2016 MERCEDES-BENZ GLS SUV brake light

R
you brake hard.
R you steer actively, e.g. swerve to avoid an
obstacle or change lane quickly.
R you cut the corner on a sharp bend.
Towing a trailer
If you couple up a trailer, make sure that you
have correctly established the electrical con-
nection. This can be accomplished by checking
the trailer lighting. Lane-correcting brake appli-
cation does not take place when towing a trailer.
Active Lane Keeping Assist is not activated and the lines in the assistance graphic are grey. Off-road driving systems
4MATIC (permanent all-wheel drive) 4MATIC ensures that all four wheels are perma-
nently driven. Together with ESP ®
and 4ETS, it
improves the traction of your vehicle whenever
a drive wheel spins due to insufficient grip.
If you fail to adapt your driving style, 4MATIC can
neither reduce the risk of an accident nor over-
ride the laws of physics. 4MATIC cannot take
account of road, weather and traffic conditions.
4MATIC is only an aid. You are responsible for
the distance to the vehicle in front, for vehicle
speed, for braking in good time and for staying in
lane.
! Never tow the vehicle with one axle raised.
This may damage the transfer case. Damage
of this sort is not covered by the Mercedes-
Benz implied warranty. All wheels must
remain either on the ground or be fully raised. Observe the instructions for towing the vehi-
cle with all wheels in full contact with the
ground.
! A function or performance test should only
be carried out on a twin-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.
i In wintry driving conditions, the maximum
effect of 4MATIC can only be achieved if you
use winter tyres (M+S tyres), with snow
chains if necessary.
Further information about "Driving off-road"
(Y page 176). DSR (Downhill Speed Regulation) General notes
DSR is an aid to assist you when driving down-
hill. It keeps the speed of travel at the speed
selected on the on-board computer. The steeper
the downhill gradient, the greater the DSR brak- ing effect on the vehicle. When driving on flat
stretches of road or on an uphill gradient, the
DSR braking effect is minimal or non-existent.
DSR controls the vehicle’s speed when it is acti-
vated and the transmission is in position D,Ror
N. By accelerating or braking, you can always
drive at a higher or a lower speed than that set
on the on-board computer.
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If the speed driven and the set speed deviate and you activate DSR on a slippery road sur-
face, the wheels may lose traction. This
increases the risk of skidding and having an
accident.
Before switching DSR on, please take into
consideration the road surface and the differ-
ence between driving speed and the set
speed.
If you fail to adapt your driving style, DSR can
neither reduce the risk of accident nor override the laws of physics. DSR cannot take account ofroad, weather and traffic conditions. DSR is only
an aid. You are responsible for the distance to
the vehicle in front, for vehicle speed, for brak-
ing in good time and for staying in lane.
You are always responsible for keeping control
of the vehicle and for assessing whether the
downhill gradient can be managed. DSR may not
always be able to keep to the set speed, depend-
ing on road surface and tyre conditions. Select a set speed suitable for the prevailing conditions
and when necessary, apply the brakes manually. Driving systems
227Driving 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

Safety systems
Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions !÷
currently unavaila‐
currently unavaila‐
ble ble See
SeeOwner's
Owner's Man‐
Man‐
ual
ual ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) and ESP
®
(Electronic Stability Pro-
gram) are temporarily unavailable.
Other driving and driving safety systems may also be malfunctioning.
In addition, the ÷,åand! warning lamps light up in the
instrument cluster.
Possible causes:
R Self-diagnosis is not yet complete.
R The on-board voltage may be insufficient.
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 Carefully drive on a suitable stretch of road, making slight steering
movements at a speed above 20 km/h.
If the display message disappears, the functions mentioned above
are available again.
If the multifunction display still shows the display message: X Drive on carefully.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop immediately. !÷
inoperative inoperative See
See Own‐
Own‐
er's Man.
er's Man. ABS and ESP
®
are malfunctioning.
Other driving and driving safety systems may also be malfunctioning.
In addition, the J,÷,åand! warning lamps light up in
the instrument cluster.
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. Display messages
259On-board computer and displays Z

Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions ÷
currently unavaila‐ currently unavaila‐
ble ble
See
SeeOwner's
Owner's Man‐
Man‐
ual
ual ESP
®
is temporarily unavailable.
Other driving and driving safety systems may also be malfunctioning. In addition, the ÷andå warning lamps light up in the instru-
ment cluster.
The self-diagnosis function, for example, may not be complete.
ATTENTION ASSIST is deactivated.
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 braking distance may thus increase in an emergency braking sit-
uation.
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 Carefully drive on a suitable stretch of road, making slight steering
movements at a speed above 20 km/h.
If the display message disappears, the functions mentioned above are available again.
If the multifunction display still shows the display message:
X Drive on carefully.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop immediately. ÷
inoperative inoperative
See SeeOwn‐
Own‐
er's Man.
er's Man. ESP
®
is malfunctioning.
Other driving and driving safety systems may also be malfunctioning. In addition, the ÷andå warning lamps light up in the instru-
ment cluster.
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 braking distance may thus increase in an emergency braking sit-
uation.
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. 260
Display
messagesOn-board computer and displays

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 The yellow
!warning lamp lights up. If you manually apply or
release the electric parking brake, the red !indicator lamp
flashes.
The electric parking brake is malfunctioning. The electric parking
brake cannot be applied manually.
X Shift the transmission to position P.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. !
Parking brake inop‐ Parking brake inop‐
erative erative 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, e.g. because of over-
voltage or undervoltage.
X Rectify the cause of the overvoltage or undervoltage, e.g. by charg-
ing the battery or restarting the engine.
X Apply or release the electric parking brake.
If the electric parking brake still cannot be applied or released: X Turn the ignition off and then back on.
X Apply or release the electric parking brake.
If the electric parking brake still cannot be released:
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop.
If the electric parking brake still cannot be applied:
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. The yellow
!warning lamp lights up and the red !indicator
lamp flashes.
The electric parking brake cannot be applied manually.
X Shift the transmission to position P.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. J
Check brake fluid Check brake fluid
level level There is insufficient brake fluid in the brake fluid reservoir. In addition,
the J warning lamp in the instrument cluster lights up and a warn-
ing tone sounds.
G WARNING
Braking efficiency may be impaired.
There is a risk of an accident.
X Stop the vehicle immediately, paying attention to road and traffic
conditions. Do not continue driving.
X Secure the vehicle against rolling away (Y page 168).
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop.
X Do not top up the brake fluid. This does not correct the fault. #
Check Check
brake
brakepad
padwear
wear The brake pads/linings have reached their wear limit.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. Display
messages
263On-board computer and displays Z

Safety systems
Warning/
indicator
lamp
N N
Signal type
Possible causes/consequences and M
MSolutions J
N
The red brake system warning lamp lights up while the engine is running.
A warning tone also sounds.
G WARNING
The brake boosting effect is malfunctioning and the braking characteristics may be
affected.
There is a risk of an accident.
X Stop the vehicle immediately, paying attention to road and traffic conditions. Do
not continue driving.
X Secure the vehicle against rolling away (Y page 168).
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop.
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction display. J
N
The red brake system warning lamp lights up while the engine is running.
A warning tone also sounds.
G WARNING
There is insufficient brake fluid in the brake fluid reservoir.
There is a risk of an accident.
X Stop the vehicle immediately, paying attention to road and traffic conditions. Do
not continue driving.
X Secure the vehicle against rolling away (Y page 168).
X Do not top up the brake fluid. Topping up will not correct the fault.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop.
X Observe the additional display messages in the multifunction display. J
N
The yellow brake system warning lamp lights up while the engine is running.
A warning tone also sounds.
G WARNING
The brake system is malfunctioning and the braking characteristics may be affec- ted.
There is a risk of an accident.
X If the multifunction display shows a display message, please observe this.
X Drive on carefully.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop immediately. 292
Warning and indicator lamps in the instrument clusterOn-board computer and displays