1997 MERCEDES-BENZ ML430 steering wheel adjustment

59 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
AirbagsWarning!
G
Airbags are designed to reduce the potential
of injury and fatality in certain frontal (front
airbags) impacts, or side (side impact and
head protection window curtain airbags) im-
pacts which may cause significant injuries.
However, no system available today can to-
tally eliminate injuries and fatalities.
The activation of the SRS temporarily releas-
es a small amount of dust from the airbags.
This dust, however, is neither injurious to
your health, nor does it indicate a fire in the
vehicle. The dust might cause some tempo-
rary breathing difficulty for people with asth-
ma or other breathing trouble. To avoid this,
you may wish to get out of the vehicle as
soon as it is safe to do so. If you have any
breathing difficulty but cannot get out of the
vehicle after the airbag inflates, then get
fresh air by opening a window or door.
Warning!
G
To reduce the risk of injury when the front
airbags inflate, it is very important for the
driver and passenger to always be in a prop-
erly seated position and to wear your seat
belt.
For maximum protection in the event of a
collision always be in normal seated position
with your back against the backrest. Fasten
your seat belt and ensure that it is properly
positioned on your body (
page 42).
Since the airbag inflates with considerable
speed and force, a proper seating and hands
on steering wheel position will help to keep
you at a safe distance from the airbag. Oc-
cupants who are unbelted, out of position or
too close to the airbag can be seriously in-
jured by an airbag as it inflates with great
force in the blink of an eye:


Sit properly belted in an upright position
with your back against the seat back-
rest.


Adjust the driver seat as far as possible
rearward, still permitting proper opera-
tion of vehicle controls. The distance
from the center of the driver’s breast-
bone to the center of the airbag cover on
the steering wheel must be at least ten
inches (25 cm) or more. You should be
able to accomplish this by a combina-
tion of adjustments to the seat and
steering wheel. If you have any prob-
lems, please see your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.


Airbags and emergency tensioning de-
vices (ETDs) are designed to function on
a one-time only basis. An airbag or ETD
that was activated must be replaced.


Do not lean with your head or chest
close to the steering wheel or dash-
board.


Keep hands on the outside of steering
wheel rim. Placing hands and arms in-
side the rim can increase the risk and
potential severity of hand / arm injury
when driver front airbag inflates.


317 Index
A
ABS 25, 76, 311
ABS control 76
LOW RANGE mode 77
Malfunction indicator lamp 242
Warning lamp 242
Accelerator position, automatic
transmission 123
Accident
In case of 52
Activating
Air circulation mode 139
Air recirculation mode 139
Anti-theft alarm system 83
Automatic climate control 135
ESP 82
Exterior headlamps 48
Hazard warning flasher 112
Headlamps 48
High beams 110
Ignition 33Immobilizer 54, 83
Rear passenger compartment ventila-
tion and climate control 141
Rear window defroster 133
Rear window wiper 51
Residual heat 140
Seat heater* 98
Tow-away alarm 85
Warning indicators (Parktronic*) 155
Windshield wipers 50
Activating automatic central locking 93
Adding
Coolant 223
Engine oil 221
Additional turn signals 266
Adjustable steering column
Indicator lamp 253
Adjusting 34
Backrest tilt 36, 38
Exterior rear view mirror 40
Head restraint height 36, 38Head restraint tilt 37, 39
Headlamp aim 272
Instrument cluster illumination 116
Manual seat 35
Mirrors 40
Power seats* 37
Seat cushion tilt 38
Seat fore and aft 35
Seat fore and aft adjustment 37
Seat height 36, 38
Seats 34
Steering wheel 39
Adjusting air distribution
Automatic climate control 137
Adjusting air volume
Automatic climate control 137
Air conditioner (cooling)
Turning on 139
Air conditioning
Cooling 139

326 IndexGear range 312
Automatic transmission 121
Limiting 121
Shifting into optimal 120
Gear range limit
Canceling 120
Gear selector lever
Cleaning 238
Position 122
Glass breakage sensor 84
Global Positioning System (GPS) 312
Glossary 311
Glove box 23, 164
Closing 164
Opening 164
Good visibility 126
GPS 312H
Hard plastic trim items
Cleaning 238
Hazard warning flasher 112
Switching off 112
Switching on 112
Head restraints
Manual seats 36
Power seats* 38
Headlamp aim
Adjusting 272
Headlamp cleaning system* 224
Headlamps
Automatic control 108
Bi-Xenon* 311
Cleaning 236
Cleaning system* 131, 224
Refilling washer fluid 224
Switching off 54
Switching on 48
Washer fluid 307
Washer system 307Headliner
Cleaning 238
Heated seats* 98
Height adjustment
Head restraints 36, 38
Seat belts 45
Steering wheel 39
High beam flasher 49, 110
High beam headlamps
Replacing bulbs 266, 269
Switching on 110
High mounted brake lamp 267
Replacing bulbs 271
Hood 217
Closing 218
Opening 217
Hooks
Loading 159
Hydroplaning 197

336 IndexSide windows 144
Automatic closing 145
Automatic opening 145
Cleaning 237
Closing 145
Closing fully (Express-close) 145
Opening 145
Opening and closing 144
Opening fully (Express-open) 145
Rear quarter window 146
Stopping 145
Synchronizing power windows 146
Simultaneous wiping and washing
Rear window wiper/washer 51
Windshield wipers 50
Single wipe 50
Sliding/pop-up roof* 148
Closing 148, 265
Opening 148, 265
Synchronizing 149
Snow chains 231
Spare fuses 287
Spare parts service 290Spare wheel 259
Mounting 274
Removing 259
Speed
Saving current 151
Speed settings
Cruise control 152
Speedometer 25
Speedometer display
Additional indicators 256
Split rear bench seat 99
SRS 66, 314
Indicator lamp 255
Standing lamps 107
Replacing bulbs 266, 267
Standing water
Driving instructions 200
StArt
Display messages 256
Starting difficulties 47
Starting position 33
Starting the engine 46Steep terrain
Driving 202
Steering column
Height adjustment 39
Length adjustment 39
Steering lock 23, 33
Positions 33
Steering wheel
Adjusting 39
Adjustment 39
Cleaning 238
Stolen vehicle
Tracking services 180
Stop watch 189
Stopping
Windows 145
Storage compartments
Glove box 164
Under front passenger seat* 164
Storing (Memory function*)
Positions into memory 106
Stranded vehicle 286