Page 310 of 457
309 Operation
Winter driving
Winter driving
Before the onset of winter, have your
vehicle winterized at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center. This
service includes:
Check of anticorrosion and antifreeze
concentration.
Addition of cleaning concentrate to the
water of the windshield and headlamp
cleaning system. Add MB Concentrate
“MB SummerFit” to a premixed wind-
shield washer solvent/antifreeze
which is formulated for below freezing
temperatures (
page 430).
Battery test. Battery capacity drops
with decreasing ambient temperature.
A well charged battery helps to make
sure that the engine can be started,
even at low ambient temperatures.
Tire change. Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends M+S rated radial-ply tires with a
minimum tread depth of approximately
1/6in (4 mm) on all four wheels for the
winter season.
Winter tires
Always use winter tires at temperatures
below 45°F (7°C) and whenever wintry
road conditions prevail. Not all M+S rated
tires provide special winter performance.
Make sure the tires you use show M+S and
the mountain/snowflake marking. on
the tire sidewall. These tires meet specific
snow traction performance requirements
of the Rubber Manufacturers Association
(RMA) and the Rubber Association of
Canada (RAC) and have been designed
specifically for use in snow conditions.
Using winter tires is the only way to
achieve the maximum effectiveness of the
ABS, ESP
® and 4-ETS in winter operation.
For safe handling, make sure all mounted
winter tires are of the same make and have
the same tread design.Always observe the speed rating of the
winter tires installed on your vehicle. If the
maximum speed for which your tires are
rated is below the speed rating of your
vehicle, you must place a notice to this
effect where it will be seen by the driver.
Such notices are available from your tire
dealer or from any authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
Warning!G
Winter tires with a tread depth of less than 1/6in (4 mm) must be replaced. They are no
longer suitable for winter operation.
Page 311 of 457
310 Operation
Winter driving
Block heater (Canada only)
The engine is equipped with a block
heater.
The electrical cable may be installed at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.
Snow chains
Snow chains should only be driven on
snow-covered roads at speeds not to
exceed 30 mph (50 km/h). Remove chains
as soon as possible when driving on roads
without snow.Please observe the following guidelines
when using snow chains:
Use of snow chains is not permissible
with all wheel/tire combinations
(
page 417).
Snow chains should only be used on
the rear wheels. Follow the manufac-
turer’s mounting instructions.
Only use snow chains that are
approved by Mercedes-Benz. Any
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
C e n t e r w i l l b e g l a d t o a d v i s e y o u o n t h i s
subject.
Use of snow chains may be prohibited
depending on location. Always check
local and state laws before installing
snow chains.
Warning!G
If you use your spare tire when winter tires
are fitted on the other wheels, be aware that
the difference in tire characteristics may
very well impair turning stability and that
overall driving stability may be reduced.
Adapt your driving style accordingly.
Have the spare tire replaced with a winter
tire at the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
iWhen driving with snow chains, you may
wish to deactivate the ESP® (page 92) before
setting the vehicle in motion. This will improve
the vehicle’s traction.
Page 314 of 457
313 Operation
Maintenance
Maintenance service term exceeded
If you have exceeded the suggested
maintenance service term, you will see the
following message in the multifunction
display:
Service A exceeded by XX Days
Service A exceeded by XX miles (km)
In addition, a signal sounds when the
message appears.
Any authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center will reset the maintenance service
indicator following a completed mainte-
nance service.
Calling up the maintenance service
indicator display
You can call up the maintenance service
indicator display at any time to check
when the next maintenance service is due.
Switch on the ignition (page 39).
Press buttonè orÿ on the mul-
tifunction steering wheel repeatedly
until the standard display appears in
the multifunction display (
page 140).
Press buttonk orj on the
multifunction steering wheel until the
maintenance service indicator display
with the maintenance service
symbol9 or´ and the service
deadline appears in the multifunction
display.Resetting the maintenance service
indicator
In the event that the maintenance service
on your vehicle is not carried out at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center, you can have the maintenance
service indicator reset. The automotive
maintenance facility carrying out the main-
tenance service will find the information
for resetting the maintenance service indi-
cator in the maintenance-relevant informa-
tion for your vehicle. Such information is
available from any authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center or
directly from Mercedes-Benz.
iIf the battery is disconnected, the days of
disconnection will not be included in the count
shown by the maintenance service indicator. To
arrive at the true maintenance service deadline,
you will need to subtract these days from the
days shown in the maintenance service indicator
message or maintenance service indicator
display.
