2018 MERCEDES-BENZ GLA SUV maintenance

Drivingtips
General notes
Important safet ynotes
GWARNING
If you switch of fth eignition whil edriving,
safety-relevant function sare only available
wit hlimitations, or no tat all. Thi scould affect,
fo rexample, th epowe rsteerin gand th ebrake
boostin geffect .You will require considerably
more effort to steer and brake .There is aris k
of an accident.
Do no tswitch of fth eignition whil edriving.
GWARNING
If you operat emobile communication equip -
men twhen driving, you may be distracted
from th etraffic situation .You could also los e
contro lof th evehicle. There is aris kof an
accident.
Only operat ethis equipmen twhen th evehicle
is stationary.
Observ eth elega lrequirements fo rth ecountry
in whic hyou are driving. Some jurisdiction spro -
hibi tth edriver from usin g amobile phone whil e
drivin g avehicle.
If you mak e acallwhil edriving, always use
hands-free mode. Only operat eth etelephon e
when th etraffic situation permits. If you are
unsure ,pull over to asaf elocation and stop
befor eoperatin gth etelephone.
Bear in min dthat at aspeed of only 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), th evehicle cover s a
distanc eof 44 ft (approximately 14 m)per sec-
ond.
Drive sensibly – save fuel
Observe the following tips to save fuel:
RThe tires should always be inflated to the rec-
ommended tire pressure.
RRemove unnecessary loads.
RRemove roof racks when they are not needed.
RWarm up the engine at low engine speeds.
RAvoid frequent acceleration or braking.
RHave all maintenance work carried out as
indicated by the service intervals in the Main- tenance Booklet or by the service interval dis-
play.
Fuel consumption also increases when driving in cold weather, in stop-start traffic and in hilly ter-
rain.
Drinking and driving
GWARNING
Drinking and driving and/or taking drugs and driving are very dangerous combinations.
Even a small amount of alcohol or drugs can
affect your reflexes, perceptions and judg-
ment.
The possibility of a serious or even fatal acci-
dent is greatly increased when you drink or
take drugs and drive.
Do not drink or take drugs and drive or allow
anyone to drive who has been drinking or tak-
ing drugs.
Emission control
GWARNING
Combustion engines emit poisonous exhaust
gases such as carbon monoxide. Inhaling
these exhaust gases leads to poisoning. There
is a risk of fatal injury. Therefore never leave
the engine running in enclosed spaces with-
out sufficient ventilation.
Certain engine systems are designed to keep
the level of poisonous components in exhaust
fumes within legal limits.
These systems only work at peak efficiency if
they are serviced exactly in accordance with the
manufacturer's specifications. Always have
work on the engine carried out at a qualified
specialist workshop. Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you use an authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center for this purpose. In particular, work
relevant to safety or on safety-related systems
must be carried out at a qualified specialist
workshop.
The engine settings must not be changed under any circumstances. Furthermore, all specific
service work must be carried out at regular
intervals and in accordance with the Mercedes-
Benz service requirements. Details can be found in the Maintenance Booklet.
146Driving tips
Driving and parking

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.
RIn order to prevent any salt build-up, apply the
brakes occasionally while paying attention to the traffic conditions.
RCarefully depress the brake pedal and the
beginning and end of a journey.
RMaintain a greater distance to the vehicle
ahead.
Servicing the brakes
!The brake fluid level may be too low, if:
Rif the red brake warning lamp lights up in
the instrument cluster and
Ryou hear a warning tone while the engine is
running
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.
Consult a qualified specialist workshop to
arrange this.
!A function or performance test should only
be carried out on a 2-axle dynamometer. If
you wish to operate the vehicle on such a
dynamometer, please consult a qualified spe- cialist workshop in advance. You could oth-
erwise 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 uor
1 in the ignition lock), if the electric parking
brake is tested on a braking dynamometer
(maximum 10 seconds).
Braking triggered automatically by ESP
®may
cause severe damage to the brake system.
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 the brake system has only been subject to
moderate loads, you should test the functional-
ity of your brakes at regular intervals.
You can find a description of Brak
e Assist (BAS)
on (Ypage 61).
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.
Checking brake lining thickness
You can measure the break pad/lining thick-
ness using a test gage. Color-coding (green or
red) on the test gage allows you to determine
whether the brake pad/lining thickness is still
sufficient. The test gage is in the vehicle docu-
ment wallet in the glove box.
Front wheel
Driving tips149
Driving and parking
Z

