2018 MERCEDES-BENZ G-CLASS Owner's Manual

sparks are created, the hydrogen gas can
ignite. There is a risk of an explosion.
RMake sure that the positive terminal of a
connected battery does not come into con-
tact with vehicle parts.
RNever place metal objects or tools on a bat-tery.
RIt is important that you observe the descri-
bed order of the battery terminals when
connecting and disconnecting a battery.
RWhen jump-starting, make sure that the
battery poles with identical polarity are
connected.
RIt is particularly important to observe the
described order when connecting and dis-
connecting the jumper cables.
RNever connect or disconnect the battery
terminals while the engine is running.
GWARNING
Battery acid is caustic. There is a risk of injury.
Avoid contact with skin, eyes or clothing. Do
not inhale any battery gases. Do not lean over
the battery. Keep children away from batter-
ies. Wash away battery acid immediately with
plenty of clean water and seek medical atten-
tion.
HEnvironmental 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 spe-
cialist workshop or a special
collection point for used bat-
teries.
!Have the battery checked regularly at a
qualified specialist workshop. Observe the service intervals in the Mainte-
nance Booklet or contact a qualified specialist
workshop for more information.
!Always have work on batteries carried out at
a qualified specialist workshop.
Should it, in exceptional circumstances, be
absolutely necessary to disconnect the 12-
volt battery yourself, please observe the fol-
lowing:
RSecure the vehicle to prevent it from rolling
away.
RSwitch off the ignition.
RDisconnect the negative terminal first and
then the positive terminal.
The transmission is locked in position j
after disconnecting the battery.
After the work has been done, install the bat- tery and replace the cover of the positive ter-
minal clamp firmly.
Comply with safety precautions and take pro-
tective measures when handling batteries.
Risk of explosion.
Fire, open flames and smoking are
prohibited when handling the bat-
tery. Avoid creating sparks.
Battery acid is caustic.
Avoid contact with skin, eyes or
clothing.
Wear eye protection.
Keep children away.
Observe this Operator's Manual.
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends 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 suffering acid burns should the
battery be damaged in the event of an accident.
Battery (vehicle)247
Breakdown assistance
Z

In order for the battery to achieve the maximum
possible service life, it must always be suffi-
ciently charged.
Like other batteries, the vehicle battery may
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 special-
ist workshop for further information.
Have the battery condition of charge 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 for a long period of time.
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.
iIf the power supply has been interrupted,
e.g. due to a discharged battery, you will have
to:
Rreset the head restraints on the front seats (Ypage 76)
Rreset the function for automatically folding
the exterior mirrors in/out by folding the
mirrors out once (
Ypage 82)
Charging the battery
!
Only use battery chargers with a maximum
charging voltage of 14.8 V.
GWARNING
During charging and jump-starting, explosive
gases can escape from the battery. There is a risk of an explosion.
Particularly avoid fire, open flames, creating
sparks and smoking. Ensure there is sufficient
ventilation while charging and jump-starting.
Do not lean over a battery.
GWARNING
Battery acid is caustic. There is a risk of injury.
Avoid contact with skin, eyes or clothing. Do
not inhale any battery gases. Do not lean over
the battery. Keep children away from batter-
ies. Wash away battery acid immediately with plenty of clean water and seek medical atten-
tion.
GWARNING
A discharged battery can freeze at tempera-
tures below freezing point. When jump-start-
ing 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 charge the battery using the jump-
starting connection point.
The jump-starting connection point is in the
engine compartment (
Ypage 249).
XOpen the hood.
XConnect 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 (
Ypage 249).
Keep away from fire and open flames. Do not
lean over a battery. Never charge the battery if it
is still installed in the vehicle, unless you use a
battery charger which has been tested and
approved by Mercedes-Benz. A battery charger
unit specially adapted for Mercedes-Benz vehi-
cles 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 further information and availability. Read the
battery charger's operating instructions before
charging the battery.
If the warning and indicator lamps do not light up
on the instrument cluster when temperatures
are low, it is probably because the discharged
battery has frozen. In this case you may neither
jump-start the vehicle nor charge the battery.
The service life of a thawed-out battery may be
shorter. The starting characteristics can be
impaired, particularly at low temperatures. Have
the thawed-out battery checked at a qualified
specialist workshop.
248Battery (vehicle)
Breakdown assistance

