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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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Page 793 of 4133

4. To install, reverse removal proce dure. Activate air bag system. Read diagnostic codes and erase memory.
See DIAGNOSTICS
.
INSTRUMENT PANEL
Removal & Installation
1. Before proceeding, see AIR BAG SAFETY PRECAUTIONS . Disable air bag system. See
DISABLING & ACTIVATI NG AIR BAG SYSTEM
.
2. Remove glove box. See Fig. 3
. Remove center trim plate. Remove control head. Remove lower section
of instrument panel. Remove A-pillar trim pa nels. Using Wedge (115-589-03-59-00), remove upper air
outlet panel. Remove screws from upper section of instrument panel. Remove instrument panel cluster.
Disconnect sun sensor electrical c onnector. Remove Parktronic display. Disconnect air distribution flap
actuator motor connector.
3. Disconnect temperature sensor el ectrical connector. Remove screws from center of instrument panel.
Remove screws from sides of instrument panel. Remove instrument panel.
4. To install, reverse remova l procedure. Activate air ba
g system.
2004 Mercedes-Benz ML350
2004 ACCESSORIES/SAFETY EQUIPMENT Merce des-Benz - Air Bag Restraint Systems
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Page 799 of 4133
SIDE IMPACT SENSOR (REAR DOOR)
Removal & Installation
1. Before proceeding, see AIR BAG SAFETY PRECAUTIONS . Disable air bag system. See
DISABLING & ACTIVATI NG AIR BAG SYSTEM
.
2. Remove appropriate side impact se nsor cover. Disconnect side impact sensor electrical connector. See
Fig. 7
. Remove side impact sensor scre ws. Remove side impact sensor.
3. To install, reverse removal proce dure. Activate air bag system. Read diagnostic codes and erase memory.
See DIAGNOSTICS
.
Fig. 7: Identifying Side Impact Sensor
2004 Mercedes-Benz ML350
2004 ACCESSORIES/SAFETY EQUIPMENT Merce des-Benz - Air Bag Restraint Systems
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Page 800 of 4133
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
2004 ACCESSORIES/SAFETY EQUIPMENT Merce des-Benz - Air Bag Restraint Systems
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Page 808 of 4133

ContentsSafety and Security........................... 57
Occupant safety................................... 58
Airbags ........................................... 59
Seat belts ....................................... 64
Children in the vehicle .................... 67
Blocking of rear door
window operation ........................... 73
Panic alarm .......................................... 75
Activating ....................................... 75
Deactivating ................................... 75
Driving and safety systems .................. 76
ABS ................................................ 76
BAS ................................................ 78
4-ETS .............................................. 79
EBP................................................. 80
ESP ................................................. 80
Anti-theft systems................................ 83
Immobilizer..................................... 83
Anti-theft alarm .............................. 83
Tow-away alarm,
glass breakage sensor.................... 84
Controls in detail............................... 87
Locking and unlocking ......................... 88
Remote control with folding key..... 88
Opening the doors
from the inside ............................... 90
Opening the liftgate ....................... 91
Closing the liftgate ......................... 92
Automatic central locking .............. 93
Locking and unlocking
from the inside ............................... 94
Seats ................................................... 95
Removing and installing
front seat head restraints............... 95
Rear seat head restraints ............... 96
Heated seats* ................................ 98
Rear seats ...................................... 99
Third row seats* .......................... 102
Memory function* ............................. 105
Storing exterior rear view mirror
parking position ........................... 105
Storing positions in memory ........ 106
Recalling positions from memory . 106Lighting ............................................. 107
Combination switch ..................... 107
Fog lamps .................................... 111
Hazard warning flasher ................ 112
Interior lighting ............................ 112
Instrument cluster ............................. 116
Instrument cluster illumination .... 116
Coolant temperature gauge ......... 117
Display in the speedometer ......... 117
Resetting trip odometer ............... 118
Tachometer .................................. 118
Outside temperature indicator ..... 118
Setting the clock .......................... 118
Automatic transmission ..................... 119
One-touch gearshifting ................ 120
Gear ranges ................................. 121
Gear selector lever position ......... 122
Accelerator position ..................... 123
Towing a trailer ............................ 124
Emergency operation
(Limp Home Mode) ...................... 124
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26 At a glanceInstrument cluster
Item
Page
5
Photo sensor
(adjusts the brightness of
the digital displays located
in 1, 4 and 8)
6
Right indicator lamps
with:WLow wind-
shield/headlamp
washer system fluid
level warning lamp
253
7Front passenger air-
bag switched off
243
‡Front fog lamp
switched on
111
Item
Page
_Steering wheel ad-
justment not locked
253
warning lamp
253
1Supplemental Re-
straint System
(SRS) indicator
lamp
255
ÉBrake warning lamp
244
#Charge indicator
lamp
254
AHigh beam head-
lamp indicator
49
Item
Page
7
Knob for setting clock
118
8
Tachometer with:
Display for Selector
lever position
121
Clock
118
9
KRight turn signal
indicator lamp
a
LLeft turn signal
indicator lamp
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29 At a glance
Overhead control panel
Overhead control panel
Item
Page
1
Front left interior lighting
112
2
Signal transmitter buttons
for garage door opener
180
3
Front right interior lighting
112
4
Roadside Assistance
button
175
Information button
177
5
Interior lighting control
112
6
Trip computer* display
186
7
Rear view mirror
126
Item
Page
8
Right reading lamp on / off
114
9
Automatic antiglare func-
tion* on / off
126
a
Left reading lamp on / off
114
b
Glass breakage sensor
84
c
Trip computer* control
186
Tow-away alarm switch
85
d
Tele Aid* (emergency call
system) button
171
e
Sliding / pop-up roof*
switch
148
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50 Getting startedDriving
Switching on windshield wipers
Make sure the ignition is switched on.
Turn the wiper switch to the desired po-
sition 1,2 or3, depending on the
intensity of the rain.
Single wipe
Press wiper switch briefly in the direc-
tion of arrow2.
The windshield wipers wipe one time
without washer fluid.
Wiping with windshield washer fluid
Pull and hold wiper switch in direction
of arrow4.
The windshield wiper operates with
washer fluid.
Information on filling up the washer reser-
voir can be found in the “Operation” sec-
tion (page 224).
!Vehicles with rain sensor*:
Do not leave windshield wipers in inter-
mittent setting when the vehicle is tak-
en to an automatic car wash or during
windshield cleaning. Wipers will oper-
ate in the presence of water sprayed on
the windshield, and wipers may be
damaged as a result.
The switch should not be left in inter-
mittent setting as the wipers will wipe
the windshield once every time the en-
gine is started. Dust that accumulates
on the windshield might scratch the
glass and / or damage the wiper blades
when wiping occurs on a dry wind-
shield.
!If anything blocks the windshield wip-
ers (leaves, snow, etc.), switch them off
immediately.
For safety reasons, withdraw key
from steering lock before attempt-
ing to remove any blockage.
Remove blockage.
Turn the windshield wipers on
again.
If windshield wipers fail to function at
all in switch position1,
set the combination switch to the
next highest wiper speed
have the windshield wipers
checked at the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center