2008 MERCEDES-BENZ GL550 ECU

494 Practical hints
Where will I find ...?
Setting up the collapsible wheel chock
The collapsible wheel chock serves to ad-
ditionally secure the vehicle, e.g. while
changing the wheel.
1Tilt the plate upward
2Fold the lower plate outward
3Insert the plateTilt both plates upward1.
Fold the lower plate outward2.
Guide the tabs of the lower plate all the
way into the openings of base plate3.
For information on where to place wheel
chocks when changing a wheel, see “Lift-
ing the vehicle” (
page 520).
Spare wheel
Warning!G
The dimensions of the Minispare wheel are
different from those of the road wheels. As
a result, the vehicle handling characteristics
change when driving with a Minispare wheel
mounted. Adapt your driving style accord-
ingly.
The Minispare wheel is for temporary use
only. When driving with a Minispare wheel
mounted, ensure proper tire inflation
pressure and do not exceed a vehicle speed
of 50 mph (80 km/h).
Drive to the nearest Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center as soon as possible to have the
Minispare wheel replaced with a regular
road wheel.
Never operate the vehicle with more than
one spare wheel mounted.
Do not switch off the ESP
® when a
Minispare wheel is mounted.
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517 Practical hints
Replacing wiper blades
Installing
1Installing
2Tab
3Attachment
4Guide tab
5Cover
Slide the wiper blade into
attachment3 in direction of
arrow1.
Make sure guide tab4 will be placed
under cover5 when fully inserting the
wiper blade into attachment.
Let tab2 latch into both recesses of
attachment3.
Check if the wiper blade is securely
fastened.
Fold the wiper arm backward to rest on
the windshield.
Make sure you hold on to the wiper arm
when folding it back.
Rear wiper blade
Warning!G
For safety reasons, switch off wipers and
remove SmartKey from starter switch
(vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*: Make sure the
vehicle’s on-board electronics have
status
0) before replacing a wiper blade.
Otherwise the motor could suddenly turn on
and cause injury.
!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 rear
window.
Do not allow the wiper arm to contact the rear
window glass without a wiper blade inserted.
Make sure the wiper blade is properly installed.
Improperly installed wiper blades may cause
rear window damage.
For your convenience, we recommend that you
have this work carried out by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
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518 Practical hints
Replacing wiper blades
Removing
Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
Make sure the vehicle’s on-board
electronics have status0
(
page 44).
Fold wiper arm1 away from the rear
window until it engages.
1Wiper arm
2Wiper blade
Turn wiper blade2 to form a right
angle with wiper arm1 as shown.
Hold wiper arm1 and disengage wip-
er blade2 by carefully sliding it in
direction of arrow.
Remove wiper blade2.
Installing
1Wiper arm
2Wiper blade
Insert wiper blade2 into wiper
arm1.
Hold wiper arm1 and engage wiper
blade2 by pushing it in direction of
arrow until it locks into place.
Check whether the wiper blade is
securely fastened.
Fold the wiper arm to rest on the rear
window.
Make sure to hold on to the wiper when
folding the wiper arm back.
!Do not pull on the wiper blade insert. It
could tear.
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529 Practical hints
Battery
!The battery is a valve-regulated lead acid
(VRLA) battery, also referred to as “fleece” bat-
tery. Such batteries do not require topping-up of
the electrolyte level. VRLA batteries therefore do
not have cell caps and the battery cover is
non-removable. Do not attempt to open the bat-
tery as otherwise the battery will be damaged.
Even though VRLA batteries do not require top-
ping-up of the electrolyte level and cannot be
opened to check the electrolyte level, the bat-
tery condition must be checked periodically by
performing a battery conductance test. Refer to
Maintenance Booklet for battery condition test-
ing intervals.
As with any other battery, the battery may dis-
charge if the vehicle is not operated for an ex-
tended period of time. You can connect a battery
maintenance charge unit tested and approved
for use on your vehicle model or disconnect the
battery to prevent battery discharge. Contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center
for more information.!The factory-equipped VRLA battery is
leak-proofed. Only use a battery as replacement
that has the same security features and is of
identical size, voltage, and capacity as the
factory-equipped battery.
The battery, the battery ventilation hose
(
page 534) and the lateral plug (page 534)
must always be securely installed when the
vehicle is in operation.
Warning!G
Jump starting must only be done using the
jump-start contacts located in the engine
