2002 MERCEDES-BENZ G500 Owner's Manual

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.
J_G463.book Seite 246 Mittwoch, 19. September 2001 8:06 08

247 Driving systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Transfer case
The switch is located in the center console.
1Off-road position “LOW” (L) (approximately
1/2 speed). This position is intended for driving
off-road and for steep gradients.
The transmission will not upshift automatically to
the next higher gear range, when driving on the
rpm limit.
2Road position “HIGH” (H).3Transfer case indicator
4Gear range indicator
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248 Driving systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Switching transfer case
Switching from “HIGH” to “LOW”:
•The shift procedure can only be performed with the
engine running.
•The vehicle speed must not exceed 25 mph
(40 km / h).
•Move selector lever for the automatic transmission
to position “N”, see page 207.
Press the “LOW” switch (1).
Once the shift is complete, the gear position “L” is
displayed in the transfer case indicator (3).
If the multifunction display shows the message
“TC SHIFT CONDITIONS NOT FULFILLED”, the shift
does not occur.
At least one shif t con dition was n ot me t. Repe at t he shif t
procedure.
Note:
Do not depress the accelerator when switching the
automatic transmission from position “N” to “D”.If the multifunction display shows the message
“TC IN NEUTRAL”, the shift does not occur.
The transfer case is in neutral. The gear position “N” is
displayed in the transfer case indicator (3). Repeat the
shift procedure.
If the multifunction display shows the message
“TC SHIFT – CANCELLED”, the shift did not take place.
Repeat the shift procedure.
If the multifunction display shows the message
“TRANSFER CASE – VISIT WORKSHOP!”, there is a
malfunction in the system.
Have the vehicle checked at your authorized Mercedes-
Benz Light Truck Center as soon as possible.
For malfunction and warning messages in the
multifunction display, see page 272.
Wa r n i n g !
If TC is in neutral, the “P” position of transmission
will not hold vehicle. The parking brake must be
applied to hold vehicle in place.
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249 Driving systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Note:
If the electronic key is in starter switch position 0 or 1,
an alarm will sound if the transfer case is in
position “N” and the drivers door is opened.
Engage transfer case to gear position “HIGH” or “LOW”.Switching from “LOW” to “HIGH”:
•The shift procedure can only be performed with the
engine running.
•The vehicle speed must not exceed 40 mph
(70 km / h).
•Move selector lever for the automatic transmission
to position “N”, see page 207.
Press the “HIGH” switch (2).
Once the shift is complete, the gear position “H” is
displayed in the transfer case indicator (3).
If the multifunction display shows the message
“TC SHIFT CONDITIONS NOT FULFILLED”, the shift
does not occur.
At least on e s hif t co nd ition was not m et. Rep eat t he s hif t
procedure.
Note:
Do not depress the accelerator when switching the
automatic transmission from position “N” to “D”.
J_G463.book Seite 249 Mittwoch, 19. September 2001 8:06 08

250 Driving systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
If the multifunction display shows the message
“TC IN NEUTRAL”, the shift does not occur.
The transfer case is in neutral. The gear position “N” is
displayed in the transfer case indicator (3). Repeat the
shift procedure.
If the multifunction display shows the message
“TC SHIFT – CANCELLED”, the shift did not take place.
Repeat the shift procedure.
If the multifunction display shows the message
“TRANSFER CASE – VISIT WORKSHOP!”, there is a
malfunction in the system.
Have the vehicle checked at your authorized Mercedes-
Benz Light Truck Center as soon as possible.
For malfunction and warning messages in the
multifunction display, see page 272.Note:
If the electronic key is in starter switch position 0 or 1,
an alarm will sound if the transfer case is in
position “N” and the drivers door is opened.
Engage transfer case to gear position “HIGH” or “LOW”.
Wa r n i n g !
If TC is in neutral, the “P” position of transmission
will not hold vehicle. The parking brake must be
applied to hold vehicle in place.
J_G463.book Seite 250 Mittwoch, 19. September 2001 8:06 08

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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252 Driving systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
It is important to understand that during on-road/paved
driving, differentials are absolutely required to provide
essential control and steering ability of the vehicle. The
differential locks, therefore, must not be engaged when
driving on paved roads and should only be used when
and to the extent necessary to negotiate off-road
conditions not addressable by the systems (automatic
ETS, ESP; manual switch position “LOW” of transfer-
case) this vehicle comes equipped with.
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253 Driving systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Differential locks
The switch is located in the center console.
1Transfer case (center) differential lock
2Rear axle differential lock
3Front differential lock
4Engagement indicator lamps (yellow)
5Function indicator lamp (red)6 The ESP, BAS and ABS are switched off
The differential locks can only be switched on in the
following sequence.
•Transfer case differential lock
•Rear axle differential lock
•Front differential lock
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