1997 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320 reset

64 Safety and SecurityOccupant safetySide impact airbags, window curtain
airbags
1Window curtain airbags
2Side impact airbag, rear
3Side impact airbag, front
The side impact airbags and window
curtain airbags are deployed:

on the impacted side of the vehicle


in impacts exceeding a preset deploy-
ment threshold


independently of the front airbagsThe front passenger side impact airbag will
only deploy if the system senses that the
front passenger seat is occupied.
The side impact airbags and window
curtain airbags are not deployed in im-
pacts which do not exceed the system’s
deployment threshold.
Seat belts
When the engine is started, the seat belt
non-usage warning lamp< illuminates
to remind you and your passengers to
fasten your seat belts. If the driver’s seat
belt is not fastened before the engine is
started, the seat belt non-usage warning
lamp< illuminates and a warning
chime sounds for approximately
six seconds when the engine is started.The use of seat belts and infant and child
restraint systems is required by law in all
50 states and all Canadian provinces. Even
where this is not the case, all vehicle occu-
pants should have their seat belts fastened
whenever the vehicle is in motion.
Information on fastening seat belts is
found in the “Getting started” section
(
page 42).iFor information on infants and children
traveling with you in the vehicle and re-
straint systems for infants and chil-
dren, see “Children in the vehicle”
(page 67).

66 Safety and SecurityOccupant safetyWarning!
G
USE SEAT BELTS PROPERLY

Seat belts can only work when used
properly. Never wear seat belts in any
other way than as described in this sec-
tion, as that could result in serious inju-
ries in case of an accident.


Each occupant should wear their seat
belt at all times, because seat belts help
reduce the likelihood of and potential
severity of injuries in accidents, includ-
ing rollovers. The integrated restraint
system includes SRS (driver airbag,
front passenger airbag, front and rear
door mounted side impact airbags and
window curtain airbags), ETD (seat belt
emergency tensioning device for the
outboard passenger seats [except in the
optional third row seats]), and front seat
knee bolsters.
The system is designed to enhance the pro-
tection offered to properly belted occupants
in certain frontal (front airbags) and side
(side impact airbags and window curtain air-
bags) impacts which exceed preset deploy-
ment thresholds.

Never wear the shoulder belt under your
arm, against your neck or off your shoul-
der. In a crash, your body would move
too far forward. That would increase the
chance of head and neck injuries. The
belt would also apply too much force to
the ribs or abdomen, which could se-
verely injure internal organs such as
your liver or spleen.


Never wear belts over rigid or breakable
objects in or on your clothing, such as
eyeglasses, pens, keys, etc., as these
might cause injuries.


Position the lap belt as low as possible
on your hips and not across the abdo-
men. If the belt is positioned across your
abdomen, it could cause serious injuries
in a crash.


Never use a seat belt for more than one
person at time. Do not fasten a seat belt
around a person and another person or
other objects.


Belts should not be worn twisted. In a
crash, you wouldn’t have the full width
of the belt to manage impact forces. The
twisted belt against your body could
cause injuries.


Pregnant women should also use a
lap-shoulder belt. The lap belt portion
should be positioned as low as possible
on the hips to avoid any possible pres-
sure on the abdomen.


Never place your feet on the instrument
panel or on the seat. Always keep both
feet on the floor in front of the seat.

67 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Emergency tensioning device, seat belt
force limiter
The seat belts for the front seats are
equipped with emergency tensioning de-
vices and belt force limiters. The outboard
passenger seats belts (except in the third
row seats*) are equipped with emergency
tensioning devices.
The ETD is designed to activate only when
the seat belt is fastened and in the follow-
ing cases:

in frontal or rear-end impacts exceed-
ing a preset severity level


if the restraint systems are operational
and functioning correctly, see
1indicator lamp (
page 58)
In an impact, emergency tensioning devic-
es remove slack from the belts in such a
way that the seat belts fit more snugly
against the body. Belt force limiters reduce
the force exerted by the seat belts on oc-
cupants during a crash.
Children in the vehicle
If an infant or child is traveling with you in
the vehicle:

Secure the child using an infant or child
restraint appropriate to the age and
size of the child and recommended for
use by Mercedes-Benz.


Ensure that the infant or child is prop-
erly secured by a belt at all times while
the vehicle is in motion.
Infant and child restraint seats and infor-
mation on choosing an appropriate re-
straint system can be obtained from any
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
Warning!
G
An emergency tensioning device (ETD) that
was activated must be replaced.
When disposing of the emergency tension-
ing device, our safety instructions must be
followed. These are available at your autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.!Do not place objects heavier than
20 lbs (9 kg) on the front passenger
seat. This could cause the front or side
impact airbag on the front passenger
side to deploy in a crash which exceeds
the system’s deployment threshold.

85 Safety and Security
Anti-theft systems
Arming tow-away alarm and glass
breakage sensor
When you lock your vehicle, the tow-away
and glass breakage sensor alarm is auto-
matically armed.
Disarming tow-away alarm and glass
breakage sensor
To prevent triggering the tow-away alarm
feature, switch off the tow-away alarm and
glass breakage sensor before towing the
vehicle, or when parking on a surface sub-
ject to movement, such as a ferry or auto
train.Vehicles with trip computer*
The buttons are located in the overhead
control panel.
1Reset button
2Mode button
3Display
4Glass breakage sensor

Turn key in steering lock to position2
(page 33).

