2012 MERCEDES-BENZ G-Class warning light

Winter driving
General notes G
WARNING
If the vehicle becomes trapped in snow,
ensure that snow is kept away from the
exhaust pipe and from around the vehicle as
long as the engine is running. Otherwise,
poisonous carbon monoxide (CO) may enter
the vehicle,
resulting in loss of consciousness
and even death.
To assure sufficient fresh air ventilation, open
a window slightly on the side of the vehicle
not facing the wind.
Have your vehicle winterproofed at a qualified
specialist workshop at the onset of winter.
Observe the notes in the "Winter operation"
section ( Y page 244).
Driving with summer tires Observe the notes in the "Winter operation"
section (
Y
page 244).
Slippery road surfaces G
WARNING
The outside temperature indicator is not
designed to serve as an ice-warning device
and is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Indicated temperatures just above the
freezing point

do not guarantee that the road
surface is free of ice. The road may still be icy,
especially in wooded areas or on bridges. G
WARNING
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.
Drive particularly carefully on slippery road
surfaces. Avoid

sudden acceleration, steering
and braking maneuvers. Do not use cruise
control.
If the vehicle threatens to skid or cannot be
stopped when moving at low speed:
X Shift the transmission to position N.
X Try to bring the vehicle under control using
corrective steering.
i For more information on driving with
snow chains, see ( Y page 245). G
WARNING
Make sure that you do not endanger other
road users when you apply the brakes. Off-road driving
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Grains of sand, particles of dirt and other
abrasive materials can enter the brake
system. This can lead to excessive wear and
unpredictable braking efficiency.
After the brakes have been exposed to dirty
conditions, have them checked and cleaned
at a

qualified specialist workshop. Otherwise,
there is a risk that braking power may be
insufficient in the event of an emergency, or
that the braking effect may be unpredictable. G
WARNING
Do
not load items on the basic carrier bars. It
may cause

instability during some maneuvers
which could result in an accident.
Drive slowly in unknown terrain. This will
make it easier to recognize unexpected
obstacles and avoid damage to the vehicle.
To help avoid the vehicle rolling over, never
turn it around on steep inclines. If the vehicle 134
Driving tips
Driving and parking

R
Avoid high engine speeds. Drive at
appropriate engine speeds (maximum
3000 rpm).
R Do not shift the automatic transmission to
transmission position N.
R Always check the vehicle for damage after
off-road driving.
i Information about retrofitting special all-
terrain tires is available from any
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. H
Environmental note
Protection of the environment is of primary
importance. Treat nature with respect.
Observe all prohibiting signs.
Checklist before driving off-road X
Engine oil level: check the engine oil level
and add oil if necessary.
Only then does the engine receive enough
oil when the vehicle is standing on a steep
incline.
! If the engine oil warning lamp lights up
while the vehicle is in motion, stop the
vehicle in

a safe place as soon as possible.
Check the engine oil level. The engine oil
warning lamp warning must not be ignored.
Continuing the journey while the symbol is
displayed could lead to engine damage.
X Wheel-changing tool kit: check that the
jack is

working and make sure you have the
lug wrench, a robust tow cable and a folding
spade in the vehicle.
X Wheels and tires: check the tire tread
depth and tire pressure.
X Check for damage and remove any foreign
objects, e.g. small stones, from the
wheels/tires.
X Replace any missing valve caps.
X Replace dented or damaged wheels.
X Carry a sound spare wheel. Checklist after driving off-road G
WARNING
If you notice sudden significant vibrations or
unusual handling performance or if you
suspect that damage has occurred to the
vehicle, you should activate the hazard
warning lamps, gently reduce speed and
carefully head for an area that is located at a
safe distance from the road.
Check the tires and the underside of the
vehicle for damage. If the vehicle seems
unsafe, have the vehicle towed away to the
nearest Mercedes-Benz Center or tire dealer
to be repaired.
Driving over rough terrain places greater
demands on your vehicle than driving on
normal roads. After driving off-road, check
the vehicle.

