2011 MERCEDES-BENZ G550 battery

Rear-compartment overhead control panel
:p Switches the right-hand reading
lamp on/off;p Switches the left-hand reading lamp
on/off
Interior lighting control
Important notes
In order to prevent the vehicle's battery from
discharging, the interior lighting functions are
automatically deactivated after some time
except for when the SmartKey is in position
2 in the ignition lock.
Automatic interior lighting control
XTo switch on: set rocker switch = to the
center position.
The interior lighting switches on
automatically when it is dark if you:
R unlock the vehicle
R open a door
R remove the SmartKey from the ignition lock
The interior light is activated for a short while
when the SmartKey is removed from the
ignition lock. You can activate this delayed
switch-off using the on-board computer
( Y page 165).
When a front door is opened, the front interior
lighting comes on. When a rear door is
opened, the rear interior lighting comes on.
In addition, the courtesy lights come on.
i If a door remains open and the SmartKey
is not in the ignition lock, the interior
lighting switches off after a short while.XTo switch off: press the z symbol on
rocker switch =.
The interior lighting remain switched off even
when it is dark if you:
R unlock the vehicle
R open a door
R remove the SmartKey from the ignition lock
Manual control
Front interior lighting
! If the interior lighting has been switched
on manually, it will not be switched off
automatically.
This can cause the starter battery to
discharge.
Make sure that the interior lighting does
not remain switched on too long after the
engine has been switched off.
XTo switch on: press the c symbol on
rocker switch =.XTo switch off: set rocker switch = to the
center position.
Reading lamps
X To switch on/off: press the p button.
Cargo compartment lamp
GWarning!
To prevent possible personal injury, always
keep hands and fingers away from the cargo
compartment opening when closing the
tailgate. Be especially careful when small
children are around.
GWarning!
Make sure the tailgate is closed when the
engine is running and while driving. Among
other dangers, deadly carbon monoxide (CO)
gases may enter vehicle interior resulting in
unconsciousness and death.
Interior lighting95Lights and windshield wipersZ

! Switch off the cargo compartment lamp if
you wish to leave the rear door open for a
longer period. The battery may otherwise
discharge.XTo switch on/off: press the t button.
i
If you open the rear door, the cargo
compartment lamp comes on. Then, you
cannot switch it off using the t button.
Switch off the cargo compartment lamp if
you wish to leave the rear door open for a
longer period. This prevents the battery
from discharging.
XOpen the rear door.XTo switch off with the rear door open:
press lock : down in the direction of the
arrow until it engages.
The cargo compartment lamp is switched
off.
! Do not close the rear door while lock :
is engaged at the bottom. Otherwise, you
could damage lock :.
X To switch on with the rear door open:
press lock cylinder ;.
The cargo compartment lamp resumes its
normal function.
Rear interior lighting
XTo switch on/off: press the t button.
i
The rear interior lighting switches on
when you open a rear door. Then, you
cannot switch it off using the t button.
Switch off the rear interior lighting if you
wish to leave the rear doors open for a
longer period. This prevents the battery
from discharging.
Changing bulbs
Important safety notes
Xenon bulbs
GWarning
Xenon bulbs carry a high voltage. You could
get an electric shock and be seriously or even
fatally injured if you touch the electric
contacts on Xenon bulbs. Therefore, never
remove the cover from Xenon bulbs.
Do not change Xenon bulbs yourself, but have
them replaced 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 an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center for this
purpose. In particular, work relevant to safety
or on safety-related systems must be carried
out at a qualified specialist workshop.
Bulbs and lamps are an important aspect of
vehicle safety. You must therefore make sure
that these function correctly at all times.
Have the headlamp setting checked regularly.
Other bulbs
GWarning
Bulbs and lamps can be very hot. You should
therefore allow them to cool down before you
change them. Otherwise, you could be burned
if you touch them.
Keep bulbs out of the reach of children.
Otherwise, they could damage the bulbs, for
example, and injure themselves.
Never use a bulb which has been dropped.
Such a bulb may break or even explode and
injure you.
96Changing bulbsLights and windshield wipers

Otherwise, your vision may be impaired,
which could endanger you or others.
i At outside temperatures over
50 ‡ (10 †) the windshield defroster
cannot be switched on. Indicator lamp ;
lights up briefly when you attempt to
activate it and then goes out again.
i The windshield defroster has a high
current draw. You should therefore switch
it off as soon as the windshield is clear. The
windshield defroster switches off
automatically after ten minutes.
i If you switch on the windshield defroster
four times in a row, it switches off
automatically after five minutes.
i If too many electrical consumers are
switched on simultaneously and the
battery voltage is too low, indicator
lamp ; flashes in windshield defroster
switch :. After about 30 seconds the
windshield defroster switches off.
XTurn the key to position 2 in the ignition
lock.XPress button : on the windshield
defroster.
Indicator lamp ; lights up or goes out.Switching the rear window defroster
on/off
Activating/deactivatingGWarning
Any accumulation of snow and ice should be
removed from the rear window before driving.
Visibility could otherwise be impaired,
endangering you and others.
The rear window defroster has a high current
draw. You should therefore switch it off as
soon as the window is clear as it only switches
off automatically after several minutes.
If the battery voltage is too low, the rear
window defroster may switch off.
XTurn the key to position 2 in the ignition
lock.XTo switch on, press the ª9
or | 10
button.
The indicator lamp in the ª9
or | 10
button goes off.
Problems with the rear window
defroster
When the indicator lamp in the ª rear
window defroster button flashes, the on-
board voltage is too low. The rear window
defroster has deactivated itself prematurely
or cannot be activated.
XSwitch off any consumers that are not
required, e.g. reading lamps or interior
lighting.
When the battery is sufficiently charged,
the rear window defroster is activated
again automatically.
Activating/deactivating air-
recirculation mode
You can deactivate the flow of fresh air if
unpleasant odors are entering the vehicle
9 USA only.
10 Canada only.Operating the climate control system111Climate controlZ

