2008 MERCEDES-BENZ GL450 Owner's Manual

216 Controls in detail
Climate control
1Temperature control, left
2Air distribution and air volume
(automatic, manual)
3Front defroster
4Increasing air volume
5Air distribution (directs air through
the windshield and side air vents)
6Rear climate control* on/off
Air supply for rear passenger
compartment on/off
:USA only
7Temperature control, right
8AC cooling on/off
Residual heat/ventilation
9Air distribution (directs air through
center and side air vents)
aAir distribution (directs air through
the footwells and side air vents)
bAir volume display
cDecreasing air volume
dRear window defroster
eAir recirculation
fInterior temperature sensor
gClimate control on/off
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217 Controls in detail
Climate control
The climate control is operational whenev-
er the engine is running. You can operate
the climate control system in either the
automatic or manual mode. The system
cools or heats the interior depending on
the selected interior temperature and the
current outside temperature.Nearly all dust particles, pollutants and
odors are filtered out before outside air en-
ters the passenger compartment through
the air distribution system.
The air conditioning will not engage (no
cooling) if the A/C mode is deactivated
(
page 224).
Warning!G
When operating the climate control, the air
that enters the passenger compartment
through the air vents can be very hot or very
cold (depending on the set temperature).
This may cause burns or frostbite to unpro-
tected skin in the immediate area of the air
vents.
Always keep sufficient distance between un-
protected parts of the body and the air
vents. If necessary, use the air distribution
controls (
page 216) to direct the air to air
vents in the vehicle interior that are not in
the immediate area of unprotected skin.
Warning!G
Severe conditions (e.g. strong air pollution)
may require replacement of the filter before
its scheduled interval. A clogged filter will
reduce the air volume to the interior and the
windows could fog up, impairing visibility
and endangering you and others. Have a
clogged filter replaced as soon as possible
at an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.
Warning!G
Follow the recommended settings for heat-
ing and cooling given on the following pag-
es. Otherwise the windows could fog up,
impairing visibility and endangering you and
others.
iIf the vehicle interior is hot, ventilate the in-
terior before driving off, see “Summer opening
feature” (
page 249). The climate control will
then adjust the interior temperature to the set
value much faster.
Keep the air intake grille in front of the wind-
shield free of snow and debris.
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218 Controls in detail
Climate control
Deactivating the climate control
system
Deactivating
Press button´ (page 216).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.Reactivating
Press buttonU (page 216).
Operating the climate control system
in automatic modeActivating
Press buttonU (page 216) while
the engine is running.
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on. The air volume and air distri-
bution are adjusted automatically.
Use temperature controls1 and7
(
page 216) to separately adjust the
air temperature on each side of the
passenger compartment.
The interior air temperature is adjusted
automatically.
Deactivating
Press button
orQ
(
page 216).
The indicator lamp on buttonU
goes out. The automatic operation of
air volume switches off. The selected
blower speed is shown in the air
volume displayb (
page 216).
Warning!G
When the climate control system is
switched off, the outside air supply and cir-
culation are also switched off. Only choose
this settings for a short time. Otherwise the
windows could fog up, impairing visibility
and endangering you and others.
iYou can also press button´
(
page 216) on the climate control panel.
If you press button| (
page 216) to
reactivate the climate control system, the
defrosting mode is activated.
iWhen operating the climate control system
in automatic mode, you will only rarely need to
adjust the temperature, air volume and air distri-
bution.
In automatic mode, cooling with dehumidify is
switched on. This function can be switched off if
necessary (
page 225).
iThe settings for the passenger side are also
used for the rear passenger compartment.
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219 Controls in detail
Climate control
or
Press air distribution button5,9,
ora (
page 216).
The indicator lamp on buttonU
goes out. The automatic operation of
air distribution switches off.
Setting the temperature
Use temperature controls1 and7
(
page 216) to separately adjust the air
temperature on each side of the passenger
compartment. You should raise or lower
the temperature setting in small incre-
ments, preferably starting at 72°F (22°C).
The climate control will adjust to the set
temperature as fast as possible.Increasing
Turn temperature control1
and/or7 (
page 216) slightly clock-
wise.
The climate control system will corre-
spondingly adjust the interior air tem-
perature.
Decreasing
Turn temperature control1
and/or7 (
page 216) slightly coun-
terclockwise.
The climate control system will corre-
spondingly adjust the interior air tem-
perature.
Adjusting air distribution
Press air distribution button5,9, ora
(
page 216) to adjust the air distribution.
The following symbols are found on the
controls:
Press the desired air distribution
button5,9, ora (
page 216).
The indicator lamp on buttonU
goes out.
SymbolFunction
aDirects air through the center
and side air vents
ZDirects air to the windshield
and side air vents
YDirects air to the footwells and
side air vents
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220 Controls in detail
Climate control
Adjusting air volume
Five blower speeds are available.
Press button
to decrease or
buttonQ to increase air volume
(
page 216) to the desired level.
The indicator lamp on buttonU
(
page 216) goes out. The automatic
operation of air volume switches off.
The selected blower speed is shown in
the air volume displayb
(
page 216).
Adjusting air volume for the center and
side air vents
Opening the center air vents
Turn thumbwheels5 and8
(
page 214) to the right.
The corresponding center air vents on
the left and right are open.Closing the center air vents
Turn thumbwheels5 and8
(
page 214) to the left.
The corresponding center air vents on
the left and right are closed.
Opening the side air vents
Turn thumbwheels3 andb
(
page 214) to the right.
The corresponding side air vents on the
left and right are open.
Closing the side air vents
Turn thumbwheels3 andb
(
page 214) to the left.
The corresponding side air vents on the
left and right are closed.Air vents in the roof liner over the
second-row seats*
1Thumbwheel for air volume control
2Air vent, adjustable
Adjusting air volume
Turn thumbwheel1 d o w n t o d e c r e a s e
the air volume.
or
Turn thumbwheel1 up to increase the
air volume.
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221 Controls in detail
Climate control
Adjusting air distribution
Move air vent slider2 to the left, right,
up, or down to direct the air in the de-
sired direction.
Front defroster
You can use this setting to defrost the
windshield, for example if it is iced up. You
can also use it to defog the windshield and
door windows.
Activating
Press button| (page 216).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.The climate control switches to the follow-
ing functions automatically:

