Contents
Operation......................................... 243
The first 1 000 miles (1 500 km) ......... 244
Driving instructions ............................ 245
Drive sensibly – save fuel ............. 245
Drinking and driving ..................... 245
Pedals .......................................... 245
Power assistance ......................... 246
Brakes .......................................... 246
Driving off..................................... 247
Parking ......................................... 248
Tires ............................................. 248
Hydroplaning ................................ 249
Tire traction .................................. 249
Tire speed rating .......................... 250
Winter driving instructions ........... 251
Standing water ............................. 252
Passenger compartment .............. 252
Off-road driving ............................ 253
Driving abroad .............................. 261
Control and operation of radio
transmitters.................................. 261
Catalytic converter ....................... 262
Emission control........................... 263
Coolant temperature .................... 263At the gas station .............................. 264
Refueling ...................................... 264
Check regularly and before
a long trip ..................................... 265
Engine compartment ......................... 267
Hood ............................................ 267
Engine oil ..................................... 269
Transmission fluid level ................ 273
Coolant level ................................ 274
Windshield/rear window washer
system and headlamp cleaning
system ......................................... 275
Tires and wheels ................................ 277
Important guidelines .................... 277
Tire care and maintenance ........... 278
Direction of rotation ..................... 280
Loading the vehicle ...................... 280
Recommended tire inflation
pressure ....................................... 286
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 288
Tire labeling.................................. 294
Load identification ....................... 298
DOT, Tire Identification Number
(TIN) ............................................. 299Maximum tire load ....................... 300
Maximum tire inflation pressure .. 301
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (U.S. vehicles) ............. 302
Tire ply material ........................... 304
Tire and loading terminology ........ 304
Rotating tires ............................... 307
Winter driving .................................... 309
Winter tires .................................. 309
Block heater (Canada only) .......... 310
Snow chains................................. 310
Maintenance...................................... 311
Maintenance service indicator
message ...................................... 311
Calling up the maintenance
service indicator display .............. 313
Resetting the maintenance
service indicator .......................... 313
Vehicle care....................................... 314
Cleaning and care of the vehicle .. 314
23 At a glance
Exterior view
ItemPage
1Tailgate105
Cargo compartment
Loading instructions208
Expanding206
Cargo tie-down rings209
Partition net*210
Cover blind214
2Rear view camera203
3Rear window defroster181
4Rear lamps378
5Fuel filler flap264
Refueling264
Fuel265,
426
ItemPage
6Exterior rear view mirrors
Adjusting46
Auto-dimming rear view
mirrors177
7Hood267
Engine oil269
Coolant274
8Windshield wipers58
Wiper blades, replacing388
Wiper blades, cleaning319
9Windshield
Cleaning with windshield
washer fluid59
Cleaning319
Windshield defroster180
aPower tilt/sliding sunroof195
ItemPage
bDoors
Locking and unlocking100
Opening and closing104
Locking/unlocking in an
emergency370
cHeadlamp cleaning system177
dFront lamps378
eTires and wheels277,
416
Checking tire inflation
pressure288
General information277
Flat tire390
Spare wheel368
fFront towing eye404
Rear towing eye404
27 At a glance
Instrument cluster
ItemPage
1Speedometer with:
vElectronic Stability
Program (ESP®)
warning lamp
92,
330
;Brake warning lamp,
USA only55,
326
3Brake warning lamp,
Canada only55,
326
BLow beam headlamp
indicator lamp56,
118
HCombination low tire
pressure/Advanced
TPMS malfunction tell-
tale335
2LLeft turn signal
indicator lamp57
3Multifunction display with:133
Trip odometer131,
140
Main odometer140
Transfer case indicator170
ItemPage
Gear selector lever
position indicator164
Gear range indicator167
Status indicator:
Outside temperature132,
133
Digital speedometer133
Clock133
4KRight turn signal
indicator lamp 57
5Tachometer with:
-Antilock Brake System
(ABS) indicator lamp88,
324
1Supplemental
Restraint System
(SRS) indicator lamp68,
334
úEngine malfunction
indicator lamp,
USA only328
ItemPage
±Engine malfunction
indicator lamp,
Canada only328
AHigh beam headlamp
indicator lamp57,
122
6Fuel gauge with:
Fuel tank reserve warning
lamp331
4Fuel filler flap indica-
tor: The fuel filler flap
is located on the rear
right-hand side264
7Coolant temperature gauge131
8Reset button for:
Resetting trip odometer131
Resetting all settings146
Resetting individual
settings 158,
312
Adjusting instrument
cluster illumination130
245 Operation
Driving instructions
Driving instructions
Drive sensibly – save fuel
Fuel consumption, to a great extent,
depends on driving habits and operating
conditions.
To save fuel you should:
Keep tires at the recommended infla-
tion pressures.
Remove unnecessary loads.
Allow engine to warm up under low
load use.
Avoid frequent acceleration and decel-
eration.
Have all maintenance work performed
at the intervals specified in the
Maintenance Booklet and as required
by the Maintenance System. Contact
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.
Fuel consumption is also increased by
driving in cold weather, in stop-and-go
traffic, on short trips and in hilly area.
Drinking and drivingPedals
Warning!G
Drinking and driving and/or taking drugs
and driving are very dangerous combina-
tions. Even a small amount of alcohol or
drugs can affect your reflexes, perceptions
and judgment.
The possibility of a serious or even fatal
accident are greatly increased when you
drink or take drugs and drive.
Do not drink or take drugs and drive or allow
anyone to drive who has been drinking or
taking drugs.
Warning!G
Make sure that absolutely no objects are
obstructing the pedal’s range of movement.
Keep the driver’s footwell clear of all obsta-
cles. If there are any floormats or carpets in
the footwell, make sure that the pedals still
have sufficient clearance.
