Page 199 of 417
198 Controls in detail
Useful features
Storage bags
Storage bags are located on the rear side
of the front seats.Ashtrays
Center console ashtray
1Ashtray
2Cigarette lighter
3Cover plate
Opening ashtray
Briefly push the cover plate3.
The ashtray opens automatically.Removing the ashtray insert
4Sliding knob
5Astray insert
Warning!G
Do not place heavy or fragile objects, or ob-
jects having sharp edges in the storage
bags.
In an accident, during hard braking or sud-
den maneuvers, they could be thrown
around inside the vehicle and cause injury to
vehicle occupants.
Warning!G
Remove ashtray only with vehicle standing
still. Turn off the engine and set the parking
brake. Otherwise the vehicle might move as
a result of unintended contact with the gear
selector lever.
Page 222 of 417
221 Operation
Driving instructions
Power assistance
BrakesTo help prevent brake disk corrosion after
driving on wet road surfaces (particularly
salted roads), it is advisable to brake the
vehicle with considerable force prior to
parking. The heat generated serves to dry
the brakes.
If your brake system is normally only sub-
jected to moderate loads, you should occa-
sionally test the effectiveness of the
brakes by applying above-normal braking
pressure at higher speeds. This will also
enhance the grip of the brake pads.If the parking brake is released and the
brake warning lamp in the instrument clus-
ter stays on and there is no audible warn-
ing (EBB), the brake fluid level in the
reservoir is too low.
Brake pad wear or a leak in the system may
be the reason for low brake fluid in the res-
ervoir.
Have the brake system inspected
immediately. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
All checks and service work on the brake
system should be carried out by qualified
technicians only. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
Install only brake pads and brake fluid
recommended by Mercedes-Benz.
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
After driving in heavy rain for some time
without applying the brakes or through wa-
ter deep enough to wet brake components
or salty road conditions, the first braking ac-
tion may be somewhat reduced and in-
creased pedal pressure may be necessary to
obtain expected braking effect. Maintain a
safe distance from vehicles in front.
Resting your foot on the brake pedal will
cause excessive and premature wear of the
brake pads.
It can also result in the brakes overheating,
thereby significantly reducing their effec-
tiveness. It may not be possible to stop the
vehicle in sufficient time to avoid an acci-
dent.!
Be very careful not to endanger other
road users when you apply the brakes.
Refer to the description of the Brake
Assist System (BAS) (
page 82).
Page 223 of 417
222 Operation
Driving instructions
After hard braking, it is advisable to drive
on for some time, rather than immediately
park, so the air stream will cool down the
brakes faster.
Driving off
Apply the brakes to test them briefly after
driving off. Perform this procedure only
when the road is clear of other traffic.
Warm up the engine smoothly. Do not
place full load on the engine until the oper-
ating temperature has been reached.
When starting off on a slippery surface, do
not allow a drive wheel to spin for an ex-
tended period with the ESP switched off.
Doing so may cause serious damage to the
drivetrain which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
To ensure sufficient traction during
off-road driving, activate differential locks
as needed (
page 161).
Parking
Warning!G
If other than recommended brake pads are
installed, or other than recommended brake
fluid is used, the braking properties of the
vehicle can be degraded to an extent that
safe braking is substantially impaired. This
could result in an accident.
!
When driving down long and steep
grades, relieve the load on the brakes
by selecting gear range3,2, or1 on
the automatic transmission to use the
engine’s braking power (
page 154).
This helps prevent overheating of the
brakes and reduces brake pad wear.
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 selector lever to positionP.
Slowly release brake pedal.
When parked on an incline, turn front
wheel towards the road curb.
Page 224 of 417
223 Operation
Driving instructions
Tires
Treadwear indicators (TWI) are required by
law. These indicators are located in six
places on the tread circumference and be-
come visible at a tread depth of approxi-
mately
1/16in (1.6 mm), at which point
the tire is considered worn and should be
replaced.The treadwear indicator appears as a solid
band across the tread.
Specified tire inflation pressures must be
maintained. This applies particularly if the
tires are subject to high loads (e.g. high
speeds, heavy loads, high ambient temper-
atures).
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position0 and remove the SmartKey
from the starter switch.
Take the SmartKey and lock vehicle
when leaving.
!
Set the parking brake whenever park-
ing or leaving the vehicle. In addition,
move gear selector lever to positionP.
When parking on hills, turn front wheel
towards the road curb.
