traction control MERCEDES-BENZ METRIS 2020 MY20 Operator’s Manual

EBD (electronic brake force distribu-
tion)
General notes EBD monitors and controls the brake pressure
to the rear wheels. This enables EBD to
improve handling during braking.
Important safety notes Observe the important safety guidelines for
the driving safety system
(Y page 66).G
WARNING
If EBD is malfunctioning, the rear wheels can
lock, e.g. under full braking. This increases
the risk of skidding and an accident.
You should therefore adapt your driving
style to the different handling characteris-
tics. Have the brake system checked at a
qualified specialist workshop.
If EBD is malfunctioning, the $ warning
lamp

(Y page 229) lights up while the engine
is running and the display shows a message:
R on vehicles without steering wheel buttons
(Y page 199)
R on vehicles with steering wheel buttons
(Y page 213)
Other driving systems and driving safety sys-
tems then also fail. ESP
®
(Electronic Stability Program)
General notes ESP
®
monitors driving stability and detects a
tendency of the vehicle to understeer or over-
steer (skidding) in good time. If ESP ®
detects
that the vehicle is deviating from the direction
desired by the driver, one or more wheels are
braked to stabilize the vehicle. The engine out-
put is also modified to keep the vehicle on the
desired course within physical limits. ESP ®
can
also stabilize the vehicle during braking.
ESP ®
also monitors traction, i.e. power trans-
mission between the tires and the road sur-
face. The integrated traction control supports
you when pulling away or accelerating on wet,
slippery or slick roads. Should the drive
wheels spin, traction control brakes them indi- vidually. In addition, greater drive torque is
transmitted to the wheel or wheels with trac-
tion. If traction on the road surface is not suffi-
cient, even ESP
®
will not allow you to pull
away without difficulty. The type of tires and
total weight of the vehicle as well as the gradi-
ent of the road also play a crucial role. Trac-
tion control remains active if you deactivate
ESP ®
.
If the h warning lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out before beginning the journey,
ESP ®
is automatically active.
The h warning lamp in the instrument clus-
ter flashes when ESP ®
intervenes:
X do not deactivate ESP ®
under any circum-
stances.
X when driving off, apply as little throttle as
possible.
X adapt your speed and driving style to the
prevailing road conditions.
Important safety notes Observe the important safety guidelines for
the driving safety system (
Y page

66). G
WARNING
If ESP ®
is malfunctioning it will not provide
any vehicle stabilization. There is an
increased risk of skidding or of an accident.
Exercise caution when continuing to drive.
Have ESP ®
checked at a qualified specialist
workshop.
! Do not run the vehicle on a roller dyna-
mometer (e.g. for performance tests). If you
must operate the vehicle on a roller dyna-
mometer, please consult a qualified special-
ist workshop in advance. You could other-
wise damage the drive train or the brake
system.
If ESP ®
is malfunctioning, the h warning
lamp

(Y page 230) lights up continuously
while the engine is running and the display
shows a message.
R on vehicles without steering wheel buttons
(Y page 200)
R on vehicles with steering wheel buttons
(Y page 214) 68
Driving safety systems
Safety

ESP
®
is deactivated if the å warning lamp
in the instrument cluster is lit when the engine
is running.
Only use wheels with the recommended tire
sizes. Only then will ESP ®
function properly.
Deactivating or activating ESP ®G
WARNING
If you deactivate ESP ®
, ESP ®
no longer sta-
bilizes the vehicle. There is an increased risk
of skidding and an accident.
Only deactivate ESP ®
in the situations
described in the following.
It may be best to deactivate ESP ®
in the fol-
lowing situations:
R when using snow chains
R in deep snow
R on sand or gravel
Activate ESP ®
as soon as the situations descri-
bed above no longer apply. Otherwise, ESP ®
assistance for stabilizing the vehicle will
remain significantly reduced, even if the vehi-
cle starts to skid.
If you deactivate ESP ®
:
R the å warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up
R the ÷ warning lamp in the instrument
cluster flashes if the wheels are spinning
R ESP ®
assistance for stabilizing the vehicle in
the lower speed range up to approximately
37 mph (60 km/h
) is significantly reduced
R engine torque is no longer limited and the
drive wheels are able to spin. The spinning
of the wheels results in a cutting action for
better traction on loose surfaces
R traction control is still activated
R ESP ®
still provides support when you brake
Depending on the equipment in the vehicle,
you can activate or deactivate ESP ®
when the
engine is running by using the å button or
by using the on-board computer:
R on vehicles without steering wheel buttons
(Y page 179)
R on vehicles with steering wheel buttons
(Y page 190) å button (equipment-dependent)
X To activate/deactivate: when the engine
is running, press the å button.
The å warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up when ESP ®
is deactivated.
Trailer stabilization Observe the important safety guidelines for
the driving safety system (
Y page

