2003 MERCEDES-BENZ G500 all wheel

ContentsDriving and safety systems .................. 71
ABS ................................................ 71
BAS ................................................ 73
4-ETS .............................................. 74
EBB................................................. 75
ESP ................................................. 75
Anti-theft systems................................ 79
Immobilizer..................................... 79
Anti-theft alarm .............................. 79
Tow-away alarm ............................. 80Controls in detail............................... 83
Locking and unlocking ......................... 84
Keys ............................................... 84
Opening the doors from the inside . 87
Tailgate........................................... 87
Automatic central locking .............. 89
Locking and unlocking
from the inside ............................... 89
Seats.................................................... 91
Easy-entry/exit feature .................. 91
Removing and installing head
restraints ........................................ 92
Synchronizing head restraints and
the seat adjustment fore and aft .... 93Multicontour seat* ......................... 94
Heated seats .................................. 95
Memory function ................................. 97
Storing positions into memory ....... 98
Recalling positions from memory ... 98
Storing exterior rear view mirror
parking position ............................. 99
Lighting.............................................. 100
Exterior lamp switch..................... 100
Combination switch ..................... 103
Hazard warning flasher ................ 103
Interior lighting............................. 104
Rear interior lamps....................... 105
Cargo compartment lamps........... 106
Instrument cluster ............................. 108
Instrument cluster illumination .... 108
Coolant temperature display ........ 108
Trip odometer .............................. 109
Tachometer .................................. 109
Outside temperature indicator ..... 110
Control system .................................. 111
Multifunction display .................... 111
Multifunction steering wheel ........ 112
Menus .......................................... 114
Standard display menu ................ 116
AUDIO menu ................................ 116NAVI menu ................................... 118
Malfunction memory menu .......... 118
Settings menu .............................. 119
Trip computer menu..................... 130
TEL menu ..................................... 132
Automatic transmission ..................... 135
One-touch gearshifting ................ 136
Gear ranges ................................. 137
Gear selector lever position ......... 138
Accelerator position ..................... 139
Emergency operation
(Limp Home Mode) ...................... 140
Transfer case ..................................... 141
Gear range ................................... 141
Switching transfer case ............... 141
Differential locks ............................... 143
A few words about differentials
and differential locks ................... 144
Switching differential locks on
and off ......................................... 145
Good visibility .................................... 147
Rear view mirror .......................... 147
Headlamp cleaning system .......... 148
Sun visors .................................... 149

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

14 IntroductionOperator’s ManualWarning!
G
This Sport Utility Vehicle is designed for both on-road and off-road use. It can go places and perform tasks for which conventional 2-wheel drive
passenger cars were not intended. This vehicle will handle and maneuver differently from conventional passenger cars in driving conditions which
may occur on streets, highways and off-road use.
This vehicle has a higher ground clearance and a higher center of gravity than many passenger cars. As with other vehicles of this type, if you
make sharp turns at excessive speeds or abrupt maneuvers, the vehicle may roll over or may go out of control and crash. Utility vehicles have a
significantly higher rollover rate than other types of vehicles. Failure to operate this vehicle safely may result in an accident, rollover of the vehicle,
and severe or fatal injury.
Before you start to drive this vehicle, read the Operator’s Manual. Take time to become familiar with the driving characteristics of this vehicle. Be
sure you are familiar with all vehicle controls. Learn how your vehicle handles on different road surfaces. Do not attempt sharp turns at excessive
speeds or abrupt maneuvers or other unsafe driving actions that can cause loss of vehicle control. When driving off-road or working the vehicle
hard, do not overload it. And, always wear your seat belts at all times. In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is significantly more likely to die than
a person wearing a seat belt.

26 At a glanceMultifunction steering wheel
Multifunction steering wheel
Item
Page
1
Multifunction display in
speedometer
111
Operating control sys-
tem:
112
2
Selecting the submenu or
setting the volumeç
down/ to decrease
æ
up / to increase
3
Telephone*: Press buttoní
to take a call
ì
to end a call
Item
Page
4
Menu systems: Press but-
tonè
for next system
ÿ
for previous system
5
Moving within a menu:
Press buttonj
for next display
k
for previous display

33 Getting started
Unlocking
Starter switch positionsStarter switch0For removing key
The steering is locked when the key is
removed from the starter switch. If
necessary, move steering wheel slight-
ly to allow the locking mechanism to
engage.
1Power supply to some electrical con-
sumers, such as seat adjustment
2Ignition (power supply for all electrical
consumers) and driving position
3Starting position
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch and lock
the vehicle. Do not leave children unattend-
ed in the vehicle, or with access to an un-
locked vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehicle
equipment may cause an accident and/or
serious personal injury.
!If the key is left in starter switch
position0 for an extended period of
time, it can no longer be turned in the
starter switch.

