2008 MERCEDES-BENZ G55AMG Owner's Manual

48 Getting started
Driving
Fastening the seat belts
Warning!G
Make sure that absolutely no objects are
obstructing the pedals’ range of movement.
Keep the driver’s footwell clear of all obsta-
cles. If there are any floormats or carpets in
the footwell, make sure that the pedals still
have sufficient clearance.
During sudden driving or braking maneu-
vers, the objects could get caught between
the pedals. You could th en no longer brake
or accelerate. This could lead to accidents
and injury.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 an d their likely severity
in an accident. You and your passengers
should always wear seat belts.
If you are ever in an accident, your injuries
can be considerably more severe without
your seat belt proper ly buckled. Without
your seat belt buckled, you are much more
likely to hit the interior of the vehicle or be
ejected from it. You can be seriously injured
or killed.
In the same crash, the po ssibility of injury or
death is lessened if you are wearing your
seat belt. The air bags can only provide the
protection they were designed to afford if
the occupants are using their seat belts
(
page 68).
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49
Getting started
Driving
Warning!G
According to accident statistics, children
are safer when properly
restrained in the
rear seating positions th an in the front seat-
ing position. Thus, we strongly recommend
that children be placed in the rear seats.
Regardless of seating position, children
12 years old and under must be seated and
properly secured in an appropriately sized
infant restraint, toddler restraint, or booster
seat recommended for the size and weight
of the child. For additi onal information, see
“Children in the vehicle” (
page 77).
A child’s risk of seriou s or fatal injuries is
significantly increased if the child restraints
are not properly secured in the vehicle
and/or the child is not properly secured in
the child restraint.
Warning!G
Never ride in a moving vehicle with the seat
backrest in an excessiv ely reclined position
as this can be dangerous. You could slide
under the seat belt in a collision. If you slide
under it, the seat belt would apply force at
the abdomen or neck. That could cause se-
rious or even fatal injuries. The seat back-
rest and seat belt provide the best restraint
when the wearer is in a nearly upright posi-
tion and the seat belt is properly positioned
on the body.
Warning!G
Never let more people ride in the vehicle
than there are seat belts available. Make
sure everyone riding in the vehicle is
correctly restrained with a separate seat
belt. Never use a seat belt for more than one
person at a time.
Warning!G
Read and observe the additional warning
notices printed in the “Safety and Security”
section (
page 72) and (page 74).
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50 Getting started
Driving
Front seat belts and rear outer seat
belts1 Seat belt guide
2 Latch plate
3 Buckle
4 Release button Fastening seat belts and rear outer seat
belts
With a smooth motion, pull the seat
belt out of seat belt guide
1.
Place the shoulder portion of the seat
belt across the top of your shoulder
and the lap portion across your hips.
Push latch plate 2 into buckle 3 until
it clicks.
If necessary, tighten the lap portion to
a snug fit by pulling shoulder portion
up.
Opening seat belts and rear outer seat
belts
Press release button 4.
Allow the retractor to completely
rewind the seat belt by guiding latch
plate 2. Rear center seat belt
Overview
1
Attachment for latch plates
2 Buckle for fixed latch plate
3 Release button for fixed latch plate
4 Fixed latch plate
5 Buckle for free-sliding latch plate
6 Release button for free-sliding latch
plate
7 Free-sliding latch plate
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51
Getting started
Driving
Fastening the rear center seat belt
Pull both latch plates
1 and 2 out of
the attachment (
page 50).
The seat belt has two latch plates:
Plate 1 is fixed at the end of the seat
belt. Latch plate 2 is free-sliding
across the seat belt.
With a smooth motion, pull the seat
belt out of the seat belt outlet.
Push fixed latch plate 1 into
buckle 3 until it clicks.
Guide the seat belt at free-sliding latch
plate 2 across your body.
Place the shoulder portion of the seat
belt across the top of your shoulder
and the lap portion across your hips.
Push free-sliding latch plate 2 into
buckle 4 until it clicks.
If necessary, tighten the lap portion to
a snug fit by pulling shoulder portion
up.
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52 Getting started
Driving
Opening the rear center seat belt
Press release button6 on buckle 5
for the free-sliding latch plate
(
page 50).
Press release button 3 on buckle 2
for the fixed latch plate (
page 50).
Storing the rear center seat belt
Allow the retractor to completely
rewind the rear center seat belt by
guiding latch plate 1 (
page 51).
Guide both latch plates 4 and 7
once after the other into
attachment 1 (
page 50). Seat belt outlet height adjustment
You can adjust the height of the seat belt
guide for the following seats:

