2012 MERCEDES-BENZ GL SUV engine

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
?
The red coolant warn-
ing lam
pcomes on
while the engin eisrun-
ning. The coolant level is too low.
If the coolant level is correct, the airflow to the engine radiator
may be blocked or the electric engine radiator fan may be mal-
functioning.
The coolant is too hot and the engine is no longer being cooled
sufficiently.
X
Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
X Stop the vehicle immediately, paying attention to road and traf-
fic conditions, and switch off the engine.
X Secure the vehicle against rolling away (Y page 181).
X Leave the vehicle and keep asafe distance from the vehicle until
the engine has cooled down.
X Check the coolant level and top up the coolant, observing the
warning notes (Y page 363).
X If you have to top up the coolant frequently, have the engine
cooling system checked.
X Make sure that the air supply to the engine radiator is not
blocked, e.g. by frozen slush.
X Do not start the engine again until the coolant temperature is
under 120 †. The engine may otherwise be damaged.
X Drive to the nearest qualified specialis tworkshop.
X Avoid heav yloads on the engin easyou do so, e.g. driving in
mountainous terrain and stop-star ttraffic. ?
Th
er ed coolan twarn-
ing lamp comes on
while the engine is run-
ning. Awarning tone
also sounds. The coolant temperature has exceeded 120 †. The airflow to the
engine radiator may be blocked or the coolant level may be too
low.
G WARNING
The engine is not being cooled sufficiently and may be damaged.
Do not drive when your engine is overheated. This can cause some
fluids which may have leaked into the engine compartmen tto
catch fire.
Stea mfrom th eoverh eated engine can als ocaus eserious burns
which can occu rjust by opening the bonnet.
This pose sarisk of injury.
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction
display.
X Stop the vehicle immediately, paying attention to road and traf-
fic conditions, and switch off the engine.
X Secur ethe vehicle against rolling away (Y page 181).334
Warning and indicator lamps in th
einstru ment clusterOn-board computer and displays

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
X
Leave the vehicle and keep asafe distance from the vehicle until
the engine has cooled down.
X Check the coolant level and top up the coolant, observing the
warning notes (Y page 363).
X If you have to top up the coolant frequently, have the engine
cooling system checked.
X Make sure that the air supply to the engine radiator is not
blocked, e.g. by frozen slush.
X If the coolant temperature is below 120 †, you can continue
driving to the nearest qualified specialis tworkshop.
X Avoid heav yloads on the engin easyou do so, e.g. driving in
mountainous terrain and stop-star ttraffic. Driving systems
Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions
·
Th
er ed distance warn-
ing function warning
lam pcomes on while
the vehicle is moving. The distance to the vehicle in front is too smal
lfor the speed
selected.
X Increase the distance. ·
The red distance warn-
ing func
tion warning
lam pcomes on while
the vehicle is moving. A
warnin gtone also
sounds. You ar
eapproaching avehicle or astationary obstacle in your line
of travel at too hig haspeed.
X Be prepared to brak eimmediately.
X Pa yc areful attention to the traffic situation. You may have to
brake or take evasive action.
Further information on DISTRONIC PLUS (Y page 198).
Further information on PRE-SAFE ®
Brake (Y page 68).
Further information on the distance warning function
(Y page 63). Warnin
gand indicator lam psin th einstru ment cluster
335On-board computer and displays Z

Usefu
linfor mati on
i This Owner's Manual describes all mod-
els, series and optional equipment for your
vehicle that were available at the time of
going to press. National variation sare pos-
sible. Note that your vehicl emay not be
equippe dwith all of the function sdescri-
bed. This is also the case for system sand
functions relevant to safety.
i Read the information on qualified special-
ist workshops: (Y page25). Stowage areas
Loadin
gguidelines G
WARNING
Secure and positio nthe load as described in
the loadin gguidelines.
Otherwise, vehicle occupants could
be injured by the load being thrown around in
the event of sharp braking, asudden change
in direction or an accident.
You will find further information in the "Secur-
ing aload" section.
Even if you follow all the loadin gguidelines,
the load will increase the risk of injury in the
event of an accident. G
WARNING
Keep the tailgate closed when the engine is
running. Otherwise, you could be poisoned by
exhaust fumes enterin gthe vehicle.
The handling characteristics of aladen vehi-
cle are dependent on the distribution of the
load within the vehicle. For this reason, you
should observe the following notes when
transporting aload:
R when transpor ting aload, never exceed the
maximum permissible gross vehicle weight or the permissible axle loads for the vehicle
(includin
goccupants).
R position heavy loads as far forward saspos-
sible and as low down in the load compart-
men tasp ossible.
R the load must not protrude abov ethe upper
edge of the seat backrests.
R always plac ethe load against the rea ror
front seat backrests .Make sure that the
seat backrests are securely locked into
place.
R hook in the safety net when loading.
R always place the load behind unoccupied
seats if possible.
R secure the load with sufficiently stron gand
wear-resistant lashing material. Pad sharp
edges for protection.
i Load restraints are available at any quali-
fied specialis tworkshop, e.g. aMercedes-
Benz Servic eCentre. Stowage compartments
Important safety notes G
WARNING
The stowage compartments must be closed
when item sare store dinthem. Luggage nets
ar en ot designed to secur eheavy item sof
luggage.
You or other vehicle occupant scould be
injure dbyo bjectsbeing thrown around if you:
R brak esharply
R change direction suddenly
R arei nvolved in an accident
Sharp-edge dand fragile object smust not be
placed in the luggag enet. 338
Stowage areasStowing and features

