2016 MERCEDES-BENZ G-Class check engine light

ESP®(Electronic Stability Program)
Important safety notes
iObserve the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Ypage 55).
GWARNING
If ESP
®is malfunctioning, ESP®is unable to
stabilize the vehicle. Additionally, further driv-
ing safety systems are deactivated. This
increases the risk of skidding and an accident.
Drive on carefully. Have ESP
®checked at a
qualified specialist workshop.
!Only operate the vehicle for a maximum of
ten seconds on a brake test dynamometer.
Switch off the ignition.
Application of the brakes by ESP
®may oth-
erwise destroy the brake system.
!A function or performance test should only
be carried out on a two-axle dynamometer.
Before you operate the vehicle on such a
dynamometer, please consult a qualified
workshop. You could otherwise damage the
drive train or the brake system.
ESP
®monitors the driving stability and the trac-
tion. Traction is the power transmission
between the tires and the road surface.
ESP
®is deactivated if the åwarning lamp in
the instrument cluster lights up continuously
when the engine is running.
If the ÷ warning lamp and the åwarning
lamp are lit continuously, ESP
®is not available
due to a malfunction.
Observe the information on warning lamps
(
Ypage 207) and display messages which may
be displayed in the instrument cluster
(
Ypage 185).
If ESP®detects that the vehicle is deviating from
the direction desired by the driver, one or more
wheels are braked to stabilize the vehicle. If
necessary, the engine output is also modified to keep the vehicle on the desired course within
physical limits. ESP
®assists the driver when
pulling away on wet or slippery roads. ESP®can
also stabilize the vehicle during braking.
If ESP
®intervenes, the ÷warning lamp
flashes in the instrument cluster. If ESP
®intervenes:
XDo not deactivate ESP®under any circum-
stances.
XOnly depress the accelerator pedal as far as
necessary when pulling away.
XAdapt your driving style to suit the prevailing
road and weather conditions.
iOnly use wheels with the recommended tire
sizes. Only then will ESP®function properly.
iIf differential locks are switched on, ABS,
BAS and ESP®switch off automatically.
4ETS (Electronic Traction System)
Traction control remains active, even if you
deactivate ESP®.
XIf appropriate for the driving conditions,
engage the LOW RANGE off-road gear
(
Ypage 162).
Traction control is part of ESP
®.
Traction control brakes the drive wheels indi-
vidually if they spin. This enables you to pull
away and accelerate on slippery surfaces, for
example if the road surface is slippery on one
side. In addition, more drive torque is transfer-
red to the wheel or wheels with traction.
Traction control remains active, even if you
deactivate ESP
®.
Traction control is no longer active above a
speed of approximately 37 mph (60 km/h).
Traction control brakes the drive wheels indi-
vidually if they spin. This enables you to pull
away and accelerate on slippery surfaces, for
example if the road surface is slippery on one
side. In addition, more drive torque is transfer-
red to the wheel or wheels with traction.
Deactivating/activating ESP®
GWARNING
If you deactivate ESP
®, ESP®no longer sta-
bilizes the vehicle. There is an increased risk
of skidding and an accident.
Only deactivate ESP
®in the situations descri-
bed in the following.
!Avoid spinning the driven wheels for an
extended period with ESP®deactivated. You
could otherwise damage the drivetrain.
Driving safety systems57
Safety
Z

XTo deactivate:press button:until the
å warning lamp lights up in the instrument
cluster.
XTo activate: press button :until the å
warning lamp goes out in the instrument clus-
ter.
ESP
®is activated automatically when the engine
is started.
iVehicles with the ECO start/stop func-
tion: the ECO start/stop function automati-
cally switches the engine off when the vehicle comes to a stop. The engine starts automati-
cally when the driver wants to pull away again.
ESP
®remains in its previously selected sta-
tus. For example, if ESP®was deactivated
before the engine was switched off, ESP®
remains deactivated when the engine is
switched on again.
