2011 MERCEDES-BENZ G55AMG Owner's Manual

Shift rangesHHIGH
Position for all normal on-road
driving conditions.LLOW
Low-range position for driving off-
road.
Also for use on steep uphill or
downhill gradients, especially
when towing a trailer.
! When the transfer case is in the
off-road driving position LOW
range, the automatic
transmission does not shift up,
even when the engine has
reached the overrevving limit.
There is then a risk of engine
damage. Make sure that you do
not exceed the maximum
permissible engine speed.
The vehicle travels around half the
speed of on-road driving range
HIGH . The drive power is
correspondingly higher.NNeutral
Neutral position.
No power is transmitted to the
drive wheels.
Shifting the transfer case
General notes
GWarning!
Always wait until the procedure of shifting
from HIGH to LOW – and from LOW to HIGH
– has been entirely completed. During this
procedure do not turn off the engine or shift
the automatic transmission into another gear.
If you do not wait until the shifting procedure
has been entirely completed then it might not
be correctly performed. The transfer case
might be in neutral, thus interrupting the
transfer of power between the engine and the
drive axle.
The vehicle is then freely movable, even if a
gear has been selected, and could
unintentionally be set into motion –
particularly on up – or downhill grades. This
could lead to an accident and cause injury to
yourself and others.
Please observe related messages appearing
in the multifunction display.:Current shift range;Current transfer case position
Current shift range : and transfer case
position ; are shown in the instrument
cluster multifunction display.
The switch for the transfer case is on the
lower section of the center console.
Transfer case switch
From HIGH to LOW
! Only carry out the gear selection if:
R the engine is running.
R the vehicle is rolling.
Automatic transmission127Driving and parkingZ

Rthe automatic transmission is in selector
lever position N.
R you are driving no faster than 25 mph
(40 km/h).
You could otherwise damage the transfer
case.XPush the transfer case switch to LOW.
When the shift procedure is complete, the
L transfer case position appears in the
multifunction display.XShift the transmission to position D.
From LOW to HIGH
! Only carry out the gear selection if:
R the engine is running.
R the vehicle is rolling.
R the automatic transmission is in selector
lever position N.
R you are driving no faster than 43 mph
(70 km/h).
You could otherwise damage the transfer
case.
XPush the transfer case switch to HIGH.
When the shift procedure is complete, the
H transfer case position appears in the
multifunction display.
If the gear change is not completed, the
following messages could appear in the
display:
R TC Shift Conditions Not Fulfilled
You have not met one or more shift
conditions.
R TC In Neutral
The transfer case has canceled the gear
change process and is in N. The N transfer
case position appears in the multifunction
display.
GWarning!
If the transfer case is in Neutral, the park
position P of the automatic transmission will
not hold the vehicle. The parking brake must
be engaged to hold the vehicle in place.
R TC Shift Procedure Canceled
The transfer case has not performed the
gear change process.XCarry out the gear change process again.
Make sure to meet all conditions for
changing gears.
R Transfer Case Service Required
There is a malfunction in the transfer case.
XDo not shift the transfer case.XHave the vehicle checked at a qualified
specialist workshop as soon as possible,
e.g. at an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Shifting to neutral
GWarning!
If the transfer case is in Neutral, the park
position P of the automatic transmission will
not hold the vehicle. The parking brake must
be engaged to hold the vehicle in place.
XTurn the SmartKey to position 2 in the
ignition lock.XApply the parking brake.XDepress the brake pedal.XMove the selector lever to
position N (Y page 122).XPush the transfer case switch to LOW for
about 30 seconds.
When the shift procedure is complete, the
N transfer case position appears in the
multifunction display.
i If the transfer case is in N, the SmartKey
is in the ignition lock and you open the
driver's door, the TC In Neutral message
appears in the multifunction display. If you
then release the parking brake, a warning
tone will sound.
128Automatic transmissionDriving and parking

