2008 MERCEDES-BENZ G-CLASS SUV engine

Lights
75Correct driver's seat position
G
Risk of accident
Only adjust the driver's seat when the vehi-
cle is stationary. You will otherwise be dis-
tracted from the road and traffic conditions
and you could lose control of the vehicle as
a result of the seat moving. This could
cause an accident. G
Risk of accident
Only adjust the steering wheel when the
vehicle is stationary. Drive only when the
steering wheel is fixed.
X Check whether seat and the head restraint
are adjusted properly (Y page 60).
Make sure that:
R you are as far away from the driver's front
airbag as possible.
R you are sitting in a normal upright posi-
tion.
R you can fasten the seat belt properly.
R you have moved the backrest to an
almost vertical position.
R you have set the seat angle so that your
thighs are gently supported. R
you can depress the pedals properly.
R you have adjusted the head restraint so
that the back of your head is supported
at eye level by the central area of the
head restraint.
X Check whether steering wheel is adjusted
properly (Y page 66).
Make sure that:
R you can hold the steering wheel with your
arms slightly bent.
R you can move your legs freely.
R you can see all the displays in the instru-
ment cluster clearly.
X Check whether you have fastened seat belt
properly (Y page 71).
It should:
R fit snugly across your body
R be routed across the middle of your
shoulder
R routed in your pelvic area across the hip
joints Lights
Light switch
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you drive with the lights switched
on even during the daytime. In some coun-
tries, daytime operation of headlamps varies
due to legal and voluntary requirements. In
these countries, the dipped-beam headlamps
are automatically switched on when the
engine is started.
i If you drive in countries in which traffic
drives on the opposite side of the road to
the country where the vehicle is registered,
oncoming traffic may be dazzled by the
asymmetrical dipped-beam headlamps.
Have the headlamps changed to symmet-
rical dipped beam when driving in these
countries. You can obtain information
about this from any Mercedes-Benz Service
Centre.
The light switch is located on the dashboard
between the steering wheel and the driver's
door. Controls
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Lights
76M
Lights off/constant headlamp mode
U Automatic headlamp mode
C Side lamps, licence plate and instru-
ment lighting
B Dipped-beam headlamps or main-beam
headlamps
g Right-hand parking lamp
a Left-hand parking lamp
¥ Front foglamps indicator lamp
† Rear foglamp indicator lamp
i A warning tone sounds when you remove
the key from the ignition lock and open the
driver's door while the side lamps or
dipped-beam headlamps are switched on.
The Switch off lights message appears
in the multi-function display. Dipped-beam headlamps X
Make sure that the key is in position 2of
the ignition lock or that the engine is run-
ning.
X To switch on: turn the light switch to
B.
The dipped-beam headlamps, parking
lamps and licence plate lamps are switched
on. The green dipped-beam indicator lamp
in the instrument cluster lights up.
Constant headlamp mode In countries in which constant headlamp
mode is not a legal requirement, you can
make this a setting using the on-board com-
puter.
X
Make sure that constant headlamp mode
has been set in the on-board computer
(Y page 107).
i In countries in which constant headlamp
mode is a legal requirement, constant
headlamp mode cannot be deactivated.
X To switch on: turn the light switch to
M.
The dipped-beam headlamps, side lamps
and licence plate lamp are switched on
when the engine is running.
Automatic headlamp mode The side lamps, dipped-beam headlamps and
licence plate lamp are switched on or off
automatically, depending on the brightness of
the ambient light.
G
Risk of accident
When the light switch is set to U, the
lights are not switched on automatically in
foggy conditions. This could endanger you
and others. Therefore, turn the light switch
to B in darkness and fog.
Automatic headlamp mode is only a driving
aid. You are responsible for the vehicle
lighting at all times. Controls
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Lights
77G
Risk of accident
When it is dark or foggy, turn the light
switch from UtoB in good time.
Otherwise, the headlamps could switch off
temporarily and you could cause an acci-
dent.
X To switch on: turn the light switch to
U.
The side lamps are switched on and off
automatically when the key is in position
1 in the ignition lock.
The dipped-beam headlamps, side lamps
and licence plate lamp are switched on
automatically when the engine is running.
When the dipped-beam headlamps are
switched on, the green dipped-beam indi-
cator lamp in the instrument cluster lights
up.
