2002 MERCEDES-BENZ G500 traction control

245 Driving systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index ESP control switch
ESP control switch located in center console.
To switch ESP off, press upper half of switch (1).
ESP warning lamp v, located in speedometer dial,
comes on.
To switch ESP on again, press lower half of switch (2).
ESP warning lamp v, located in speedometer dial,
goes out.To improve the vehicle’s traction when driving with
sn ow chain s, or startin g of f in d eep sn ow, san d o r grave l,
or off-road driving, switch off ESP by pressing the upper
half of the ESP switch. The ESP warning lampv,
located in the speedometer dial, is continuously
illuminated.
With the ESP system switched off, the engine torque
reduction feature is cancelled. Therefore, the enhanced
vehicle stability offered by ESP is unavailable.
Adapt your speed and driving to the prevailing road
conditions.
If the ESP is switched off the ABS, BAS and ETS are still
ava il ab le .
P42.45-2278-26
Wa r n i n g !
ESP should not be switched off during normal
driving other than in circumstances described
above. Disabling of the system will reduce vehicle
stability in standard driving maneuvers.
When the ESP warning lamp is illuminated
continuously, the ESP is switched off.
Ad apt your s peed an d d ri vi n g to the prevai li ng road
conditions.
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246 Driving systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
If the ESP is switched off, it will be automatically
activated when exceeding a vehicle speed of 37 mph
(60 km / h) or exceeding a severity threshold of side
acceleration.
If one drive wheel loses traction and begins to spin, the
brake is applied until the wheel regains sufficient
traction. The traction control is available between
vehicle speed 0 mph (km / h) and 37 mph (60 km / h).Note:
Avoid spinning of one drive wheel. This may cause
serious damage to the drive train which is not covered
by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
The ESP warning lamp, located in the speedometer dial,
starts to flash at any vehicle speed as soon as the tires
lose traction and the wheels begin to spin.
To return to the enhanced vehicle stability offered by
ESP: press lower half of the switch (the ESP warning
lamp in the speedometer dial goes out).
Important!
If the ESP warning lamp flashes:
•during take-off, apply as little throttle as possible,
•while driving, ease up on the accelerator.
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251 Driving systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index A few words about differentials and differential
locks
When a vehicle negotiates a turn, wheels on the outside
of the curve must travel farther and rotate faster than
the inside wheels. The differential, the operation of a set
of gears that allow the powered wheels in a vehicle to
turn a different speeds, provides for this essential
function.
The drawback is that the differential also sends most of
the engine's power to the wheel with the least load or
strain on it. For example, if one of a vehicle's powered
wheels sits on a patch of snow and spins because there
is no traction, all of the engine's power will go to that
wheel because the power will take the path of least
resistance. Meanwhile, the opposite wheel, sitting on
dry pavement where it could get enough grip to start the
vehicle moving, sits idle because it gets no power.
The Electronic Traction System (ETS) addresses this
problem and provides for good control and steering
ability by automatically slowing the slipping wheel and
thus increasing the power to the other non-slipping
d rive whee ls to get t he ve hicle m ovin g. The ESP and ETS
in this vehicle feature such intelligent limited-slip
differential technology, ideally suited for on-road and light off-road driving. The position “LOW” of the
transfer case (see pages 247and 226) also enhances
off-road driving capabilities.
More extreme off-road conditions may call for another
cure which is to engage a differential lock, preventing
the differential from operating altogether. This vehicle
offers as standard equipment three differential locks:
front, transfer case (center), and rear. Each can be
engaged simply by pushing a dashboard-mounted
button (see pages 253 and 254 for engaging differential
locks). When the transfer case (center) differential is
locked, half of the engine's power is automatically
distributed to the front wheels and half to the rear
wheels. When the rear differential is locked, power
going to the rear wheels is equally distributed, so that
both rear wheels turn at the same speed and torque.
When the front differential is locked, all four wheels
now turn with equal power and torque. Please be aware
that engaging the differential locks will significantly
reduce steering ability of the vehicle.
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367 Consumer information
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Consumer information
This has been prepared as required of all manufactures
of passenger cars under Title 49, Code of U.S. Federal
Regulations, Part 575 pursuant to the “National Traffic
and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966”.
Uniform tire quality grading
Quality grades can be found where applicable on the
tire sidewall between tread shoulder and maximum
section width. For example:
All passenger vehicle tires must conform to federal
safety requirements in addition to these grades.Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on
the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified government test course. For
example, a tire graded 150 would wear one and one-half
(1
1/2) times as well on the government course as a tire
graded 100. The relative performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of their use, however, and
may depart significantly from the norm due to
variations in driving habits, service practices and
differences in road characteristics and climate.
Traction
The traction grades, from highest to lowest are AA, A, B,
and C. Those grades represent the tire’s ability to stop
on wet pavement as measured under controlled
conditions on specified government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor
traction performance. Tread wear 200 Traction AA Temperature A
Wa r n i n g !
The traction grade assigned to this tire is based on
straight ahead braking traction tests, and does not
include acceleration, cornering, hydroplaning, or
peak traction characteristics.
