1997 MERCEDES-BENZ ML500 open hood

264 Exterior lamps
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Parking, standing, side marker and turn signal lamp
115 6 N A ( 3 2 / 4 c p b u l b )
Open hood.
Twist bulb socket (4) counterclockwise and pull out.
Push bulb into socket, turn counterclockwise and
remove.
Insert new bulb in socket, push in and twist clockwise.
Reinstall bulb socket.Bulbs for auxiliary fog lamp (optional)
H3 U (55 W)
Open hood.
Remove cover (9). Unhook clamping ring and remove
bulb. Pull off electrical connector.
Insert new bulb in socket (seating properly in cutouts of
bulb socket), and mount clamping ring. Reinstall and
push electrical connector on securely.
Reinstall cover (9).

268 Exterior lamps
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Adjusting headlamp aim
Correct headlamp adjustment is extremely important.
To check and readjust a headlamp, follow steps 1
through 7.
Please note:
•High beam adjustments simultaneously aim the low
beam.
•Vehicle should have a normal trunk load.1. Park vehicle on level surface approximately 6 inches
(152 mm) from a vertical test screen or wall. The
centerline of the vehicle must be at a 90° angle to
the test screen.
2. (High beams on):
Using a carpenter’s level, align and mark a vertical
centerline (1) on the test screen for each headlamp
lens at a distance of 25
3/4inches (654 mm) from
the vertical centerline. As a check, the distance
between centerlines should be 51
1/2inches
(1308 mm). The star emblem on the hood may be
used to determine the vehicle centerline. If the
distance does not check, have the system verified at
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
3. Move vehicle on the level surface 25 feet (7.6 m)
straight back from the wall.
4. Open hood.
VH
low beam

275 Replacing wiper blades
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data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hintsCar care Index Replacing wiper blades
For safety reasons, remove key from steering lock before
replacing the wiper blade, otherwise the motor can
suddenly turn on and cause injury.
Notes:
Do not open engine hood with wiper arm folded forward.
Do not allow the wiper arm to contact the windshield
glass without a wiper blade inserted. The glass may be
scratched or broken.
Make certain that the wiper blade is properly installed.
An improperly installed wiper blade may cause
windshield damage.
The wiper with air spoiler should be mounted on the
driver’s side.Replacing windshield/rear window wiper blade
Removal:
Fold wiper arm (1) forward (windshield) / rearward (rear
window) and turn wiper blade (2) at a right angle to the
arm. Push safety tab (3) of attachment link (4) and slide
the wiper blade from the end of the wiper arm. Remove
the wiper blade.
Installation:
Slide wiper blade into end of wiper arm until it locks in
place.
P82.30-0338-26
1
2
3
4

28
Central locking system
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Locking:
Press transmit button ‹ once. All turn signal lamps
blink three times to indicate that the vehicle is locked
and the antitheft alarm is activated.
Notes:
If the turn signal lamps do not blink three times when
locking the vehicle, a door, the liftgate, or the hood is
not properly closed. Close the respective element and
lock the vehicle again with the remote control.
If the vehicle cannot be locked or unlocked by pressing
the transmit button, then it may be necessary to change
the batteries in the remote control or to synchronize the
remote control, see page 270 and page 271.
Unlocking the liftgate
Press transmit button Š to unlock the liftgate. This
also deactivates the antitheft alarm.
Important!
A minimum height clearance of 7 ft. (2.15 m) is
required to open the liftgate. Panic button
To activate press and hold button (1) for at least one
second. An audible alarm and blinking turn signal
lamps will operate for approximately 3 minutes.
Additionally the interior lights switch on automatically
for approximately 3 minutes.
To deactivate press button (1) again, or press transmit
button ‹, Œ orŠ on the remote control, or
turn key in steering lock to position 1.

35
Antitheft alarm system
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Antitheft alarm system
The indicator lamp is located in the center console.
The antitheft alarm is automatically armed or disarmed
with the remote control by locking or unlocking the
vehicle.
The antitheft alarm is armed within approximately
15 seconds after locking the vehicle with the remote
control.
A blinking lamp in the center console indicates that the
alarm is armed.
Notes:
Use of the key in the front door locks does not arm or
disarm the antitheft alarm system.
The alarm sounds when unlocking the driver’s door
with the mechanical key. Cancel alarm by turning key in
steering lock to position 1, or with the remote control by
pressing button Œ.
If the vehicle battery voltage falls below 10 volts, the
alarm is automatically canceled and the antitheft alarm
system is disarmed. When the voltage is above this
value again, the antitheft alarm system is armed again. Operation:
Once the alarm system has been armed, the turn signal
lamps will flash rapidly (approximately 3 minutes) and
the horn will sound intermittently (approximately
30 seconds) when someone:
• opens a door,
• opens the liftgate,
• opens the hood,
• breaks a window,
• attempts to raise the vehicle.
The alarm will stay on even if the activating element (a
door, for example) is immediately closed.
If the alarm stays on for more than 20 seconds, an
emergency call is initiated automatically. See Tele Aid
on page 148.
Note:
The alarm system will cycle three times when triggered.
The interior lights are automatically switched on when
the alarm comes on and go out when canceling the
alarm.

81
Instrument cluster
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Coolant temperature gauge
During severe operating conditions and stop-and-go city
traffic, the coolant temperature may rise close to the red
marking.
The engine should not be operated with the coolant
temperature in the red zone. Doing so may cause
serious engine damage which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Wa r n i n g !
• Driving when your engine is badly overheated can cause some fluids which may have leaked
into the engine compartment to catch fire. You
could be seriously burned.• Steam from an overheated engine can cause serious burns and can occur just by opening
the engine hood. Stay away from the engine if
you see or hear steam coming from it.Turn off the engine, get out of the vehicle and do
not stand near the vehicle until it cools down.

215
Check regulary and before a long trip
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Check regularly and before a long trip 1
Engine oil level
See “Checking engine oil level” on page 233 and
“Engine oil level indicator” on page 89.
2 Coolant level
See “Coolant level” on page 234.
3 Brake fluid
See “Brake fluid” on page 294.
4 Windshield washer system/
Headlamp cleaning system/
Rear window washer system
For refilling reservoir see page 236.
Opening hood, see page 231.
Ve h i c l e l i g h t i n g : Check function and cleanliness. For
replacement of light bulbs, see “Exterior lamps” on
page 260.
Exterior lamp switch, see page 90.

231
Engine compartment
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Car care Index
Hood
To o pen :
To unlock the hood, pull release lever (1) under the
driver’s side of the instrument panel. At the same time a
handle (2) will extend out of the radiator grill (it may be
necessary to lift the hood up slightly).
Caution!
To avoid damage to the windshield wipers or hood, open
the hood only with wipers in the parked position. Pull handle (2) to its stop out of radiator grill and open
hood (do not pull up on handle).
To c l o s e :
Lower hood and let it drop into lock from a height of
approximately 1 ft. (30 cm).
To avoid hood damage, please make sure that hood is
fully closed. If not, repeat closing procedure. Do not
push down on hood to attempt to fully close it.