2002 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320 key

37 Tow-away protection
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Tow-away alarm and glass breakage sensor
The switch (1) is located in the overhead console.
The tow-away alarm and glass breakage sensor are part
of the antitheft alarm system.
Once the alarm system has been armed, the turn signal
lamps will flash rapidly and the horn will sound when
someone attempts to raise the vehicle, or breaks a
window and reaches into the passenger compartment.The alarm will last approximately 3 minutes in the form
of rapidly flashing turn signal lamps. At the same time
the horn will sound for approximately 30 seconds. The
alarm will stay on even if the vehicle is immediately
lowered.
If the alarm stays on for more than 20 seconds, an
emergency call is initiated automatically. See Tele Aid
on page 166.
To pr even t tr igger in g t he tow-away alarm feature, switch
off the tow-away alarm and glass breakage sensor before
towing the vehicle, or when parking on a surface subject
to movement, such as a ferry or auto train.
To do so, turn key in steering lock to position 1 and
press the OFF button on switch (1), then return key to
position 0 and remove it from steering lock.
Within 30 seconds, push left or right button on switch 1.
(On vehicles equipped with optional trip computer, push
RESET or MODE button, display shows OFF.)
Exit vehicle, and lock vehicle with remote control.
The tow-away alarm and glass breakage sensor remain
switched off until the key is inserted in steering lock
and turned to position 1.
1

38 Seats
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Seats, front
Caution!
Do not remove head restraints except when mounting
seat covers. For removal see page 45. Whenever head
restraints have been removed be sure to reinstall them
before driving.
Wa r n i n g !
Do not adjust the driver’s seat while driving.
Adjusting the seat while driving could cause the
driver to lose control of the vehicle.Never ride in a moving vehicle with the backrest
reclined. Sitting in an excessively reclined position
can be dangerous. You could slide under the seat
belt in a collision. If you slide under it, the belt
would apply force at the abdomen or neck. That
could cause serious or even fatal injuries. The
backrest and seat belt provide the best restraint
when the wearer is in an upright position and the
belt is properly positioned on the body.Never place hands under seat or near any moving
parts while a seat is being adjusted.
Wa r n i n g !
When leaving the vehicle always remove the key
from the steering lock, and lock your vehicle.Do not leave children unattended in the vehicle or
with access to an unlocked vehicle. Unsupervised
use of vehicle equipment may cause serious
personal injury.

42 Seats
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Only minor personal adjustments, as described below,
should then be required.
For exterior rear view mirrors, see page 77;
inside rear view mirror, see page 75;
steering wheel adjustment, see page 74.
Note:
See page 43 for instructions on storing and recalling the
seat position.Head restraint
Raising:
Pull up on head restraint.
Lowering:
Push button (1) and push down on head restraint, see
also page 45.
Adjust head restraint to support the back of the head
approximately at ear level. The head restraint angle can
also be adjusted manually.
See page 45 for removing head restraints.
Wa r n i n g !
When leaving the vehicle always remove the key
from the steering lock, and lock your vehicle.The power seats can also be operated with the
driver’s or passenger door open. Do not leave
children unattended in the vehicle or with access
to an unlocked vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehicle
equipment may cause serious personal injury.

53 Restraint systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
• Never wear the shoulder belt under your arm,
against your neck or off your shoulder. In a
crash, your body would move too far forward.
That would increase the chance of head and
neck injuries. The belt would also apply too
much force to the ribs or abdomen, which
could severely injure internal organs such as
your liver or spleen.• Never wear belts over rigid or breakable
objects in or on your clothing, such as
eyeglasses, pens, keys etc., as these might
cause injuries.• Position the lap belt as low as possible on your
hips and not across the abdomen. If the belt is
positioned across your abdomen, it could cause
serious injuries in a crash.
• Each seat belt should never be used for more
than one person at a time. Do not fasten a seat
belt around a person and another person or
other objects.• Belts should not be worn twisted. In a crash,
you wouldn’t have the full width of the belt to
manage impact forces. The twisted belt against
your body could cause injuries.• Pregnant women should also use a lap-
shoulder belt. The lap belt portion should be
positioned as low as possible on the hips to
avoid any possible pressure on the abdomen.• Never place your feet on the instrument panel
or on the seat. Always keep both feet on the
floor in front of the seat.

