2008 MERCEDES-BENZ G-CLASS SUV differential

Driving
tips 169Snow chains
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you only use snow chains which
have been specially approved for your vehicle
by Mercedes-Benz, or are of a corresponding
standard of quality.
! Information about the use of snow chain-
compatible AMG winter tyres is applicable
for AMG tyres. Use of snow chains is only
permissible with these tyres.
If you intend to fit snow chains, please bear
the following points in mind:
R snow chains cannot be fitted to all wheel/
tyre combinations.
R fit the snow chains for maximum tractive
power and driving stability on all four
wheels. Comply with the manufacturer's
installation instructions.
Do not exceed the maximum permissible
speed of 50 km/h.
i You may wish to deactivate ESP ®
when
pulling away with snow chains fitted.
(Y page 49)This way you can allow the
wheels to spin in a controlled manner, ach-
ieving an increased driving force (cutting
action). Winter driving
G
Risk of accident
Do not shift down for additional engine
braking on a slippery road surface. This
could cause the drive wheels to lose their
grip and the vehicle could skid.
You should drive particularly carefully on slip-
pery road surfaces. Avoid sudden accelera-
tion, steering and braking manoeuvres.
If the vehicle threatens to skid or cannot be
stopped when moving at low speed:
X Shift the selector lever to N.
X Try to bring the vehicle under control by
using corrective steering. Driving tips
Pulling away on slippery surfaces
! If possible, do not let the drive wheels
spin. Otherwise, you could damage the
drive train.
X When necessary, engage the differential
locks (Y page 94). Rolling with the engine switched off
G
Risk of accident
Never switch the engine off while the vehi-
cle is in motion.
There is no power assistance for the steer-
ing and the service brake when the engine
is not running.
You will require considerably more effort to
steer and brake and, therefore, you could
lose control of the vehicle and cause an
accident. Operation
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Off-road driving
173After the brakes have been exposed to dirty
conditions, have them checked and
cleaned at a qualified specialist workshop,
e.g. a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre. Oth-
erwise, there is a risk that braking power
may be insufficient in the event of an emer-
gency, or that braking efficiency may be
unpredictable.
Read this section before driving your vehicle
off-road. Practise by travelling over more gen-
tle off-road terrain first.
The following driving systems are specially
adapted to off-road driving:
R transfer case (Y page 92)
R differential locks (Y page 93)
R 4ETS (Y page 50) Off-road driving
G
Risk of accident
Damage to the vehicle creates the risk of
an accident for yourself and other road
users. If in doubt, have your vehicle
checked at a qualified specialist workshop
which has the necessary specialist knowl-
edge and tools to carry out the work
required. Mercedes-Benz recommends
that you use a Mercedes-Benz Service
Centre for this purpose. H
Environmental note
Protection of the environment is of primary
importance. Treat nature with respect.
Observe all prohibiting signs.
General information R
Stop your vehicle and, if necessary, shift
the transfer case to LOW(Ypage 92)
before driving off-road.
R Check that items of luggage and loads are
stowed safely and are well secured
(Y page 139).
R Engage the differential locks, if necessary
(Y page 93). i
When the differential locks are engaged,
ABS is deactivated. This allows the front
wheels to lock briefly, so that these can dig
into a loose surface. However, please note
that locked wheels skid and can no longer
steer.
R Always keep the engine running and in gear
when driving on a downhill gradient.
R Drive slowly and evenly, if necessary at a
walking pace.
R Ensure that the wheels are in contact with
the ground at all times.
R Drive with extreme care on unknown off-
road routes where visibility is poor. For
safety reasons, get out of the vehicle first
and survey the off-road route.
R Check the depth of water before fording
rivers and streams.
R Look out for obstacles such as rocks, holes,
tree stumps and furrows.
R Always keep the side windows and the slid-
ing /tilting sunroof* closed during the jour-
ney.
R Do not stray from marked routes or paths. Operation
* optional
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Off-road driving
174
i
Information about retrofitting special all-
terrain tyres is available from any
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
Checklist before driving off-road X
Engine oil level: check the engine oil and
top it up if necessary.
Only then does the engine receive enough
oil when the vehicle is standing on a steep
incline.