Driver’s seat

Front passenger seat

Rear outer seats
Adjust seat belt so that the shoulder
portion is located as close as possible to
the middle of the shoulder (it should not
touch the neck).
1 Release button Raising
Slide the seat belt guide upward in
desired position.
The seat belt guide engages in five
different positions.
Lowering
Pull and hold release button 1.
Slide the seat belt guide downward in
desired position.
Let go of release button 1.
Make sure that the seat belt guide en-
gages into place.
Please comply with the instructions for
“Proper use of seat belts” (
page 53).Warning!G
To help prevent the possibility of injury,
always store the rear center seat belt latch
plates in the attachment when the rear
center seat belt is not in use.
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53
Getting started
Driving
Proper use of seat belts

Do not twist the seat belt when fasten-
ing.

Adjust seat belt so
that the shoulder
portion is located as close as possible
to the middle of the shoulder (it should
not touch the neck). Never pass the
shoulder portion of the seat belt under
your arm. For this purpose, you can
adjust the height of the seat belt guide
(
page 52).

Position the lap belt as low as possible
on your hips (over hip joint) and not
across the abdomen.

Place the seat backrest on adjustable
seat backrests in a nearly upright
position.

Never use a seat belt for more than one
person at a time.

Do not fasten a seat belt around a
person and another object at the same
time. When using a seat belt to secure
infant restraints, toddler restraints or
children in booster seats, always follow
the child seat manufacturer’s instruc-
tions.

Check your seat belt periodically
during travel to make sure that it is
properly positioned.

Make sure the seat belt is always fitted
snugly. Take special care of this when
wearing loose clothing.
Warning!G
Do not pass seat belts over sharp edges.
They could tear.
Do not allow the seat be lt to get caught in
the door or in the seat adjustment mecha-
nism. This could damage the seat belt.
Never attempt to make modifications to
seat belts. This could impair the effective-
ness 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 adequate protection.
Damaged seat belts or seat belts that were
highly stressed in an accident must be
replaced. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
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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.
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55
Getting started
Driving
Remember that extended starting
attempts can drain the battery.
Get a jump start (page 397).
If the engine does not start after several
starting attempts, there could be a mal-
function in the engine electronics or in the
fuel supply system.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center or call Roadside
Assistance.
Parking brake 1
Parking brake lever
2 Release buttonPull up slightly on parking brake
lever 1 and press release button 2.
Push parking brake lever 1 down to
its original position.
The brake warning lamp ;
(USA only) or 3 (Canada only) in
the instrument cluster goes out.
Driving off
Depress the brake pedal.
The gear selector lever lock is released.
Move the gear selector lever to drive
position D or reverse gear R.
Release the brake pedal.
Carefully depress the accelerator.
Warning!G
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. Children
could release the parking brake, which
could result in an accident and/or serious
personal injury.
!In order to avoid damage to the transmis-
sion:

Wait for the gear selection process to com-
plete before setting the vehicle in motion.

Place the gear selector lever in park
position P or reverse gear R only when the
vehicle is stopped.
!If you hear a warning signal and the
message
Release parking brake appears in
the multifunction display when driving off, you
have forgotten to release the parking brake.
Release the parking brake (
page 55).
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