2009 MERCEDES-BENZ GL SUV warning light

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 front air-
bag will not deploy during an accident. It is
also possible that the 6SRS warning lamp
lights up and/or the 4PASSENGER AIR-
BAG OFF warning lamp does not light up
briefly when you turn the key in the ignition
lock to position 2.
Suitable positioning of the child restraint system Weight categories and ages Group 0: up to 10 kg
Up to approximately
9 months Group 0+: up to 13 kg
up to approximately
18 months
Child restraint system on the
front-passenger seat Vehicles with automatic
child seat recognition* on
the front-passenger seat: as
recommended
4 Vehicles with automatic
child seat recognition* on
the front-passenger seat:
as recommended
4 Child restraint system on the
left-hand and right-hand rear
seats and the third row of
seats*. Universal Universal
Child restraint system on the
centre rear seat - -
Weight categories and ages Group I: 9 to 18 kg
between approximately
8 months and 4 years Group II/III: 15 to 36 kg;
between approximately
3½ and 12 years
Child restraint system on the
front-passenger seat As recommended
5 As recommended
5 Child restraint system on the
left-hand and right-hand rear
seats and the third row of
seats*. Universal Universal
Child restraint system on the
centre rear seat Britax-Römer DUO PLUS Britax-Römer KID
4
Only use child restraint systems with automatic child seat recognition.
5 If you are using a child restraint system without automatic child seat recognition, move the front-passenger
seat to its rearmost position. 44
Occupant safetySafety
* optional
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effect. However, braking force is not auto-
matically increased in emergency braking sit-
uations and the stopping distance may
increase. Adaptive brake lamps
i Adaptive brake lamps are only available in
certain countries.
If you brake sharply from a speed of more
than 25 km/ho r if braking is assisted by BAS,
the brake lamps flash rapidly. In this way,
traffic travelling behind you is warned in an
even more noticeable manner.
If you brake sharply from a speed of more
than 70 km/h to a standstill, the hazard warn-
ing lamps are activated automatically. If the
brakes are applied again, the brake lamps
light up continuously. The hazard warning
lamps switch off automatically if you travel
faster than 10 km/h. You can also switch off
the hazard warning lamps using the hazard
warning switch button (Y page 81).ESP
®
(Electronic Stability Program)
ESP ®
monitors driving stability and traction,
i.e. power transmission between tyres and
the road surface.
If ESP ®
detects that the vehicle is deviating
from the direction desired by the driver, one
or more wheels are braked to stabilise the
vehicle. If necessary, the engine output is also
modified to keep the vehicle on the desired
course within physical limits. ESP ®
assists
the driver when pulling away on wet or slip-
pery roads. ESP ®
can also stabilise the vehi-
cle during braking.
When ESP ®
intervenes, the dwarning
lamp flashes in the instrument cluster. G
Risk of accident
If the d warning lamp in the instrument
cluster flashes, proceed as follows: R
do not deactivate ESP ®
under any circum-
stances.
R only depress the accelerator pedal as far as
necessary when pulling away.
R adapt your driving style to suit the prevail-
ing road and weather conditions.
Otherwise, the vehicle could skid.
ESP ®
cannot reduce the risk of an accident if
you drive too fast. ESP ®
cannot override the
laws of physics.
! Only operate the vehicle briefly (for a max-
imum of ten seconds) on a brake dyna-
mometer. Turn the key in the ignition lock
to position 0or 1. You could otherwise
damage the drive train or the brake system.
! A function or performance test should
only be carried out on a twin-axle dyna-
mometer. If you wish to operate the vehicle
on such a dynamometer, please consult a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre in advance.
You could otherwise damage the drive train
or the brake system.
i Only use wheels with the recommended
tyre sizes. Only then will ESP ®
function
properly.
ESP ®
trailer stabilisation If your trailer begins to lurch, you can only
stabilise the vehicle/trailer combination by
depressing the brake firmly.
In this situation, ESP
®
assists you and can
detect when the trailer begins to lurch.
ESP ®
slows the vehicle down by braking and
limiting the engine output until the vehicle/
trailer combination has stabilised.