Jump starting
For the jump-starting procedure, use only the jump-starting connection point in the engine com-
partment, consisting of a positive terminal and a ground point.
GWARNING
Battery acid is caustic. There is a risk of injury.
Avoid contact with skin, eyes or clothing. Do not inhale any battery gases. Do not lean over the
battery. Keep children away from batteries. Wash away battery acid immediately with plenty of
clean water and seek medical attention.
GWARNING
During charging and jump-starting, explosive gases can escape from the battery. There is a risk of an explosion.
Particularly avoid fire, open flames, creating sparks and smoking. Ensure there is sufficient ven-
tilation while charging and jump-starting. Do not lean over a battery.
GWARNING
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.
RMake sure that the positive terminal of a connected battery does not come into contact with
vehicle parts.
RNever place metal objects or tools on a battery.
RIt is important that you observe the described order of the battery terminals when connecting
and disconnecting a battery.
RWhen jump-starting, make sure that the battery poles with identical polarity are connected.
RIt is particularly important to observe the described order when connecting and disconnecting
the jumper cables.
RNever connect or disconnect the battery terminals while the engine is running.
GWARNING
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.
!Avoid repeated and lengthy starting attempts. Otherwise, the catalytic converter could be
damaged by the non-combusted fuel.
If the warning and indicator lamps do not light up on the instrument cluster when temperatures are
low, it is probably because the discharged battery has frozen. In this case, you may neither charge
the battery nor jump-start the vehicle. The service life of a thawed-out battery may be shorter. The
starting characteristics can be impaired, particularly at low temperatures. Have the thawed-out
battery checked at a qualified specialist workshop.
Jump starting249
Breakdown assistance
Z

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 donor battery using jumper cables.
Observe the following points:
RThe battery is not accessible in all vehicles. If the other vehicle's battery is not accessible, jump-
start the vehicle using a donor battery or a jump-starting device.
RYou may only jump-start the vehicle when the engine and exhaust system are cold.
RDo not start the engine if the battery is frozen. Let the battery thaw first.
RJump-starting may be performed only using batteries with a nominal voltage of 12 V.
ROnly use jumper cables which have a sufficient cross-section and insulated terminal clamps.
RIf 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 battery slightly.
RMake sure that the two vehicles do not touch.
Make sure that:
RThe jumper cables are not damaged.
RWhen the jumper cables are connected to the battery, uninsulated sections of the terminal clamp
do not come into contact with other metal sections.
RThe jumper cables cannot come into contact with parts which can move when the engine is
running, such as the V-belt pulley or the fan.
XApply the parking brake.
XShift the automatic transmission to position j.
XMake sure that the ignition is switched off. All indicator lamps in the instrument cluster must be
off.
XSwitch off all electrical consumers, e.g. rear window defroster, lighting, etc.
XOpen the hood.
Position number Bidentifies the charged battery of the other vehicle or an equivalent jump-starting
device.
The jump-starting connection point consists of contacts ;and =.
250Jump starting
Breakdown assistance

XLift up cover:of positive terminal ;in the direction of the arrow.
XConnect positive terminal ;on your vehicle to positive terminal ?of donor battery Busing the
jumper cable. Always begin with positive terminal ;on your own vehicle first.
XStart the engine of the donor vehicle and run it at idling speed.
XConnect negative terminal Aof donor battery Bto ground point =of your vehicle using the
jumper cable, connecting the jumper cable to donor battery Bfirst.
XStart the engine.
XBefore disconnecting the jumper cables, let the engine run for several minutes.
XFirst, remove the jumper cables from ground point =and negative terminal A, then from pos-
itive clamp ;and positive terminal ?. Begin each time at the contacts on your own vehicle first.
XClose cover:of positive terminal ;after removing the jumper cables.
XHave the battery checked at a qualified specialist workshop.
Jump-starting is not considered to be a normal operating condition.
iJumper cables and further information regarding jump-starting can be obtained at any qualified
specialist workshop.
Towing and tow-starting
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Functions relevant to safety are restricted or
no longer available if:
Rthe engine is not running.
Rthe brake system or the power steering is
malfunctioning.
Rthere is a malfunction in the voltage supply or the vehicle's electrical system.
If your vehicle is being towed, much more
force may be necessary to steer or brake.
There is a risk of an accident.
In such cases, use a tow bar. Before towing,
make sure that the steering moves freely.
GWARNING
You can no longer steer the vehicle if the
steering wheel lock has been engaged. There
is a risk of an accident.
Always switch off the ignition when towing the
vehicle with a tow cable or a tow bar.
GWARNING
When towing or tow-starting another vehicle
and its weight is greater than the permissible
gross weight of your vehicle, the:
Rthe towing eye could detach itself
Rthe vehicle/trailer combination could roll-
over.
There is a risk of an accident.
When towing or tow-starting another vehicle,
its weight should not be greater than the per- missible gross weight of your vehicle.
Details on the permissible gross vehicle weight
of your vehicle can be found on the vehicle iden-
tification plate (
Ypage 282).
!When DISTRONIC PLUS or the HOLD func-
tion is activated, the vehicle brakes automat-
ically in certain situations.
To avoid damage to the vehicle, deactivate
DISTRONIC PLUS and the HOLD function in
the following or similar situations:
Rwhen towing the vehicle
Rin the car wash
!The vehicle can be towed a maximum of
30 miles (50km). The towing speed of 30 mph (50 km/h) must not be exceeded.
If the vehicle has to be towed more than
30 miles (50km), the entire vehicle must be
raised and transported.
Towing and tow-starting251
Breakdown assistance
Z