Differential locks
General notes
Differential locks improve the traction of the
vehicle.
GWarning!
Never drive on firm road surfaces with
differential locks engaged. Never drive on
narrow bends with front-axle differential locks
engaged. With differential locks engaged, the
vehicle's ability to steer is severely restricted
and the danger of accidents is therefore
higher.
Do not engage or disengage differential locks
while driving on a bend. The vehicle may
otherwise make a jerking movement. You
could thus lose control of the vehicle and
cause an accident.
If you select a differential lock, ABS, 4ETS,
ESP ®
and BAS will be deactivated.
Your vehicle is equipped with a differential
lock for:
R the transfer case: this controls the balance
between the front and rear axles.
R the rear axle: this controls the balance
between the wheels on the rear axle.
R the front axle: this controls the balance
between the wheels on the front axle.
! In order to avoid damage to the transfer
case, you must operate the vehicle on a
dynamometer (1-axle dynamometer) only
if:
R the axle not driven on is jacked up
or
R the corresponding propeller shaft is
disconnected
and
R the differential lock of the transfer case
is engaged.
Otherwise, the transfer case could be
damaged.
Information about differentials and
differential locks
When the vehicle is driving through a bend,
the wheels on the outside of the bend must
travel a longer distance and must thus turn
more quickly than the wheels on the inside.
The differential, a transmission in the
drivetrain, balances out the different
rotational speeds and therefore enables
driving through bends.
The disadvantage of differentials: the wheels
with the least road grip are driven the hardest.
Example: a wheel on a driven axle stands on
snow-covered ground and thus has no
traction. This wheel receives the strongest
driving power from the differential, as the
force progression takes the path of least
resistance. The opposite wheel on this axle,
however, which stands on firm ground and
could therefore allow traction, receives no
driving power. 4ETS eliminates this
disadvantage and provides good steerability
by automatically braking the spinning wheel,
thus directing more driving power to the
wheel standing on firm ground, which is
therefore able to provide traction.
ESP® and 4ETS are traction systems that are
ideal for road driving and suitable for light off-
road driving. Off-road gear LOW likewise
improves off-road capabilities.
Moreover, the more difficult conditions in off-
road driving require further measures such as
locking one or several differentials. Your
vehicle is equipped with three differential
locks: a central differential lock for the
transfer case, a differential lock for the front
axle, and a differential lock for the rear axle.
Each differential lock can be engaged with the
respective switch on the center console.
When the central differential lock for the
transfer case is locked, the speed of the front
wheels is equal to that of the rear wheels.
When the differential for the rear axle is
locked, both rear wheels turn equally fast,
independent of their respective torques.
Keep in mind that by engaging the differential
Automatic transmission129Driving and parkingZ

locks, vehicle steerability is severely
restricted.
For your own safety, the safety of others, and
in order to avoid damage to the vehicle, the
differential locks must not be engaged when
driving on a firm road surface. Keep in mind
that when driving on firm road surfaces, the
unimpeded function of the differential is
necessary and must never be locked on firm
road surfaces. Vehicle steerability may
otherwise be lost and you may no longer be
able to steer the vehicle. For this reason, the
differential locks must be engaged
exclusively during off-road driving, and only
when activating the other driving systems
(4ETS, ESP ®
and off-road gear LOW) is no
longer sufficient.
Activating the differential lock
General notes
GWarning!
Never drive on firm road surfaces with
differential locks engaged. Never drive on
narrow bends with front-axle differential locks
engaged. With differential locks engaged, the
vehicle's ability to steer is severely restricted
and the danger of accidents is therefore
higher.
Do not engage or disengage differential locks
while driving on a bend. The vehicle may
otherwise make a jerking movement. You
could thus lose control of the vehicle and
cause an accident.
If you select a differential lock, ABS, 4ETS,
ESP ®
and BAS will be deactivated.
Activate the differential locks:
R off-road
R to deactivate ABS, 4ETS, ESP ®
and BAS
while off-road
R when fording
R on snow-covered, icy or dirty road surfaces
For further information on driving off-road,
see ( Y page 142).
The switches are located on the center
console.:Function indicator lamps (red);Differential lock for the front axle=Differential lock for the transfer case?Differential lock for the rear axleAActivation indicator lamps (yellow)
! Only activate the differential locks when:
R you are driving at walking pace.
R the driven wheels are not spinning.
R you are not driving on a firm road surface.
i You can only engage the differential locks
when the transfer case is in off-road gear
LOW (Y page 126).
i You can activate the differential locks in
the following order =, ? , ; .
Differential lock for the transfer case
XTo engage: switch the transfer case to off-
road gear LOW(Y page 126).XPress switch =.
The yellow activation indicator lamp under
switch = lights up when the transfer case
is in off-road gear LOW.
The å warning lamp in the instrument
panel lights up.
The red function indicator lamp above
switch = lights up when the differential is
locked.
In the multifunction display you see the:130Automatic transmissionDriving and parking

