2011 Mercedes G-Class Owner's Manual - Page 131

Automatic transmission Differential locks General notes Differential locks improve the traction of the vehicle. 129 Information about differentials and differential locks When the vehicle is driving through a bend, the wheels on the outside of the bend must travel a longer distance and must thus turn more quickly than the wheels on the inside. The differential, a transmission in the drivetrain, balances out the different rotational speeds and therefore enables driving through bends. The disadvantage of differentials: the wheels with the least road grip are driven the hardest. Example: a wheel on a driven axle stands on snow-covered ground and thus has no traction. This wheel receives the strongest driving power from the differential, as the force progression takes the path of least resistance. The opposite wheel on this axle, however, which stands on firm ground and could therefore allow traction, receives no driving power. 4ETS eliminates this disadvantage and provides good steerability by automatically braking the spinning wheel, thus directing more driving power to the wheel standing on firm ground, which is therefore able to provide traction. ESP® and 4ETS are traction systems that are ideal for road driving and suitable for light offroad driving. Off-road gear LOW likewise improves off-road capabilities. Moreover, the more difficult conditions in offroad driving require further measures such as locking one or several differentials. Your vehicle is equipped with three differential locks: a central differential lock for the transfer case, a differential lock for the front axle, and a differential lock for the rear axle. Each differential lock can be engaged with the respective switch on the center console. When the central differential lock for the transfer case is locked, the speed of the front wheels is equal to that of the rear wheels. When the differential for the rear axle is locked, both rear wheels turn equally fast, independent of their respective torques. Keep in mind that by engaging the differential Z G Warning! Never drive on firm road surfaces with differential locks engaged. Never drive on narrow bends with front-axle differential locks engaged. With differential locks engaged, the vehicle's ability to steer is severely restricted and the danger of accidents is therefore higher. Do not engage or disengage differential locks while driving on a bend. The vehicle may otherwise make a jerking movement. You could thus lose control of the vehicle and cause an accident. If you select a differential lock, ABS, 4ETS, ESP® and BAS will be deactivated. Your vehicle is equipped with a differential lock for: Rthe transfer case: this controls the balance between the front and rear axles. rear axle: this controls the balance between the wheels on the rear axle. Rthe front axle: this controls the balance between the wheels on the front axle. Rthe ! In order to avoid damage to the transfer case, you must operate the vehicle on a dynamometer (1-axle dynamometer) only if: Rthe axle not driven on is jacked up or Rthe corresponding propeller shaft is disconnected and Rthe differential lock of the transfer case is engaged. Otherwise, the transfer case could be damaged. Driving and parking