2008 MERCEDES-BENZ GLK SUV service

Operating safety
Safety notes
G
Risk of accident and injury
Always have work on the vehicle carried out
by a qualified specialist workshop. In particu-
lar, work relevant to safety or on safety-rela-
ted systems as well as maintenance work
must be carried out at a qualified specialist
workshop. The workshop must have the nec-
essary specialist knowledge and tools to carry
out the work required. Mercedes-Benz rec-
ommends that you use a Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre for this purpose. G
Risk of accident and injury
Some safety systems only function when the
engine is running. You should therefore never
switch off the engine when driving. Otherwise,
the safety systems of your vehicle may not
function correctly and as a result will no lon-
ger protect you and other persons as inten-
ded. In addition, there is a risk that you may
lose control of your vehicle and thus cause an
accident. G
Risk of accident and injury
Work carried out incorrectly, or alterations
made to the vehicle, e.g. rerouting of cables
under coverings, could cause the safety sys-
tems of your vehicle to stop working properly.
The safety systems would thus no longer pro-
tect you and other persons as intended. In
addition, there is a risk that you may lose con-
trol of your vehicle and thus cause an acci-
dent.
All work and alterations to the vehicle, e.g.
installations or modifications, should there-
fore be carried out at a qualified specialist
workshop. G
Risk of accident
If you drive over obstacles at high speed or if
the vehicle bottoms out in rough terrain, it
could cause heavy impacts to the vehicle
underbody, tyres or wheels. This could cause your vehicle to be damaged, which in turn
might lead to an accident. This also applies to
vehicles which are equipped with underbody
protection.
You should therefore drive over obstacles
slowly and prevent the vehicle from bottom-
ing out when driving off-road. If necessary,
have your vehicle inspected at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop. G
Risk of accident
If work on electronic equipment and its soft-
ware is carried out incorrectly, the equipment
could stop functioning. The electronic sys-
tems are networked via interfaces. Tampering
with these electronic systems could cause
malfunctions in systems which have not been
modified. Such malfunctions can seriously
compromise the vehicle’s operating safety
and your own safety as well.
Have all work on and modifications to elec-
tronic components carried out at a qualified
workshop. Vehicle registration
Mercedes-Benz may ask its Service Centres
to carry out technical inspections on certain
vehicles to improve their quality or safety.
If you did not purchase your vehicle from an
authorised specialist dealer and your vehicle
has never been inspected at a Mercedes-
Benz Service Centre, it is possible that your
vehicle is not registered in your name with
Mercedes-Benz. Mercedes-Benz can only
inform you about vehicle checks if it has your
registration data.
It is advisable to register your vehicle with a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
Inform Mercedes-Benz as soon as possible
about any change in address or vehicle own-
ership. 18 Introduction
X204_AKB; 1; 5, en-GB
wobuchh,
Version: 2.11.4 2008-10-15T13:20:56+02:00 - Seite 18Dateiname: 6515_0671_02_buchblock.pdf; preflight

Occupant safety
Notes on occupant safety
Seat belts, together with belt tensioners, belt
force limiters and airbags, are complemen-
tary, coordinated restraint systems. They
reduce the risk of injury in specific, pre-
defined types of accident situations and,
thereby, increase occupant safety. However,
seat belts and airbags generally do not pro-
tect against objects penetrating the vehicle
from the outside.
To ensure that the restraint systems can
deliver their full potential protection, you
should ensure that:
R the seat and head restraint are adjusted
properly (Y page 62).
R the seat belt has been fastened properly
(Y page 70).
R the airbags can inflate properly if they are
deployed (Y page 37).
R the steering wheel is adjusted properly
(Y page 66).
R the restraint systems have not been modi-
fied.
i An airbag increases the protection of
vehicle occupants wearing a seat belt.
However, airbags are only an additional
restraint system which complements, but
does not replace, the seat belt. All vehicle
occupants must wear their seat belt cor-
rectly at all times, even if the vehicle is
equipped with airbags. This is because – on
the one hand – airbags are not deployed in
all types of accident, as in some situations
airbag deployment would not increase the
protection afforded to vehicle occupants,
provided they are wearing their seat belt
correctly. On the other hand, airbag deploy-
ment only provides increased protection if
the seat belt is worn correctly because: R
the seat belt helps to keep the vehicle
occupant in the best position in relation
to the airbag.
