2003 MERCEDES-BENZ G55AMG climate control

155 Controls in detail
Climate control
Rear window defroster
Turn the SmartKey in starter switch to
position2.
Activating
Press button
F
in the control panel
of the climate control.
The indicator lamp in the button lights
up.
Deactivating

Press button
F
in the control panel
of the climate control.
The indicator lamp in the button goes
out.
!Heavy accumulation of snow and ice
should be removed before activating
the defroster.
The defroster is automatically turned
off after approximately 6-17 minutes of
operation depending on the outside
temperature and vehicle speed.
If several power consumers are turned
on simultaneously, or the battery is
only partially charged, it is possible that
the defroster will automatically turn it-
self off.
When this happens, the indicator lamp
inside the switch starts blinking.
As soon as the battery has sufficient
voltage, the defroster turns itself back
on.
iThe rear window defroster uses a large
amount of power. To keep the battery
drain to a minimum, turn off the de-
froster as soon as the rear window is
clear.

156 Controls in detailClimate controlResidual engine heat utilization
With the engine switched off, it is possible
to continue to heat or ventilate the interior
for a short while, depending on the temper-
ature setting of the climate control. Air vol-
ume and distribution are controlled
automatically.
Activating
Turn the SmartKey in starter switch to
position1 or0 or remove it altogether.

Press button
°
.
The indicator lamp in the button lights
up.
Set the left and right temperature to
your personal requirements.Deactivating

Press button
°
again to switch off.
The indicator lamp in the button goes
out.
The residual heat is automatically turned
off:


when the SmartKey in starter switch is
turned to position2


after about 30 minutes


if the battery voltage dropsDeactivating the climate control
system
Deactivating
Set the air volume control switch to
position0.
Reactivating

Set the air volume control switch to any
speed.

157 Controls in detail
Climate control
Air conditioning
The air conditioning is operational while
the engine is running and cools the interior
air to the temperature set by the operator.
Deactivating
It is possible to deactivate the air condi-
tioning (cooling) function of the climate
control system. The air in the vehicle will
then no longer be cooled or dehumidified.
Press button
°
(page 151).
The indicator lamp on the button
°

lights up.Activating
Moist air can fog up the windows. You can
dehumidify the air with the air conditioner.

Press button
°
again (
page 151).
The indicator lamp on the button
°

goes out.
The air conditioner uses the refrigerant
R134a. This refrigerant is free of CFCs
which are harmful to the ozone layer.Rear passenger compartment adjust-
able air vents
1Air volume control for center air vents
2Left center air vent, adjustable
3Right center air vent, adjustable
iCondensation may drip out from under-
neath the vehicle. This is normal and
not an indication of a malfunction.
!If the
°
button on the climate con-
trol panel starts to blink, this indicates
that the air conditioner is losing refrig-
erant. The compressor has turned itself
off. The air conditioner cannot be
turned on again.


Have the air conditioner checked at
the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.

207 Operation
Driving instructions
Driving downhill

Select gear range1 on the automatic
transmission (
page 137).


Drive downhill observing the same
rules as driving uphill (
page 206).Driving through water
119 in (48 cm)


Before driving through water, deter-
mine its depth.
It should not be deeper than approxi-
mately 19 in (48 cm).


Comply with the warnings
(page 203) and rules for off-road
driving (
page 204).


Switch off the exterior lamps as well as
the climate control.


Select gear range2 or1 on the auto-
matic transmission (
page 137).


Enter the water only at a shallow spot,
driving at walking speed.


Do not stop vehicle immersed in water,
and do not shut off the engine.
There is a very high level of driving re-
sistance in water. The surface is slip-
pery and may not be firm, making
pulling away in water difficult and dan-
gerous.


Clean mud off the tire tread after driv-
ing through water.


To dry the brakes, apply pressure to the
brake pedal several times after leaving
the water.
!Only apply the service brake if the vehi-
cle travels straight downhill, i.e. in the
line of gravity.iThe special LOW RANGE – ABS setting
allows for precise and brief (cyclical)
blocking of the front wheels, permitting
them to dig into loose ground.
Remember that, when stopped, the
front wheels slide across a surface and
thus lose their ability to steer the vehi-
cle.
!Never accelerate before driving into
the water. The bow wave could force
water into the engine and auxiliary
equipment, thus damaging them.

