Driving On Sand - Mercedes-Benz 2016 GLA Operator's Manual

Driving tips
182
function cannot hold the vehicle on such sur-
faces.
Checklist before driving off-road
Engine oil level: check the engine oil level
X
and add oil if necessary.
When driving on steep gradients, the
engine oil level must be sufficiently high to
ensure a correct oil supply in the vehicle.
Wheels and tires: check the tire tread
X
depth and tire pressure.
Check for damage and remove any foreign
X
objects, e.g. small stones, from the
wheels/tires.
Replace any missing valve caps.
X
Replace dented or damaged wheels.
X
Rims: dented or bent rims can result in a
X
loss of tire pressure and damage the tire
bead. Before driving off-road, check the
wheels and replace them if necessary.
Checklist after driving off-road
! If you detect damage to the vehicle after
driving off-road, have the vehicle checked
immediately at a qualified specialist work-
shop.
Deactivate off-road program (
X
Deactivate DSR (
X
Clean the headlamps and rear lights and
X
check for damage.
Clean the front and rear license plates.
X
Clean the wheels and tires with a water jet
X
and remove any foreign objects.
Clean the wheels, wheel housings and the
X
vehicle underside with a water jet; check
for any foreign objects and damage.
Check whether twigs or other parts of
X
plants have become trapped. These
increase the risk of fire and can damage
fuel pipes, brake hoses or the rubber bel-
lows of the axle joints and propeller shafts.
After the trip, examine without fail the
X
entire undercarriage, wheels, tires, brakes,
page 157).
Y
page 197).
Y
bodywork structure, steering, chassis and
exhaust system for damage.
After driving in sand, mud, gravel, water or
X
similar dirty conditions, have the following
checked and cleaned:
brake discs
R
wheels
R
brake pads
R
axle joints
R
If you detect strong vibrations after off-road
X
travel, check for foreign objects in the
wheels and drive train and remove them if
necessary. Foreign objects can disturb the
balance and cause vibrations.
Driving over poor road surfaces places
greater demands on your vehicle than driving
on normal roads. After driving off-road, check
the vehicle. This allows you to detect damage
promptly and reduce the risk of an accident to
yourself and other road users.

Driving on sand

Observe the following rules when driving on
sand:
Activate the off-road program
R
( page 157).
Y
Avoid high engine speeds.
R
Use the left-hand steering wheel paddle
R
shifter to shift to a lower gear appropriate
to the terrain.
Drive quickly to overcome the rolling resist-
R
ance. Otherwise the vehicle's wheels could
become stuck in loose ground.
Drive in the tracks of other vehicles if pos-
R
sible. Make sure that:
the tire ruts are not too deep.
-
the sand is sufficiently firm.
-
the ground clearance of the vehicle is
-
sufficient.
Tire ruts and gravel roads
! Check that the ruts are not too deep and
that your vehicle has sufficient clearance.