2016 MERCEDES-BENZ GLS SUV automatic transmission

The vehicle is raised by 30 mm.
The vehicle changes from the Offroaddrive pro-
gram to the Comfortdrive program if you drive
faster than 110 km/h.
The Please Please reduce
reducespeed
speedmessage appears in
the multifunction display.
Offroad Plus drive program :
DYNAMIC SELECT controller
; Offroad Plus drive program indicator lamp
Select the Offroad Plus drive program for rough
terrain, e.g. for steep and/or uneven terrain or
for driving on rocky terrain.
Your vehicle has an automatically activated dif-
ferential lock for the transfer case. It controls
the balance between the front and rear axles.
The differential lock improves the vehicle's trac-
tion. 4ETS (Y page 72) controls the balance
between both wheels on an axle.
Selecting the Offroad Plus drive program X To select a drive program: turn DYNAMIC
SELECT controller :until indicator lamp ;
lights up.
The Drive program "Offroad Plus"
Drive program "Offroad Plus"
Max. speed 40 km/h
Max. speed 40 km/h message appears in
the multifunction display.
R The Offroad Plus drive program is selected
and the vehicle is raised by 30 mm com-
pared with the Offroaddrive program.
R DSR is switched on.
R The differential lock is closed.
You can select the Offroad Plus drive program at speeds below 40 km/h.
The Offroad Plus drive program automatically
switches to the Offroad drive program if you
drive faster than 45 km/h. ThePlease
Please reduce reduce
speed
speed message appears in the multifunction
display. Further information about "Driving off-road"
(Y
page 176).
LOW RANGE offroad gear (vehicles with
the Off-Road Engineering package) Important safety notes
G
WARNING
If you select the LOW RANGE off-road gear on a slippery road surface, the wheels could lose traction:
R if you release the accelerator pedal when
the vehicle is in motion
R if Off-road ABS intervenes when braking
If the wheels lose traction, it will no longer be
possible to steer the vehicle. This increases
the risk of skidding and having an accident.
Never select the LOW RANGE off-road gear
when driving on slippery road surfaces. G
WARNING
If you do not wait for the transfer case gear
change process to complete, the transfer
case could remain in the neutral position. The power transmission to the driven wheels is
then interrupted. There is a danger of the
vehicle rolling away unintentionally. There is a
risk of an accident.
Wait until the transfer case shift process is
completed.
Do not turn off the engine while changing gear
and do not shift the automatic transmission to
another position. 230
Driving systemsDriving and parking

General notes
:
LOW RANGE offroad gear button
; LOW RANGE offroad gear indicator lamp HIGH RANGE
Position for all normal on-
road driving conditions.
LOW RANGE
Off-road position for driving
off-road and fording.
The transmission ratio
between the engine and
wheels is only approx-
imately one third of that in
the HIGH RANGE road posi-
tion. The drive torque is cor-
respondingly higher as a
result.
Do not use LOW RANGE:
R on slippery road surfaces,
e.g. in the event of slush
R on snow or ice-covered
roads
R if you have snow chains
on your vehicle The LOW RANGE offroad gear assists you when
driving off-road and when fording. When LOW
RANGE is engaged, the engine’s performance
characteristics and the gearshifting character-
istics of the automatic transmission are adapted
for this purpose.
Further information about "Driving off-road"
(Y page 176). You will find information about
driving safety systems in conjunction with
LOW RANGE in the "Safety" section (Y page 68).From HIGH RANGE to LOW RANGE
! Only change from HIGH RANGE to LOW
RANGE if:
R the engine is running
R the transmission is in position N
R you are driving at speeds below 40 km/h
X Press LOW RANGE button :.
Indicator lamp ;flashes.
When the gear change is complete, indicator
lamp ;lights up. LOW RANGE indicator
appears in the multifunction display and in the
status indicator.
While indicator lamp ;is flashing, you can
cancel the gear change by pressing LOW
RANGE button :again.
i You cannot activate LOW RANGE if the
SPORT drive program is activated. The LOW LOW
RANGE RANGE Not Notin
indrive
drive program
program SPORT
SPORTmes-
sage then appears in the multifunction dis-
play.
From LOW RANGE to HIGH RANGE ! Only change from HIGH RANGE to LOW
RANGE if:
R the engine is running
R the transmission is in position N
R if you are driving at speeds below
70 km/h X
Press LOW RANGE button :.
Indicator lamp ;flashes.
When the gear change is complete, indicator
lamp ;goes out. In the multifunction dis-
play, the LOW RANGE Off
LOW RANGE Off message appears
and the status indicator goes out.
While indicator lamp ;is flashing, you can
cancel the gear change by pressing LOW
RANGE button :again. Driving systems
231Driving and parking Z