Engine compartment
Hood
Important safety notes
GWARNING
If the hood is unlatched, it may open up when the vehicle is in motion and block your view.
There is a risk of an accident.
Never unlatch the hood while driving. Before
every trip, ensure that the hood is locked.
GWARNING
When opening and closing the hood, it may
suddenly fall into the closed position. There is a risk of injury to persons within range of
movement of the hood.
Open and close the hood only when no one is
within its range of movement.
GWARNING
Opening the hood when the engine is over-
heated or when there is a fire in the engine
compartment could expose you to hot gases
or other service products. There is a risk of
injury.
Let an overheated engine cool down before
opening the hood. If there is a fire in the
engine compartment, keep the hood closed
and contact the fire department.
GWARNING
The engine compartment contains moving
components. Certain components, such as
the radiator fan, may continue to run or start
again suddenly when the ignition is off. There is a risk of injury.
If you need to do any work inside the engine
compartment:
Rswitch off the ignition
Rnever reach into the area where there is a
risk of danger from moving components,
such as the fan rotation area
Rremove jewelry and watches
Rkeep items of clothing and hair, for exam-
ple, away from moving parts
GWARNING
The ignition system and the fuel injection sys-
tem work under high voltage. If you touch
components which are under voltage, you
could get an electric shock. There is a risk of
injury.
Never touch components of the ignition sys-
tem or fuel injection system when the ignition
is switched on.
Opening the hood
GWARNING
Certain components in the engine compart-
ment, such as the engine, radiator and parts
of the exhaust system, can become very hot.
Working in the engine compartment poses a
risk of injury.
Where possible, let the engine cool down and touch only the components described in the
following.
GWARNING
When the hood is open and the windshield
wipers are set in motion, you can be injured by
the wiper linkage. There is a risk of injury.
Always switch off the windshield wipers and
the ignition before opening the hood.
!Make sure that the windshield wipers are
not folded away from the windshield. You
could otherwise damage the windshield wip-
ers or the hood.
Engine compartment269
Maintenance and care
Z

XMake sure that the windshield wipers are
switched off.
XPull release lever:on the hood.
The hood is released.
XReach into the gap between the hood and the radiator trim and press hood catch lever ;to
the left.
XRaise the hood.
XPull support strut ?out of bracket A.
XLift up support strut ?and insert it into yel-
low retaining clip =.
Closing the hood
XRaise the hood slightly and, at the same time,
remove support strut ?from yellow retaining
clip =.
XSwing support strut ?down and press it into
bracket Auntil it engages.
XLower the hood and let it fall from a height of
approximately 8 in (20 cm).
XCheck that the hood has engaged properly.
If the hood can be raised slightly, it is not
properly engaged. Do not press the hood
closed. Open the hood again and close it with
a little more force.
Engine oil
General notes
Depending on your driving style, the vehicle
consumes up to 0.9 US qt (0.8 liters) of oil per
600 miles (1,000 km). The oil consumption may
be higher than this when the vehicle is new or if
you frequently drive at high engine speeds.
Depending on the engine, the oil dipstick may be
in a different location.
When checking the oil level:
Rpark the vehicle on a level surface
Rthe engine should be switched off for approx-
imately five minutes if the engine is at normal
operating temperature
Rif the engine is not at normal operating tem-
perature, e.g. if the engine was only started
briefly, wait about 30 minutes before carrying
out the measurement
Checking the oil level using the oil dip-
stick
GWARNING
Certain components in the engine compart-
ment, such as the engine, radiator and parts
of the exhaust system, can become very hot.
Working in the engine compartment poses a
risk of injury.
Where possible, let the engine cool down and touch only the components described in the
following.
270Engine compartment
Maintenance and care

