2008 MERCEDES-BENZ GL550 545

Contents
Replacing wiper blades ...................... 516
Front wiper blades ....................... 516
Rear wiper blade .......................... 517
Flat tire .............................................. 519
Preparing the vehicle.................... 519
Mounting the spare wheel ............ 520
Bleeding the fuel system
(diesel engine only) ............................ 527
Battery ............................................... 528
Disconnecting, removing,
reinstalling and
reconnecting the battery .............. 530
Charging the battery .................... 535
Jump starting ..................................... 536
Towing the vehicle ............................. 538
Installing towing eye bolt.............. 540
Stranded vehicle .......................... 542
Fuses ................................................. 543
Fuse box in engine compartment . 544
Fuse box in cargo compartment ... 544
Fuse box in
passenger compartment .............. 545
Emergency engine shut-down ...... 545
Technical data................................. 547
Parts service ...................................... 548
Warranty coverage............................. 549
Loss of Service and Warranty
Information Booklet ..................... 549
Identification labels ........................... 550
Layout of poly-V-belt drive ................. 552
GL 320 CDI .................................. 552
GL 450, GL 550............................ 552
Engine................................................ 553
Rims and tires.................................... 555
Same size tires ............................. 556
Minispare wheel ........................... 558
Electrical system ............................... 559
Main Dimensions ............................... 560
Weights.............................................. 561Fuels, coolants, lubricants ................. 562
Capacities .................................... 562
Engine oils ................................... 564
Engine oil additives ...................... 564
Air conditioning refrigerant .......... 564
Brake fluid.................................... 564
Premium unleaded gasoline
(gasoline engine).......................... 565
Fuel requirements ........................ 565
Gasoline additives
(gasoline engine).......................... 566
Coolants ...................................... 567
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system*......... 569
Index................................................. 571
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68 Getting started
Parking and locking
Step firmly on parking brake pedal1.
When the engine is running, the
warning lamp; (USA only) or3
(Canada only) in the instrument cluster
comes on.
Switching off headlamps
Turn the exterior lamp switch toM
(
page 61).
For more information, see “Lighting”
(
page 143).
Turning off the engine
Shift the automatic transmission to
positionP (
page 191).
Apply the parking brake (page 67).
Warning!G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
from the starter switch, take it with you and
lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unat-
tended in the vehicle, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. Children could release the
parking brake and/or shift the automatic
transmission out of positionP, either of
which could result in an accident and/or
serious personal injury.
Warning!G
Getting out of your vehicle with the
automatic transmission not fully engaged in
positionP is dangerous. Also, when parked
on an incline, positionP alone may not
prevent your vehicle from moving, possibly
hitting people or objects.
Always set the parking brake in addition to
shifting to positionP (
page 191).
When parked on an incline, also turn front
wheel towards the road curb.
iIf the engine cannot be turned off as
described, see “Emergency engine shut-down”
(
page 545).
Warning!G
Do not turn off the engine before the vehicle
has come to a complete stop. With the en-
gine not running, there is no power assis-
tance for the brake and steering systems. In
this case, it is important to keep in mind that
a considerably higher degree of effort is nec-
essary to brake and steer the vehicle.
iAlways set the parking brake in addition to
shifting the automatic transmission to positionP
(
page 191).
When parked on an incline, also turn front wheel
towards the road curb.
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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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545 Practical hints
Fuses
Fuse box in passenger compartment
The fuse box is located behind a cover in
the dashboard on the front passenger side.
1CoverOpening
Open the front passenger door.
Open the glove box (page 315).
Insert flat, blunt object as a lever into
the edge of the cover1 at the position
indicated by the arrow.
Loosen cover1 from dashboard using
lever.
Using your hands, pull cover1 out
and remove.
Closing
Hook cover1 into the opening at the
front.
Press cover1 back on until it engag-
es.
Emergency engine shut-down
If the engine cannot be turned off as de-
scribed in the “Getting started” section
(
page 68), you may use the following
emergency procedure.
Take the fuse chart from the vehicle
tool kit (
page 492).
Open the fuse box in engine compart-
ment (
page 544).
Remove fuse 120.
Find its location in the fuse chart.
!Do not use sharp objects such as a screw-
driver to open the fuse box cover1 in the dash-
board, as this could damage the fuse box cover
or the dashboard.