It may be best to deactivate ESP
®in the follow-
ing situations:
Rwhen using snow chains
Rin deep snow
Ron sand or gravel
If you deactivate ESP®:
RESP®no longer improves driving stability.
Rthe engine's torque is no longer limited and
the drive wheels can spin. The spinning of the wheels results in a cutting action, which pro-
vides better grip.
Rtraction control is still activated.
RESP®still provides support when you brake.
Rand are driving at above 37 mph (60 km/h)
(on AMG vehicles above 62 mph (100 km/h)),
ESP
®still intervenes when one wheel reaches
its grip limit even though it is deactivated.
iIf ESP®is deactivated and one or more
wheels start to spin, the ÷warning lamp in the instrument cluster flashes. In such situa-
tions, ESP
®will not stabilize the vehicle.
iIf ESP®is deactivated, it is reactivated auto-
matically if you are driving at above 37 mph
(60 km/h) (on AMG vehicles above 62 mph
(100 km/h)) or you exceed a certain lateral
acceleration.
Trailer stabilization
GWARNING
If road and weather conditions are poor,
trailer stabilization will not be able to prevent
the vehicle/trailer combination from swerv-
ing. Trailers with a high center of gravity can
tip over before ESP
®can detect this. There is
a risk of an accident.
Always adapt your driving style to the prevail-
ing road and weather conditions.
Trailer stabilization does not work if ESP
®is
deactivated because of a malfunction.
If your vehicle with trailer (vehicle/trailer com-
bination) begins to lurch, you can only stabilize
the vehicle/trailer combination by depressing
the brake firmly.
In this situation, ESP
®assists you and can
detect if the vehicle/trailer combination begins
to lurch. ESP
®slows the vehicle down by brak-
ing and limiting the engine output until the vehi-
cle/trailer combination has stabilized.
Trailer stabilization is active above speeds of
about 37 mph (60 km/h).
EBD (electronic brake force distribu-
tion)
i
Observe the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion (Ypage 55).
GWARNING
If EBD is malfunctioning, the rear wheels can
lock, e.g. under full braking. This increases the
risk of skidding and an accident.
You should therefore adapt your driving style
to the different handling characteristics. Have
the brake system checked at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
58Driving safety systems
Safety

Problems with the SmartKey
ProblemPossible causes/consequences andMSolutions
You cannot lock or
unlock the vehicle using
the SmartKey.The SmartKey battery is discharged or nearly discharged.
XPoint the tip of the SmartKey at the driver's door handle from a
distance of approximately 1.5 ft (50 cm) and try to unlock or lock the
vehicle again.
If this does not work:
XCheck the SmartKey battery (Ypage 62) and replace it if necessary
(Ypage 62).
XUnlock (Ypage 66) or lock (Ypage 66) the vehicle using the
mechanical key.
The SmartKey is faulty.
XLock or unlock the vehicle using the mechanical key (Ypage 66).
XHave the SmartKey checked at a qualified specialist workshop.
You have lost a Smart-
Key.XHave the SmartKey deactivated at a qualified specialist workshop.
XReport the loss immediately to the vehicle insurers.
XIf necessary, have the locks changed as well.
You have lost the
mechanical key.XReport the loss immediately to the vehicle insurers.
XIf necessary, have the locks changed as well.
The engine cannot be
started using the Smart-
Key.The SmartKey has been in position 0(Ypage 112) for a considerable
time.
XRemove the SmartKey and reinsert it into the ignition lock.
XStart the engine.
The on-board voltage is too low.
XSwitch off non-essential consumers, e.g. seat heating or interior
lighting, and try to turn the SmartKey again.
If this does not work:
XCheck the battery and charge it if necessary (Ypage 252).
or
XJump-start the vehicle (Ypage 254).
or
XConsult a qualified specialist workshop.
SmartKey63
Opening and closing
Z

Wear suitable footwear to ensure correct
usage of the pedals.