Remove key from the starter switch
and reinsert.
If the key can still not be turned, the
battery may not be sufficiently
charged.


Check the battery and charge it if
necessary (
page 295).


Get a jump start (
page 297).
To prevent accelerated battery dis-
charge and a possible dead battery, al-
ways remove the key from the starter
switch.

34 Getting startedAdjusting
AdjustingSeatsWarning!
G
All seat, head restraint, steering wheel, and
rear view mirror adjustments, as well as fas-
tening of seat belts, must be done before
the vehicle is put into motion.Warning!
G
Do not adjust the driver’s seat while driving.
Adjusting the seat while driving could cause
the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
Never ride in a moving vehicle with the seat
back reclined. Sitting in an excessively re-
clined position can be dangerous. You could
slide under the seat belt in a collision. If you
slide under it, the belt would apply force at
the abdomen or neck. That could cause se-
rious or fatal injuries.
The seat back and seat belts provide the
best restraint when the wearer is in an up-
right position and belts are properly posi-
tioned on the body. Your seat must be
adjusted so that you can correctly fasten
your seat belt (
page 40).
Never place hands under the seat or near
any moving parts while a seat is being ad-
justed.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
key from the starter switch, and lock your
vehicle.
The power seats can also be operated with
the driver’s or front passenger door open.
Do not leave children unattended in the ve-
hicle, or with access to an unlocked vehicle.
Unsupervised use of vehicle equipment may
cause an accident and/or serious personal
injury.
Warning!
G
Children 12 years old and under must never
ride in the front seat, except in a
Mercedes-Benz authorized BabySmart
TM
compatible child seat, which operates with
the BabySmart
TM system installed in the ve-
hicle to deactivate the passenger side front
airbag when it is properly installed. Other-
wise they will be struck by the airbag when
it inflates in a crash. If this happens, serious
or fatal injury will result.
According to accident statistics, children
are safer when properly restrained in the
rear seating positions than in the front seat-
ing positions. Infants and small children
must be seated in an appropriate infant or
child restraint system, which is properly se-
cured with the vehicle's seat belt and top
tether strap, or secured via lower anchors
and top tether strap, fully in accordance
with the child seat manufacturer's instruc-
tions.

36 Getting startedAdjustingSeat height
Press the switch up or down in the di-
rection of arrow1.
Make sure that you have sufficient
headroom.
Seat cushion tilt

Press the switch up or down in the di-
rection of arrow3 until your upper legs
are lightly supported.
Backrest tilt

Press the switch forward or back in di-
rection of arrow4 until your arms are
slightly angled when holding the steer-
ing wheel.Head restraint height
Adjust head restraint to support the back
of the head approximately at ear level.
Driver’s or front passenger seat

Press the switch up and down in the di-
rection of arrow5.
Rear seat

Push down or pull up on the head re-
straint.Head restraint tilt

Manually adjust the angle of the head
restraint. Push or pull on the lower
edge of the head restraint cushion.
More information on the seats can be
found in the “Controls in detail” section
(
page 91).
Warning!
G
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust head restraint to support the back of
the head approximately at ear level.
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat
head restraints. Head restraints are intend-
ed to help reduce injuries during an acci-
dent.
iThe memory function can be used to
save the seat settings together with the
steering wheel and exterior mirror set-
tings (
page 97).

37 Getting started
Adjusting
Steering wheelThe stalk is located on the steering column
(lower left).
1Steering column, lengthen or shorten
2Steering column, height

Turn the key in the starter switch to
position1 or2 (
page 33).
or

Open the driver’s door.Steering column, lengthen or shorten

Move stalk forward or back in the direc-
tion of arrow1 until a comfortable
steering wheel position is reached with
your arms slightly bent at the elbow.
Steering column, height

Move stalk up or down in the direction
of arrow2.
Make sure that your legs can move
freely and that all the displays (incl.
malfunction and indicator lamps) on
the instrument cluster are clearly visi-
ble.
Warning!
G
Do not adjust the steering wheel while driv-
ing. Adjusting the steering wheel while driv-
ing, or driving without the adjustment
locked could cause the driver to lose control
of the vehicle.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
key from the starter switch, and lock your
vehicle.
The steering wheel adjustment feature can
also be operated with the driver’s door
open. Do not leave children unattended in
the vehicle, or with access to an unlocked
vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehicle equip-
ment may cause an accident and/or serious
personal injury.
iThe memory function (
page 97) can
be used to save the steering wheel set-
tings together with the seat and exteri-
or mirror settings.