2006 MERCEDES-BENZ R350 engine

57 Getting started
Driving

Carefully depress the accelerator
pedal.
Once the vehicle is in motion, the auto-
matic central locking system engages
and the locking knobs drop down.After a cold start, the automatic transmis-
sion shifts at a higher engine revolution.
This allows the catalytic converter to reach
its operating temperature earlier.
For more information, see “Driving instruc-
tions” (
page 331).
iThe automatic door lock feature can be
deactivated (
page 188).
iYou can open a locked door from the
inside. Open door only when conditions
are safe to do so.!If you hear a warning signal and the
message
Release parking brake

appears in the multifunction display
when driving off, you have forgotten to
release the parking brake.
Release the parking brake.
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.Warning!
G
It is dangerous to shift the gear selector
lever out ofP orN if the engine speed is
higher than idle speed. If your foot is not
firmly on the brake pedal, the vehicle could
accelerate quickly forward or in reverse. You
could lose control of the vehicle and hit
someone or something. Only shift into gear
when the engine is idling normally and when
your right foot is firmly on the brake pedal.
!Shift the automatic transmission to
positionP orR only when the vehicle is
stopped in order to avoid damaging the
transmission.!Do not run cold engine at high engine
speeds. Running a cold engine at high
engine speeds may shorten the service
life of the engine.!Simultaneously depressing the acceler-
ator pedal and applying the brake re-
duces engine performance and causes
premature brake and drivetrain wear.

61 Getting started
Driving
Rear window wiper/washer
The combination switch is located on the
left of the steering column.Combination switch1Rear window wiper switch
2Wiping rear window with washer fluid
3Intermittent wiping
4Rear window wiper off
5Wiping rear window with washer fluid
!If anything blocks the windshield
wipers (leaves, snow, etc.), switch
them off immediately.

For safety reasons, stop the vehicle
in a safe location and

remove the SmartKey from the
starter switch
or


turn off the engine by pressing
the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button and open the driver’s
door (with the driver’s door
open, starter switch is in
position0, same as with
SmartKey removed from starter
switch)
before attempting to remove any
blockage.


Remove blockage.


Turn the windshield wipers on
again.
If the windshield wipers fail to function
at all in combination switch positionI,


set the combination switch to the
next higher wiper speed


have the windshield wipers
checked at the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center

62 Getting startedDriving6Rear window wiper indicator
Switch on the ignition (
page 38).
Activating intermittent wipe

Turn rear window wiper switch 1 to
position3 (
page 61).
In the lower multifunction display you
will see symbol6, indicating that the
rear window wiper is activated.Deactivating intermittent wipe

Turn rear window wiper switch 1 to
position4 (
page 61).
Symbol6for the rear window wiper is
cleared from the lower multifunction
display, indicating that the rear window
wiper is deactivated.
Wiping with windshield washer fluid

Turn rear window wiper switch 1 to
position 2 or 5 (
page 61).
The wiper operates with washer fluid.

Hold rear window wiper switch 1 in
position 2 or 5 (
page 61) until the
rear window is clean.
For information on filling up the washer
reservoir, see “Windshield / rear window
washer system and headlamp cleaning
system*” (
page 352).
Problems while driving
The engine runs erratically and misfires

An ignition cable may be damaged.


The engine electronics may not be
operating properly.


Unburned gasoline may have entered
the catalytic converter and damaged it.

Give very little gas.

Have the problem repaired by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center as soon as possible.
iThe rear window wiper engages auto-
matically when the automatic transmis-
sion is shifted to positionR with the
windshield wipers switched on.

63 Getting started
Driving
The 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 in
a safe location and turn off the engine.
Allow engine and coolant to cool.

Check the coolant level and add cool-
ant if necessary (
page 351).In case of accident
If the vehicle is leaking fuel:

Do not start the engine under any
circumstances.

Notify local fire and/or police authori-
ties.
If the extent of the damage cannot be de-
termined:

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.