233 Operation
Vehicle care
Scratches, corrosive deposits, corrosion or
damage due to negligent or incorrect care
cannot always be removed or repaired with
the car-care products recommended here.
In such cases it is best to seek aid at your
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.
The following topics deal with the cleaning
and care of your vehicle and give important
“how-to” information as well as references
to Mercedes-Benz approved car-care prod-
ucts.
Additional information can be found in the
booklet “Vehicle Care Guide”.
Power washer
When using a power washer for cleaning
the vehicle always observe manufacturer’s
operating instructions.Tar stains
Quickly remove tar stains before they dry
and become more difficult to remove. A tar
remover is recommended.
Paintwork, painted body components
Mercedes-Benz approved Paint Care
should be applied when water drops on the
paint surface do not “bead up”, normally
every 3 to 5 months, depending on climate
and washing detergent used.Mercedes-Benz approved Paint Cleaner
should be applied if the paint surface
shows signs of dirt embedding (i.e. loss of
gloss).
Do not apply any of these products or wax
if your vehicle is parked in the sun or if the
hood is still hot.
Use the appropriate MB-Touch-Up Stick
for quick and provisional repairs of minor
paint damage (i.e. chips from stones, vehi-
cle doors, etc.).
Engine cleaning
Prior to cleaning the engine compartment,
make sure to protect electrical compo-
nents and connectors from the intrusion of
water and cleaning agents.
Corrosion protection, such as MB Anticor-
rosion Wax should be applied to the engine
compartment after every engine cleaning.
Before applying, all control linkage bush-
ings and joints should be lubricated. The
poly-V-belt and all pulleys should be pro-
tected from any wax.
!Never use a round nozzle to power
wash tires. The intense jet of water can
result in damage to the tire.
Always replace a damaged tire.
Always keep the jet of water moving
across the surface. Do not aim directly
at electrical parts, electrical connec-
tors, sensors, seals, or other rubber
parts.

322 Technical dataConsumer information
Consumer informationThis has been prepared as required of all
manufacturers of passenger cars under Ti-
tle 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 appli-
cable, on the tire sidewall between tread
shoulder and maximum section width. For
example:
All passenger car tires must conform to
federal safety requirements in addition to
these grades.Tread wear
The tread wear grade is a comparative rat-
ing based on the wear rate of the tire when
tested under controlled conditions on a
specified government test course. For ex-
ample, 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 repre-
sent the tire’s ability to stop on wet pave-
ment as measured under controlled
conditions on specified government test
surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire
marked C may have poor traction perfor-
mance.
Tread wear
Traction
Temperature
200
AA
A
Warning!
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.

332 IndexAlarm system
Anti-theft 79
Anticorrosion/antifreeze 320
Antiglare
Automatic 147
Antilock brake system (ABS) 325
Anti-theft alarm system
Arming 79
Canceling alarm 80
Disarming 80
Anti-theft systems 79
Anti-theft alarm system 79
Tow-away alarm 80
Aquaplaning see Hydroplaning 200
Armrest
Storage compartment below 177
Storage compartment in front of 177
Ashtrays 179
At the gas station 214
ATF (automatic transmission fluid) 220
AUDIO menu 116
Selecting radio station 117
Automatic antiglare for
rear view mirror 147Automatic central locking
Activating/deactivating (control
system) 128
Automatic climate control
Deactivating 157
Automatic headlamp mode 101
Automatic lighting control
Activating 104
Deactivating 105
Automatic locking when driving 89
Automatic transmission 135
Accelerator position 139
Emergency operation
(Limp Home Mode) 140
Fluid level 220
Gear ranges 137
Gear selector lever position 138
Gear shifting malfunctions 140
Kickdown 139
Manual shifting 136
One-touch gearshifting 136
Selector lever position 135
Transmission fluid 220B
BabySmart
TM
Airbag deactivation system 65
Compatible child seats 65, 325
Self-test 66
BabySmart
TM airbag deactivation
system 325
Backup lamp
Replacing bulbs 287
Backup lamps 280
Bulbs 280
BAS 71, 73, 325
Messages in display 248
Batteries, SmartKey
Changing 273
Check lamp 85
Checking 86
Batteries, vehicle 223
Battery box
Fuse box in 303
Battery discharged
Jump starting 297

334 IndexCHECK ENGINE malfunction indicator
lamp 243
Checking
Coolant level 215, 220
Oil level 215, 217, 218
Checklist
Off-road driving 205
Child safety 63
Infant and child restraint systems 54,
60, 63
LATCH child seat mounts 68
Child safety switch see Blocking of rear
door window operation 69
Cigarette lighter 181
Cleaning
Cup holder 235
Gear selector lever 235
Hard plastic trim items 236
Headlamps 148
Headliner 236
Illuminated door sill panels 236
Instrument cluster 235
Leather upholstery 236
Light alloy wheels 235
MB Tex upholstery 236
Plastic and rubber parts 236Rear Park Assist sensors* 234
Seat belts 236
Steering wheel 235
Windows 235
Windshield 47
Wiper blades 235
Climate control 150
Adjusting 153
Defogging windshield 153
Defrosting 154
Rear window defroster 155
Setting the temperature 152
Clock 25
Closing
Glove box 176
Hood 217
Side windows 158
Sliding/pop-up roof 160, 276
Sliding/pop-up roof
with SmartKey 161
Tailgate 88
Windows 158
Windows with SmartKey 159
Closing sliding/pop-up roof
In an emergency 276
Cockpit 22, 325Cockpit management and data system
(COMAND) 325
COMAND 325
COMAND see separate operating
instructions
Combination switch 23, 103
High beam flasher 46, 103
Turn signals 46
Windshield wipers 47
Consumer information 322
Control and operation of
radio transmitters 210
Control system 111, 325
AUDIO menu 116
Convenience submenu 128
Display digital speedometer 116
Functions 112, 115
Instrument cluster submenu 122
Lighting submenu 124
Malfunction memory menu 118
Menus 114, 115, 327
Multifunction display 111
Multifunction steering wheel 112
NAVI menu 118
Selecting radio system 117
Settings menu 119