2008 MERCEDES-BENZ G500 service indicator

Contents
Operation......................................... 243
The first 1 000 miles (1 500 km) ......... 244
Driving instructions ............................ 245 Drive sensibly – save fuel ............. 245
Drinking and driving ..................... 245
Pedals .......................................... 245
Power assistance ......................... 246
Brakes .......................................... 246
Driving off..................................... 247
Parking ......................................... 248
Tires ............................................. 248
Hydroplaning ................................ 249
Tire traction .................................. 249
Tire speed rating .......................... 250
Winter driving instructions ........... 251
Standing water ............................. 252
Passenger compartment .............. 252
Off-road driving ............................ 253
Driving abroad .............................. 261
Control and operation of radio
transmitters.................................. 261
Catalytic converter ....................... 262
Emission control........................... 263
Coolant temperature .................... 263 At the gas station .............................. 264
Refueling ...................................... 264
Check regularly and before a
long trip........................................ 265
Engine compartment ......................... 267 Hood ............................................ 267
Engine oil ..................................... 269
Transmission fluid level ................ 273
Coolant level ................................ 274
Windshield/rear window washer
system and headlamp
cleaning system ........................... 275
Tires and wheels ................................ 277 Important guidelines .................... 277
Tire care and maintenance ........... 278
Direction of rotation ..................... 280
Loading the vehicle ...................... 280
Recommended tire inflation
pressure ....................................... 286
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 288
Tire labeling.................................. 294
Load identification ....................... 298
DOT, Tire Identification Number
(TIN) ............................................. 299
Maximum tire load ....................... 300
Maximum tire inflation pressure .. 301 Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (U.S. vehicles) ............. 302
Tire ply material ........................... 304
Tire and loading terminology........ 304
Rotating tires ............................... 307
Winter driving .................................... 309 Winter tires .................................. 309
Block heater (Canada only) .......... 310
Snow chains................................. 310
Maintenance...................................... 311 Maintenance service indicator
message ...................................... 311
Calling up the maintenance
service indicator display .............. 313
Resetting the maintenance
service indicator .......................... 313
Vehicle care....................................... 314 Cleaning and care of the vehicle .. 314
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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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133
Controls in detail
Control system
 Control system
The control system is activated as soon as
the SmartKey in the starter switch is
turned to position 1. The control system
enables you to

call up information about your vehicle

change vehicle settings
For example, you can use the control
system to find out when your vehicle is
next due for maintenance service, to set
the language for messages in the instru-
ment cluster display, and much more.
The control system relays information to
the multifunction display.
Multifunction display
1 Trip odometer
2 Main odometer
3 Transfer case indicator
4 Current gear selector lever
position/gear range
5 Status indicator (clock)
6 Status indicator (outside temperature
or digital speedometer)
For more information on menus displayed
in the multifunction display, see “Menus”
(
page 136).
Warning!G
A driver’s attention to the road and traffic
conditions must always be his/her primary
focus when driving.
For your safety and the safety of others,
selecting features thro ugh the multifunction
steering wheel should only be done by the
driver when traffic and road conditions per-
mit it to be done safely.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle is
covering a distance of 44 feet
(approximately 14 m) every second.
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137
Controls in detail
Control system
Menus, submenus and functions
Menu
1Menu2Menu3Menu 4
Standard displayAudioNAVVehicle status message
memory1
1The vehicle status message memory menu is only displayed if there is a message stored.
(page 140)(page 141)(page 144)(page 144)
Commands/submenu
Trip- and main odometerSelecting radio stationRoute guidance instructions,
current direction traveledCalling up malfunction
messages, warning messages,
and system status messages
stored in memory
Checking tire inflation
pressureSelecting satellite radio
station* (USA only)
Calling up digital speedometer
or outside temperatureOperating CD player
Calling up maintenance
service indicator
Checking engine oil level
iThe headings used in the menus table are
designed to facilitate navigation within the
system and are not necessarily identical to those
shown in the control system displays. The first function displayed in each menu will
automatically show you which part of the system
you are in.
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. November 2007 8:41 08

