2000 MERCEDES-BENZ M430 brake light

175 Driving instructions
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Power assistance
BrakesThe condition of the parking brake system is checked
each time the vehicle is in the shop for the required
maintenance service.
If the parking brake is released and the brake warning
lamp in the instrument cluster stays on and there is no
audible warning (EBP), the brake fluid level in the
reservoir is too low.
Brake pad wear or a leak in the system may be the
reason for low brake f luid in the reservoir.
Have the brake system inspected at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center immediately.
All checks and service work on the brake system should
be carried out by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.
Install only brake pads and brake fluid recommended by
Mercedes-Benz.
Wa r n i n g !
When the engine is not running, the brake and
steering systems are without power assistance.
Under these circumstances, a much greater effort is
necessary to stop or steer the vehicle.Wa r n i n g !
After driving in heavy rain for some time without
applying the brakes or through water deep enough
to wet brake components, the first braking action
may be somewhat reduced and increased pedal
pressure may be necessary to obtain expected
braking effect. Be sure to maintain a safe distance
from vehicles in front.Resting your foot on the brake pedal will cause
excessive and premature wear of the brake pads.It can also result in the brakes overheating thereby
significantly reducing their effectiveness. It may
not be possible to stop the vehicle in sufficient time
to avoid an accident.
Wa r n i n g !
If other than recommended brake pads are
installed, or other than recommended brake fluid
is used, the braking properties of the vehicle can be
degraded to an extent that safe braking is
substantially impaired. This could result in an
accident.

180 Driving instructions
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data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Winter driving instructions
The most important rule for slippery or icy roads is to
drive sensibly and to avoid abrupt acceleration, braking
and steering maneuvers. Do not use the cruise control
system under such conditions.
When the vehicle is in danger of skidding, move
selector lever to position “N”. Try to keep the vehicle
under control by corrective steering action.
Caution!
Do not use LOW RANGE mode when driving on ice or
packed snow. At speeds below 18 mph (30 km / h)
vehicle steering is adversely affected by the LOW
RANGE ABS.
Road salts and chemicals can adversely affect braking
efficiency. Increased pedal force may become necessary
to produce the normal brake effect. We therefore
recommend depressing the brake pedal periodically
when traveling at length on salt-strewn roads. This can
bring road salt impaired braking efficiency back to
normal. A prerequisite is, however, that this be done
without endangering other drivers on the road.If the vehicle is parked after being driven on salt treated
roads, the braking efficiency should be tested as soon as
possible after driving is resumed while observing the
safety rules in the previous paragraph.
Wa r n i n g !
If the vehicle becomes stuck in snow, make sure
that snow is kept clear of the exhaust pipe and
from around the vehicle with engine running.
Otherwise, deadly carbon monoxide (CO) gases may
enter vehicle interior resulting in unconsciousness
and death.To assure sufficient fresh air ventilation, open a
window slightly on the side of the vehicle not
facing the wind.

181 Driving instructions
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Winter driving
Have your vehicle winterized at your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center before the onset of
winter.
•Change the engine oil if the engine contains an oil
which is not approved for winter operation. For
viscosity (SAE / CCMC class) and filling quantity,
see page 292.
•Check engine coolant anticorrosion / antifreeze
concentration.
•Additive for the windshield washer and headlamp
cleaning system: Add MB Concentrate “S” to a
premixed windshield washer solvent / antifreeze
which is formulated for below freezing temperatures
see page 237.
•Test battery: Battery capacity drops with decreasing
ambient temperature. A well charged battery helps
to ensure that the engine can be started, even at low
ambient temperatures.
•Tires: We recommend M+S rated radial-ply tires on
all four wheels for the winter season. Observe
permissible maximum speed for M+S rated
radial-ply tires and the legal speed limit.In winter operation, the maximum effectiveness of the
antilock brake system (ABS), the four wheel electronic
traction system (4-ETS+), the electronic stability
program (ESP), and electronic brake proportioning
(EBP) can only be achieved with M+S rated radial-ply
tires and / or snow chains recommended by
Mercedes-Benz. Snow chains maximize performance.
For driving instructions using snow chains see
page 179.
Deep water
Caution!
Do not drive through flooded areas or water of unknown
depth. Before driving through water, determine its
depth. It should not be deeper than approximately
20 inches (50 cm).
If you must drive through deep water, drive slowly to
prevent water from entering the engine compartment or
passenger compartment, being ingested by the air
intake, possibly causing damage to electrical
components or wiring, to engine or transmission that is
not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

189 Driving instructions
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data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Returning from off-road driving
Off-road driving increases strain on the vehicle.
We recommend that you inspect the vehicle for possible
damage after each off-road trip. Recognizing any
damage and a subsequent timely repair reduces the
chance of a possible breakdown or accident later on.
Proceed as follows:
•Switch off the LOW RANGE mode, see page 209.
•Remove excessive dirt from tires, wheels, wheel
housings, and underbody. For instance, after driving
in mud, clean the radiator, chassis, engine, brakes,
and wheels from extreme dirt, using a strong jet of
water.
•Inspect frame, oil pan, brake hoses, etc., as well as
vehicle underbody for possible damage.
•Check tires for possible damage, clean all exterior
lamps, and conduct a brake test.•Check for brush or branches caught in the
undercarriage. They could increase the possibility of
a fire, as well as cut fuel and / or brake lines,
puncture rubber bellows of the axles or drive shafts.
Wa r n i n g !
If you feel a sudden significant vibration or ride
disturbance, or you suspect that possible damage to
your vehicle has occurred, you should turn on the
hazard warning flashers, carefully slow down, and
drive with caution to an area which is a safe
distance from the roadway.Inspect the tires and under the vehicle for possible
damage. If the vehicle or tires appear unsafe, have
it towed to the nearest Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center or tire dealer for repairs.

