2003 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320 brake

232 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
?
The yellow “CHECK ENGINE”
malfunction indicator lamp
comes on while driving.
There is a malfunction of:

The fuel management system


The ignition system


The emission control system


Systems which affect emissions
Such malfunctions may result in excessive
emissions values and may switch the engine
to its limp-home (emergency operation)
mode.

Have the vehicle checked as soon as
possible by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
An on-board diagnostic connector is
used by the service station to link the
vehicle to the shop diagnostics sys-
tem. It allows the accurate identifica-
tion of system malfunctions through
the readout of diagnostic trouble
codes. It is located in the front left
area of the footwell next to the park-
ing brake pedal.
The fuel cap is not closed tightly.
Check the fuel cap (
page 200).
Your fuel tank is empty.

After refuelling start the engine three
or four times in succession.
The limp-home mode is canceled. You do
not need to have your vehicle checked.
7
The indicator lamp lights up.
A BabySmart
TM child seat is installed on the
front passenger seat. The front passenger
airbag is therefore switched off.
The system is malfunctioning when there is
no BabySmart
TM child seat installed on the
front passenger seat.

Have the system checked as soon as
possible by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.

234 Practical hintsWhat to do if …<
The red seat belt warning lamp
blinks for a brief period after
starting the engine.
The warning lamp reminds you to fasten seat
belts.

Fasten your seat belt (
page 60).
W
The yellow low washer system
fluid level lamp lights up after
starting the engine or while driv-
ing.
There is approximately 1.3 US qt. (1.25 l) of
washer fluid remaining in the reservoir.

Add washer fluid (
page 208).
The washer fluid may have frozen

Move the vehicle to a warmer environ-
ment so that the washer fluid will
thaw.

Correct the concentration level after
the washer fluid in the reservoir
thaws.
2
The yellow brake indicator lamp
lights up during braking or after
starting the engine.
The brake pads are worn down.

Have the system checked at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.
Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
!Brake pad thickness must be visually
checked by a qualified technician at the
intervals specified in the Service book-
let.

238 Practical hintsWhere will I find ...?Vehicle jack
Please also observe the safety guidelines
in the “Flat tire” section (
page 255)
when using the jack.
Vehicle with CD-changer*
To access the vehicle tool kit, swing the
CD-changer out of the panel.
1Screw
2CD-changer

Turn screw1 counterclockwise.

Swing the CD-changer2 out of the pan-
el.
Electric air pump (ML 55 AMG)
The electric air pump is located behind the
spare wheel.
Remove the spare wheel (
page 240).
1Electric air pump

Open the strap and remove the electric
air pump.
Warning!
G
The jack is designed exclusively for jacking
up the vehicle at the jack take-up brackets
built into both sides of the vehicle. To help
avoid personal injury, use the jack only to lift
the vehicle during a wheel change. Never
get beneath the vehicle while it is supported
by the jack. Keep hands and feet away from
the area under the lifted vehicle. Always
firmly set parking brake and block wheels
before raising vehicle with jack.
Do not disengage parking brake while the
vehicle is raised. Be certain that the jack is
always vertical (plumb line) when in use, es-
pecially on hills. Always try to use the jack
on level surface.
Make sure that the jack arm is fully seated
in the jack take-up bracket. Always lower
the vehicle onto sufficient capacity jack-
stands before working under the vehicle.

248 Practical hintsReplacing bulbsRear lamps Notes on bulb replacement


Use only 12-volt bulbs of the same type
and with the specified watt rating.


Switch lights off before changing a bulb
to prevent short circuits.


Always use a clean lint-free cloth when
handling bulbs.


Your hands should be dry and free of oil
and grease.


If the newly installed bulb does not light
up, visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center.


Have the LEDs and bulbs for the follow-
ing lamps replaced by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center:

Additional turn signals in the exteri-
or rear view mirrors


Bi-Xenon lamps*


Front fog lamps (vehicles with sport
package)*
Lamp
Type
6
Brake lamp
1073
(32 cp bulb)
7
Backup lamp
1073
(32 cp bulb)
8
Turn signal lamp
PY 21 W
9
Tail, parking and
standing lamp
Rear fog lamp, driv-
er’s side
P 21/4 W
10
Side marker lamp
W5W
11
High mounted brake
lamp
1073
(32 cp bulb)
12
License plate lamps
C 5 W
Warning!
G
Keep bulbs out of reach of children.
Bulbs and bulb sockets can be very hot. Al-
low the lamp to cool down before changing
a bulb.
Halogen lamps contain pressurized gas. A
bulb can explode if you:

touch or move it when hot


drop the bulb


scratch the bulb
Wear eye and hand protection.
Because of high voltage in xenon lamps, it is
dangerous to replace the bulb or repair the
lamp and its components. We recommend
that you have such work done by a qualified
technician.

