2008 MERCEDES-BENZ G-CLASS SUV Owners Manual

Tyres and wheels
166 help you decide whether the tyre pressures
should be corrected.
The tyre pressure monitor is not able to
warn you of a sudden loss of pressure, e.g.
if the tyre is penetrated by a foreign object.
In the event of a sudden loss of pressure,
bring the vehicle to a halt by braking care-
fully. Do not make any sudden steering
movements when doing so.
i The operation of the tyre pressure moni-
tor can be affected by interference from
radio transmitting equipment (e.g. radio
headphones, two-way radios) that may be
being operated in or near the vehicle.
i If you are carrying a deflated tyre in the
vehicle, you may only reactivate the tyre
pressure monitor if:
R the deflated tyre is no longer in the vehi-
cle
R you have adjusted the tyre pressure cor-
rectly Calling up the tyre pressure by using
the on-board computer X
Make sure that the key is in position 2in
the ignition lock.
The standard display appears in the multi-
function display (Y page 100).
X Press the jork button to select the
tyre pressure function on the multi-function
steering wheel. The current tyre pressure for each wheel will
be displayed.
If the vehicle was parked for longer than
20 minutes, the following message appears:
Tyre pressure displayed only after
driving a few mins.
i
The tyre pressure values indicated by the
on-board computer may differ from those measured at a filling station with a pressure
gauge. The on-board computer will gener-
ally give a more accurate value.
Tyre pressure warning If the tyre pressure on one or more wheels
drops significantly, the following message
appears in the multi-function display:
The tyre pressure of the affected wheel(s) will
be displayed in a red rectangle. You will also
hear a warning tone.
Restarting the tyre pressure monitor
In most cases, the tyre pressure monitor will
automatically detect the new reference val-
ues, e.g. if you have:Operation
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Tyres and wheels
167
R
changed the tyre pressure
R changed the wheels or tyres
R fitted new wheels or tyres
If you wish to define the new reference values
manually:
X Use the table on the inside of the fuel filler
flap to ensure that the tyre pressure is set
correctly in all four tyres for the current
operating conditions.
Also observe the notes in the section on
tyre pressures (Y page 164).
X Make sure that the key is in position 2in
the ignition lock.
The standard display appears in the multi-
function display (Y page 101).
X Press the jork button to select the
Tyre pressure function on the multi-func-
tion steering wheel or wait until the follow-
ing message appears:
Tyre pressure displayed only after
driving a few mins.
X Press the reset button on the left of the
instrument cluster (Y page 96).
The following message appears in the
multi-function display:
Tyre pressure monitor
reactivate?
Yes No
X Press the æbutton on the multi-func-
tion steering wheel.
The following message appears in the
multi-function display:
Tyre pressure monitor restarted
The tyre pressure monitor has stored the
pressure of the tyres as a new reference
value.
If you wish to cancel the restart:
X Press the çbutton on the multi-func-
tion steering wheel.
The tyre pressure values stored at the last
restart will continue to be monitored. Interchanging the wheels
G
Risk of accident
Interchange the front and rear wheels only
if they have the same dimensions: for exam-
ple size, offset, etc.
After every wheel interchange/change,
have the tightening torque checked at a
qualified specialist workshop that has the
necessary specialist knowledge and tools
to carry out the work required. Mercedes-
Benz recommends that you use a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre for this pur-
pose. In particular, work relevant to safety
or on safety-related systems must be car-
ried out at a qualified specialist workshop.
The wheels could work loose if they are not
tightened to a torque of 130 Nm.
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you only use wheel bolts of the
correct size which have been approved for
Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
The wear patterns on the front and rear tyres
differ depending on the operating conditions.
Interchange the wheels before a clear wear
pattern has formed on the tyres. Front tyres
typically wear more on the shoulders and the
rear tyres in the centre.
Interchange the wheels every 5,000 km to
10,000 km depending on the degree of tyre
wear, provided that the vehicle has the same
size front and rear tyres. Do not reverse the
direction of tyre rotation.
