2008 MERCEDES-BENZ G-CLASS SUV engine

Occupant safety
33carry out any modifications on the restraint
systems.
Never tamper with electronic components
and their software.
SRS (Supplemental Restraint System)
The SRS reduces the risk of occupants com-
ing into contact with the vehicle's interior in
the event of an accident. It can also reduce
the forces to which occupants are subjected
during an accident.
The SRS consists of:
R The 1 warning lamp
R belt tensioners
R belt force limiters
R airbags
The 1 1warning lamp The SRS functions are checked regularly
when the key is in position
1or 2in the igni-
tion lock. Malfunctions can therefore be
detected in good time. The
1 warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up
R for approximately four seconds when you
turn the key to position 1in the ignition
lock.
This indicates that the restraint systems
are operational.
R permanently when you turn the key to posi-
tion 2in the ignition lock.
This indicates that the 1warning lamp
is operational. G
Risk of injury
If SRS is malfunctioning, individual systems
may be activated unintentionally or not be
deployed in the event of an accident with
heavy braking.
A malfunction has occurred if the 1
warning lamp:
R does not go on when you turn the key to
position 1in the ignition lock.
R does not go out after the engine has been
running for a few seconds
R lights up again once the engine is running
In this case, have SRS checked immedi-
ately at a qualified specialist workshop. Triggering of belt tensioners, belt force
limiters and airbags In the event of a collision, the sensor in the
airbag control unit evaluates important phys-
ical data such as duration, direction and force
of the vehicle deceleration or acceleration.
Based on the evaluation of this data and
depending on the vehicle's rate of longitudi-
nal deceleration in a collision, in the first
stage the airbag control unit pre-emptively
triggers the belt tensioners.
i The belt tensioners can only be triggered
if the belt tongue is correctly engaged in the
seat belt buckle.
The front airbags are only deployed if there is
an even higher rate of vehicle deceleration in
a longitudinal direction.
Criteria for triggering belt tensioners and
airbags
In the first stage of a collision, the airbag con-
trol unit evaluates the duration and direction
of vehicle acceleration or deceleration in
order to determine whether it is necessary to
trigger the belt tensioner and/or airbag.
The belt tensioner and airbag triggering
thresholds are variable and are adapted to the
rate of deceleration of the vehicle. This proc-
ess is pre-emptive in nature as the airbag Safety
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Occupant safety
35
ignition lock and goes out once the engine
is running) (Y
page 33)
R for each three-point belt in front and the left
and right rear three-point belts when the
belt tongue is engaged in the belt buckle
R in the event of a head-on or rear-end colli-
sion if the vehicle decelerates or acceler-
ates rapidly in a longitudinal direction dur-
ing the initial stages of impact
R in certain situations if the vehicle over-
turns, and the system determines that it
can provide additional protection
R on the front-passenger side only if the
front-passenger seat is occupied and the
belt tongue is engaged in the buckle
If the belt tensioners are triggered you will
hear a bang, which will not cause any harm to
your hearing, and a small amount of powder
may also be released. The 1warning lamp
lights up. G
Risk of injury
The belt tensioners in the rear only function
if they can pull the buckles downwards
without obstruction. They must not be
restricted in any way. For this reason, do
not hold the belt buckles and do not place
any objects under the belt buckles. Other- wise, the tensioning of the belt by the
buckle is restricted or will not function and
will not provide any additional protection.
G
Risk of injury
If the seat belt tensioners have been trig-
gered, they provide no additional protec-
tion in the event of another accident. There-
fore, have belt tensioners which have been
triggered replaced at a qualified specialist
workshop.
Comply with safety regulations when dis-
posing of belt tensioners. Any Mercedes-
Benz Service Centre can provide details of
these regulations.
Airbags Airbag deployment slows down and restricts
the movement of the vehicle occupant.
If the airbags are deployed you will hear a
bang, which will not cause any harm to your
hearing, and a small amount of powder may
also be released. The
1warning lamp
lights up. G
Risk of injury
Airbags provide additional protection; they
are not, however, a substitute for seat
belts.
Observe the following notes to reduce the
risk of serious or even fatal injury if an air-
bag is deployed:
R all vehicle occupants ― in particular preg-
nant women ― must wear their seat belt
correctly at all times and lean back
against the backrest, which should be
positioned as close to the vertical as pos-
sible. The head restraint must support
the back of the head at about eye level.
R always secure children less than 1.50 m
tall or under 12 years of age in suitable
child restraint systems.
R all vehicle occupants must select a seat
position that is as far away from the air-
bag as possible. The driver's seat posi-
tion must allow the vehicle to be driven
safely. The driver's chest should be as far
away from the middle of the driver's front
airbag cover as possible.
R move the front-passenger seat as far
back as possible, especially if a child is Safety
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Driving safety sys
tems48 conditions. Maintain sufficient distance
from other road users and objects on the
road. ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
ABS regulates brake pressure in such a way
that the wheels do not lock when you brake.