R for example, in a head-on collision, the
seat belt can more adequately prevent
the occupant from being propelled
towards the point of the impact, and is
thus better suited to prevent injury.
Therefore, in accident situations where an
airbag is deployed, it only provides protec-
tion in addition to the seat belt if the seat
belt is being worn correctly. G
Risk of accident and injury
Always have maintenance work carried out at
a qualified specialist workshop which has the
necessary specialist knowledge and tools to
carry out the work required.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you use a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre for this pur-
pose.
In particular, work relevant to safety or on
safety-related systems must be carried out at
a qualified specialist workshop. If this work is
not carried out correctly, the operating safety
of your vehicle may be affected. There is a risk
of an accident and injury. G
Risk of injury
The restraint system may not work as inten-
ded if the following components have been
modified or work on these components has
not been performed correctly:
R restraint system, consisting of the seat
belts and anchorages, belt tensioners, belt
force limiters, airbags
R wiring
R networked electronic systems
Airbags or belt tensioners could then fail, e.g.
in the event of an accident in which the decel-
eration force would normally be high enough
to trigger the systems, or they could be trig-
gered unintentionally. Never carry out any
modifications on the restraint systems. 34 Occupant safetySafety
X204_AKB; 1; 5, en-GB
wobuchh,
Version: 2.11.4 2008-10-15T13:20:56+02:00 - Seite 34Dateiname: 6515_0671_02_buchblock.pdf; preflight

have belt tensioners which have been trig-
gered replaced at a qualified specialist work-
shop.
Comply with safety regulations when dispos-
ing of belt tensioners. Any Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre can provide details of these
regulations.
Airbags Airbag deployment slows down and restricts
the movement of the vehicle occupant.
If the airbags are deployed, you will hear a
bang and a small amount of powder may also
be released. Only in rare cases will the bang
affect your hearing. The powder that escapes
does not generally constitute a health hazard.
The 6 warning lamp lights up.
The AIRBAG identification indicates the loca-
tion of the airbags. G
Risk of injury
Airbags provide additional protection; they
are not, however, a substitute for seat belts.
Observe the following notes to reduce the risk
of serious or even fatal injury if an airbag is
deployed:
R all vehicle occupants ― in particular preg-
nant women ― must wear their seat belt
correctly at all times and lean back against
the backrest, which should be positioned
as close to the vertical as possible. The
head restraint must support the back of the
head at about eye level.
R always secure children less than 1.50 m tall
or under 12 years of age in suitable child
restraint systems.
R all vehicle occupants must select a seat
position that is as far away from the airbag
as possible. The driver's seat position must
allow the vehicle to be driven safely. The
driver's chest should be as far away from
the middle of the driver's front airbag cover
as possible. R
move the front-passenger's seat as far
back as possible, especially if a child is
secured in a child restraint system on the
seat.
R vehicle occupants – in particular, children
– must not lean their head into the area of
the window in which the sidebag/window-
bag is deployed.
R rearward-facing child restraint systems
must not be fitted to the front-passenger's
seat unless the front-passenger front air-
bag has been disabled. The front-passenger
front airbag of a vehicle fitted with auto-
matic child seat recognition* is only disa-
bled when a child restraint system with
automatic child seat recognition is fitted to
the front-passenger's seat. The
4 PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF warning
lamp must be continuously lit.
If the front-passenger's seat of your vehicle
does not have automatic child seat recog-
nition*, or your rearward-facing child
restraint system does not have automatic
child seat recognition, children must be
secured in a child restraint system on a
suitable seat in the rear. If you secure a
forward-facing child restraint system to the
front-passenger's seat, you must move the
front-passenger's seat as far back as pos-
sible.
R make sure there are no heavy or sharp-
edged objects in pockets of clothing.
R do not lean forwards, e.g. over the cover of
the driver's/front-passenger front airbag,
particularly when the vehicle is in motion.
R do not put your feet on the dashboard.
R only hold the steering wheel by the rim. This
allows the airbag to inflate fully. You could
be injured if the airbag is deployed and you
are holding the inside of the steering wheel.
