heating MERCEDES-BENZ GLS SUV 2016 Owner's Manual

=
To switch the ZONE function on/off (Y page 137)
? To activate/deactivate cooling with air dehumidification (Y page 135)
To switch the residual heat on/off (Y page 140)
A To switch the rear window heating on/off (Y page 138)
B To set the temperature, right (Y page 136)
C To switch the rear climate control on/off
D To switch the climate control on/off (Y page 135)
E To set the air distribution (Y page 136)
F To increase the airflow (Y page 137)
G To reduce the airflow (Y page 137)
H Display
I To set the climate mode (Y page 136)
J To switch air-recirculation mode on/off (Y page 138)
K To set climate control to automatic mode (Y page 135)
Rear control panel
L To increase the airflow (Y page 137)
M To set the temperature (Y page 136)
N To control the rear-compartment climate control automatically (Y page 135)
O To direct the airflow through the rear air vents (Y page 136)
P To direct the airflow through the footwell vents (Y page 136)
Q To switch the rear climate control on/off (Y page 135)
R To reduce the airflow (Y page 137)Notes on using the automatic climate
control
Optimum use of the automatic climate
control The following contains notes and recommenda-
tions on how best to use THERMATIC automatic climate control or THERMOTRONIC.
R Activate climate control using the Ãand
Á buttons. The indicator lamps in the
à andÁ buttons light up.
R Vehicles with THERMOTRONIC:in auto-
matic mode, you can also use the ñbutton
to set a climate mode (FOCUS/MEDIUM/
DIFFUSE). The MEDIUM level is recommen-
ded.
R Set the temperature to 22 †.
R Use the "Windscreen demisting" function only
briefly until the windscreen is clear again.
R Use air-recirculation mode only briefly, e.g. if
there are unpleasant outside odours or when
in a tunnel. The windows could otherwise mist up as no fresh air is drawn into the vehicle in
air-recirculation mode. R
Vehicles with THERMOTRONIC:use the
ZONE function to adopt the temperature set-
tings on the driver's side for the front-
passenger side and the rear compartment as well. The indicator lamp above the ábut-
ton goes out.
R Vehicles with THERMOTRONIC:use the
"residual heat" function if you want to heat or
ventilate the vehicle interior when the ignitionis switched off. The residual heat function can
be activated or deactivated only with the igni- tion switched off.
R If you change the settings of the climate con-
trol system, the climate status display
appears for approximately three seconds at
the bottom of the screen in the multimedia
system display. You will see the current set-
tings of the various climate control functions.
During automatic engine switch-off, the climate
control operates only at a reduced capacity. If
you require the full climate control output, you
can switch off the ECO start/stop function by
pressing the ECO button (Y page 153).134
Overview of climate control systemsClimate control

Demisting the windows
Windows misted up on the inside X
Activate the ¿orÁ cooling with air
dehumidification function.
X Activate automatic mode Ã.
X If the windows continue to mist up, activate
the "Windscreen demisting" function
(Y page 137).
i You should only select this setting until the
windscreen is clear again.
Windows misted up on the outside X
Switch on the windscreen wipers.
X Press the _button repeatedly until the
P orO symbol appears in the display.
i You should only select this setting until the
windscreen is clear again.
i If you clean the windows regularly, they do
not mist up so quickly. Rear window heating
General notes The rear window heating has a high current
draw. You should therefore switch it off as soon
as the window is clear. It otherwise switches off automatically after several minutes.
If the battery voltage is too low, the rear window
heating may switch off.
Switching on/off X
Turn the key to position 2in the ignition lock
(Y page 148).
X Press the ¤button.
The indicator lamp in the ¤button lights
up or goes out.
Problems with the rear window heating Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
M MSolutions The rear window heating
has switched off prema-
turely or cannot be
switched on. The battery has not been sufficiently charged.
X Switch off any consumers that are not required, e.g. reading lamps,
interior lighting or the seat heating.
When the battery is sufficiently charged, the rear window heating
can be switched on again. Activating/deactivating air-recircula-
tion mode
General notes You can deactivate the flow of fresh air tempo-
rarily if unpleasant odours are entering the vehi-
cle from outside. The air already inside the vehi- cle will then be recirculated.
If you switch on air-recirculation mode, the win-
dows can mist up more quickly, in particular at
low temperatures. Only use air-recirculation
mode briefly to prevent the windows from mist- ing up. Switching on/off X
Turn the key to position 2in the ignition lock
(Y page 148).
X To activate: press thedbutton.
The indicator lamp in the dbutton lights
up.
i In the event of high pollution levels
(THERMOTRONIC automatic climate control
only) or at high outside temperatures, air-
recirculation mode is automatically activated.
When air-recirculation mode is activated
automatically, the indicator lamp in the d
button is not lit. 138
Operating the climate cont
rol systemClimate control