GWARNING
If you switch off the ignition while driving,
safety-relevant functions are only available
with limitations, or not at all. This could affect, for example, the power steering and the brake
boosting effect. You will require considerably
more effort to steer and brake. There is a risk
of an accident.
Do not switch off the ignition while driving.
GWARNING
If the parking brake has not been fully
released when driving, the parking brake can:
Roverheat and cause a fire
Rlose its hold function.
There is a risk of fire and an accident. Release
the parking brake fully before driving off.
!Warm up the engine quickly. Do not use the
engine's full performance until it has reached
operating temperature.
Only shift the automatic transmission to the
desired drive position when the vehicle is sta-
tionary.
Where possible, avoid spinning the drive
wheels when pulling away on slippery roads.
You could otherwise damage the drive train.
!Avoid high engine speeds when the engine
is cold. The engine's service life could other-
wise be significantly shortened. Do not use
the engine's full performance until it has
reached operating temperature.
!AMG vehicles: at low engine oil tempera-
tures below 68 ‡ (+20 †), the maximum
engine speed is restricted in order to protect the engine. To protect the engine and main-
tain smooth engine operation, avoid driving at
full throttle when the engine is cold.
SmartKey positions
gTo remove the SmartKey
1Power supply for some consumers, such as
the windshield wipers
2Ignition (power supply for all consumers)
and drive position
3To start the engine
As soon as the ignition is switched on, all the
indicator lamps in the instrument cluster light
up. If an indicator lamp does not go out after
starting the engine or lights up while driving, see
(
Ypage 205).
If the SmartKey is in position 0in the ignition
lock for an extended period of time, it can no
longer be turned in the ignition lock. The steer-
ing is then locked. To unlock, remove the Smart-
Key and reinsert it into the ignition lock.
The steering is locked when you remove the
SmartKey from the ignition lock.
XRemove the SmartKey when the engine is
switched off.
The starter battery could otherwise be dis-
charged.
If you cannot turn the SmartKey in the ignition
lock, the starter battery may not be charged
sufficiently.
XCheck the starter battery and charge it if nec-
essary (Ypage 252).
or
XJump-start the vehicle (Ypage 254).
iYou can only remove the SmartKey if:
Rthe SmartKey is in position 0in the ignition
lock.
Rthe automatic transmission selector lever
is in P.
112Driving
Driving and parking

ProblemPossible causes/consequences andMSolutions
The coolant temperature
gage shows a value
above 248 ‡ (120 †). A
display message may
also appear in the multi-
function display and a
warning tone may sound.The coolant level is too low. The coolant is too hot and the engine is no
longer being cooled sufficiently.
XStop as soon as possible and allow the engine and the coolant to
cool down.
XCheck the coolant level (Ypage 238). Observe the warning notes
as you do so and add coolant if necessary.
If the coolant level is correct, the radiator fan may be faulty. The cool-
ant is too hot and the engine is no longer being cooled sufficiently.
XAt coolant temperatures below 248 ‡(120 †), drive to the nearest
qualified specialist workshop.
XAvoid heavy loads on the engine as you do so, e.g. driving in moun-
tainous terrain and stop-and-go traffic.
Adjustable damping
General notes
With the adjustable damping you can choose
between two different suspension settings.
Suspension settings
COMFComfortable suspension setting
SportSports suspension setting
Selecting the suspension setting
Program selector button in the center console
iIf you select the sports suspension setting,
the vehicle will dampen more roughly.
XPress SPORT on program selector button :.
The indicator lamp lights up. SPORTis shown
in the multifunction display. The sports sus-
pension setting is selected.
iIf you select the comfortable suspension
setting, the vehicle will dampen more
smoothly.
XPress COMF on program selector button :.
The indicator lamp lights up. COMFis shown
in the multifunction display. The comfortable
suspension setting is selected.
