2012 MERCEDES-BENZ G-CLASS SUV ESP

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
!
The red ABS warning
lamp is lit while the
engine is running.
ABS (Anti-lock Brake System) has been deactivated due to a fault.
BAS (Brake Assist), ESP
®
(Electronic Stability Program), the HOLD
function, hill start assist, the adaptive brake lights and ESP ®
trailer
stabilisation, for example, are therefore also deactivated.
G WARNING
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the
functions listed above. The wheels could therefore lock if you
brake hard, for example.
The steerability and braking characteristics may be severely affec-
ted. The braking distance in an emergency braking situation can
increase.
If ESP ®
is not operational, ESP ®
is unable to stabilise the vehicle.
The danger of skidding and having an accident increases.
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop.
If the ABS control unit is faulty, there is also a possibility that other
systems, such as the navigation system or the automatic trans-
mission, will not be available. 254
Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument clusterOn-board computer and displays

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
!
The red ABS warning
lamp is lit while the
engine is running.
ABS is temporarily unavailable. BAS, ESP
®
,E BD (electronic brake
force distribution), the HOLD function, hill star tassist, ESP ®
trailer
stabilisation and the adaptive brake lights, for example, are there-
fore also deactivated.
Possible causes:
R Self-diagnosis is not yet complete.
R The on-board voltage may be insufficient.
G WARNING
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the
functions listed above. The front and rear wheels could therefore
lock if you brake hard, for example.
The steerability and braking characteristics may be severely affec-
ted. The braking distance in an emergency braking situation can
increase.
If ESP ®
is not operational, ESP ®
is unable to stabilise the vehicle.
There is a risk of an accident.
X Carefully drive on a suitable stretch of road making slight steer-
ing movements at a speed above 20 km/h.
The functions mentioned above are available againw hen the
warning lamp goes out.
If the warning lamp is still on:
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
255On-board computer and displays Z

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
!
The red ABS warning
lamp is lit while the
engine is running. A
warning tone also
sounds.
EBD is faulty. Therefore, ABS, BAS, ESP
®
, the HOLD function, hill
start assist, the adaptive brake lights and ESP ®
trailer stabilisation
are also not available, for example.
G WARNING
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the
functions listed above. The front and rear wheels could therefore
lock if you brake hard, for example.
The steerability and braking characteristics may be severely affec-
ted. The braking distance in an emergency braking situation can
increase.
If ESP ®
is not operational, ESP ®
is unable to stabilise the vehicle.
The danger of skidding and having an accident increases.
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. !
The red ABS warning
lamp is lit while the
engine is running.
You have engaged the differential locks. ABS is deactivated.
X
Disengage the differential locks.
Subsequently ABS is reactivated. J֌!
The yellow brake warn-
ing lamp, the yellow
ESP ®
and ESP ®
OFF
warning lamps and the
yellow ABS warning
lamp are lit while the
engine is running. ABS and ESP
®
are malfunctioning. Therefore, BAS, EBD, the HOLD
function, hill start assist, the adaptive brake lights and ESP ®
trailer
stabilisation, for example, are also not available.
G WARNING
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the
functions listed above. The front and rear wheels could therefore
lock if you brake hard, for example.
The steerability and braking characteristics may be severely affec-
ted. The braking distance in an emergency braking situation can
increase.
If ESP ®
is not operational, ESP ®
is unable to stabilise the vehicle.
The danger of skidding and having an accident increases.
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. 256
Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument clusterOn-board computer and displays

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
÷
The yellow ESP
®
warn-
ing lamp flashes while
the vehicle is in motion. ESP
®
or traction control has intervened because there is a risk of
skidding or at least one wheel has started to spin.
Cruise control or DISTRONIC PLUS is deactivated.
X Only depress the accelerator pedal as far as necessary when
pulling away.
X Accelerate more gently while the vehicle is in motion.
X Adapt your driving style to suit the road and weather conditions.
X Do not deactivate ESP ®
.
Exceptions: (Y page 62) å
The yellow ESP
®
OFF
warning lamp is lit while
the engine is running. ESP
®
is deactivated.
G WARNING
If ESP ®
is switched off, ESP ®
is unable to stabilise the vehicle.
The danger of skidding and having an accident increases.
X Reactivate ESP ®
.
Exceptions: (Y page 62)
X Adapt your driving style to suit the road and weather conditions.
If ESP ®
cannot be activated:
X Have ESP ®
checked at a qualified specialist workshop. ֌
The yellow ESP
®
and
ESP ®
OFF warning
lamps are lit while the
engine is running. ESP
®
, BAS, the HOLD function, hill start assist, the adaptive brake
lights and ESP ®
trailer stabilisation are not available due to a mal-
function.
G WARNING
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the
functions listed above.
The braking distance in an emergency braking situation can thus
increase.
If ESP ®
is not operational, ESP ®
is unable to stabilise the vehicle.
The danger of skidding and having an accident increases.
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
257On-board computer and displays Z