X Vehicle toolkit: check that the jack is
working and make sure you have the wheel-
brace, a robust tow cable and a folding
spade in the vehicle.
X Wheels and tyres: check the tyre tread
depth and tyre pressure.
X Check for damage and remove any objects,
e.g. small stones, from the wheels/tyres.
X Replace any missing valve caps.
X Replace dented or damaged wheels.
Checklist after driving off-road Driving over rough terrain places greater
demands on your vehicle than driving on nor-
mal roads. After driving off-road, check the
vehicle. This allows you to detect damage
promptly and reduce the risk of an accident
to yourself and other road users. X
Shift the transfer case to HIGH
(Y page 93).
X Disengage the differential locks
(Y page 95).
X Clean the headlamps and rear lights and
check for damage.
X Clean the front and rear licence plates.
X Clean the wheels/tyres with a water jet and
remove any foreign objects.
X Clean the wheels, wheel arches and the
vehicle underside with a water jet; check
for foreign objects and damage.
X Check whether twigs or other parts of
plants have become trapped. These
increase the risk of fire and can damage
fuel pipes, brake hoses or the rubber bel-
lows of the axle joints and propeller shafts.
X After the trip, examine without fail the
entire undercarriage, wheels, tyres, brakes,
bodywork structure, steering, chassis and
exhaust system for damage.
X After driving for extended periods across
sand, mud, gravel, water or in similarly dirty
conditions, have the brake discs, wheels,
brake pads /linings and axle joints checked
and cleaned.
X If you detect strong vibrations after off-road
travel, check for foreign objects in the
wheels and drive train and remove them if necessary. Foreign objects can disturb the
balance and cause vibrations. Travelling uphill
Approach/departure angle 1
Front approach/departure angle
2 Rear approach/departure angle
The table shows approach and departure
angles 1and 2at maximum load. This
information only provides an indication. The
approach and departure angles vary accord-
ing to the vehicle tyres and optional equip-
ment. Operation
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Off-road driving
1751
1 2
2 Long-wheelbase station
wagon
13 37° 31°
G 55 AMG
33° 28°
Short-wheelbase station
wagon
36° 27°
Cabriolet
34° 26°
R
Follow the line of fall when driving on slopes
and steep gradients.
R Before driving on extreme uphill and down-
hill gradients, shift the transfer case to
LOW (Ypage 92).
R Engage the differential locks, if necessary
(Y page 94).
R Observe the warnings for off-road driving
(Y page 172).
R Drive slowly.
R Accelerate gently and make sure that the
wheels are gripping.
R Avoid high engine speeds, except when
driving on sandy and muddy routes with
high driving resistance. R
Select a shift range appropriate to the gra-
dient.
R Before tackling steep downhill gradients,
select shift range 1.
Maximum gradient-climbing capability On good road surfaces and with the
LOWgear
engaged selected, the maximum gradient-
climbing capability is 80%.
i If the load on the front axle is reduced
when pulling away on a steep uphill slope,
the front wheels have a tendency to spin.
4ETS recognises this and brakes the
wheels accordingly. The rear wheel torque
is increased and it is easier to pull away.
Brow of hill When driving up an uphill gradient, slightly
reduce pressure on the accelerator immedi-
ately before reaching the brow of the hill.
Make use of the vehicle’s own impetus to
travel over the brow.
This style of driving prevents:R
the vehicle from lifting off the ground on the
brow of a hill
R loss of traction
R the vehicle from travelling too quickly down
the other side
Driving downhill R
Drive slowly.
R Do not drive at an angle down steep
inclines. Steer into the line of fall and drive
with the front wheels aligned straight. Oth-
erwise, the vehicle could slip sideways, tip
and overturn.
R Before tackling steep downhill gradients,
select shift range 1.
This way you use the engine's braking
effect to reduce the speed. If this is not
sufficient, brake gently. When doing so,
make sure that the vehicle is facing in the
direction of the line of fall.
R Check that the brakes are working normally
after a long downhill stretch.
13 except G 55 AMG. Operation
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Off-road driving
176 Driving over obstacles
Observe the following rules when driving over
tree stumps, large stones and other obsta-
cles:
R shift the transfer case to
LOW (Ypage 92).
