2013 MERCEDES-BENZ G-CLASS SUV engine

X
Park the vehicle on a level surface.
Only check the coolant level when the
vehicle is on a
level surface and the engine
has cooled down.
X Turn the SmartKey to position
2 (Y page 139) in the ignition lock.
X Check the coolant temperature display in
the instrument cluster.
The coolant temperature must be below
158 ‡ (70 †).
X Slowly turn cap 0043 half a turn counter-
clockwise to allow excess pressure to
escape.
X Turn cap 0043

further counter-clockwise and
remove it.
If the coolant is at the level of marker bar
0087

in the filler neck when cold, there is
enough coolant in coolant expansion
tank 0044.
If the coolant level is approximately 0.6 in
(1.5 cm) above marker bar 0087 in the filler
neck when warm, there is enough coolant
in coolant expansion tank 0044.
X If necessary, add coolant that has been
tested and approved by Mercedes-Benz.
X Replace cap 0043 and turn
it
clockwise as far
as it will go.
For further information on coolant, see
(Y page 354). Adding washer fluid to the windshield
washer system/headlamp cleaning
system G
WARNING
Washer solvent/antifreeze is highly
flammable. Do not spill washer solvent/
antifreeze on hot engine

parts, because it may
ignite and burn. You could be seriously
burned. Example: washer fluid reservoir
X
To open: pull cap 0043 upwards by the tab.
X Add the premixed washer fluid.
X To close: press cap
0043 onto
the filler neck
until it engages.
Further information on windshield washer
fluid/antifreeze ( Y page 356).
Brake fluid level !
If you notice that the brake fluid level in
the brake fluid reservoir has fallen to the
MIN mark or less, check the brake system
immediately for leaks. Also check the
thickness of the brake linings. Visit a
qualified specialist workshop immediately.
Do not add brake fluid. This does not
correct the error. 292
Engine compartment
Maintenance and care

Only check the brake fluid level when the
vehicle is on a level surface.
If the brake fluid level is between MIN
mark
0043 and MAX mark 0044
on the brake fluid
reservoir, it is correct. Maintenance
Service interval display
Service messages Information on the type of service and service
intervals (see the separate Maintenance
Booklet).
You can obtain further information from an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or at
http://www.mbusa.com (USA only).
The ASSYST service interval display informs
you of the next service due date.
If a service
due

date has been exceeded, you
also hear a warning tone.
The multifunction display shows a service
message for several seconds, e.g.:
Service A in 99999 Miles
Service A Due Now
Service A Exceeded By 99999 Miles Maintaining the time-dependent service
schedule:
X
Before disconnecting the battery, note
down the service due date displayed.
or:
X After reconnecting the battery, subtract
the battery disconnection periods

from the
service date shown on the display.
i The service interval display

should not be
confused with the 00B2 engine oil level
display.
The symbol and the letter indicate which type
of service is due:
0099 Minor service A
009B Major service B
The ASSYST service interval display does not
take into account any periods of time during
which the battery is disconnected.
Hiding a service message X
To hide the service message, press the
0041 back button on the multifunction
steering wheel ( Y page 31)(Y page 211).
Displaying service messages Use the buttons on the multifunction steering
wheel.
X
Switch on the ignition.
X Press 0080 or 007F to
select the standard
display menu on the steering wheel
(Y page 212).
X Select 0041 or 0068 to select the service
interval display.
The 0099 or 009B service symbol and the
service due date are displayed.
Points to note Arduous operating conditions or increased
loads on the
vehicle

will require some service
work to be performed more often than for a
vehicle in normal use. Such arduous
conditions include regular city driving with
frequent intermediate stops and use in Maintenance
293
Maintenance and care Z

mountainous terrain or on poor road
surfaces.
For example, if the vehicle is used under
arduous operating conditions,
have
air filters,
engine oil and oil filters changed frequently
and check the wheels often. Further
information can be obtained at a qualified
specialist workshop, e.g. an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center. Fuel/water separator
H
Environmental note
Dispose of service products in an
environmentally responsible manner.
! If you continue driving

