1997 MERCEDES-BENZ ML430 index

137
Interior equipment
Te ch n ica l
data
Instruments
and controls Operation
Driving Instrument
cluster display Practical hints Car care Index
Notes:
The trunk is the preferred place to carry objects. The
enlarged cargo area should only be used for items which
do not fit in the trunk alone. Cargo area cover blind
Closing blind:
Pull blind (visual protection) across luggage / cargo area,
and guide into holders (1) next to liftgate.
Opening blind:
To roll up blind, disengage blind and guide retraction by
its handle.
Wa r n i n g !
Always fasten items being carried as securely as
possible using cargo tie-down rings and fastening
materials appropriate for the weight and size of the
load.In an accident, during hard braking or sudden
maneuvers, loose items will be thrown around
inside the vehicle, and can cause injury to vehicle
occupants unless the items are securely fastened in
the vehicle.To help avoid personal injury during a collision or
sudden maneuver, always use partition net when
transporting cargo.
Never drive vehicle with the liftgate open. Deadly
carbon monoxide (CO) gases may enter vehicle
interior resulting in unconsciousness and death.

138
Interior equipment
Te ch n ica l
data
Instruments
and controls Operation
Driving Instrument
cluster display Practical hints Car care Index
Removing blind:
Pull right side mounting sleeve toward vehicle center
(arrow) until button (1) engages, and remove blind from
holders. Installing blind:
Place left side of blind in left mount. Position right side
of blind over right mount. Push button (1), releasing
mounting sleeve to slide into mount.
Notes:
A removable cap is fitted into the mount openings on
vehicles fitted with third row seats.
Passenger use of third row seats with cargo area cover
blind installed is restricted.
2

139
Interior equipment
Te ch n ica l
data
Instruments
and controls Operation
Driving Instrument
cluster display Practical hints Car care Index
Telephone, general
See separate instruction manual for instructions on how
to operate the telephone.
Cellular telephone
Wa r n i n g !
A driver’s attention to the road must always be his /
her primary focus when driving. For your safety
and the safety of others, we recommend that you
pull over to a safe location and stop before placing
or taking a telephone call. If you choose to use the
telephone while driving, please use the hands-free
device and only use the telephone when road and
traffic conditions permit.Some jurisdictions prohibit the driver from using a
cellular telephone while driving a vehicle.Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km / h), your vehicle is covering
a distance of approximately 50 feet (approximately
14 m ) e v e r y s e c o n d .
Never operate radio transmitters equipped with a
built-in or attached antenna (i.e. without being
connected to an external antenna) from inside the
vehicle while the engine is running. Doing so could
lead to a malfunction of the vehicle’s electronic
system, possibly resulting in an accident and
personal injury.Wa r n i n g !
Some jurisdictions prohibit the driver from using a
cellular telephone while driving a vehicle. Whether
or not prohibited by law, for safety reasons, the
driver should not use the cellular telephone while
the vehicle is in motion.
Stop the vehicle in an safe location before
answering or placing a call.

140
Garage door opener
Te ch n ica l
data
Instruments
and controls Operation
Driving Instrument
cluster display Practical hints Car care Index
Garage door opener
1 Signal transmitter keys
2 Portable remote control transmitter The built-in remote control is capable of operating up to
three separately controlled objects.
Notes:
Certain types of garage door openers are incompatible
with the integrated opener. If you should experience
difficulties with programming the transmitter, contact
your authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center, or
call Mercedes-Benz Client Assistance Center (in the
USA only) at 1-800-FOR-MERCedes, or Customer
Service (in Canada) at 1-800-387-0100.
R ESETM O
DE
Wa r n i n g !
When programming a garage door opener, the door
moves up or down.When programming or operating the remote
control make sure there is no possibility of anyone
being harmed by the moving door.

