold the windscreen wipers away
from the windscreen when vertical. Other-
wise, you will damage the bonnet.
! Do not pull on the wiper blade. Otherwise,
the wiper blade could be damaged.
! Do not clean wiper blades too often and
do not rub them too hard. Otherwise, the
graphite coating could be damaged. This
could cause wiper noise.
! Hold the wiper arm securely when folding
back. The windscreen could be damaged if
the wiper arm hits against it suddenly.
X Fold the wiper arms away from the wind-
screen.
X Clean the wiper blades carefully using a
damp cloth.
X Fold the windscreen wipers back again
before switching on the ignition.
Cleaning the exterior lighting !
Only use cleaning agents or cleaning
cloths that are suitable for plastic lenses.
Unsuitable cleaning agents or cleaning
cloths could scratch or damage the plastic
lenses of the exterior lighting.
X Clean the plastic lenses of the exterior
lighting using a wet sponge and a mild
cleaning agent, e.g. Mercedes-Benz car
shampoo. Or clean the exterior lighting
with cleaning cloths.
Cleaning the mirror turn signal !
Only use cleaning agents or cleaning
cloths that are suitable for plastic lenses.
Unsuitable cleaning agents or cleaning 320
CareMaintenance and care

i
Fully deflating the tyre may take a few
minutes.
X Screw the valve insert back into the valve.
X Screw the valve cap back on.
X Place the valve extractor back into the vehi-
cle tool kit.
X Stow the collapsible emergency spare
wheel in the emergency spare wheel well
under the luggage compartment and fasten
in place. Flat tyre
Preparing the vehicle
Your vehicle may be equipped with:
R a TIREFIT kit
R an emergency spare wheel
X Stop the vehicle as far away as possible
from traffic on solid, non-slippery and level
ground.
X Switch on the hazard warning lamps.
X Firmly depress the parking brake.
X Bring the front wheels into the straight-
ahead position.
X Vehicles with manual transmission:
engage first or reverse gear.
X Vehicles with automatic transmission:
move the DIRECT SELECT lever to P.
X Switch off the engine.
X Vehicles without KEYLESS-GO: remove
the key from the ignition lock.
X Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO: open the
driver's door.
The on-board electronics have status 0,
which is the same as the key having been
removed.
X Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO: remove the
Start/Stop button from the ignition lock
(Y page 147). X
All occupants must get out of the vehicle.
Make sure that they are not endangered as
they do so.
X Make sure that no one is near the danger
area while a wheel is being changed. Any-
one who is not directly assisting in the
wheel change should, for example, stand
behind the barrier.
X Get out of the vehicle. Pay attention to traf-
fic conditions when doing so.
X Close the driver's door.
X Place the warning triangle (Y page 326) a
suitable distance away. Observe legal
requirements. TIREFIT kit
Using the TIREFIT kit TIREFIT is a tyre sealant.
You can use TIREFIT to seal punctures of up
to 4 mm, particularly those in the tyre tread.
You can use TIREFIT at outside temperatures
down to Ò20 †. G
WARNING
In the following situations, the tyre sealant is
unable to provide sufficient breakdown assis-
tance, as it is unable to seal the tyre properly:
R there are cuts or punctures in the tyre
larger than those mentioned above.
R the wheel rim is damaged.
R you have driven at very low tyre pressures
or on a flat tyre.
There is a risk of accident.
Do not drive any further. Contact a qualified
specialist workshop.
X Do not remove any foreign objects which
have penetrated the tyre, e.g. screws or
nails.
X Remove the tyre sealant bottle, the accom-
panying "max. 80 km/h" sticker and the
tyre inflation compressor from the stowage Flat tyre
329Breakdown assistance Z

well underneath the luggage compartment
floor (Y page 327). X
Affix part :of the sticker within the driv-
er's field of vision.
X Affix part ;of the sticker near the valve
on the wheel with the defective tyre. G
WARNING
The tyre sealant is harmful and causes irrita-
tion. It must not come into contact with your
skin, eyes or clothing or be swallowed. Do not
inhale TIREFIT fumes. Keep tyre sealant away
from children. There is a risk of injury.
If you come into contact with the tyre sealant,
observe the following:
R Rinse off the tyre sealant from your skin
immediately with water.
R If the tyre sealant comes into contact with
your eyes, immediately rinse them thor-
oughly with clean water.
R If tyre sealant is swallowed, immediately
rinse your mouth out thoroughly and drink
plenty of water. Do not induce vomiting,
and seek medical attention immediately.
R Immediately change out of clothing which
has come into contact with tyre sealant.
R If an allergic reaction occurs, seek medical
attention immediately.
i If tyre sealant leaks out, allow it to dry. It
can then be removed like a layer of film.
If you get tyre sealant on your clothing,
have it cleaned as soon as possible with
perchloroethylene. X
Pull plug ?with the cable and hose Aout
of the housing.
X Screw hose Aonto flange Bof tyre seal-
ant bottle :.
X Place tyre sealant bottle :head down-
wards into recess ;of the tyre inflation
compressor. X
Remove the cap from valve Con the faulty
tyre.
X Screw filler hose Donto valve C.
X Insert connector ?into the cigarette
lighter socket (Y page 307) or into a 12 V
socket (Y page 307) in your vehicle.
X Turn the key to position 1(Y page 147)in
the ignition lock.
X Press on/off switch =on the tyre inflation
compressor to I.
The tyre inflation compressor is switched
on. The tyre is inflated.
i First, tyre sealant is pumped into the tyre.
The pressure can briefly rise to approx-
imately 500 kPa (5 bar/73 psi). 330
Flat tyreBreakdown assistance

Be sure to use the original-length wheel bolts
when refitting the original wheel after it has
been repaired.
X Clean the wheel and wheel hub contact
surfaces. X
Place the emergency spare wheel on the
wheel hub and push it on.
X Tighten the wheel bolts until they are fin-
ger-tight.
X Inflate the collapsible emergency spare
wheel (Y page 336).
Inflating the collapsible emergency
spare wheel !
Inflate the collapsible emergency spare
wheel using the tyre inflation compressor
before lowering the vehicle. The wheel rim
could otherwise be damaged. X
Pull connector ?and the air hose out of
the housing.
X Remove the cap from the valve on the col-
lapsible emergency spare wheel. X
Screw union nut :on the air hose onto the
valve.
X Make sure on/off switch Aof the tyre
inflation compressor is set to 0.
X Insert connector ?into the cigarette
lighter socket (Y page 307) or into a 12 V
socket ( Ypage 307) in your vehicle.
X Make sure that the key is in position
1(Y page 147)in the ignition lock.
X Press on/off switch Aon the tyre inflation
compressor to I.
The tyre inflation compressor is switched
on. The tyre is inflated. The tyre pressure is
shown on pressure gauge =.
! Do not operate the tyre inflation com-
pressor for longer than eight minutes at a
time without a break. It may otherwise
overheat.
The tyre inflation compressor can be oper-
ated again once it has cooled down.
X Pump the tyre to the specified tyre pres-
sure.
The specified tyre pressure is printed on
the yellow label of the emergency spare
wheel.
X When the specified tyre pressure has been
reached, press on/off switch Aon the
electric air pump to 0.
The tyre inflation compressor is switched
off.
X Turn the key to position 0in the ignition
lock.
X If the tyre pressure is higher than the speci-
fied pressure, press pressure release but-
ton ;until the correct tyre pressure has
been reached.
X Unscrew union nut :on the air hose from
the valve.
X Screw the valve cap onto the collapsible
emergency spare wheel valve again. 336
Flat tyreBreakdown assistance

