2002 MERCEDES-BENZ ML430 headlamp

97 Exterior lamp switch
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Exterior lamp switch
Rotate switch $ to positions:
DOff
UAutomatic headlamp mode, see page 99.
CParking lamps (also side marker lamps, taillamps,
license plate lamps, instrument panel lamps).
Canada only: When the engine is running, the low
beam is additionally switched on.
õParking lamps plus low beam or high beam
headlamps (switch pushed forward).ƒStanding lamps, left or right side (depending on
turn signal switch position). Turn key in steering
lock to position 0 or remove.
Standing lamps, left – move stalk to position (5).
Standing lamps, right – move stalk to position (4).
Move stalk to positions:
1Low beam (exterior lamp switch position õ)
2High beam (exterior lamp switch position õ)
3High beam flasher (high beam available
independent of exterior lamp switch position)
4Turn signals, right
5Turn signals, left
To signal minor directional changes, such as changing
lanes on a highway, move exterior lamp switch brief ly to
the point of resistance only and release. The turn
signals blink three times.
To operate the turn signals continuously, move the
exterior lamp switch past the point of resistance (up or
down). The switch is automatically canceled when the
steering wheel is turned to a large enough degree.
Auto
P54.25-2478-26

99 Exterior lamp switch
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Headlamp mode
The headlamps can be switched on and off manually or
automatically.
Manual operation:
The low beam headlamps and parking lamps can be
switched on and off with the exterior lamp switch. For
exterior lamp switch, see page 97.
Automatic operation:
With electronic key in steering lock in position 1 turn
exterior lamp switch to positionU.
The parking lamps switches on and off automatically
depending on the brightness of the ambient light.With the engine running and exterior lamp switch in
positionU:
USA only:
The low beam headlamps and parking lamps are
switched on and off automatically depending on the
brightness of the ambient light.
Canada only:
In conjunction with the daytime running lamps, see
page 100, in low ambient light conditions the parking
lamps will also switch on.
Note:
The high beam headlamps, high beam flasher, low beam
headlamps, parking lamps can still be switched on and
off manually using the exterior lamp switch.
The headlamps will not be automatically switched on
under foggy conditions.
Front fog lamps and rear fog lamps cannot be switched
on manually with exterior lamp switch in positionU.
To activate the fog lamps turn exterior switch to
positionB.
Wa r n i n g !
The driver is responsible for the operation of the
vehicle’s lights at all times. The automatic
headlamp feature is only an aid to the driver.
Switch on the vehicle lights by hand when driving
or traffic conditions require you to do so.

100 Exterior lamp switch
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Daytime running lamp mode (Canada only)
Turn exterior lamp switch to positionD.
When the engine is running the low beam headlamps
are automatically switched on. In low ambient light
conditions the parking lamps will also switch on.
When shifting from a driving position to position “N”
or “P”, the exterior lamps switches off (3 minutes delay).For nighttime driving the exterior lamp switch should
be turned to position õ or U to permit activation
of the high beam headlamps.
Note:
The high beam flasher is always available.

103 Fog lamp switch
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Fog lamp switch
The switch is located in the center console.
Press down rocker switch symbols:
1Front fog lamps on. Green indicator lamp ‡ in
instrument cluster comes on.
Press upper half of the switch again to switch fog
lamps off. The green indicator lamp‡ in
instrument cluster goes out.2Rear fog lamp (driver’s side) in addition to front fog
lamps on. Yellow indicator lamp in switch comes on
in addition to green indicator lamp‡ in
instrument cluster.
Press lower half of the switch again to switch rear
fog lamp off. The yellow indicator lamp in switch
goes out.
When pressing upper half of the switch once with
front fog lamps and rear fog lamp on, first the rear
fog lamp is switched off. The yellow indicator lamp
in the switch goes out. Press upper half of the
switch again to switch off front fog lamps. The green
indicator lamp‡ in instrument cluster also goes
out.
Note:
Front fog lamps and rear fog lamp operate only in
exterior lamp switch position õ and with no
highbeam headlamps on. Consult your state Motor
Vehicle Regulations regarding allowable lamp operation.

104 Hazard warning flasher
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical 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.
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 on the right side beyond the
steering wheel.
The headlamp washer can be activated with the key in
steering lock position 2.
Briefly press symbol side of switch.
See page 258 for instructions on filling up the
windshield / headlamp washer reservoir.

107 Rear window wiper/washer
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index With key in steering lock position 2:
1Intermittent wiping
To a c t i va te :
Press upper half of the switch.
To deactivate:
Press upper half of the switch again.
2Rear window washer
Press and hold lower half of the switch to activate
rear window washer.
After releasing the switch the wiper operates for
additional 5 seconds.
Once activated, the rear intermittent wiper function
remains active.
The rear window wiper will also automatically engage if
the windshield wiper is engaged and the gear selector
lever is placed in “R” Reverse.Windshield wipers smear
If the windshield wipers smear the windshield, even
during rain, activate the washer system as often as
necessary. The fluid in the washer reservoir should be
mixed in the correct ratio.
Note:
For windshield and headlamp washer fluid mixing ratio
see page 259.
Blocked windshield wipers
If the windshield wipers become blocked (for example,
due to snow), switch off the wipers.
For safety reasons before removing ice or snow, remove
key from steering lock. Remove blockage.
Activate windshield wiper / washer switch again (key in
steering lock position 1).

200 Driving instructions
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
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.
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 314.•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 259.
•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 199.
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.

238 Check regulary and before a long trip
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Check regularly and before a long trip 1Engine oil level
See “Checking engine oil level” on page 255 and
“Engine oil level indicator” on page 96.
2Coolant level
See “Coolant level” on page 256.
3Brake fluid
See “Brake fluid” on page 316.
4Windshield washer system/
Headlamp cleaning system/
Rear window washer system
For refilling reservoir see page 258.
Opening hood, see page 253.
Vehicle lighting: Check function and cleanliness. For
replacement of light bulbs, see “Exterior lamps” on
page 282.
Exterior lamp switch, see page 97.