2011 Mercedes GLK-Class Owner's Manual - Page 147

Driving tips Keep the driver's footwell clear of all obstacles. If there are any floormats or carpets in the footwell, make sure that the pedals still have sufficient clearance. During sudden driving or braking maneuvers, the objects could get caught between the pedals. You could then no longer brake or accelerate. This could lead to accidents and injury. 145 Brakes Important safety notes G Warning On slippery road surfaces, never downshift in order to obtain braking action. This could result in drive wheel slip and reduced vehicle control. Your vehicle's ABS will not prevent this type of loss of control. Coasting with the engine switched off G Warning! There is no power assistance for the steering and the brake when the engine is not running. Steering and braking requires significantly more effort and you could lose control of the vehicle and cause an accident as a result. Do not turn off the engine while the vehicle is in motion. G Warning Make sure that you do not endanger other road users when you apply the brakes. Exhaust check G Warning Inhalation of exhaust gas is hazardous to your health. All exhaust gas contains carbon monoxide (CO), and inhaling it can cause unconsciousness and possible death. Do not run the engine in confined areas (such as a garage) which are not properly ventilated. If you think that exhaust gas fumes are entering the vehicle while driving, have the cause determined and corrected immediately. If you must drive under these conditions, drive only with at least one window fully open at all times. Downhill gradients ! On long and steep gradients, you must reduce the cargo on the brakes by shifting to a lower gear in good time. This allows you to take advantage of engine braking and helps you to avoid overheating the brakes and wearing them out excessively. When you take advantage of engine braking, a drive wheel may not turn for some time, e.g. on a slippery road surface. This could cause damage to the drive train. Such damage is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz warranty. Heavy and light loads G Warning Depressing the brake pedal constantly results in excessive and premature wear to the brake pads. It may also cause the brakes to overheat, seriously impairing their effectiveness. It may then not be possible to stop the vehicle in sufficient time to avoid an accident. Z Certain engine systems are designed to keep the level of poisonous components in exhaust fumes within legal limits. These systems only work optimally if they are maintained exactly in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications. For this reason, all work on the engine must be carried out by qualified and authorized MercedesBenz technicians. Driving and parking The engine settings must not be changed in 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 Service Booklet.