1997 MERCEDES-BENZ ML500 airbag

63
Restraint systems
Te ch n ica l
data
Instruments
and controls Operation
Driving Instrument
cluster display Practical hints Car care Index
Safety guidelines for the seat belt,
emergency tensioning retractor and airbag
Wa r n i n g !
• Damaged seat belts or belts that were highly stressed in an accident must be replaced and
their anchoring points must also be checked.
Use only belts installed or supplied by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.• Do not pass belts over sharp edges.• Do not make any modification that could change the effectiveness of the belts.• Airbags and ETR’s are designed to function on a one-time-only basis. An airbag or emergency
tensioning retractor (ETR) that was activated
must be replaced.
• An airbag system component within the steering wheel gets hot after the airbag has
inflated. Do not touch.• Improper work on the system, including incorrect installation and removal, can lead to
possible injury through an unintended
activation of the “SRS”.• No modifications of any kind may be made to any components or wiring of the “SRS”. This
includes changing or removing any component
or part of the “SRS”, the installation of
additional trim material, badges etc. over the
steering wheel hub, front passenger airbag
cover, or front door trim panels, and
installation of additional electrical / electronic
equipment on or near “SRS” components and
wiring. Keep area between airbags and
occupants free of objects (e.g. packages,
purses, umbrellas, etc.).

64
Restraint systems
Te ch n ica l
data
Instruments
and controls Operation
Driving Instrument
cluster display Practical hints Car care Index
When you sell the vehicle we strongly urge you to give
notice to the subsequent owner that it is equipped with
an “SRS” by alerting him to the applicable section in the
Operator’s Manual.
• In addition, through improper work there is the risk of rendering the “SRS” inoperative or
causing unintended airbag deployment. Work
on the “SRS” must therefore only be performed
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.• For your protection and the protection of others, when scrapping the airbag unit or
emergency tensioning retractor, our safety
instructions must be followed. These
instructions are available at your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
• Given the considerable deployment speed and
the textile structure of the airbags, there is the
possibility of abrasions or other injuries
resulting from airbag deployment.

66
Restraint systems
Te ch n ica l
data
Instruments
and controls Operation
Driving Instrument
cluster display Practical hints Car care Index
Wa r n i n g !
Children 12 years old and under must never ride in
the front seat, except in a Mercedes-Benz
authorized BabySmart
TM compatible child seat,
which operates with the BabySmart
TM System
installed in the vehicle to deactivate the passenger
front airbag when it is properly installed.
Otherwise they will be struck by the airbag when it
inflates in a crash. If this happens, serious or fatal
injury can result.
According to accident statistics, children are safer
when properly restrained in the rear seating
positions than in the front seating positions.
Infants and small children must ride in back seats
and be seated in an infant or child restraint system,
which is properly secured with the vehicle’s seat
belt, fully in accordance with the child seat
manufacturer’s instructions.
Infants and small children should never share a
seat belt with another occupant. During an
accident, they could be crushed between the
occupant and seat belt.Children too big for child restraint systems must
ride in back seats using regular seat belts. Position
shoulder belt across chest and shoulder, not face or
neck. A booster seat may be necessary to achieve
proper belt positioning for children from 41 lbs. to
the point where a lap / shoulder belt fits properly
without one.When the child restraint is not in use, remove it
from the vehicle or secure it with the seat belt to
prevent the child restraint from becoming a
projectile in the event of an accident.

78
Instrument cluster
Te ch n ica l
data
Instruments
and controls Operation
Driving Instrument
cluster display Practical hints Car care Index
Indicator lamps in the instrument cluster High beam
BAS malfunction, see page 221
ESP malfunction, see page 221
4-ETS+ malfunction, see page 221
ABS malfunction, see page 222
Brake pads worn down, see page 225
Engine oil level low, see page 224
Coolant level low, see page 224
Transmission in LOW RANGE mode,
see page 221 ESP and 4-ETS+. Adjust driving to road
condition, see page 221
Brake fluid low, see page 219
EBP malfunction, see page 204
Parking brake engaged, see page 173
Front passenger airbag automatically
switched off, see page 53
Front fog lamp, see page 92
Steering wheel adjustment not locked,
see page 70
Fasten seat belts,
see page 223
Battery not being charged properly,
see page 223
SRS malfunction, see page 219
BAS ESPABSLOW
RANGE
BRAKESRS

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.

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.

217
Contents - Instrument cluster display
Te ch n ica l
data
Instruments
and controls Operation Driving
Instrument
cluster display Practical hints Car care Index
Instrument cluster displayMalfunction and indicator
lamps in the
instrument cluster .................... 218
On-board diagnostic system –
Check engine malfunction
indicator lamp ............................. 218
Brake warning lamp .................. 219
Supplemental restraint system
(SRS) indicator lamp .................. 219
Fuel reserve warning .................220 Electronic stability
program (ESP) / Electronic
traction system (ETS) –
warning lamp ............................. 221
BAS/ESP malfunction
indicator lamp ............................ 221
4-ETS malfunction
indicator lamp ............................ 221
LOW RANGE
indicator lamp ............................ 221
ABS malfunction
indicator lamp ............................ 222 Adjustable steering wheel –
indicator lamp .............................222
AIRBAG OFF
indicator lamp .............................222
Seat belt warning lamp .............223
Charge indicator lamp ...............223
Low engine oil level
warning lamp ..............................224
Low engine coolant
level warning ..............................224
Brake pad wear
indicator lamp .............................225
FSS indicator ...............................225

219
Malfunction and indicator lamps
Te ch n ica l
data
Instruments
and controls Operation Driving
Instrument
cluster display Practical hints Car care Index
Brake warning lamp
When the brake warning lamp appears
while the engine is running, this means:
• there is insufficient brake fluid in the reservoir
(engine running and parking brake released), or
• the parking brake is set (engine running)
• the electronic brake proportioning (EBP) system is
malfunctioning.
Note:
If you find that the minimum mark on the brake fluid
reservoir is reached, have the brake system checked for
brake pad thickness and leaks. Supplemental restraint system (SRS) indicator lamp
The operational readiness of the airbag
system is verified by the indicator lamp
“SRS” in the instrument cluster when
turning the key in steering lock to position 1 or 2. If no
fault is detected, the lamp will go out after
approximately 5 seconds; after the lamp goes out, the
system continues to monitor the components and
circuitry of the airbag system and will indicate a
malfunction by coming on again.
See page 56 for notes on airbags, page 55 for belt
tensioners, and page 65 for infant and child seat
restraints.
Wa r n i n g !
Driving with the brake warning lamp illuminated
can result in an accident. Have your brake system
checked immediately if the brake warning lamp
stays on. Don’t add brake fluid before checking the
brake system. Overfilling the brake fluid reservoir
can result in spilling brake fluid on hot engine
parts and the brake fluid catching fire. You can be
seriously burned.BRAKE
Wa r n i n g !
In the event a malfunction of the “SRS” is indicated
as outlined above, the “SRS” may not be
operational. For your safety, we strongly
recommend that you visit an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center immediately to
have the system checked; otherwise the “SRS” may
not be activated when needed in an accident, which
could result in serious or fatal injury, or it might
deploy unexpectedly and unnecessarily which
could also result in injury.SRS