2011 MERCEDES-BENZ G-CLASS power steering

Brake fluid (notes) .........................280
Display messages ..........................171
High-performance brake system ....139
Important safety notes ..................137
Maintenance .................................. 138
Parking brake ........................ 135, 139
Warning lamp ................................. 183
Breakdown
see Accident (notes)
Brush guard ....................................... 207
Bulbs Backup lamp .................................. 101
Brake lamp .................................... 100
Cornering light function ...................98
fog lamps ......................................... 98
Overview .......................................... 97
rear fog lamp ................................. 101
Tail lamp ........................................ 100
Turn signal lamp .............................. 99
C
CAC (Customer Assistance Center) .........20
California
Important notice for retail
customers and lessees ....................18
Capacities
see Technical data
Care
Carpets .......................................... 226
Car wash ........................................ 221
Chrome parts ................................. 224
Display ........................................... 224
Gear or selector lever ....................225
Headlamps ..................................... 224
Matte finish ................................... 223
Notes ............................................. 220
Paint .............................................. 222
Plastic trim .................................... 225
Power washer ................................ 222
Rear view camera .......................... 224
Roof lining ...................................... 226
Seat belt ........................................ 226
Seat covers .................................... 225
Sensors ......................................... 224
Steering wheel ............................... 225
Tail pipes ....................................... 224
Trim strips ..................................... 225
Washing by hand ........................... 222
Wheels ........................................... 222
Windows ........................................ 223
Wiper blades .................................. 223
Wooden trim .................................. 225
Cargo compartment enlargement ... 194
Cargo tie down rings ......................... 196
CD player/CD changer Operating (on-board computer) .....161
Center console
Overview .......................................... 29
Central locking
Automatic locking (on-board
computer) ...................................... 165
SmartKey ......................................... 62
Changing bulbs
Headlamps ....................................... 96
Changing gears .................................. 123
Checklist After driving off-road ...................... 143
Before driving off-road ...................143
Checklist (off-road driving) .............. 143
Child-proof locks Rear doors ....................................... 54
Children
In the vehicle ................................... 49
Restraint systems ............................ 50
Child seat
Automatic recognition .....................39
Automatic recognition/air bag
deactivation, self-test ......................41
LATCH-type (ISOFIX ) child seat
anchors ............................................ 52
Special seat belt retractor ...............51
Top Tether ....................................... 53
Troubleshooting ............................... 42
Chrome parts (cleaning
instructions) ...................................... 224
Cigarette lighter ................................ 199
Climate control Activating/deactivating .................108
Activating/deactivating air-
recirculation mode .........................111
Controlling automatically ...............109
Cooling with air dehumidification ..108
Defrosting the windshield ..............110Index5ProCarManuals.com

Only shift the automatic transmission to
the desired drive position when the vehicle
is stationary.
Where possible, avoid spinning the drive
wheels when pulling away on slippery
roads. You could otherwise damage the
drive train.
! Avoid high engine speeds when the
engine is cold. The engine's service life
could otherwise be significantly shortened.
Do not use the engine's full performance
until it has reached operating temperature.
SmartKey positions
gTo remove the SmartKey1Power supply for some consumers, such
as the windshield wipers2Ignition (power supply for all consumers)
and drive position3To start the engine
i You can only remove the SmartKey if:
R the SmartKey is in position 0 in the
ignition lock.
R the automatic transmission selector
lever is in P.
As soon as the ignition is switched on, all the
indicator lamps in the instrument cluster light
up. If an indicator lamp does not go out after
the engine is started or if it lights up while the
vehicle is in motion, see ( Y page 183).
If the SmartKey is in position 0 in the ignition
lock for an extended period of time, it can no
longer be turned in the ignition lock. The
steering is then locked. To unlock, remove the
SmartKey and reinsert it into the ignition lock.
The steering is locked when you remove the
SmartKey from the ignition lock.XRemove the SmartKey when the engine is
switched off.
The starter battery could otherwise be
discharged.
If you cannot turn the SmartKey in the ignition
lock, the starter battery may not be charged
sufficiently.
XCheck the starter battery and charge if
necessary ( Y page 236).
or
XJump-start the vehicle ( Y page 238).
Starting the engine
Important safety notes
GWarning
Inhalation of exhaust gas is hazardous to your
health. All exhaust gas contains carbon
monoxide (CO), and inhaling it can cause
unconsciousness and possible death.
Do not run the engine in confined areas (such
as a garage) which are not properly ventilated.
If you think that exhaust gas fumes are
entering the vehicle while driving, have the
cause determined and corrected
immediately. If you must drive under these
conditions, drive only with at least one
window fully open at all times.
! Do not depress the accelerator pedal
when starting the engine.
Starting procedure
XShift the automatic transmission to
position P.
The transmission position display in the
multifunction display shows P.Driving117Driving and parkingZProCarManuals.com

