54 Getting started
Driving
Starting the engineAutomatic transmission
Gearshift pattern for automatic
transmission
PPark position with gear selector lever
lock
R Reverse gear
N Neutral position
D Drive position
For more information, see “Automatic
transmission” (
page 162). Starting
Make sure the gear selector lever is set
to park position
P.
Do not depress the accelerator.
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position 3 (
page 39) and release it
again immediately. The engine starts
automatically.
For information on turning off the engine,
see “Turning off engine” (
page 64).
Starting difficulties
If the SmartKey is left in starter switch
position 0 for an extended period of time,
it can no longer be turn ed in the switch. In
this case, the steering is locked.
To unlock, remove the SmartKey from
the starter switch and reinsert.
If the engine does not start as described,
carry out the following steps:
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position 0 and repeat the starting
procedure.
Warning!G
Inhalation of exhaust gas is hazardous to
your health. All exhaust gas contains carbon
monoxide (CO), and inha ling it can cause
unconsciousness and possible death.
Do not run the engine in confined areas
(such as garage) whic h are not properly
ventilated. If you think that exhaust gas
fumes are entering the vehicle while driving,
have the cause determined and corrected
immediately. If you must drive under these
conditions, drive only with at least one
window fully open.
W463.boo Seite 54 Montag, 19. November 2007 8:41 08
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.
W463.boo Seite 59 Montag, 19. November 2007 8:41 08
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.
W463.boo Seite 60 Montag, 19. November 2007 8:41 08
70 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Air bags
Warning!G
Air bags are designed to reduce the poten-
tial of injury and fatality in certain frontal
impacts (front air bags), or side impacts
(window curtain air bags). However, no
system available today can completely elim-
inate injuries and fatalities.
The deployment of the air bags temporarily
releases a small amount of dust from the air
bags. This dust, however, is neither injurious
to your health, nor does it indicate a fire in
the vehicle. The dust might cause some tem-
porary breathing difficulty for people with
asthma or other breathing trouble. To avoid
this, you may wish to get out of the vehicle
as soon as it is safe to do so. If you have any
breathing difficulty but cannot get out of the
vehicle after the air bag inflates, then get
fresh air by opening a window or door.
Warning!G
The service life of the passenger front air
bag extends to the date indicated on the
label located on the driver side B pillar. To
provide continued reliab ility after that date,
they should be inspected at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center at that
time and replaced when necessary.
Warning!G
To reduce the risk of injury when the front
air bags inflate, it is very important for the
driver and front passen ger to always be in a
properly seated position and to wear their
respective seat belts.
For maximum protection in the event of a
collision always be in no rmal seated position
with your back against the seat backrest.
Fasten your seat belt and make sure it is
properly positioned on your body
(
page 50).
Since the air bag inflates with considerable
speed and force, a proper seating and hands
on steering wheel position will help to keep
you at a safe distance from the air bag.
Occupants who are unbelted, out of position
or too close to the air bag can be seriously
injured or killed by an air bag as it inflates
with great force in the blink of an eye:
Sit properly belted in a position that is
as upright as possible with your back
against the seat backrest.
W463.boo Seite 70 Montag, 19. November 2007 8:41 08
72 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Safety guidelines for the seat belt,
emergency tensioning device and air
bagiAir bags are designed to deploy only in
certain frontal impacts (front air bags) and in
side impacts (window curtain air bags) which
exceed preset thresholds. Only during these
events will they provide their supplemental
protection.
The driver and passenger should always wear
their seat belts. Otherwis e it is not possible for
the air bags to provide their supplemental pro-
tection.
In case of other types of impacts and impacts
below air bag deployment thresholds, air bags
will not deploy. The driver and passenger will
then be protected to the extent possible by a
properly fastened seat belt. A properly fastened
seat belt is also needed to provide the best
possible protection in a rollover.
We caution you not to rely on the presence of the
air bags in order to avoid wearing your seat belt.
It is important to your safety and that of your pas-
senger that you replace deployed air bags and
repair any malfunctioning air bags to make sure
the vehicle will continue to provide supplemental
crash protection for occupants.
Warning!G
Damaged seat belts or seat belts that
were highly stressed in an accident
must be replaced and their anchoring
points must also be checked. Use only
seat belts installed or supplied at an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.
Air bags and Emergency Tensioning
Devices (ETDs) are designed to function
on a one-time-only basis. An air bag or
ETD that has deployed must be
replaced.
Do not pass seat belt s over sharp edges.
They could tear.
Do not make any modification that could
change the effectiveness of the seat
belts.
Do not bleach or dye seat belts as this
may severely weaken them. In a crash
they may not be able to provide ade-
quate protection.
No modifications of any kind may be
made to any components or wiring of
the SRS. This includes changing or
removing any component or part of the
SRS, the installation of additional trim
material, badges, etc. over the steering
wheel hub, front passenger front air bag
cover, outboard sides of the front seat
backrests, door trim panels, or door
frame trims, and installation of
additional electrical/electronic equip-
ment on or near SRS components and
wiring. Keep area between air bags and
occupants free from objects (e.g. pack-
ages, purses, umbrellas, etc.).