During sudden driving or braking maneu-
vers, the objects could get caught between
the pedals. You could then no longer brake
or accelerate. This could lead to accidents
and injury.
264 Operation
At the gas station
RefuelingThe fuel filler flap is located on the
right-hand side of the vehicle towards the
rear.
Locking/unlocking the vehicle with the
SmartKey automatically locks/unlocks the
fuel filler flap.
1Fuel filler flap
2Fuel filler capTurn off the engine.
Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
Push on fuel filler flap1 at the
position indicated by the arrow.
Fuel filler flap1 springs open.
Turn fuel filler cap2 to the left and
hold on to it until possible pressure is
released.
Take off fuel filler cap2.
Set fuel filler cap2 in the recess
(indicated by the arrow) on fuel filler
flap1.
To prevent fuel vapors from escaping
into open air, fully insert filler nozzle
unit.
Warning!G
Gasoline is highly flammable and poisonous.
It burns violently and can cause serious
injury.
Never allow sparks, flame or smoking
materials near gasoline!
Turn off the engine before refueling.
Whenever you are around gasoline, avoid
inhaling fumes and skin or clothing contact,
extinguish all smoking materials.
Direct skin contact with fuels and the
inhalation of fuel vapors are damaging to
your health.
iIn case that the central locking system does
not release the fuel filler flap, or the opening
mechanism is clamping, you can open the fuel
filler flap using an emergency release in the
cargo compartment, see “Fuel filler flap”
(
page 372).
!The fuel filler cap is tethered to the fuel filler
neck. Do not drop the cap. It could damage the
vehicle paint finish.
266 Operation
At the gas station
G55AMG
1Coolant
2Brake fluidBrake fluid
Coolant
For normal replenishing, use water
(potable water quality).
For more information, see “Coolant level”
(
page 274) and see “Fuels, coolants, lu-
bricants, etc.” (
page 422).Engine oil level
For more information on engine oil, see
“Engine oil” (
page 269).
Windshield/rear window washer sys-
tem and headlamp cleaning system
For more information on refilling the
washer reservoir, see “Windshield/rear
window washer system and headlamp
cleaning system” (
page 275).
Vehicle lighting
Check function and cleanliness.
For information on replacing light bulbs,
see “Replacing bulbs” (
page 377).
For more information, see “Exterior lamp
switch” (
page 117).
Tire inflation pressure
For more information, see “Checking tire
inflation pressure” (
page 288).
!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 immediately. Notify an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center
immediately. Do not add brake fluid as this will
not solve the problem.
For more information, see “Practical hints”
(
page 326) and see “Brake fluid”
(
page 425).
280 Operation
Tires and wheels
Direction of rotation
Unidirectional tires offer added advan-
tages, such as better hydroplaning per-
formance. To benefit, however, you must
make sure the tires rotate in the direction
specified.
An arrow on the sidewall indicates the
intended direction of rotation (spinning) of
the tire.Loading the vehicle
Two labels on your vehicle show how much
weight it may properly carry.
1) The Tire and Loading Information
placard can be found on the driver’s
door B-pillar. This placard tells you
important information about the
number of people that can be in the
vehicle and the total weight that can be
carried in the vehicle. It also contains
information on the proper size and
recommended tire inflation pressures
for the original equipment tires on your
vehicle.
2) The certification label, also found on
the driver’s door B-pillar tells you about
the gross weight capacity of your vehi-
cle, called the Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating (GVWR). The GVWR includes the
weight of the vehicle, all occupants,
fuel and cargo. The certification label
also tells you about the front and rear
axle weight capacity, called the Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR). The GAWR is the total allowable weight that can be
carried by a single axle (front or rear).
Never exceed the GVWR or GAWR for
either the front axle or rear axle.
1Driver’s door B-pillar
Following is a discussion on how to work
with the information contained on the Tire
and Loading Information placard with
regards to loading your vehicle.
iSpare wheels may be mounted against the
direction of rotation (spinning) even with a
unidirectional tire for temporary use only until
the regular drive wheel has been repaired or
replaced. Always observe and follow applicable
temporary use restrictions and speed limitations
indicated on the spare wheel.
286 Operation
Tires and wheels
Recommended tire inflation pressure
Your vehicle is equipped with the Tire and
Loading Information placard located on
the driver’s door B-pillar (
page 280).
The tire inflation pressure should be
checked regularly and should only be
adjusted on cold tires. The tires can be
considered cold if the vehicle has been
parked for at least 3 hours or driven less
than 1 mile (1.6 km). Follow recommended cold tire inflation
pressures listed on the Tire and Loading
Information placard on the driver’s door
B-pillar.
Keeping the tires properly inflated
provides the best handling, tread life and
riding comfort.
In addition to the Tire and Loading
Information placard on the driver’s door
B-pillar, also consult the tire inflation
pressure label (if available) on the inside of
the fuel filler flap (page 264) for any
additional information pertaining to special
driving situations. For more information,
see “Important notes on tire inflation
pressure” (
page 287).
Warning!G
Follow recommended tire inflation
pressures.
Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated tires
wear excessively and/or unevenly,
adversely affect handling and fuel economy,
and are more likely to fail from being over-
heated.
Do not overinflate tires. Overinflated tires
can adversely affect handling and ride
comfort, wear unevenly, increase stopping
distance, and result in sudden deflation
(blowout) because they are more likely to
become punctured or damaged by road
debris, potholes etc.
Do not overload the tires by exceeding the
specified load limit as indicated on the Tire
and Loading Information placard on the
driver’s door B-pillar. Overloading the tires
can overheat them, possibly causing a
blowout. Overloading the tires can also
result in handling or steering problems, or
brake failure