2005 MERCEDES-BENZ G500 transmission

Contents
Automatic transmission ..................... 148
One-touch gearshifting................. 149
Gear ranges ................................. 150
Gear selector lever position ......... 151
Accelerator position ..................... 153
Emergency operation
(Limp Home Mode) ...................... 153
Transfer case ..................................... 154
Gear range ................................... 154
Switching transfer case................ 154
Differential locks ............................... 156
A few words about differentials
and differential locks.................... 157
Switching differential locks
on and off..................................... 158
Good visibility .................................... 160
Rear view mirror........................... 160
Headlamp cleaning system .......... 162
Sun visors .................................... 162
Rear window defroster ................. 163Climate control ................................... 164
Setting the temperature................ 166
Adjusting air distribution and
volume .......................................... 167
Defrosting ..................................... 168
Air recirculation ............................ 168
Residual engine heat utilization .... 169
Deactivating the climate control
system .......................................... 169
Air conditioning............................. 170
Rear passenger compartment
adjustable air vents....................... 170
Power windows .................................. 171
Opening and closing the
windows ........................................ 171
Power tilt/sliding sunroof................... 173
Opening and closing the power
tilt/sliding sunroof ........................ 173
Driving systems .................................. 176
Cruise control ............................... 176
Rear Parking Assist* ..................... 179Loading .............................................. 182
Roof rack ...................................... 182
Cargo compartment cover ............ 182
Enlarged cargo compartment ....... 183
Split rear seat bench .................... 183
Partition net* (MB Accessory) ...... 185
Loading instructions ..................... 187
Cargo tie-down rings..................... 189
Useful features ................................... 190
Storage compartments ................. 190
Ashtrays........................................ 194
Cigarette lighter............................ 195
Electrical outlet............................. 196
Floormats ..................................... 196
Telephone* ................................... 197
Tele Aid......................................... 198
Garage door opener ...................... 206
Heated steering wheel .................. 211

ContentsOperation......................................... 213
The first 1000 miles (1500 km) ......... 214
Driving instructions ............................ 216
Drive sensibly – save fuel ............. 216
Drinking and driving ..................... 216
Pedals .......................................... 216
Power assistance ......................... 217
Brakes .......................................... 217
Driving off..................................... 218
Parking ......................................... 218
Tires ............................................. 219
Hydroplaning ................................ 220
Tire traction .................................. 220
Tire speed rating .......................... 221
Winter driving instructions ........... 221
Standing water ............................. 222
Passenger compartment .............. 223
Off-road driving ............................ 223
Control and operation of radio
transmitters.................................. 231
Driving abroad .............................. 232
Catalytic converter ....................... 232
Emission control........................... 233
Coolant temperature .................... 233At the gas station .............................. 235
Refueling ...................................... 235
Check regularly and before
a long trip ..................................... 236
Engine compartment ......................... 238
Hood ............................................ 238
Engine oil ..................................... 239
Transmission fluid level ................ 244
Coolant level ................................ 244
Windshield/rear window
washer system and headlamp
cleaning
system ......................................... 245
Battery ............................................... 247
Tires and wheels ................................ 248
Important guidelines .................... 248
Tire care and maintenance ........... 249
Direction of rotation ..................... 251
Loading the vehicle ...................... 251
Recommended tire inflation
pressure ....................................... 257
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 259
Tire labeling.................................. 261
Load identification ....................... 265DOT, Tire Identification Number
(TIN) ............................................. 266
Maximum tire load ....................... 267
Maximum tire inflation pressure .. 268
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (U.S. vehicles) ............. 268
Tire ply material ........................... 270
Tire and loading terminology........ 271
Rotating tires ............................... 274
Winter driving .................................... 275
Winter tires .................................. 275
Block heater (Canada only) .......... 276
Snow chains................................. 276
Maintenance...................................... 277
Clearing the maintenance
service indicator .......................... 278
Maintenance service term
exceeded ..................................... 278
Calling up the maintenance
service indicator .......................... 278
Resetting the maintenance
service indicator .......................... 279
Vehicle care....................................... 280
Cleaning and care of the vehicle .. 280