Switching the residual heat on/off
General notes It is possible to make use of the residual heat of
the engine to continue heating the stationary
vehicle for up to 30 minutesafter the engine has
been switched off. The heating time depends on
the set interior temperature.
Switching on/off X
To switch on: press theÌorÁ button.
The indicator lamp in the ÌorÁ button
lights up.
i The blower will run at a low speed regardless
of the airflow setting.
i If you activate the residual heat function at
high temperatures, only the ventilation will be
activated. The blower runs at medium speed.
X To switch off: press theÌorÁ but-
ton.
The indicator lamp in the ÌorÁ button
goes out.
Residual heat is deactivated automatically:
R after approximately 30 minutes
R when the ignition is switched on
R if the battery voltage drops
R when the auxiliary heating is switched on Ionisation
Ionisation is used to purify and freshen the air in
the vehicle interior, which is conducive to a
pleasant climate.
The ionisation of the interior air is odourless and cannot, directly, be perceived in the vehicle inte-
rior.
You can switch ionisation on and off via the mul- timedia system (see the separate operating
instructions).
Ionisation can only be operated when the auto-
matic climate control is switched on. The side air vent on the driver's side must be open. Auxiliary heating
Important safety notes G
DANGER
If the exhaust pipe is blocked or sufficient
ventilation is not possible, toxic exhaust
fumes can enter the vehicle, especially car-
bon monoxide. This is the case, e.g. in
enclosed spaces, or if the vehicle is stuck in
snow. There is a risk of fatal injuries.
You should switch off the auxiliary heating in
enclosed spaces which do not have an extrac- tion system, e.g. a garage. If the vehicle is
stuck in snow and you must leave the auxiliary
heating running, keep the exhaust pipe and
the area around the vehicle clear of snow. To guarantee a sufficient supply of fresh air, open
a window on the side of the vehicle away from the wind. G
WARNING
When the auxiliary heating is switched on,
parts of the vehicle can become very hot.
Flammable materials such as leaves, grass or twigs may ignite if they come into contact
with:
R hot parts of the exhaust system
R the exhaust gas itself
There is a risk of fire.
When the auxiliary heating is switched on,
make sure that:
R no flammable materials come into contact
with hot vehicle components
R the exhaust gas can escape from the
exhaust pipe unhindered
R the exhaust gas does not come into contact
with flammable materials.
The auxiliary heating is fitted under the front
wing on the left-hand side of the vehicle. The
emissions outlet is found behind the left front
wheel. ! Operating the auxiliary heating/ventilation
draws on the vehicle battery. After you have
heated or ventilated the vehicle a maximum of two times, drive for a longer distance. 140
Operating the climate control systemClimate control

