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:
Notes on the oil level
Depending on the driving style, the vehicle
consumes up to 0.9 US qts. (0.8 l) of oil over
a distance of 600 miles (1000 km). The oil
consumption may be higher than this when
the vehicle is ne ...
Parking the vehicle for a long period
If you leave the vehicle parked for longer than
four weeks, the battery may be damaged by
exhaustive discharge.
Connect a trickle charger.
You can obtain information about trickle
chargers f ...
Towing a trailer
There are numerous legal requirements concerning the towing of a trailer, e.g.
speed restrictions. Make sure that your vehicle/ trailer combination complies with
the local requirements not only in ...