!Only secure the tow cable or tow bar to the
towing eyes. You could otherwise damage the
vehicle.
!Do not tow with sling-type equipment. This
could damage the vehicle.
!Do not use the towing eye for recovery. This
could damage the vehicle. If in doubt, have
the vehicle recovered using a crane.
!When towing, pull away slowly and
smoothly. If the tractive power is too high, the
vehicles could be damaged.
!Your vehicles is equipped with an automatic
transmission. Therefore, you must not have
the vehicle tow-started. The transmission
may otherwise be damaged.
It is better to have the vehicle transported than
to have it towed away.
If the transfer case can be shifted into the Neu-
tral position, you can tow away the vehicle.
If the transfer case cannot be shifted into the
Neutral position, you can tow away the vehicle
with one axle raised. Please bear the following in
mind:
Rremove the propeller shaft between the trans-
fer case and the rolling axle
Rturn the SmartKey to position 1in the igni-
tion lock
The battery must be connected and charged.
Otherwise, you:
Rcannot turn the SmartKey to position 2in
the ignition lock
Rcannot shift the automatic transmission to
position i
Disarm the automatic locking feature before the vehicle is towed (
Ypage 67). You could other-
wise be locked out when pushing or towing the
vehicle.
Towing eyes
Towing eyes, front
:Towing eyes, front
Towing eye, rear
Rear towing eye :is located under the bumper,
on the left-hand side when viewed in the direc-
tion of travel.
Towing a vehicle with both axles on
the ground
It is important that you observe the safety
instructions when towing away your vehicle
(
Ypage 251).
The automatic transmission automatically shifts
to position jwhen you open the driver's or
front-passenger door or when you remove the
SmartKey from the ignition lock. In order to
ensure that the automatic transmission stays in
position iwhen towing away the vehicle, you
must observe the following points:
XMake sure that the vehicle is stationary.
XTurn the SmartKey to position 2in the igni-
tion lock.
252Towing and tow-starting
Breakdown assistance

XWhen the vehicle is stationary, depress the
brake pedal and keep it depressed.
XShift the transfer case to positionNeutral
(Ypage 150).
XShift the automatic transmission to position
i.
XLeave the SmartKey in position 2in the igni-
tion lock.
XRelease the brake pedal.
XRelease the parking brake.
XSwitch on the hazard warning lamps
(Ypage 88).
In order to signal a change of direction when
towing the vehicle with the hazard warning
lamps switched on, use the combination switch
as usual. In this case, only the indicator lamps
for the direction of travel flash. After resetting
the combination switch, the hazard warning
lamp starts flashing again.
iThe automatic transmission can only
change gear when the battery has sufficient
charge.
If you cannot shift the automatic transmission
to position i, the propeller shafts to the
driven axles must be removed.
Transporting the vehicle
!When the vehicle is loaded for transport, the
front and rear axles must be stationary and on the same transportation vehicle. Positioning
over the connection point of the transport
vehicle is not permitted. The drive train may
otherwise be damaged.
!You may only secure the vehicle by the
wheels, not by parts of the vehicle such as
axle or steering components. Otherwise, the
vehicle could be damaged. The towing eyes can be used to pull the vehicle
onto a trailer or transporter if you wish to trans-
port it.
XTurn the SmartKey to position 2in the igni-
tion lock.
XShift the transfer case to position Neutral
(Ypage 150).
XShift the automatic transmission to position
i.
As soon as the vehicle has been loaded:
XApply the parking brake.
XShift the automatic transmission to position
j.
XTurn the SmartKey to position gin the igni-
tion lock and remove it.
XSecure the vehicle.
Recovering a vehicle that has become
stuck
!
When recovering a vehicle that has become
stuck, pull it as smoothly and evenly as pos-
sible. Excessive tractive power could damage
the vehicles.
If the drive wheels have become stuck in loose
or muddy ground, pull the vehicle out with
extreme caution, especially so if the vehicle is
loaded.
Never attempt to recover a stuck vehicle with a
trailer attached.
Pull out the vehicle backwards, if possible using the tracks it made when it became stuck.
Towing in the event of malfunctions
General notes
!If you are removing the propeller shaft, use
M10 nuts as spacers on the M8 bolts and
secure them with M8 nuts.
New self-locking nuts must be used when the
propeller shafts are refitted.
It is important that you observe the safety
instructions when towing away your vehicle
(
Ypage 251).
iConsult an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter.
Towing and tow-starting253
Breakdown assistance
Z

