2003 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350 Dome light

Contents
Tow-away alarm,
glass breakage sensor.................... 79
Controls in detail............................... 83
Locking and unlocking ......................... 84
Remote control with folding key ..... 84
Opening the doors
from the inside ............................... 86
Opening the liftgate........................ 87
Closing the liftgate ......................... 88
Automatic central locking .............. 89
Locking and unlocking
from the inside ............................... 90
Seats.................................................... 91
Seat heater*................................... 91
Removing and installing
head restraints ............................... 92
Rear seats ...................................... 93
Third row seats* ............................. 96
Memory function*................................ 99
Storing positions in memory ........ 100
Recalling positions from memory . 100
Exterior rear view mirror parking
position (passenger side) ............. 100Lighting.............................................. 102
Combination switch ..................... 102
Fog lamps .................................... 105
Hazard warning flasher ................ 106
Interior lighting............................. 107
Instrument cluster ............................. 110
Instrument cluster illumination .... 110
Coolant temperature gauge ......... 111
Display in the speedometer ......... 111
Resetting trip odometer ............... 112
Tachometer .................................. 112
Outside temperature indicator ..... 112
Setting the clock .......................... 112
Automatic transmission ..................... 113
One-touch gearshifting................. 113
Gear ranges.................................. 114
Gear selector lever position ......... 115
Accelerator position ..................... 117
Towing a trailer ............................ 117
Emergency operation (Limp Home
Mode)........................................... 117
Transmission control –
LOW RANGE mode............................. 118
Switching on LOW RANGE mode .. 118
Switching off LOW RANGE mode . 118Good visibility .................................... 119
Rear view mirror .......................... 119
Headlamp cleaning system* ........ 121
Windshield wipers ........................ 122
Rear window wiper....................... 123
Sun visor ...................................... 123
Automatic climate control ................. 124
Automatic mode .......................... 126
Adjusting air volume and air
distribution manually ................... 127
Defrosting .................................... 128
Air recirculation mode.................. 128
Air conditioning ............................ 129
Residual heat and ventilation ....... 130
Rear window defroster ................. 131
Rear passenger compartment
ventilation and rear automatic
climate control ............................. 131
Front and rear air outlets ............. 132
Power windows.................................. 134
Opening and closing the side
windows ....................................... 134
Rear quarter windows* ................ 136
Sliding/pop-up roof* ......................... 137
Opening and closing the
sliding/pop-up roof ...................... 137

42 Getting startedDriving
With a smooth motion, pull the belt
from seat belt housing4.

Place the belt over your shoulder.

Push latch plate1 into buckle2 until it
clicks.

If necessary, tighten the lap portion to
a snug fit by pulling shoulder portion
up.

I f ne ce ss ar y, a djus t the s ea t be lt to the
correct height (
page 43).
Proper use of seat belts:


Do not twist the belt when fastening.


Adjust the seat belt so that the shoul-
der portion is located as close as possi-
ble to the middle of the shoulder (it
should not touch the neck or pass un-
der the arm).


Position the lap belt as low as possible
on your hips (over hip joint) and not
across the abdomen.


Place the seat backrest in a nearly up-
right position.


Each seat belt should never be used for
more than one person at a time.


Do not fasten a seat belt around a per-
son and another object at the same
time.


Check your seat belt during travel to
ensure that it is properly positioned.


Ensure that the seat belt is always fit-
ted snugly. You should avoid wearing
bulky clothing, such as winter coats,
when traveling in the vehicle.
Warning!
G
Do not pass belts over sharp edges. They
could tear.
Do not allow the belt to get caught in the
door or in the seat adjustment mechanism.
This could damage the belt.
Never attempt to make modifications to
seat belts. This could impair the effective-
ness of the belts.
Damaged seat belts or belts that were highly
stressed in an accident must be replaced by
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.

61 Safety and Security
Occupant safety
Warning!
G
Never ride in a moving vehicle with the back-
rest reclined. Sitting in an excessively re-
clined 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 se-
rious 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.Warning!
G
Never let more people ride in the vehicle
than there are seat belts available. Be sure
everyone riding in the vehicle is correctly re-
strained with a separate seat belt.
Warning!
G
Damaged seat belts or belts that were highly
stressed in an accident must be replaced
and their anchoring points must also be
checked.
Only use seat belts which have been ap-
proved by Mercedes-Benz.
Do not make any modifications to the seat
belts. This can lead to unintended activation
or to failure.
Have all work carried out only by an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
Warning!
G
USE SEAT BELTS PROPERLY

Seat belts can only work when used
properly. Never wear seat belts in any
other way than as described in this sec-
tion, as that could result in serious inju-
ries in case of an accident.


Each occupant should wear their seat
belt at all times, because seat belts help
reduce the likelihood of and potential
severity of injuries in accidents, includ-
ing rollovers. The integrated restraint
system includes SRS (driver airbag,
front passenger airbag, front and rear
door mounted side impact airbags and
window curtain airbags), ETD (seat belt
emergency tensioning device for the
outboard passenger seats [except in the
optional 3rd row seats]), and front seat
knee bolsters. The system is designed
to enhance the protection offered to
properly belted occupants in certain
frontal (front airbags) and side (side im-
pact airbags and window curtain air-
bags) impacts which exceed preset