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
֌
The yellow ESP
®
and
ESP ®
OFF warning
lamps are lit while the
engine is running. ESP
®
, BAS, the HOLD function, hill start assist and ESP ®
trailer
stabilisation are temporarily unavailable.
BAS and the adaptive brake lights may also have failed.
Self-diagnosis is not yet complete.
G WARNING
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the
functions listed above.
The braking distance in an emergency braking situation can thus
increase.
If ESP ®
is not operational, ESP ®
is unable to stabilise the vehicle.
The danger of skidding and having an accident increases.
X Carefully drive on a suitable stretch of road making slight steer-
ing movements at a speed above 20 km/h.
The functions mentioned above are available again when the
warning lamp goes out.
If the warning lamp is still on:
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
X Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. å
The yellow ESP
®
OFF
warning lamp is lit while
the engine is running. You have engaged the differential locks. ABS, ESP
®
,4 ETS and BAS
have been deactivated.
X Disengage the differential locks.
ESP ®
, 4ETS and BAS ar esubsequently reactivated.
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display. 258
Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument clusterOn-board computer and displays

Tyres
Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
h
The yellow tyre pres-
sure monitor warning
lamp is on.
The tyre pressure monitor has detected a loss of pressure in at
leas tone of the tyres.
G WARNING
With tyre pressures which are too low, there is a ris kofthe fol-
lowing hazards:
R the tyres may burst, especially as the load and vehicle speed
increase.
R the tyres may wear excessively and/or unevenly, which may
greatly impair tyre traction.
R the driving characteristics, as well as steering and braking, may
be greatly impaired.
There is a risk of an accident.
X Stop the vehicle without making any sudden steering or braking
manoeuvres. Pay attention to the traffic conditions as you do
so.
X Secure the vehicle against rolling away (Y page 163).
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
X If there is a flat tyre, inspect the tyres (Y page 309).
X Check the tyre pressure (Y page 327).
X If necessary, correct the tyre pressure. Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument cluster
263On-board computer and displays Z

The left-hand and right-hand rear seats can
be folded down to increase the load compart-
ment capacity. The following changes are
possible:
R fold the seat backrests forward
R fold the rear bench seat down fully.
Folding the seat backrest forwards To fold forward the seat backrests, proceed
as follows:
X open the rear doors.
This allows you better access to release
lever :.
X Remove the centre head restraint
(Y page 93).
X Pull catch :in the direction of the arrow.
The corresponding rear seat backrest is not
engaged.
X Fold the backrest forwards.
The rear seat backrest engages audibly. ;
Backrest folded forward Folding back the seat backrest !
Make sure that the seat belt does not
become trapped when folding the rear seat
backrest back. Otherwise, it could be dam-
aged. X
Pull release lever :.
The corresponding seat backrest is
released.
X Fold backrest ;backwards in the direc-
tion of the arrow.
The seat catch engages audibly.
X Fit the head restraint (Y page 93).
Rear bench seat Seat backrest release lever
Seat backrest release lever
:
Long lever
; Short lever
i G-Class long-wheelbase version: open the
rear doors. This allows you better access to
the release lever. Stowage areas
269Stowing and features Z

X
Remove the head restraints (Y page 93).
X Pull short lever ;in the direction of the
arrow and hold it.
X Pull long lever :in the direction of the
arrow and fold the seat backrest forwards.
Folding the rear bench seat forwards X
Fold rear seat backrest (Y page 269) for-
wards.
X Pull catch :in the direction of the arrow.
The corresponding rear bench seat is
released.
X Fold rear bench seat ;forwards. ;
Rear bench seat folded forward
Folding the rear bench sea tinto an
upright position G
WARNING
Make sure that the rear bench seat and seat
backrests are correctly engaged in position. If the seat backrests or rear bench seat are
not fully engaged and the following occurs:
R sharp braking
R a sudden change of direction
R an accident
the seat backrests or rear bench seat may fold
forwards and instead of being restrained by
the seats as intended you could be injured by
them. Occupants could then also be injured
in the event of an accident, e.g. by objects
being thrown forwards from the luggage com-
partment.
X Fold the rear bench seat back.
The seat catch engages audibly.
X Fold the backrest backwards
(Y page 269).
X Fit the head restraints (Y page 93). Securing
aload
Important safety notes G
WARNING
Distribute the load on the lashing eyelets
evenly.
Otherwise, vehicle occupants could be
injured by objects being thrown around if you:
R brake sharply
R change directio nsuddenly
R are involved in an accident
Please observe the loading guidelines.
Observe the following notes on securing
loads:
R secure the load using the lashing eyelets.
R do no tuse elastic straps or nets to secure
a load, as these are only intended as an
anti-slip protection for light loads.
R if you are using tensioning straps, only use
tensioning straps with a minimum permis-
sible tensile strength of Fzul =600 daN and
a percentage elongatio nofapproximately
7%. 270
Stowage areasStowing and features