2006 MERCEDES-BENZ G500 engine

57 Getting started
Parking and locking
Parking and locking
You have now completed your first drive.
You have properly stopped and parked
your vehicle. End your drive as follows.Parking brake
1Parking brake lever
2Release button
Pull lever1 up as many notches as
possible.
When the engine is running, the warn-
ing lamp; (USA only) or3
(Canada only) in the instrument cluster
will be illuminated.
Warning!G
With the engine not running, there is no
power assistance for the brake and steering
systems. In this case, it is important to keep
in mind that a considerably higher degree of
effort is necessary to brake and steer the ve-
hicle.
Warning!G
Do not park this vehicle in areas where com-
bustible materials such as grass, hay or
leaves can come into contact with the hot
exhaust system, as these materials could be
ignited and cause a vehicle fire.
To reduce the risk of personal injury as a re-
sult of vehicle movement, before turning off
the engine and leaving the vehicle always:

Keep right foot on brake pedal.

Pull the parking brake lever up as many
notches as possible.

Move the gear selector lever to
positionP.

Slowly release brake pedal.

When parked on an incline, turn front
wheels towards the road curb.

Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
position0 and remove the SmartKey
from the starter switch.

Take the SmartKey and lock vehicle
when leaving.

58 Getting started
Parking and locking
Switching off headlamps
Turn the exterior lamp switch to M
(
page 51).
For more information, see “Exterior lamp
switch” (
page 110).
Turning off engine
Place the gear selector lever in
positionP.
Turn SmartKey in the starter switch to
position0 and remove the SmartKey
from the starter switch.
The immobilizer is activated.
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. Children
could release the parking brake and/or
move the gear selector lever from
positionP, either of which could result in an
accident and/or serious personal injury.
Warning!G
Getting out of your vehicle with the gear se-
lector lever not fully engaged in positionP is
dangerous. Also, when parked on an incline,
positionP alone may not prevent your vehi-
cle from moving, possibly hitting people or
objects.
Always set the parking brake in addition to
shifting to positionP.
When parked on an incline, turn front wheels
towards the road curb.
i
Always set the parking brake in addi-
tion to shifting to positionP.
On slopes, turn the front wheels to-
wards the road curb.

62 Safety and Security
In this section you will learn the most im-
portant facts about the restraint systems
of the vehicle.
Occupant safety
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 1indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster (
page 25) comes on:

for about four seconds when you turn
the SmartKey in the starter switch to
position1.

for about four seconds when you start
the engine by turning the SmartKey.
The 1indicator lamp goes out shortly
after you start the engine. This shows that
the restraint systems are operational.
i
For 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 72).
i
The 1indicator lamp remains lit if
the SmartKey is turned to position2
and left there. The indicator lamp will
go out when you start the engine.

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 296).
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.

68 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
The airbags will not deploy in impacts
which do not exceed the system’s deploy-
ment thresholds. You will then be protect-
ed by the fastened seat belts.
The passenger front airbag will only be
deployed if:

the passenger seat is occupied

the 7 indicator lamp in the center
console is not lit (
page 74)

the impact exceeds a preset deploy-
ment thresholdWindow curtain airbags
The window curtain airbags1 deploy in
the area of the side windows indicated by
the arrows.
1Window curtain airbag
The window curtain airbags are deployed:

on the impacted side of the vehicle

in impacts exceeding a preset deploy-
ment threshold

independently of the front airbags
The window curtain airbags are not de-
ployed in impacts which do not exceed the
system’s deployment threshold.
Seat belts
When the engine is started, the seat-belt
telltale< illuminates to remind you and
your passengers to fasten your seat belts.
If the driver’s seat belt is not fastened be-
fore the engine is started, the seat belt
telltale< illuminates and a warning
chime sounds for approximately
six seconds when the engine is started.
Always wear your seat belt. All vehicle oc-
cupants always need to have their seat
belts fastened and wear them properly.
In addition, applicable motor vehicle safety
laws require you to wear seat belts. Even
where this is not the case, we strongly rec-
ommend that all vehicle occupants have
their seat belts fastened and wear them
properly.
For more information, see “Fastening the
seat belt” (
page 43).
!
Do not place objects heavier than
20 lbs (9 kg) on the front passenger
seat. This could cause the passenger
front airbag to deploy in a crash which
exceeds the system’s deployment
threshold.