66). G
WARNING
If road and weather conditions are poor,
trailer stabilization will not be able to pre-
vent the vehicle/trailer combination from
swerving. Trailers with a high center of grav-
ity can tip over before ESP ®
can detect this.
There is a risk of an accident.
Always adapt your driving style to the pre-
vailing road and weather conditions.
ESP ®
trailer stabilization counteracts critical
driving situations in good time and thereby
provides considerable assistance when driving
with a trailer. Trailer stabilization is part of
ESP ®
.
If the sensor system and evaluation logic
detect trailer swinging movements, ESP ®
trailer stabilization firstly brakes individual
vehicle wheels in a targeted manner. It thus
counteracts swinging movements. If the
swinging movements do not stop, the vehicle
is braked until the vehicle/trailer combination
is stabilized. If necessary, the vehicle's engine
output is limited.
If your vehicle with trailer (vehicle/trailer com-
bination) starts to swerve, you will be able to
stabilize the vehicle/trailer combination only
by braking. ESP ®
trailer stabilization helps you Driving safety systems
69
Safety Z

Use cruise control if road and traffic condi-
tions make it appropriate to maintain a steady
speed for a prolonged period. You can set any
speed from 30 km/h
upwards in increments of
1 km/h and 10 km/h.
If you have set Miles as the unit for the digital
speedometer , you can set any speed above
20 mph in increments of 1 mph and 5 mph.
Changing the display unit for the digital speed-
ometer and the distance:
R on vehicles without steering wheel buttons
(Y page 180)
R on vehicles with steering wheel buttons
(Y page 192)
Cruise control should not be activated when
driving off-road or on construction sites.
Cruise control may be unable to maintain the
stored speed on uphill gradients. The stored
speed is resumed if the uphill gradient evens
out and the vehicle's speed does not fall below
20 mph (30 km/h). Cruise control maintains
the stored speed on downhill gradients by
automatically applying the brakes. Observe the
additional driving tips (Y page 142).
Important safety notes Observe the notes on braking (Y page

142).
If you fail to adapt your driving style or if you
are inattentive, cruise control can neither
reduce the risk of an accident nor override the
laws of physics. Cruise control cannot take
road, weather and traffic conditions into
account. Cruise control is only an aid. You are
responsible for the distance to the vehicle in
front, for vehicle speed, for braking in good
time and for staying in lane.
If you change wheel size, make sure they cor-
respond to the correct wheel size category
(Y page 278). If the category is changed with- out recoding the control units in the vehicle,
the functioning of cruise control may be
impaired.
Do not use cruise control:
R in traffic conditions that are unsuitable for
driving at a constant speed, e.g. in heavy
traffic, on winding roads or off-road.
R on slippery roads. Braking or accelerating
may cause the drive wheels to lose traction
and the vehicle could then skid.
R when there is poor visibility, e.g. due to fog,
heavy rain or snow. If there is a change of drivers, make sure that
you inform the new driver about the set cruise
speed.
Cruise control lever and display :
To activate and store the current speed or
a higher speed
; To activate at the last stored speed
= To activate and store the current speed or
a lower speed
? To deactivate cruise control
The cruise control lever is the lower lever on
the left of the steering column.
When you activate cruise control, the display
briefly shows the Cruise Control message
and the stored speed.
The display also shows the V symbol and
the stored speed:
R in the header on vehicles without steering
wheel buttons (Y page