from outside. The air already inside the
vehicle will then be recirculated.GWarning!
Fogged windows impair visibility,
endangering you and others. If the windows
begin to fog on the inside, switching off the
air recirculation mode immediately should
clear interior window fogging. If interior
window fogging persists, make sure the air
conditioning is activated, or press button
z or ¥ .
XTurn the key to position 2 in the ignition
lock.XTo switch on: press the g button.
The indicator lamp in the g button lights
up.
i Air-recirculation mode is activated
automatically at high outside
temperatures. When air-recirculation mode
is activated automatically, the indicator
lamp in the g button is not lit.
Outside air is added after about 30
minutes.
XTo switch off: press the g button.
The indicator lamp in the g button goes
out.
i Air-recirculation mode switches off
automatically:
R after approximately five minutes if
outside temperatures are less than about
41 ‡ (5 †)
R after approximately five minutes if
cooling with air dehumidification is
deactivated
R after approximately 30 minutes if outside
temperatures are over about
41 ‡ (5 †)
Activating/deactivating the residual
heat function
It is possible to make use of the residual heat
of the engine to continue heating the
stationary vehicle for up to 30 minutes after
the engine has been switched off. The heating
time depends on the coolant temperature and
on the interior temperature that has been set.
i The blower will run at a low speed
regardless of the airflow setting.
i If you activate the residual heat function
at high temperatures, only the ventilation
will be activated.XTurn the key to position 0 in the ignition
lock or remove it.XTo activate: press the Á button.
The indicator lamp in the Á button lights
up.XTo switch off: press the Á button.
The indicator lamp in the Á button goes
out.
i Residual heat is deactivated
automatically:
R after about 30 minutes
R when the ignition is switched on
R if the battery voltage drops
R if the coolant temperature is too low
Setting the air vents
Important safety notes
GWarning
When operating the climate control, the air
that enters the passenger compartment
through the air vents can be very hot or very
cold (depending on the set temperature). This
could cause burns or frostbite to unprotected
skin in the immediate area of the air vents.
Always keep sufficient distance between
unprotected parts of the body and the air
vents. If necessary, use the air distribution
adjustment to direct the air to air vents in the
vehicle interior that are not in the immediate
area of unprotected skin.
112Setting the air ventsClimate control

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 parkingZ

Problems with the engineProblemPossible causes/consequences and M SolutionsThe engine does not
start. The starter motor
can be heard.R There is a malfunction in the engine electronics.
R There is a malfunction in the fuel supply.XTurn the SmartKey back to position 0 in the ignition lock before
attempting to start the engine again.XTry to start the engine again ( Y page 117). Avoid excessively
long and frequent attempts to start the engine as these will drain
the battery.
If the engine does not start after several attempts:
XConsult a qualified specialist workshop, e.g. an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.The engine does not
start. The starter motor
can be heard. The
reserve fuel warning
lamp is on. The needle
of the fuel gauge is
pointing to the reserve
range and does not
drop any further.The fuel tank is empty.XRefuel the vehicle.The engine does not
start. You cannot hear
the starter motor.The on-board voltage is too low because the starter battery is too
weak or discharged.XJump-start the vehicle ( Y page 238).
If the engine does not start despite attempts to jump-start it:
XConsult a qualified specialist workshop, e.g. an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.The starter motor was exposed to a thermal load that was too high.XAllow the starter motor to cool down for approximately two
minutes.XTry to start the engine again.
If the engine still does not start:
XConsult a qualified specialist workshop, e.g. an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.120DrivingDriving and parking

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 parkingZ

Display messagesPossible causes/consequences and M Solutions?The engine fan is defective.XAt coolant temperatures under 248 ‡ (120 †), drive to the next
qualified specialist workshop.XAvoid subjecting the engine to heavy loads, e.g. driving in
mountainous terrain, and stop-and-go traffic.#The battery is not being charged.
Possible causes are:
R a defective alternator
R a torn poly-V-belt
R a malfunction in the electronicsXPull over and stop the vehicle safely and switch off the engine,
paying attention to road and traffic conditions.XOpen the hood.XCheck whether the poly-V-belt is torn.
If the poly-V-belt is torn:
! Do not continue driving. The engine could otherwise overheat.
XConsult a qualified specialist workshop.
If the poly-V-belt is OK:
XVisit a qualified specialist workshop.The battery voltage is too low.XSwitch off electrical consumers that are not required.XHave the battery and alternator checked at a qualified specialist
workshop.The battery has been charged or the vehicle has been jump-
started.XHave the battery and alternator checked at a qualified specialist
workshop.4
Check oil level at
next gas stationThe engine oil level has dropped to a critical level.XCheck the oil level ( Y page 215).XIf necessary, add engine oil ( Y page 216).XHave the engine checked for leaks if you need to add engine oil
more often than usual.You have added too much engine oil. There is a risk of damaging
the engine or catalytic converter.XSiphon off excess engine oil until it is at the specified level.
Observe the legal requirements.176Display messagesOn-board computer and displays