Mercedes-Benz 2008 GL 450 Automobile User Manual


 
355
Operation
Driving instructions
Standing water
For more information, see “Driving through
water” (
page 360).
Off-road driving
!
Do not drive through flooded areas or water
of unknown depth. Before driving through water,
determine its depth. Never accelerate before
driving into water. The bow wave could force wa-
ter into the engine and auxiliary equipment, thus
damaging them.
If you must drive through standing water, drive
slowly to prevent water from entering the pas-
senger compartment or the engine compart-
ment.
Water in these areas could cause
ț damage to electrical components
ț wiring of the engine or transmission
or could result
ț in water being ingested by the engine
through the air intake, causing severe inter-
nal engine damage.
Any such damage is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
i
Select the raised level (page 279) before
driving through standing water.
Warning! G
Do not load items on the crossbars*. It may
cause instability during some maneuvers
which could result in an accident.
Drive slowly in unknown terrain. This will
make it easier to recognize unexpected ob-
stacles and avoid damage to the vehicle.
To help avoid the vehicle rolling over, never
turn it around on steep inclines. If the vehi-
cle cannot complete the attempted climb,
back it down in reverse gear.
Do not drive along the side of a slope. The
vehicle might otherwise rollover. If in doing
so the vehicle begins to show a tendency to
roll, immediately steer into a line of gravity
(straight up or downhill).
Never let the vehicle roll backwards in idle.
You may lose control of the vehicle if you
use only the service brake. For information
on driving downhill, see “Driving downhill”
(
page 360).
Warning! G
Sand, dirt, mud and other material having
friction property can cause exceptional wear
and tear as well as brake failure.
Have the brakes checked for dirt build-up
and cleaned. There is otherwise a risk that
full braking power may not be available in an
emergency.
Warning! G
Please be aware that by raising the vehicle
level, the center of gravity also rises. There-
fore, always ensure that the vehicle level is
as low as possible. With higher ride height
the ESP
®
may activate earlier in certain
situations.
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