140 Controls in detail
Control system
Standard display menu
In the standard display, the main odometer
and the trip odometer appear in the multi-
function display.
Standard display
1 Trip odometer
2 Main odometer If you see another display instead of the
standard display:
Press button
è orÿ repeatedly
until the standard display appears in
the multifunction display.
Press button k orj to select
the functions in the standard display
menu.
The following functions are available: Calling up digital speedometer or
outside temperature
Press button
k orj repeatedly
until the digital speedometer or the
outside temperature appears in the
multifunction display.
Digital speedometer
FunctionPage
Checking tire inflation pressure288
Calling up digita l speedometer or
outside temperature140
Calling up maintenance service
indicator313
Checking engine oil level270
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231
Controls in detail
Useful features
A voice connection between the Response
Center and the occupants of the vehicle
will be established automatically soon
after the emergency call has been
initiated. The Response Center will
attempt to determine more precisely the
nature of the accident
provided they can
speak to an occupant of the vehicle.
The Tele Aid system is available if

it has been activated and is
operational. Activation requires a
subscription for monitoring services,
connection and cellular air time

vehicle battery power is available

the relevant cellular phone network
and GPS signals are available and pass
the information on to the Response
Center Initiating an emergency call manually
1 Cover
2 SOS button
Briefly press on cover 1.
The cover opens.
Press SOS button 2 briefly.
The indicator lamp in SOS button 2
will flash until the emergency call is
concluded.iLocation of the vehicle on a map is only
possible if the vehicle is able to receive signals
from the GPS satellite network and pass the
information on to the Response Center.
Warning!G
If the indicator lamp in the SOS button is
flashing continuously and there was no
voice connection to the Response Center
established, then the Tele Aid system could
not initiate an emergency call (e.g. the rele-
vant cellular phone network is not available).
The message
Call failed appears in the
multifunction display for approximately
10 seconds.
Should this occur, assistance must be
summoned by other means.

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233
Controls in detail
Useful features
A voice connection between the Roadside
Assistance dispatcher and the occupants
of the vehicle will be established.
Describe the nature of the need for
assistance.
The Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance
dispatcher will either dispatch a qualified
Mercedes-Benz technician or arrange to
tow your vehicle to the nearest
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center. For
services such as labor and/or towing,
charges may apply. Refer to the Roadside
Assistance Manual for more information.
The following is only available in the USA:

Sign and Drive services: Services such
as jump start, a few gallons of fuel or
the replacement of a flat tire with the
vehicle spare tire are obtainable. Information button
¡
The Information button ¡ is located
below the center armrest cover.
1 Button to open telephone tray
2 Armrest cover
3 Information button ¡
Press button1 and lift up armrest
cover 2.
iThe indicator lamp on the Roadside
Assistance button • remains illuminated in
red for approximately 10 seconds during the
system self-check after switching on the ignition
(together with the SOS button and the
Information button ¡).
See system self-check (
page 230) if the
indicator lamp does not come on in red or stays
on longer than approximately 10 seconds.
If the indicator lamp on the Roadside Assistance
button • is flashing continuously and there
was no voice connection to the Response Center
established, then the Tele Aid system could not
initiate a Roadside Assistance call (e.g. the rele-
vant cellular phone network was not available).
The message
Call failed appears in the
multifunction display.
Roadside Assistance calls can be terminated
using the t button on the multifunction
steering wheel or the END button on the
COMAND system headunit.

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234 Controls in detail
Useful features
Press and hold button3 (for longer
than 2 seconds).
A call to the Customer Assistance
Center will be initiated. The button will
flash while the call is in progress. The
message
Connecting call will appear
in the multifunction display.
When the connection is established, the
message
Call connected appears in the
multifunction display. The Tele Aid system
will transmit data generating the vehicle
identification number, model, color and
location (subject to availability of cellular
and GPS signals). A voice connection between the Customer
Assistance Center representative and the
occupants of the vehicle will be estab-
lished. Information regarding the operation
of your vehicle, the nearest
Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center or
Mercedes-Benz USA products and services
is available to you.
For more details concerning the Tele Aid
system, please visit www.mbusa.com and
use your ID and password (sent to you
separately) to learn more (USA only).
iWhile the call is connected, you can change
to the navigation menu by pressing the NAV
button on the COMAND system headunit.
iThe indicator lamp in the Information
button ¡ remains illuminated in red for
approximately 10 seconds during the system
self-check after switch ing on the ignition
(together with the SOS button and the Roadside
Assistance button •).
See system self-check (
page 230) if the
indicator lamp does not come on in red or stays
on longer than approximately 10 seconds.
If the indicator lamp in the Information
button ¡ is flashing continuously and there
was no voice connection to the Response Center
established, then the Tele Aid system could not
initiate an Information call (e.g. the relevant
cellular phone network is not available).
The message
Call failed appears in the
multifunction display.
Information calls can be terminated using
the t button on the multifunction steering
wheel or the END button on the COMAND
system headunit.

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