Automatic transmission
Important safety notes
GWARNING
If the engine speed is above the idling speed
and you engage transmission position Dor R,
the vehicle could pull away suddenly. There is
a risk of an accident.
When engaging transmission position Dor R,
always firmly depress the brake pedal and do not simultaneously accelerate.
GWARNING
The automatic transmission switches to neu-
tral position Nwhen you switch off the engine.
The vehicle may roll away. There is a risk of an
accident.
After switching off the engine, always switch
to parking position P. Prevent the parked vehi-
cle from rolling away by applying the parking
brake.
118Automatic transmission
Driving and parking

iBear in mind that the power transmission
between the engine and the transmission is
interrupted when the engine is switched off.
For this reason, shift the automatic transmis-
sion to Pwhen the engine is switched off and
the vehicle is at a standstill. Apply the parking
brake to prevent the vehicle from rolling
away.
Selector lever
Overview of transmission positions
!If the engine speed is too high or if the vehi-
cle is rolling, do not shift the transmission
directly from Dto R, from Rto Dor directly to
P.
Do not open the driver's door while the vehi-
cle is in motion. At low speeds in transmission
position Dor R, park position Pis otherwise
engaged automatically.
The transmission could be damaged.
Selector lever
j
Park position
kReverse gear
iNeutral
hDrive
When you select a transmission position, the
selector lever subsequently returns to its origi-
nal position.
The current transmission position P,R, Nor D
appears in the transmission position display in
the multifunction display.
Transmission position and drive pro-
gram display
!If the transmission position display in the
multifunction display is not working, you should pull away carefully to check whether
the desired transmission position is engaged.
Select transmission position D. Do not
restrict the shift range.
:Transmission position
;Drive program
Current transmission position :and current
drive program ;appear in the multifunction
display.
The current position of the selector lever is
shown by the indicators next to the selector
lever.
The indicators light up when the SmartKey is
inserted into the ignition lock. The indicators go
out when the SmartKey is removed from the
ignition lock.
When the selector lever is in position D, you can
influence the gearshifts made by the automatic
transmission by:
Rrestricting the shift range
Rchanging gear yourself
Engaging park position P
XWhen the vehicle is stationary, depress the
brake pedal and keep it depressed.
XPress the Pbutton in the center console.
iIf you depress the brake pedal and push the
selector lever forwards or back to the first
point of resistance, park position Pis disen-
gaged. The transmission shifts to neutral N.
Automatic transmission119
Driving and parking
Z

!Overfilling the fuel tank could damage the
fuel system.
!Take care not to spill any fuel on painted
surfaces. You could otherwise damage the
paintwork.
!Use a filter when refueling from a fuel can.
Otherwise, the fuel lines and/or injection sys-
tem could be blocked by particles from the
fuel can.
If you overfill the fuel tank, pressure may build
up in the fuel tank. This could cause fuel to spray
out when the fuel pump nozzle is removed.
There is a risk of injury. The fuel tank is full when
the fuel pump nozzle first switches off. End the
refueling process.
For further information on fuel and fuel quality
(
Ypage 289).
Refueling
Vehicles with a fuel filler flap
Example: G 550 fuel filler cap
:
To open the fuel filler flap
;Tire pressure table
=Fuel type
?To insert the fuel filler cap
When you open or close the vehicle with the
SmartKey, the fuel filler flap is automatically
unlocked or locked.
The position of the fuel filler cap is displayed
8 in the instrument cluster. The arrow next
to the filling pump indicates the side of the vehi-
cle. The fuel filler flap is located to the rear on
the right.
Opening the fuel filler cap
:To open the fuel filler flap
;Tire pressure table
=Fuel type
?To insert the fuel filler cap
XSwitch the engine off.
iWhen the engine is running and the fuel filler
flap is open, the yellow reserve fuel warning
lamp and the =(USA only) or ;(Can-
ada only) Check Engine warning lamp may
light up.
Further information about warning and indi-
cator lamps in the instrument cluster can be
found in the Digital Operator's Manual.
