Contents
Climate control .................................. 150
Setting the temperature ............... 152
Adjusting air distribution and
volume ......................................... 153
Defrosting .................................... 154
Air recirculation............................ 154
Rear window defroster ................. 155
Residual engine heat utilization.... 156
Deactivating the climate control
system ......................................... 156
Air conditioning ............................ 157
Rear passenger compartment
adjustable air vents ...................... 157
Power windows.................................. 158
Opening and closing the windows 158
Sliding/pop-up roof ........................... 160
Opening and closing the
sliding/pop-up roof ...................... 160
Driving systems ................................. 162
Cruise control .............................. 162
Rear Park Assist* ......................... 165
Loading.............................................. 168
Roof rack ..................................... 168
Cargo area cover.......................... 168
Enlarged cargo area ..................... 169
Split rear seat bench .................... 169Partition net* (MB Accessory) ...... 171
Loading instructions ..................... 173
Cargo tie-down rings ..................... 175
Useful features ................................... 176
Interior storage spaces ................. 176
Ashtrays........................................ 179
Cigarette lighter ............................ 181
Electrical outlet ............................. 181
Telephone* ................................... 182
Tele Aid ......................................... 183
Garage door opener ...................... 191
Heated steering wheel .................. 194
Operation.......................................... 195
The first 1000 miles (1500 km) .......... 196
Driving instructions ............................ 197
Drive sensibly – save fuel.............. 197
Drinking and driving ...................... 197
Pedals ........................................... 197
Power assistance .......................... 198
Brakes........................................... 198
Driving off ..................................... 199
Parking.......................................... 199
Tires .............................................. 200
Hydroplaning................................. 200Tire traction .................................. 201
Tire speed rating ........................... 201
Winter driving instructions ............ 202
Standing water ............................. 203
Passenger compartment............... 203
Off-road driving ............................. 203
Control and operation of radio
transmitters .................................. 210
Driving abroad .............................. 211
Catalytic converter ....................... 211
Emission control ........................... 212
Coolant temperature .................... 212
At the gas station ............................... 214
Check regularly and
before a long trip .......................... 215
Engine compartment .......................... 216
Hood ............................................. 216
Engine oil ...................................... 217
Transmission fluid level ................ 220
Coolant level ................................. 220
Windshield/rear window washer
system and headlamp cleaning
system .......................................... 222
Battery ............................................... 223
49 Getting started
Driving
Problems while driving
The engine runs erratically and misfires
An ignition cable may be damaged.
The engine electronics may not be op-
erating properly.
Unburned gasoline may have entered
the catalytic converter and damaged it.
Give very little gas.
Have the problem repaired by an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center as soon as possible.The coolant temperature is over 248°F
(120°C)
The coolant is too hot and is no longer
cooling the engine.
Stop the vehicle as soon as possible
and turn off the engine. Allow engine
and coolant to cool.
Check the coolant level and add cool-
ant if necessary (
page 220).In case of accident
If the vehicle is leaking gasoline:
Do not start the engine under any cir-
cumstances.
Notify local fire and/or police authori-
ties.
If the extent of the damage cannot be de-
termined:
Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center.
If no damage can be determined on the
major assemblies
fuel system
engine mount:
Start the engine in the usual manner.
iExcessive coolant temperatures trigger
a warning message in the multifunction
display (
page 252).
54 Safety and SecurityOccupant safety
Occupant safetyIn this section you will learn the most im-
portant facts about the restraint systems
of the vehicle.
The restraint systems are
Seat belts
Emergency tensioning device
Airbags
Child seats
Child seat recognition
Lower anchors and tethers for children
(LATCH)
As independent systems their protective
effects work in conjunction with each oth-
er.The
1
warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up:
for about 4 seconds when you turn the
key in the starter switch to position1.
for about 4 seconds when you start the
engine by turning the key.
The warning lamp goes out shortly after
you start the engine. This shows that the
restraint systems are operational.A malfunction in the system has been de-
tected, if the
1
warning lamp:
fails to extinguish after approximately
4seconds.
does not come on at all.
comes on after the engine was started
or while driving.
For safety reasons, we strongly recom-
mend that you visit an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately to
have the system checked.
More information can be found in the
“Practical hints” section (
page 242).
iFor information on infants and children
traveling with you in the vehicle and re-
straint systems for infants and chil-
dren, see Children in the vehicle
(page 63).
iThe warning lamp remains lit if the key
is turned to position2 and left there.
The warning lamp will go out when you
start the engine.