Trailer stabilisation is active above speeds of
about 65 km/h. G
Risk of accident
If road and weather conditions are poor,
trailer stabilisation will not be able to prevent Driving safety systems
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the trailer from swerving and will thus be
unable to reduce the risk of an accident. Trail-
ers with a high centre of gravity can tip over
before ESP ®
can detect this.
Trailer stabilisation does not work if ESP ®
is
deactivated or disabled because of a mal-
function.
Activating/deactivating ESP ®ESP
®
is activated automatically when the
engine is running.
It may be best to deactivate ESP ®
in the fol-
lowing situations:
R when using snow chains
R in deep snow
R on sand or gravel G
Risk of accident
Activate ESP ®
as soon as the situations
described above no longer apply. ESP ®
will
otherwise not be able to stabilise the vehicle
if the vehicle starts to skid or a wheel starts
to spin.
If you deactivate ESP ®
:
R ESP ®
no longer improves driving stability.
R the engine's torque is no longer limited and
the drive wheels can spin. Spinning of the
wheels results in a cutting action, which
provides better grip.
R traction control is still activated.
R ESP ®
still provides support when you
brake.
i If ESP ®
is deactivated and one or more
wheels start to spin, the dwarning lamp
in the instrument cluster flashes. In such
situations, ESP ®
will not stabilise the vehi-
cle. X
To deactivate: press button:.
The d warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up. G
Risk of accident
If the d warning lamp in the instrument
cluster is continuously lit when the engine is
running, ESP ®
is deactivated or not available
due to a malfunction. There is an increased
risk of your vehicle skidding in certain situa-
tions.
You should always adapt your driving style to
suit prevailing road and weather conditions.
X To activate: press button :.
The d warning lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out.
Off-road ESP ® An ESP
®
system specifically suited to off-road
terrain is activated automatically if the LOW
RANGE off-road gear (Y page 114) is selec-
ted. It intervenes with a delay if there is over-
steering or understeering, thus improving
traction. EBV (electronic brake force distribu-
tion)
EBV monitors and controls the brake pres-
sure on the rear wheels to improve driving
stability when braking. 52
Driving safety systemsSafety
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G
Risk of accident
If EBV is malfunctioning, the brake system is
still available with full brake boosting effect.
However, the rear wheels can still lock, e.g.
under full braking. This could cause you to
lose control of your vehicle and cause an acci-
dent. You should therefore adapt your driving
style to the different handling characteristics. 4ETS (Electronic Traction System)
4ETS makes it possible to pull away or accel-
erate on a slippery surface. It brakes the
wheels individually if they start to spin.
The d warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up briefly when the engine is
started. This indicates that the warning lamp
is operational.
X Activate the LOW RANGE off-road gear
(Y page 114) if appropriate to driving con-
ditions.
The d warning lamp in the instrument
cluster flashes at any speed if at least one tyre
has exceeded its tyre grip limit. G
Risk of accident
If the d warning lamp in the instrument
cluster flashes, proceed as follows:
R only depress the accelerator pedal as far as
necessary when pulling away.
R accelerate less when driving.
R adapt your driving style to suit the prevail-
ing road and weather conditions.
Otherwise, the vehicle could skid.
If you drive too fast, 4ETS cannot reduce the
risk of an accident. 4ETS cannot override the
laws of physics.
! Only operate the vehicle briefly (for a max-
imum of ten seconds) on a brake dyna-
mometer. Turn the key in the ignition lock
to position 0or 1. You could otherwise
damage the drive train or the brake system. !
A function or performance test should
only be carried out on a twin-axle dyna-
mometer. If you wish to operate the vehicle
on such a dynamometer, please consult a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre in advance.
You could otherwise damage the drive train
or the brake system.
i If the brakes are subjected to heavy loads,
4ETS switches off automatically for a brief
period so that the brakes do not heat up
further. If, for this reason, 4ETS does not
engage, the dwarning lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up. The message
ABS, ESP unavailable see Owner's
Manual also appears in the multi-function
display.