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371 Index
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car careIndex COMAND, radio and telephone ................................... 190
Combination switch ...................................................... 134
Consumer information .................................................. 367
Control and operation of radio transmitters ............. 190
Coolant level
Adding ........................................................................306
Checking .................................................................... 306
Coolant temperature gauge .......................................... 123
Coolants ........................................................................... 365
Anticorrosion/antifreeze quantity ......................... 365
Cover blind, cargo area ................................................. 180
Cover, spare wheel ......................................................... 312
Cruise control .................................................................234
Cup holder
In passenger footwell ............................................... 167
Next to the armrest ................................................... 166
Rear passenger footwell ........................................... 167
DDeep water
Driving instructions ................................................. 224
Differential locks ............................................................253
Differential locks, disengage ........................................256
Differential locks, engage ............................................. 254Door control panel ........................................................... 22
Door entry lamps ........................................................... 157
Doors ..................................................................................34
Drinking and driving ..................................................... 216
Drive sensibly - save fuel .............................................. 216
Driving instructions ...................................................... 216
Driving off ....................................................................... 218
EEasy-entry/exit feature ...................................................44
Electrical outlet ..............................................................301
Electronic Brake Booster (EBB) ................................... 242
Electronic key ................................................................... 27
Electronic main key
Changing batteries .................................................. 343
Synchronizing remote control ............................... 345
Electronic stability program (ESP) ............................. 243
Control switch .......................................................... 245
Synchronizing .......................................................... 244
Electronic traction system (4-ETS) .............................. 241
Emergency call
See Tele Aid ............................................................... 192
Emergency tensioning retractor (ETR) .........................65
Emergency unlocking in case of accident ................... 41
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372 Index
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car careIndex
Emission control ............................................................203
Emission control label .................................................. 357
Engine compartment .....................................................302
Engine oil additives ....................................................... 363
Engine oil consumption ................................................305
Engine oil level
Checking .................................................................... 304
Engine oil level indicator .............................................. 127
Engine oils ...................................................................... 363
Capacities ................................................................... 361
Enlarged cargo area ....................................................... 174
ESP (Electronic stability program) .............................. 243
Control switch ...........................................................245
Synchronizing ...........................................................244
ETR (Emergency tensioning retractor) ......................... 65
ETS (4-ETS) ..................................................................... 241
Exterior lamp switch ..................................................... 129
Daytime running lamp mode .................................. 131
Exterior lamps ................................................................ 328
Bulbs for low and high beam .................................. 331
Bulbs for parking and standing lamp .................... 331
Fog lamp, front ..........................................................332
Front and rear side marker lamps ......................... 337
Headlamp assembly ................................................. 329Headlamps .........................................................329, 352
High mounted stop lamp ......................................... 342
License plate lamps ................................................. 340
Rear fog lamp/Backup lamp .................................... 341
Replacing bulbs ........................................................ 328
Taillamp assemblies ................................................ 339
Turn signal lamp, front ........................................... 334
Turn signal lamp, side ............................................. 335
Exterior mirror adjustment ............................................80
Exterior mirror,
front passenger side, parking position .................... 82
Exterior rear view mirrors .............................................. 80
FFirst aid kit, vehicle tools and jack ............................ 296
Flexible service system (FSS) ...................................... 124
Floor mat ......................................................................... 170
Fog lamp, front .............................................................. 332
Folding backrest forward .............................................. 172
Folding seat bench ......................................................... 172
Four wheel electronic traction system (4-ETS) ......... 241
Front seat adjustment ..................................................... 45
Synchronizing head restraints and
seat adjustment fore, aft ....................................... 47
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378 Index
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car careIndex
Switching transfer case ................................................248
Synchronizing head restraints and
seat adjustment fore, aft ............................................ 47
TTailgate .............................................................................. 37
Technical data ................................................................ 359
Electrical system ....................................................... 360
Main dimensions ......................................................360
Rims and tires ...........................................................359
Vehicle weights and ratings .................................... 360
Tele Aid ........................................................................... 192
Emergency calls ........................................................ 193
Information ................................................................ 197
Initiating an emergency call manually ................. 195
Roadside Assistance ................................................. 196
Telephone .......................................................................... 98
Incoming call ............................................................. 102
Redialing .................................................................... 100
Telephone book ........................................................... 98
Telephone, general ........................................................ 184
Telephones and two-way radios ................................... 190
The first 1 000 miles (1 500 km) ................................ 191
Tie-down rings, cargo .................................................... 174Tire inflation pressure .................................................. 318
Tire traction ....................................................................221
Tires
Driving instructions ................................................. 219
Rims and tires .......................................................... 359
Rotating wheels ......................................................... 311
Tire inflation pressure ............................................. 318
Tire replacement ....................................................... 310
Winter driving instructions .................................... 222
Tow-away alarm ................................................................43
Towing the vehicle ........................................................ 324
Stranded vehicle ....................................................... 327
Transmission selector lever,
manually unlocking ................................................. 327
Transfer case ................................................................. 247
Transmission ................................................................. 207
Transmission fluid level .............................................. 305
Transmission selector lever,
manually unlocking ................................................. 327
Traveling abroad ........................................................... 225
Trip computer ................................................................. 104
Trunk .................................................................................37
Turn signal lamp front, bulb ....................................... 334
Turn signal lamp, side .................................................. 335
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