2008 MERCEDES-BENZ GL320 brake pads

348 Operation
Driving instructions
Power assistanceBrakes
Warning!G
With the engine not running, there is no
power assistance for the brake and steering
systems. In this case, it is important to keep
in mind that a considerably higher degree of
effort is necessary to brake and steer the ve-
hicle.
Warning!G
After driving in heavy rain for some time
without applying the brakes or through wa-
ter deep enough to wet brake components,
the first braking action may be somewhat re-
duced and increased pedal pressure may be
necessary to obtain expected braking ef-
fect. Maintain a safe distance from vehicles
in front.
Resting your foot on the brake pedal will
cause excessive and premature wear of the
brake pads.
It can also result in the brakes overheating,
thereby significantly reducing their effec-
tiveness. It may not be possible to stop the
vehicle in sufficient time to avoid an acci-
dent.
!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
(SmartKey in starter switch position0 or1 or
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button in
position0or1) when testing the parking brake
on a brake test dynamometer and such testing
should be no longer than 10 seconds.
Active braking action through the ESP
® may
otherwise seriously damage the brake system
which is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
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349 Operation
Driving instructions
To help prevent brake disk corrosion after
driving on wet road surfaces (particularly
salted roads), it is advisable to brake the
vehicle with considerable force prior to
parking. The heat generated serves to dry
the brakes.
If your brake system is normally only sub-
jected to moderate loads, you should occa-
sionally test the effectiveness of the
brakes by applying above-normal braking
pressure at higher speeds. This will also
enhance the grip of the brake pads.
Refer to the description of the Brake Assist
System (BAS) (
page 103).Brake pad wear or a leak in the system may
be the reason for low brake fluid in the
reservoir.
The brake fluid level in the reservoir may
be too low if the brake warning lamp in the
instrument cluster comes on and an
acoustic warning sounds although the
parking brake is released (
page 437).
Observe additional messages in the multi-
function display that may appear
(
page 469).
Have the brake system inspected
immediately. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
All checks and service work on the brake
system should be carried out by qualified
technicians only. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
Only install brake pads and brake fluid
recommended by Mercedes-Benz.
After hard braking, it is advisable to drive
on for some time, rather than immediately
park, so that the air stream will cool down
the brakes faster.
Warning!G
Make sure not to endanger any other road
users when carrying out these braking
maneuvers.
Warning!G
If other than recommended brake pads are
installed, or other than recommended brake
fluid is used, the braking properties of the
vehicle can be degraded to an extent that
safe braking is substantially impaired. This
could result in an accident.
!When driving down long and steep grades,
relieve the load on the brakes by shifting into a
lower gear to use the engine’s braking power.
This helps prevent overheating of the brakes and
reduces brake pad wear.
When using the engine’s braking power, a drive
wheel may not spin for an extended period of
time, e.g. on slippery road surfaces. This may
cause serious damage to the drivetrain which is
not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
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364 Operation
Driving instructions

Clean the front and rear license plate.

Remove excessive dirt from tires,
wheels, wheel housings, and under-
body.
For instance, after driving in mud, clean
the radiator, chassis, engine, brakes,
and wheels from extreme dirt using a
strong jet of water.

Check tires for possible damage.

Inspect vehicle underbody, oil pan,
brake hoses, etc., as well as vehicle un-
derbody for possible damage.

Check for brush or branches caught in
the underbody.

After continued operation in mud,
sand, water or other dirty conditions
clean the brake discs, wheels, brake
pads and check and clean axle joints.

Conduct a brake test.
Trailer towing Trailer hitch*

Only install a trailer hitch receiver ap-
proved for your vehicle.
For information on availability and in-
stallation, contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.

The bumpers on your vehicle are not
designed for use with clamp-type hitch-
es.
Do not attach rental hitches or other
bumper-type hitches to them.

To reduce the possibility of damage, re-
move the hitch ball adaptor from the
receiver when not in use.
!Brush or branches could increase the possi-
bility of a fire, as well as cut fuel and/or brake
lines, puncture rubber bellows of the axles or
drive shafts.
Warning!G
Failure to use proper equipment and driving
technique can result in a loss of vehicle con-
trol when towing a trailer.
Improper towing or failure to follow the in-
structions in this manual can result in vehi-
cle damage and/or serious personal injury.
Follow the guidelines below carefully to as-
sure safe trailer operation.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center should you require an explana-
tion of information contained in this manual.
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432 Operation
Vehicle care
Use a soft, clean cloth and a mild win-
dow cleaning solution on all outside
and inside glass surfaces.
An automotive glass cleaner is recom-
mended.Light alloy wheels
If possible, clean wheels once a week.
Use Mercedes-Benz approved Wheel
Care, a soft bristle brush and a strong
spray of water for cleaning the light al-
loy wheels.Plastic and rubber parts
Use a gentle dishwashing detergent or
mild detergent for delicate fabrics as a
washing solution.
Wipe with a cloth moistened in a
lukewarm solution.
The surface may temporarily change
color. If this is the case, wait for it to
dry.
!Fold the windshield wiper arms back onto
the windshield before turning the SmartKey in
the starter switch or pressing the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button (vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*).
Hold on to the wiper when folding the wiper arm
back. If released, the force of the impact from
the tensioning spring could crack the windshield.
!To clean the window interior, do not use a
dry cloth, abrasives, solvents or cleaners con-
taining solvents. Do not touch the inside of the
front, rear or side windows and the power
tilt/sliding sunroof* or rear panorama roof with
hard objects such as an ice scraper or ring.
Doing so may damage the windows.
!Only use acid-free cleaning materials. Acid
may cause corrosion or damage the clear coat.
!The vehicle should not be parked for an ex-
tended period of time immediately after it has
been cleaned, especially not after the wheel rims
have been cleaned with wheel rim cleaner.
Wheel rim cleaners can lead to increased
corrosion of the brake disks and brake pads.
Non-approved wheel cleaners may also damage
the wheel paint if the car is not driven after
cleaning. Therefore, the vehicle’s brake system
should always be warmed-up before it is parked
after cleaning. To do so, please drive your vehicle
for several minutes to allow the brakes to dry.
When applying Mercedes-Benz approved Tire
Care and Mercedes-Benz approved Wheel Care
products, take care not to spray them on the
brake disks.
Warning!G
Do not use cleaners or cockpit care sprays
containing solvents to clean the cockpit or
the steering wheel. Cleaners containing sol-
vents will make the surface porous and vehi-
cle occupants could suffer serious injuries
from plastic parts coming loose in the event
of air bag deployment.

