2007 MERCEDES-BENZ GL450 traction control

353 Operation
Driving instructions
TiresTreadwear indicators (TWI) are required by
law. These indicators are located in six
places on the tread circumference and
become visible at a tread depth of
approximately
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 subjected to high loads (e.g. high
speeds, heavy loads, high ambient temper-
atures).
For more information, see “Tires and
wheels” (
page 385).

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

Take the SmartKey or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* with you and lock vehicle
when leaving.
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 the vehicle towed to
the nearest Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center or tire dealer for repairs.
Warning!G
Although the applicable federal motor
vehicle safety laws consider a tire to be
worn when the treadwear indicators (TWI)
become visible at approximately
1/16in
(1.6 mm), we recommend that you do not
allow your tires to wear down to that level.
As tread depth approaches
1/8in (3 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.
Warning!G
Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire affects
the ability to steer or brake the vehicle. You
may lose control of the vehicle. Continued
driving with a flat tire or driving at high
speed with a flat tire will cause excessive
heat build-up and possibly a fire.

354 Operation
Driving instructions
Hydroplaning
Depending on the depth of the water layer
on the road, hydroplaning may occur, even
at low speeds and with new tires. Reduce
vehicle speed, avoid track grooves in the
road and apply brakes cautiously in the
rain.
Tire traction
The safe speed on a wet, snow covered or
icy road is always lower than on a dry road.
You should pay particular attention to the
condition of the road whenever the outside
temperatures are close to the freezing
point.Mercedes-Benz recommends winter tires
(
page 420) with a minimum tread depth
of approximately 1/6in (4 mm) on all four
wheels for the winter season to make sure
normal balanced handling characteristics.
On packed snow, they can reduce your
stopping distance compared to summer
tires.
Stopping distance, however, is still consid-
erably greater than when the road is not
covered with snow or ice. Exercise appro-
priate caution.
Tire speed rating
Regardless of the tire speed rating, local
speed limits should be obeyed. Use
prudent driving speeds appropriate to pre-
vailing conditions.
Warning!G
If ice has formed on the road, tire traction
will be substantially reduced. Under such
weather conditions, drive, steer and brake
with extreme caution.
!Avoid spinning of a drive wheel. This may
cause serious damage to the drivetrain which is
not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
Warning!G
Even when permitted by law, never operate
a vehicle at speeds greater than the maxi-
mum speed rating of the tires.
Exceeding the maximum speed for which
tires are rated can lead to sudden tire
failure, causing loss of vehicle control and
possibly resulting in an accident and/or
serious injury and possible death, for you
and for others.

414 Operation
Tires and wheels
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rat-
ing based on the wear rate of the tire when
tested under controlled conditions on a
specified government test course. For ex-
ample, a tire graded 150 would wear one
and one-half (1
1/2) times as well on the
government course as a tire graded 100.
The relative performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart significantly
from the norm due to variations in driving
habits, service practices and differences in
road characteristics and climate.Traction
The traction grades, from highest to low-
est, are AA, A, B, and C. Those grades rep-
resent the tire’s ability to stop on wet
pavement as measured under controlled
conditions on specified government test
surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire
marked C may have poor traction perfor-
mance.Temperature
The temperature grades are A (the high-
est), B, and C, representing the tire’s resis-
tance to the generation of heat and its
ability to dissipate heat when tested under
controlled conditions on a specified indoor
laboratory test wheel. Sustained high tem-
perature can cause the material of the tire
to degenerate and reduce tire life, and ex-
cessive temperature can lead to sudden
tire failure. The grade C corresponds to a
level of performance which all passenger
car tires must meet under the Federal
Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109.
Grades B and A represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory test wheel
than the minimum required by law.
Warning!G
The traction grade assigned to this tire is
based on straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction
characteristics.

442 Practical hints
What to do if …
ProblemPossible cause/consequenceSuggested solution
vThe yellow ABS/ESP® warning
lamp flashes while driving.The ESP®, ABS, or traction control has come
into operation because of detected traction
loss in at least one tire.
The cruise control and the Distronic* system
are deactivated.When driving off, apply as little throt-
tle as possible.
While driving, ease up on the acceler-
ator.
Adapt your speed and driving to the
prevailing road and weather condi-
tions.
Do not deactivate the ESP®.
Exceptions: (
page 107).
Failure to follow these instructions
increases the risk of an accident.
The yellow fuel tank reserve
warning lamp in the fuel gauge
comes on while driving.The fuel level has gone below the reserve
mark.Refuel at the next gas station
(
page 375).