XRemove the SmartKey from the ignition lock.
XTurn the fuel filler cap counterclockwise and
remove it.
XInsert the fuel filler cap into the holder
bracket on the inside of filler flap ?.
Refueling
XCompletely insert the filler neck of the fuel
pump nozzle into the tank and refuel.
iDo not add any more fuel after the pump
stops filling for the first time. Otherwise, fuel
may leak out.
Closing
XReplace the fuel filler cap and turn it clock-
wise. The fuel filler cap audibly engages.
XClose the fuel filler flap.
iClose the fuel filler flap before locking the
vehicle. A locking pin otherwise prevents the
fuel filler flap from closing after the vehicle
has been locked.
128Refueling
Driving and parking

Never use the brake pedal as a footrest. Never
depress the brake pedal and the accelerator
pedal at the same time.
!Depressing the brake pedal constantly
results in excessive and premature wear to
the brake pads.
If the brakes have been subjected to a heavy
load, do not stop the vehicle immediately, but
drive on for a short while. This allows the airflow
to cool the brakes more quickly.
Wet roads
If driving in heavy rain for a prolonged period of time without braking, there may be a delayed
reaction from the brakes when braking for the
first time. This may also occur after the vehicle
has been washed.
You have to depress the brake pedal more
firmly. Maintain a greater distance from the
vehicle in front.
After driving on a wet road or having the vehicle washed, brake firmly while paying attention to
the traffic conditions. This will warm up the
brake discs, thereby drying them more quickly
and protecting them against corrosion.
Limited braking performance on salt-
treated roads
If you drive on salted roads, a layer of salt resi-
due may form on the brake discs and brake
pads. This can result in a significantly longer
braking distance.
RBrake occasionally to remove any possible
salt residue. Make sure that you do not
endanger other road users when doing so.
RCarefully depress the brake pedal and the
beginning and end of a journey.
RMaintain a greater distance to the vehicle
ahead.
Servicing the brakes
!If the brake warning lamp lights up in the
instrument cluster and you hear a warning
tone even though the parking brake has been released, the brake fluid level may be too low.
Observe additional warning messages in the
multifunction display.
The brake fluid level may be too low due to
brake pad wear or leaking brake lines. Have the brake system checked immediately.
This work should be carried out at a qualified
specialist workshop.
!A function or performance test should only
be carried out on a 2-axle dynamometer. If
you are planning to have the vehicle tested on
such a dynamometer, contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center to obtain further infor-
mation first. Otherwise, you could damage
the drive train or the brake system.
!As the ESP®system operates automatically,
the engine and the ignition must be switched
off (the SmartKey must be in position 0or 1in
the ignition lock) if the parking brake is tested
on a brake dynamometer (for a maximum of
ten seconds).
Braking applications triggered automatically
by ESP
®may otherwise seriously damage the
brake system.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you only have
brake pads/linings installed on your vehicle
which have been approved for Mercedes-Benz
vehicles or which correspond to an equivalent
quality standard. Brake pads/linings which have
not been approved for Mercedes-Benz vehicles
or which are not of an equivalent quality could
affect your vehicle's operating safety.
Mercedes-Benz recommends that you only use
brake fluid that has been specially approved for
your vehicle by Mercedes-Benz, or which corre-
sponds to an equivalent quality standard. Brake
fluid which has not been approved for
Mercedes-Benz vehicles or which is not of an
equivalent quality could affect your vehicle's
operating safety.
All checks and maintenance work on the brake
system must be carried out at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
Have brake pads installed and brake fluid
replaced at a qualified specialist workshop.
If your brake system is subject only to moderate
loads, you should test the functionality of your
brakes at regul ar interva
ls by pressing firmly on
the brake pedal at high speeds. This improves
the grip of the brake pads.
You can find a description of Brake Assist (BAS)
on (
Ypage 56).
134Driving tips
Driving and parking