Make sur
ethat children travellin ginthe vehi-
cle ar enot able to injure themselves on the
hot cigarette lighter or cause afire with it.
! The cigarette lighter in the centre console
in the front compartmen tisn ot intended
for operatin gthe tyr einflation compressor. X
Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock.
X To open: slide cover :to its foremost
position.
X Pres sinc igarette lighter ;.
Cigarette lighter ;will pop out automati-
cally when the heating element is red-hot.
X To close: pull cover :back as far as it will
go. 12
Vsockets
General notes X
Turn th ekey to position 1in th eignition
lock.
Wit hthe exception of th esocket in th efront
centr econsole, all socket scan be used for
accessories with amaximum curren tdraw of
240 W(20 A) .The socket in the front centre
console can be used for accessories with a
maximum curren tdraw of 180 W(15 A).
Accessories includ esuch items as lamp sor
charg ersf or mobi lephones.
If you use the sockets for long periods when
the engine is switched off ,the battery may
discharge. i
An emergency cut-of fensure sthat the on-
board voltage does not drop too low. If the
on-boar dvoltage is too low, the power to
the socket sisautomatically cut. This
ensures that there is sufficient power to
start the engine.
Socket in the front centre console !
The socket is not intended for operating
the tyre inflation compressor. X
To open: slide cover :to its foremost
position.
X Lift up the cover of socket ;.
X To close: pull cover :back as far as it will
go.
Socket in the rear-compartment centre
console X
Lift up the cover of socket :.
On vehicles with the Rear Seat Entertainment
System, there are two sockets in the rear-
compartmen tcentre console. 350
FeaturesStowing and features

Usefu
linfor mation ............................ 360
Engine compartment ........................360
Service ............................................... 364
Care .................................................... 366 359Maintenance and care

Usefu
linfor mati on
i This Owner's Manual describes all mod-
els, series and optional equipment for your
vehicle that were available at the time of
going to press. National variation sare pos-
sible. Note that your vehicl emay not be
equippe dwith all of the function sdescri-
bed. This is also the case for system sand
functions relevant to safety.
i Read the information on qualified special-
ist workshops: (Y page25). Engine compartment
Bonnet
Active bonnet (pedes tria np rotection) Operating principle
!
An activ ebonnet that had been triggered
must be repaired at aqualified specialist
workshop. The activ ebonnet function will
then be available again .The additional
pedestrian protection provided by the
activ ebonnet will then be restored.
i The activ ebonnet is only available in cer-
tain coun tries. It is available for all models,
except for AMG vehicles.
The activ ebonnet can reduce the risk of injury
to pedestrians in cer tain acciden tsituations.
Raising the active bonnet increases the clear-
anc etoh ard components, such as the engine.
If the active bonnet has been triggered, it will
be raised in the area of the bonnet hinges by
approximately 100 mm. The active bonnet is
triggered by pyrotechnics.
For the drive to the workshop, reset the trig-
gered active bonnet yourself .After be ing
reset, th eactive bonnet rest sinthe area of
the bonnet hinges on the seals, and the bon-
net hinges do not enga ge.For this rea son, we
recommend that you do not excee damaxi-
mum top spee dof130 km/h on the wa yto
the worksh op.Ift he active bonnet has been triggered, pedestrian protection ma
ybelimi-
ted.
Resetting G
WARNING
There is arisk of injur yifthe bonnet is open,
even if the engin eisnot running.
Som eengine components can become very
hot.
To avoi dthe risk of burns, only touc hthose
components described in the Owner's Manual
and observ ethe relevant safety notes. G
WARNING
Make sur ethat nobody can becom etrapp ed
as you close the bonnet. X
With you rhand flat near the bonnet hinges
(arrows), push down active bonnet :until
it rest sonthe seals.
Opening th ebonnet G
WARNING
Do not pull the release lever while the vehicle
is in motion. If you do so, the bonnet may open
up and block your view. G
WARNING
There is arisk of injury if the bonnet is open,
even if the engin eisnot run ning.
Som eengine component scan become very
hot. 360
Engine compa
rtmentMaintenance and ca re

