Page 358 of 585
357 Operation
Engine compartment
The hood lock release lever is located in
the driver’s footwell.
1Release lever
Pull release lever1 downwards.
The hood is unlocked. Handle2 pro-
trudes slightly from the radiator grille.
If not, lift the hood slightly.2Handle for opening the hood
Press and hold handle2.
The hood is unlocked.
Pull up on the hood in direction of ar-
row and then release it.
The hood will be automatically held
open at shoulder height by gas-filled
struts.
Warning!
G
Vehicles with diesel engine:
The engine is equipped with a high-voltage
electronic control unit for the injection
system. Because of the high voltage it is
dangerous to touch any components of the
injection system (injectors, electrical wires)
with the engine running
while starting the engine
when the ignition is switched on
!
To avoid damage to the windshield wipers or
hood, never open the hood if the wiper arms are
folded forward away from the windshield.
Page 406 of 585

405 Operation
Vehicle care
Your vehicle has been treated at the facto-
ry with a wax-base rustproofing in the body
cavities which will last for the lifetime of
the vehicle. Post-production treatment is
neither necessary nor recommended by
Mercedes-Benz because of the possibility
of incompatibility between materials used
in the production process and others ap-
plied later.
We have selected car-care products and
compiled recommendations which are
specially matched to our vehicles and
which always reflect the latest technology.
You can obtain Mercedes-Benz approved
car-care products at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
Scratches, corrosive deposits, corrosion or
damage due to negligent or incorrect care
cannot always be removed or repaired with
the car-care products recommended here.
In such cases it is best to seek aid at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.The following topics deal with the cleaning
and care of your vehicle and give important
“how-to” information as well as references
to Mercedes-Benz approved car-care
products.
Power washerTar stains
Quickly remove tar stains before they dry
and become more difficult to remove. A tar
remover is recommended.
Paintwork, painted body components
Mercedes-Benz approved Paint Care
should be applied when water drops on the
paint surface do not “bead up”. This should
normally be done every 3 to 5 months,
depending on the climate and washing
detergent used.
Mercedes-Benz approved Paint Cleaner
should be applied if the paint surface
shows signs of dirt embedding (i.e. loss of
gloss).
!
Follow the instructions provided by the
power washer manufacturer on maintaining a
distance between the vehicle and the nozzle of
the power washer.
Never use a round nozzle to power-wash tires.
The intense jet of water can result in damage to
the tire.
Always replace a damaged tire.
Always keep the jet of water moving across the
surface. Do not aim directly at electrical parts,
electrical connectors, seals, or other rubber
parts.
i
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
If a door handle is hit by a strong jet of water, and
a SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* is in close
proximity, i.e. within approximately 3 ft (approxi-
mately 1 m), the vehicle could be inadvertently
locked or unlocked.
!
Affixing stickers, magnets, adhesive tape or
similar materials to painted body components
may damage the paintwork.
Page 407 of 585

406 OperationVehicle careDo not apply any of these products or wax
if your vehicle is parked in the sun or if the
hood is still hot.
Use the appropriate MB-Touch-Up
Stick for quick and provisional repairs
of minor paint damage (i.e. chips from
stones, vehicle doors, etc.).
Engine cleaning
Prior to cleaning the engine compartment
make sure to protect electrical compo-
nents and connectors from the intrusion of
water and cleaning agents.
Corrosion protection, such as
MB Anticorrosion Wax, should be applied
to the engine compartment after every en-
gine cleaning. Before applying, all control
linkage bushings and joints should be lu-
bricated. The poly-V-belt and all pulleys
should be protected from any wax.Vehicle washing
In the winter, thoroughly remove all traces
of road salt as soon as possible.
When washing the vehicle underbody, do
not forget to clean the inner sides of the
wheels.
Hand-wash
Do not use hot water or wash your vehicle
in direct sunlight.
Only use a mild car wash detergent,
such as Mercedes-Benz approved Car
Shampoo.
Thoroughly spray the vehicle with a dif-
fused jet of water.
Direct only a very weak spray towards
the ventilation intake.
Use plenty of water and rinse the
sponge and chamois frequently.
Rinse with clean water and thoroughly
dry with a chamois.
Do not allow cleaning agents to dry on
the finish.
i
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
If a door handle is hit by a strong jet of water, and
a SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* is in close
proximity, i.e. within approximately 3 ft (approxi-
mately 1 m), the vehicle could be inadvertently
locked or unlocked.
!
Do not use scouring agents on these parts.
Never apply strong force and only use a soft,
non-sratching cloth when cleaning the vehicle.
Do not attempt to wipe the surface with a dry
cloth or sponge.
Otherwise you may scratch or damage the paint.
Page 414 of 585
413 Practical hints
What to do if …
Where will I find ...?
Unlocking/locking in an emergency
Opening/closing in an emergency
Resetting activated head restraints
Replacing SmartKey batteries
Replacing bulbs
Replacing wiper blades
Flat tire
Bleeding the fuel system
(diesel engine only)
Battery
Jump starting
Towing the vehicle
Fuses
Page 476 of 585