This allows you to continue steering the vehi-
cle when braking.
ABS works from a speed of about 8 km/h
upwards, regardless of road surface condi-
tions. ABS works on slippery surfaces, even
when you only brake gently. G
Risk of accident
Do not depress the brake pedal several
times in quick succession (pumping).
Depress the brake firmly and evenly. Pump-
ing the brake pedal reduces the braking
effect.
Braking If ABS intervenes when braking, you will feel
a pulsing in the brake pedal.
X If ABS intervenes: continue to depress the
brake pedal with force until the braking sit-
uation is over. X
To make a full brake application:
depress the brake pedal with full force. G
Risk of accident
If ABS is faulty, the wheels could lock when
braking. This limits the steerability of the
vehicle when braking and the braking dis-
tance may increase.
If ABS is deactivated due to a malfunction,
then BAS, ESP ®
and 4ETS are also deacti-
vated. There is an increased risk of your
vehicle skidding in certain situations.
You should always adapt your driving style
to suit prevailing road and weather condi-
tions. BAS (Brake Assist)
BAS operates in emergency braking situa-
tions. If you depress the brake pedal quickly,
BAS automatically boosts the braking force,
thus shortening the stopping distance.
X Keep the brake pedal firmly depressed until
the emergency braking situation is over.
ABS prevents the wheels from locking.
The brakes will function as usual once you
release the brake pedal. BAS is deactivated. G
Risk of accident
If BAS has malfunctioned, the braking sys-
tem remains available with full brake boost-
ing effect. However, braking force is not
automatically increased in emergency
braking situations and the stopping dis-
tance may increase. ESP
®
(Electronic Stability Program)
ESP ®
monitors driving stability and traction,
i.e. power transmission between tyres and
the road surface.
If ESP ®
detects that the vehicle is deviating
from the direction desired by the driver, one
or more wheels are braked to stabilise the
vehicle. The engine output is also modified, if
necessary, to keep the vehicle on the desired
course within physical limits. ESP ®
assists
the driver when pulling away on wet or slip-
pery roads. ESP ®
can also stabilise the vehi-
cle during braking.
When ESP ®
intervenes, the vwarning
lamp flashes in the speedometer. G
Risk of accident
If the v warning lamp in the speedom-
eter flashes, proceed as follows: Safety
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Driving safety sys
tems 49R
do not deactivate ESP ®
under any cir-
cumstances.
R only depress the accelerator pedal as far
as necessary when pulling away.
R adapt your driving style to suit the pre-
vailing road and weather conditions.
The vehicle could otherwise go into a skid.
ESP ®
cannot reduce the risk of an accident
if you drive too fast. ESP ®
cannot override
the laws of physics.
! If:
R the vehicle is being towed with the front
or rear axle raised,
R the parking brake is being tested using a
dynamometer,
the ignition must be switched off (key in
position 0or 1in the ignition lock). Other-
wise, application of the brakes by ESP ®
could destroy the brake system on the front
or rear axle.
! A function or performance test should
only be carried out on a twin-axle dyna-
mometer. If you wish to operate the vehicle
on such a dynamometer, please consult a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre in advance. You could otherwise damage the drive train
or the brake system.
i If differential locks are switched on, ABS,
BAS and ESP ®
switch themselves off auto-
matically.
i Only use wheels with the recommended
tyre sizes. Only then will ESP ®
function
properly.
Activating/deactivating ESP ® ESP
®
is activated automatically when the
engine is running.
It may be best to deactivate ESP ®
in the fol-
lowing situations:
R when using snow chains
R in deep snow
R on sand or gravel G
Risk of accident
Activate ESP ®
as soon as the situations
described above no longer apply. ESP ®
will
otherwise not be able to stabilise the vehi-
cle if the vehicle starts to skid or a wheel
starts to spin. If you deactivate ESP
®
:
R ESP ®
no longer improves driving stability.
R the engine's torque is no longer limited and
the drive wheels can spin. Spinning of the
wheels results in a cutting action, which
provides better grip.
R traction control is still activated.
R ESP ®
still provides support when you
brake.
R and are driving at above 60 km/h, ESP ®
still intervenes when one wheel reaches its
grip limit even though it is switched off.
i If ESP ®
is deactivated and one or more
wheels start to spin, the vwarning lamp
in the instrument cluster flashes. In such
situations ESP ®
will not stabilise the vehi-
cle. Safety
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Driving safety sys
tems501
Activating/deactivating ESP ®
X To deactivate: press button1until the
v warning lamp in the speedometer
lights up. G
Risk of accident
If the v warning lamp in the speedom-
eter is continuously lit when the engine is
running, ESP ®
is deactivated or not availa-
ble due to a malfunction. There is an
increased risk of your vehicle skidding in
certain situations.