Rturn the SmartKey in the ignition lock to
position 0 and remove the SmartKey from
the ignition lock.
R take the SmartKey with you and lock the
vehicle when leaving.
Switching off the engine
GWarning
Do not turn off the engine before the vehicle
has come to a complete stop. With the engine
not running, there is no power assistance for
the brake and steering systems. In this case,
it is important to keep in mind that a
considerably higher degree of effort is
necessary to brake and steer the vehicle.
GWarning!
Keep in mind that turning off the engine alone
only will shift AUTOTRONIC into neutral
position N automatically.
Always shift AUTOTRONIC into park position
P before turning off the engine.
Otherwise the vehicle could roll away which
could result in an accident and/or serious
personal injury.
XShift the transmission to position P.XTurn the SmartKey to position 0 in the
ignition lock and remove it.
The immobilizer is activated.XApply the parking brake firmly.
i The SmartKey can only be removed if the
automatic transmission is in position P.
Parking brake
GWarning
Engaging the parking brake while the vehicle
is in motion can cause the rear wheels to lock
up. You could lose control of the vehicle and
cause an accident. In addition, the vehicle's
brake lights do not light up when the parking
brake is engaged.
GWarning!
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch, take it with
you, and lock the vehicle. Do not leave
children unattended in the vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle. Children could
release the parking brake and/or shift the
automatic transmission out of park position
P , either of which could result in an accident
and/or serious personal injury.
XTo apply: pull parking brake ; up firmly.
When the engine is running, the $ (USA
only) or J (Canada only) indicator lamp
lights up in the instrument cluster.XTo release: depress the brake pedal and
keep it depressed.
The selector lever lock is released.XPull parking brake ; up firmly.XPress release button : on parking
brake ; and move the parking brake down
to the stop.
When the ignition is switched on or the
engine is running, the $ (USA only) or
J (Canada only) indicator lamp goes out
in the instrument cluster.
Parking up the vehicle
If you leave the vehicle parked up for longer
than four weeks, the battery may be damaged
by exhaustive discharge.
Parking135Driving and parkingZProCarManuals.com

pedals. You could then no longer brake or
accelerate. This could lead to accidents and
injury.
Rolling with the engine switched offGWarning!
There is no power assistance for the steering
and the brake when the engine is not running.
Steering and braking requires significantly
more effort and you could lose control of the
vehicle and cause an accident as a result.
Do not turn off the engine while the vehicle is
in motion.
Exhaust check
GWarning
Inhalation of exhaust gas is hazardous to your
health. All exhaust gas contains carbon
monoxide (CO), and inhaling it can cause
unconsciousness and possible death.
Do not run the engine in confined areas (such
as a garage) which are not properly ventilated.
If you think that exhaust gas fumes are
entering the vehicle while driving, have the
cause determined and corrected
immediately. If you must drive under these
conditions, drive only with at least one
window fully open at all times.
Certain engine systems are designed to keep
the level of poisonous components in exhaust
fumes within legal limits.
These systems only work at peak efficiency
when they are maintained exactly in
accordance with the manufacturer's
specifications. For this reason, all work on the
engine must be carried out only by qualified
and authorized Mercedes-Benz technicians.
The engine settings must not be changed in
any circumstances. Furthermore, all specific
service work must be carried out at regular
intervals and in accordance with the
Mercedes-Benz service requirements. Details
can be found in the Service Booklet.
Brakes
Important safety notesGWarning!
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift in
order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced vehicle
control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not prevent
this type of control loss.
Do not engage the transfer case in position
LOW when driving on ice or packed snow. At
speeds below 18 mph (30 km/h) vehicle
steering is adversely affected by the Off-road
ABS.
Downhill gradients
! On long and steep gradients, you must
reduce the load on the brakes by shifting
early to a lower gear. This allows you to take
advantage of the engine braking effect and
helps avoid overheating and excessive
wear of the brakes.
When you take advantage of the engine
braking effect, a drive wheel may not turn
for some time, e.g. on a slippery road
surface. This could cause damage to the
drive train. This type of damage is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz warranty.
Heavy and light loads
GWarning
Depressing the brake pedal constantly results
in excessive and premature wear to the brake
pads.
It may also cause the brakes to overheat,
seriously impairing their effectiveness. It may
then not be possible to stop the vehicle in
sufficient time to avoid an accident.
If the brakes have been subjected to a heavy
load, do not stop the vehicle immediately, but
drive on for a short while. This allows the
airflow to cool the brakes more quickly.
Driving tips137Driving and parkingZProCarManuals.com