475 Practical hints
Unlocking/locking in an emergency
Unlocking/locking in an emergency
Unlocking the vehicle
If you cannot unlock the vehicle with the
SmartKey or KEYLESS-GO*, open the driv-
er’s door using the mechanical key.Removing the mechanical key
1Mechanical key locking tab
2Mechanical key
Move locking tab1 in direction of
arrow.
The mechanical key2 comes out.
Slide mechanical key2 out of the
housing.Unlocking the driver’s door
1Unlocking
2Mechanical key
Insert mechanical key2 into the
driver’s door lock until it stops.
Turn mechanical key2 counterclock-
wise to position1 and hold it there.
Pull the door handle until the locking
knob moves up (
page 118).
The driver’s door is unlocked.
Pull the door handle once more to open
the driver’s door.
i
Unlocking the driver’s door with the
mechanical key will trigger the anti-theft alarm
system.
To cancel the alarm:
Press buttonŒ or‹on the
SmartKey.
Insert the SmartKey in the starter switch.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
Grasp an outside door handle.
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must be
within 3 ft (1 m) of the vehicle.
Press the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button
(page 41).
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must be
inside the vehicle.
Page 477 of 585

476 Practical hintsUnlocking/locking in an emergencyLocking the vehicle
If you cannot lock the vehicle with the
SmartKey or KEYLESS-GO*, lock the vehi-
cle carrying out the following steps.
Close the front passenger door, the
rear right door and the tailgate.
Open the driver’s door and the rear left
door.
Press the central locking switch on the
driver’s door (
page 126).
The locking knobs of the front passen-
ger door and the rear doors move
down.
If the vehicle battery is disconnected or
drained:
Press down the locking knobs of
the front passenger door and the
rear doors manually.
Exit the vehicle.
Close the driver’s door.
Enter the vehicle through the rear left
door.
Press down the locking knob of the
driver’s door.
Exit the vehicle.
Close the rear left door.
The vehicle is locked.
Unlocking and opening the tailgate
A minimum height clearance of 7.2 ft
(2.20 m) is required to open the tailgate.If the tailgate can no longer be unlocked
and opened using the Œbutton on the
SmartKey or the KEYLESS-GO* function,
use the manual release to unlock and open
the tailgate.
The manual release is located on the inside
of the tailgate.
1Release lever
2Cover
Remove cover2 from the trim on the
tailgate.
Push release lever1 all the way to the
left.
Lift the tailgate.
!
To prevent inadvertent lockout, make sure
to have the SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* with you before proceeding with
the next step. The next step will lock the vehicle.
i
This procedure does not arm the anti-theft
alarm system, nor does it lock the fuel filler flap.
Page 478 of 585

477 Practical hints
Unlocking/locking in an emergency
Fuel filler flap
Open the tailgate (
page 119).
The fuel filler flap release is located behind
a cover in the right side trim panel of the
cargo compartment.
1Lock
2Cover
Insert a suitable object such as a coin
into the slot of lock1.
Turn lock1 counterclockwise by 90°
in direction of arrow.
Remove cover2.3Fuel filler flap release
Pull red fuel filler flap release3 in
direction of arrow.
The fuel filler flap is unlocked.
Open the fuel filler flap (
page 352).
!
Always make sure there is sufficient over-
head clearance.
i
If the vehicle has previously been locked
from the outside using the SmartKey or
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*, opening the tail-
gate from the inside will trigger the anti-theft
alarm system.
To cancel the alarm, do one of the following:
With the SmartKey:
Press button
Œ
or
‹
on the
SmartKey.
Insert the SmartKey in the starter switch.
With KEYLESS-GO*:
Grasp an outside door handle.
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must be
within 3 ft (1 m) of the vehicle.
or
Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button.
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must be in-
side the vehicle.
Page 481 of 585

480 Practical hintsReplacing SmartKey batteriesIf the batteries in the SmartKey or the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* are dis-
charged, the vehicle can no longer be
locked or unlocked. It is recommended to
have the batteries replaced at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
Batteries contain materials that can harm
the environment if disposed of improperly.
Recycling of batteries is the preferred
method of disposal. Many states require
sellers of batteries to accept old batteries
for recycling.Replacement batteries: Lithium, type
CR 2025 or equivalent.
Remove mechanical key1 from the
SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* (
page 475).1Mechanical key
2Battery compartment
Insert mechanical key1 into opening.
Press mechanical key1 in direction of
arrow.
The battery compartment2 is
unlatched.
Pull battery compartment2 out of the
SmartKey housing.
Warning!
G
Keep the batteries out of reach of children.
If a battery is swallowed, seek medical help
immediately.
i
When inserting the batteries, make sure
they are clean and free of lint.
i
When replacing batteries, always replace
both batteries.
The required replacement batteries are available
at any Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.