In the event of damage to the engine,
transmission or electrical system
XShift thetransfer cas eto neutra l
(Ypage 150).
XShift th eautomatic transmission to position
i.
In the event of damage to the transfer
case
Hav eth epropelle rshafts between th eaxles and
th etransfer cas eremoved.
In the event of damage to the front axle
Hav eth epropelle rshaf tbetween th erear axl e
and th etransfer cas eremoved.
Then hav eth evehicl etowed away wit hth efron t
axl eraised.
In the event of damage to the rear axle
Hav eth epropelle rshaf tbetween th efron taxl e
and th etransfer cas eremoved.
Then hav eth evehicl etowed wit hth erear axl e
raised and whee lroller sunder th efron taxle.
Tow-starting (emergency engine
starting)
!
Vehicles wit hautomatic transmission must
no tbe tow-started. You could otherwise dam-
age th eautomatic transmission .
You can fin dinformation on "Jump-starting "
under (
Ypage 249).
Fuses
Important safety notes
GWARNIN G
If you manipulat eor bridge afault yfus eor if
you replace it wit h afusewit h a higher amper-
age, th eelectric cables could be overloaded.
This could result in afire. Ther eis aris kof an
acciden tand injury.
Always replace fault yfuses wit hth especifie d
ne wfuses having th ecorrec tamperage .The fuses in your vehicl
eserve to close down
fault ycircuits. If afus eblows ,all th ecompo -
nent son th ecircuit and their function sstop
operating .
Blown fuses must be replace dwit hfuses of th e
sam erating ,whic hyou can recogniz eby th e
color and value .The fus erating sare listed in th e
fus eallocation chart (
Ypage 255).
If anewly inserted fus ealso blows ,hav eth e
caus etrace dand rectifie dat aqualified special-
ist workshop, e.g. an authorize dMercedes-Ben z
Center.
!Only use fuses that hav ebeen approve dfor
Mercedes-Ben zvehicles and whic hhav eth e
correc tfus erating for th esystem concerned.
Otherwise, component sor systems could be
damaged.
!Mak esur ethat no moisture can ente rth e
fus ebox when th ecover is open .
!When closingth ecover ,mak esur ethat it is
lyin gcorrectl yon th efus ebox .Moistur eseep -
ing in or dirt could oth
erwise impair th
eoper -
ation of th efuses.
Before changing a fuse
Pay attention to th eimportant safet ynote s
(Ypage 254).
XSwitc hoff th eengine.
XSwitc hoff all electrical consumers.
XRemove th eSmartKey from th eignition lock.
All indicator lamp sin th einstrumen tcluste r
must be off .
XSecureth evehicl eagainst rollin gaway
(Ypage 122).
The fuses are locate din various fus eboxes:
RMain fus ebox on th efront-passenger side of
th edashboar d
RFusebox in th efront-passenger footwell
RFus ebox in th etransmission tunne l
RFusebox in th ecargo compartmen t
The fus eallocation chart and th espar efuses are
in th efus ebox on th edashboar don th efront-
passenger side (
Ypage 255).
The fus eextractor is in th evehicl etool kit
(
Ypage 244).
254Fuses
Breakdown assistance