2008 MERCEDES-BENZ G55AMG engine

93
Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
Switching off the ESP®
To improve the vehicle’s traction, switch
off the ESP® in driving situations where it
would be advantageous to have the drive
wheels spin and thus cut into surfaces for
better grip such as:

when driving with snow chains

in deep snow

sand or gravel

when driving off-road When you switch off the ESP
®

the ESP® does not stabilize the vehicle

the engine output is not limited, which
allows the drive wheels to spin and
thus cut into surfaces for better grip

the 4-ETS will still apply the brake to a
spinning wheel

the ESP® continues to operate when
you are braking

you cannot activate the cruise control
system

the cruise control system switches off
if currently activated The ESP
® switch is located on the upper
part of the center console.
1 ESP
® switch
With the engine running, press
switch 1.
The ESP
® warning lamp v in the
instrument cluster comes on.
The ESP
® is deactivated.
Warning!G
The ESP® should not be switched off during
normal driving other than in the circum-
stances described below. Disabling of the
system will reduce vehicle stability in stan-
dard driving maneuvers.
Warning!G
Switch on the ESP® immediately if the afore-
mentioned circumstances do not apply any-
more. Otherwise the ESP
® will not stabilize
the vehicle when it is starting to skid or a
wheel is spinning.
iWhen the ESP® is switched off and one or
more drive wheels are spinning, the ESP® warn-
ing lamp v in the instrument cluster flashes.
However, the ESP
® will then not stabilize the
vehicle.
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95
Safety and Security
Anti-theft systems
 Anti-theft systems
Immobilizer
The immobilizer prev ents unauthorized
persons from starting your vehicle.
Activating
Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
Deactivating
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position 2 (
page 39).
Anti-theft alarm
Once the alarm system has been armed, a
visual and audible alarm is triggered when
someone opens

a door

the tailgate

the hood
The alarm will stay on, even if the activat-
ing element (a door, for example) is imme-
diately closed. The alarm system will also be triggered
when

someone attempts to raise the vehicle

the vehicle is opened with the
mechanical key

someone opens a door from the inside

someone opens the tailgate from the
inside
iStarting the engine wi
ll also deactivate the
immobilizer.
In case the engine cannot be started (yet the
vehicle’s battery is charged), the system is not
operational. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center or call
1-800-FOR-MERCedes (in the USA), or
1-800-387-0100 (in Canada).
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105
Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Tailgate
Opening the tailgate from the outside
1 Lock cylinder
2 Tailgate handle
Press lock cylinder 1 and pull on
tailgate handle 2.
Open the tailgate to the side. Opening the tailgate from inside
1 Locking knob
2 Inside door handle
Pull on inside door handle 2 to open
the tailgate.
If the door was locked:
Pull up locking knob 1 to unlock the
tailgate.
Pull on door handle 2 to open the
tailgate.
Warning!G
The tailgate swings open to one side. Always
make sure there is su fficient clearance for
the tailgate.
Make sure the tailgate is closed when the
engine is running and while driving. Among
other dangers, deadly carbon monoxide
(CO) gases may enter vehicle interior result-
ing in unconsciou sness and death.
iThe vehicle must be unlocked (page 38).
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119
Controls in detail
Lighting
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
position
U.
With the SmartKey in starter switch
position 1, the tail and parking lamps,
the license plate lamps and the side
marker lamps will switch on and off de-
pending on the brightness of the ambi-
ent light.
When the engine is running the low
beam headlamps, the tail and parking
lamps, the license plate lamps and the
side marker lamps will switch on and
off depending on the brightness of the
ambient light. Daytime running lamp mode
In Canada the daytime running lamp mode
is mandatory and therefore in a constant
mode.
By default, the daytime running lamp mode
is deactivated. Activate the daytime
running lamp mode using the control
system, see “Setting daytime running lamp
mode (USA only)” (
page 151).
Turn the exterior lamp switch to
position
M orU .
When the engine is running, the low
beam headlamps are switched on.
In low ambient light conditions, the
following lamps will switch on
additionally:

Tail and parking lamps

License plate lamps

Side marker lamps Canada only:
When the engine is running, and you shift
from a driving position to neutral
position
N or park position P with the vehi-
cle at standstill, the low beam headlamps
will switch off with a 3-minute delay.
iCanada only:
High beam headlamps are only available with the
exterior lamp switch in position B.
iWith the daytime running lamp mode
activated and the engi ne running, you cannot
switch off the low beam headlamps manually.
iWith the exterior lamp switch in
position M orU , you cannot switch on the
high beam headlamps.
The high beam flasher is available at all times.
For nighttime driving turn the exterior lamp
switch to position B to permit activation of
the high beam headlamps.
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120 Controls in detail
Lighting
When the engine is running, and you

turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionC, the low beam head-
lamps, the tail and parking lamps, the
license plate lamps and the side mark-
er lamps switch on.

