2005 MERCEDES-BENZ G500 high beam

23 At a glance
Cockpit
Item
Page
1
Combination switch

Turn signals
52


Windshield wipers
53


High beam
52
2
Headlamp cleaning system
162
3
Cruise control lever
176
4
Instrument cluster
24
5
Lever for voice control
system*, see separate
operating instructions
Item
Page
6
Starter switch
35
7
Glove box
190
8
Multifunction steering
wheel
26,
124,
211
9
Horn
a
Steering wheel adjustment
lever
40,
211
b
Exterior lamp switch
51,
110
c
Exterior rear view mirror
adjustment
41

25 At a glance
Instrument cluster
Item
Page
1
Reset button for:

Resetting trip odometer
121


Resetting individual or
all settings
132,
133,
145,
279


Instrument cluster
illumination
120
2
LLeft turn signal
indicator lamp
24
3
?Engine malfunction
indicator lamp
(USA only)
292
±Engine malfunction
indicator lamp
(Canada only)
292
vElectronic Stability
Program (ESP)
warning lamp
84,
293
AHigh beam
headlamp indicator
lamp
52,
114
Item
Page
4
KRight turn signal
indicator lamp
24
5
Fuel gauge with:Fuel reserve warning lamp
24
1Supplemental
Restraint System
(SRS) indicator lamp
66,
294
68,
294
6
Multifunction display
with:
123
Trip odometer
24
Main odometer
24
Transfer case program
mode
154
Gear selector lever position
148
Outside temperature
indicator
122
Clock (see COMAND
operating instructions)
123
Item
Page
7
Speedometer
8
Tachometer with:;Brake warning lamp
(USA only)
50,
290
3Brake warning lamp
(Canada only)
50,
290
-Antilock Brake
System (ABS)
indicator lamp
80,
288

35 Getting started
Unlocking
Starter switch positionsStarter switch0For removing SmartKey
The steering is locked when the
SmartKey is removed from the starter
switch. If necessary, move steering
wheel slightly to allow the locking
mechanism to engage.
1Power supply to some electrical con-
sumers, such as seat adjustment2Ignition (power supply for all electrical
consumers) and driving position.
All lamps (except high beam headlamp
indicator lamp and turn signal indicator
lamps unless activated) in the instru-
ment cluster come on. If a lamp in the
instrument cluster fails to come on
when the ignition is switched on, have
it checked and replaced if necessary. If
a lamp in the instrument cluster re-
mains on after starting the engine or
comes on while driving, refer to see
“Lamps in instrument cluster”
(
page 288).
3Starting position
iWhen you switch on ignition, the indi-
cator and warning lamps (except high
beam headlamp indicator lamp and
turn signal indicator lamps unless acti-
vated) in the instrument cluster come
on. This indicates that the respective
system is operational. The indicator
and warning lamps (except high beam
headlamp indicator lamp and turn sig-
nal indicator lamps if activated) should
go out when the engine is running.iThe SmartKey can only be removed
from the starter switch with the gear
selector lever in positionP.

51 Getting started
Driving
After a cold start, the automatic transmis-
sion shifts at a higher revolution. This al-
lows the catalytic converter to reach its
operating temperature earlier.
For more information, see “Driving instruc-
tions” (
page 216).
For information on off-road driving, see
“Off-road driving” (
page 223).
Switching on headlamps
Low beam headlamps
The exterior lamp switch is located on the
dashboard to the left of the steering wheel.Exterior lamp switch1Off
2Low beam headlamps on
Turn exterior lamp switch to
positionB.
!Do not run cold engine at high engine
speeds. Running a a cold engine at high
engine speeds may shorten the service
life of the engine.iYou can open the doors from inside at
any time. Open doors only when the
conditions are safe to do so.
You can deactivate the automatic
locking using the control system
(page 141).
!Simultaneously depressing the acceler-
ator pedal and applying the brake re-
duces engine performance and causes
premature brake and drivetrain wear.
Warning!
G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced vehi-
cle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not pre-
vent this type of loss of control.

