2002 MERCEDES-BENZ G500 winter tires

3 Contents
DrivingControl and operation of
radio transmitters ..................... 190
The first 1 000 miles
(1 500 km) ................................. 191
Maintenance ................................... 191
Tele Aid ........................................... 192
Catalytic converter ........................202
Emission control ............................203
Starter switch .................................204
Starting and turning off
the engine ..................................206
Automatic transmission ...............207
Parking brake ................................. 215Driving instructions ....................... 216
Drive sensibly – save fuel ......... 216
Drinking and driving ................. 216
Pedals ........................................... 216
Power assistance .........................217
Brakes ...........................................217
Driving off ....................................218
Parking ......................................... 219
Tires .............................................. 219
Snow chains ............................... 222
Winter driving instructions ..... 222
Deep water .................................. 224
Passenger compartment ........... 225
Traveling abroad ........................ 225
Off-Road driving ............................ 226
Cruise control ................................ 234
Brake assist system
(BAS) .......................................... 237Antilock brake system
(ABS) ...........................................239
Four-wheel electronic traction system
(4-ETS) ........................................ 241
Electronic Brake Booster
(EBB) ...........................................242
Electronic stability program
(ESP) ...........................................243
Transfer case ..................................247
Switching transfer case .............248
A few words about differentials
and differential locks ............... 251
Differential locks ............................253
What you should know
at the gas station .......................258
Check regularly and before a long
trip ............................................... 261
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189 Contents - Driving
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
DrivingControl and operation of radio
transmitters ............................... 190
The first 1 000 miles
(1 500 km) ................................. 191
Maintenance ................................... 191
Tele Aid ........................................... 192
Catalytic converter ........................202
Emission control ............................203
Starter switch .................................204
Starting and turning off
the engine ..................................206
Automatic transmission ...............207
Parking brake ................................. 215Driving instructions ....................... 216
Drive sensibly – save fuel ......... 216
Drinking and driving ................. 216
Pedals ........................................... 216
Power assistance .........................217
Brakes ...........................................217
Driving off ....................................218
Parking ......................................... 219
Tires .............................................. 219
Snow chains ............................... 222
Winter driving instructions ..... 222
Deep water .................................. 224
Passenger compartment ........... 225
Traveling abroad ........................ 225
Off-Road driving ............................ 226
Cruise control ................................ 234Brake assist system
(BAS) ...........................................237
Antilock brake system
(ABS) ...........................................239
Four-wheel electronic
traction system (4-ETS) ............ 241
Electronic Brake Booster
(EBB) ...........................................242
Electronic stability program
(ESP) ...........................................243
Transfer case ..................................247
Switching transfer case .............248
A few words about differentials
and differential locks ............... 251
Differential locks ............................253
What you should know at
the gas station ...........................258
Check regularly and before a long
trip ............................................... 261
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221 Driving instructions
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Tire traction
The safe speed on a wet, snow covered or icy road is
always lower than on a dry road.
You should pay particular attention to the condition of
the road whenever the outside temperatures are close to
the freezing point.
We recommend M+S rated radial-ply tires with a
minimum tread depth of approximately 1/8 in (4 mm)
for the winter season for all four wheels to insure
normal balanced handling characteristics. On packed
snow, they can reduce your stopping distance as
compared with summer tires. Stopping distance,
however, is still considerably greater than when the
road is not snow or ice covered.Tire speed rating
Your vehicle is factory equipped with “V”-rated tires,
which have a speed rating of 150 mph (240 km / h).
An electronic speed limiter prevents your vehicle from
exceeding the tire speed rating.
Despite the tire rating, local speed limits should be
obeyed. Use prudent driving speeds appropriate to
prevailing conditions.
Wa r n i n g !
If ice has formed on the road, tire traction will be
substantially reduced. Under such weather
conditions, drive, steer and brake with extreme
caution.
Wa r n i n g !
Even when permitted by law, never operate a
vehicle at speeds greater than the maximum speed
rating of the tires.Exceeding the maximum speed for which tires are
rated can lead to sudden tire failure causing loss of
vehicle control and resulting in personal injury
and possible death.
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223 Driving instructions
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Road salts and chemicals can adversely affect braking
efficiency. Increased pedal force may become necessary
to produce the normal brake effect. We therefore
recommend depressing the brake pedal periodically
when traveling at length on salt-strewn roads. This can
bring road salt impaired braking efficiency back to
normal. A prerequisite is, however, that this be done
without endangering other drivers on the road.
If the vehicle is parked after being driven on salt treated
roads, the braking ef ficiency should be tested as soon as
possible after driving is resumed while observing the
safety rules in the previous paragraph.Winter driving
Have your vehicle winterized at your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center before the onset of
winter.
•Check the engine oil. Change the engine oil if the
engine contains an oil which is not approved for
winter operation. For viscosity (SAE / CCMC class)
and filling quantity, see page 361.
•Check engine coolant anticorrosion / antifreeze
concentration.
•Additive for the windshield washer and headlamp
cleaning system: Add MB Concentrate “S” to a
premixed windshield washer solvent / antifreeze
which is form ulated for b elow f r eezin g temperatures
see page 307.