251 Practical hints
Replacing bulbs

Align headlamp cover and click into
place.
Fog lamp bulbs
1Fog lamp

Switch off the lights.

Use a suitable object (e.g. screwdriver)
to press on the release lever behind the
front panel.
Front fog lamp1 releases.

Remove fog lamp out of bumper.2Bulb socket
3Tabs

Twist bulb socket2 counterclockwise
to its end stop and pull out.

Pull bulb out of the bulb socket.

Insert new bulb in socket.

Reinstall bulb socket2.

Twist bulb socket2 clockwise to its
end stop.

Reinstall fog lamp into the bumper.
Make sure that tabs3 firmly seat into
the slots of holder.
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps
Tail lamp assemblies
Switch off the lights.

Open liftgate.
1Screws
2Tail, parking and standing lamp
Fog lamp, driver’s side
3Side marker lamp
4Turn signal lamp
5Backup lamp
6Brake lamp

Remove screws1.

Remove tail lamp.


252 Practical hintsReplacing bulbs7Tabs
Squeeze tabs7 together and remove
bulb holder.

Gently push bulb into socket, turn
counterclockwise and remove.

Insert new bulb in socket, push in and
turn clockwise.

Reinstall bulb holder. You should hear
it engage.

Insert the tail lamp in the body, lower
edge first. Make sure that it engages.

Retighten screws with washers on
them.License plate lamp
1License plate lamp
2Screws

Switch off the lights.

Loosen both screws1 and remove
lamp.

Replace the tubular lamp and reinstall
lamp.

Retighten the screws.High mounted brake lamp
1Cover
2Tab

Switch off the lights.

Squeeze both sides of cover1, fold it
forward and remove.

Press tab2 on reflector and remove re-
flector.

Gently push bulb into socket, turn
counterclockwise and remove.

Insert new bulb in socket, push in and
turn clockwise.


255 Practical hints
Flat tire
Flat tire
Mounting the spare wheel Preparing the vehicle

Park the vehicle as far as possible from
moving traffic on a hard surface.

Turn on the hazard warning flashers.

Engage the steering wheel lock in the
straight ahead position and set the
parking brake.

Move the selector lever toP.

Have any passenger exit the vehicle at
a safe distance from the roadway.

Take the spare wheel out of its carrier
(page 239).
ML 55 AMG: (
page 240).Lifting the vehicle

Prevent the vehicle from rolling away
by blocking wheels with wheel chocks
(not included) or other sizable objects.
When changing wheel on a level surface:

Place one chock in front of and one be-
hind the wheel that is diagonally oppo-
site to the wheel being changed.
When changing wheel on a hill:

Place chocks on the downhill side
blocking both wheels of the other axle.

Take the two-piece wheel wrench and
the jack out of the rear compartment
area (
page 237). Assemble wheel
wrench.
Warning!
G
The dimensions of the spare wheel are dif-
ferent from those of the road wheels. As a
result, the vehicle handling characteristics
change when driving with a mounted spare
wheel. Adapt your driving style accordingly.
The spare wheel is for temporary use only.
When driving with spare wheel mounted, en-
sure proper tire pressure and do not exceed
vehicle speed of 50 mph (80 km/h).
Drive to the nearest Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center as soon as possible to have the
spare wheel replaced with a regular road
wheel.
Never operate the vehicle with more than
one spare wheel mounted.

256 Practical hintsFlat tire

On wheel to be changed, loosen but do
not yet remove the wheel bolts (ap-
proximately one full turn with wrench).
The jack take-up brackets are located di-
rectly behind the front wheel housings and
in front of the rear wheel housings.1Take-up bracket
2Jack

Place jack on firm ground.

Position jack2 under the take-up
bracket1 so that it is always vertical
(plumb-line) as seen from the side,
even if the vehicle is parked on an in-
cline.

Jack up the vehicle until the wheel is a
maximum of 1.2 in (3 cm) from the
ground. Never start engine while vehi-
cle is raised.
Warning!
G
The jack is designed exclusively for jacking
up the vehicle at the jack take-up brackets
built into both sides of the vehicle. To help
avoid personal injury, use the jack only to lift
the vehicle during a wheel change. Never
get beneath the vehicle while it is supported
by the jack. Keep hands and feet away from
the area under the lifted vehicle. Always
firmly set parking brake and block wheels
before raising vehicle with jack.
Do not disengage parking brake while the
vehicle is raised. Be certain that the jack is
always vertical (plumb line) when in use, es-
pecially on hills. Always try to use the jack
on level surface. Make sure that the jack
arm is fully seated in the jack take-up brack-
et. Always lower the vehicle onto sufficient
capacity jackstands before working under
the vehicle.
!Do not position the jack on the body of
the vehicle, as this may cause damage
to the vehicle.