176)
R in the status area on vehicles with steering
wheel buttons (Y page 183)
Activation conditions To activate cruise control, all of the following
activation conditions must be fulfilled:
R the parking brake must be released. The
F (only USA) or J (only Canada) indi-
cator lamp in the instrument cluster goes
out
R ESP ®
must be switched on, but not currently
intervening or performing a control action
R you are driving faster than

20 mph
(30 km/h)
R the brake pedal is not depressed Driving systems
147
Driving and parking Z

Tires
Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
M SolutionsCorrect Tire Pres‐
sure The tire pressure is too low in at least one of the tires, or the tire
pressure difference between the wheels is too great.
X Check the tire pressure at the next opportunity (Y page 285).
X If necessary, correct the tire pressure.
X Restart the tire pressure monitor ( Y page
288).Check Tire Pres‐
sure Soon An additional warning tone sounds.
The tire pressure in one or more tires has dropped significantly.
G WARNING
Tire pressure that are too low pose the following hazards: R The tires may burst, especially as the load and vehicle speed
increase.
R The tires may wear excessively and/or unevenly, which may
greatly impair tire traction.
R The handling as well as steering and braking characteristics may
be severely affected.
There is a risk of an accident.
X Stop the vehicle without making any sudden steering or braking
maneuvers. Pay attention to the traffic conditions while doing so.
X Secure the vehicle to prevent it from rolling away (Y page
138).
X Check the tires and, if necessary, change the wheel
(Y page

297).
X Check the tire pressure (Y page
285).
X If necessary, correct the tire pressure. Caution! Tire Mal‐
func. The tire pressure in one or more tires has dropped suddenly.
G WARNING
Driving with a flat tire poses a risk of the following hazards: R A flat tire affects the ability to steer or brake the vehicle.
R You could then lose control of the vehicle.
R Continued driving with a flat tire will cause excessive heat build-
up and possibly a fire.
There is a risk of an accident.
X Stop the vehicle without making any sudden steering or braking
maneuvers. Pay attention to the traffic conditions while doing so.
X Secure the vehicle to prevent it from rolling away (Y page
138).
X Check the tires and, if necessary, change the wheel
(Y page

297). Display messages (vehicles without steering wheel buttons)
207
On-board computer and displays Z

Tires
Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
M SolutionsAdjust Tire Pres‐
sure The tire pressure is too low in at least one of the tires, or the tire
pressure difference between the wheels is too great.
X Check the tire pressure at the next opportunity (Y page 285).
X If necessary, correct the tire pressure.
X Restart the tire pressure monitor ( Y page
288).Check Tires An additional warning tone sounds.
The tire pressure in one or more tires has dropped significantly. The
display shows the wheel position.
G WARNING
Underinflated tires pose the following risks:
R The tires may burst, especially as the load and vehicle speed
increase.
R The tires may wear excessively and/or unevenly, which may
greatly impair tire traction.
R The handling as well as steering and braking characteristics may
be severely affected.
There is a risk of an accident.
X Stop the vehicle without making any sudden steering or braking
maneuvers. Pay attention to the traffic conditions while doing so.
X Secure the vehicle to prevent it from rolling away (Y page
138).
X Check the tires and, if necessary, change the wheel
(Y page

297).
X Check the tire pressure (Y page
285).
X If necessary, correct the tire pressure. Warning Tire Mal‐
function The tire pressure in one or more tires has dropped suddenly. The
display shows the wheel position.
G WARNING
Driving with a flat tire poses a risk of the following hazards: R A flat tire affects the ability to steer or brake the vehicle.
R You could then lose control of the vehicle.
R Continued driving with a flat tire will cause excessive heat build-
up and possibly a fire.
There is a risk of an accident.
X Stop the vehicle without making any sudden steering or braking
maneuvers. Pay attention to the traffic conditions while doing so.
X Secure the vehicle to prevent it from rolling away (Y page
138).
X Check the tires and, if necessary, change the wheel
(Y page

297).224
Display messages (vehicles with steering wheel buttons)
On-board computer and displays

