Controls in detail
Differential locks*
For more information on Off-road driving,
see “Off-road driving” (୴ page 357).
A few words about differentials and
differential locks*
The Electronic Traction System (ETS) ad-
dresses this problem and provides for
good control and steering ability by auto-
matically slowing the slipping wheel and
thus increasing the power to the other
non-slipping drive wheels to get the vehicle
®
moving. The ESP and ETS in this vehicle
feature such intelligent limited-slip differ-
ential technology, ideally suited for
Vehicles with enhanced off-road package*
are equipped with automatic locks for the
center and rear axle differential to improve
vehicle traction.
When a vehicle negotiates a turn, wheels
on the outside of the curve must travel far-
ther and rotate faster than the inside
wheels. The differential, the operation of a
set of gears that allows the powered
wheels in a vehicle to turn at different
speeds, makes this essential function pos-
sible.
ț
The center differential compensates
for differences in wheel rotation be-
tween the front and rear axle.
on-road and light off-road driving. Transfer
case position LOW (୴ page 203) also en-
hances off-road driving capabilities
ț
The rear axle differential compensates
differences between the rear wheels.
The drawback is that the differential also
sends most of the engine’s power to the
wheel with the least load or strain on it. For
example, if one of a vehicle’s powered
wheels sits on a patch of snow and spins
because there is no traction, all of the en-
gine’s power will go to that wheel because
the power will take the path of least resis-
tance. Meanwhile, the opposite wheel, sit-
ting on dry pavement where it could get
enough grip to start the vehicle moving,
sits idle because it receives no power.
(୴ page 357).
i At the front axles, the 4-ETS system
୴ page 109) compensates for any traction
More extreme off-road conditions may call
for another solution, engaging a differen-
tial lock or preventing the differential from
operating altogether. This vehicle comes
with two differential locks: transfer case
(center) and rear. Each can be engaged
simply by operating a rotary switch located
on the center console (୴ page 207). When
the transfer case (center) differential is
locked, the combined (or average) speed
of the front wheels is identical to the com-
bined rear wheel speed. When the rear
differential is locked, both rear wheels turn
(
problems.
206
| Categories | Mercedes-Benz GL-Class Manuals, Mercedes-Benz Manuals |
|---|---|
| Tags | Mercedes-Benz GL320 CDI, Mercedes-Benz GL450, Mercedes-Benz X164 |
| Model Year | 2007 |
| Download File |
|
| Document File Type | |
| Copyright | Attribution Non-commercial |
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