ABS not available Differential
Locked message.
The å!÷ warning lamps light up
in the instrument cluster.
The differential lock for the transfer case is
engaged.
4ETS, ESP ®
, BAS and ABS are deactivated.
The vehicle's ability to steer is severely
restricted. Drive carefully and accelerate
gently for optimum traction.
i You can now engage differential lock for
the rear axle ? and differential lock for the
front axle ; as desired.
Differential lock for the rear axle
XTo engage: press switch ?.
First, the yellow activation indicator lamp
lights up, followed by the red function
indicator lamp.
The differential lock for the rear axle is
engaged.
Differential lock for the front axle
XTo engage: press switch ;.
First, the yellow activation indicator lamp
lights up, followed by the red function
indicator lamp.
The differential lock for the front axle is
engaged.
Deactivating the differential lock
You can deactivate the differential locks in
the reverse order: ;, ? , = .
XTo simultaneously deactivate all
differential locks: press switch =.
Yellow activation indicator lamps A go
out. Red function indicator lamps : go out
once the differential locks have
disengaged.
After approximately three seconds of
normal driving, ABS, 4ETS, ESP ®
and BAS
are activated.
The ABS not available Differential
Locked message disappears from themultifunction display and the å, !
and ÷ warning lamps in the instrument
cluster go out.XSwitch the transfer case to road gear
HIGH (Y page 126).
i
If red function indicator lamps : do not
go out when you disengage the differential
locks, bring the vehicle to a stop in
accordance with the traffic conditions,
then begin driving again. The load change
can disengage the differential locks.
GWarning!
Always remember to disengage the
differential locks when returning to drive on
paved roads, see “A few words about
differentials and differential locks”.
Refueling
Important safety notes
GWarning
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.
Direct skin contact with fuels and the
inhalation of fuel vapors are damaging to your
health.
GWarning
Overfilling of the fuel tank may create
pressure in the system which could cause a
gas discharge. This could cause the gasoline
to spray back out when removing the fuel
pump nozzle, which could cause personal
injury.
Refueling131Driving and parkingZ