R avoid high engine speeds.
R select shift range 1.
R drive very slowly.
R try to drive straight over the centre of
obstacles: front wheel first, then rear
wheel.
! Obstacles could damage the floor of the
vehicle or components of the chassis. Ask
passengers for guidance when driving over
large obstacles. Any damage to the vehicle
always increases the risk of an accident. Fording
The fording depth must not exceed 50 cm
when the vehicle is loaded and ready to drive.
Loaded and ready to drive means: a full tank,
all fluids topped up and the driver is in the
vehicle.
!
The depth of water must not exceed
50 cm. Note that the possible fording depth
is less in flowing water.
R Establish how deep the water is and the
characteristics of the body of water before
fording.
R Deactivate the auxiliary heat-
ing* (Y page 130).
R Shift the transfer case to
LOW (Ypage 92). R
Engage the differential locks, if necessary
(Y page 94).
R Restrict the shift range to 1or 2.
R Avoid high engine speeds.
R Enter and exit the water at a flat place and
at a steady walking pace.
! Under no circumstances should you
accelerate before entering the water. The
bow wave could cause water to enter and
damage the engine and neighbouring
assemblies.
R Drive slowly and at an even speed through
the water.
R Do not stop.
! Do not open any of the vehicle’s doors
while fording. Otherwise, water could get
into the vehicle interior and damage the
vehicle’s electronics and interior equip-
ment.
R Water offers a high degree of resistance,
and the ground is slippery and in some
cases unstable. Therefore, it is difficult and
dangerous to pull away in the water.
R Ensure that a bow wave does not form as
you drive. Operation
* optional
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Troubleshooting
213Problem Possible cause/consequence Suggested solutions
-
Theyellow ABS warning
lamp comes on while the
engine is running. G
Risk of accident
ABS has been deactivated due to
undervoltage. It is possible that
the battery is not being charged.
Therefore, the following systems
are, for example, also deactiva-
ted: ESP ®
, BAS, 4ETS and the tyre
pressure monitor*.
The brake system continues to
function normally, but without
electronic support. The wheels
could therefore lock if you brake
hard. X
Switch off consumers that are not required, e.g. reading lamps,
interior lighting, etc.
ABS will be available again as soon as the vehicle's electrical sys-
tem voltage increases.
X Observe the additional messages in the multi-function display
(Y page 194). You have engaged the differential
locks. X
Disengage the differential locks.
Subsequently ABS is reactivated. v
The yellow ESP ®
warning
lamp flashes while the
vehicle is in motion. G
Risk of accident
ESP ®
, ABS or traction control has
intervened because at least one
wheel has reached its grip limit
and is threatening to spin or lock. X
Only depress the accelerator pedal as far as necessary when pull-
ing away.
X Release the accelerator pedal while you are driving.
X Adapt your driving style to suit the road and weather conditions.
X Do not deactivate ESP ®
.
Exceptions: (Y page 48) Practical advice
* optional
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Troubleshooting
214 Problem Possible cause/consequence Suggested solutions
v
Theyellow ESP ®
warning
lamp is lit while the engine
is running. G
Risk of accident
ESP ®
is deactivated. ESP ®
will
not stabilise the vehicle if it starts
to skid or if a wheel starts to spin. X
Reactivate ESP ®
.
X Adapt your driving style to suit the road and weather conditions. You have engaged the differential
locks. ABS, ESP
®
, 4ETS and BAS
have been deactivated. X
Disengage the differential locks.
Subsequently ABS, ESP ®
, 4ETS and BAS are reactivated.
X Observe the additional messages in the multi-function display
(Y page 194). 1
The red SRS warning lamp
is lit while the engine is
running. G
Risk of injury
The restraint systems are mal-
functioning. The airbags or belt
tensioners may either be trig-
gered unintentionally or, in the
event of an accident, not at all. X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop immediately. 3
The red brake system
warning lamp comes on
while the engine is run-
ning. The parking brake is applied. X
Release the parking brake.
The warning lamp goes out. 3
The red brake system
warning lamp comes on
while you are driving. You
will also hear a warning
tone. You are driving with the parking
brake applied. X
Release the parking brake.
The warning lamp goes out and the warning tone ceases. Practical advice
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