1997 MERCEDES-BENZ ML430 index

89
Engine oil level indicator
Te ch n ica l
data
Instruments
and controls Operation
Driving Instrument
cluster display Practical hints Car care Index
Engine oil level indicator
To check the engine oil level, park vehicle on level
ground, with engine at normal operational temperature.
Check oil level approximately 5 minutes after stopping
the engine, allowing for the oil to return to the oil pan.
Turn the key in steering lock to position 2 and wait until
the display “––––––” appears in the odometer display
field.
Within 1 second press button (1) twice. The following messages are available:
“OIL i.O”
No oil needs to be added.
“–1.0 L”
“–1.5 L”
“–2.0 L”
Add oil to upper (max) mark of the dipstick.
See page 233 for instructions on adding engine oil.
“OIL HI”
Do not overfill the engine.
Excessive oil must be siphoned or drained off. It could
cause damage to the engine and catalytic converter not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
The display “––––––” flashes in the odometer display
field if a proper oil level check cannot be performed. The
engine oil level check can be repeated after a short time.
Perform the engine oil level check with the dipstick, if it
cannot be completed via the odometer display field.
See page 233.
In this case we recommend that you have the system
checked at a Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.

90
Exterior lamp switch
Te ch n ica l
data
Instruments
and controls Operation
Driving Instrument
cluster display Practical hints Car care Index
Exterior lamp switch
Rotate switch $ to positions:
D Off
C Parking lamps (also side marker lamps, taillamps,
license plate lamps, instrument panel lamps)
Canada only: When the engine is running, the low
beam is additionally switched on.
õ Parking lamps plus low beam or high beam
headlamps (switch pushed forward) ƒ
Standing lamps, left or right side (depending on
turn signal switch position). Turn key in steering
lock to position 0 or remove.
Standing lamps, left – move stalk to position (5).
Standing lamps, right – move stalk to position (4).
Move stalk to positions: 1 Low beam (exterior lamp switch position õ)
2 High beam (exterior lamp switch position õ)
3 High beam flasher (high beam available
independent of exterior lamp switch position)
4 Turn signals, right
5 Turn signals, left
To signal minor directional changes, such as changing
lanes on a h ig hway, m ove exterior la mp sw itch b rief ly to
the point of resistance only and release. The turn
signals blink three times.
To operate the turn signals continuously, move the
exterior lamp switch past the point of resistance (up or
down). The switch is automatically canceled when the
steering wheel is turned to a large enough degree.

91
Exterior lamp switch
Te ch n ica l
data
Instruments
and controls Operation
Driving Instrument
cluster display Practical hints Car care Index
Turn signal failure
If one of the turn signals fails, the turn signal indicator
system f lashes and sounds at a faster than normal rate.
Standing lamps
When the vehicle is parked on the street the standing
lamps (right or left side parking lamps) can be turned
on, making the vehicle more visible to passing vehicles.
The standing lamps cannot be operated with the key in
steering lock position 1 or 2.
Note:
With the key removed and a front door open, a warning
sounds if the vehicle’s exterior lamps (except standing
lamps) are not switched off. Daytime running lamps
(Canada only)
When the engine is running and the selector lever is in
a driving position, the low beam headlamps (includes
parking lamps, side marker lamps, taillamps and
license plate lamps) are automatically switched on.
When shifting from a driving position to position “N”
or “P”, the low beam switches off (2 seconds delay).
For nighttime driving the exterior lamp switch should
be turned to position õ to permit activation of the
high beam headlamps.

92
Fog lamp switch
Te ch n ica l
data
Instruments
and controls Operation
Driving Instrument
cluster display Practical hints Car care Index
Fog lamp switch (except Canada)
The switch is located in the center console. Press down rocker switch symbols:
1 Auxiliary front fog lamps on (if so equipped). Green
indicator lamp ‡ in instrument cluster comes on.
Press upper half of the switch again to switch fog
lamps off. The green indicator lamp ‡ in
instrument cluster goes out.
2 Rear fog lamp (driver’s side) on. Yellow indicator
lamp in switch comes on in addition to green
indicator lamp ‡ in instrument cluster.
Press lower half of the switch again to switch rear
fog lamp off. The yellow indicator lamp in switch
goes out.
Note:
Front fog lamps operate with the low beam headlamps
on. Consult your state Motor Vehicle Regulations
regarding allowable lamp operation.