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 power supply
or the vehicle's electrical system
When your vehicle is towed away or towed
started, you may require considerably more
effort to steer and brake. There is a risk of an
accident.
In such cases, use a tow bar. Before being
towed away or tow started, make sure the
steering moves freely.
XPull oil dipstick :out of the dipstick guide
tube.
XWipe off oil dipstick :.
XSlowly slide oil dipstick :into the guide tube
to the stop, and take it out again.
If the level is between MIN mark =and MAX
mark ;, the oil level is correct.
XIf the oil level has dropped to MIN mark =or
below, add 1.1 US qt (1.0 liter) of engine oil.
Adding engine oil
GWARNING
Certain components in the engine compart-
ment, such as the engine, radiator and parts
of the exhaust system, can become very hot.
Working in the engine compartment poses a
risk of injury.
Where possible, let the engine cool down and touch only the components described in the
following.
GWARNING
If engine oil comes into contact with hot com- ponents in the engine compartment, it may
ignite. There is a risk of fire and injury.
Make sure that engine oil is not spilled next to
the filler neck. Let the engine cool down and
thoroughly clean the engine oil off the com-
ponents before starting the engine.
HEnvironmental note
When adding oil, take care not to spill any. If
oil enters the soil or waterways, it is harmful to
the environment.
!Use only engine oils and oil filters that are
approved for vehicles with a service system. A list of the engine oils and oil filters that have
been tested and approved in accordance with
Mercedes-Benz Specifications for Service
Products is available at any authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
The following cause engine failure or damage
to the exhaust system:
RUse of engine oils and oil filters that have
not been expressly approved for the service
system
RReplacement of engine oil and oil filter after
the replacement interval specified by the
service system has expired
RUse of engine oil additives
!Do not add too much oil. adding too much
engine oil can result in damage to the engine
or to the catalytic converter. Have excess
engine oil siphoned off.
Engine compartment271
Maintenance and care
Z

Example: engine oil cap
XTurn cap:counter-clockwise and remove it.
XAdd engine oil.
If the oil level is at or below the MIN mark on
the oil dipstick, add 1.1 US qt (1.0 liter) of
engine oil.
XReplace cap :on the filler neck and turn
clockwise.
Ensure that the cap locks into place securely.
XCheck the oil level again with the oil dipstick
(Ypage 270).
Further information on engine oil (
Ypage 330).
Checking and adding other service
products
Checking coolant level
GWARNING
The cooling system is pressurized, particularly
when the motor is warm. If you open the cap,
you could be scalded if hot coolant sprays out.
There is a risk of injury.
Let the engine cool down before you open the
cap. Wear gloves and eye protection. Slowly
open the cap to relieve pressure.
!The coolant may only be checked and cor-
rected when the engine is cool (coolant tem-
perature below 104 ‡ (40 †). Checking the
coolant when the coolant temperature is
above 104 ‡ (40 †) may result in damage to
the engine or to the engine cooling system.
XPark 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.
XTurn the SmartKey to position 2in the igni-
tion lock (Ypage 124).
XCheck the coolant temperature display in the
instrument cluster.
The coolant temperature must be below
104 ‡ (40 †).
XTurn the SmartKey to position g
(Ypage 124) in the ignition lock .
XSlowly turn cap :counter-clockwise and to
relieve excess pressure.
XTurn cap :further counter-clockwise and
remove it.
If the coolant is at the level of marker bar =
in the filler neck when cold, there is enough
coolant in coolant expansion tank ;.
XIf necessary, add coolant that has been tested
and approved by Mercedes-Benz.
XReplace cap :and turn it clockwise as far as
it will go.
For further information on coolant, see
(
Ypage 331).
Windshield washer system
GWARNING
Certain components in the engine compart-
ment, such as the engine, radiator and parts
of the exhaust system, can become very hot.
Working in the engine compartment poses a
risk of injury.
Where possible, let the engine cool down and touch only the components described in the
following.
272Engine compartment
Maintenance and care

