2012 MERCEDES-BENZ GL SUV Owners Manual

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

Tyres
Problem Possible caus
es/consequences andM Solutions
h
Th
ey ello wtyre pres-
sure monitor warning
lamp is on. The tyre pressure monitor ha
sdetected alossofp ressureinat
leas tone of the tyres.
G WARNING
With tyre press ures which are too low, there is ariskoft he fol-
lowin ghazards:
R they may burst, especiall yasthe load and vehicle speed
increase.
R they ma ywear excessively and/or unevenly, which may greatly
impair tyr etraction.
R thed riving characteristics, as well as steering and braking, may
be greatl yimpaired.
There is arisk of an accident.
X Stop the vehicle without makin gany sudden steering or braking
manoeuvres .Pay attention to the traffic conditions as you do
so.
X Secure the vehicle against rolling away (Y page 181).
X Observe the additional displ aymessage sint he multifunction
display.
X If ther eisaflat tyre ,inspect the tyres (Y page378).
X Check the tyre pressure (Y page402).
X If necessary, correct the tyre pressure. 336
Warnin
gand indicator lam psin th einstru ment clusterOn-board computer and displays

Usefu
linfor mation ............................ 338
Stowage areas .................................. 338
Features ............................................. 346 337Stowing and fea
tures

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

Glove compartment
X
To open: pull ha ndle :and ope nglove
compartment flap ;.
X To close: fold glove compartment flap ;
upwards until it engages.
i The glove compartment can be cooled
and ventilated (Y page 154). 1
Glove compartment unlocked
2 Glove compartment locked
The glove compartment can be locked and
unlocked using the emergenc ykey element. Ap
artition :for stowin gflat object sisloca-
te di nt he up per sectio nofthe glov ecom-
partment .Itcan be removed to increase the
stowage space in the glove compartment.
X To remove: pull partition :forwards and
out
X To install: insert partition :and push it
back until it engages.
Stowage compartment/telephone
compartment under the armrest X
To open: pull handle :up.
The armrest folds out.
In the stowage compartment, there is astow-
age tray and amobile phone bracket.
i Depending on the vehicle' sequipment, a
US Bp ort and an AUX-I Njack or aMedia
In terf ace are installed in the stowage com-
partment.
Media Interface is auniversal interface for
mobil eaudi oe quipment, e.g. for an iPod ®
or MP3 Player.
i There is aremovable stowage tray in the
storage compartment, in which objects
such as an iPod ®
can be stored. Stowage areas
339Stowing and features Z

Spectacles compa
rtment X
To open: press marking :.
The spectacles compartmen topens down-
wards.
X To close: press marking:again, the
spectacles compartment returns upwards
and engages.
Make sure that the spectacles compartment
is closed while the vehicle is in motion.
Stowage compartment in the front
centre console X
To open: slide cover :forwards.
Stowage compartment ;appears.
X To close: pull cover :back as far as it will
go. Stowage compartment in the rear
centre console X
To open: briefly press the stowage com-
partment marking.
The stowage compartment opens.
i Depending on the vehicle's equipment,
ther emay be open stowage spaces above
and below the stowage compartment. Stowage nets
G
WARNING
Only place lightweight items in the stowage
net .Don ot use it to transport heavy ,bulky,
sharp-edged or fragile objects. In the event of
an accident, the stowag enet will not secure
the tra nsported goods sufficiently. :
Stowage net in front-passenger footwell 340
Stowage areasStowing and features

:
Stowag enet on the back of the front seats :
Stowag enet in luggage com partment Through-loadin
gfacility in the rear
compartment Th
et hrough-loading facility is opened from
the luggage com partment.
X Releas ethe sea tbackrest sinthesecond
row of seat sand tilt them in the cargo/load
position (Y page 104).
X Fold down the rear seat armrest. X
Pull the centre head restraint on the rear
bench seat into the uppermost position
(Y page 102).
X Slide release catch :to the left and swing
flap ;to the left until it is lying on the rear
side of the rear bench seat. X
Push cover =forward until it is lying on the
rear seat armrest. Enlarging the luggage compartment
Impor tantsafety notes G
WARNING
Do not carry heavy or hard objects inside the
vehicle or in the luggag ecompartmen tunless
they are secured.
Oth erwise, yo uand othe rvehicle occupants
could be injured by objects being thrown
around the vehicle in the event of sharp brak-
ing, asudden change in direction or an acci-
dent.
When using the luggag ecompartment
enlargement, you should always clip in the
safet ynet,ifath and. G
WARNING
Always drive with the tailgat eclosed. Exhaust
fumes could otherwise enter the vehicle inte-
rior. G
WARNING
Do not fold the backrest ont othe folded-down
seat cushi ons.Ift he seat cushi ons arefolded Stowage areas
341Stowing and fea tures
Z