SERVICING
SRS AIR BAG label on driver-side door latch post indicates SRS replacement date for air bag units. All SRS
components must be thoroughly inspected, including wiring harness. Before component replacement, check for
SRS fault codes by performing system operation check. See SYSTEM OPERATION CHECK
. SRS service
life is 10 years from manufactured date or 10 years from SRS replacement date after accident related repairs are
completed.
SYSTEM OPERATION CHECK
SRS warning light indicates SRS and Emergency Tensioning Retractor (ETR) system readiness. Turn ignition
on. SRS warning light will illuminate, then turn off after approximately 4-6 seconds indicating SRS system is
functioning properly. If SRS warning light does not illuminate, illuminates while driving or is continuously
illuminated, there is a system fault. Repair malfunctioning system.
AIR BAG SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
Observe these precautions when servicing the air bag system:
When working around SRS components and before any repairs are performed, disable air bag system. See
DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM
.
Before straightening any damage to body, or before performing electrical arc-welding, disable air bag
system. See DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM
.
Always wear safety glasses and gloves when handling a deployed air bag module. Air bag module may
contain sodium hydroxide deposits which are irritating to the skin.
Always use control module and impact sensors made by same manufacturer. Using components produced
by different manufacturers could cause accidental air bag or ETR deployment.
DO NOT repair any portion of SRS wiring harness.
If any SRS component is dropped from a height greater than 1.6 feet (0.5 m), it must be replaced.
If SRS components show signs of damage, they must be replaced.
Always handle air bag module with trim cover facing away from your body.
Always place air bag module on workbench with trim cover up, away from loose objects.
Front Passenger Seat Occupied Recognition With
Automatic Child Seat Recognition (ACSR) sensorUnder passenger front seat cushion
Head impact air bag modulesDriver-side & passenger-side roof rails over front &
rear doors
Knee bolstersDriver-side and passenger-side lower instrument
panel
Passenger-side air bag modulePassenger-side instrument panel
Side impact air bag modulesIn front & rear doors
Side impact sensorsOn floor inboard of door openings
(1)On C Class, rear seat ETRs are part of seat belt buckle assemblies.
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Observe these precautions when servicing the air bag system:
When working around SRS components and before any re pairs are performed, disable air bag system. See
DISABLING & ACTIVATI NG AIR BAG SYSTEM
.
Before straightening any damage to body, or before performing electrical arc-welding, disable air bag
system. See DISABLING & ACTIVATING AIR BAG SYSTEM
.
Always wear safety glasses and gloves when ha ndling a deployed air bag module. Air bag module may
contain sodium hydroxide deposits wh ich are irritating to the skin.
Always use control module and impact sensors made by same manufacturer. Using components produced
by different manufacturers could cause acc idental air bag or ETR deployment.
DO NOT repair any portion of SRS wiring harness.
If any SRS component is dropped from a height greater than 1.6 feet (0.5 m), it must be replaced.
If SRS components show signs of damage, they must be replaced.
Always handle air bag module with tr im cover facing away from your body.
Always place air bag module on workbench with trim cover up, away from loose objects.
DO NOT expose any SRS component to temperatures in excess of 212°F (100°C ).
DO NOT expose any SRS component to grease, oil or cleaning agents.
DISABLING & ACTIVATI NG AIR BAG SYSTEM
DISABLING SYSTEM
Turn ignition off and remove key. Disconnect ne gative battery cable and shield cable end.
ACTIVATING SYSTEM
Ensure no one is in vehicle. Turn ignition on. Connect negative battery cable. Go to SYSTEM OPERATION
CHECK .
DISPOSAL PROCEDURES
Several situations may arise requiring so me form of disposal action, including:
Scrapping a vehicle containing deployed air bag modules and ETRs.
Scrapping a vehicle with live air bag modules and ETRs.
Disposal of a live but electrically faulty air bag module and/or ETR.
Disposal of a deployed air bag module and/or ETR.
DEPLOYED AIR BAG MODULE OR EMERGENCY TENSIONING RETRACTOR (ETR)
Deployed air bag modules and ETRs can be disposed of like any other part.
SCRAPPED VEHICLE
2004 Mercedes-Benz ML350
2004 ACCESSORIES/SAFETY EQUIPMENT Merce des-Benz - Air Bag Restraint Systems
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Removal & Installation (Front)
1. Before proceeding, see AIR BAG SAFETY PRECAUTIONS . Disable air bag system. See
DISABLING & ACTIVATI NG AIR BAG SYSTEM
.
2. Move appropriate front seat full y forward. Remove lower trim panel from outer edge of seat cushion
frame. Remove bolt from seat belt end fitting. Remove end fitting from seat cushion. Remove B-pillar
trim panel. Remove bolt from be lt height adjuster. Disconnect ET R electrical connector. Remove ETR
bolts. Remove ETR.
3. To install, reverse removal procedur e. Tighten ETR, seat belt end fitting and belt height adjuster bolts to
specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
. Activate air bag system . Read diagnostic codes and
erase memory. See DIAGNOSTICS
.
Removal & Installation (Outer Rear)
1. Before proceeding, see AIR BAG SAFETY PRECAUTIONS . Disable air bag system. See
DISABLING & ACTIVATI NG AIR BAG SYSTEM
.
2. Remove appropriate C-pillar trim panel. Remove bolt from upper seat belt guide bracket. Disconnect
ETR connector. Remove bolts from ETR. Remove ETR.
3. To install, reverse removal proc edure. Tighten ETR bolts and upper seat belt guide bracket bolt to
specification. See TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
. Activate air bag system Read diagnostic codes and
erase memory. See DIAGNOSTICS
.