This allows you to detect damage
promptly and reduce the risk of an accident
to yourself and other road users.
X Shift the transfer case to HIGH
(Y page 145).
X Disengage the differential locks
(Y page 148).
X Clean the headlamps and rear lights and
check for damage.
X Clean the front and rear license plates.
X Clean the wheels and tires with a water jet
and remove any foreign objects.
X Clean the wheels, tires, wheel arches and
the vehicle underside with a water jet;
check for

any foreign objects and damage.
X Check whether twigs or other parts of
plants have become trapped. These
increase the risk of fire and can damage
fuel pipes, brake hoses or the rubber
bellows of the axle joints and propeller
shafts.
X After the trip, examine without fail the
entire undercarriage,

wheels, tires, brakes,
bodywork structure, steering, chassis and
exhaust system for damage. 136
Driving tips
Driving and parking

i
Hill start assist will aid you when pulling
away on a hill.
For further information, see "Hill start
assist" ( Y page 117).
Maximum gradient-climbing capability On good road surface conditions, the
maximum
gradient-climbing
capability is 80%,
which corresponds to an approach/
departure angle of 38°. Note that the
vehicle's gradient-climbing capability
depends on the off-road conditions.
Accelerate carefully and make sure that the
wheels do not spin when driving on steep
terrain.
i If the load on the front axle is reduced
when pulling away on a steep uphill slope,
the front wheels have a tendency to spin.
4ETS detects this and brakes the wheels
accordingly. The rear wheel torque is
increased, making it easier to drive off.
Brow of hill When driving on an uphill gradient, reduce
pressure slightly on the accelerator
immediately
before

reaching the top of the hill
(do not shift the transmission to position N).
Use the vehicle's own impetus to drive over
the top of the hill.
This style of driving prevents:
R the vehicle from lifting off the ground on the
brow of a hill
R loss of traction
R the vehicle from traveling too quickly down
the other side
Driving downhill R
Before tackling steep downhill gradients,
select shift range 1 (Y page 121).
This way you use the engine's braking
effect to reduce the speed. If this is not
sufficient, brake gently. When doing so, make sure that the vehicle is facing in the
direction of the line of fall.
R Observe the notes on driving in
mountainous terrain (Y page 139).
R Drive slowly.
R Do not drive at an angle down steep
inclines. Steer

into the line of fall and drive
with the front wheels aligned straight.
Otherwise, the vehicle could slip sideways,
tip and roll over.
R Check that the brakes are working normally
after a long downhill stretch.
i The special off-road ABS(Y page 54)
enables accurate, brief and repeated
locking of the front wheels, causing them
to dig into the loose ground. Note that when
the front wheels are fully braked, they slide
easily over the surface of the ground,
making it difficult to steer. Driving systems
Cruise control
Important safety notes Cruise control maintains a constant road
speed for you. On long and steep downhill
gradients, especially if the vehicle is laden,
you must select shift range 1, 2 or 3 in good
time. By doing so, you will make use of the
braking effect of the engine, which relieves
the load on the brake system and prevents
the
brakes

from overheating and wearing too
quickly.
Use cruise control only if road and traffic
conditions make it appropriate to maintain a
steady speed for a prolonged period. You can
set any road speed above 20 mph
(30 km/h). G
WARNING
The cruise control is a convenience system
designed to assist the driver during vehicle
operation. The driver is and must always Driving systems
139
Driving and parking
Z

truck or a pneumatic drill could cause the
ultrasonic backing up aid to malfunction.
Minimum distance Center Approximately 8 in
(approximately 20 cm)
Corners Approximately 8 in
(approximately 20 cm)
If there is an obstacle within this range, all
warning displays flash and a warning tone
sounds. If the distance falls below the
minimum, the distance may no longer be
shown.
Warning displays
The warning display shows the distance
between the sensors and the obstacle.
The warning display is in the rear
compartment next to the rear door.
The warning display is divided into four yellow
and two red segments :. The ultrasonic
backing
up
aid is ready for use when you hear
a warning tone and segment ; lights up
briefly.
One or more segments : light up as the
vehicle approaches an obstacle, depending
on the distance from the obstacle. From the:
R
fourth segment you will hear an
intermittent warning tone
R fifth segment you will hear a faster
intermittent warning tone
R sixth segment you will hear a very fast
intermittent warning tone. This indicates
that you have now reached the minimum
distance. Driving systems
143
Driving and parking Z