You should always adapt your driving style
to suit prevailing road and weather condi-
tions. X
To activate: press button 1until the
v warning lamp in the speedometer
goes out. EBV (electronic brake force distribu-
tion)
EBV monitors and controls the brake pres-
sure on the rear wheels to improve driving
stability under braking. G
Risk of accident
If EBV is malfunctioning, the brake system
is still available with full brake boosting
effect. However, the rear wheels can still
lock, e.g. under full braking. This could
cause you to lose control of your vehicle
and cause an accident. You should there-
fore adapt your driving style to the different
handling characteristics. 4ETS (Electronic Traction System)
4ETS makes it possible to pull away or accel-
erate on a slippery surface. It brakes the
wheels individually if they start to spin.
The v warning lamp in the speedometer
lights up briefly when the engine is started.
This indicates that the warning lamp is opera-
tional.
4ETS switches itself on if at least one tyre has
reached its grip limit. It brakes wheels indi-
vidually until enough traction has been
attained.
4ETS remains active when you deactivate
ESP ®
.
4ETS is no longer active above a speed of
about 60 km/h.
The v warning lamp in the speedometer
flashes at any speed if at least one tyre has
exceeded its tyre grip limit. Safety
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Opening and closing
56 Locking/unlocking the vehicle from
the inside
You can centrally lock or unlock the vehicle
from the inside. This feature may be useful if,
for example, you wish to unlock the
passenger door from the inside or lock the
vehicle before you pull away. G
Risk of accident
Do not leave children unsupervised in the
vehicle. They could open a door from the
inside – even if it is locked – and thereby
endanger themselves and others.
i You cannot unlock the vehicle centrally
from the inside if the vehicle has been
locked from the outside using the key.
i It is only possible to lock the vehicle cen-
trally if all doors are closed. 1
Unlocking button
2 Locking button
X To unlock: press button 1.
X To lock: press button 2. Rear door (Station wagon)
G
Risk of poisoning
When the engine is running and the rear
door is open, exhaust gases could enter the
vehicle interior. This could poison you.
Therefore, you should make sure that the
rear door is always closed when the engine
is running. G
Risk of accident
Do not leave children unsupervised in the
vehicle. They could open the rear door from
the inside and endanger themselves and
others.
! The tailgate swings out to the side when
opened. Therefore, make sure that there is
sufficient clearance.
i In emergencies, you can also unlock and
open the rear door manually
(Y page 229).
Opening from the outside You can only open the rear door after unlock-
ing it first.
X
To unlock centrally: press thekbut-
ton on the key. Controls
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Opening and closing
58
X
Insert emergency key element into the rear
door lock.
X Turn the emergency key element clockwise
to position 1.
i If the vehicle is not unlocked centrally and
you unlock and open the rear door with the
emergency key element, the anti-theft
alarm system* is triggered. Tailgate (Cabriolet)
G
Risk of poisoning
Exhaust fumes could enter the vehicle inte-
rior if the engine is running and the tailgate
is open. This could poison you. Therefore,
you should make sure that the tailgate is
always closed when the engine is running. G
Risk of accident
While the external spare wheel bracket is
folded to the side, the tail lamps may be
blocked from view. Other road users may
then fail to see you and crash into your
vehicle. Additionally, secure your vehicle
using a warning lamp or a warning triangle.
Do not drive with the spare wheel bracket
folded out. Make sure that the spare wheel bracket is
closed correctly.
Otherwise, the freely moving spare wheel
bracket could injure people or cause an
accident.
Opening from the outside You can only open the tailgate after it has
been unlocked.
X
To unlock centrally: press thekbut-
ton on the key. 1
Spare wheel bracket
2 Lever
3 Safety catch X
Raise safety catch 3and pull lever 2in
the direction of the arrow.
X Swing spare wheel bracket 1to one side.
! Make sure that there is sufficient clear-
ance. 4
Quick-locking mechanism
5 Zippers
X Turn quick-locking mechanisms 4clock-
wise.
X Open zippers 5upwards approximately
10 cm.
i When the convertible soft top is open and
the tonneau cover* is attached, you need
only separate the quick-locking mecha-
nisms on the tonneau cover*. Controls
* optional
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Key positions
596
Handle
X Pull handle 6upwards and push down the
tailgate.
! Make sure that there is sufficient clear-
ance.
Closing from the outside G
Risk of injury
Make sure that nobody can become trap-
ped as you close the tailgate. Key positions
Key
Ignition lock
0
To remove the key
1 Power supply for some consumers, e.g.
the sliding/tilting sunroof*
2 Ignition (power supply for all consumers)
and drive position
3 To start the engine
i The indicator and warning lamps light up
on the instrument cluster when you switch
on the ignition. They go out when the
engine is running. This shows that the indi-
cator and warning lamps for each system
are operational. i
You can only remove the key if:
R the key is in position 0in the ignition lock
R the automatic transmission selector
lever is in P Controls
* optional
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