Switch the auxiliary heating on regularly once a
month for about ten minutes.
The auxiliary heating heats the air in the vehicle interior to the set temperature. This occurs with-out using the heat of the running engine. The
auxiliary heating is operated directly using the
vehicle's fuel. For this reason, the tank content
must be at least at reserve fuel level to ensure
that the auxiliary heating functions.
The auxiliary heating or auxiliary ventilation
automatically adjusts to changes in tempera-
ture and weather conditions. For this reason,
the auxiliary heating could switch from ventila-
tion mode to heating mode or from heating
mode to ventilation mode.
The auxiliary heating switches off when the
engine is switched off. The auxiliary ventilation
switches off when you turn the key to position 2
(Y page 148).
The auxiliary heating switches off automatically
after 50 minutes. This time limit can be altered.
To do this, visit a qualified specialist workshop.
You cannot use the auxiliary ventilation to cool
the vehicle interior to a temperature lower than
the outside temperature.
Before switching on X
Turn the key to position 2in the ignition lock
(Y page 148).
X Set the desired temperature.
The auxiliary heating/ventilation can be activa-
ted even when climate control is set to manual.
Optimum comfort can be attained when the sys-
tem is set to automatic mode. Set the temper-
ature to 22 †.
The auxiliary heating or auxiliary ventilation can
be switched on/off using the button on the
centre console or the remote control.
The on-board computer can be used to specify
up to three departure times, one of which may
be preselected (Y page 253). Switching the auxiliary heating/venti-
lation on or off using the button on the
centre console General notes
The colours of the indicator lamps in button
:
mean the following:
R blue: auxiliary ventilation is switched on
R red: auxiliary heating is activated
R yellow: departure time is preselected
(Y page 253).
Switching on/off X To switch on the auxiliary heating or aux-
iliary ventilation:
press button:.
The red or blue indicator lamp in button :
lights up.
X To switch off the auxiliary heating or aux-
iliary ventilation: press button:.
The red or blue indicator lamp in button :
goes out.
Switching the auxiliary heating/venti-
lation on or off using the remote control General notes
Your vehicle comes with one remote control.
You may use two additional remote controls for
your vehicle. For more information, please con-
tact a qualified specialist workshop.
Store the remote control for the auxiliary heat-
ing so that the auxiliary heating cannot be
switched on unintentionally. In particular,
ensure that the remote control for the auxiliary
heating is kept out of the reach of children. Operating the climate control system
141Climate control Z

The remote control has a range of approximately
300 metres. This range is reduced by:
R sources of radio interference
R solid objects between the remote control and
the vehicle
R the remote control being in an unfavourable
position in relation to the vehicle
R transmitting from an enclosed space
If the remote control battery is low, the battery
symbol on the left of the display is shown as
empty. Replace the remote control battery and
observe the important safety notes when doing so (Y page 143).
Activating and deactivating the auxiliary
heating or auxiliary ventilation Remote control
:
Display
; u Activates the auxiliary heating or aux-
iliary ventilation
Checks the status
= . Sets the departure time
? ^ Deactivates the auxiliary heating or
auxiliary ventilation
A , Sets the departure time
X To activate: press and hold the ubutton.
ON is shown in the remote control display.
X To deactivate: press and hold the ^but-
ton.
OFF is shown in the remote control display.
Checking the status of the auxiliary heat-
ing or auxiliary ventilation
X Briefly press the ubutton. The following messages may appear in the dis-
play: Display Meaning
The auxiliary heating or
auxiliary ventilation is
switched off.
The auxiliary ventilation is
switched on. The number
in the display shows the
remaining time (in
minutes) for the auxiliary
ventilation.
The auxiliary heating is
switched on. The number
in the display shows the
remaining time (in
minutes) for the auxiliary
heating.
A departure time has been
activated. The departure
time appears in the dis-
play. A departure time has been
activated. The auxiliary
ventilation is currently
activated. The number in
the display shows the
remaining time (in
minutes) for the auxiliary
ventilation. If the vehicle is
not started after this time, the running time is
increased by five minutes. A departure time has been
activated. The auxiliary
heating is currently activa-
ted. The number in the dis- play shows the remaining
time (in minutes) for the
auxiliary heating. If the
vehicle is not started after
this time, the running time is increased by five
minutes. If the engine has not yet reached operating tem-
perature when it is started, the auxiliary heating running time is increased. The auxiliary heating
continues to run until the operating temperature
is reached. If this is the case, the ysymbol 142
Operating the climate control systemClimate control