73 Safety and Security
Driving and safety systems
BAS
The Brake Assist System (BAS) operates in
emergency situations. If you apply the
brakes very quickly, the BAS automatically
provides full brake boost, thereby poten-
tially reducing braking distance. Apply con-
tinuous full braking pressure until the
emergency braking situation is over. The
ABS will prevent the wheels from locking.
When you release the brake pedal the
brakes function again as normal. The BAS
is then deactivated.
The
¿
warning lamp in the instrument
cluster (page 25) lights up when you
turn the key to position2. It goes out when
the engine is running.
More information can be found in the
“Practical hints” section (
page 225).
4-ETS
The 4-Electronic Traction System (4-ETS)
improves vehicle’s ability to utilize avail-
able traction, especially under slippery
road conditions. The brakes are applied to
the spinning wheel and power is trans-
ferred to the wheel(s) with traction.
The traction control engages at vehicle
speeds up to approximately 24 mph
(40 km / h), and switches off at 50 mph
(80 km / h).
The
{
warning lamp in the instrument
cluster (page 25) lights up when you
turn the key to position2. It goes out when
the engine is running.
The 4-ETS/ESP warning lamp
v
, locat-
ed in the speedometer dial, starts to flash
at any vehicle speed, as soon as the tires
lose traction and the wheels begin to spin.
Warning!
G
The BAS cannot prevent the natural laws of
physics from acting on the vehicle, nor can
it increase braking efficiency beyond that af-
forded by the condition of the vehicle brakes
and tires or the traction afforded. The BAS
cannot prevent accidents, including those
resulting from excessive speed in turns, fol-
lowing another vehicle too closely, or aqua-
planing. Only a safe, attentive, and skillful
driver can prevent accidents. The capabili-
ties of a BAS equipped vehicle must never
be exploited in a reckless or dangerous
manner which could jeopardize the user’s
safety or the safety of others.

75 Safety and Security
Driving and safety systems
ESP
The Electronic Stability Program (ESP)
monitors the vehicle's traction (force of
adhesive friction between the tires and the
road surface) and handling.
The ESP recognizes when a wheel is spin-
ning or if the vehicle starts to skid. By ap-
plying brakes to the appropriate wheel and
by limiting engine output, the ESP works to
stabilize the vehicle.
The 4-ETS/ESP warning lamp
v
in the
speedometer dial flashes when the ESP is
engaged.
The
¿
warning lamp in the instrument
cluster (page 25) and the 4-ETS/ESP
warning lamp
v
in the speedometer
light up when you turn the key to
position2. They go out when the engine is
running.
Warning!
G
Never switch off the ESP when you see the
4-ETS/ESP-warning lamp
v
flashing in
the speedometer dial. In this case proceed
as follows:


While driving off, apply as little throttle
as possible.


While driving ease up on the accelera-
tor.


Adapt your speed and driving style to
the prevailing road conditions.
Failure to observe these guidelines could
cause the vehicle to skid.
The ESP cannot prevent accidents resulting
from excessive speed.
Warning!
G
The ESP cannot prevent the natural laws of
physics from acting on the vehicle, nor can
it increase the traction afforded. The ESP
cannot prevent accidents, including those
resulting from excessive speed in turns, fol-
lowing another vehicle too closely, or aqua-
planing. Only a safe, attentive, and skillful
driver can prevent accidents. The capabili-
ties of a ESP equipped vehicle must never be
exploited in a reckless or dangerous manner
which could jeopardize the user’s safety or
the safety of others.

204 OperationEngine compartmentEngine oil level display
1Knob
2Display in speedometer
Switch on the ignition and wait until the
display
- - - - - -
appears in the
speedometer display2.

Within one second press knob1 twice.
One of the following messages will subse-
quently appear in the display:


OIL i.OThe oil level is correct. Engine oil does
not to be added.


– 1.0 L
Add 1 liter of engine oil.


– 1.5 L
Add 1.5 liters of engine oil.


– 2.0 L
Add 2 liters of engine oil.


OIL HIThe oil level is too high.
Have excess oil siphoned.The display
- - - - - -
flashes in the
speedometer display if a proper oil level
check cannot be performed.

Repeat the engine oil level check after
a few minutes.
!Excessive oil must be siphoned or
drained off. It could cause damage to
the engine and catalytic converter not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
iIf the engine oil level check cannot be
performed again via the display field,
use the dipstick to perform the engine
oil level check (
page 205).
In this case we recommend that you
have the system checked at a
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.

215 Operation
Maintenance
Maintenance
We strongly recommend that you have
your vehicle serviced by your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center, in ac-
cordance with the Service Booklet at the
times called for by the FSS (Flexible Ser-
vice System).
Failure to have the vehicle maintained in
accordance with the Service Booklet at the
designated times /mileage called for by
the FSS may result in vehicle damage not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
FSS will notify you when your next service
is due.1Knob
2Display in the speedometer
Approximately one month before your next
service is due, the type of service is indi-
cated in the speedometer display2:
9
Minor service (A)
½
Major service (B)
The following information, depending on
operating conditions throughout the year,
is also shown:


calculated distance remaining


calculated remaining time in days
Clearing the service indicator
The service indicator is automatically
cleared after 10 seconds when you switch
on the ignition or when reaching the ser-
vice threshold while driving. You can also
clear it yourself.
Press knob1.
Service term exceeded
If you have exceeded the suggested ser-
vice term:

the
9
or
½
symbol appears in
the display2 for 30 seconds and a sig-
nal sounds after switching on the igni-
tion.


it is preceded by a “–” (minus symbol).iThe interval between services depends
on your driving habits. A gentle driving
style, moderate engine speeds and the
avoidance of short distance trips will
lengthen the interval between services.

235 Practical hints
What to do if …
Additional indicators in the speedome-ter displayDisplay
Possible cause
Suggested solution
9
Perform minor service (A) (
page 215).

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center to perform service.
´
Perform major service (B) (
page 215).

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center to perform service.
Á
î
The
StArt
message lights up in
addition to the
Error
message.
The immobilizer is not operational.

Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center or call
1-800-FOR-MERCedes (in the USA),
or 1-800-387-0100 (in Canada).