R do not lean on the doors from inside the
vehicle. Occupant safety
37Safety
* optional
X204_AKB; 1; 5, en-GB
wobuchh,
Version: 2.11.4 2008-10-15T13:20:56+02:00 - Seite 37 ZDateiname: 6515_0671_02_buchblock.pdf; preflight

(Y
page 43). This means that there is not a
child restraint system with automatic child
seat recognition* fitted to the front-
passenger seat or that a child restraint sys-
tem with automatic child seat recognition*
has been fitted to the front-passenger seat
incorrectly.
Driver's knee airbag
i The driver's knee airbag is only available
in certain countries.
The driver's knee airbag can help reduce the
risk of injury to the knees, thighs and lower
legs. Driver's knee airbag
:is always deployed
along with the driver's front airbag and
inflates underneath the steering column.
Sidebags G
Risk of injury
If you wish to use seat covers, Mercedes-Benz
recommends that, for safety reasons, you
only use seat covers that have been approved
for Mercedes-Benz vehicles.
The seat covers must have a special tear seam
for sidebags. Otherwise, a head/thorax air-
bag cannot deploy correctly and would fail to
provide the intended protection in the event
of an accident. Appropriate seat covers can
be obtained from a Mercedes-Benz Service
Centre. G
Risk of injury
Sensors to control the airbags are located in
the doors. Therefore, do not make any modi- fications to the doors or door trims, e.g. ret-
rofitting loudspeakers. Damage to the doors
can affect operation of the sidebags.
The purpose of sidebag deployment is to
enhance the level of protection for the thorax
(but not the head, neck or arms) of the vehicle
occupants on the side of the vehicle on which
the impact occurs. Front sidebags
:and rear sidebags*;
deploy next to the outer seat cushion. They
are deployed:
R on the side on which an impact occurs
R at the start of an accident with a high rate
of lateral vehicle deceleration or accelera-
tion, e.g. in a side impact
R independently of the seat belt use
R independently of the front airbags
R independently of the belt tensioners
Windowbags
The purpose of the windowbags is to enhance
the level of protection for the head (but not
chest or arms) of the vehicle occupants on
the side of the vehicle on which the impact
occurs.
The windowbags are integrated into the side
of the roof frame and run from the front door
(A-pillar) to the rear door (C-pillar). Occupant safety
39Safety
* optional
X204_AKB; 1; 5, en-GB
wobuchh, Version: 2.11.4
2008-10-15T13:20:56+02:00 - Seite 39 ZDateiname: 6515_0671_02_buchblock.pdf; preflight

cannot provide the intended level of protec-
tion. Do not use head restraint covers.
If the NECK-PRO head restraints are triggered
in an accident, you must reset the head
restraints on the driver's and front-passenger
seats (Y page 215). Head restraints that have
been triggered are tilted forwards. Children in the vehicle
If a child is travelling in your vehicle, secure
the child using a child restraint system which
is appropriate to the size and age of the child
and is recommended for Mercedes-Benz
vehicles. You should fit the restraint system
to a suitable rear seat. Ensure that the child
is secured throughout the trip.
You can obtain information about the correct
child restraint system from any Mercedes-
Benz Service Centre.
i It is advisable to use Mercedes-Benz care
products to clean child restraint systems.
Information about this can be obtained
from any Mercedes-Benz Service Centre. G
Risk of injury
Do not leave children unsupervised in the
vehicle, even if they are secured in a child
restraint system. Children could injure them-
selves on parts of the vehicle. They could also
be seriously or even fatally injured by pro-
longed exposure to extreme heat or cold.
Do not expose the child restraint system to
direct sunlight. Parts of the child restraint sys-
tem could heat up and the child could burn
herself/himself on them.
If a child opens a door, the child or other per-
sons could be injured as a result. The child
could get out and be injured in the process or
be injured by a passing vehicle. G
Risk of injury
An unsecured or an incorrectly positioned
load increases the risk of injury for the child
and all other occupants, during:
R an accident
R a braking manoeuvre
R a sudden change of direction
Do not carry heavy or hard objects inside the
vehicle unless they are secured. You will find
further information under "Loading guide-
lines" in the index.