193 Driving instructions
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data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Attaching a trailer
Please observe maximum permitted trailer dimensions
(width and length).
Most states and all Canadian provinces require safety
chains between your tow vehicle and the trailer. The
chains should be crisscrossed under the trailer tongue.
They must be attached to the hitch receiver, and not to
the vehicle’s bumper or axle. Be sure to leave enough
slack in the chains to permit turning corners.
Most states and all Canadian provinces require a
separate brake system at various trailer weights.Caution!
Do not connect a trailer brake system (if trailer is so
equipped) directly to the vehicle’s hydraulic brake
system, as your vehicle is equipped with antilock
brakes. If you do, neither the vehicle’s brakes nor the
trailer’s brakes will function properly.
The provided vehicle electrical wiring harness for trailer
towing has a brake signal wire (color orange) for
hook-up to a brake controller.
Most states and all Canadian provinces require a
break-away switch on trailers with a separate brake
system. The switch activates the trailer brakes in the
possible event that the trailer might separate from the
tow vehicle.
You should consider using a trailer sway control system.
For further information see your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.

194 Driving instructions
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cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Tow in g a t r ai le r
There are many different laws, including speed limit
restrictions, having to do with trailer towing. Make sure
t ha t your rig will be lega l, not only for w here you reside,
but also for where you will be driving. A good source for
this information can be the police or local authorities.
Before you start driving with the trailer, check the
trailer hitch, break-away switch, safety chains, electrical
connections, lighting and tires. Also adjust the mirrors
to permit unobstructed view beyond rear of trailer.
If the trailer has electric brakes, start your vehicle and
trailer moving slowly, and then apply only the trailer
brake controller by hand to be sure the brakes are
working properly.
When towing a trailer, check occasionally to be sure that
the load is secure, and that lighting and trailer brakes
(if so equipped) are functioning properly.
Always secure items in the trailer to prevent load shifts
while driving.
Take into consideration that when towing a trailer, the
handling characteristics are different and less stable
from those when operating the vehicle without a trailer.
It is important to avoid sudden maneuvers.The vehicle and trailer combination is heavier, and
therefore is limited in acceleration and climbing ability,
and requires longer stopping distances. It is more prone
to reacting to side wind gusts, and requires more
sensitive steering input.
In order to gain skill and an understanding of the
vehicle’s behavior, you should practice turning,
stopping and backing up in an area which is free from
traffic.
If possible, do not brake abruptly, but rather engage the
brake slightly at first to permit the trailer to activate its
brake. Then increase the braking force.
Caution!
If the trailer should begin to sway, reduce the vehicle’s
speed and use the brake controller by hand to straighten
out the vehicle and trailer. In no case should you
attempt to straighten out the tow vehicle and trailer by
increasing the speed or oversteering and stepping on
the brakes.
If the transmission hunts between gears on inclines,
manually shift to a lower gear (select “4”, “3”, “2”
or “1”). A lower gear and reduction of speed reduces the
chance of engine overloading and / or overheating.

197 Driving systems
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data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index 3Canceling
To cancel the cruise control, briefly push lever to
position 3.
When you step on the brake pedal or the vehicle
speed drops below approximately 25 mph
(40 km / h), for example when driving upgrade, the
cruise control will be canceled.
If the cruise control cancels by itself and remains
inoperative until the engine is restarted, have the
system checked at your authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center as soon as possible.
4Resume
If the lever is briefly pushed to position 4 when
driving at a speed exceeding approximately 25 mph
(40 km / h), the vehicle resumes the speed which
was set prior to the cancellation of the cruise
control. The last memorized speed is canceled when
the key in the steering lock is turned to position 1
or 0.Important!
Moving gear selector lever to position “N” switches the
cruise control off.
Wa r n i n g !
Only use the cruise control if the traffic and
weather conditions make it advisable to travel at a
steady speed.• The use of cruise control can be dangerous on
winding roads or in heavy traffic because
conditions do not allow safe driving at a steady
speed.
• The use of cruise control can be dangerous on
slippery roads. Rapid changes in tire adhesion
can result in wheel spin and loss of control.The “Resume” function should only be operated if
the driver is fully aware of the previously set speed
and wishes to resume this particular preset speed.

200 Driving systems
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
The BAS / ESP malfunction indicator lamp in the
instrument cluster comes on with the key in steering
lock position 2 and should go out with the engine
running.
If the BAS / ESP malfunction indicator lamp comes on
permanently while the engine is running, a malfunction
has been detected in either system. As a result, it is
possible that now only partial engine output will be
available. If the BAS malfunctions, the brake system
functions in the usual manner, but without BAS.If the charging voltage falls below 10 volts, the
malfunction indicator lamp comes on and the BAS and
the ESP are switched off. When the voltage is above this
value again, the malfunction indicator lamp should go
out and the BAS is operational.
With the ABS malfunctioning, the BAS is also switched
off. Both malfunction indicator lamps come on with the
engine running.
If the BAS / ESP malfunction indicator lamp stays
illuminated, have the BAS or ESP checked at your
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center as soon
as possible.