Return key to position0 and remove it
from the steering lock.

Within 30 seconds press button1
or2.
The display shows
OFF
.

Exit vehicle and lock vehicle with
remote control (
page 32).
The tow-away alarm and glass breakage
sensor remain switched off until the key is
inserted in steering lock and turned to
position1.

93 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Automatic central locking
The doors and the liftgate automatically
lock when the ignition is switched on and
the left front wheel turns at vehicle speeds
of approximately 9mph (15km/h) or
more.
If one of the front doors is then opened
from the inside, the vehicle is unlocked
centrally unless only the driver's door was
previously unlocked.Information on towing the vehicle can be
found in the “Practical hints” section
(
page 241).
The switch is located on the lower center
console.
Central locking switch1Locking
2UnlockingActivating

Make sure the ignition is switched on.
All the lamps in the instrument cluster
light up.

Press and hold upper part1 of the
central locking button for approximate-
ly six seconds.
The automatic central locking is
activated.
Deactivating

Make sure the ignition is switched on.
All the lamps in the instrument cluster
light up.

Press and hold lower part2 of the
central locking button for approximate-
ly six seconds.
The automatic central locking is deacti-
vated.
iThe doors unlock automatically after an
accident if the force of the impact ex-
ceeds a preset threshold.
To prevent the vehicle door locks from
locking, deactivate the automatic cen-
tral locking when the vehicle

is pushed or towed


is on a test stand

102 Controls in detailSeatsResetting rear seat
Pull down on seat bench until it locks
into place.

Pull lock button1 (
page 100) up
and unfold backrest until it locks into
place.

Check for secure locking by pulling and
pushing on the backrest.
The red backrest lock indicator at lock
button1 (
page 100) is not visible in
the locked position.

Move the rear and front seats in de-
sired position.

Pull up and adjust head restraint
(page 36).
Third row seats*Folding down single seat
1Head restraint
2Hook
3Tensioner
4Hook and loop velcro strip

Remove cargo floor plate
(page 162).

Remove head restraint1 from seat
cushion.

Lift tensioner3 upward to a horizon-
tal position to release tension of the
belt.

Disengage hook2 while holding onto
the seat firmly with one hand.
Warning!
G
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust head restraint so that head restraint
supports the back of the head at eye level.
This will reduce the potential for injury to the
head and neck in the event of an accident or
similar situation.
Failure to assure that seats are locked into
place could result in an increased chance of
injury in an accident.
Never place hands under seat or near any
moving parts while a seat is being adjusted.

118 Controls in detailInstrument clusterResetting trip odometer
Press the left knob1 (
page 116) re-
peatedly until you see the trip odome-
ter display.

Press and hold the left knob1 until
the trip odometer is reset.
Tachometer
To help protect the engine, the fuel supply
is interrupted if the engine is operated
above its specified limit.
Outside temperature indicator
The outside temperature is displayed in
the instrument cluster (
page 24).
When moving the vehicle into colder ambi-
ent temperatures (e.g. when leaving your
garage), you will notice a delay before the
lower temperature is displayed.
A delay also occurs when ambient temper-
atures rise. This prevents inaccurate tem-
perature indications caused by heat
radiated from the engine during idling or
slow driving.
Setting the clock
Hour
Pull out the right knob2 in the instru-
ment cluster (
page 116) and turn it
counterclockwise.
Minutes

Pull out the right knob2 in the instru-
ment cluster (
page 116) and turn it
clockwise.
Warning!
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The outside temperature indicator is not de-
signed to serve as an ice-warning device and
is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Indicated temperatures just above the freez-
ing point do not guarantee that the road sur-
face is free of ice. The road may still be icy,
especially in wooded areas or on bridges.
iTo set the clock by a single hour or a
few minutes, turn knob2 just a few
degrees in the direction indicated for
hours or minutes.

150 Controls in detailDriving systems
Driving systemsThe driving systems of your vehicle are de-
scribed on the following pages:

Cruise control, with which the vehicle
can maintain a preset speed.


Parktronic*, with which you can assist
your parking maneuvers.
The driving systems BAS, ABS, ESP, EBB
and 4-ETS, are described in the “Safety
and Security” section (
page 76).
Cruise control
Cruise control automatically maintains the
speed you set for your vehicle.
Use of cruise control is recommended for
driving at a constant speed for extended
periods of time. You can set or resume
cruise control at any speed over 20 mph
(30 km / h).
The cruise control function is operated by
means of the cruise control lever.
The cruise control lever is the uppermost
lever found on the left-hand side of the
steering column (
page 23).
Warning!
G
Cruise control is a convenience system de-
signed to assist the driver during vehicle op-
eration. The driver is and must remain
responsible for the vehicle speed and for
safe brake operation.
Only use cruise control if the road, traffic
and weather conditions make it advisable to
travel at a steady speed.

The use of cruise control can be danger-
ous on winding roads or in heavy traffic
because conditions do not allow safe
driving at a steady speed.


The use of cruise control can be danger-
ous on slippery roads. Rapid changes in
tire traction can result in wheel spin and
loss of control.


Deactivate cruise control when driving
in fog.
The “Resume” function should only be oper-
ated if the driver is fully aware of the previ-
ously set speed and wishes to resume this
particular preset speed.