Problems with the ultrasonic backing-up aid
Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M SolutionsYou hear a warning
signal when backing
up. The ultrasonic backing up aid sensors are dirty or there is
interference.
X
Clean the ultrasonic backing up aid sensors ( Y page 220).
X Switch the ignition back on. The problem may be caused by an external source of radio or
ultrasound waves. The ultrasonic backing up aid is switched off.
X
See if the ultrasonic backing up aid functions in a different
location. You hear a warning
tone when backing up
or you do not hear a
warning tone and none
of the segments light
up. The ultrasonic backing up aid has malfunctioned and has switched
itself off.
X
Have the ultrasonic backing up aid checked at a qualified
specialist workshop as soon as possible. Rear view camera
Important safety notes The rear view camera is an optical parking aid.
It shows the area behind your vehicle in the
COMAND display.
G
WARNING
Make sure that no persons or animals are in
the maneuvering range. Otherwise, they
could be injured.
The rear view camera is in the tailgate above
the rear window wiper. :
Rear view camera
View through the camera The area behind the vehicle is displayed in a
mirror-inverted manner, as in the rear-view
mirror.
G
WARNING
The rear view camera is only an aid and may
show a distorted view of obstacles, show
them incorrectly or not at all. The rear view
camera is not a substitute for paying
attention. The
camera cannot show objects in
the following areas: 144
Driving systems
Driving and parking

R
very close to the rear bumper
R under the rear bumper
R under the spare wheel
R behind and close to the spare wheel
You are always responsible for safety and
must continue to pay attention to your
immediate surroundings when parking and
maneuvering. This applies to the areas
behind, in front of and beside the vehicle.
Otherwise, you could endanger yourself and
others. G
WARNING
Under the following circumstances, the rear
view camera
will not function, or will function
in a limited manner:
R the tailgate is open
R in heavy rain, snow or fog
R at night or in very dark places
R if the camera is exposed to very bright light
R if the area is lit by fluorescent light or LED
lighting (the display may flicker)
R if there is a sudden change in temperature,
e.g. when driving into a heated garage in
winter
R if the camera lens is dirty or obstructed
R if the rear of your vehicle is damaged. In this
event, have the camera position and setting
checked at a qualified specialist workshop.
Do not use the rear view camera in these
types of situation. You could otherwise injure
others or damage objects and your vehicle
while you are parking.
Activating the rear view camera X
Make
sure that the SmartKey is in position
2 in the ignition lock.
X Make sure that the "rear view camera"
function is selected in COMAND (see the separate operating instructions for
COMAND).
X Engage reverse gear.
The area

behind the vehicle is shown in the
COMAND display. Off-road driving systems
Transfer case
General information The vehicle has permanent all-wheel drive.
Power is always transmitted to both axles.
For further information on driving off-road,
see (
Y
page 134). Off-road driving systems
145
Driving and parking Z

Differential locks
General information Differential locks improve the traction of the
vehicle.
G
WARNING
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 can be
damaged. Information about differentials and
differential locks When
the vehicle drives around a corner, the
wheels on

the outside of the bend must cover
a greater distance. Therefore, the wheels turn
more rapidly than 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 a differential is that more
power is transferred to the wheels that have
the least grip. 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 propulsion,
receives no driving power. 4ETS eliminates
this disadvantage. It provides good
steerability by automatically braking the
spinning wheel. As a result, 4ETS directs
more driving power to the wheel standing on
firm ground, which is therefore able to
provide propulsion.
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:
R a central differential lock for the transfer
case,
R a differential lock for the front axle and
R 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, 148
Off-road driving systems
Driving and parking

independent of their respective torques.
Keep
in
mind that by engaging the differential
locks, vehicle steerability is severely
restricted.
For your own safety, the safety of others and
to prevent damage to your vehicle, the
differential locks must not be activated on
paved roads. Keep in mind that when driving
on firm road surfaces, the function of the
differentials is necessary and therefore they
must never be locked on firm road surfaces.
The steerability of the vehicle would
otherwise be lost and steering would no
longer be possible. 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 LOW range off-road gear) is
no longer sufficient.
Activating the differential lock General information
G
WARNING
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
For further information on driving off-road,
see ( Y page 134). 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 axle
A
Activation 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 LOW range off-
road gear (Y page 145).
i You can activate the differential locks in
the following order =, ?, ;.
Differential lock for the transfer case
X To engage: switch the transfer case to off-
road gear LOW

(Y page 145).
X Press 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: Off-road driving systems
149
Driving and parking Z