Front foglamps/rear foglamp G
Risk of accident
If you suspect that driving conditions will be
foggy, turn the light switch to Bbefore
you start your journey. Otherwise, your
vehicle may not be visible and you could
endanger yourself and others. G
Risk of accident
When it is dark or foggy, turn the light
switch from UtoB in good time.
Otherwise, the headlamps could switch off
temporarily and you could cause an acci-
dent.
When the light switch is set to Uyou can-
not switch on the front or rear foglamps.
X Make sure that the key is in position 2in
the ignition lock.
X To switch on the front foglamps: turn the
light switch to the Bposition.
X Pull the light switch out to the first stop.
The ¥ green indicator lamp next to the
light switch lights up.
X To switch on the rear foglamp: turn the
light switch to the Bposition.
X Pull the light switch out to the second
detent.
The † yellow indicator lamp next to the
light switch lights up.
X To switch off the front foglamps/rear
foglamp: push in the light switch to the
stop.
The corresponding indicator lamp goes out. Combination switch (turn signals,
main-beam headlamps and headlamp
flasher)
Turn signals Combination switch
1
To indicate a right turn
2 To indicate a left turn
X To switch on: press the combination
switch in the direction of arrow 1or2.
The corresponding turn signal indicator
lamp in the instrument cluster flashes.
i If you only wish to indicate a minor change
of direction, press the combination switch
briefly in the appropriate direction. The cor-
responding turn signal flashes three times. Controls
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Lights
78
Main-beam headlamps/headlamp flas-
her Combination switch
1
Main-beam headlamps
2 Headlamp flasher
Main-beam headlamps
X Make sure that the key is in position 2of
the ignition lock or that the engine is run-
ning.
X Turn the light switch to the Bor position
U 7
position.
X To switch on: press the combination
switch in the direction of arrow 1.
The main-beam indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster lights up. X
To switch off: move the combination
switch back to its normal position.
The main-beam indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster goes out.
Headlamp flasher
X To switch on: briefly pull the combination
switch in the direction of arrow 2.
The main beam indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster lights up briefly. Hazard warning lamps
Centre console
1
Hazard warning lamp button
The hazard warning lamps still operate if the
ignition is switched off. They switch on auto- matically if an airbag or the belt tensioners
are triggered and the key is in position
1in
the ignition lock.
X To activate: press hazard warning lamp
button 1.
All turn signals flash. If you now activate a
turn signal, only those turn signal lamps on
the corresponding side of the vehicle will
flash.
X To deactivate: press hazard warning lamp
button 1. Headlamp cleaning system
1
Button for headlamp cleaning system
7 In position U, the main beam will only switch on when it is dark. Controls
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Lights
79
X
Make sure the key is in position 2in the
ignition lock.
X To switch on: briefly press button 1.
The headlamps are cleaned with a high-
pressure water jet. Cornering light function
Specially designed front foglamps light up the
area into which you are driving when turning
corners.
The cornering light function is automatically
deactivated if:
R the engine is switched off.
R the foglamps are switched on.
R you are driving at speeds above 40 km /h.
R it is light.
X To activate: make sure that the light
switch is set to the UorB position.
X Switch on the turn signal.
The cornering lamp on the same side as the
turn signal comes on, even if you turn the
steering wheel in the opposite direction
after indicating.
or X
Turn the steering wheel in the desired
direction.
When in a forwards gear: the cornering
lamp on the inside of the bend comes on.
When in reverse gear: the cornering lamp
on the outside of the bend comes on.
X To deactivate: turn the steering wheel
back to the straight-ahead position.
The turn signal switches off. The cornering
lamp may remain lit for a short time.
or
X Switch off the turn signal.
The cornering lamp may remain lit for a
short time.
The cornering light will go out after a maxi-
mum of three minutes. Interior lighting
Front overhead control panel Front overhead control panel
1
To switch the luggage compartment light-
ing/rear interior lighting on/off
2 To switch the right-hand reading lamp on/
off
3 Rocker switch (to control the interior
lighting)
4 To switch the left-hand reading lamp on/
off Controls
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Driving and pa
rking 86X
Point the tip of the key at the driver's door
handle.
X Lock the vehicle by pressing the jbut-
ton.
X Press and hold the jbutton until the
side windows and the sliding/tilting sun-
roof* are fully closed.
X Make sure that all the side windows and the
sliding/tilting sunroof* are closed. Driving and parking
Starting the engine
G
Risk of accident
Do not keep any objects in the driver's foot-
well. If you use a floormat or carpet in the
driver's footwell, make sure that they are
correctly secured and that there is suffi-
cient clearance for the pedals.
