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.
54 Getting startedDrivingIntermittent wiping
Set the combination switch to
positionI.
Single wipe
Press combination switch briefly in
direction of arrow1.
The windshield wipers wipe one time
without washer fluid.
Wiping with windshield washer fluid
Push combination switch in direction of
arrow1 past the resistance point.
The windshield wipers operate with
washer fluid.
For information on filling up the washer
reservoir, see “Windshield/rear window
washer system and headlamp cleaning
system” (
page 245).
Rear window wiper/washer
The rear window wiper / washer switch is
located on the upper part of the center
console.
1Interval wiping on/off
2Indicator lamp
3Simultaneous operation of wiper and
washer
iIntermittent wiping is interrupted when
the vehicle is at a standstill and a front
door is opened.
!If anything blocks the windshield wip-
ers (leaves, snow, etc.), switch them off
immediately.
For safety reasons, withdraw
SmartKey from starter switch be-
fore attempting to remove any
blockage.
Remove blockage.
Turn the windshield wipers on
again.
If windshield wipers fail to function at
all in combination switch positionI,
set the combination switch to the
next highest wiper speed.
have the windshield wipers
checked at the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
55 Getting started
Driving
Switch on the ignition (
page 35).
Interval wiping
Switching on
Press upper half1 of the switch.
Indicator lamp2 comes on.
Switching off
Press upper half1 of the switch
again.
Indicator lamp2 goes out.Wiping with windshield washer fluid
Press and hold lower half3 of the
switch.
The wiper operates with washer fluid.
The rear window will be wiped for ap-
proximately another five seconds after
the switch is released.
For information on filling up the washer
reservoir, see “Windshield/rear window
washer system and headlamp cleaning
system” (
page 245).
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.
iThe rear window wiper will also auto-
matically engage if
the windshield wipers are engaged.
the gear selector lever is placed
inR “Reverse”.
56 Getting startedDrivingThe coolant temperature is above
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 244).In case of accident
If the vehicle is leaking gasoline:
Do not start the engine under any
circumstances.
Notify local fire and/or police
authorities.
If the extent of the damage cannot be
determined:
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 306).
63 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
A malfunction in the system has been de-
tected if the 1 indicator lamp:
fails to extinguish after approximately
four seconds.
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 Light Truck Center imme-
diately to have the system checked.
For more information, see “Practical hints”
(
page 294).
Airbags
Warning!
G
In the event that the 1indicator lamp
comes on during driving or does not come
on at all, the SRS self-check has detected a
malfunction. For your safety, we strongly
recommend that you visit an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center immedi-
ately to have the system checked; otherwise
the SRS may not be activated when needed
in an accident, which could result in serious
or fatal injury, or it might deploy unexpect-
edly and unnecessarily which could also re-
sult in injury.
In addition, through improper work there is
a risk of rendering the SRS inoperative or
causing unintended airbag deployment.
Work on the SRS must therefore only be per-
formed by qualified technicians. Contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.
Warning!
G
Airbags are designed to reduce the potential
of injury in certain frontal (front airbags) im-
pacts, which may cause significant injuries.
However, no system available today can to-
tally eliminate injuries and fatalities.
The activation of the airbags temporarily re-
leases a small amount of dust from the air-
bags. This dust, however, is neither injurious
to your health, nor does it indicate a fire in
the vehicle. The dust might cause some tem-
porary breathing difficulty for people with
asthma or other breathing trouble. To avoid
this, you may wish to get out of the vehicle
as soon as it is safe to do so. If you have any
breathing difficulty but cannot get out of the
vehicle after the airbag inflates, then get
fresh air by opening a window or door.
64 Safety and SecurityOccupant safetyWarning!
G
The service life of the passenger front airbag
extends to the date indicated on the label lo-
cated on the driver side B pillar. To provide
continued reliability after that date, they
should be inspected by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center at that
time and replaced when necessary.
Warning!
G
To reduce the risk of injury when the front
airbags inflate, it is very important for the
driver and front passenger to always be in a
properly seated position and to wear your
seat belt.