! Do not use diesel to refuel vehicles with a
gasoline engine. Even small amounts of the
wrong fuel result in damage to the fuel
system and engine.
! Do not switch on the ignition if you
accidentally refuel with the wrong fuel.
Otherwise, the fuel will enter the fuel lines.
Notify a qualified specialist workshop and
have the fuel tank and fuel lines drained
completely.
Gasoline
Fuel grade
! You should only refuel with unleaded
premium-grade gasoline as this avoids
damaging the catalytic converter.
If engine running problems are apparent,
have the cause checked immediately and
repaired. Excess unburned fuel can
otherwise enter the catalytic converter,
leading to overheating and possibly
causing a fire.
i Only refuel with unleaded premium-grade
gasoline with a specified minimum octane
number of 91 (average value of 96 RON/
86 MON).
Usually, you will find information about the
fuel grade on the pump. If you cannot find
the label on the gasoline pump, ask the gas
station staff.
You can find further information under
"Fuel" ( Y page 277), by consulting an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or
visiting http://www.mbusa.com (USA
only).
! Use a filter when refueling from a fuel can.
Otherwise, the fuel lines and/or injection
system could be blocked by particles from
the fuel can.
Refueling
Fuel filler flap
When you open or close the vehicle with the
key, the fuel filler flap is automatically
unlocked or locked.
The position of the fuel filler cap is displayed
in the instrument cluster 8. The arrow
next to the filling pump indicates the side of
the vehicle. The fuel filler flap is located to the
rear on the right.
Fuel filler cap G 550 (example)
:To open the fuel filler flap;Tire pressure table=Fuel type?To insert the fuel filler cap
Opening
XSwitch off the engine.
i When the engine is running and the fuel
filler flap is open, the yellow reserve fuel
warning lamp and the = (USA only)
or ; (Canada only) engine diagnostics
warning lamp may light up.
For further information on warning and
indicator lamps in the instrument cluster,
see ( Y page 188).
XRemove the key from the ignition lock.XPress the fuel filler flap in the direction of
arrow :.
The fuel filler flap opens slightly.XOpen the fuel filler flap.132RefuelingDriving and parking

XTurn the fuel filler cap counter-clockwise
and remove it.XInsert the fuel filler cap into the holder
bracket on the inside of filler flap ?.XCompletely insert the fuel pump nozzle into
the filler neck and refuel.XOnly fill the tank until the pump nozzle
switches off.
! Overfilling the fuel tank could damage the
fuel system.
Closing
XReplace the fuel filler cap and turn it
clockwise. The fuel filler cap audibly
engages.XClose the fuel filler flap.
i Close the fuel filler flap before locking the
vehicle. A locking pin otherwise prevents
the fuel filler flap from closing after the
vehicle has been locked.
Fuel filler flap emergency release
GWarning!
Avoid contact with the vehicle walls as they
may contain sharp edges. Otherwise, you
could injure yourself while releasing the fuel
filler flap.
The emergency release is located in the cargo
compartment, on the right-hand side when
viewed in the direction of travel, behind the
rear panel trim.
XOpen the rear door.XDisconnect edge guard : on the door
pillar.XRemove rear panel trim ;.XPull emergency release = in the direction
of the arrow.
The fuel filler flap is unlocked.XOpen the fuel filler flap.Refueling133Driving and parkingZ

Problems with the fuel and fuel tankProblemPossible causes/consequences and M SolutionsFuel is leaking from the
vehicle.GRisk of explosion or fire
The fuel line or the fuel tank is defective.
XTurn the key to position 0 (Y page 117) in the ignition lock
immediately and remove it.XDo not restart the engine under any circumstances.XConsult a qualified specialist workshop.The fuel filler flap
cannot be opened.The fuel filler flap is not unlocked.
or
The key batteries are discharged.XUnlock the vehicle ( Y page 62).
or
XUnlock the vehicle using the mechanical key ( Y page 63).XOpen the rear door.XManually unlock the fuel filler flap using the emergency release
( Y page 133).The fuel filler flap is unlocked, but the opening mechanism is
jammed.XManually unlock the fuel filler flap using the emergency release
( Y page 133).XConsult a qualified specialist workshop.Parking
Important safety notes
GWarning
Do not park this vehicle in areas where
combustible materials can come into contact
with the hot exhaust system. Do not park the
vehicle on dry grassland or harvested grain
fields. Combustible materials, such as grass,
hay or leaves could be ignited by the hot
exhaust system and cause a vehicle fire.
Unintended vehicle movement can cause
serious personal injury or damage to the
vehicle or the vehicle drivetrain. To reduce
such risks, always do the following before
turning off the engine and leaving the vehicle:
R keep your right foot on the brake pedal.
R engage the parking brake.
R shift the automatic transmission into park
position P.
R slowly release the brake pedal.
R when parked on an incline, always turn the
front wheels towards the road curb.134ParkingDriving and parking