appears in the remote control display and the
running time is zero minutes.
Setting the departure time Make sure that the time set in the vehicle is
correct before setting the departure time (see
the separate operating instructions). Otherwise, the auxiliary heating may switch on at the wrong
time and at an unsuitable location. When setting
the departure time, also observe the important
safety notes (Y page 140).
X Briefly press the ubutton.
X Press the ,or. button repeatedly
until the time to be changed appears in the
display.
X Press the uand^ buttons simultane-
ously.
The Îsymbol in the remote control display
flashes.
X Press the ,or. button to set the
desired departure time.
i The longer you press the
,or. but-
ton, the faster the time changes.
X Press the uand^ buttons simultane-
ously.
The new departure time is stored.
Activating the set departure time
X Briefly press the ubutton.
X Press the ,or. button repeatedly
until the desired departure time appears in
the display.
X Press the ubutton.
The Ísymbol, the departure time and,
depending on the selected departure time,
the letter A, BorCappear in the display.
Deactivating the set departure time
X Briefly press the ubutton.
The status of the auxiliary heating is shown in the display.
X Press the .button.
The first departure time stored appears in the
display.
X Press the ^button.
OFF is shown in the remote control display. Replacing the remote control battery Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Batteries contain toxic and corrosive substan- ces. If batteries are swallowed, it can result in
severe health problems. There is a risk of fatal injury.
Keep batteries out of the reach of children. If
a battery is swallowed, seek medical attention immediately. H
Environmental note Batteries contain pollutants.
It is illegal to dispose of them
with the household rubbish.
They must be collected sep-
arately and disposed of in anenvironmentally responsible
recycling system. Dispose of batteries in an
environmentally responsible
manner. Take discharged
batteries to a qualified spe-
cialist workshop or to a col-
lection point for used batter-
ies.
Replacing the battery If the battery needs to be replaced, the battery
symbol on the left of the display is shown as
empty. A CR2450 lithium battery is required
when replacing the battery.
X Press a pointed object into recess :.
X Slide battery cover ;backwards in the direc-
tion of the arrow. Operating the climate control system
143Climate control Z

X
Insert new battery =with the lettering facing
upwards.
X Slide battery cover ;in the opposite direc-
tion to the arrow on the remote control until it engages.
Problems with the auxiliary heating/ventilation Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions FAIL¨ The signal transmission between the transmitter and the vehicle is
faulty.
X
Change your position in relation to the vehicle, moving closer if
necessary. FAIL The auxiliary heating/ventilation cannot be switched on or has
switched itself off.
The starter battery is not sufficiently charged.
X Charge the starter battery. The fuel tank content is below the reserve fuel level.
X Refuel at the nearest filling station. The auxiliary heating/ventilation is malfunctioning.
X Have the auxiliary heating/ventilation checked at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop. Adjusting the 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 grille on the bonnet and in
the engine compartment on the front-
passenger side free of blockages, such as ice,
snow or leaves.
R never cover the vents or ventilation grilles in
the vehicle interior i
For virtually draught-free ventilation, adjust
the sliders of the air vents to the centre posi- tion. Adjusting the centre air vents
:
Centre air vent, left
; Centre air vent, right
= Centre vent thumbwheel, right
? Centre vent thumbwheel, left 144
Adjusting the air ventsClimate control

X
To open or close: turn thumbwheels=
and ?to the left or right. Adjusting the side air vents
Example
:
Side window demister vent
; Side air vent, left
= Thumbwheel for side air vent
X To open or close: turn thumbwheel=up or
down. Adjusting the glove compartment air
vent
! Close the air vent when heating the vehicle.
At high outside temperatures, open the air
vent and activate the "cooling with air dehu-
midification" function. Otherwise, tempera-
ture-sensitive items stored in the glove com-
partment could be damaged. :
Air vent thumbwheel
; Air vent
When automatic climate control is activated, the
glove compartment can be ventilated, for
instance to cool its contents. The level of airflow depends on the airflow and air distribution set-
tings.
X To open or close: turn thumbwheel:to the
right or left. Setting the rear-compartment air
vents
Adjusting the centre air vents in the
rear compartment Example: centre vents with rear control panel
: Rear-compartment air vent thumbwheel
; Rear-compartment air vent, right
= Rear control panel
? Rear-compartment air vent, left
X To open or close: turn thumbwheel:up or
down.
Adjusting the rear-compartment side
air vents Second row of seats
:
Rear-compartment side air vent
; Thumbwheel for rear-compartment side air
vent Adjusting the air vents
145Climate control Z