55 Restraint systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index BabySmart
TM airbag deactivation system
Special BabySmart
TM compatible child seats, designed
for use with the Mercedes-Benz system and available at
any authorized Mercedes-Benz Center are required for
use with the BabySmart
TM airbag deactivation system.
With the special child seat properly installed, the
passenger front airbag will not deploy. The 7
indicator lamp located in the instrument cluster will be
illuminated, except with key removed or in steering lock
position 0. The system does not deactivate the door
mounted side impact airbag.
Self-test BabySmart
TM
withoutspecialchildseatinstalled
After turning key in steering lock to position 1 or 2, the
7 indicator lamp located in the instrument cluster
comes on for approximately 6 seconds, extinguishes,
then blinks once.
If the indicator lamp should not come on or is
continuously lit, the system is not functioning. You must
see an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center before seating
any child on the front passenger seat.
BabySmart
TM is a trademark of Siemens Automotive Corp.
Wa r n i n g !
The BabySmart
TM Airbag Deactivation System will
ONLY work with a special child seat designed to
operate with it. It will not work with child seats
which are not BabySmart
TM compatible.
Never place anything between seat cushion and
child seat (e.g. pillow), since it reduces the
effectiveness of the deactivation system. The
bottom of the child seat must make full contact
with the passenger seat cushion. An incorrectly
mounted child seat could cause injuries to the
child in case of an accident instead of protecting
the child.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for
installation of special child seats.The passenger front airbag will not deploy only if
the 7 indicator lamp remains illuminated.Please be sure to check the indicator every time
you use the special system child seat.Should the light go out while the restraint is
installed, please check installation. If the light
remains out, do not use the BabySmart
TM restraint
to transport children on the front passenger seat
until the system has been repaired.

57 Restraint systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Emergency tensioning retractor (ETR)
The seat belts for the outboard passenger seats (except
in the optional 3rd row seats) are equipped with
emergency tensioning retractors. These tensioning
retractors are located in each belt’s inertia reel and
become operationally ready with the key in steering
lock position 1 or 2.
The emergency tensioning retractors are designed to
activate only when the seat belts are fastened during
frontal impacts exceeding the first threshold of the SRS
and in rear impacts exceeding a preset severity level.
They remove slack from the belts in such a way that the
seat belts fit more snugly against the body restricting its
forward movement as much as possible.In cases of other frontal impacts, angled impacts, roll-
overs, certain side impacts, or other accidents without
sufficient frontal or rear impact forces, the emergency
tensioning retractors will not be activated. The driver
and passengers will then be protected by the fastened
seat belts and inertia reel in the usual manner.
For seat belt and emergency tensioning retractor see
page 66.
Note:
The front passenger ETR activates only if the front
passenger seat is occupied.
Heavy objects on the front passenger seat can appear to
the “SRS” to indicate the presence of an occupant in
that seat which causes the passenger front airbag to
deploy and the ETR to activate in a crash exceeding the
appropriate threshold.

60 Restraint systems
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
5Window curtain airbag
The head protection window curtain airbags afford
increased protection against injuries to the head and
upper body. They inflate in the area between the A and
C pillars (see arrows) between the side windows and an
occupant’s head.Important!
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. If the lamp does not
come on at all or if it fails to extinguish after
approximately 5 seconds or if it comes on thereafter,
a malfunction in the system has been detected.
The following system components are monitored or
undergo a self-check: crash-sensor(s), airbag ignition
circuits, front seat belt buckles, emergency tensioning
retractors, seat sensor.
Initially, when the key is turned from steering lock
position 0 to positions 1 or 2, malfunctions in the
crash-sensor are detected and indicated (the “SRS”
indicator lamp stays on longer than 5 seconds or does
not come on).
Have the system checked at your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center immediately.
P91.60-2336-26

74 Adjustable steering wheel
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Adjustable steering wheelUnlocking:
Move lever (1) down. The indicator lamp, located in the
instrument cluster, comes on.
Adjusting:
Move steering wheel up or down to desired position.
Locking:
Move lever (1) up. The indicator lamp, located in the
instrument cluster, goes out.
Important!
With the key in steering lock position 2, the indicator
lamp in the instrument cluster comes on. It should go
out when the engine is running.
If the indicator lamp does not go out after starting the
engine, the adjustable steering column is not locked
properly.
Do not drive the vehicle until you have properly locked
the steering column.
Wa r n i n g !
Do not adjust the steering wheel while driving. The
steering wheel must be locked while driving.
Adjusting the steering wheel while driving, or
driving without the steering wheel locked could
cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle.