2003 MERCEDES-BENZ G500 Wiper

Contents
Introduction.......................................... 9
Product information ................................ 9
Operator’s Manual ............................... 10
Service and warranty information .. 10
Important notice for California
retail buyers and lessees of
Mercedes-Benz automobiles .......... 11
Maintenance .................................. 12
Roadside Assistance ...................... 12
Change of address or ownership.... 13
Operating your vehicle outside the
USA or Canada............................... 13
Where to find it .................................... 15
Symbols ............................................... 16
Operating safety .................................. 17
Proper use of the vehicle ............... 17
Problems with your vehicle .................. 18
Reporting safety defects...................... 19
Reporting safety defects ................ 19
At a glance.......................................... 21
Cockpit ................................................. 22
Instrument cluster ................................ 24
Multifunction steering wheel ................ 26
Center console ..................................... 27
Upper part ...................................... 27
Lower part ...................................... 28
Overhead control panel ........................ 29
Door control panel................................ 30Getting started................................... 31
Unlocking ............................................. 32
Unlocking with the SmartKey.......... 32
Adjusting .............................................. 34
Seats............................................... 34
Steering wheel ................................ 37
Mirrors ............................................ 38Driving .................................................. 40
Fastening the seat belt ................... 40
Starting the engine ......................... 43
Switching on headlamps ................. 46
Turn signals and high beam ............ 46
Windshield wipers ........................... 47
Rear window wiper/washer ............ 48
Problems while driving .................... 49
Parking and locking .............................. 50
Parking brake ................................. 50
Switching off headlamps................. 51
Turning off engine ........................... 51
Safety and Security........................... 53
Occupant safety ................................... 54
Airbags ........................................... 55
Seat belts ....................................... 60
Children in the vehicle .................... 63
Blocking rear door window
operation ........................................ 69
Panic alarm .......................................... 70

ContentsTires and wheels ................................ 224
Important guidelines .................... 224
Life of tire ..................................... 225
Direction of rotation ..................... 225
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 225
Rotating wheels............................ 226
Winter driving..................................... 228
Winter tires................................... 228
Block heater (Canada only) .......... 228
Snow chains ................................. 229
Maintenance ...................................... 230
Clearing the service indicator....... 230
Service term exceeded................. 230
Calling up the service indicator .... 231
Resetting the service indicator ..... 231
Vehicle care ....................................... 232
Cleaning and care of the vehicle .. 232Practical hints.................................. 237
What to do if … .................................. 238
Lamps in instrument cluster ......... 238
Lamp in center console ................ 244
Messages in the display ............... 246Where will I find ................................ 268
First aid kit ................................... 268
Vehicle tool kit ............................. 268
Vehicle jack.................................. 269
CD-changer .................................. 269
Spare wheel ................................. 270
Unlocking/locking in an emergency .. 272
Unlocking the vehicle ................... 272
Locking the vehicle ...................... 273
Changing batteries in
the SmartKey ............................... 273
Fuel filler flap ............................... 274
Manually unlocking the
transmission selector lever .......... 275
Opening/closing in an emergency ..... 276
Sliding/pop-up roof ..................... 276
Brush guard* ..................................... 277
Lowering and raising brush guard 278
Replacing bulbs ................................. 279
Bulbs ............................................ 279
Replacing bulbs for front lamps ... 281
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps..... 286
Replacing wiper blades ...................... 289
Removal ....................................... 289
Installation ................................... 289Flat tire .............................................. 290
Preparing the vehicle ................... 290
Mounting the spare wheel............ 291
Battery............................................... 295
Charging the battery .................... 295
Disconnecting the battery ............ 296
Reconnecting the battery............. 296
Jump starting ..................................... 297
Towing the vehicle ............................. 299
Transporting the vehicle .............. 301
Towing the vehicle with
various faults ............................... 301
Front towing eye .......................... 302
Rear towing eye ........................... 302
Freeing a stranded vehicle ........... 302
Fuses ................................................. 303
Fuse box in passenger
compartment ............................... 303
Fuse box in battery box................ 303
Fuse box in front passenger
footwell ........................................ 304
Fuse box in middle tunnel ............ 305

23 At a glance
Cockpit
Item
Page
1
Combination switch

Turn signals
46


Windshield wipers
47


High beam
46
2
Headlamp cleaning system
148
3
Cruise control lever
162
4
Instrument cluster
24
5
Lever for voice control sys-
tem, see separate operat-
ing instructions
Item
Page
6
Starter switch
33
7
Glove box
176
8
Multifunction steering
wheel
26,
112,
194
9
Horn
10
Steering wheel adjustment
stalk
37,
194
11
Exterior lamp switch
46,
100
12
Exterior rear view mirror
adjustment
38

27 At a glance
Center console
Center console
Upper part
Item
Page
1
Left front seat heater
switch
95
2
Switch for rear window
wiper/washer
48
3
ESP control switch
76
4
Differential lock switches
145
5
Central locking switch
89
6
Anti-theft alarm system in-
dicator lamp
79
Tow-away alarm switch
80
7
Right front seat heater
switch
95
Item
Page
8
Hazard warning flasher
switch
103
9
COMAND system, see sep-
arate operating instructions
10
Ashtray with lighter
179,
181
11
Climate control
150
12
7
indicator lamp
65,
244

47 Getting started
Driving
Windshield wipers
The combination switch is on the left of the
steering column.Combination switch1Single wipe
2Switching on windshield wipers 
Make sure that the ignition is switched
on.Switching on windshield wipers

Turn the combination switch to the de-
sired position depending on the inten-
sity of the rain.
0Windshield wipers off
IIntermittent wiping
IINormal wiper speed
IIIFast wiper speedSingle wipe

Press switch briefly in the direction of
arrow1.
The windshield wipers wipe one time
without washer fluid.
Wiping with windshield washer fluid

Push switch in the direction of arrow1
past the resistance point.
The windshield wipers operate with
washer fluid until the switch is re-
leased.
Information on filling up the washer reser-
voir can be found in the “Operation” sec-
tion (page 222).
iThe intermittent wiping interval de-
pends on the wetness of the wind-
shield. Wiping will not occur with a
front door open.!Do not leave in intermittent setting
when vehicle is taken to an automatic
car wash or during windshield cleaning.
Wipers will operate in the presence of
water sprayed on the windshield, and
wipers may be damaged as a result.
The switch should not be left in
intermittent setting as the wipers will
wipe the windshield once every time
the engine is started. Dust that accu-
mulates on the windshield might
scratch the glass when wiping occurs
on a dry windshield.

48 Getting startedDriving
Rear window wiper/washer
The rear window wiper / washer switch is
located on the upper part of the center
console.
1Interval wiping on/off
2Indicator lamp
3Simultaneous operation of wiper and
washer

Make sure that the ignition is switched
on.
Interval wiping
Switching on

Press upper half1 of the switch.
The indicator lamp2 comes on.
Switching off

Press upper half1 of the switch again.
The indicator lamp2 goes out.
Wiping with windshield washer fluid

Press and hold lower half3 of the
switch.
The wiper operates with washer fluid.
The rear window will be wiped for ap-
proximately another five seconds after
the switch is released.
Information on filling up the washer reser-
voir can be found in the “Operation” sec-
tion (page 222).
!If leaves, snow, etc. block the wind-
shield wipers, switch off the wipers.

For safety reasons, withdraw key
from starter switch. Remove block-
age.


Turn the windshield wipers on
again.
If windshield wipers fail to function at
all in switch positionI,


set the combination switch to the
next highest wiper speed.


have the windshield wipers
checked at the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
iThe rear window wiper will also auto-
matically engage if the windshield wip-
ers are engaged and the selector lever
is placed inR “Reverse”.

147 Controls in detail
Good visibility
Good visibility
Information on the windshield wipers
(page 47) and for setting the rear view
mirrors (
page 38) is found in the “Get-
ting started” section.
Rear view mirror
Automatic antiglare rear view mirror
The reflection brightness of the inside rear
view mirror will respond automatically to
glare when

the ignition is switched on, and


incoming light from headlamps falls on
the sensor in the inside rear view mir-
ror
The rear view mirror will not react if


reverse gear is engaged


the interior lighting is turned on
Warning!
G
The automatic antiglare function does not
react if incoming light is not aimed directly
at sensors in the inside rear view mirror.
The inside rear view mirror does not react,
for example, if the cargo area is fully loaded.
Glare can endanger you and others.Warning!
G
Exercise care when using the passenger
side exterior rear view mirror. The mirror
surface is convex (outwardly curved surface
for a wider field of view). Objects in mirror
are closer than they appear. Check your in-
side rear view mirror or glance over your
shoulder before changing lanes.
Warning!
G
In the case of an accident, liquid electrolyte
may escape from the mirror housing if the
mirror glass breaks.
Electrolyte has an irritating effect. Do not al-
low the liquid to come into contact with
eyes, skin, clothing, or the respiratory sys-
tem. In case it does, immediately flush af-
fected area with water, and seek medical
help if necessary.

153 Controls in detail
Climate control
Adjusting air distribution and volume
Use air distribution control4 (
page 151)
to adjust the air distribution. The following
symbols are found on the controls:Adjusting manually

Press the
U
button.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.

Select any of the six air volume speeds
and the air distribution.Adjusting automatically

Press the
U
button.
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on. Air distribution and volume
are adjusted automatically.
Windshield fogged on the outside

Switch the windshield wipers on.

Switch to manual mode.

Turn the air distribution control
to
a
or
Y
.
Symbol
Function
a
Directs air through the center,
side and rear passenger com-
partment air vents
Z
Directs air to the windows
X
Directs air into the entire vehi-
cle interior
Y
Directs air to the footwells