Problems with the transmission
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions The transmission has
problems shifting gear. The transmission is losing oil.
X Have the transmission checked at a qualified specialist workshop
immediately. 7G-TRONIC:
The acceleration charac-
teristics are deteriorat-
ing.
The transmission no lon-
ger changes gear. The transmission is in emergency mode.
It is possible to shift only into
secondgear and reverse gear.
X Stop.
X Shift the transmission to position P.
X Switch off the engine.
X Wait at least ten seconds before restarting the engine.
X Shift the transmission to position Dor R.
If D is selected, the transmission shifts into secondgear; ifRis
selected, the transmission shifts into reverse gear.
X Have the transmission checked at a qualified specialist workshop
immediately. 9G-TRONIC:
The acceleration charac-
teristics are deteriorat-
ing.
The transmission no lon-
ger changes gear. The transmission is in emergency mode.
It is only partly possible to engage the gears or the transmission is in
position N.
X Stop.
X Shift the transmission to position P.
X Switch off the engine.
X Wait at least ten seconds before restarting the engine.
X Shift the transmission to position Dor R.
X Have the transmission checked at a qualified specialist workshop
immediately. Refuelling
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Fuel is highly flammable. If you handle fuel
incorrectly, there is a risk of fire and explo-
sion.
You must avoid fire, naked flames, creating
sparks and smoking. Switch off the engine
and, if applicable, the auxiliary heating before refuelling. G
WARNING
Fuels are poisonous and hazardous to health. There is a danger of injury. Do not swallow fuel or let it come into contact
with skin, eyes or clothing. Do not inhale fuel
vapours. Keep fuels out of the reach of chil-
dren.
If you or others come into contact with fuel,
observe the following:
R Wash the fuel off any affected areas of skin
with water and soap immediately.
R If you get fuel in your eyes, rinse them thor-
oughly with clean water immediately. Seek
immediate medical attention.
R If fuel is swallowed, seek immediate medi-
cal attention. Do not induce vomiting.
R Change any clothing that has come into
contact with fuel immediately. Refuelling
163Driving and parking Z

Use the left-hand gearshift paddle to shift to a
lower gear on long and steep downhill gradients.
Take particular note of this when driving a laden vehicle.
This also applies if you have activated cruise
control, the speed limiter or Distance Pilot
DISTRONIC.
This will use the braking effect of the engine, so
less braking will be required to maintain the
vehicle speed. This relieves the load on the
brake system and prevents the brakes from
overheating and wearing too quickly.
Heavy and light loads G
WARNING
The braking system can overheat if you leave your foot on the brake pedal while driving.
This increases the braking distance and could
even cause the braking system to fail. There is
a risk of an accident.
Never use the brake pedal as a footrest. Do
not simultaneously depress both the brake
pedal and the accelerator pedal while driving.
! Depressing the brake pedal constantly
results in excessive and premature wear to
the brake pads.
If heavy demands are made on the brakes, do
not park the vehicle immediately. Drive on for a
short while. This allows the airflow to cool the
brakes more quickly.
If the brakes have been used only moderately,
you should occasionally test their effectiveness.
To do this, brake more firmly from a higher
speed. This improves the grip of the brakes.
Wet road surfaces If you have driven for a long time in heavy rain
without braking, there may be a delayed reac-
tion from the brakes when braking for the first
time. This may also occur after a car wash or
after driving through deep water.
You will have to depress the brake pedal more
firmly. Maintain a greater distance to the vehicle in front.
After driving on a wet road or having the vehicle
washed, brake firmly while paying attention to
the traffic conditions. This will warm up the
brake discs, thereby drying them more quickly
and protecting them against corrosion. Limited braking performance on salt-
treated roads If you drive on salt-treated roads, a layer of salt
may form on the brake discs and pads. This can increase the braking distance considerably.
R Apply the brakes occasionally in order to pre-
vent any salt build-up. Ensure that you do not
endanger other road users when doing so.
R Carefully depress the brake pedal at the end
of the journey and when starting the next
journey.
R Maintain a much greater distance to the vehi-
cle in front.
New brake pads/linings Brake pads/linings and discs that are either new
or have been replaced only achieve optimum
braking effect after several hundred kilometres
of driving. Compensate for the reduced braking
effect by applying greater force to the brake
pedal.
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you only have brake pads/linings
fitted to your vehicle which have been approved
for Mercedes-Benz vehicles or which corre-
spond 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 vehicle's
operating safety.
High-performance brake system
(Mercedes-AMG vehicles) The high-performance brake system is designed
for high loads. This may lead to noise when
braking. This is dependent on:
R speed
R braking force
R environmental conditions, such as tempera-
ture and humidity
The wear of individual brake system compo-
nents such as the brake pads/linings or brake
discs depends on individual driving style and
operating conditions.
For this reason, it is impossible to state a mile-
age (service life) that will be valid under all cir-
cumstances. An aggressive driving style will
lead to high wear. You can obtain further infor-
mation about this from your Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre. 174
Driving tipsDriving and parking