Warning/
indicator
lamp
N Signal type
Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutionsò!
N The yellow ABS warning lamp is lit while the engine is running.
ABS has been deactivated due to a malfunction. BAS, hill start assist and ESP
®
as well as its driving safety systems, for example, are therefore also deactiva-
ted.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated and other driving systems could be automati-
cally deactivated.
G WARNING
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the functions lis-
ted above. The wheels could therefore lock prematurely if you brake hard, for
example.
This causes steerability and braking to be greatly impaired. The braking distance
may increase in emergency braking situations.
If ESP ®
is not operational, ESP ®
will not stabilize the vehicle.
There is an increased risk of skidding and accidents.
X Switch the engine off, wait briefly and start the engine again.
X Check if the display message has disappeared and ESP ®
is operational.
X If the display message continues to be displayed:
R Drive on with care.
R Visit a qualified specialist workshop immediately.
If the ABS control unit is faulty, there is also a possibility that other systems will
be restricted or unavailable. ÷
N The yellow ESP
®
warning lamp flashes while the vehicle is in motion.
ESP ®
or traction control is intervening because there is a risk of skidding or at
least one wheel has started to spin.
Cruise control is automatically deactivated.
X When starting off, do not depress the accelerator pedal more than is neces-
sary.
X Ease off the accelerator pedal while driving.
X Adapt your driving style to suit the weather and road conditions.
X Do not deactivate ESP ®
.
In rare cases , it may be best to deactivate ESP ®
(Y page
68).230
Indicator and warning lamps in the instrument cluster
On-board computer and displays

Snow chains
G
WARNING
If snow chains are installed to the front
wheels, they may drag against the vehicle
body or chassis components. This could
cause damage to the vehicle or the tires.
There is a risk of an accident.
To avoid hazardous situations:
R never install snow chains to the front
wheels
R always install snow chains in pairs to the
rear wheels. G
WARNING
If you drive too fast with snow chains moun-
ted, they may snap. As a result, you could
injure others and damage the vehicle. There
is a risk of an accident.
Observe the maximum permissible speed for
operation with snow chains.
When driving with snow chains installed, do
not exceed the maximum permissible speed of
30 mph (50 km/h
). Observe the country-spe-
cific laws and regulations for operation with
snow chains.
! Check the snow chains for damage before
mounting them. Damaged or worn snow
chains may snap and damage the following
components:
R wheel
R wheel housing
R wheel suspension
For this reason, you must use only snow
chains that are free of defects. Observe the
manufacturer's mounting instructions.
! Vehicles with steel wheels:
if you mount
snow chains on steel wheels, you may dam-
age the hub caps. Remove the hub caps
from the relevant wheels before mounting
the snow chains.
Snow chains increase traction on roads in win-
try conditions.
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you only use snow chains or trac-
tion aids which have been approved for
Mercedes-Benz vehicles. The snow chains or traction aids must be of class U or meet the
SAE type U

specification.
Information about snow chains can be
obtained from any Mercedes-Benz Commercial
Van Center.
When mounting snow chains, please bear the
following points in mind:
R Snow chains cannot be mounted on all
wheel/tire combinations. When mounting
the snow chains, note the permissible tire
and snow chain dimensions. Observe the
restrictions on the use of snow chains under
"Wheel/tire combinations" (Y page 302).
R Mount snow chains only in pairs and only to
the rear wheels. Observe the manufacturer's
mounting instructions.
R Only use snow chains when the road is cov-
ered by a layer of snow. Remove the snow
chains as soon as possible when you come
to a road that is not snow-covered.
R The use of snow chains may be restricted by
local regulations. Observe the appropriate
regulations before mounting snow chains.
R When driving with snow chains installed, do
not exceed the maximum permissible speed
of 30 mph (50 km/h).
R Check the tension of the chains after a dis-
tance of approximately 0.5 miles (1.0 km)
and tighten the chains if required.
You may wish to deactivate ESP ®
when pulling
away with snow chains installed ( Y page 69).
This allows the wheels to spin in a controlled
manner, achieving an increased driving force
(cutting action). Operation in winter
281
Wheels and tires Z