without having the
fuel/water separator serviced, this could
cause damage to the engine. Any resulting
damage is not covered by the warranty.
If the fuel/water separator needs servicing,
the following message appears in the
multifunction display: You will also hear a brief warning tone.
X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop as
soon as possible. Care
General notes
Regular care of your

vehicle is a condition for
retaining the quality in the long term.
Use care products and cleaning agents
recommended and approved by Mercedes-
Benz. G
WARNING
Many cleaning products can be hazardous.
Some are poisonous, others are flammable.
Always follow the instructions on the
particular container. Always open your
vehicle's doors or windows

when cleaning the
inside.
Never use fluids or solvents that are not
designed for cleaning your vehicle.
Always lock away cleaning products and keep
them out of reach of children.
! For cleaning your vehicle, do not use any
of the following:
R dry, rough or hard cloths
R abrasive cleaning agents
R solvents
R cleaning agents containing solvents
Do not scrub.
Do not touch the surfaces or protective
films with hard objects, e.g. a ring or ice
scraper. You could otherwise scratch or
damage the surfaces and protective film. H
Environmental note
Dispose of empty packaging and cleaning
cloths in an environmentally responsible
manner.
! Do not park the vehicle for an extended
period straight after cleaning

it, particularly
after having cleaned the wheels with wheel
cleaner. Wheel cleaners could cause
increased corrosion of the brake discs and
brake pads/linings. For this reason, you
should drive for a few minutes after
cleaning. Braking heats the brake discs and
the brake pads/linings, thus drying them.
The vehicle can then be parked. 294
Care
Maintenance and care

X
Apply the parking brake.
X Bring the front wheels into the straight-
ahead position.
X Move the selector lever to position P.
X Switch off the engine.
X Remove the SmartKey from the ignition
lock.
The steering wheel lock stays active for as
long as the SmartKey is removed.
X All occupants must get out of the vehicle.
Make sure that they
are not endangered as
they do so.
X Make sure that no one is near the danger
area while a wheel is being changed.
Anyone who is not directly assisting in the
wheel change should, for example, stand
behind the barrier.
X Get out of the vehicle. Pay attention to
traffic conditions when doing so.
X Close the driver's door. Battery (vehicle)
Important safety notes
Special tools and expert knowledge are
required when working on the battery, e.g.
removal and installing. You should therefore
have all work involving

the battery carried out
at a qualified specialist workshop. G
WARNING
Work carried out incorrectly on the battery
can, for example, lead to a short circuit and
damage your vehicle's electronic

system. This
can disrupt driving safety systems such as
ABS (anti-lock braking system) or ESP ®
(Electronic Stability Program).
R If ABS malfunctions, the wheels can lock
during braking. This limits the steerability
of the vehicle when braking and the braking distance may increase. There is a risk of
accident.
R If ESP ®
malfunctions, the

vehicle will not be
stabilised if it starts to skid or a wheel starts
to spin. There is a risk of accident.
You should therefore have all work involving
the battery carried out at a qualified specialist
workshop. G
WARNING
During the charging process, a battery
produces hydrogen gas. If a short circuit
occurs or sparks are created, the hydrogen
gas can ignite. There

is a risk of an explosion.
R Make sure that the positive terminal of a
connected battery does not come into
contact with vehicle parts.
R Never place metal objects or tools on a
battery.
R It is important that you observe the
described order of the battery terminals
when connecting and disconnecting a
battery.
R When jump-starting, make sure that the
battery poles with identical polarity are
connected.
R It is particularly important to observe the
described order when connecting and
disconnecting the jumper cables.
R Never connect or disconnect the battery
terminals while the engine is running. G
WARNING
Electrostatic build-up can lead to the creation
of sparks, which could ignite the highly
explosive gases of a

battery. There is a risk of
an explosion.
Before handling the battery, touch the vehicle
body to remove any existing electrostatic
build-up. G
WARNING
Battery acid is caustic. There is a risk of injury.
Avoid contact with the

skin, eyes or clothing.
Do not inhale any battery gases. Do not lean Battery (vehicle)
305
Breakdown assistance
Z