!
You should have all work involving the
battery carried out at a qualified specialist
workshop. In the exceptional case that it is
necessary for you to disconnect the battery
yourself, make sure that:
R you switch off the engine and remove the
key. On vehicles with KEYLESS-GO,
ensure that the ignition is switched off.
Check that all the indicator lamps in the
instrument cluster are off. Otherwise,
electronic components, such as the
alternator, may be damaged.
R you first remove the negative terminal
clamp and then the positive terminal
clamp. Never swap the terminal clamps.
Otherwise, the vehicle's electronic sys-
tem may be damaged.
R in vehicles with automatic transmission,
the transmission is locked in position P
after disconnecting the battery. The vehi-
cle is secured against rolling away. You
can then no longer move the vehicle.
The battery and the cover of the positive
terminal clamp must be fitted securely dur-
ing operation.
In order for the battery to achieve the maxi-
mum possible service life, it must always be
sufficiently charged.
Have the battery charge checked more fre-
quently if you use the vehicle mainly for short
trips or if you leave it standing idle for a
lengthy period. Consult a qualified specialist
workshop if you wish to leave your vehicle
parked up for a long period of time.
Like other batteries, the vehicle battery may
discharge over time if you do not use the
vehicle. In such cases, have the battery dis-
connected at a qualified specialist workshop.
You can also charge the battery with a
charger recommended by Mercedes-Benz.
For more information, please contact a quali-
fied specialist workshop.
i When you park the vehicle, remove the
key if you do not require any electrical con-
sumers. The vehicle will then use very little
energy, thus conserving battery power. i
If the power supply has been interrupted,
e.g. if the battery was discharged, you will
have to:
R set the clock; see the separate operating
instructions.
For vehicles with Audio 20 and a 4-button
multifunction steering wheel, see "Date/
Time" (Y page 227).
R reset the panorama sliding sunroof
(Y page 93).
R reset the function for automatically fold-
ing the exterior mirrors in/out by folding
the mirrors out once (Y page 104). Charging the battery
G
WARNING
Only charge the battery in a well-ventilated
area. As the battery is being charged, gases
can escape and generate minor explosions.
This could injure you and other persons or
cause damage to the paintwork or acid cor-
rosion on the vehicle.
You can obtain information on battery charg-
ers which allow the battery to be charged
while still installed from a qualified specialist
workshop. G
WARNING
There is a risk of acid burns during the charg-
ing process due to the gases which escape
from the battery. Do not lean over the battery
during the charging process. G
WARNING
Battery acid is caustic. Avoid contact with the
skin, eyes or clothing.
! Only charge the installed battery with a
battery charger which has been tested and
approved by Mercedes-Benz. These battery
chargers allow the battery to be charged
while still installed in the vehicle.
! Only use battery chargers with a maxi-
mum charging voltage of 14.8 V. Battery (vehicle)
339Breakdown assistance Z

R
the engine is not running.
R there is a brake system malfunction.
R there is a malfunction in the power supply
or the vehicle's electrical system.
The power assistance for the steering and the
brake force booster do not work when the
engine is not running. You will need more
force to steer and brake, you may have to
depress the brake pedal with maximum force.
Before towing away, make sure that the steer-
ing can be moved and is not locked.
If you tow or tow-start another vehicle, its
weight must not exceed the maximum per-
missible gross vehicle weight of your vehicle. G
WARNING
The vehicle is braked when the HOLD function
or DISTRONIC PLUS is activated. Therefore,
deactivate HOLD and DISTRONIC PLUS if the
vehicle is to be towed.
It is better to have the vehicle transported
than to have it towed.
! You may tow the vehicle for a maximum
of 50km. A towing speed of 50 km/h must
not be exceeded.
For towing distances over 50 km, the entire
vehicle must be lifted up and transported.
! Only secure the tow rope or towing bar to
the towing eyes. The vehicle may otherwise
be damaged.
! Do not use the towing eye for recovery,
as this could damage the vehicle. If in
doubt, recover the vehicle with a crane.
! Pull away smoothly when towing away or
tow-starting a vehicle. If the tractive power
is too high, the vehicles could be damaged.
! On vehicles with KEYLESS-GO, use the
key instead of the Start/Stop button. Turn
the key to position 2in the ignition lock and
shift the automatic transmission to N.
Then, turn the key back to 0and leave it in
the ignition lock. When towing a vehicle with an automatic
transmission, the transmission must be in
position
N.
The battery must be connected and charged.
Otherwise, you:
R cannot turn the key in the ignition lock to
position 2
R cannot shift the transmission to position
N on vehicles with automatic transmission
i Deactivate the automatic locking feature
(Y page 83). You could otherwise be locked
out when pushing or towing the vehicle.
Deactivate tow-away protection
(Y page 72) before the vehicle is towed. Fitting/removing the towing eye
Fitting the towing eye Vehicles with a trailer tow hitch: if you intend
to use the vehicle for towing, fit the ball cou-
pling (Y
page 217) and connect the towbar to
it.
X Remove the towing eye from the vehicle
tool kit ( Ypage 327). G
WARNING
The exhaust tail pipe may be hot. You could
burn yourself if you touch the tail pipe. Be
particularly careful when removing the rear
cover.
The mountings for the removable towing eyes
are located in the bumpers. They are at the
front and at the rear, under the covers. Towing and tow-starting
343Breakdown assistance Z