141
Garage door opener
Te ch n ica l
data
Instruments
and controls Operation
Driving Instrument
cluster display Practical hints Car care Index
For operation in the USA only: This device complies
with Part 15, Subpart C, Section 209 of the FCC Rules.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and
(2) this device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired
operation.
WARNING: Changes or modification not expressly
approved by party responsible for compliance could void
the user’s authority to operate the equipment.
Programming or reprogramming the integrated
remote control:
1. Turn key in steering lock to position 1 or 2.
2. Hold the end of the hand-held transmitter of the device you wish to train approximately 2 to 5 inches
(5 cm to 12 cm) away from the surface of the
integrated remote control located on the overhead
console, keeping the indicator lamp in view. 3. Using both hands, simultaneously push the hand-
held transmitter button and the desired integrated
remote control button. Do not release the buttons
until completing step 4.
4. The indicator lamp on the integrated remote control will flash, first slowly and then rapidly. When the
indicator lamp flashes rapidly, both buttons may be
released (the rapid flashing lamp indicates
successful programming of the new frequency
signal). To program the remaining two buttons,
follow ste ps 1 through 4.
Note:
If after repeated attempts, you do not successfully
program the integrated remote control device to learn
the signal of the hand-held transmitter, the garage door
opener could be equipped with the “rolling code
feature”.

142
Garage door opener
Te ch n ica l
data
Instruments
and controls Operation
Driving Instrument
cluster display Practical hints Car care Index
Rolling code programming:
To train a garage door opener (or other rolling code
devices) with the rolling code feature, follow these
instructions after completing the “Programming”
portion of this text. (A second person may make the
following training procedures quicker and easier.)
1. Locate training button on the garage door opener motor head unit. Exact location and color of the
button may vary by garage door opener brand. If
there is difficulty locating the transmitting button,
reference to garage door opener operator’s manual.
2. Press “training” button on the garage door opener motor head unit (which activated the “training
light”).
Note:
Following step 2, there are 30 seconds to initiate
step 3. 3. Firmly press and release the programmed
integrated remote control transmit button. Press
and release same button a second time to complete
the training process. (Some garage door openers
may require you to do this procedure a third time to
complete the training.)
4. Confirm the garage door operation by pressing the programmed button on the integrated remote
control transmitter.
Canadian programming:
During programming, your hand-held transmitter may
automatically stop transmitting. Continue to press and
hold the integrated remote control transmitter button
(note steps 1 through 4 in the “Programming” portion)
while you press and re-press (“cycle”) your hand-held
transmitter every two seconds until the frequency
signal has been learned. The indicator lamp will flash
slowly and then rapidly after several seconds upon
successful training.

143
Garage door opener
Te ch n ica l
data
Instruments
and controls Operation
Driving Instrument
cluster display Practical hints Car care Index
Operation of remote control:
1. Turn key in steering lock to position 1 or 2.
2. Select and press the appropriate button to activate the remote controlled device. The integrated remote
control transmitter continues to send the signal as
long as the button is pressed – up to 20 seconds. Erasing the remote control memory:
1. Turn key in steering lock to position 1 or 2.
2. Simultaneously holding down the left and right side buttons for approximately 20 seconds, or until the
control lamp blinks rapidly, will erase the codes of
all three channels.

145
Contents - Driving
Te ch n ica l
data
Instruments
and controls Operation
Driving Instrument
cluster display Practical hints Car care Index
DrivingControl and operation of
radio transmitters ..................... 146
The first 1 000 miles (1 500 km) ................................. 147
Maintenance ................................... 147
Tele Aid ........................................... 148
Catalytic converter ........................ 160
Emission control ............................ 161
Steering lock ................................... 162
Starting and turning off the engine .................................. 164
Automatic transmission ............... 165
Parking brake ................................. 173 Driving instructions .......................174
Drive sensibly – save fuel .........174
Drinking and driving .................174
Pedals ...........................................174
Power assistance ........................ 175
Brakes .......................................... 175
Driving off .................................... 176
Parking ......................................... 176
Tires ............................................. 177
Snow chains ............................... 179
Winter driving instructions ......180
Deep water ...................................181
Passenger compartment ............182
Traveling abroad .........................182 Off-Road driving ............................. 183
Trailer towing ................................. 190
Cruise control ................................. 196
Brake assist system (BAS) ............ 199
Antilock brake system (ABS) ....... 201
Four-wheel electronic traction system (4-ETS+) ..........203
Electronic brake proportioning (EBP) ..................204
Electronic stability program (ESP) ...........................................205
Transmission control – LOW RANGE mode ...................209
What you should know at the gas station ....................... 212
Check regularly and before a long trip ...................... 215