most efficient blower speed and
heating power, depending on outside
temperature

air flows onto the windshield and the
door windows (side air vents must be
open)

the air conditioning compressor
switches on at outside temperatures
above approximately 41°F (5°C) for
air-drying
Adjustments
You can adjust the air volume and the tem-
perature when the front defroster is
switched on. The air flow will remain on the
windshield and door windows.
Press button
to decrease or
buttonQ to increase air volume
(
page 216) to the desired level.The air volume decreases/increases to
the next lower/higher blower speed
and heating switches to the tempera-
ture that was set before the front de-
froster was switched on.
The indicator lamp on button|
goes out. The indicator lamp on
button9 comes on.
or
Turn temperature control1
and/or7 (
page 216) slightly in any
direction.
Heating switches to the temperature
that was set before the front defroster
was switched on.
The indicator lamp on button|
goes out. The indicator lamp on
button9 comes on.iKeep this setting selected only until the
windshield or the door windows are clear again.
iThe air conditioning compressor remains on
even if the indicator lamp in button| goes
out. This helps to prevent the windshield from
fogging.
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222 Controls in detail
Climate control
Deactivating
Press button| (page 216) once
more.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out. Defrosting is turned off.
The previous settings are in effect
again. The air conditioning compressor
remains switched on.Windshield fogged on the outside
Switch the windshield wipers on
(
page 63).
Press button| (page 216).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
The climate control switches automatically
to the following functions:

most efficient blower speed and
heating power, depending on outside
temperature

air flows onto the windshield and the
door windows (side air vents must be
open)

the air conditioning compressor
switches on at outside temperatures
above approximately 41°F (5°C) for
air-dryingIf the automatic air distribution is switched
off:
Press air distribution button9 ora
(
page 216).
Air recirculation mode
Switch to air recirculation mode to prevent
unpleasant odors from entering the vehicle
from the outside (e.g. before driving
through a tunnel). This setting cuts off the
intake of outside air and recirculates the
air in the passenger compartment.
iTo switch off, you can also press
button´ orU (
page 216).
iKeep this setting selected only until the
windshield is clear again.
Warning!G
Fogged windows impair visibility,
endangering you and others. If the windows
begin to fog on the inside, switching off the
air recirculation mode immediately should
clear interior window fogging. If interior win-
dow fogging persists, make sure the air
conditioning (
page 216) is activated, or
press button|.
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223 Controls in detail
Climate control
Activating
Press button: (page 216).
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.DeactivatingPress button:.
The indicator lamp on the button goes
out.Air recirculation mode with conve-
nience closing and opening feature
iThe air recirculation mode is activated auto-
matically at high outside temperatures.
The indicator lamp on button: is not lit when
the air recirculation mode is switched on auto-
matically.
A quantity outside air is added after
approximately 30 minutes.
If you have turned off the air conditioning
(
page 224) or the outside temperature is
below 41°F (5°C), the air recirculation mode will
not switch on automatically.
iTo cool the interior as fast as possible, the
climate control automatically switches to air
recirculation. The indicator lamp on button:
is not lit when the air recirculation mode has
been switched on automatically.
iThe air recirculation mode is deactivated
automatically

after 5 minutes if the outside temperature is
below approximately 41°F (5°C)

after 5 minutes if the air conditioning and
air-drying is turned off

after 30 minutes if the outside temperature
is above approximately 41°F (5°C)
Warning!G
Never operate the windows and tilt/sliding
sunroof* if there is the possibility of anyone
being harmed by the opening or closing pro-
cedure.
When using the air recirculation mode with
convenience closing feature, should the up-
ward movement of a window be blocked by
some obstruction including but not limited
to arms, hands, fingers, etc., the automatic
reversal feature will not operate.
In case the procedure causes potential
danger:
Vehicles with or without tilt/sliding sun-
roof*: The closing of the windows can be im-
mediately halted by pressing or pulling the
respective window switch. The closing of the
tilt/sliding sunroof* can be immediately
halted by moving the switch for the tilt/slid-
ing sunroof* in any direction.

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