•Test battery: Battery capacity drops with decreasing
ambient temperature. A well charged battery helps
to ensure that the engine can be started, even at low
ambient temperatures.
•Tires: We recommend M+S rated radial-ply tires on
all four wheels for the winter season. Observe
permissible maximum speed for M+S rated
radial-ply tires and the legal speed limit.
Wa r n i n g !
If the vehicle becomes stuck in snow, make sure
that snow is kept clear of the exhaust pipe and
from around the vehicle with engine running.
Otherwise, deadly carbon monoxide (CO) gases may
enter vehicle interior resulting in unconsciousness
and death.To assure sufficient fresh air ventilation, open a
window slightly on the side of the vehicle not
facing the wind.
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224 Driving instructions
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
In winter operation, the maximum effectiveness of the
antilock brake system (ABS), the four wheel electronic
traction system (4-ETS), the electronic stability program
(ESP), and electronic brake booster (EBB) can only be
achieved with M+S rated radial-ply tires and / or snow
chains recommended by Mercedes-Benz. Snow chains
maximize performance.
For driving instructions using snow chains see
page 222.Deep water
Caution!
Do not drive through flooded areas or water of unknown
depth. Before driving through water, determine its
depth. It should not be deeper than approximately
20 inches (50 cm).
If you must drive through deep water, drive slowly to
prevent water from entering the engine compartment or
passenger compartment, being ingested by the air
intake, possibly causing damage to electrical
components or wiring, to engine or transmission that is
not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
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242 Driving systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Note:
In winter operation, the maximum effectiveness of the
electronic traction system is only achieved with
Mercedes-Benz recommended M+S rated radial-ply tires
and / or snow chains.Electronic Brake Booster (EBB)
The EBB enhances braking effectiveness by allowing the
rear brakes to supply a greater proportion of the braking
effort without a loss of vehicle stability.
If a warning tone sounds for five seconds and the
symbols É, v and - are displayed in the
instrument cluster, the system has detected a
malfunction and is switched off. Have the system
checked immediately at an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center. Failure to do so could result in an
accident, since the enhanced braking effect is not
available when the system is switched off.
Note:
When the EBB is switched off, every time the engine is
started, a warning tone will sound for five seconds and
the symbols É and - will light up. In addition,
whenever the brakes are applied at speeds exceeding
25 mph (40 km / h), the warning tone sounds for five
seconds.
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244 Driving systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
If the ESP warning lampv comes on continuously
and warning messages appears in the multifunction
display with the engine running, a malfunction has
been detected in either system. Only partial engine
output will be available.
If the BAS malfunctions, the brake system functions in
the usual manner, but without BAS, ESP and 4-ETS.
If the ESP warning lampv and the
Émalfunction indicator lamp come on and warning
messages appears in the multifunction display, have the
BAS or ESP checked at your authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center as soon as possible.
With the ABS malfunctioning, the BAS, ESP and 4-ETS
are also switched off.
For warn in g m ess ages and malfun ction in d icator lamps ,
see page 264 and page 272.
Driving the vehicle with varied size tires will cause the
wheels to rotate at different speeds, therefore the ESP
may activate (yellow ESP warning lampv in
speedometer dial comes on). For this reason, all wheels,
including the spare wheel, must have the same tire
outside diameter.When testing the parking brake on a brake test
dynamometer, the engine must be shut off. Otherwise,
the ESP will immediately be engaged and will apply the
rear wheel brakes.
In winter operation, the maximum effectiveness of the
ESP is on ly achieved wit h Me rced es -B enz re comm end ed
M+S rated radial-ply tires and / or snow chains.
Synchronizing ESP
If the power supply was interrupted (battery
disconnected or empty), the ESP warning lampv
and warning messages appears in the multifunction
display with the engine running.
Turn steering wheel completely to the left and then to
the right. The ESP warning lampv and the warning
messages in the multifunction display should go out.
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310 Tires, Wheels
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hintsCar care Index
Wheels
Replace rims or tires with the same designation,
manufacturer and type as shown on the original part.
See your authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center
for further information.
See your authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center
for information on tested and recommended rims and
tires for summer and winter operation. They can also
offer advice concerning tire service and purchase.Tire replacement
Front and rear tires should be replaced in sets. Rims
and tires must be of the correct size and type. For
dimensions, see technical data on page 359.
We recommend that you break in new tires for
approximately 60 miles (100 km) at moderate speed.
It is imperative that the wheel mounting bolts be
fastened to a tightening torque of 97 ft.lb. (130 Nm)
whenever wheels are mounted.
For rim and tire specif ications, refer to technical data on
page 359.
Wa r n i n g !
Do not mix different tire construction types (i.e.
radial, bias, bias-belted) on your vehicle because
handling may be adversely affected and may result
in loss of control.
Wa r n i n g !
Worn, old tires can cause accidents. If the tire tread
is badly worn, or if the tires have sustained
damage, replace them.When replacing rims, use only genuine
Mercedes-Benz wheel bolts specified for the
particular rim type. Failure to do so can result in
the bolts loosening and possibly an accident.
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