For maximum protection in the event of a
collision always be in normal seated position
with your back against the backrest. Fasten
your seat belt and make sure it is properly
positioned on your body (
page 68).
Since the airbag inflates with considerable
speed and force, a proper seating and hands
on steering wheel position will help to keep
you at a safe distance from the airbag.
Occupants who are unbelted, out of position
or too close to the airbag can be seriously
injured by an airbag as it inflates with great
force in the blink of an eye:
Sit properly belted in a nearly upright
position with your back against the
backrest.
Adjust the driver seat as far as possible
rearward, still permitting proper opera-
tion of vehicle controls. The distance
from the center of the driver’s breast-
bone to the center of the airbag cover on
the steering wheel must be at least
ten inches (25 cm) or more. You should
be able to accomplish this by a combina-
tion of adjustments to the seat and
steering wheel. If you have any prob-
lems, please see an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
Do not lean with your head or chest
close to the steering wheel or dash-
board.
Keep hands on the outside of steering
wheel rim. Placing hands and arms in-
side the rim can increase the risk and
potential severity of hand/arm injury
when driver front airbag inflates.
Adjust the front passenger seat as far as
possible rearward from the dashboard
when the seat is occupied.
66 Safety and SecurityOccupant safety
Safety guidelines for the seat belt,
emergency tensioning device and
airbag Your vehicle was originally equipped
with airbags that are designed to acti-
vate in certain impacts exceeding a
preset threshold to reduce the poten-
tial and severity of injury. It is important
to your safety and that of your passen-
ger that you replace deployed airbags
and repair any malfunctioning airbags
to make sure the vehicle will continue
to provide supplemental crash protec-
tion for occupants.Warning!
G
Damaged seat belts or belts that were
highly stressed in an accident must be
replaced and their anchoring points
must also be checked. Use only belts in-
stalled or supplied by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
No modifications of any kind may be
made to any components or wiring of
the SRS. This includes changing or re-
moving any component or part of the
SRS, the installation of additional trim
material, badges, etc. over the steering
wheel hub, passenger front airbag cov-
er, or door trim panels, and installation
of additional electrical /electronic
equipment on or near SRS components
and wiring. Keep area between airbags
and occupants free from objects (e.g.
packages, purses, umbrellas, etc.).
Airbags and emergency tensioning de-
vices (ETDs) are designed to function on
a one-time-only basis. An airbag or ETD
that was activated must be replaced.
Do not pass belts over sharp edges.
They could tear.
Do not make any modification that could
change the effectiveness of the belts.
Do not bleach or dye seat belts as this
may severely weaken them. In a crash
they may not be able to provide ade-
quate protection.
Never place your feet on the instrument
panel, dashboard, or on the seat. Always
keep both feet on the floor in front of the
seat.
Airbag system components will be hot
after an airbag has inflated. Do not
touch.
67 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
When you sell your vehicle we strongly
urge you to give notice to the subsequent
owner that it is equipped with an SRS by
alerting them to the applicable section in
the Operator’s Manual.Front airbags
1Driver airbag
2Passenger front airbag
Driver and front passenger airbags are
deployed:
in the event of certain frontal impacts
if impact exceeds a preset deployment
threshold
In addition, improper repair work on the
SRS creates a risk of rendering the SRS
inoperative or causing unintended air-
bag deployment. Work on the SRS must
therefore only be performed by qualified
technicians. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
For your protection and the protection
of others, when scrapping the airbag
unit or emergency tensioning device,
our safety instructions must be fol-
lowed. These instructions are available
from an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center.
Given the considerable deployment
speed and the textile structure of the
airbags, there is the possibility of abra-
sions or other injuries resulting from
airbag deployment.
Warning!
G
In the event that the 1indicator lamp
comes on while driving, the SRS may not be
operational. For your safety, we strongly
recommend that you visit an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center immedi-
ately to have the system checked; otherwise
the SRS may not be activated when needed
in an accident, which could result in serious
or fatal injury, or it might deploy unexpect-
edly and unnecessarily which could also re-
sult in injury.