compartment (
page 536).
Warning!G
Failure to follow these instructions can re-
sult in severe injury or death.
Observe all safety instructions and precau-
tions when handling automotive batteries
(
page 528).
Never lean over batteries while connecting,
you might get injured.
Battery fluid contains sulfuric acid. Do not
allow this fluid to come in contact with eyes,
skin or clothing. In case it does, immediately
flush affected area with water and seek
medical help if necessary.
A battery will also produce hydrogen gas,
which is flammable and explosive. Keep
flames or sparks away from battery, avoid
improper connection of jumper cables,
smoking etc.
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534 Practical hints
Battery
Step 8 (Removing)
cBattery
Tilt the batteryc with the negative
terminal side upwards.
Take out the battery maintaining its
tilted position in the direction of the
arrow.Step 9 (Reinstalling)
Carry out step 8 in reverse order
(
page 534).
Battery, shown removed for illustration
9Battery ventilation hose
dVent plug
Carry out step 10 to reconnect the
battery (
page 534).
Follow steps 5 to 1 in reverse order to
completely reinstall the battery
(
page 533) to (page 530).
Step 10 (Reconnecting)
If the battery has been removed, first
carry out step 8 in reverse order
(
page 534).
Open the driver’s door.
Make sure all electrical consumers are
turned off.
Make sure the SmartKey is removed
from the starter switch.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
Make sure the vehicle’s on-board
electronics have status0 (Open the
driver’s door. With the driver’s door
open, the vehicle’s on-board elec-
tronics have status0, same as with
the SmartKey removed from the
starter switch (
page 41)).
!The battery, the battery ventilation hose9
and the lateral plugd (
page 534) must
always be securely installed when the vehicle is
in operation.
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541 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
1Cover
Example illustration front bumper
2Towing eye bolt
Removing cover
Press mark on cover1 as indicated by
the arrow.
Lift off cover1 to reveal the threaded
hole for towing eye bolt.Installing towing eye bolt
Take the towing eye bolt and wheel
wrench from the vehicle tool kit
(
page 490).
Screw towing eye bolt2 in clockwise
to its stop and tighten with wheel
wrench.
Removing towing eye bolt
Loosen towing eye bolt2 counter-
clockwise with wheel wrench.
Unscrew towing eye bolt2.
Store the towing eye bolt and wheel
wrench back into the vehicle tool kit
(
page 490).
Installing cover
Engage cover1 at top and press at
bottom.
Warning!G
In order to avoid possible serious burns or
injury, use extreme caution when removing
the rear cover, because the rear exhaust
pipe is extremely hot.
iCover1 is secured to the bumper by a
plastic cord.
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543 Practical hints
Fuses
Fuses
The electrical fuses in your vehicle serve to
switch off malfunctioning power circuits.
If a fuse is blown, the components and sys-
tems secured by that fuse will stop operat-
ing.If a newly inserted fuse blows again, have
the cause determined and rectified by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.
A fuse chart explains the fuse allocation
and fuse amperages. It is located in the
cargo compartment with the vehicle tool
kit (
page 490).
The electrical fuses are located in different
fuse boxes:

Fuse box in engine compartment
(
page 544)

Fuse box in cargo compartment
(
page 544)

Fuse box in passenger compartment
(
page 545)Before replacing fuses:
Apply parking brake (page 67).
Make sure the automatic transmission
is set toP (
page 191).
The gear position indicator in the multi-
function display should be on
P.
Turn off all electrical consumers.
Turn off the engine (page 41).
Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
Open the driver’s door (this puts
the starter switch in position0,
same as with the SmartKey re-
moved from the starter switch). The
driver’s door then can be closed
again.
Warning!G
Only use fuses approved by Mercedes-Benz
with the specified amperage for the system
in question and do not attempt to repair or
bridge a blown fuse. Using other than ap-
proved fuses or using repaired or bridged
fuses may cause an overload leading to a
fire, and/or cause damage to electrical
components and/or systems. Have the
cause determined and remedied by an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
iA blown fuse must be replaced by an appro-
priate spare fuse (recognizable by its color or the
fuse rating given on the fuse) of the amperage
recommended in the fuse chart. Any
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center will be glad to
advise you on this subject.
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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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