Child restraint systems Mercedes-Benz recommends that you only
use the child restraint systems listed under
(Y
page 46). G
Risk of injury
To reduce the risk of serious or even fatal
injury to the child in the event of a sudden
change in direction, braking or an accident:
R children less than 1.50 m tall and under
twelve years of age must always be secured
in special child restraint systems on a suit-
able vehicle seat. This is necessary
because the seat belts are not designed for
children of this size.
R do not secure children less than 1.50 m tall
or under twelve years of age on the front-
passenger seat. Exception: the vehicle is
equipped with automatic child seat recog-
nition on the front-passenger seat* and the
child is secured in a child restraint system
with automatic child seat recognition.
R if you secure a forward-facing child
restraint system to the front-passenger
seat, you must move the front-passenger
seat as far back as possible.
R children must never travel sitting on the lap
of another occupant. Due to the forces
occurring in the event of a sudden change
of direction, heavy braking or an accident,
it would not be possible to restrain the Occupant safety
41Safety
* optional
X204_AKB; 1; 5, en-GB
wobuchh,
Version: 2.11.4 2008-10-15T13:20:56+02:00 - Seite 41 ZDateiname: 6515_0671_02_buchblock.pdf; preflight

4
PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF warning
lamp is not lit.
To draw attention to this danger, a corre-
sponding warning sticker on the dashboard
and on both sides of the sun visor on the front-
passenger side.
Information about recommended child
restraint systems is available at any
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
Automatic child seat recognition on the
front-passenger seat*
If your vehicle does not have automatic child
seat recognition on the front-passenger seat,
this is indicated by a special sticker. The
sticker is affixed to the side of the dashboard
on the front-passenger side. It is visible when
you open the front-passenger door. The front-passenger seat sensor system for
child restraint systems detects whether a
special Mercedes-Benz child seat with auto-
matic child seat recognition has been fitted.
In such cases, 4PASSENGER AIRBAG
OFF indicator lamp :lights up. The front-
passenger airbag is disabled. G
Risk of injury
If the 4 PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF warning
lamp does not light up when the child restraint
system is fitted, the front-passenger front air-
bag has not been disabled. If the front-
passenger front airbag is deployed, the child
could be seriously or even fatally injured. Proceed as follows:
R
do not use a rearward-facing child restraint
system on the front-passenger seat.
R fit a rearward-facing child restraint system
on a suitable rear seat.
or
R only use a forward-facing child restraint
system on the front-passenger seat and
move the front-passenger seat to its rear-
most position.
R have the automatic child seat recognition
checked at a qualified specialist workshop.
To ensure that the automatic child seat rec-
ognition on the front-passenger seat func-
tions correctly, never place objects (such as
a cushion) under the child restraint system.
The entire base of the child restraint system
must always rest on the seat cushion. An
incorrectly fitted child restraint system can-
not perform its intended protective function
in the event of an accident, and could lead to
injuries.
i The windowbag, the sidebag and the belt
tensioner on the front-passenger side are
still active even when the front-passenger
front airbag is disabled. G
Risk of injury
Do not place items of electronic equipment
on the front-passenger seat, e.g.:
R laptops, when switched on
R mobile phones
R cards with transponders, e.g. ski passes or
access cards
Signals from electronic equipment can cause
interference in the automatic child seat rec-
ognition sensor system. This could lead to a
system malfunction. This may cause the
4 PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF warning lamp
to light up without there being a child seat
with automatic child seat recognition fitted.
This means that the front-passenger airbag
does not deploy during an accident. It is also Occupant safety
43Safety
* optional
X204_AKB; 1; 5, en-GB
wobuchh,
Version: 2.11.4 2008-10-15T13:20:56+02:00 - Seite 43 ZDateiname: 6515_0671_02_buchblock.pdf; preflight

g
To remove the key
1 Power supply for some consumers, such
as the windscreen wipers
2 Ignition (power supply for all consumers)
and drive position
3 To start the engine
i Even if the key is not for the vehicle in
question, it will still turn in the ignition lock.
The ignition is not switched on. The engine
cannot be started. Seats
Points to remember
For information about folding the rear bench
seat forwards, see the "Luggage compart-
ment enlargement" section (Y page 132).
