2008 MERCEDES-BENZ G500 Owner's Manual

56 Getting started
Driving
After a cold start, the transmission shifts at
a higher engine revolution. This allows the
catalytic converter to reach its operating
temperature earlier.
For more information, see “Driving instruc-
tions” (
page 245).
For information on off-road driving, see
“Off-road driving” (
page 253).
Switching on headlamps
Low beam headlamps
The exterior lamp switch is located on the
dashboard to the left of the steering wheel.
Exterior lamp switch
1 Off
2 Low beam headlamps on
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
position B.
The low beam headlamp indicator
lamp B in the instrument cluster
comes on (
page 26).
iOnce the vehicle is in motion, the automatic
central locking system engages and the locking
knobs drop down.
The automatic door lock feature can be deacti-
vated (
page 155).
You can open a locked door from the inside.
Open door only when conditions are safe to do
so.
Warning!G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced vehi-
cle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not pre-
vent this type of loss of control.
Warning!G
It is dangerous to shift the gear selector
lever out of P or N if the engine speed is
higher than idle speed. If your foot is not
firmly on the brake pedal, the vehicle could
accelerate quickl y forward or in reverse. You
could lose control of the vehicle and hit
someone or something. Only shift into gear
when the engine is idling normally and when
your right foot is firmly on the brake pedal.
!Do not run cold engine at high engine speed.
Running a cold engine at high engine speed may
shorten the service life of the engine.
!Simultaneously depressing the accelerator
pedal and applying the brakes reduces engine
performance and causes premature brake and
drivetrain wear.
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57
Getting started
Driving
High beam
The combination switch is located on the
left of the steering column.
Combination switch
1
High beam
2 High beam flasher
Push the combination switch in
direction of arrow 1.
The high beam headlamp indicator
lamp A in the instrument cluster
comes on (
page 26).
For more information on headlamps, see
“Lighting” (
page 117).
Turn signals
The combination switch is located on the
left of the steering column.
Combination switch
1 Turn signals, right
2 Turn signals, left
Press the combination switch in
direction of arrow 1 or 2.
The corresponding turn signal indicator
lamp K orL in the instrument
cluster flashes (
page 26).
The combination switch resets automati-
cally after major steering wheel move-
ments.
iTo signal minor directional changes such as
changing lanes, press co mbination switch only
to point of resistance and release. The corre-
sponding turn signals will flash three times.
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58 Getting started
Driving
Windshield wipers
The combination switch is located on the
left of the steering column.
Combination switch
1Single wipe
Wiping with windshield washer fluid
2 Switching on windshield wipers
Switch on the ignition (page 39). Switching on windshield wipers
Turn the combination switch to the
desired position depending on the
intensity of the rain.
0
Windshield wipers off
I Intermittent wiping
II Normal wiper speed
III Fast wiper speed
!Do not operate the windshield wipers when
the windshield is dry. Dust that accumulates on
a windshield might scratch the glass and/or
damage the wiper blades when wiping occurs on
a dry windshield. If it is necessary to operate the
windshield wipers in dry weather conditions,
always operate the windshield wipers with
windshield washer fluid (
page 59).
!If anything blocks the windshield wipers
(leaves, snow, etc.), switch them off
immediately.

For safety reasons, stop the vehicle in a safe
location, turn off the engine and remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch before
attempting to remove any blockage.

Remove blockage.

Turn the windshield wipers on again.
If the windshield wipers fail to function at all with
the combination switch in position I,

set the combination switch to the next
higher wiper speed

have the windshield wipers checked at the
nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.
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59
Getting started
Driving
Intermittent wiping
Only switch on intermittent wiping under
wet weather conditions or in the presence
of precipitation.
When you select intermittent wiping, the
rain sensor is activated. The rain sensor
automatically sets a suitable wiping
interval depending on the wetness of the
sensor surface.Turn the combination switch to
position
I.
After the initial wipe, pauses between
wipes are automatically controlled by
the rain sensor. Single wipe
Press the combination switch briefly in
direction of arrow
1 to the resistance
point.
The windshield wipers wipe one time
without washer fluid.
Wiping with windsh ield washer fluid
Push the combination switch in direc-
tion of arrow1 past the resistance
point.
The windshield wipers operate with
washer fluid.
For information on filling up the washer
reservoir, see “Windshield/rear window
washer system and headlamp cleaning
system” (
page 275).
!Do not leave windshield wipers in intermit-
tent setting when the vehicle is taken to an auto-
matic car wash or during windshield cleaning.
Windshield wipers will operate in the presence of
water sprayed on the windshield, and windshield
wipers may be damaged as a result.
iIntermittent wiping is interrupted when the
vehicle is at a standstill and a front door is
opened. This protects persons getting into or out
of the vehicle from being sprayed.
Intermittent wiping will be continued when all
doors are closed and