52 Getting startedDrivingHigh beam
The combination switch is located on the
left of the steering column.Combination switch1High beam
2High beam flasher
Push combination switch in direction of
arrow1.
The high beam headlamp indicator
lampA in the instrument cluster
comes on (
page 24).
For more information on headlamps, see
“Lighting” (
page 110).
Turn signals
The combination switch is located on the
left of the steering column.Combination switch1Turn signals, right
2Turn signals, left
Press combination switch in direction
of arrow1 or2.
The corresponding turn signal indicator
lampK orL in the instrument
cluster flashes (
page 24).The combination switch resets automati-
cally after major steering wheel move-
ments.
iTo signal minor directional changes
such as changing lanes, press combi-
nation switch only to point of resis-
tance and release. The corresponding
turn signals will flash three times.

110 Controls in detailLightingFor information on how to switch on the
headlamps and use the turn signals, see
“Switching on headlamps” and “Turn sig-
nals” (
page 51).
Exterior lamp switch
The exterior lamp switch is located on the
dashboard to the left of the steering wheel.MOff
Daytime running lamp mode
(
page 112)
UAutomatic headlamp mode
Daytime running lamp mode
(page 112)
CParking lamps (also tail lamps, li-
cense plate lamps, side marker
lamps, instrument panel lamps)
BLow beam headlamps (or high
beam headlamps when the combi-
nation switch is pushed forward)
and parking lamps
ˆStanding lamps, right (turn left one
stop)
‚Standing lamps, left (turn left two
stops)
‡Indicator lamp for front fog lamps
†Indicator lamp for rear fog lamp
iIf you drive in countries where vehicles
drive on the other side of the road than
the country in which the vehicle is reg-
istered, you must have the headlamps
modified for symmetrical low beams.
Relevant information can be obtained
at your authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center.

112 Controls in detailLightingDaytime running lamp mode
Turn exterior lamp switch to
positionM orU.
When the engine is running, the low
beam headlamps are switched on.
In low ambient light conditions, the
following lamps will switch on
additionally:

Tail and parking lamps


License plate lamps


Side marker lamps
For nighttime driving, you should turn the
exterior lamp switch to positionB to
permit activation of the high beam head-
lamps.Canada only:
The daytime running lamp mode is manda-
tory and therefore in a constant mode.
Vehicles with automatic transmission*:
When the engine is running, and you shift
from a driving position to positionN orP,
the low beam headlamps will switch off
with a three-minute delay.
When the engine is running, and you


turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionC, the parking lamps
switch on additionally.


turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionB, the manual headlamp
mode has priority over the daytime run-
ning lamp mode.
The corresponding exterior lamps
switch on (
page 110).USA only:
By default, the daytime running lamp mode
is deactivated. Activate the daytime run-
ning lamp mode using the control system,
see “Setting daytime running lamp mode”
(
page 137).
When the engine is running, and you turn
the exterior lamp switch to
positionCorB, the manual head-
lamp mode has priority over the daytime
running lamp mode.
The corresponding exterior lamps switch
on (page 110).
iWith the daytime running lamp mode
and the exterior lamp switch in
positionM you cannot switch on the
high beam headlamps.
The high beam flasher is available at all
times.

114 Controls in detailLightingRear fog lamp (driver’s side only)
Switch on the front fog lamps
(page 113).

Pull out the exterior lamp switch to
second stop.
The rear fog lamp switches on.
The yellow indicator lamp† in the
exterior lamp switch comes on
(page 110).

Push in the exterior lamp switch to first
stop.
The rear fog lamp switches off.
The yellow indicator lamp† in the
exterior lamp switch goes out.
The front fog lamps remain lit.
Combination switch
The combination switch is located on the
left side of the steering column.
1High beam
2High beam flasherHigh beam

Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionB orU (
page 110).

Push the combination switch in direc-
tion of arrow1 to switch on the high
beam.
The high beam headlamp indicator
lampA in the instrument cluster
comes on (
page 24).

Pull the combination switch in direction
of arrow2 to its original position to
switch off the high beam.
The high beam headlamp indicator
lampA in the instrument cluster
goes out.
High beam flasher

Pull the combination switch briefly in
direction of arrow2.