over the battery. Keep children away from
batteries. Wash battery
acid
immediately with
water and seek medical attention.
! Have the battery checked regularly at a
qualified specialist workshop.
Observe the service intervals in the
Maintenance Booklet or contact a qualified
specialist workshop for more information.
! You should have all work involving the
battery carried out at a qualified specialist
workshop. In the exceptional case that it is
necessary for you to disconnect the battery
yourself, make sure that:
R you switch off the engine and remove the
SmartKey. Check that all the indicator
lamps in the instrument cluster are off.
Otherwise, electronic components, such
as the alternator, may be damaged.
R you first remove the negative terminal
clamp and then the positive terminal
clamp. Never swap the terminal clamps.
Otherwise, the vehicle's electronic
system may be damaged.
R on vehicles with automatic transmission,
the transmission is locked in position P
after disconnecting the battery. The
vehicle is secured against rolling away.
You can then no longer move the vehicle.
The battery and the cover of the positive
terminal clamp must be installed securely
during operation. H
Environmental note Batteries contain dangerous
substances. It is against the
law to dispose of them with
the household rubbish. They
must be collected
separately
and recycled to protect the
environment. Dispose of batteries in an
environmentally friendly
manner. Take discharged
batteries to a qualified
specialist workshop or a special collection point for
used batteries.
In order for the battery to achieve the
maximum possible service life,

it must always
be sufficiently charged.
Comply with safety precautions and take
protective measures when handling
batteries. WARNING
Avoid the creation of sparks and
heat.
Avoid fire, naked flames and
smoking. Creation of sparks.
Battery acid is caustic.
Avoid contact with the skin, eyes
or clothing.
Wear eye protection.
Keep children away.
Observe this Operator's Manual.
The vehicle battery, like other batteries, can
discharge over time if you do not use the
vehicle. In this case, have the battery
disconnected at a qualified specialist
workshop. You can also charge the battery
with a charger recommended by Mercedes-
Benz. Contact a qualified

specialist workshop
for further information.
Explosive gases are created during charging
and jump-starting.
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz
recommends that you only use batteries
which have been tested and approved for
your vehicle by Mercedes-Benz. These
batteries provide increased impact
protection to prevent vehicle occupants from 306
Battery (vehicle)
Breakdown assistance

suffering acid burns should the battery be
damaged in the event of an accident.
Have the battery charge level checked more
frequently if you use the vehicle mainly for
short trips or if you leave it standing idle for
a lengthy period.
Consult
a qualified specialist
workshop if you wish to leave your vehicle
parked up for a long period of time.
i Remove the SmartKey if you park the
vehicle and do not require any electrical
consumers. The vehicle will then use very
little energy, thus conserving battery
power.
i If the power supply has been interrupted,
e.g. due to a discharged battery, you will
have to:
R set the clock. Information on setting the
clock can be found in the separate
operating instructions.
On vehicles with COMAND and a
navigation system, the clock is set
automatically.
R reset the head restraints on the front
seats (Y page 87).
R reset the function for folding the exterior
mirrors in/out automatically, by folding
the mirrors out once ( Y page 93).Charging the battery
G
WARNING
During charging and jump-starting, explosive
gases can escape from

the battery. There is a
risk of an explosion.
Particularly avoid fire, naked flames, creating
sparks and smoking. Ensure there is sufficient
ventilation while charging and jump-starting.
Do not lean over a battery. G
WARNING
Battery acid is caustic. There is a risk of injury.
Avoid contact with the

skin, eyes or clothing.
Do not inhale any battery gases. Do not lean
over the battery. Keep children away from batteries. Wash battery acid immediately with
water and seek medical attention.
G
WARNING
A discharged battery can freeze at
temperatures below freezing point. When
jump-starting the vehicle or charging the
battery, gases can escape from the battery.
There is a risk of an explosion.
Allow the frozen battery to thaw out before
charging it or jump-starting.
! Only use battery chargers with a
maximum charging voltage of 14.8 V.
! Only charge the battery using the jump-
starting connection point.
Never charge a battery still installed in the
vehicle unless a battery charger unit
approved by Mercedes-Benz is being used.
A battery charger unit specially adapted for
Mercedes-Benz vehicles and tested and
approved by Mercedes-Benz is

available as an
accessory. It permits the charging of the
battery in its installed position. Contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center for
information and availability. Charge the
battery in accordance with the separate
instructions for the battery charger.
The jump-starting connection point is in the
engine compartment (Y page 308).
Read the battery charger's operating
instructions before charging the battery.
X Open the hood (Y page 289).
X Connect the battery charger to the positive
terminal and ground point in the same
order as when connecting the donor
battery in the jump-starting procedure
(Y page 308). Battery (vehicle)
307
Breakdown assistance Z

