display MERCEDES-BENZ R500 2007 R171 User Guide

62 Getting started
Driving
Wiping with windshield washer fluid
Press the combination switch in
direction of arrow1 past the resis-
tance point.
The windshield wipers operate with
washer fluid.
For information on filling up the washer
reservoir, see “Windshield/rear window
washer system and headlamp cleaning*
system” (
page 372).
Rear window wiper/washer
The combination switch is located on the
left of the steering column.
Combination switch
1Rear window wiper switch
2Wiping rear window with washer fluid
3Intermittent wiping
4Rear window wiper off
5Wiping rear window with washer fluid6Rear window wiper indicator
Switch on the ignition (page 40).
Activating intermittent wipe
Turn rear window wiper switch 1 to
position3 (
page 62).
In the lower multifunction display you
will see indicator6, indicating that
the rear window wiper is activated.
iTo prevent smears on the windshield, wipe
with windshield washer fluid every now and then
even when it is raining.
iThe rear window wiper engages automatical-
ly when the automatic transmission is shifted to
positionR with the windshield wipers switched
on.

63 Getting started
Driving
Deactivating intermittent wipe
Turn rear window wiper switch 1 to
position4 (
page 62).
Indicator6for the rear window wiper
is cleared from the lower multifunction
display, indicating that the rear window
wiper is deactivated.
Wiping with windshield washer fluid
Turn and hold rear window wiper
switch 1 in position 2 or 5
(
page 62) until the rear window is
clean.
The rear window wiper operates with
washer fluid.
For information on filling up the washer
reservoir, see “Windshield/rear window
washer system and headlamp cleaning*
system” (
page 372).
Problems while driving
The engine runs erratically and misfires

An ignition cable may be damaged
(gasoline engine only).

The engine electronics may not be
operating properly.

Unburned gasoline may have entered
the catalytic converter and damaged it
(gasoline engine only).
Give very little gas.
Have the problem repaired by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center as soon as possible.The coolant temperature is above
248°F (120°C)
The coolant is too hot and is no longer
cooling the engine.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location as
soon as possible and turn off the
engine. Allow engine and coolant to
cool.
Check the coolant level and add
coolant if necessary (
page 370).

68 Getting started
Parking and locking
Releasing seat belts
Press the seat belt release button
(
page 52).
Allow the retractor to completely re-
wind the seat belt by guiding the latch
plate.
Locking
Exit the vehicle and close all doors and
the tailgate.
Locking with the SmartKey
Press button‹on the SmartKey
(
page 38).
With the tailgate and all doors closed,
the turn signal lamps flash three times.
The locking knobs on the doors move
down. The anti-theft alarm system is
armed.
For more information, see “Locking and
unlocking” (
page 112).
!Make sure the seat belt retracts fully so that
the seat belt and/or latch plate cannot get
caught or pinched in the door or in the seat
mechanism. This can damage the seat belt and
impair the effectiveness of the seat belt, and/or
cause damage to the door and/or door trim pan-
el. Such damage is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Damaged seat belts must be replaced.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.
Warning!G
To prevent possible personal injury, always
keep hands and fingers away from the door
openings when closing the doors.
Be especially careful when small children
are around.
Before closing doors, make sure there is no
possibility of someone getting caught in a
door during closing.
Warning!G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch, take the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* with you, and
lock your vehicle. Do not leave children
unattended in the vehicle, or with access to
an unlocked vehicle. Unsupervised use of
vehicle equipment may cause an accident
and/or serious personal injury.
iIf you hear a warning signal, you have
forgotten to switch off the exterior lamps before
opening the driver’s door.
In addition the message
Switch off lights
appears in the multifunction display.
Switch off the exterior lamps.

