2003 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350 Hazard

217 Operation
Vehicle care
Vehicle care
Cleaning and care of the vehicle
While in operation, even while parked, your
vehicle is subjected to varying external in-
fluences which, if gone unchecked, can at-
tack the paintwork as well as the
underbody and cause lasting damage.Such damage is caused not only by ex-
treme and varying climatic conditions, but
also by:


Air pollution


Road salt


Tar, gravel and stone chipping
To avoid paint damage, you should imme-
diately remove:


Grease and oil


Fuel


Coolant


Brake fluid


Bird droppings


Insects


Tree resins, etc.Frequent washing reduces and/or elimi-
nates the aggressiveness and potency of
the above adverse influences.
More frequent washings are necessary to
deal with unfavorable conditions, for ex-
ample:


Near the ocean


In industrial areas (smoke, exhaust
emissions)


During winter operation
You should check your vehicle from time to
time for stone chipping or other damage.
A n y d a m a g e s h o u l d b e r e p a i r e d a s s o o n a s
possible to prevent corrosion.
In doing so, do not neglect the underbody
of the vehicle. A prerequisite for a thor-
ough check is a washing of the underbody
followed by a thorough inspection. Dam-
aged areas need to be re-undercoated.
Warning!
G
Many cleaning products can be hazardous.
Some are poisonous, others are flammable.
Always follow the instructions on the partic-
ular container. Always open your vehicle’s
doors or windows when cleaning the inside.
Never use fluids or solvents that are not de-
signed for cleaning your vehicle.

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.

268 Practical hintsTowing the vehicleWarning!
G
If circumstances require towing the vehicle
with all wheels on the ground, always tow
with a tow bar if:

the engine will not run


there is a malfunction in the power sup-
ply or in the vehicle’s electrical system
Prior to towing the vehicle with all wheels on
the ground, make certain that the key is in
steering lock position2.
If the key is left in steering lock position0
for an extended period of time, it can no
longer be turned in the switch. In this case,
the steering is locked. To unlock, remove
key from steering lock and reinsert.
Warning!
G
With the engine not running, there is no
power assistance for the braking and steer-
ing systems. In this case, it is important to
keep in mind that a considerably higher de-
gree of effort is necessary to brake and
steer the vehicle. Adapt your driving accord-
ingly.iTo signal turns while being towed with
hazard warning flasher in use, turn key
in steering lock to position2 and acti-
vate combination switch for left or right
turn signal in usual manner – only the
selected turn signal will operate.
Upon canceling the turn signal, the haz-
ard warning flasher will operate again.iThe vehicle cannot be started via
tow-start.
!When towing the vehicle with all wheels
on the ground, note the following:
With the automatic central locking acti-
vated and the key in steering lock
position2, the vehicle doors lock if the
left front wheel is turning at vehicle
speeds of approx. 9 mph (15 km/h) or
more.
To prevent the vehicle doors from lock-
ing, deactivate the automatic central
locking (
page 89).
Towing of the vehicle should only be
done using the towing eye. Never at-
tach tow cable, tow rope or tow rod to
vehicle chassis, frame or suspension
parts.

299 Index
A
ABS 25, 71, 293
ABS control 71
LOW RANGE mode 72
Malfunction indicator lamp 225
Warning lamp 225
Accelerator position, automatic
transmission 117
Accident
In case of 49
Activating
Air circulation mode 130
Air recirculation mode 129
Anti-theft alarm system 78
Automatic climate control 125
ESP 77
Exterior headlamps 46
Hazard warning flasher 106
Headlamps 46
High beams 102
Ignition 33
Immobilizer 51, 78
Rear passenger compartment
ventilation and climate control 131
Rear window defroster 131
Rear window wiper 48Residual heat 130
Seat heater 91
Tow-away alarm 80
Warning indicators (Parktronic*) 151
Windshield wipers 48
Activating automatic central locking 89
Adding
Coolant 206
Engine oil 204, 205
Additional turn signals 247
Adjustable steering column
Indicator lamp 229
Adjusting 34
Backrest tilt 36, 37
Exterior rear view mirror 38
Head restraint height 36, 37
Head restraint tilt 36, 37
Headlamp aim 253
Instrument cluster illumination 110
Manual seat 35
Mirrors 38
Power seats 37
Seat cushion tilt 37
Seat fore and aft 35
Seat fore and aft adjustment 37
Seat height 35, 36Seats 34
Steering wheel 37
Adjusting air distribution
Automatic climate control 127
Adjusting air volume
Automatic climate control 127
Air conditioner (cooling)
Turning on 129
Air conditioning
Cooling 129
Air conditioning refrigerant 286
Air outlets
Automatic climate control 132
Air pressure see Tire inflation pressure 211
Air pump 238
Air recirculation mode 128
Activating 129
Deactivating 129
AIRBAG OFF
Warning lamp 232
Airbags 55
BabySmart
TM airbag deactivation
system 293
BabySmartTM deactivation system 65
Children 56
Front 59