102 Controls in detailLightingDaytime running lamp mode
Turn exterior lamp switch to
position
M
or
U
.
When the engine is running, the low beam
headlamps are automatically switched on.
In low ambient light conditions the parking
lamps will also switch on.
Canada only
When you shift from a driving position to
positionN orP, the low beam switches off
(three minutes delay).
For nighttime driving, you should turn the
exterior lamp switch to position
B
to
permit activation of the high beam head-
lamps.
USA only
The high beam headlamps can also be ac-
tivated when driving with the daytime run-
ning lamp mode activated and exterior
lamp switch in position
M
.To activate the daytime running lamp
mode, see “Setting daytime running lamp
mode” (
page 124).
Locator lighting and night security illu-
mination
Locator lighting and night security illumi-
nation are described in the control system
section under “Setting locator lighting”
(
page 125) and “Setting night security il-
lumination” (
page 125).
Exterior rear view mirror lamps
If the vehicle is centrally unlocked in the
darkness, the lamps in the exterior rear
view mirrors light up.If a door is opened, the lamp on this side
goes out. If no doors are opened, the
lamps go out:
when the ignition is switched on
after a maximum of 40 seconds
Switching on front fog lamps
Check that the low beam headlamps
are switched on.
Pull out exterior lamp switch to first
stop.
The green indicator lamp
‡
in the
lamp switch lights up.
iSee notes on the exterior lamp switch
(page 100).
iFog lamps will operate with the parking
lamps and/or the low beam headlamps
on. Fog lamps should only be used in
conjunction with low beam headlamps.
Consult your State or Province Motor
Vehicle Regulations regarding allow-
able lamp operation.
115 Controls in detail
Control system
Menus, submenus and functions
Menu 1
Menu 2
Menu 3
Menu 4
Menu 5
Menu 6
Menu 7
Standard
display
AUDIO
NAVI
Malfunction
memory
Settings
Trip computer
Telephone
Commands/submenuCoolant
temperature
display
Select radio
station
Activate route
guidance
Call up
malfunction
messages
Reset to factory
settings
Fuel
consumption
statistics after
start
Load phone book
Digital
speedometer
Operate CD
player
Instrument
cluster submenu
Fuel
consumption
statistics since
the last reset
Search for name
in phone book
Call up FSS
Lighting
submenu
Call up range
Check engine oil
level
Vehicle submenuConvenience
submenu
140 Controls in detailAutomatic transmissionEmergency operation (Limp Home Mode)
If vehicle acceleration worsens or the
transmission no longer shifts, the trans-
mission is most likely operating in limp
home (emergency operation) mode. In this
mode, only 2nd gear and reverse gear can
be activated.
Stop the vehicle.
Move selector lever toP.
Turn off the engine.
Wait at least ten seconds before re-
starting.
Restart the engine.
Move selector lever to positionD (for
2nd gear) orR.
Have the transmission checked at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center as soon as possible.
142 Controls in detailTransfer case
Press upper half1 (“LOW”) of the
transfer case switch.
Once the shift is complete, gear
positionL is displayed in the transfer
case indicator.
Put gear selector in D.
Switching from LOW to HIGH
Press lower half2 (“HIGH”) of the
transfer case switch.
Once the shift is complete, gear
positionH is displayed in the transfer
case indicator.
Put gear selector in D.
Messages in the multifunction display
If a shift was not completed and the multi-
function display shows one of the following
messages:
TC SHIFT CONDITIONS NOT FULFILLEDThe shift does not occur. At least one
shift condition was not met.
Repeat the shift procedure.
TC IN NEUTRAL The shift does not occur. The transfer
case is in neutral. The gear positionN
is displayed in the transfer case
indicator1.
Repeat the shift procedure.
TC SHIFT – CANCELLEDThe shift did not take place.
Repeat the shift procedure.
TRANSFER CASE – VISIT WORKSHOP!There is a malfunction in the system.
Have the vehicle checked at your au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center as soon as possible.
More information can be found in the
“Practical hints” section (
page 266).
!The shift procedure can only be per-
formed when:
The engine is running.
The selector lever for the automatic
transmission is in positionN.
The vehicle speed does not exceed
40 mph (70 km/h).
Warning!
G
If TC is in neutral, transmission positionP
will not hold vehicle. The parking brake must
be applied to hold vehicle in place.
iIf the SmartKey is in starter switch
position0 or1, an alarm will sound if
the transfer case is in positionN and
the driver’s door is opened.
Engage transfer case to gear position
HIGH or LOW.
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.