Clean the contact surfaces of the wheel and
the brake disc thoroughly every time a wheel
is interchanged. Check the tyre pressure and
reactivate the tyre pressure monitor* if nec-
essary. Operation
* optional
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Winter driving
168
!
On vehicles fitted with a tyre pressure
monitor*, electronic components are loca-
ted in the wheel.
Tyre-fitting tools should not be applied in
the area of the valve, as this could damage
the electronic components.
Always have the wheels interchanged/
changed at a qualified specialist workshop,
e.g. a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
i Vehicles with a tyre pressure monitor*
If the positions of the wheels on the vehicle
are changed, the tyre pressure may be tem-
porarily displayed at the wrong position.
This is rectified after a few minutes of driv-
ing; the tyre pressures are then displayed
for the correct positions. Winter driving
Points to remember
Have your vehicle winterproofed at a qualified
specialist workshop, e.g. at a Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre, at the onset of winter. Winter tyres
Use winter tyres at temperatures below +7 °C
and on snow or ice-covered roads. Only then
can the effect of the ABS, BAS, 4ETS and
ESP ®
driving systems also be ensured in win-
ter.
Use winter tyres of the same make and tread
on all wheels to maintain safe handling char-
acteristics. G
Risk of accident
Winter tyres with a tread depth of less than
4 mm must be replaced immediately. They
are no longer suitable for winter use and
can no longer provide sufficient grip. This
could cause you to lose control of your
vehicle and cause an accident.
Always observe the maximum permissible
speed specified for the winter tyres you have
fitted. If you fit winter tyres which have a
lower maximum permissible speed than that of the vehicle, affix an appropriate warning
sign in the driver's field of vision. This can be
obtained at a qualified specialist workshop,
e.g. from a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
Once you have fitted the winter tyres:
X
Check the tyre pressures (Y page 164).
X Restart the tyre pressure moni-
tor* (Y page 166). G
Risk of accident
If you fit the spare wheel when driving with
winter tyres, bear in mind that driving sta-
bility will be impaired due to unstable cor-
nering characteristics caused by the differ-
ent tyres. Therefore, you should adapt your
driving style and drive even more carefully.
Have the spare wheel replaced at the near-
est qualified specialist workshop which has
the necessary specialist knowledge and
tools to carry out the work required.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you use
a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre for this
purpose. In particular, work relevant to
safety or on safety-related systems must be
carried out at a qualified specialist work-
shop. Operation
* optional
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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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Driving
tips 170 Braking
G
Risk of accident
Do not change 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. G
Risk of accident
Make sure that other road users are not
endangered by your braking.
Downhill gradients On long and steep downhill gradients, espe-
cially if the vehicle is laden or towing a trailer,
you must select shift range 1,2or 3in good
time.
i This also applies if you have activated
cruise control or Speedtronic.
This will use the braking effect of the engine,
so less braking will be required to maintain
the speed. This relieves the load on the brake
system and prevents the brakes from over-
heating and wearing too quickly. If you need
additional braking, depress the brake pedal
repeatedly rather than continuously. Heavy and light loads If the brakes have been subjected to a heavy
load, do not stop the vehicle immediately, but
drive on for a short while. This allows the air-
flow to cool the brakes more quickly.
G
Risk of accident
Never depress the brake pedal continu-
ously while the vehicle is in motion, e.g.
never cause the brakes to rub by applying
constant slight pedal pressure. This causes
the brake system to overheat, increases
the braking distance and can lead to the
brakes failing completely.
If the brakes have been used only moderately,
you should occasionally test their effective-
ness. To do this, brake more firmly from a
higher speed. This improves the grip of the
brakes.
Wet roads If driving in heavy rain for a prolonged period
of time without braking, there may be a
delayed reaction from the brakes when brak-
ing for the first time. You must brake harder.
Therefore, you must maintain a greater dis-
tance from the vehicle in front.Brake firmly after driving on a wet road. This
way the brake discs will become warm, drying
more quickly, which will protect them against
corrosion.
Limited braking performance on salted
roads G
Risk of accident
The layer of salt on the brake discs and the
brake pads/linings may cause a delay in
the braking effect, resulting in a signifi-
cantly longer braking distance, which could
lead to an accident.