Warning!G
If you feel a sudden significant vibration or
ride disturbance, or you suspect that possi-
ble damage to your vehicle has occurred,
you should turn on the hazard warning flash-
ers, carefully slow down, and drive with cau-
tion to an area which is a safe distance from
the road.
Inspect the tires and the vehicle underbody
for possible damage. If the vehicle or tires
appear unsafe, have it towed to the nearest
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center or tire
dealer for repairs.
Warning!G
Although the applicable federal motor vehi-
cle safety laws consider a tire to be worn
when the treadwear indicators (TWI) be-
come visible at approximately
1/16in
(1.6 mm), we recommend that you do not al-
low your tires to wear down to that level. As
tread depth approaches
1/8in (3.0 mm),
the adhesion properties on a wet road are
sharply reduced.
Depending upon the weather and/or road
surface (conditions), the tire traction varies
widely.
Page 291 of 417
290 Practical hints
What to do if …
Lamps in instrument clusterGeneral information:
If any of the following lamps in the instru-
ment cluster fails to come on during thebulb self-check when switching on ignition,
have the respective bulb checked and re-
placed if necessary.
ProblemPossible causeSuggested solution
-The yellow ABS indicator lamp
comes on while driving.You engaged the differential locks. The ABS,
ESP, BAS, EBB and 4-ETS are switched off. The driving systems will switch on
again after the differential locks have
been disengaged.
The ABS has detected a malfunction and has
switched off. The ESP, BAS, EBB and 4-ETS
are also switched off (see messages in dis-
play).
If the ABS control unit is malfunctioning, oth-
er systems such as the navigation system or
Rear Parking Assist* may also malfunction.
The brake system is still functioning normally
but without the ABS available.Continue driving with added caution.
Wheels will lock during hard braking
reducing steering capability.
Read and observe messages in the
multifunction display (
page 300).
Have the system checked at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions in-
creases the risk of an accident.
Page 293 of 417
292 Practical hints
What to do if …
ProblemPossible causeSuggested solution
;(USA only)
3 (Canada only)
The red brake warning lamp
comes on while driving and you
hear a warning sound.You are driving with the parking brake set.Release the parking brake
(
page 50).
Also note the messages in the multi-
function display (
page 298).
The red brake warning lamp
comes on while driving.There is insufficient brake fluid in the reser-
voir.Risk of accident! Carefully stop the
vehicle and notify an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
Do not add brake fluid! This will not
solve the problem.
Also note the messages in the multi-
function display (
page 298).
Warning!G
Driving with the brake warning lamp illumi-
nated can result in an accident. Have your
brake system checked immediately if the
brake warning lamp stays on.
Do not add brake fluid before checking the
brake system. Overfilling the brake fluid res-
ervoir can result in spilling brake fluid on hot
engine parts and the brake fluid catching
fire. You could be seriously burned.!
If you find that the brake fluid in the
brake fluid reservoir has fallen to the
minimum mark or below, have the
brake system checked for brake pad
thickness and leaks.
Page 307 of 417
306 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbolDisplay messagePossible causePossible solution
3ELEC. BRAKE BOOST.
VISIT WORKSHOP!The EBB has detected a malfunction and
has switched off.
The brake system is still functioning nor-
mally but without the EBB available.Continue driving with added cau-
tion.
Have the system checked at an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions in-
creases the risk of accident.
;(USA only)
! (Canada only)
PARK. BRAKE
RELEASE BRAKE!You are driving with the parking brake
set.Release the parking brake
(
page 50).
Page 316 of 417
315 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbolDisplay messagePossible causePossible solution
. BRAKE LIGHT, R
CHECK LIGHT!
The right brake lamp is malfunctioning.Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center as soon as
possible.
FRONT FOGLIGHT, L
CHECK LIGHT!
The left front fog lamp is malfunctioning.Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
FRONT FOGLIGHT, R
CHECK LIGHT!
The right front fog lamp is malfunctioning.Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
FR. L. PARK. LAMP
CHECK LIGHT!
BACK-UP LIGHT ON!
The left parking lamps are malfunction-
ing. A backup bulb is being used.Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
FR. R. PARK LAMP
CHECK LIGHT!
BACK-UP LIGHT ON!The right parking lamps are malfunction-
ing. A backup bulb is being used.Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
HIGH BEAM, L
CHECK LIGHT!
The left high beam lamp is malfunction-
ing.Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
HIGH BEAM, R
CHECK LIGHT!
The right high beam lamp is malfunction-
ing.Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