the gear selector lever is in drive position D
or reverse gear R
or

the wiper setting is changed using the
combination switchiTo prevent smears on the windshield, or
noisy/chattering wiper bl ades, wipe with wind-
shield washer fluid every now and then even
when it is raining.
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60 Getting started
Driving
Rear window wiper/washer
The rear window wiper/washer switch is
located on the upper part of the center
console.1 Intermittent wipe
2 Indicator lamp
3 Rear window washer system
Switch on the ignition (page 39).
Activating intermittent wipe
Press switch 1.
Indicator lamp 2 comes on.
Intermittent wipe is activated.
Deactivating intermittent wipe
Press switch 1 once more.
Indicator lamp 2 goes out.
Intermittent wipe is deactivated. Wiping with windshi
eld washer fluid
Press and hold switch 3.
The wiper operates with washer fluid.
The rear window is wiped for a further
5 seconds after switch 3 is released.
For information on filling up the washer
reservoir, see “Windshield/rear window
washer system and headlamp cleaning
system” (
page 275).
iThe rear window wiper engages
automatically when the gear selector lever is in
reverse gear R with the windshield wipers
switched on.
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61
Getting started
Driving
Problems while driving
The engine runs erratically and misfires

An ignition cable may be damaged.

The engine electronics may not be
operating properly.

Unburned gasoline may have entered
the catalytic converter and damaged it.
Give very little gas.
Have the problem repaired at an
authorized Mercedes
-Benz Light Truck
Center as soon as possible. The coolant temperature is above
248°F (120°C)
The coolant is too hot and is no longer
cooling the engine.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location as
soon as possible and turn off the
engine. Allow engine and coolant to
cool off.
Check the coolant level and add
coolant if necessary (
page 274).
In case of accident
If the vehicle is leaking fuel:
Do not start the engine under any
circumstances.
Notify local fire and/or police
authorities.
If the extent of the damage cannot be
determined:
Contact an authoriz ed Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center or call Roadside
Assistance.
If no damage can be determined on the

major assemblies

fuel system

engine mount:
Start the engine in the usual manner.
iExcessive coolant temperatures trigger a
warning message in the multifunction display
(
page 346).
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62 Getting started
Parking and locking
You have now completed your first drive.
You have properly stopped and parked
your vehicle. End your drive as follows.Parking brake
Warning!G
With the engine not running, there is no
power assistance for the brake and the
steering system. In this case, it is important
to keep in mind that a considerably higher
degree of effort is necessary to brake and
steer the vehicle.
Warning!G
Do not park this vehicle in areas where
combustible materials such as grass, hay or
leaves can come into contact with the hot
exhaust system, as thes e materials could be
ignited and cause a vehicle fire.
To reduce the risk of personal injury or
damage to the vehicle drivetrain as a result
of vehicle movement, before turning off the
engine and leaving the vehicle always:

Keep right foot on brake pedal.

Pull the parking brake lever up as many
notches as possible.

Move the gear selector lever to park
position P.

Slowly release brake pedal.

When parked on an incline, turn front
wheels towards the road curb.

Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
position 0 and remove.

Take the SmartKey with you and lock
vehicle when leaving.
Warning!G
Engaging the parking brake while the vehicle
is in motion can cause the rear wheels to
lock up. You could lose control of the vehicle
and cause an accident. In addition, the
vehicle’s brake lights do not light up when
the parking brake is engaged.
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63
Getting started
Parking and locking
1
Parking brake lever
Pull parking brake lever 1 up as many
notches as possible.
When the ignition is switched on or the
engine is running, the brake warning
lamp ; (USA only) or 3 (Canada
only) in the instrument cluster comes
on.
Warning!G
Getting out of your vehicle with the gear
selector lever not fully engaged in park
position P is dangerous. Also, when parked
on an incline, park position P alone may not
prevent your vehicle from moving, possibly
hitting people or objects.
Always set the parking brake in addition to
shifting to park position P (
page 164).
W h e n p a r k e d o n a n i n c l ine, turn front wheels
towards the road curb.
Warning!G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch, take it
with you, and lock the vehicle. Do not leave
children unattended in the vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle. Children
could release the parking brake and/or
move the gear selector lever from park
position P, either of which could result in an
accident and/or seri ous personal injury.
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