Possible causes of malfunction:
R the on-board voltage is not within a
permissible voltage range.
R the temperature of the DC/AC converter is
temporarily too high.
R some small electronic devices have a
constant nominal power of less than
150 W, but a very high switch-on current.
In that case, there is a possibility that these
devices will not function properly as 115 V
socket : is not able to provide a high
enough current.
If indicator lamp ; still does not light up,
consult a qualified specialist workshop, e.g.
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
mbrace 15
Important safety notes
! A license agreement must exist in order
to activate the mbrace service. Make sure
that your system is activated and ready for
use, and press the E MB info call button
to register. If you cannot carry out any of
the steps mentioned, the system may not
be activated.
If you have any questions concerning
activation, please contact one of the
following service hotlines:
R USA: Response Center under
1-888-990-9007
R Canada: Customer Service under
1-888-923-8367
Shortly after successfully registering with the
mbrace service, a user ID and password will
be sent to you by post. You can use this
password to log in to the mbrace section
under "Owners Online" at http://
www.mbusa.com 16
.
The mbrace system is available if:
R it has been activated and is operational.
Activation requires an available mobile
phone network, a valid SIM card and a
service subscription to a surveillance
service provider.
R the battery is sufficiently charged.
R the corresponding mobile phone network
is available for transmitting data to the
Customer Center.
i Determining the location of the vehicle on
a map is only possible if there is sufficient
GPS reception and the vehicle position can
be forwarded to the Customer Center.
The mbrace system
The mbrace system provides three different
services:
R automatic and manual emergency call
R Roadside Assistance call
R MB Info call
To adjust the volume during an mbrace call,
proceed as follows:
XPress the W or X button on the
multifunction steering wheel.
or
XUse the COMAND volume controller.
You can find information and a description of
all available features under "Owners Online"
at http://www.mbusa.com 17
.
System self-test
After you have switched on the ignition, the
system carries out a self-diagnosis.
15 The system is called TELE AID in Canada.
16 USA only.
17 USA only.202FeaturesLoading, stowing and features
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Towing and tow-starting
Important safety notes
GWarning
If circumstances require towing the vehicle
with all wheels on the ground, always tow with
a tow bar if:
R the engine will not run
R there is a malfunction in the brake system
R there is a malfunction in the power supply
or the vehicle's electrical system
This is necessary to adequately control the
towed vehicle.
Prior to towing the vehicle with all wheels on
the ground, make sure the SmartKey is in
starter switch position 2.
If the SmartKey is left in starter switch
position 0 for an extended period of time, it
can no longer be turned in the switch. In this
case, the steering is locked. To unlock,
remove SmartKey from starter switch and
reinsert.
It is better to have the vehicle transported
than to have it towed.
! You may only tow the vehicle a maximum
distance of 30 miles (50 km). A towing
speed of 30 mph (50 km/h) must not be
exceeded.
For towing distances over 30 miles
(50 km), the vehicle must loaded onto a
transporter.
! Only secure the tow cable or tow bar to
the towing eyes. You could otherwise
damage the vehicle.
! Do not tow with sling-type equipment.
This could damage the vehicle.
! Do not use the towing eyes for recovery
purposes as this could damage the vehicle.
If in doubt, recover the vehicle with a crane.
! When towing, pull away slowly and
smoothly. If the tractive power is too high,
the vehicles could be damaged.
! Your vehicles is equipped with an
automatic transmission. Therefore, you
must not have the vehicle tow-started. The
transmission may otherwise be damaged.
If the transfer case can be shifted into neutral
N , you can tow the vehicle.
If the transfer case cannot be shifted into
neutral N, you can tow the vehicle with one
axle raised. Please bear the following in mind:
R remove the propeller shaft between the
transfer case and the rolling axle.
R turn the key to position 1 in the ignition
lock.
The battery must be connected and charged.
Otherwise, you:
R cannot turn the key in the ignition lock to
position 2
R cannot shift the automatic transmission to
position N
i Deactivate the automatic locking feature
( Y page 165) You could otherwise be
locked out when pushing or towing the
vehicle.
Towing eye
Towing eye, front
:Towing eyes, front
Towing eye, rear
The rear towing eye is located under the
bumper, on the left-hand side when viewed in
the direction of travel.
240Towing and tow-startingRoadside Assistance
ProCarManuals.com