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467 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbolDisplay messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
#Battery / Alternator
Stop VehicleThe battery is defective.Stop the vehicle in a safe location or as
soon as it is safe to do so.
Apply the parking brake (page 67).
Do not continue to drive.
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center.
{InoperativeDownhill Speed Regulation is
malfunctioning.Have the Downhill Speed Regulation
checked by an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center.
2Brake WearThe brake pads have reached
their wear limit.Have the brake pads replaced as soon as
possible.
!Brake pad thickness must be visually in-
spected by a qualified technician at the intervals
specified in the Maintenance Booklet.
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573 Index
Battery, Vehicle 528
Charging 535
Disconnecting and connecting 530
Jump starting 536
Removing and installing 530
Bead 416
Beverage holder see Cup holder
Bi-Xenon headlamps* see headlamps
Bolts, Spare wheel 494
Brake fluid 564
Checking 376
Messages in the multifunction
display 469
Brake lamp
Cleaning lenses 429
Messages in the multifunction
display 477
Replacing bulbs 511
Brake pads 348
Messages in the multifunction
display 467
Brakes 348
Warning lamp 437
Break-in period 346
Bulbs, replacing see Replacing bulbsButton for Voice control* system 30,
156
C
California retail buyers and lessees,
Important notice for 11
Camera see Rear view camera*
Can holder see Cup holder
Capacities and recommended
fuel/lubricants 562
Card holder 33, 37, 320
Cargo compartment cover blind 310
Cargo net* 312
Cargo tie-down rings 302
Carpets, Cleaning 433
Carriers* 295
Catalytic converter
(gasoline engine) 371
CD changer 165, 315
CD player 165
Center console
Lower part 33
Upper part (Vehicles with
enhanced off-road package*) 32
Upper part (Vehicles without
enhanced off-road package*) 31Central locking
Automatic 128
Locking/unlocking from the
inside 128
Switch 128
Certification label 550
CHECK ENGINE malfunction indicator
lamp 439, 440
Checking tire pressure electronically with
the Advanced Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (Advanced TPMS)*,
(Canada only) 401
Checking tire pressure electronically with
the Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS), (USA only) 398
Checklist
Off-road driving 357
Returning from off-road driving 363
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584 Index
Multifunction display messages 449
ABS 451
ABS, ESP
®451
Air suspension 486
Air suspension program 486
Brake fluid 469
Brake lamps 477
Brake pads 467
Coolant 472
Corner-illuminating front fog
lamps* 478
Cruise control 452
Distronic* 453
Doors 474
Downhill Speed Regulation 467
EBP 468
Engine coolant 470, 472
ESP
®441
Fog lamps, Front 478
Fog lamps, Rear 480
Front passenger front air bag 460,
461, 462, 463
Fuel cap 474
Headlamps 477, 478, 480, 482
Hood 474Key, SmartKey 476
Key, SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* 475, 476
Lamps 477, 478, 479, 480, 482
Low tire pressure 464, 484, 485
Parking brake 468
Parking lamps 480
Tele Aid 483
Telephone* 483
Turn signals 482
Vehicle battery 466
Windshield washer fluid 483
Multifunction steering wheel 30, 156
Button operation 156
N
Navigation system* 166
See separate COMAND System
operating instructions
Net, Cargo* 312
Net, Parcel 319
Neutral gear position, Automatic
transmission 189
New vehicle, Break-in period 346
Night security illumination 146, 176
Normal occupant weight 417
Number, Vehicle Identification (VIN) 550O
Occupant distribution 417
Occupant safety 74
Active head restraint 90
Air bags 76
Children and air bags 77, 91, 93
Children in the vehicle 91
Fastening the seat belt 53
Front passenger front air bag off
indicator lamp 81, 85, 86
Infant and child restraint systems 92
LATCH-type child seat anchors 95
OCS 81
OCS, Messages in the multifunction
display 460, 461, 462, 463
Seat belts 53, 78
OCS 81
Self-test 86
Odometer 153, 155, 162
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