To avoid this danger, you should:
R occasionally brake carefully, without put-
ting other road users at risk, when you
are driving on salted roads. This helps to
remove any salt that may have started to
build up on the brake discs and the brake
pads/linings.
R maintain a greater distance to the vehicle
ahead and drive with particular care.
R carefully apply the brakes at the end of a
trip and immediately after commencing a
new trip, so that salt residues are
removed from the brake disc. Operation
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Driving
tips 171
New brake pads/linings For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you only have brake pads/linings
fitted to your vehicle that have been approved
for Mercedes-Benz vehicles or which corre-
spond to an equivalent quality standard.
Brake pads/linings which have not been
approved for Mercedes-Benz or which are not
of an equivalent quality could affect your vehi-
cle's operating safety.
G
Risk of accident
New brake pads/linings only reach their
optimum braking effect after several hun-
dred kilometres of driving. Before this opti-
mum braking effect is reached, you should
compensate for the reduced braking effect
by applying greater pressure when braking.
This also applies after the brake discs or the
brake pads/linings have been replaced.
Parking brake To maintain the braking effect of the parking
brake between the service intervals, you can
activate the parking brake briefly while driv-
ing. X
Drive at approximately 30 km/h on a dry,
level street.
X Pull the parking brake upwards with the
release button depressed (Y page 88), until
the vehicle brakes noticeably.
X Hold the lever in this position for approxi-
mately ten seconds and then push it all the
way down again. G
Risk of accident
The brake lamps do not light up when you
engage the parking brake.
Make sure that you do not endanger other
road users when you apply the brakes.
! Do not drive faster than 40 km/h when
doing so. Otherwise, you could damage the
brakes. Tyre grip
G
Risk of accident
Whereas the vehicle can be fully controlled
at a certain speed on dry roads, you must
reduce your speed on wet or icy roads to
achieve the same road safety. Otherwise,
you could cause an accident.
Pay particular attention to the road condi-
tions at temperatures around freezing
point.
If ice has formed on the road surface (e.g.
from fog), a light film of water rapidly forms
on the ice when you brake, considerably
reducing tyre grip. Drive with particular
care in such weather conditions. Driving on wet roads
If water has accumulated to a certain depth
on the road surface, there is a danger of aqua-
planing occurring, even if:
R you drive at low speeds.
R the tyres have adequate tread depth.
For this reason, do not drive in tyre ruts, and
brake carefully. Operation
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Off-road driving
172 Driving on flooded roads
If you have to drive on stretches of road on
which water has collected, please bear in
mind that:
R the maximum permissible still water depth
is 50 cm
R you should drive no faster than at walking
pace
! Bear in mind that vehicles travelling in
front or in the opposite direction create
waves. This may cause the maximum per-
missible water depth to be exceeded.
You must observe these notes. Otherwise,
damage may occur to the engine, electrics
and transmission. Parking the vehicle after high engine
loading
! G 320 CDI: The vehicle's turbocharger
can become very hot at high engine load,
e.g. during:
R trailer towing
R longer motorway journeys at high speed
R longer journeys through mountainous
terrain
Let the engine run for approximately
another two minutes while the vehicle is
stationary before stopping the engine. This
way, the turbocharger can cool down more
effectively. Off-road driving
Points to remember
G
Risk of accident
Drive slowly in rough terrain with which you
are unfamiliar. This will allow you to detect
unexpected obstacles more easily and,
therefore, to reduce the risk of an accident.
Do not make U-turns on mountain roads.
Otherwise, the vehicle could tip over. If a
slope is too steep for the vehicle, drive back
in reverse gear.
Do not drive at an angle up steep inclines.
Otherwise, the vehicle could tip over. If you
drive up a steep incline at an angle and the
vehicle threatens to overturn, steer into the
line of fall immediately.
Never allow the vehicle to roll backwards.
The braking effect of the engine cannot be
utilised in neutral. If you only use the
service brake, you could lose control of the
vehicle. G
Risk of accident
Grains of sand, particles of dirt and other
abrasive materials can enter the brake sys-
tem. This can lead to excessive wear and
unpredictable braking efficiency. 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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