Off-road fording
- Establish how deep the water is and the
characteristics of the body of water before
fording.
- Vehicles with the AIRMATIC package:
Select the highest possible vehicle level.
- Restrict the shift range to 1 or 2.
- Avoid high engine speeds.
- Enter and exit the water at a flat place and at a steady walking pace.
Under no circumstances should you accelerate before entering the water. The bow wave could cause water to enter and damage the engine and other assemblies.
- Drive slowly and at an even speed through
the water.
- Do not stop.
Do not open any of the vehicle's doors while fording. Otherwise, water could get into the vehicle interior and damage the vehicle's electronics and interior equipment.
- Water offers a high degree of resistance,
and the ground is slippery and in some
cases unstable. Therefore, it is difficult and
dangerous to pull away in the water.
- Ensure that a bow wave does not form as
you drive.
- Clean any mud from the tire tread after
fording.
- Apply the brakes to dry them after fording.
See also:
Limited braking performance on salttreated
roads
WARNING
The layer of salt on the brake discs and the
brake pads/linings may cause a delay in the
braking effect, resulting in a significantly
longer braking distance, which could lead to
an ...
Instruction labels for tires and loads
WARNING
Do not overload the tires by exceeding the
specified load limit as indicated on the Tire
and Loading Information placard on the
driver's door B-pillar. Overloading the tires
can ove ...
Underinflated tires
WARNING
Follow recommended tire inflation pressures.
Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated tires
wear excessively and/or unevenly, adversely
affect handling and fuel economy, and are
more ...