89 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Warning!G
If the 59indicator lamp illumi-
nates when an adult or someone larger than
a small individual is in the front passenger
seat, have the front passenger reposition
himself or herself in the seat until the
59 indicator lamp goes out, or
check whether objects are caught under or
around the seat.
More information about air bag display
messages (
page 445).
In the event of a collision, the air bag control
unit will not allow front passenger front air
bag deployment when the OCS classified
the front passenger seat occupant as being
up to or less than the weight of a typical
12-month-old child in a standard child re-
straint or if the front passenger seat is
sensed as being empty.
When the OCS senses that the front passen-
ger seat occupant is classified as being up
to or less than the weight of a typical
12-month-old child in a standard child
restraint, the 59indicator
lamp will illuminate when the engine is
started and remain illuminated, indicating
that the front passenger front air bag is de-
activated.
When the OCS senses that the front passen-
ger seat is classified as being empty, the
59indicator lamp will illumi-
nate when the engine is started and remain
illuminated, indicating that the front passen-
ger front air bag is deactivated.When the OCS senses that the front passen-
ger seat occupant is classified as being
heavier than the weight of a typical
12-month-old child seated in a standard
child restraint or as being a small individual
(such as a young teenager or a small adult),
the 59 indicator lamp will illu-
minate for approximately 6 seconds when
the engine is started and then, depending on
occupant weight sensor readings from the
seat, remain illuminated or go out. With the
59 indicator lamp illuminated,
the front passenger front air bag is deacti-
vated. With the 59indicator
lamp out, the front passenger front air bag is
activated.
When the OCS senses that the front passen-
ger seat occupant is classified as an adult or
someone larger than a small individual, the
59 indicator lamp will illumi-
nate for approximately 6 seconds when the
engine is started and then go out, indicating
that the front passenger front air bag is acti-
vated.


106 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
4-ETS
The 4-Electronic Traction System (4-ETS)
improves the vehicle’s ability to utilize
available traction, especially under slip-
pery road conditions. The brakes are ap-
plied to the spinning wheel and power is
transferred to the wheel(s) with traction.
The ESP
® warning lampvin the instru-
ment cluster starts to flash at any vehicle
speed, as soon as a tire loses traction and
the wheel begins to spin.
For more information, see the “Practical
hints” section (
page 420) and
(
page 433).
Warning!G
When you see the ESP® warning lampv
flashing in the instrument cluster, then pro-
ceed as follows:

While driving off, apply as little throttle
as possible.

While driving, ease up on the accelera-
tor.

Adapt your speed and driving style to
the prevailing road conditions.
Failure to observe these guidelines could
cause the vehicle to skid.
The 4-ETS cannot prevent accidents resul-
ting from excessive speed.
!Operational or performance test must only
be conducted on a two-axle dynamometer. If
such tests are necessary, contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center. You could
otherwise seriously damage the brake system or
the transfer case which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
!Because the ESP® operates automatically,
the engine and ignition must be shut off
(SmartKey in starter switch position0 or1 or
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button in
position0or1) when testing the brakes on a
brake test dynamometer and such testing should
be no longer than 10 seconds.
Active braking action through ESP
® may other-
wise seriously damage the brake system which is
not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
iIf the yellow ESP® warning lampv
comes on while driving, the 4-ETS is being
switched off temporarily to prevent overheating
of the drive wheel brakes. In addition, the
message
ABS, ESP unavailable See
Operator’s Manual
appears in the
multifunction display.

118 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking

If the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is
removed from the vehicle (e.g. if a
passenger exits the vehicle with the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO)

when pressing the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button or trying to lock
the vehicle with the lock button on
an outside door handle, the mes-
sage
Key not detected appears in
the multifunction display

with the engine running, the mes-
sage
Key not detected appears in
the multifunction display while
driving off
Find the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO or
change its present location immediate-
ly (e.g. place it on the front passenger
seat or insert it in shirt pocket).

If you have started the engine with the
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button
(
page 55), you can turn it off again
with

the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button
(
page 67)

the SmartKey inserted in the starter
switch when the automatic trans-
mission is in position P

Remember that the engine can be
started by anyone with a SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO that is left inside the
vehicle.
Possibility 1: (One SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO in the vehicle, one
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO outside
the vehicle):
If you leave the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO behind when exiting and
locking the vehicle, no message
appears in the multifunction display.
Possibility 2: (One SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO in the vehicle, no
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO outside
the vehicle):
When exiting and trying to lock the
vehicle, the message
Key detected in
vehicle
will appear in the multifunction
display. The vehicle will not be locked.