Vehicles without the AMG Sports package
Vehicles with the AMG Sports package
X
Press the mark on cover :inwards in the
direction of the arrow.
Rear bumpers on vehicles with the AMG
Sports package: insert your finger into the
round cutout of cover :and pull the cover
out of the bumper.
X Take cover :off the opening.
X Screw the towing eye in clockwise to the
stop and tighten it.
Removing the towing eye X
Loosen the towing eye and unscrew it.
X Attach cover :to the bumper and press
until it engages.
X Place the towing eye in the vehicle tool kit. Towing the vehicle with the rear axle
raised
Only possible on vehicles without 4MATIC
When towing your vehicle with the rear axle
raised, it is important that you observe the
safety instructions (Y page 342).
! The ignition must be switched off if you
are towing the vehicle with the rear axle
raised. Intervention by ESP ®
could other-
wise damage the brake system. Towing the vehicle with both axles on
the ground
It is important that you observe the safety
instructions when towing away your vehicle
(Y page 342). G
WARNING
The power assistance for the steering and the
brake force booster do not work when the
engine is not running. You will then need
much more effort to brake and steer the vehi-
cle. Adapt your style of driving accordingly.
X Switch on the hazard warning lamps
(Y page 114).
i When towing with the hazard warning
lamps switched on, use the combination
switch as usual to signal a change of direc-
tion. In this case, only the turn signals for
the desired direction flash. When you reset
the combination switch, the hazard warn-
ing lamps start flashing again.
X Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock.
X When the vehicle is stationary, depress the
brake pedal and keep it depressed.
X Vehicles with manual transmission:
depress the clutch pedal.
X Engage neutral.
or
X Vehicles with automatic transmission:
shift the automatic transmission to posi-
tion N. 344
Towing and tow-startingBreakdown assistance

X
Release the brake pedal.
X Release the parking brake. Transporting the vehicle
The towing eyes or trailer tow hitch can be
used to pull the vehicle onto a trailer or trans-
porter if you wish to transport it.
X Vehicles with manual transmission:
shift to neutral.
X Vehicles with automatic transmission:
turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock.
X Shift the automatic transmission to posi-
tion N.
As soon as the vehicle is loaded:
X Prevent the vehicle from rolling away by
applying the parking brake.
X Vehicles with manual transmission:
engage first or reverse gear.
X Vehicles with automatic transmission:
shift the automatic transmission to posi-
tion P.
X Turn the key in the ignition lock to position
0 and remove the key from the ignition
lock.
X Secure the vehicle.
! Only lash the vehicle down by the wheels
or wheel rims, not by parts of the vehicle
such as axle or steering components. Oth-
erwise, the vehicle could be damaged. Notes for 4MATIC vehicles
! Vehicles with 4MATIC must not be towed
with the front or rear axle raised; otherwise,
the transmission may be damaged.
If the vehicle has transmission damage or
damage to the front or rear axle, have it trans-
ported on a transporter or trailer.
In the event of damage to the electrical
system If the battery is defective, the automatic
transmission will be locked in position
P. To
shift the automatic transmission to position
N, you must provide power to the vehicle's
electrical system in the same way as when
jump-starting (Y page 341).
Have the vehicle transported on a transporter
or trailer. Recovering a vehicle that has become
stuck
! When recovering a trapped vehicle, do not
jerk the vehicle or pull it at an angle. If the
tractive power is too high, the vehicles
could be damaged.
If the drive wheels get trapped on loose or
muddy ground, recover the vehicle with the
utmost care, especially so if the vehicle is
laden.
Never attempt to recover a vehicle with a
trailer attached.
Pull out the vehicle backwards, if possible,
using the tracks it made when it became
stuck. Tow-starting (emergency engine
starting)
When tow-starting, it is important that you
observe the safety instructions (Y page 342)
and the legal requirements for the relevant
countries.
! Vehicles with automatic transmission
must not be tow-started. The transmission
may otherwise be damaged.
You can find information on "Jump-starting"
at (Y page 341).
Before tow-starting the following conditions
must be fulfilled:
R the battery is connected.
R the engine has cooled down.
R the exhaust system has cooled down. Towing and tow-starting
345Breakdown assistance Z