To avoi
dthe risk of burns, only touc hthose
component sdescribed in the Owner's Manual
and observ ethe relevant safety notes. G
WARNING
The radiator fa nbetween the radiator and the
engine can star tautomatically, even if the key
has been removed from the ignition lock. For
this reason, you must not reach into the fan
rotation area. You could otherwis ebeinjured.
Vehicles with apetrol engine: The elec-
tronic ignition system uses high voltage. For
this reason ,you must never touc hignition
system component s(ignition coil, ignition
cables, spark plug connectors or test socket)
while:
R the engine is running
R the engine is being started
R the ignition is switched on and the engine
is being cranked by hand
You could otherwise suffer an electric shock
and be seriously or even fatally injured.
Vehicles with adiesel engine: The elec-
tronic injection control uses high voltage. For
this reason ,you must never touc hinjection
system components while:
R the engi neis running
R the engin eisbeing started
R the ignition is switched on
You could otherwise suffer an electric shock
and be seriously or even fatally injured. G
WAR
NING
The winds creen wipers and wiper linkage
could be set in motion.
When the bonnet is open, you or others could
be injured by the wiper linkage.
Make sure that the windscreen wipers are
switched off .Remov ethe key or make sure
that no ignition position has been selected
with KEYLESS-GO. All indi cator lamps must be
off in the instrumen tpanel.
! Make sure that the windscreen wipers are
not folded away from the windscreen. Oth- er
wise ,you could damage the windscreen
wipers or the bonnet. X
Make sure tha tthe windscreen wiper sare
switche doff.
X Pull release lever :on th ebonnet.
The bonnet is released. X
Reac hinto the gap ,pull bonnet catch han-
dle ;up and lift the bonnet.
If you lift the bonnet by approximately
40 cm, the bonnet is opened and held open
automatically by the gas-filled strut.
Closing the bonnet G
WARNING
Make sure that nobody can become trapped
as you close the bonnet. Eng
inecompartment
361Maintenance and care Z

X
Lower th ebonnet and let it fal lfrom a
heig ht of approx imately 20 cm.
X Check that the bonnet has engaged prop-
erly.
If the bonnet can be raised slightly, it is not
properly engaged. Open it again and close
it with alittle more force. Radiator
Vehicles with adiesel engine: do not cover
the radiator .Donot use therma lmats, insect
protection covers or anything similar. Doing
so can cause the Onboard Diagnostics Sys-
tem to display inaccurat evalues. Some of
these values are legally required and must
always be correct. Engin
eoil
Genera lnotes Dependin
gonyour drivin gstyle, the vehicle
consumes up to 0.8 lofoil per 1,00 0km. The
oi lc onsumption ma ybehigher than this when
the vehicle is new or if you frequently drive at
high engine speeds.
Dependin gonthe engine, the oil dipstick may
be installed at adifferent location.
When checking the oil level:
R park the vehicle on alevel surface.
R the engine should be switched off for
approximately fiv eminutes if the engine is
at normal operating tempera ture.
R if the engine is not at normal operating
tempera ture,e.g. if the engine was only
started briefly, wait about 30 minutes
before carrying out the measurement. Checkin
gthe oi llevel using the oil dip-
stick Example: vehicles with
apetrol engine Example: vehicles with
adiesel engine
X Pull oil dipstick :out of the oil dipstick
tube.
X Wipe off oil dipstick :.
X Slowly slide oil dipstick :into the guide
tube to the stop, and take it out again.
If the level is between MIN mark =and
MAX mark ;,the oil level is correct.
X If the oil level has dropped to MIN mark
= or below, add 1. 0litre of engine oil.
Adding engine oil G
WARNING
If engine oil comes into contact with hot
engine parts, it may ignite and you could burn
yourself .Donot spill any engin eoil on hot
engine parts. 362
Engine compartmentMaintenance and care