146 Controls in detail
Lighting
For information on how to switch on the
headlamps and use the turn signals, see
“Switching on headlamps” (
page 59)
and “Turn signals” (
page 60).
Exterior lamp switch
MOff
Daytime running lamp mode
(
page 148)
UAutomatic headlamp mode
Daytime running lamp mode
(
page 147)
CParking lamps (also tail lamps,
license plate lamps, side marker
lamps, instrument panel lamps)
BLow beam headlamps or high beam
headlamps when the combination
switch is pushed forward. The tail
lamps, license plate lamps, side marker lamps, parking lamps and
instrument panel lamps also come
on.
ˆStanding lamps, right (turn left one
stop)
‚Standing lamps, left (turn left two
stops)
‡Indicator lamp for front fog lamps*
†Indicator lamp for rear fog lamp
iIf you drive in countries where vehicles drive
on the other side of the road than the country in
which the vehicle is registered, you must have
the headlamps modified for symmetrical low
beams. Relevant information can be obtained at
any authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.
iVehicles with active Bi-Xenon* headlamps:
The active Bi-Xenon* headlamps monitor the
vehicle’s steering angle and speed, then auto-
matically shift their beams to either side to
better follow the curvature of the road ahead, in-
creasing usable illumination over conventional
headlamps.iIf you hear a warning signal when exiting the
vehicle, you have forgotten to switch off the ex-
terior lamps.
In addition the message
Switch off lights
appears in the multifunction display.
Switch off the exterior lamps.
iWith the daytime running lamp mode activat-
ed and the engine running, the low beam head-
lamps cannot be switched off manually.
For information on how to activate the daytime
running lamp mode, see “Daytime running lamp
mode” (
page 148).

156 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
For a full view illustration of the instrument
cluster, see “Instrument cluster”
(
page 26).
1To dim instrument cluster illumination
2Reset button
3To brighten instrument cluster
illuminationThe instrument cluster is activated when
you
open a door

switch on the ignition (page 39)

press reset button 2

switch on the exterior lamps
(
page 146)
You can change the instrument cluster
settings in the instrument cluster submenu
of the control system (
page 179).
Warning!G
No messages will be displayed if either the
instrument cluster or the multifunction
display is inoperative.
As a result, you will not be able to see infor-
mation about your driving conditions, such
as speed or outside temperature, warn-
ing/indicator lamps, malfunction/warning
messages or the failure of any systems.
Driving characteristics may be impaired.
If you must continue to drive, do so with
added caution. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center as soon
as possible.

157 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
Adjusting instrument cluster
illumination
Use button 1 or 3 to adjust the illumina-
tion brightness for the instrument cluster.
To brighten illumination
Press and hold button 3 until the
desired level of illumination is reached.
To dim illumination
Press and hold button 1 until the
desired level of illumination is reached.
Resetting the trip odometer
Make sure you are viewing the trip odome-
ter display (
page 159).
If it is not displayed, press buttonè
orÿ on the multifunction steering
wheel (
page 160) repeatedly until
the trip odometer appears in the multi-
function display.
Press and hold reset button 2
(
page 156) until the trip odometer is
reset.
Tachometer
The red marking on the tachometer
(
page 26) denotes excessive engine
speed.
To help protect the engine, the fuel supply
is interrupted if the engine is operated
within the red marking.
iThe instrument cluster illumination is
dimmed or brightened automatically to suit
ambient light conditions.
The instrument cluster illumination will also be
adjusted automatically when you switch on the
vehicle’s exterior lamps.!Avoid driving at excessive engine speeds, as
it may result in serious engine damage that is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.

158 Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
Outside temperature indicator
The outside temperature is indicated in the
multifunction display (
page 159).The temperature sensor is located in the
front bumper area. Due to its location, the
sensor can be affected by road or engine
heat during idling or slow driving. This
means that the accuracy of the displayed
temperature can only be verified by com-
parison to a thermometer placed next to
the sensor, not by comparison to external
displays (e.g. bank signs etc.).
When moving the vehicle into colder
ambient temperatures (e.g. when leaving
your garage), you will notice a delay before
the lower temperature is displayed.
A delay also occurs when ambient temper-
atures rise. This prevents inaccurate
temperature indications caused by heat
radiated from the engine during idling or
slow driving.
Warning!G
The outside temperature indicator is not de-
signed to serve as an ice-warning device and
is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Indicated temperatures just above the freez-
ing point do not guarantee that the road sur-
face is free of ice. The road may still be icy,
especially in wooded areas or on bridges.