Depending on the vehicle's equipment, the
seats can adjusted either manually/electri-
cally or electrically*. G
Risk of injury
The seats can still be adjusted when there is
no key in the ignition lock. For this reason,
children should never be left unsupervised in
the vehicle. They could become trapped when
adjusting a seat. G
Risk of accident
Only adjust the driver's seat when the vehicle
is stationary. You will otherwise be distracted
from the road and traffic conditions and you
could lose control of the vehicle as a result of
the seat moving. This could cause an acci-
dent. G
Risk of injury
Make sure that nobody can become trapped
when you adjust the seat.
Observe the notes concerning the airbag sys-
tem.
Secure children as recommended; see "Chil-
dren in the vehicle" section. G
Risk of injury
Make sure that the central area of the head
restraint supports the back of your head at
about eye level. You could seriously injure
your neck if your head is not correctly sup-
ported by the head restraint in the event of an
accident. Never travel without a correctly
adjusted and engaged head restraint.
! When you move the seats, make sure that
there are no objects in the footwell or
behind the seats. Otherwise, you could
damage the seats and the objects.
i The head restraints in the front seats are
fitted with the NECK-PRO system
(Y page 40). For this reason, it is not pos-
sible to remove the head restraints from
the front seats.
The rear-compartment head restraints can
be removed (Y page 64).
Please contact a Mercedes-Benz Service
Centre for more information. Adjusting the seats manually and
electrically
Seat fore-and-aft adjustment
X
Lift handle ?and slide the seat forwards
or backwards.
X Release handle ?again.
Make sure that you hear the seat engage
into position. 62 SeatsControls
* optional
X204_AKB; 1; 5, en-GB
wobuchh,
Version: 2.11.4 2008-10-15T13:20:56+02:00 - Seite 62Dateiname: 6515_0671_02_buchblock.pdf; preflight

neck or under your arm – and pulled tight
against your upper body. The lap belt must
always pass across your lap as low down as
possible, i.e. over your hip joints – not
across your abdomen. If necessary, push
down the belt strap slightly and then
retighten it in the roll-up direction.
R Do not route the belt strap across sharp or
fragile objects, especially if these are loca-
ted on or in your clothing, e.g. spectacles,
pens, keys, etc. The seat belt strap could
be damaged and tear in an accident, and
you or other vehicle occupants could be
injured.
R Only one person should use each seat belt
at any one time. Children must never travel
sitting on the lap of other occupants. It
would not be possible to restrain the child
in the event of a sudden change in direc-
tion, braking or an accident. This could
result in severe or even fatal injuries to the
child and other occupants.
R Persons less than 1.50 m tall cannot wear
the seat belts correctly. For this reason,
secure persons less than 1.50 m tall in spe-
cially designed, suitable restraint systems.
R Children less than 1.50 m tall or under
12 years of age cannot wear the seat belts
properly. Therefore, they always should be
secured in a suitable child restraint system
on a suitable vehicle seat. You can find
more information under "Children in the
vehicle" in the "Safety" section of the Own-
er's Manual. Follow the manufacturer's
installation instructions when fitting the
child restraint system.
R Do not secure any objects with a seat belt
if the seat belt is also being used by one of
the vehicle's occupants. G
Risk of injury
The seat belt does not offer the intended level
of protection unless the backrest is almost
vertical. Under certain circumstances, this
could cause severe or even fatal injuries. Before starting a journey, make sure that the
seat is properly adjusted and that the back-
rest is almost vertical.
G
Risk of injury
A dirty or damaged seat belt or a seat belt that
has been subjected to a load in an accident
or modified no longer offers the intended level
of protection. Under certain circumstances,
this could cause severe or even fatal injuries.
For this reason, check regularly that the seat
belts are not damaged or dirty.
Always have damaged seat belts or seat belts
that have been subjected to a load in an acci-
dent replaced at a qualified specialist work-
shop. Consult a qualified specialist workshop
which has the necessary specialist knowledge
and tools to carry out the work required.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you use a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre for this pur-
pose.
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you only use seat belts which have
been approved by Mercedes-Benz for your
vehicle. Seat belts
71Controls
X204_AKB; 1; 5, en-GB
wobuchh, Version: 2.11.4 2008-10-15T13:20:56+02:00 - Seite 71 ZDateiname: 6515_0671_02_buchblock.pdf; preflight