Contents
Practical hints................................. 287
What to do if … .................................. 288
Lamps in instrument cluster ........ 288
Lamp in center console ................ 295
Vehicle status messages in the
multifunction display .................... 296
Where will I find...? ............................ 321
First aid kit ................................... 321
Vehicle tool kit ............................. 321
Vehicle jack.................................. 322
CD changer .................................. 322
Spare wheel ................................. 323
Unlocking/locking in an emergency .. 325
Unlocking the vehicle ................... 325
Locking the vehicle ...................... 326
Fuel filler flap ............................... 326
Manually unlocking the
transmission gear selector lever .. 327
Opening/closing in an emergency..... 328
Tilt/sliding sunroof ...................... 328Brush guard* ...................................... 329
Lowering and raising brush
guard ............................................ 330
Replacing SmartKey batteries ............ 331
SmartKey ...................................... 332
Replacing bulbs .................................. 333
Bulbs ............................................. 333
Replacing bulbs for front lamps .... 335
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps ..... 341
Replacing wiper blades....................... 344
Removing wiper blades ................. 344
Installing wiper blades .................. 345
Flat tire ............................................... 346
Preparing the vehicle .................... 346
Mounting the spare wheel ............ 347
Battery................................................ 351
Charging the battery ..................... 351
Disconnecting the battery............. 352
Reconnecting the battery.............. 353
Jump starting ...................................... 354Towing the vehicle.............................. 356
Transporting the vehicle ............... 358
Towing the vehicle - various
problem scenarios ........................ 358
Front towing eye ........................... 359
Rear towing eye ............................ 359
Freeing a stranded vehicle............ 359
Fuses.................................................. 360
Fuse box in passenger
compartment ................................ 360
Fuse box in battery box ................ 360
Fuse box in front passenger
footwell ......................................... 361
Fuse box in middle tunnel ............. 362

29 At a glance
Center console
Lower part
Item
Page
1
Storage tray
2
Gear selector lever for
automatic transmission
49,
148
3
Transfer case switch
154
4
Parking brake
50,
57

49 Getting started
Driving
Automatic transmissionGearshift pattern for automatic
transmissionPPark position with gear selector lever
lock
RReverse gear
NNeutral
DDrive position
For more information, see “Automatic
transmission” (
page 148).Starting

Place the gear selector lever in
positionP.

Do not depress the accelerator.

Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position3 and hold until the engine
starts (
page 35).

Depress the brake pedal.
The gear selector lever lock is released.
For information on turning off the engine,
see “Turning off engine” (
page 58).Starting difficulties
If the engine does not start as described,
carry out the following steps:

Turn SmartKey in starter switch to
position0 and repeat starting proce-
dure.

Remember that extended starting at-
tempts can drain the battery.

Get a jump start (
page 354).
If the engine does not start after several
starting attempts, there could be a mal-
function in the engine electronics or in the
fuel supply system.

Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center.
iYou can also use the “touch-start”
function. Turn the SmartKey to
position3 and release it again immedi-
ately. The engine then starts automati-
cally.

59 Getting started
Parking and locking

Press the seat belt release button3
(page 45).
Allow the retractor to completely re-
wind the seat belt by guiding the latch
plate.

After exiting the vehicle, press the lock
button‹ on the SmartKey
(page 34).
With the hood, tailgate and all doors
closed, all turn signal lamps flash three
times. The locking knobs on the doors
move down.
The anti-theft alarm system is armed.For more information, see “Locking and
unlocking” (
page 92).
iThe SmartKey can only be pulled out
when:

it has been turned to position0 in
the starter switch


the gear selector lever for the auto-
matic transmission is in positionP
iWith the SmartKey removed and the
driver’s door open, a warning sounds if
the vehicle’s exterior lamps are not
switched off.
Warning!
G
To prevent possible personal injury, always
keep hands and fingers away from the door
openings when closing the doors. Be espe-
cially careful when small children are
around.
Before closing doors, make sure there is no
possibility of someone getting caught in a
door during closing.
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch, take it
with you, and lock the vehicle. Do not leave
children unattended in the vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle. Unsuper-
vised use of vehicle equipment may cause
an accident and/or serious personal injury.

91 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Seats
Memory function
Lighting
Instrument cluster
Control system
Automatic transmission
Transfer case
Differential locks
Good visibility
Climate control
Power windows
Power tilt/sliding sunroof
Driving systems
Loading
Useful features

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.