:Towing eye, rear
Towing the vehicle with both axles on
the ground
It is important that you observe the safety
instructions when towing away your vehicle
( Y page 240).
GWarning
With the engine not running, there is no power
assistance for the brake and steering
systems. In this case, it is important to keep
in mind that a considerably higher degree of
effort is necessary to brake and steer the
vehicle. Adapt your driving accordingly.
XSwitch on the hazard warning lamps
( Y page 93).
i
When towing with the hazard warning
lamps switched on, use the combination
switch as usual to signal a change of
direction. In this case, only the turn signals
for the desired direction flash. When the
combination switch is reset, the hazard
warning lamps start flashing again.
XTurn the key to position 2 in the ignition
lock.XWhen the vehicle is stationary, depress the
brake pedal and keep it depressed.XShift the transfer case to neutral position
N (Y page 126).XShift the automatic transmission to
position N.XRelease the brake pedal.XRelease the parking brake.
i
The transmission can only change gear
when the battery has sufficient charge.
If you cannot move the selector lever to N,
you must remove the propeller shafts to the
driven axles.
Transporting the vehicle
Use the towing eyes to pull the vehicle if it
needs to be transported on a trailer or
transporter.
XTurn the key to position 2 in the ignition
lock.XMove the selector lever to N.XShift the transfer case to neutral position
N (Y page 126).
As soon as the vehicle is loaded:
XPrevent the vehicle from rolling away by
applying the parking brake.XShift the automatic transmission to
position P.XTurn the key in the ignition lock to position
0 and remove the key from the ignition
lock.XSecure the vehicle.
! Only lash the vehicle down by the wheels
or wheel rims, not by parts of the vehicle
such as axle or steering components.
Otherwise, the vehicle could be damaged.
Recovering a vehicle that has become
stuck
! Pull away smoothly, slowly, and in a
straight line when pulling out a vehicle that
has become stuck. Excessive tractive
power could damage the vehicles.
If the drive wheels get trapped on loose or
muddy ground, recover the vehicle with the
utmost care, especially so if the vehicle is
laden.
Towing and tow-starting241Roadside AssistanceZProCarManuals.com

CapacitiesVehicle modelCapacityFuel, coolant,
lubricants etc.Engine oil and
filterG 5509.5 US qt (9.0 l)Approved engine
oilsG 55 AMG9.0 US qt (8.5 l)Power steeringAll modelsApproximately 1.06 US qt
(1.0 l)MB power steering
fluid or approved
Dexron III ATFCooling systemG 550Approximately 12.8 US qt
(12.1 l)MB 325.0 corrosion
inhibitor/antifreeze
agentG 55 AMGApproximately 13.4 US qt
(12.7 l)Tank capacityG 55025.4 US gal (96.0 l)Premium-grade
unleaded gasoline
(at least 91 octane,
average value
between 96 RON/
86 MON)G 55 AMG25.1 US gal (95.0 l)ReserveAll modelsApproximately 5.3 US gal
(20.0 l)Air-
conditioning
systemAll models—Refrigerant R134a
and special PAG
lubricant (never
R 12)Windshield/
headlamp
cleaning
systemAll models7.4 US qt (7.0 l)MB windshield
washer
concentrate 25
( Y page 281)
Mixing ratio for
washer fluid
( Y page 281)Fuel
Important safety notesGWarning
Gasoline is highly flammable and poisonous.
It burns violently and can cause serious
personal injury.
Never allow sparks, flames or smoking
materials near gasoline.
Turn off the engine before refueling.
Whenever you are around gasoline, avoid
inhaling fumes and any skin or clothing
contact.25 Mixed with water or premixed washer fluid with antifreeze protection.Service products and capacities277Technical dataZProCarManuals.com