Do not confuse the maintenance service indica-
tor with the engine oil level indicator:.
!If the maintenance service indicator was
inadvertently reset, have an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center correct it.
Only reset if the proper maintenance service has
been performed. Resetting the system without
performing the proper maintenance service as
called for by the maintenance service indicator
will result in engine damage and/or other vehicle
damage not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
Page 327 of 457
326 Practical hints
What to do if …
ProblemPossible cause/consequenceSuggested solution
;(USA only)
3(Canada only)
The red brake warning lamp
comes on while driving.There is insufficient brake fluid in the
reservoir.Risk of accident!
Carefully stop the vehicle in a safe
location or as soon as it is safe to do
so.
Apply the parking brake (page 62).
Do not drive any further.
Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
Do not add brake fluid! This will not solve
the problem.
Read and observe messages in the
multifunction display (
page 338).
Warning!G
Driving with the brake warning lamp
illuminated 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
reservoir can result in spilling brake fluid on
hot engine parts and the brake fluid catch-
ing 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 328 of 457
327 Practical hints
What to do if …
ProblemPossible cause/consequenceSuggested solution
;(USA only)
3(Canada only)
The red brake warning lamp
comes on while driving and
an acoustic warning sounds.You are driving with the parking
brake set.Release the parking brake
(
page 55).
;(USA only)
3(Canada only)
-
The red brake warning lamp
and the yellow ABS indicator
lamp come on when the
engine is running and an
acoustic warning sounds for
approximately 5 seconds.The EBB (page 92) has detected a
malfunction and has switched off.Continue driving with added caution.
Have the system checked at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions
increases the risk of accidents.
Warning!G
Driving with the brake warning lamp
illuminated can result in an accident. Have
your brake system checked immediately if
the brake warning lamp stays on.
Page 329 of 457
328 Practical hints
What to do if …
ProblemPossible cause/consequenceSuggested solution
ú(USA only)
±(Canada only)
The yellow engine malfunc-
tion indicator lamp comes on
while driving.There is a malfunction in:
The fuel management system
The ignition system
The emission control system
Systems which impact emissions
Such malfunctions may result in
excessive emissions values and may
switch the engine to its limp-home
(emergency operation) mode.
Have the vehicle checked at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center as soon as possible .
An on-board diagnostic connector is
used by the service station to link the
vehicle to the shop diagnostics
system. It allows the accurate
identification of system malfunctions
through the readout of diagnostic
trouble codes. It is located near the
hood lock release on the upper left of
the footwell.
iSome states may by law require you to visit
a workshop as soon as the engine malfunction
indicator lamp comes on. Check local require-
ments.
Page 330 of 457
329 Practical hints
What to do if …
ProblemPossible cause/consequenceSuggested solution
ú(USA only)
±(Canada only)
The yellow engine malfunc-
tion indicator lamp comes on
while driving.A loss of pressure has been
detected in the fuel system. The fuel
filler cap may not be closed properly
or the fuel system may be leaky.Check the fuel filler cap (page 264).
If it is not closed properly:
Close the fuel filler cap.
If it is closed properly:
Have the fuel system checked at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.
Your fuel tank is empty.After refueling start, turn off and
restart the engine three or four times
in succession.
The limp-home (emergency opera-
tion) mode is canceled. You do not
need to have your vehicle checked.
Page 342 of 457
341 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
ESPinoperative
See
Operator’s
ManualThe ESP® has switched off due to a
malfunction or an interruption in the
power supply.
The brake system is still functioning
normally but without the ESP
®, ABS and
BAS available.
If in addition the ABS is malfunctioning,
only partial engine output will be avail-
able.
Continue driving with added caution.
Have the system checked at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions
increases the risk of accident.