HEAD IMPACT AIR BAG MODULE (OUTER REAR)
Removal & Installation
1. Before proceeding, see AIR BAG SAFETY PRECAUTIONS . Disable air bag system. See
DISABLING & ACTIVATI NG AIR BAG SYSTEM
.
2. Remove headliner. See HEADLINER
. Disconnect appropriate head im pact air bag module electrical
connector. Remove screws from rear bracket. Rem ove screws from front and center brackets. Using
Wedge (115-589-03-59-00), remove head impact air ba g module from bracket. Remove head impact air
bag module.
3. To install, reverse removal proce dure. Activate air bag system. Read diagnostic codes and erase memory.
See DIAGNOSTICS
.
HEADLINER
Removal & Installation
1. Before proceeding, see AIR BAG SAFETY PRECAUTIONS . Remove edge trim from sliding/pop-up
roof. Remove front door seals from A- and B-pillars.
2. Remove A-pillar trim panels. Remove front fold ing handle. Remove sun visors and mounting clips.
Remove upper B-pillar trim panels . Remove cargo net holding point c overs. Remove load compartment
handles.
3. Remove coat hooks. Remove C-pill ar trim panels. Remove upper screws from D-pillar trim panels.
Detach rear headliner at roof. Lower headliner until it is supported on front seats. Lower front seat backs
rearward until sufficient ac cess to head impact air ba
g modules is available.
2004 Mercedes-Benz ML350
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Courtesy of MERCEDES-BENZ OF NORTH AMERICA.
WIRE REPAIR
DO NOT repair wiring harness. Replace complete SRS wiring harn ess, if any part is damaged.
TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS
DIAGNOSTICS
Air bag system diagnostic information is not available. All air bag system diagnosis must be carried out using
manufacturers proprietary STAR diagnostic tool.
WIRING DIAGRAMS
ApplicationFt. Lbs. (N.m)
Front ETR
Belt end fitting26 (35)
Belt height adjuster bolt18 (25)
Bolts22 (30)
Rear ETR
Belt height adjuster bolt22 (30)
Bolts22 (30)
INCH Lbs. (N.m)
Control module bolts(1)
Driver-side air bag module bolts71 (8)
Head impact air bag module bolts71 (8)
Passenger-side air bag module nuts71 (8)
Side impact sensor screws(1)
(1)Information is not available.
2004 Mercedes-Benz ML350
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35 Getting started
Adjusting
Manual seat adjustment
1Seat fore and aft adjustment
2Backrest tilt
3Seat heightSeat fore and aft adjustment
Lift handle1.
Slide seat to the desired position.
Allow handle1 to reengage.
Check for proper seat engagement
before driving.
Adjust seat to a comfortable seating posi-
tion that still allows you to reach the
accelerator / brake pedal safely. The posi-
tion should be as far rearward as possible,
consistent with ability to properly operate
controls.
A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries is
significantly increased if the child restraints
are not properly secured in the vehicle and
the child is not properly secured in the child
restraint.
iWhen moving the seat, be sure that
there are no items in the footwell or
behind the seats. Otherwise you could
damage the seats.
36 Getting startedAdjustingSeat backrest tilt
Turn handwheel2 forward or back-
ward until your hands are slightly ang-
led when holding the steering wheel.
Seat height
Lift handle3.
Use your body weight to push the seat
downwards.
Lift your weight off the seat to obtain a
higher seat position.
Release lever3.Head restraint height
1Release button
Raising:
Manually adjust the height of the head
restraint by pulling it upward.
Lowering:
To lower the head restraint, push
release button1 and press down on
the head restraint.
Warning!
G
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust head restraint so that the head re-
straint 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 ac-
cident or similar situation.
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat
head restraints. Head restraints are intend-
ed to help reduce injuries during an acci-
dent.
37 Getting started
Adjusting
Head restraint tilt
Manually adjust the angle of the head
restraint.
Push or pull on the upper edge of the
head restraint cushion.
More information on seats can be found in
the “Controls in detail” section
(
page 95).Power seat* adjustment
The seat adjustment switch is located on
the entry side of each front seat base.
1Backrest tilt
2 Seat fore and aft adjustment
3Seat cushion tilt
4Seat height
Turn the key in the steering lock to
position1 or2 (
page 33).
or
Open the driver’s or passenger door.
Seat fore and aft adjustment
Press the switch forward or backward
in the direction of arrow1.
Adjust seat to a comfortable seating
position that still allows you to reach
the accelerator / brake pedal safely.
The position should be as far to the rear
as possible, consistent with ability to
properly operate controls.iWhen moving the seat, be sure that
there are no items in the footwell or be-
hind the seat. Otherwise you could
damage the seat.
The memory function* (
page 105)
lets you store the setting for the seat
positions together with the setting for
the exterior rear view mirrors.
38 Getting startedAdjustingSeat cushion tilt
Press the switch up or down in the di-
rection of arrow3 until your upper
legs are lightly supported.
Seat backrest tilt
Press the switch forward or backward
in the direction of arrow1 until your
arms are slightly angled when holding
the steering wheel.
Seat height
Press the switch up or down in the di-
rection of arrow4.Head restraint height
1Release button
Raising:
Manually adjust the height of the head
restraint by pulling it upward.
Lowering:
To lower the head restraint, push
release button1 and press down on
the head restraint.
Warning!
G
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust head restraint so that the head re-
straint 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 ac-
cident or similar situation.
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat
head restraints. Head restraints are intend-
ed to help reduce injuries during an acci-
dent.