2008 MERCEDES-BENZ G55AMG warning

92 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
Warning!G
Never switch off the ESP® when you see the
ESP® warning lamp v flashing in the
instrument cluster. In this case proceed as
follows:

While driving off, apply as little throttle
as possible.

While driving ease up on the accelera-
tor.

Adapt your speed and driving style to
the prevailing road conditions.
Failure to observe these guidelines could
cause the vehicle to skid.
The ESP
® cannot prevent accidents result-
ing from excessive speed.
Warning!G
The ESP® cannot prevent the natural laws of
physics from acting on the vehicle, nor can
it increase the traction afforded. The ESP
®
cannot prevent accidents, including those
resulting from excessiv e speed in turns, fol-
lowing another vehicle too closely, or hydro-
planing. Only a safe, attentive, and skillful
driver can prevent accidents. The capabili-
ties of a ESP
® equipped vehicle must never
be exploited in a reckless or dangerous
manner which could jeopardize the user’s
safety or the safety of others.
!Operational or performance test must only
be conducted on a two-axle dynamometer. If
such tests are necessary, contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center. You could
otherwise seriously damage the brake system or
the transfer case which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
!Because the ESP® operates automatically,
the engine and ignition must be shut off when
testing the parking brake on a brake test
dynamometer and such testing should be no
longer than 10 seconds.
Active braking action through ESP
® may
otherwise seriously damage the brake system
which is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
iThe ESP® will only function properly if you
use wheels of the recommended tire size
(
page 414).
iThe ABS, BAS, and ESP® are automatically
switched off when the differential locks are
switched on (
page 175).
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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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94 Safety and Security
Driving safety systems
Even if the ESP® has been switched off, it
is still active in the following situations:

when braking

at vehicle speeds up to approximately
37 mph (60 km/h), if one wheel
reaches the grip lim it, e.g. when the
street is icy on one side
The brake is applied until the wheel
regains sufficient traction.
If one or more drive wheels are spinning,
the ESP
® warning lamp v in the instru-
ment cluster flashes, regardless of the
speed. Switching on the ESP
®
Press switch
1 once more.
The ESP
® warning lamp v in the
instrument cluster goes out.
You are now again in normal driving
mode with the ESP
® switched on.
For more information, see “Practical hints”
(
page 330).
Warning!G
When the ESP® warning lamp v is
illuminated continuously, the ESP® is
switched off or it is not operational due to a
malfunction.
Adapt your speed and driving to the prevail-
ing road conditions and to the non-operating
status of the ESP
®.
!Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an
extended period of time with the ESP® switched
off. This may cause serious damage to the
drivetrain which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
iIf the ESP® is switched off, it will be auto-
matically activated when exceeding a vehicle
speed of 37 mph (60 km/h) or exceeding a
severity threshold of side acceleration.
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101
Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
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. It is possible
for children to open a locked door from the
inside, which could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury.
!To prevent possible malfunction, avoid
exposing the SmartKey to high levels of electro-
magnetic radiation.
!If you cannot lock or unlock the vehicle with
the SmartKey, the batteries in the SmartKey are
discharged, the SmartKey is malfunctioning, or
the vehicle battery is drained.

Check the batteries in the SmartKey
(
page 103) and replace them if necessary
(
page 374).

Unlock the vehicle as described in the
“Practical hints” section (
page 368).

Lock the vehicle as described in the
“Practical hints” section (
page 369).

Have the vehicle battery and the vehicle
battery connections checked at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center
(
page 394).
If the SmartKey is malfunctioning, contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
iUSA only:
This device complies with Part 15 of the
FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following
two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and
(2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation.
Any unauthorized modification to this device
could void the user’s authority to operate the
equipment.
iCanada only:
This device complies with RSS-210 of Industry
Canada. Operation is subject to the following
two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause interference, and
(2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation of the device.
Any unauthorized modification to this device
could void the user’s authority to operate the
equipment.
W463.boo Seite 101 Montag, 19 . November 2007 8:41 08

104 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Opening the doors from the inside
You can open a locked door from the
inside. Open door only when conditions
are safe to do so.1 Locking knob
2 Inside door handle Front doors
Pull on inside door handle
2 on the
respective front door to open door.
If the door was locked, locking knob 1
will move up.
Rear doors
Pull up locking knob 1 on the
respective rear door to unlock door.
Pull on inside door handle 2 on the
respective rear door to open door.
iIf the vehicle has previously been locked
with the SmartKey, opening a door or the tailgate
from the inside will trigger the anti-theft alarm
system.
To cancel the alarm, do one the following:

Insert the SmartKey in the starter switch.

Press button Œ or‹ on the
SmartKey.iIf you hear a warning signal you have forgot-
ten to switch off the headlamps before opening
the driver’s door.
In addition the message
Switch off lights
appears in the multifunction display.
Switch off the headlamps.
!Failure to switch off the headlamps when
leaving the vehicle may result in a discharged
battery.
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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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106 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Closing the tailgateAutomatic central locking
The doors and the tailgate lock automati-
cally when the ignition is switched on and
the wheels are turning at vehicle speeds of
approximately 9 mph (15 km/h) or more.
You can open a locked door from the
inside. Open door only when conditions
are safe to do so.
For information on towing the vehicle, see
“Towing the vehicle” (
page 399).
You can deactivate the automatic locking
mode using the control system
(
page 155).
Warning!G
To prevent possible personal injury, always
keep hands and fingers away from the cargo
compartment opening when closing the
tailgate. Be especially careful when small
children are around.
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. Unsuper-
vised use of vehicle equipment may cause
an accident and/or se rious personal injury.
Warning!G
Never drive vehicle with the tailgate open.
Deadly carbon monoxide (CO) gases may
enter vehicle interior resulting in uncon-
sciousness and death.
iTo prevent an inadvertent lockout, do not
place the SmartKey in the cargo compartment.
iThe doors and the tailgate unlock auto-
matically after an accident if the force of the
impact exceeds a preset threshold.
The vehicle automatically locks when the ignition
is switched on and the wheels are turning at
vehicle speeds of approximately 9 mph
(15 km/h) or more. You could therefore lock
yourself out when the vehicle

is pushed or towed

is on a test stand
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107
Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Locking and unlocking from the inside
You can lock or unlock the doors and the
tailgate from inside using the central lock-
ing or unlocking switch. This can be useful,
for example, if you want to lock the vehicle
before starting to drive.
The fuel filler flap cannot be locked or
unlocked with the central locking or
unlocking switch.
The switches are located on the upper part
of the center console.
1 Central unlocking switch
2 Central locking switch
Locking
Press central locking switch 2.
If all doors and the tailgate are closed,
the vehicle locks. Unlocking
Press central unlocking switch
1.
The vehicle unlocks.
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. Unsuper-
vised use of vehicle equipment may cause
an accident and/or serious personal injury.
iYou can open a locked door from inside at
any time. Open door only when conditions are
safe to do so.
If the vehicle was previously centrally locked
with the SmartKey, it will not unlock using
central unlocking switch 1.
If the vehicle was previously locked with central
locking switch 2:

and the SmartKey is set to factory settings,
the complete vehicle is unlocked when a
front door is opened from the inside.

and the SmartKey is set to selective settings,
only the front door opened from the inside is
unlocked.
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