64 Getting startedParking and lockingYou have now completed your first drive.
You have properly stopped and parked
your vehicle. End your drive as follows.Warning!
G
With the engine not running, there is no
power assistance for the brake and the
steering system. In this case, it is important
to keep in mind that a considerably higher
degree of effort is necessary to brake and
steer the vehicle.
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.


Firmly depress parking brake pedal.


Shift the automatic transmission to
positionP.


Slowly release brake pedal.


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


Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position0 and remove the SmartKey
from the starter switch, or press the
start / stop button (vehicles with
KEYLESS-GO*).


Take the SmartKey or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* and lock vehicle when
leaving.

65 Getting started
Parking and locking
Parking brake
1Parking brake pedal
2Release handle
Step firmly on parking brake pedal1.
When the engine is running, the warn-
ing lamp; (USA only) or3
(Canada only) in the instrument cluster
comes on.
Switching off headlamps
Turn the exterior lamp switch toM.
For more information, see “Lighting”
(
page 147).
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
from the starter switch, take it with you and
lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unat-
tended in the vehicle, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. Children could release the
parking brake and/or shift the automatic
transmission out of positionP, either of
which could result in an accident and/or
serious personal injury.
Warning!
G
Getting out of your vehicle with the auto-
matic transmission not fully engaged in
positionP is dangerous. Also, when parked
on an incline, positionP alone may not pre-
vent your vehicle from moving, possibly hit-
ting people or objects.
Always set the parking brake in addition to
shifting to positionP (
page 199).
When parked on an incline, also turn front
wheel towards the road curb.

66 Getting startedParking and lockingTurning off the engine
Shift the automatic transmission to
positionP (
page 199).

Apply the parking brake (
page 65).Turning off with the SmartKey

Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position0 (
page 38).

Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
The immobilizer is activated.Turning off with KEYLESS-GO*

Press the KEYLESS-GO start / stop
button (
page 40) to turn off the
engine.
With the driver's door closed, the start-
er switch is now in position1. With the
driver’s door opened, the starter switch
is set to position0, same as SmartKey
removed from starter switch
(
page 38).
iAlways set the parking brake in addi-
tion to shifting to position
P
(
page 199).
When parked on an incline, also turn
front wheel towards the road curb.
iIf you turn off the engine using the
SmartKey and remove the SmartKey
from the starter switch with the trans-
mission in a position other than P, the
transmission will automatically shift
toP.
Keep in mind that turning off the engine
with the SmartKey alone will not auto-
matically shift the transmission to P.
Only when the SmartKey is removed
from the starter switch will the trans-
mission automatically shift to P.
iIf you turn off the engine using the
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button and
open the driver’s door with the trans-
mission in a position other than P, the
transmission will automatically shift
toP.
Keep in mind that turning off the engine
with the KEYLESS-GO start/stop
button alone will not automatically shift
the transmission to P. Only when the
driver’s door is opened will the trans-
mission automatically shift to P.

67 Getting started
Parking and locking
Releasing seat belts
Press the seat belt release button
(page 51).
Allow the retractor to completely re-
wind the seat belt by guiding the latch
plate.
Locking

Exit the vehicle and close all doors and
the tailgate.
!Make sure the seat belt retracts fully so
that the seat belt and/or latch plate
cannot get caught or pinched in the
door or in the seat mechanism. This
can damage the seat belt and impair
the effectiveness of the seat belt,
and/or cause damage to the door
and/or door trim panel. Such damage
is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
Damaged seat belts must be replaced.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center.
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 the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* with you, and
lock your vehicle. Do not leave children un-
attended in the vehicle, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehi-
cle equipment may cause an accident
and/or serious personal injury.
iA warning sounds and the message Switch off lights
appears in the
multifunction display if the vehicle’s
exterior lamps are not switched off


with the SmartKey removed from
the starter switch and the driver’s
door open


with the engine turned off using the
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button
and the driver’s door open (same as
SmartKey removed from starter
switch)
Switch off the exterior lamps.