303 Index
Compass 173
Calibrating 174
Setting compass zone 174
Compass zone 174
Consumer information 291
Control and operation of radio
transmitters 197
Coolant 206, 287
Adding 206
Anticorrosion/antifreeze quantity 288
Checking level 206
Indicator lamp 230
Temperature 199
Temperature gauge 111
Coolant level
Checking 201, 206
Crossing obstacles 190
Cruise control 146, 293
Canceling 147
Driving downhill 147
Driving uphill 147
Fine adjustment 148
LOW RANGE mode 148
Saving current speed 147
Setting speeds 148Cruise control lever 146
Cup holder 154
Cleaning 221
In front seat armrest 155
In instrument panel 154
In rear centerconsole 155
Customer Assistance Center (CAC) 293
D
Daytime running lamp mode 103
Deactivating
Air conditioning (cooling) 129
Air recirculation mode 129
Alarm 79
Anti-theft alarm system 79
Automatic climate control 125, 127
Cruise control 147
Defrost 128
Engine 51
ESP 76
Front fog lamps, rear fog lamp 105
Hazard warning flasher 106
Headlamps 51
Immobilizer 78
Rear passenger compartment
ventilation and climate control 131Rear window defroster 131
Residual heat 130
Seat heater 91
Tow-away alarm 80
Tow-away alarm (vehicles with trip
computer*) 80
Tow-away alarm (vehicles without trip
computer) 81
Deactivating automatic central locking 89
Deep water see Standing water 185
Defogging
Windshield 128
Defrosting 128
Difficulties
While driving see Problems while
driving 49
With starting 45
Direction of rotation (tires) 210
Discharged battery
Jump starting 264
Disconnecting
Vehicle battery 261
Display
Engine oil level 204
Display in the speedometer 111

306 Index
Gasoline additives 287
Premium unleaded gasoline 200, 286
Requirements 287
Reserve warning 25
Fuel additives 287
Fuel filler flap 200
Locking 200
Opening 244
Unlocking 200
Fuel requirements 287
Fuel tank
Filler flap 200
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc. 284
Functions
Trip computer 172
Fuse box 271, 272
Fuse chart 271
Fuses 271
Fuse box in engine compartment 271
Fuse box in passenger footwell 272
Fuse chart 271
Fuse extractor 271
Spare fuses 271G
Garage door opener 29, 168
Erasing in remote control 171
Integrated remote control 169
Rolling code programming 170
Gasoline see Fuel 200
Gasoline additives 287
Gauge for
Coolant temperature 25
Fuel 25
Outside temperature 25
Gear range 294
Automatic transmission 114
Limiting 114
Shifting into optimal 114
Gear range limit
Canceling 114
Gear selector lever
Cleaning 221
Position 115
Glass breakage sensor 79
Global Positioning System (GPS) 294
Glossary 293Glove box 23, 152
Closing 152
Opening 152
Good visibility 119
GPS 294
H
Hand-held transmitter
Programming integrated remote con-
trol 169
Hard plastic trim items
Cleaning 221
Hazard warning flasher 106
Switching off 106
Switching on 106
Head restraint
Installing 92
Removing 92
Head restraints
Manual seats 36
Power seats* 37
Headlamp aim
Adjusting 253
Headlamp cleaning system* 208

316 IndexSwitching off
Automatic climate control 127
ESP 76
Front fog lamps 106
Hazard warning flasher 106
Headlamps 51
Rapid seat heating 91
Rear fog lamp 106
Transmission control – LOW RANGE
mode 118
Switching on
Automatic climate control 126
ESP 77
Front fog lamps 105
Front fog lamps, rear fog lamp 105
Hazard warning flasher 106
Headlamps 46
High beams 102
Rapid seat heating 91
Seat heating 91
Transmission control – LOW RANGE
mode 118
Trip computer 172
Windshield wipers 47Synchronizing
Power windows 136
Remote control 244
Sliding/pop-up roof 138
T
Tachometer 26, 112
Displaying gear range 114
Tail lamps 251
Cleaning 220
Replacing bulbs 248
Tar stains 218
Technical data 286
Brake fluid 286
Coolants 287
Electrical system 281
Engine 278
Engine oil 286
Engine oil additives 286
Fuel requirements 287
Gasoline additives 287
Main dimensions 282
Premium unleaded gasoline 286
Rims and tires 279
Weights 283
Windshield and headlamp washer sys-
tem 290Tele Aid
Information 165
Initiating an emergency call manually
163
Roadside assistance 163
Tele Aid System 160
Tele Aid System* 296
Tele Aid* 159
Emergency calls 161
Remote door unlock 167
Stolen vehicle tracking services 168
System self-check 160
Upgrade signals 166
Telematics* 296
Telephone* 158
Temperature
Grades of tires 292
Tires 211
Third row seats* 96
Folding down single seat 96
Installing single seat 98
Removing single seat 98
Storing single seat 97
Tie-down rings (Cargo compartment) 140
Tightening torque 296
Tightening torque (Wheel bolts) 258