turn the exterior lamp switch to
position B, the manual headlamp
mode has priority over the daytime
running lamp mode.
The corresponding exterior lamps
switch on (
page 117). USA only:
When the engine is running, and you turn
the exterior lamp switch to position
C
or B , the manual headlamp mode has
priority over the daytime running lamp
mode.
The corresponding exterior lamps switch
on (
page 117). Locator lighting and night security
illumination
The locator lighting and the night security
illumination are described in the “Control
system” section, see “Setting locator light-
ing” (
page 152) and “Setting night secu-
rity illumination” (
page 153).
Locator lighting lamps in exterior rear
view mirrors
If the vehicle is centrally unlocked in the
darkness, the locator lighting lamps in the
exterior rear view mirrors come on.
If a door is opened, the lamp on the
corresponding side goes out. If no doors
are opened, the lamps will go out:

after a maximum of 40 seconds

immediately, when you switch on the
ignition
iWith the exterior lamp switch in
position M, you cannot switch on the high
beam headlamps.
The high beam flasher is available at all times.
For nighttime driving turn the exterior lamp
switch to position B orU to permit
activation of the high beam headlamps.
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122 Controls in detail
Lighting
Combination switch
The combination switch is located on the
left of the steering column.1 High beam
2 High beam flasher High beam
Canada only: Turn the exterior lamp
switch to position
B (
page 117).
or
USA only: Turn the exterior lamp switch
to position B orU
(
page 117).
Push the combination switch in
direction of arrow 1 to switch on the
high beam.
The high beam headlamp indicator
lamp A in the instrument cluster
comes on (
page 26).
Pull the combination switch in direction
of arrow 2 to its original position to
switch off the high beam.
The high beam headlamp indicator
lamp A in the instrument cluster
goes out.
High beam flasher
Pull the combination switch briefly in
direction of arrow 2.
Corner-illuminating front fog lamps
The corner-illuminating front fog lamps
improve illumination of the area in the
direction into which you are turning.
The corner-illuminating front fog lamps will
operate with the engine running and with

the exterior lamp switch in
position B (
page 117)
or

the exterior lamp switch in
position U (
page 117)
or

the daytime running lamp mode
activated (
page 119)
iThe corner-illuminating front fog lamps will
only come on in low ambient lighting conditions.
iIf you are driving faster than 25 mph
(40 km/h) or have the front fog lamps switched
on, the corner-illuminating function is not avail-
able.
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125
Controls in detail
Lighting
Interior lighting in the front
The controls for the interior lighting are
located in the overhead control panel.
1 Left reading lamp
2 Left reading lamp switch
3 Right reading lamp switch
4 Right reading lamp
5 Rocker switch for automatic control
6 Interior lamp Automatic control
Deactivating automatic control
Press symbol
= on rocker
switch 5.
The interior lighting remains switched
off in darkness, even when you

unlock the vehicle

remove the SmartKey from the
starter switch

open a door Activating automatic control
Move rocker switch
5 to center
position.
The interior lighting (except cargo
compartment lamps) comes on in
darkness when you

unlock the vehicle

remove the SmartKey from the
starter switch

open a front door (only the interior
lighting in the front comes on)

open a rear door (only the rear
interior lamps come on, if the rear
automatic control is activated
(
page 126)
The interior lighting switches off after
10 seconds if feature is activated, see
“Setting interior lighting delayed shut-off”
(
page 154).
!An interior lamp switched on manually does
not go out automatically.
Leaving an interior lamp switch in the ON
position for extended periods of time with the
engine turned off could result in a discharged
battery.
iThe interior lighting is factory-set to
automatic mode.
iIf a door remains open, the interior lamps
switch off automatically after approximately
5 minutes when the SmartKey is removed or in
starter switch position 0.
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131
Controls in detail
Instrument cluster
Coolant temperature gauge
The coolant temperat
ure gauge is on the
left side in the instrument cluster
(
page 26).
Resetting trip odometer
Make sure you are viewing the
standard display (
page 140).
If it is not displayed, press button è
or ÿ on the multifunction steering
wheel (
page 134) repeatedly until
the standard displa y appears in the
multifunction display.
Press and hold reset button 1
(
page 130) until the trip odometer is
reset.
Warning!G

Driving when your engine is overheated
can cause some fluids which may have
leaked into the engine compartment to
catch fire. You could be seriously
burned.

Steam from an overheated engine can
cause serious burns which can occur
just by opening the hood. Stay away
from the engine if you see or hear steam
coming from it.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location away from
other traffic. Turn off the engine, get out of
the vehicle and do not stand near the vehicle
until the engine has cooled down.
!Excessive coolant temperature triggers a
warning message in the multifunction display
(
page 346).
The engine should not be operated with the
coolant temperature above 248°F (120°C).
Doing so may cause serious engine damage
which is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
iDuring severe operating conditions, e.g.
stop-and-go traffic, the coolant temperature may
rise close to 248°F (120°C).
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