Objects could otherwise get between the
pedals in the event of sudden braking or
acceleration. You may then no longer be
able to brake, change gear or accelerate as
intended. This may result in an accident and
injury. G
Risk of poisoning
Never leave the engine running in enclosed
spaces. The exhaust gases contain carbon
monoxide. Inhaling exhaust fumes consti-
tutes a health hazard and could lead to loss
of consciousness or even death.
! Do not depress the accelerator pedal
when starting the engine. i
If you depress the brake when starting the
engine, pedal travel will be unusually long
and there will be less pedal resistance.
Automatic transmission P
Park position with selector lever lock
R To select reverse gear
N To select neutral
D Drive position
X Before starting, make sure Pis selected.
i The engine can also be started when the
selector lever is in position N.Cont
rols
* optional
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Driving and pa
rking 87
Further information about the automatic
transmission (Y
page 89).
Starting the engine X
Apply the parking brake.
X To start a petrol engine: turn the key to
position 3in the ignition lock (Y page 59)
and release it as soon as the engine is run-
ning.
X To start a diesel engine: turn the key to
position 2in the ignition lock .
The q preglow indicator lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up.
X When the qpreglow indicator lamp
goes out, turn the key to position 3and
release it as soon as the engine is running.
i You can start the engine without preglow
if the engine is warm. Pulling away
! Warm up the engine quickly. Do not use
the engine's full performance until it has
reached operating temperature.
Only shift into reverse gear when the vehi-
cle is stationary.
Where possible, avoid spinning the drive
wheels when pulling away on slippery
roads. You could otherwise damage the
drive train.
i It is only possible to move the selector
lever to the desired position if you depress
the brake pedal. Only then is the selector
lever lock released.
X Depress the brake pedal and hold it down.
X Release the parking brake.
X Move the selector lever to position Dor R.
i Wait until the shift process is completed
before pulling away.
X Release the brake pedal.
X Carefully depress the accelerator pedal.
i Upshifts take place at higher engine
speeds after a cold start. This helps the catalytic converter to reach its operating
temperature more quickly.
AAS (Start-off Assist) AAS helps you when pulling away on uphill
gradients. It holds the vehicle for a short time
after you have removed your foot from the
brake pedal. This gives you enough time to
move your foot from the brake pedal to the
accelerator pedal and depress it before the
vehicle begins to roll back. G
Risk of accident
Never leave the vehicle when it is held by
start-off assist. After approximately one
second, AAS stops holding your vehicle and
it could roll away.
X Depress the brake pedal.
X Pull away.
i Once you have taken your foot off the
brake pedal, the vehicle is held for around
one second.
AAS does not function if:
R you are pulling away on a level road or a
downhill gradient
R the selector lever is in the Nposition Controls
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Driving and pa
rking 88
R
the vehicle is secured with the parking
brake
R ESP ®
is malfunctioning Parking
G
Risk of accident
Only remove the key from the ignition lock
when the vehicle is stationary as you can-
not steer the vehicle with the key removed.
Never leave children unsupervised in the
vehicle. They could release the parking
brake. This could lead to a serious or fatal
accident. G
Risk of fire
Make sure that the exhaust system does
not under any circumstances come into
contact with easily ignitable material such
as dry grass or petrol. The material could
otherwise ignite and set the vehicle on fire. Parking brake 1
Parking brake
2 Release button
X To release: depress the brake pedal and
keep it depressed.
The selector lever lock is released.
X Pull the parking brake 1up firmly.
X Press release button 2on parking brake
1 and move the parking brake down to the
stop.
The 3 warning lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out. X
To apply: pull parking brake 1up firmly.
If the key is in position 1or 2in the ignition
lock, then the indicator lamp 3in the
instrument cluster is on.
i On steep slopes, turn the front wheels
towards the kerb. Switching off the engine
G
Risk of accident
If the engine is not running, there is no
power assistance for the steering and
brakes. Steering and braking then takes
much more effort.
As a result, you might lose control of the
vehicle, cause an accident and injure your-
self and others.
Do not switch off the engine while driving.
Vehicles with automatic transmission X
Move the selector lever to P.
X Turn the key to position 0(Y page 59) in
the ignition lock and remove it.
The immobiliser is activated. Controls
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