1997 MERCEDES-BENZ ML500 ESP

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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

146
Control and operation of radio transmitters
Te ch n ica l
data
Instruments
and controls Operation
Driving Instrument
cluster display Practical hints Car care Index
Control and operation of radio transmitters
MCS, radio and telephone
1 Observe all legal requirements.
Telephones and two-way radio
Radio transmitters, such as a portable telephone or a
citizens band unit should only be used inside the
vehicle if they are connected to an antenna that is
installed on the outside of the vehicle.
Refer to the radio transmitter operation instructions
regarding use of an external antenna.
Wa r n i n g !
Please do not forget that your primary
responsibility is to drive the vehicle. Only operate
the MCS, radio or telephone
1 if road and traffic
conditions permit.
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 .
Wa r n i n g !
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.

148
Tele Aid
Te ch n ica l
data
Instruments
and controls Operation
Driving Instrument
cluster display Practical hints Car care Index
Tele Aid
Important!
The initial activation of the Tele Aid system may only be
performed by completing the subscriber agreement and
placing an acquaintance call using the “SOS” button.
Failure to complete either of these steps will result in a
system that is not activated. If the system is not
activated the indicator lamp in the “SOS” button stays
on after turning electronic key in starter switch to
position 2 and the message “TELE AID – NOT
ACTIVATED” will be shown in the MCS display for
approx. 10 seconds.
If you have any questions regarding activation, please
call the Response Center at 1-800-756-9018 (in the USA)
or 1-888-923-8367 (in Canada).
( Tele matic Alarm Identification on Demand)
The Tele Aid system consists of three types of response;
automatic and manual emergency, roadside assistance
and information. The Tele Aid system is operational providing that the
vehicle’s battery is charged, properly connected, not
damaged and cellular and GPS coverage is available.
The speaker volume of a Tele Aid call can be adjusted
using the volume control on the MCS unit. To activate,
press the “SOS” button, the Roadside Assistance
button • or the Information button ¡, depending
on the type of response required.
Shortly after the completion of your Acquaintance Call,
you will receive a user ID and password via first call
mail. By visiting www.mbusa.com and selecting
“Tele Aid” (USA only), you will have access to account
information, remote door unlock, Info Services
* profile
and more.
* OptionalSystem self-check
Initially, after turning the key in steering lock to
position 2, malfunctions are detected and indicated (the
indicator lamps in the “SOS” button, the Roadside
Assistance button • and Information button ¡
stay on longer than 10 seconds or do not come on). The
message “TELE AID – PLEASE VISIT WORKSHOP”
appears in the MCS display.

149
Tele Aid
Te ch n ica l
data
Instruments
and controls Operation
Driving Instrument
cluster display Practical hints Car care Index
Important!
Always make sure that the indicator lamps in the
“SOS” button, the Roadside Assistance button • and
the Information button ¡do not remain illuminated
constantly in red and the message “TELE AID – VISIT
WORKSHOP” is not displayed in the MCS display after
the system self check.
If a malfunction is indicated as outlined above, have the
system checked at the nearest Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center as soon as possible.
Emergency calls
An emergency call is initiated automatically: • following an accident in which the Emergency
Tensioning Retractors (ETR’s) or airbags deploy,
• if the antitheft alarm or the tow away alarm stays on
for more than 20 seconds, see pages 35 and 36.
An emergency call can also be initiated manually by
opening the cover next to the inside rear view mirror
labeled “SOS”, then pressing the button (for longer than
2 seconds) located under the cover. See below for
instructions on initiating an emergency call manually. Once the emergency call is in progress, the indicator
lamp in the “SOS” button will begin to f lash. The
message “EMERGENCY CALL – CONNECTING CALL”
appears in the MCS display. When the connection is
established, the message “EMERGENCY CALL – CALL
CONNECTED” appears in the MCS display. All
information relevant to the emergency, such as the
location of the vehicle (determined by the GPS satellite
location system), vehicle model, identification number
and color are generated.
A voice connection between the Response Center and
the occupants of the vehicle will be established
automatically soon after the emergency call has been
initiated. When a voice connection is established the
audio system mutes and the message “TELE AID – EMERGENCY CALL ACTIVE” appears in the MCS
display. The Response Center will attempt to determine
more precisely the nature of the accident provided they
can speak to an occupant of the vehicle.