93
Fog lamp switch
Te ch n ica l
data
Instruments
and controls Operation
Driving Instrument
cluster display Practical hints Car care Index
Fog lamp switch
(Canada only)
The switch is located in the center console.
Press down rocker switch symbols: 1 Front fog lamps on (if so equipped). Green indicator
lamp ‡ in instrument cluster comes on.
Press upper half of the switch again to switch fog
lamps off. The green indicator lamp ‡ in
instrument cluster goes out. 2
Rear fog lamp (driver’s side) in addition to front fog
lamps on. Yellow indicator lamp in switch comes on
in addition to green indicator lamp ‡ in
instrument cluster.
Press lower half of the switch again to switch rear
fog lamp off. The yellow indicator lamp in switch
goes out.
When pressing upper half of the switch once with
front fog lamps and rear fog lamp on, first the rear
fog lamp is switched off. The yellow indicator lamp
in the switch goes out. Press upper half of the
switch again to switch off front fog lamps. The green
indicator lamp ‡ in instrument cluster also goes
out.
Note:
Front fog lamps operate with the low beam headlamps
on. Consult your state Motor Vehicle Regulations
regarding allowable lamp operation.

94
Hazard warning flasher
Te ch n ica l
data
Instruments
and controls Operation
Driving Instrument
cluster display Practical hints Car care Index
Hazard warning flasher switch
The hazard warning flasher switch is located on top of
the steering column.
The hazard warning flasher can be activated either
manually via the switch located in the dashboard, or it
is activated automatically at the time an airbag is
deployed.
To activate hazard warning flasher, press switch once.
To deactivate, press switch again.
If hazard warning flasher was activated automatically,
press switch twice to deactivate.
Note:
To signal turns while being towed with hazard warning
flasher in use, turn key in steering lock to position 2
and activate combination switch for left or right turn
signal in usual manner. Now deactivate the hazard
warning flasher, only the selected turn signal will
operate. Upon canceling the turn signal, the hazard
warning flasher must be activated again. Headlamp cleaning system
(with Xenon headlamps)
The switch is located in the instrument panel behind the
steering wheel.
The headlamp washer can be activated with the key in
steering lock position 2.
Briefly press symbol side of switch.

95
Windshield wiper/washer
Te ch n ica l
data
Instruments
and controls Operation
Driving Instrument
cluster display Practical hints Car care Index
Windshield wiper/washer switch
Move stalk briefly up for single wipe without adding
washer fluid (use only when windshield is wet).
Pull stalk toward steering wheel and hold to activate
wiper and washer.
Wiper off Move stalk down for:
Intermittent wiping
(Interval is vehicle speed dependent
1.
Optional rain sensor: One initial wipe, pauses
between wipes are automatically controlled by a
rain sensor monitoring wetness of windshield.)
Notes:
With vehicle at a standstill, a front door open and
the key in steering lock position 2 there will be no
operation of windshield wipers in intermittent
setting.
Optional rain sensor:
Do not leave in intermittent setting when vehicle
is taken to an automatic car wash or when
cleaning the windshield. Wipers will operate in
presence of water spray at windshield, and wipers
may be damaged as a result.
Move stalk up for: Normal wiper speed
Fast wiper speed
1 At speeds of approximately 105 mph (170 km/h) the wiper switches automatically to continuous wiping.

96
Rear window wiper/washer
Te ch n ica l
data
Instruments
and controls Operation
Driving Instrument
cluster display Practical hints Car care Index
Rear window wiper/washer
The rear window wiper / washer switch is located in the
instrument panel. With key in steering lock position 2:
1 Press for interval wiping,
2 Press to switch off,
or
press briefly for approx. 5 seconds wiper operation,
or
press and hold for simultaneous operation of wiper
and washer. After releasing the switch the wiper
operates for additional 5 seconds.
The rear window wiper will also automatically engage if
the windshield wiper is engaged and the gear selector
lever is placed in “R” Reverse.
12