Vehicles with the AIRMATIC package
!
Before beginning the journey, make sure
that the trailer support wheel is completely
raised. Otherwise, the trailer or the vehicle
could be damaged by the lowered trailer sup- port wheel during the journey.
X Shift the transmission to position P.
X Apply the electric parking brake.
X Start the engine.
X Vehicles with the Off-Road Engineering
package:
set the vehicle level to normal level
(Y page 192).
X Vehicles without the Off-Road Engineer-
ing package: select theComfortdrive pro-
gram using the DYNAMIC SELECT controller
(Y page 197).
X Switch off the engine.
X Close the doors and tailgate.
X Position the trailer horizontally behind the
vehicle.
X Couple up the trailer.
X Establish the electrical connection between
the vehicle and the trailer.
X Check that the trailer lighting system is work-
ing.
X Push the combination switch upwards and
downwards and check whether the corre-
sponding turn signal indicator on the trailer is
flashing.
A connected trailer is only detected when the
electrical connection is established correctly
and when the lighting system is working prop-
erly. The function of other systems also depends on this, for example:
R ESP ®
R Parking Assist PARKTRONIC
R Parking Pilot
R Active Blind Spot Assist
R Active Lane Keeping Assist
i Vehicles with the AIRMATIC package:
if
you couple up a trailer, the vehicle initially
remains at the selected level of the drive pro- gram set. Observe the following when cou-
pling up a trailer:
R If the normal level was not selected previ-
ously, the vehicle automatically adopts the normal level starting from a speed of 30 km/h. Even at higher speeds, it does not
drop below the normal level.
R Vehicle levels below the normal level are
not available.
R The raised level is available up to a speed of
30 km/h.
R This also applies when using accessories
that are plugged into the socket of the
trailer tow hitch (e.g. a bicycle rack).
R Before driving with a trailer, please observe
the information on the trailer support
wheel. Uncoupling a trailer
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If you uncouple a trailer with an engaged over- run brake, you could trap your hand between
the vehicle and the trailer drawbar. This poses a risk of injury.
Do not uncouple a trailer with an engaged
overrun brake. G
WARNING
Vehicles with level control:
If you disconnect the trailer cable, the vehicle is lowered. This can cause you or others to
become trapped between the vehicle body
and tyres, or underneath the vehicle. This
poses a risk of injury.
Make sure that no-one is in the immediate
vicinity of the wheel arch or underneath the
vehicle when disconnecting the trailer cable.
! Do not disconnect a trailer with an engaged
overrun brake. Otherwise, your vehicle could
be damaged by the rebounding of the overrun
brake.
! Remove the adapter cable before folding in
the ball coupling. You could otherwise dam-
age the rear bumper and the adapter cable.
Vehicles with the AIRMATIC package X
Shift the transmission to position P.
X Apply the electric parking brake. Towing a trailer
237Driving and parking Z

Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions T!
÷
inoperative inoperative See
SeeOwn‐
Own‐
er's Man.
er's Man. EBD (electronic brake force distribution), ABS and ESP
®
are faulty.
Other driving and driving safety systems may also be malfunctioning. In addition, the ÷,åand! warning lamps light up in the
instrument cluster and a warning tone sounds.
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 affected. The braking distance may increase in an emergency braking situation.
If ESP ®
is not operational, ESP ®
is unable to stabilise the vehicle.
There is an increased danger of skidding and risk of an accident.
X Drive on carefully.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop immediately. !
Turn on the igni‐ Turn on the igni‐
tion tion
to
torelease
release the
the
parking brake
parking brake The red
!indicator lamp lights up.
You attempted to release the electric parking brake while the ignition
was switched off.
X Key: turn the key to position 1in the ignition lock.
X KEYLESS-GO: switch on the ignition. !
Release parking Release parking
brake brake The red
!indicator lamp flashes and a warning tone sounds. A
condition for automatic release of the electric parking brake is not
fulfilled (Y page 170).
You are driving with the electric parking brake applied.
X Release the electric parking brake manually. The red
!indicator lamp flashes and a warning tone sounds.
You are making an emergency stop using the electric parking brake
(Y page 170). !
Parking brake See Parking brake See
Owner's Manual Owner's Manual The yellow
!warning lamp lights up.
The electric parking brake is malfunctioning.
To apply:
X Switch the ignition off.
X Press the electric parking brake lever for at least ten seconds.
X Shift the transmission to position P.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. Display
messages
261On-board computer and displays Z

Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions The yellow
!warning lamp and the red !indicator lamp are lit.
The electric parking brake is malfunctioning.
To release:
X Turn the ignition off and then back on.
X Release the electric parking brake manually.
or
X Release the electric parking brake automatically (Y page 170).
If the electric parking brake still cannot be released:
X Do not drive on.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. The red
!indicator lamp flashes and the yellow !warning lamp
is lit.
The electric parking brake is malfunctioning.
To release:
X Turn the ignition off and then back on.
X Release the electric parking brake manually.
To apply: X Turn the ignition off and then back on.
X Apply the electric parking brake manually.
If the red !indicator lamp continues to flash:
X Do not drive on.
X Secure the vehicle against rolling away (Y page 370).
X Shift the transmission to position P.
X Turn the front wheels towards the kerb.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. The yellow
!warning lamp lights up. The red !indicator lamp
flashes for about ten seconds after the electric parking brake has been applied or released. It then goes out or remains lit.
The electric parking brake is malfunctioning.
X Turn the ignition off and then back on.
X Apply the electric parking brake.
If you cannot apply the electric parking brake:
X Shift the transmission to position P.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop.
If it is not possible to release the electric parking brake:
X Release the electric parking brake automatically (Y page 170).
If the electric parking brake still cannot be released:
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. 262
Display
messagesOn-board computer and displays

Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions ACTIVE
ACTIVE
CURVE
CURVESYSTEM
SYSTEM
malfunctioning see
malfunctioning see
Owner's Manual Owner's Manual The ACTIVE CURVE SYSTEM is faulty. The vehicle's handling charac-
teristics are severely impaired. A warning tone also sounds.
G WARNING
There is a risk of an accident.
X Drive on carefully.
X Adjust your driving style to the altered handling characteristics.
X Avoid sudden acceleration in tight corners and quick steering move-
ments.
X Do not drive at speeds above 80 km/h.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop immediately. 8
Different. lock Different. lock
sys. Malfunction sys. Malfunction The differential lock is faulty.
X Do not drive at speeds above 80 km/h.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. 8
Different. locking Different. locking
sys. cooling down sys. cooling down
Please wait Please wait The differential lock is too hot and has been disengaged.
X Drive on carefully.
X Allow the differential lock to cool down.
The differential lock re-engages as soon as it has cooled down. LOW RANGE Stop LOW RANGE Stop
Apply parking brake Apply parking brake A gearshift process has been cancelled. LOW RANGE is in the neutral
position. There is no connection between the engine and the drive
wheels.
X Pull over and stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying
attention to road and traffic conditions.
X Apply the electric parking brake. Do not continue driving.
X Repeat the gearshift process. LOW RANGE Malfunc‐
LOW RANGE Malfunc‐
tion tion
To
Topark,
park, apply
apply
parking brake
parking brake LOW RANGE is malfunctioning.
X Do not drive at speeds above 80 km/h.
X When parking, safeguard the vehicle against rolling away
(Y page 168).
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. LOW RANGE max. LOW RANGE max.
speed 40 km/h speed 40 km/h You have exceeded the maximum speed for the gearshift process.
X Drive more slowly.
The gear change is made. LOW RANGE max. LOW RANGE max.
speed 70 km/h speed 70 km/h You have exceeded the maximum speed for the gearshift process.
X Drive more slowly.
The gear change is made. LOW RANGE Shift to LOW RANGE Shift to
position N briefly position N briefly You have reduced the vehicle speed, but the automatic transmission
is not in position N.
X Briefly shift the automatic transmission to position N. Display
messages
277On-board computer and displays Z

Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions Wheel sensor(s)
Wheel sensor(s)
missing missing There is no signal from the tyre pressure sensor of one or several
wheels. The pressure of the affected tyre is not displayed in the mul-
tifunction display.
X Have the faulty tyre pressure sensor replaced at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop. Tyre Tyre
press.
press. monitor
monitor
inoperative No
inoperative No
wheel sensors wheel sensors The wheels fitted do not have suitable tyre pressure sensors. The tyre
pressure monitor is deactivated.
X Fit wheels with suitable tyre pressure sensors.
The tyre pressure monitor is activated automatically after driving for
a few minutes. Tyre Tyre
press.
press. monitor
monitor
inoperative
inoperative The tyre pressure monitor is faulty.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. Vehicle
Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions To start engine,
To start engine,
shift to either P shift to either P
or N or N You have attempted to start the engine with the transmission in posi-
tion Ror D.
X Shift the transmission to position Por N. Apply
Apply
brake
braketo
todese‐
dese‐
lect Park (P) posi‐
lect Park (P) posi‐
tion tion You have attempted to shift the transmission to position
D,Ror N
without depressing the brake pedal.
X Depress the brake pedal. To shift out of P
To shift out of P
or or
N,
N,depress
depress brake
brake
and start engine
and start engine With the engine switched off, you have attempted to shift the trans-
mission out of position Por Ninto another transmission position.
X Depress the brake pedal.
X Start the engine. Risk of vehicle
Risk of vehicle
rolling Transmis‐ rolling Transmis‐
sion not in P sion not in P The driver's door is open/not fully closed and the transmission is in
position R,Nor D.
A warning tone also sounds.
G WARNING
The vehicle may roll away.
There is a risk of an accident.
X Shift the transmission to position P.
X Secure the vehicle against rolling away (Y page 168).
X Close the driver's door fully. Only select Park Only select Park
(P) (P)
when
when vehicle
vehicle is
is
stationary
stationary The vehicle is moving.
X
Stop the vehicle safely as soon as possible, paying attention to road
and traffic conditions.
X Shift the transmission to position P. Display
messages
285On-board computer and displays Z

Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions Without changing
Without changing
gear, consult work‐ gear, consult work‐
shop shop You cannot change the transmission position due to a malfunction.
A warning tone also sounds.
If transmission position
Dis selected:
X Drive to a qualified specialist workshop without shifting the trans-
mission from position D.
If transmission position R,Nor Pis selected:
X Secure the vehicle against rolling away (Y page 168).
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. Reversing Reversing
not
not poss.
poss.
Consult workshop
Consult workshop You cannot shift to transmission position
Rdue to a malfunction.
The transmission positions P,Nor Dcontinue to be available.
A warning tone also sounds.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. Transmission Mal‐
Transmission Mal‐
function Stop function Stop A malfunction has occurred in the mechanical transmission compo-
nents.
A warning tone also sounds. The transmission shifts automatically to position N.
X Stop the vehicle, paying attention to road and traffic conditions.
X Shift the transmission to position P.
X Safeguard the vehicle against rolling away (Y page 168).
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. Auxiliary battery Auxiliary battery
malfunction malfunction The auxiliary battery for the automatic transmission is no longer being
charged.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop.
X Until then, set the automatic transmission to position Pbefore you
switch off the engine.
X Before leaving the vehicle, apply the electric parking brake. A The tailgate is open.
G WARNING
When the engine is running, exhaust gases can enter the vehicle inte- rior if the tailgate is open.
There is a risk of poisoning.
X Close the tailgate. 286
Display
messagesOn-board computer and displays