GWARNING
Windshield washer concentrate could ignite if it comes into contact with hot engine compo-
nents or the exhaust system. There is a risk of
fire and injury.
Make sure that no windshield washer con-
centrate is spilled next to the filler neck.
XTo open: pull cap:upwards by the tab.
XAdd the premixed washer fluid.
XTo close: press cap :onto the filler neck
until it engages.
If the washer fluid level drops below the recom-
mended minimum of 1 liter, a message appears
in the multifunction display prompting you to
add washer fluid (
Ypage 225).
Further information on windshield washer fluid/
antifreeze (
Ypage 332).
ASSYST PLUS
Service message
The ASSYST PLUS service interval display
informs you of the next service due date.
You can find information on the type of service
and service intervals in the Maintenance Book-
let.
You can obtain further information from an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or at
http://www.mbusa.com (USA only).
iThe ASSYST PLUS service interval display
does not show any information on the engine
oil level. Observe the notes on the engine oil
level (
Ypage 270). The multifunction display shows a service mes-
sage for several seconds, e.g.:
RService A in .. days
RService A due
RService A overdue by .. days
Depending on the operating conditions of the
vehicle, the remaining time or distance until the
next service due date is displayed.
The letter A
orB, possibly in connection with a
number or another letter, indicates the type of
service. A
stands for a minor service and Bfor a
major service.
You can obtain further information from an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
The ASSYST PLUS service interval display does
not take into account any periods of time during
which the battery is disconnected.
Maintaining the time-dependent service sched-
ule:
XNote down the service due date displayed in
the multifunction display before disconnect-
ing the battery.
or
XAfter reconnecting the battery, subtract the
battery disconnection periods from the ser-
vice date shown on the display.
Hiding a service message
XPress the aor% button on the steering
wheel.
Displaying service messages
XSwitch on the ignition.
XPress the =or; button to select the
Serv.menu.
XPress the 9or: button to select the
ASSYSTPLUSsubmenu and confirm by press-
ing the abutton.
The service due date appears in the multi-
function display.
ASSYST PLUS273
Maintenance and care
Z

Information about Service
Resetting the ASSYST PLUS service
interval display
!If th eASSYS TPLU Sservic einterval display
has been inadvertentl yreset ,this setting can
be correcte dat aqualified specialist work-
shop.
Hav eservic ewor kcarried out as describe din
th eMaintenance Booklet .This may otherwise
lead to increased wear and damag eto th e
major assemblies or th evehicle.
A qualified specialist workshop, e.g. an author-
ize dMercedes-Ben zCenter, will reset th e
ASSYS TPLU Sservic einterval display after th e
servic ewor khas been carried out .You can also
obtain further information on maintenance
work, for example.
Special service requirements
The specifie dmaintenance interval takes only
th enormal operation of th evehicl eint o
account. Under arduous operating condition sor
increased load on th evehicle, maintenance
wor kmust be carried out mor efrequently, for
example:
Rregular cit ydriving wit hfrequen tintermediat e
stops
Rif th evehicl eis primarily used to travel short
distances
Ruse in mountainous terrain or on poor road
surfaces
Rif th eengin eis often lef tidlin gfor lon gperiods
Rin particularly dust yconditions, or if air-recir-
culation mod eis frequentl yused
In these or similar operating conditions, have
th einterio rfilter, engin eair cleaner, engin eoil
and oil filter, for example, changed mor efre-
quently. Under arduous operating conditions,
th etires must be checke dmor eoften .Further
information can be obtained at aqualified spe-
cialist workshop, e.g. an authorize dMercedes-
Ben zCenter.
Driving abroad
An extensive Mercedes-Ben zService network is
also available in other countries .You can obtain
further information from any authorize d
Mercedes-Ben zCenter.
Care
General notes
HEnvironmental not e
Dispose of empty packaging and cleaning
cloth sin an environmentally responsible man -
ner.
!When cleaning your car ,do no tuse:
Rdry, coars eor har dcloth s
Rabrasive cleaning agents
Rsolvents
Rcleaning agents containing solvents
Do no tscrub.
Do no ttouch th esurfaces and film swit hhar d
objects ,e.g. rings or ice scrapers. Otherwise,
you may scratch or damag eth esurfaces and
films.
!Do no tpark your vehicl efor alon gperiod of
time directly after cleaning ,particularly after
cleaning th ewhee lrim wit hwhee lcleaner.
Whee lcleane rcan lead to th eincreased cor-
rosion of th ebrak edisc sand pads. Therefore,
driv efor afew minute safter cleaning .By
heating up th ebrakes, th ebrak edisc sand
pads dry. The vehicl ecan then be parked for a
lon gperiod of time.
Regular car eof your vehicl eis acondition for
retaining th equalit yin th elon gterm .
Use car eproducts and cleaning agents recom-
mended and approve dby Mercedes-Benz.
Washing the vehicle and cleaning the
paintwork
Automatic car wash
GWARNIN G
Braking efficiency is reduce dafter washing
th evehicle. Ther eis aris kof an accident.
Afte rth evehicl ehas been washed, brak e
carefully while payin gattention to th etraffic
condition suntil full braking power is restored .
!When DistancePilot DISTRONI Cor th e
HOLD function is activated, th evehicl e
brakes automatically in certain situations.
274Care
Maintenance and care