81 Safety and Security
Driving and safety systems
Continuous steady brake pedal pressure
yields the advantages provided by the ABS,
namely braking power and the ability to
steer the vehicle.
On slippery road surfaces, the ABS will re-
spond even with light brake pressure. The
pulsating brake pedal can be an indication
of hazardous road conditions and func-
tions as a reminder to take extra care while
driving.
The -indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster (
page 24) comes on when you
turn the SmartKey to position2. It goes
out when the engine is running.Braking
At the instant one of the wheels is about to
lock up, a slight pulsation can be felt in the
brake pedal, indicating that the ABS is in
the regulating mode.
Keep firm and steady pressure on the
brake pedal while experiencing the pul-
sation.
Emergency brake maneuver
Keep continuous full pressure on the
brake pedal.LOW RANGE– ABS
During off-road driving a special low range
system for the antilock brake system (ABS)
is operational with transfer case in position
LOW (
page 157).
An improved braking action (dig-in effect)
is obtained for vehicle speeds up to
37 mph (60 km/h) through a change in the
ABS control function.
For more information, see “Practical hints”
(
page 290).
i
If the ABS is malfunctioning, the BAS,
EBB, ESP, and 4-ETS are also switched
off.
Normal driving and braking functions
are still available.

83 Safety and Security
Driving and safety systems
4-ETS
The 4-ETS improves vehicle’s ability to uti-
lize available traction, especially under
slippery road conditions. The brakes are
applied to the spinning wheel and power is
allowed to flow to the wheel(s) with trac-
tion.
The 4-ETS function is available between ve-
hicle speeds of 0 mph (km/h) and 37 mph
(60 km/h).
The ESP warning lampv in the instru-
ment cluster (
page 24) comes on when
you switch on ignition (
page 35). It goes
out when the engine is running.
The ESP warning lampv starts to flash
at any vehicle speed, as soon as the tires
lose traction and the wheels begin to spin.For more information, see “Practical hints”
(
page 295).
Warning!G
When you see the ESP warning lampv
flashing in the instrument cluster, then pro-
ceed as follows:

While driving off, apply as little throttle
as possible.

While driving ease up on the accelera-
tor.

Adapt your speed and driving style to
the prevailing road conditions.
Failure to observe these guidelines could
cause the vehicle to skid.
The 4-ETS cannot prevent accidents result-
ing from excessive speed.
!
The engine must be shut off when

the parking brake is being tested on
a brake test dynamometer.

the vehicle is being towed with one
axle raised.
Otherwise, the 4-ETS will engage the
brakes and seriously damage the brake
system.

84 Safety and Security
Driving and safety systems
EBB
The EBB enhances braking effectiveness
by allowing the rear brakes to supply a
greater proportion of the braking effort in
straight line braking circumstances with-
out a loss of vehicle stability.ESP
The Electronic Stability Program (ESP)
monitors the vehicle’s traction (force of ad-
hesive friction between the tires and the
road surface) and handling.
The ESP recognizes when a wheel is spin-
ning or if the vehicle starts to skid. By ap-
plying brakes to the appropriate wheel and
by limiting engine output, the ESP works to
stabilize the vehicle.
The ESP warning lampv in the instru-
ment cluster (
page 24) flashes when the
ESP is engaged.
The ESP warning lampv comes on
when you switch on ignition (
page 35). It
goes out when the engine is running.
Warning!G
Never switch off the ESP when you see the
ESP warning lamp v flashing in the in-
strument cluster. In this case proceed as fol-
lows:

While driving off, apply as little throttle
as possible.

While driving ease up on the accelera-
tor.

Adapt your speed and driving style to
the prevailing road conditions.
Failure to observe these guidelines could
cause the vehicle to skid.
The ESP cannot prevent accidents resulting
from excessive speed.