Jump-starting
G
WARNING
Battery acid is caustic. There is a risk of injury.
Avoid contact with the skin, eyes or clothing. Do not inhale any battery gases. Do not lean over
the battery. Keep children away from batteries. Wash battery acid immediately with water and
seek medical attention. G
WARNING
During charging and jump-starting, explosive gases can escape from the battery. There is a risk
of an explosion.
Particularly avoid fire, naked flames, creating sparks and smoking. Ensure there is sufficient
ventilation while charging and jump-starting. Do not lean over a battery. G
WARNING
During the charging process, a battery produces hydrogen gas. If a short circuit occurs or sparks
are created, the hydrogen gas can ignite. There is a risk of an explosion.
R Make sure that the positive terminal of a connected battery does not come into contact with
vehicle parts.
R Never place metal objects or tools on a battery.
R It is important that
you observe the described order of the battery terminals when connecting
and disconnecting a battery.
R When jump-starting, make sure that the battery poles with identical polarity are connected.
R It is particularly important to observe the described order when connecting and disconnecting
the jumper cables.
R Never connect or disconnect the battery terminals while the engine is running. G
WARNING
A discharged battery can freeze at temperatures below freezing point. When jump-starting the
vehicle or charging the

battery, gases can escape from the battery. There is a risk of an explosion.
Allow the frozen battery to thaw out before charging it or jump-starting. G
WARNING
Non-combusted fuel can collect in the exhaust system and ignite. There is a risk of fire. Avoid
repeated and lengthy starting attempts.
! Avoid repeated and lengthy starting attempts. Otherwise, non-combusted fuel may
damage the catalytic converter and create a risk of fire.
Do not use a rapid charging device to start the vehicle.
Make sure the jumper cables are not damaged.
Make sure the jumper cables are not touching any other metal objects when they are
connected to the battery. 308
Jump-starting
Breakdown assistance

If the indicator/warning lamps do not light up at temperatures around or below freezing point,
the discharged battery is likely to be frozen (a commonplace scenario). In this case, do not
jump-start the vehicle or recharge the battery.
Once the battery has thawed out, its service life may be dramatically reduced.
The starting characteristics can be impaired, particularly at low temperatures.
It is recommended that you have the thawed out battery checked at a qualified specialist
workshop.
Do not start
the
vehicle using a rapid charging device. If your vehicle's battery is discharged,
the engine can be jump-started from another vehicle or from a second battery using jumper
cables. Observe the following points:
R The battery is not accessible in all vehicles. If the other vehicle's battery is not accessible,
jump-start the vehicle using a second battery or a jump-starting device.
R Vehicles with a gasoline engine: only jump-start the vehicle when the engine and exhaust
system are cold.
R Do not start the engine if the battery is frozen. Let the battery thaw first.
R Jump-starting may only be performed from batteries with a nominal voltage of 12 V.
R Only use jumper cables which have a sufficient cross-section and insulated terminal clamps.
R If the battery is fully discharged, leave the battery that is being used to jump-start connected
for a few minutes before attempting to start. This charges the empty battery a little.
R Make sure that the two vehicles do not touch.
Make sure that:
R the jumper leads are not damaged.
R when the jumper cables are connected to the battery, uninsulated sections of the terminal
clamp do not come into contact with other metal sections.
R The jumper cables cannot come into contact with parts such as the pulley or the fan. These
parts move when the engine is started and while it is running.
X Apply the parking brake.
X Move the selector lever to position P.
X Switch off all electrical consumers (e.g. radio, blower, etc.).
X Open the hood (Y page 289). Jump-starting
309
Breakdown assistance Z