! The engine must be off when the parking
brake is being checked on the brake dyna-
mometer. Application of the brakes via
4ETS may otherwise destroy the braking
system.
Off-road terrain-4ETS (Electronic Trac-
tion System) A 4ETS system specifically suited to off-road
terrain is activated automatically if the LOW
RANGE* off-road gear is selected
(Y page 114). Distance warning function* (vehicles
with Distronic*)
This function will issue a warning at speeds of
around 30 km/h or more if:
R for a period of several seconds, the dis-
tance to the vehicle in front is too short for
the speed at which you are travelling. The
· distance warning lamp in the instru-
ment cluster will light up.
R you are approaching the vehicle in front too
rapidly. An intermittent warning tone will
then sound and the ·distance warning
lamp will light up in the instrument cluster. Driving safety systems
53Safety
* optional
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In order to maintain the appropriate distance
to the vehicle in front and thus prevent a
crash, you must apply the brakes yourself. G
Risk of accident
Pay particular attention to the traffic condi-
tions if the distance warning lamp ·in the
instrument cluster lights up or an intermittent
warning tone sounds.
If necessary, brake or manoeuvre to avoid an
obstacle.
X To activate/deactivate: activate or deac-
tivate the distance warning function in the
on-board computer (Y page 109).
After activation, the Äsymbol is dis-
played in the lower multi-function display.
For more information on the distance warning
function, see the Distronic section*
(Y page 119). Anti-theft systems
Immobiliser
The immobiliser prevents your vehicle from
being started without the correct key.
Activating the immobiliser X
With the key: remove the key from the
ignition lock.
X With KEYLESS GO*: press the start/stop
button on the dashboard.
The engine switches off.
Deactivating the immobiliser X
With the key: turn the key to position 2in
the ignition lock.
X With KEYLESS GO*: press the start/stop
button on the dashboard twice without
depressing the brake.
i The immobiliser is always deactivated
when you start the engine. ATA* (anti-theft alarm system)
A visual and audible alarm is triggered when
the alarm system is primed and you open:
R a door
R a door using the emergency key element
R the tailgate
R the bonnet
The alarm is not switched off even if you close
an open door again. X
To prime: lock the vehicle using the key.
On vehicles with KEYLESS GO*, the locking
button on the door handle can also be used.
Indicator lamp :flashes. The alarm sys-
tem is primed after approximately 10 sec-
onds.
X To deactivate: unlock the vehicle using the
key. On vehicles with KEYLESS GO*, you
can also unlock the vehicle by grasping the
door handle.
Deactivating the alarm X
With the key: insert the key into the igni-
tion lock.
The alarm is deactivated.
or
X Press the %or& button on the key.
The alarm is deactivated. 54
Anti-theft systemsSafety
* optional
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Seat-belt adjustment
The belt adjustment function adjusts the driv-
er's and front-passenger seat belt to the
upper body of the occupants. The belt strap
is tightened slightly when:
R
you engage the belt tongue in the buckle
and then turn the key to position 2in the
ignition lock.
R the key is in position 2in the ignition lock
and you then engage the belt tongue in the
buckle.
The seat-belt adjustment will apply a certain
tightening force if any slack is detected
between the occupant and the belt sash. The
belt should not be held during the adjust-
ment. You can switch the belt adjustment on
and off in the on-board computer
(Y page 108).
Unfastening the belt X
Press release button ?and guide belt
tongue ;back towards belt sash
guide :. Belt warning for driver and front
passenger
The 7 seat belt warning lamp in the instru-
ment cluster reminds you that all occupants
should fasten their seat belts. It is either lit
continuously or flashes. Additionally, there
may be a warning tone.
The 7 seat belt warning lamp goes out and
the warning tone ceases as soon as the driver
and front passenger have fastened their seat
belts.
For certain countries only: regardless of
whether the driver or the front passenger
already have their seat belt fastened, the
7 seat belt warning lamp lights up for six
seconds after the engine has been started. It
then goes out if both the driver and the front
passenger have fastened their seat belt. i
Further information about the 7seat
belt warning lamp (Y page 238). Belt height adjustment
You can adjust the seat belt height on the
driver's seat and the front-passenger seat.
