50 Getting startedDrivingStarting with KEYLESS-GO*
You can start your vehicle without the
SmartKey in the starter switch using the
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button on the
gear selector lever.KEYLESS-GO start/stop button1USA only
2Canada only
Make sure the gear selector lever is set
to P.
Depress the brake pedal during the
starting procedure. Do not depress ac-
celerator.
The selector lever lock is released.
Press KEYLESS-GO start/stop
button1 once.
The engine starts if the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO is in the vehicle.
For information on turning off the engine
with KEYLESS-GO, see “Turning off with
KEYLESS-GO*” (
page 60).
Starting difficulties
If the engine does not start as described,
carry out the following steps:
If you are starting the engine with the
SmartKey: Turn SmartKey in starter
switch to position0 and repeat starting
procedure.
If you are starting the engine with
KEYLESS-GO*: Close any doors that
may be open to allow for better detec-
tion of the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO.
Or:
Start the engine with the SmartKey as
radio signals from another source may
be interfering with the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*.
Repeat the starting procedure
(page 49). Remember that extended
starting attempts can drain the battery.
Get a jump start (
page 419).
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
Center.
52 Getting startedDriving
Release the brake pedal.
Carefully depress the accelerator
pedal.Once the vehicle is in motion, the automat-
ic central locking system engages and the
locking knobs drop down.
After a cold start, the transmission engag-
es at a higher revolution. This allows the
catalytic converter to reach its operating
temperature earlier.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.!In order to avoid damage to the trans-
mission:
Wait for the gear selection process
to complete before setting the vehi-
cle in motion.
Place the gear selector lever in
positionD orR only when the vehi-
cle is stopped.
!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.
!Do not run cold engine at high engine
speed. Running a cold engine at high
engine speed 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.iYou can open a locked door from the
inside. Open door only when conditions
are safe to do so.
You can deactivate the automatic lock-
ing using the control system
(page 155).
56 Getting startedDriving
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 Center as
soon as possible.
!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, the starter switch is in po-
sition 0, same as with the
SmartKey removed from the
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 switch positionI,
set the combination switch to the
next higher wiper speed
have the windshield wipers
checked at the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center
60 Getting startedParking and lockingTurning off the engine
Place the gear selector lever in
positionP.
Apply the parking brake (
page 59).Turning off with the SmartKey
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position0 (
page 36).
Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
The immobilizer is activated.Turning off with KEYLESS-GO*
Place the gear selector lever inP.
Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop but-
ton (
page 37) 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 36).
iAlways set the parking brake in addi-
tion to shifting to positionP.
On slopes, turn the front wheels to-
wards the road curb.
iThe SmartKey can only be removed
from the starter switch with the gear
selector lever 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.
61 Getting started
Parking and locking
Releasing seat belts
Press the seat belt release button
(page 47).
Allow the retractor to completely re-
wind the seat belt by guiding the latch
plate.
Locking
!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 that there
is no possibility of someone getting caught
in a door during closing.Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* 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. Unsu-
pervised use of vehicle equipment may
cause an accident and/or serious personal
injury.
iIf you hear a warning signal you have
either
forgotten to turn off the lights be-
fore opening the driver’s door
In addition the message
Turn off
lamps
appears in the multifunction
display.
or
tried to turn off the engine while the
gear selector lever is not inP
In addition the message
Gear se-
lector lever to P
appears in the
multifunction display.
Turn off the lights or place the gear se-
lector lever inP.
62 Getting startedParking and locking
Exit the vehicle and close the doors and
the trunk.
Locking with the SmartKey
Press the lock button‹on the
SmartKey (
page 34).
With the trunk 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 96).Locking with KEYLESS-GO*
1Lock button
Press lock button1 on a door handle
or the lock button on the trunk lid
(page 105).
With the trunk and all doors closed, the
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 96).
iOpening a door causes the windows on
that side of the car to open slightly.
They will return to the up position when
the door is closed.
89 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
The electro-hydraulic brake system is auto-
matically activated when you
unlock the vehicle with the SmartKey
or the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
open the driver’s or passenger door
turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position1
in vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*, press
the start/stop button on the gear se-
lector lever once
depress the brake pedal
release the parking brake
iIf the electro-hydraulic brake system is
activated as the brake pedal is first de-
pressed, you may feel a reduced pedal
resistance and longer pedal travel than
normal. When releasing the pedal, you
may also feel the brake pedal pulsate
and you may hear a sound which is
caused by the activation of the elec-
tro-hydraulic brake system pump. This
is normal and not an indication of a
malfunction. Pedal travel returns to
normal when you release the brake
pedal and the sound soon ceases.
If you experience the above while driv-
ing and the red brake warning lamp
(page 334) illuminates and/or warn-
ing messages appear in the multifunc-
tion display (
page 361), the brake
system is malfunctioning. Follow the in-
structions of the warning message(s)
and have the brake system checked
immediately.
Warning!
G
Have brake pad replacement and other work
on the electro-hydraulic brake system car-
ried out by qualified technicians only. Con-
tact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
for further information. The electro-hydrau-
lic brake system must be deactivated prior
to working on the system. High pressure is
intermittently built up in the system as part
of its automatic self-test. In addition, the
system is automatically activated when the
vehicle is unlocked by remote control, when
the driver or passenger door is opened,
when the SmartKey in the starter switch is
turned to position1 or the KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button is pressed once, when the
brake pedal is depressed or when the park-
ing brake is released. Failure to deactivate
the system prior to maintenance will cause
brake pistons to extend and brake fluid to
leak, which may result in injuries (contu-
sions and acid burns). Extended brake pis-
tons may also cause injury.
90 Safety and SecurityDriving safety systemsThe electro-hydraulic brake system switch-
es off automatically
approximately 2 minutes after you
turned the SmartKey in the starter
switch to position0 or removed the
SmartKey
approximately 2 minutes after you
pressed the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button to turn off the engine or power
supply and opened the driver’s door
(with driver’s door open, the starter
switch is set to position 0, same as
SmartKey removed from starter
switch)
approximately 20 seconds after you
locked the vehicle from outside Note on driving with the
electro-hydraulic brake system
Following extended periods of only mi-
nor loads to your brake system, you
should occasionally apply the brakes
when traveling at high speeds. This im-
proves the grip of the brake pads.
After driving on wet or snow-covered
roads, you should apply your brakes
firmly before parking your vehicle. This
produces heat which serves to dry the
brake disks and help prevent corro-
sion.
On long and steep grades, shift to a
lower gear (gear range1, 2, or 3) to
prevent the brakes from overheating
and to reduce brake wear.
After hard braking, it is advisable to
drive on for some time so that the air
stream will cool down the brakes fast-
er.
Only Mercedes-Benz approved compo-
nents (e.g. brake pads) should be in-
stalled on your vehicle. Brake pads not
approved by Mercedes-Benz may im-
pair the safety of your vehicle.
Warning!
G
Be very careful not to endanger other road
users when you apply the brakes.