Air bag system components will be hot
after an air bag has inflated. Do not
touch.
Never place your feet on the instrument
panel, dashboard, or on the seat. Always
keep both feet on the floor in front of the
seat.
W463.boo Seite 72 Montag, 19. November 2007 8:41 08
74 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Window curtain air bags1 Window curtain air bag
The window curtain air bags are deployed:
on the impacted side of the vehicle
in impacts exceeding a preset deploy-
ment threshold
independently of the front air bags
The window curtain air bags are not
deployed in impacts which do not exceed
the system’s deployment threshold.
Seat belts
The use of seat belts and infant and child
restraint systems is required by law in all
50 states, the District of Columbia, the
U.S. territories and all Canadian provinces.
Even where this is not the case, all vehicle
occupants should have their seat belts fas-
tened whenever the vehicle is in motion.
When the engine is started, the seat belt
telltale < illuminates to remind you and
your passengers to fasten your seat belts.
If the driver’s seat belt is not fastened be-
fore the engine is started, the seat belt tell-
tale < illuminates and a warning chime
sounds for approximately 6 seconds when
the engine is started.
Always wear your seat belt. All vehicle oc-
cupants always need to have their seat
belts fastened and wear them properly. For more information, see “Fastening the
seat belts” (
page 48).
iFor information on infants and children
traveling with you in the vehicle and restraint
systems for infants and children, see “Children
in the vehicle” (
page 77).
Warning!G
Always fasten your seat belt before driving
off. Always make sure your passengers are
properly restrained, even those sitting in the
rear.
Failure to wear and properly fasten and
position your seat belt greatly increases
your risk of injuries and their likely severity
in an accident. You and your passengers
should always wear seat belts.
In the same crash, the po ssibility of injury or
death is lessened if you are properly wearing
your seat belt. Air bags can only protect as
they are designed if the occupants are prop-
erly wearing their seat belts.
W463.boo Seite 74 Montag, 19. November 2007 8:41 08
76 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Warning!G
USE SEAT BELTS PROPERLY
Seat belts can only work when used
properly. Never wear seat belts in any
other way than as described in this
section, as that could result in serious
injuries in case of an accident.
Each occupant should wear their seat
belt at all times, because seat belts help
reduce the likelihood of and potential
severity of injuries in accidents, includ-
ing rollovers. The integrated restraint
system includes SRS (driver air bag,
passenger front air bag, window curtain
air bags for side windows), and ETD
(seat belt emergency tensioning
device). The system is designed to en-
hance the protection offered to properly
belted occupants in certain frontal (front
air bags and ETD) and side (window
curtain air bags and ETD) impacts which
exceed preset deployment thresholds.
Never wear the shoulder belt under your
arm, against your neck or off your shoul-
der. In a frontal crash, your body would
move too far forward. That would
increase the chance of head and neck
injuries. The shoulder belt would also
apply too much force to the ribs or abdo-
men, which could severely injure inter-
nal organs such as your liver or spleen.
Never wear seat belts over rigid or
breakable objects in or on your clothing,
such as eyeglasses, pens, keys, etc., as
these might cause injuries.
Position the lap belt as low as possible
on your hips and not across the abdo-
men. If the lap belt is positioned across
your abdomen, it could cause serious
injuries in a crash.
Never use a seat belt for more than one
person at a time. Do not fasten a seat
belt around a person and another per-
son or other objects.
Seat belts should not be worn twisted.
In a crash, you wouldn’t have the full
width of the seat belt to manage impact
forces. The twisted seat belt against
your body could cause injuries.
Pregnant women should also always use
a lap-shoulder belt. The lap belt portion
should be positioned as low as possible
on the hips to avoid any possible
pressure on the abdomen.
Never place your feet on the instrument
panel, dashboard or on the seat. Always
keep both feet on the floor in front of the
seat.
When using a seat belt to secure infant
restraints, toddler restraints or children
in booster seats, a lways follow the child
seat manufacturer’s instructions.
W463.boo Seite 76 Montag, 19. November 2007 8:41 08
85
Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Blocking of rear door window operation
With the override switch you can disable
the rear side window switches in the rear
doors.
The override switch is located on the
driver’s door control panel.
1 Override switch
For more information on power windows,
see “Power windows” (
page 192). Disabling
Slide override switch
1 to the right.
Symbol 7 becomes visible.
The rear door windows can no longer
be operated using the switches located
in the rear doors.
Enabling
Slide override switch 1 to the left.
The rear door windows can again be
operated using the switches located in
the rear doors.
Warning!G
Activate the override switch when children
are riding in the back seats of the vehicle.
The children may otherwise injure them-
selves, e.g. by becoming trapped in the
window opening.
When leaving the vehicl e, 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. A child’s
unsupervised access to a vehicle could
result in an accident and/or serious
personal injury.iOperating the rear door windows using the
switches located on the door control panel of the
driver’s door is still possible.
W463.boo Seite 85 Montag, 19. November 2007 8:41 08