Adjust the belt to a height that allows it to be
routed across the middle of your shoulder. X
To raise: slide the belt sash guide upwards.
The belt sash guide engages in various posi-
tions.
X To lower: press and hold release but-
ton :.
X Slide the belt sash guide downwards.
X Release release button :and make sure
that the belt sash guide has engaged. Seat belts
77Controls
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X
Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock.
X To switch on: turn the light switch to
L orT. If the light switch is set to
Ã, you cannot switch on the foglamp.
X Pull the light switch out to the first detent.
The green Nindicator lamp on the light
switch lights up.
X To switch off: press the light switch in as
far as it will go.
The green Nindicator lamp on the light
switch goes out.
Rear foglamp On vehicles with foglamps
X Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock.
X To switch on: turn the light switch to
L orT. When the light switch is set
to à you cannot switch on the rear fog-
lamp.
X Pull the light switch out to the second stop.
The R yellow indicator lamp on the light
switch lights up.
X To switch off: press the light switch in as
far as it will go.
The R yellow indicator lamp on the light
switch goes out.
On vehicles without foglamps
X Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock.
X To switch on: turn the light switch to
L. When the light switch is set to
à you cannot switch on the rear fog-
lamp.
X Pull the light switch out to the stop.
The R yellow indicator lamp on the light
switch lights up.
X To switch off: press the light switch in as
far as it will go.
The R yellow indicator lamp on the light
switch goes out. Main-beam headlamps X
Turn the ignition key to position 2in the
ignition lock or start the engine.
X Turn the light switch to Lorà 16
.
X To activate: press the combination switch
in the direction of arrow Epast the point
of resistance (Y page 80).
The K indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up.
X To deactivate: move the combination
switch back to its normal position.
The K indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out.
Turn signal lamp X
To indicate a minor change of direc-
tion: push the combination switch in the
direction of arrow ForH (Ypage 80).
The corresponding turn signal flashes three
times.
X To indicate: push the combination switch
in the direction of arrow ForH past the
point of resistance (Y page 80).
The corresponding turn signal indicator
lamp ! or# in the instrument clus-
ter flashes.
Hazard warning lamps 16
In the Ãposition, the main-beam headlamps are only switched on when it is dark. Lights
81Controls
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The hazard warning lamp switches on auto-
matically if:
R an airbag is deployed.
R the vehicle is braked to a standstill from a
speed of over 70 km/h.
The hazard warning lamps still operate if the
ignition is switched off.
X To switch on: press button:.
All turn signals flash.
X Hazard warning lights on one side: push
the combination switch in the direction of
arrow ForH past the point of resistance
(Y page 80).
The indicator lamp flashes on the corre-
sponding side of the vehicle.
X To switch off: press button:.
The hazard warning lamp switches off auto-
matically after full brake application if the
vehicle then reaches a speed of over
10 km/h again.
Intelligent Light System* (bi-xenon
headlamps*) The Intelligent Light System is a system which
adjusts the headlamps automatically to suit
the prevailing driving and weather conditions.
The bi-xenon headlamps offer enhanced func-
tions to improve illumination of the road sur-
face, e.g. depending on the vehicle speed or
weather conditions. The system includes the
active light function, motorway mode and
extended range foglamps. The system is only
active when it is dark.
You can activate or deactivate the "Intelligent
Light System" using the on-board computer
(Y page 106). Active light function The active light function is a system that
moves the headlamps according to the steer-
ing movements of the front wheels. In this
way, relevant areas remain illuminated while
driving. This allows you to recognise pedes-
trians, cyclists and animals.
Motorway mode
Motorway mode increases the range of the
beam.
Active:
R
If you are driving at speeds above
110 km/ha nd do not make any large steer-
ing movements for 1000 m.
R If you are driving at speeds above
130 km/h.
Motorway mode remains active unless your
speed drops speeds below 80 km/h.
Not active: if you are driving at speeds below
80 km/h. 82
LightsControls
* optional
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