What is this switch for?

[tuppenytours]

hi, just bought our first motorhome, a 2015 Dethleffs. Slowly working my way through the handbook which is in German! Came across this switch on the dashboard but it is not contained in the handbook. Sorry to be a plonker but what does it do? It looks like a warning regarding overloaded rear axle.
Cheers.

 

[mikeandmary]

Welcome and listen to @Lenny HB. He explained it perfectly.

 

[Colinyellowspanner]

Hi, assuming your van is on a Ducato, your mystery switch is for adjustable rear suspension, to restore ride height when fully laden. The fact you have the switch (and a similar warning lamp amongst the others near the speedo) doesn’t necessarily mean you actually have it fitted. My Hymer Ducato has the same but no adjustable suspension. A case of “fitted for but not with.” Happy Christmas!

 

[mikeandmary]

Rest assured, it’s the comfort-matic “UP button”, Happy Christmas.

 

[Flook]

I dunno, wouldn't touch in case it is an ejector seat like they have in them Aston Martin car, err dont trust them things I dont understand does I

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[G-RMPS]

Thanks for asking. I have one of these and wasn't smart enough to ask what it's for so haven't touched it. I fly aeroplanes and don't touch things I'm not sure about ;-)

 

[RedFrame]

Hi, assuming your van is on a Ducato, your mystery switch is for adjustable rear suspension, to restore ride height when fully laden. The fact you have the switch (and a similar warning lamp amongst the others near the speedo) doesn’t necessarily mean you actually have it fitted. My Hymer Ducato has the same but no adjustable suspension. A case of “fitted for but not with.” Happy Christmas!

@tuppenytours The above is incorrect, the manual clearly states that it is to provide assistance when ascending steep hills loaded and in "Auto".

No seriously , as has already said it's hill assist , we have them fitted to heavy truck's , 26 ton plus . A word of warning though , i used to share a merk with a guy who used to leave it on all the time , first thing i used to do was switch the dam thing off when i got in it . Then we both got hauled in the office because the boss wanted to know why our truck needed a new clutch so early , now i knew i hadn't done anything different , i was alway's chasing economy because i was bored and to be honest couldn't see how the other guy could either . Then i remembered the hill assist was alway's on , i never let on but i suspected it was that . Just for the record the clutch only lasted about under 2 third's the total mile's it should have . I never use them , even pulling a 44 ton double decker , no matter what the make of truck . I just go to manual mode (if i can be bothered) and lock the gear's down that way . Merk's are the worst , often change up then straight back down again , volvo are the best (just a pity about the rest of the vehicle) but most auto boxes don't need them as they rarely change until the rev's and speed are right . After all that's why you have a computer fitted for enit .

I'd add to airwave's comments in that I attempted to use it in damp/cold conditions on the Kintyre coast, the already steep road turned 90 degrees left and the gearbox/computer just couldn't deal with it, it changed down and significantly increased revs, we ended up with the front of the van understeering and stepping out at least 4 ft. After that I just went to Manual and selected the gears I wanted whenever we hit anything steep.

Cheers
Red.