150
Tele Aid
Te ch n ica l
data
Instruments
and controls Operation
Driving Instrument
cluster display Practical hints Car care Index
The Tele Aid system is available if: • it has been activated and is operational. Activation
requires a subscription for monitoring services and
cellular air time
• the relevant cellular phone network and GPS signals
are available and pass the information on to the
response center.
Note:
Location of the vehicle on a map is possible if the
vehicle is able to receive signals from the GPS satellite
network and pass the information on to the response
center.
Wa r n i n g !
If the indicator lamp in the “SOS” button is
illuminated continuously and there was no voice
connection to the Response Center established,
then the Tele Aid system could not initiate an
emergency call (e.g. the relevant cellular phone
network is not available). The message
“EMERGENCY CALL – CALL FAILED” appears in
the MCS display for approx. 10 seconds.Should this occur, assistance must be summoned
by oth er means.

151
Tele Aid
Te ch n ica l
data
Instruments
and controls Operation
Driving Instrument
cluster display Practical hints Car care Index
Initiating an emergency call manually
Briefly press on cover (1) – the cover will open. Press the SOS button (2) briefly (for longer than
2 seconds). The indicator lamp in the SOS button (2)
will flash until the emergency call is concluded. Wait for
a voice connection to the Response Center.
Close the cover (1) after the emergency call is
concluded.




RESET
M ODE
1

RESET
MOD E
2

152
Tele Aid
Te ch n ica l
data
Instruments
and controls Operation
Driving Instrument
cluster display Practical hints Car care Index
Roadside Assistance button •
Located in the overhead control panel is the Roadside
Assistance button •. Briefly press on cover (3) – the
cover will open.
Pressing and holding the Roadside Assistance
button • (for longer than 2 seconds) will initiate a
call to a Mercedes-Benz Roadside Assistance dispatcher.
The button will flash while the call is in progress. The
message “ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE – CONNECTING
CALL” appears in the MCS display.
Wa r n i n g !
If you feel at any way in jeopardy when in the
vehicle (e.g. smoke or fire in the vehicle, vehicle in
a dangerous road location), please do not wait for
voice contact after you have pressed the emergency
button. Carefully leave the vehicle and move to a
safe location. The Response Center will
automatically contact local emergency officials
with the vehicle’s approximate location if they
receive an automatic “SOS” signal and cannot make
voice contact with the vehicle occupants.

RESET
MOD E
3

154
Tele Aid
Te ch n ica l
data
Instruments
and controls Operation
Driving Instrument
cluster display Practical hints Car care Index
If the indicator lamp in the Roadside Assistance
button • is illuminated continuously and there was
no voice connection to the Response Center established,
then the Tele Aid system could not initiate an Roadside
Assistance call (e.g. the relevant cellular phone network
is not available). The message “ROADSIDE
ASSISTANCE – CALL FAILED” appears in the MCS
display.
Should this occur, assistance must be summoned by
other means.
Roadside Assistance calls can be terminated using the
END button on the MCS unit. Information button
¡
Located in the overhead control panel is the Information
button ¡. Briefly press on cover (3) – the cover will
open.
Pressing and holding the Information button ¡ (for
longer than 2 seconds) will initiate a call to the Client
Assistance Center. The button will flash while the call is
in progress. The message “INFO – CONNECTING CALL”
appears in the MCS display. When the connection is
established, the message “INFO – CALL CONNECTED”
appears in the MCS display.

RESET
MOD E
3