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577 Index
Emergency operation
Fuel filler flap 497
Locking/unlocking the vehicle 496,
497
Emergency operation
(Limp-Home Mode) 200
Emergency operations
Exit for third-row seats 132
Remote door unlock, Tele Aid 337
Tailgate, Opening from the inside
manually 122
Emergency Tensioning Device see ETD
Emergency, In case of
Battery, Jump starting 536
Engine shut-down 545
First aid kit 490
Flat tire 519
Fuses 543
Hazard warning flasher 149
Instrument cluster, Indicator
lamps 436, 437, 438, 439, 440,
441, 442, 443, 444, 446
Roadside Assistance 12, 335
Towing the vehicle 538Emission control 372
Information label 551
System warranties 10
Engine
Belt layout (GL 450, GL 550) 552
Belt layout (GL 320 CDI) 552
Break-in recommendations 380
Cleaning 427
Compartment 378
Emergency engine shut-down 545
Malfunction indicator lamp 29
Maximum engine speed 153, 553
Number 551
Starting 56
Starting with KEYLESS-GO* 57
Starting with the SmartKey 57
Tachometer 29, 153
Technical data 553
Turning off with KEYLESS-GO* 69
Turning off with the SmartKey 69Engine coolant see Coolant
Engine oil 380, 564
Adding 381, 564
Additives 564
Changing 381, 564
Checking level 380
Checking with the oil dipstick 380
Consumption 380
Filler neck 381
Recommended engine oils and oil
filters 564
Enhanced Off-road Package*
Vehicle level control 283
ESP
®27, 103
Four wheel electronic traction system
with ESP
®103
Messages in the multifunction
display 457, 458
Off-road-ESP
®106
Warning lamp 27, 441
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579 Index
Fuel consumption statistics
Since last reset 185
Since start 184
Fuel filler flap 374
Locking/unlocking 374
Opening 374
Opening in an emergency 497
Fuel tank
Capacity 563
Filler flap 374
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc. 562
Fuses 543
Fuse box in cargo compartment 544
Fuse box in engine compartment 544
Fuse box in passenger
compartment 545
Fuse chart 490
Replacing 543G
Garage door opener 338
Gasoline see Fuel
GAWR 416
Gear range
Automatic transmission 189, 197
Limiting 197
Shifting into optimal 199
Gear selector lever 25, 56, 189
Cleaning 433
Gearshift pattern for automatic
transmission 189
Messages in the multifunction
display 459
Position indicator 192, 197
Transmission position 192
Global locking/unlocking see Key,
SmartKey
Glove box 315
Good visibility 208Gross Axle Weight Rating see GAWR
Gross Trailer Weight see GTW
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating see GVWR
Gross Vehicle Weight see GVW
GTW 416
GVW 416
GVWR 416
H
Halogen headlamp see Headlamps
Hands-free microphone 34
Hard plastic trim items, cleaning 433
Hazard warning flasher 149
Head restraints 46, 133
Active head restraint 90, 133
Front seats, Adjusting 46
Rear seats 91
Rear seats, Adjusting 135
Rear seats, Removing and
installing 136
Headlamp aim
Adjusting 514
Headlamp cleaning system* 208, 383
Reservoir capacity 563
Headlamp shut-off delay see Delayed
shut-off, Exterior lamps
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585 Index
Off-road - 4-ETS 108
Off-road - ABS 102
Off-road - ESP
®106
Off-road driving
Checklist 357, 363
Crossing obstacles 361
Driving instructions for off-road
driving 355
Driving through water 360
Returning 363
Rules 356
Special driving features 356
Steep terrain 358
Off-road driving program (Vehicles without
enhanced off-road package*) 277
Oil level see Engine oil, Checking level
One-touch gearshifting 199
Operating safety 17
Operator’s Manual 10
Ornamental moldings, Cleaning 429
Outside temperature see Displays
Overdue maintenance service term 423
Overhead control panel 34
Oxidation catalyst (diesel engine) 371P
Paintwork code 550
Paintwork, Cleaning 426
Panic alarm 100
Panorama roof, Rear 212
Parcel net
Front passenger footwell 319
Front seat backrests 319
Parking 67, 350
On hills 67
Over things that burn, Potential
consequences 67, 371
Parking brake 59, 67
Lamps, Indicator and warning 437
Messages in the multifunction
display 468
Releasing 59
Parking lamps 505
Messages in the multifunction
display 480
Replacing bulbs 509
Parking position*
Exterior rear view mirrors 182, 209Parktronic* 31, 32, 288
Cleaning system sensors 430
Minimum distance 290
Range 289
Switching on/off 291
System malfunction 292
System sensors 289
System sensors, Cleaning 430
Warning indicators 25, 290
Parts service 548
PASS AIR BAG OFF indicator lamp see
Front passenger front air bag off
indicator lamp
Passenger compartment 370
Fuse box 545
Interior lighting 149
Interior rear view mirror 34
Parcel net in front passenger
footwell 319
Passenger safety see Occupant safety
Pedals 347
Phone see Telephone*
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