454 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
ABSunavailable
See Operator’s ManualIf the yellow ESP® warning
lampv flashes while driving and
this message appears, the electron-
ic traction system has switched off
to prevent overheating of the drive
wheel brakes.As soon as the brakes have cooled off,
the electronic traction system switches
on again.
The message in the multifunction dis-
play disappears and the ESP
® warning
lampv goes out.
The self-diagnosis has not yet been
completed yet.The display will clear after driving a
short distance at a vehicle speed of
above 12 mph (20 km/h).
Cruise control and
SPEEDTRONICinoperativeThe cruise control is malfunctioning.Have cruise control checked by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.
Cruise control--- mphYou have attempted to set a speed
while driving below 20 mph
(30 km/h).Accelerate to a speed exceeding
20 mph (30 km/h) and set the
speed (
page 257).
The ESP® is switched off.Switch on the ESP® (page 105).
The automatic transmission is set to
positionP, R, orN.Set the automatic transmission to
positionD (
page 194).
The vehicle is secured with the
parking brake.Release the parking brake
(
page 60).

574 Index
Door
Entry lamps 154
Locking, In an emergency 501
Locking/unlocking,
KEYLESS-GO* 41, 72
Locking/unlocking, SmartKey 40, 71
Messages in the
multifunction display 478
Opening from inside/outside 116,
122
Remote door unlock (Tele Aid) 338
Unlocking, Mechanical key 500
Door control panel 35
Door handle 35
Door windows see Power windows
DOT 410, 416
Downhill driving
Cruise control 259
Downhill Speed Regulation (DSR) 275
Messages in the
multifunction display 470
Drinking and driving 349Driving 54, 349
Abroad 372
Hydroplaning 354
In winter 355, 420
Instructions 54, 349
Problems 66
Safety systems 103
Systems 257
Through standing water 356
Through water 362
Tips 198
With Distronic* 272
Driving off 61
Driving safety systems
4-ETS 109
ABS 103
BAS 105
EBP 109
ESP® 105
Driving systems 257
Adaptive Damping System
(ADS)* 280
Air suspension package 280
Cruise control 257
Distronic* 262Downhill Speed Regulation
(DSR) 275
Off-road driving program
(Vehicles without
enhanced off-road package*) 279
Parktronic system* 290
Rear view camera* 295
Vehicle level control 281
E
Easy-entry/exit feature
Activating (driver’s seat)* 184
For third-row seats 132
Easy-entry/exit feature* 49
EBP 109
Indicator and warning lamps 438,
471
Electrical connections
Trailer 366
Electrical fuses see Fuses
Electrical system, Technical data 557
Electronic Brake Proportioning see EBP
Electronic Stability Program see ESP®
Electronic Traction System see 4-ETS
Emergency calls
Tele Aid 334

575 Index
Emergency operation
Fuel filler flap 501
Locking/unlocking the vehicle 500,
501
Power tilt/sliding sunroof*,
Manual operation 503
Emergency operation
(Limp-Home Mode) 202
Emergency operations
Exit for third-row seats 134
Remote door unlock, Tele Aid 338
Tailgate, Opening from the inside
manually 124
Emergency Tensioning Device see ETD
Emergency, In case of
Battery, Jump starting 538
Engine shut-down 546
First aid kit 495
Flat tire 523
Fuses 544
Hazard warning flasher 151
Instrument cluster, Indicator
lamps 436, 437, 438, 439, 440,
441, 442, 443, 444, 445, 446
Roadside Assistance 12, 336
Towing the vehicle 540Emission control 373
Information label 551
System warranties 10
Vacuum line routing diagram
label 551
Engine
Belt layout 552
Belt layout (GL 320 CDI) 552
Break-in recommendations 381
Cleaning 427
Compartment 379
Emergency engine shut-down 546
Malfunction indicator lamp 29, 472
Maximum engine speed 156, 553
Messages in the
multifunction display 472
Number 551
Starting 57
Starting with KEYLESS-GO* 59
Starting with the SmartKey 58
Tachometer 29, 156
Technical data 553
Turning off with KEYLESS-GO* 70
Turning off with the SmartKey 70Engine coolant see Coolant
Engine oil 381, 562
Adding 382, 562
Additives 562
Changing 382, 562
Checking level 381
Checking with the oil dipstick 381
Consumption 381
Filler neck 382
Messages in the
multifunction display 476
Recommended engine oils and oil
filters 562
Enhanced Off-road Package*
Vehicle level control 285
ESP® 27, 105
Four wheel electronic traction system
with ESP® 105
Messages in the
multifunction display 459, 460
Off-road-ESP® 108
Warning lamp 27, 441, 442