2004 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350 emergency towing

ContentsSafety and Security........................... 57
Occupant safety................................... 58
Airbags ........................................... 59
Seat belts ....................................... 64
Children in the vehicle .................... 67
Blocking of rear door
window operation ........................... 73
Panic alarm .......................................... 75
Activating ....................................... 75
Deactivating ................................... 75
Driving and safety systems .................. 76
ABS ................................................ 76
BAS ................................................ 78
4-ETS .............................................. 79
EBP................................................. 80
ESP ................................................. 80
Anti-theft systems................................ 83
Immobilizer..................................... 83
Anti-theft alarm .............................. 83
Tow-away alarm,
glass breakage sensor.................... 84
Controls in detail............................... 87
Locking and unlocking ......................... 88
Remote control with folding key..... 88
Opening the doors
from the inside ............................... 90
Opening the liftgate ....................... 91
Closing the liftgate ......................... 92
Automatic central locking .............. 93
Locking and unlocking
from the inside ............................... 94
Seats ................................................... 95
Removing and installing
front seat head restraints............... 95
Rear seat head restraints ............... 96
Heated seats* ................................ 98
Rear seats ...................................... 99
Third row seats* .......................... 102
Memory function* ............................. 105
Storing exterior rear view mirror
parking position ........................... 105
Storing positions in memory ........ 106
Recalling positions from memory . 106Lighting ............................................. 107
Combination switch ..................... 107
Fog lamps .................................... 111
Hazard warning flasher ................ 112
Interior lighting ............................ 112
Instrument cluster ............................. 116
Instrument cluster illumination .... 116
Coolant temperature gauge ......... 117
Display in the speedometer ......... 117
Resetting trip odometer ............... 118
Tachometer .................................. 118
Outside temperature indicator ..... 118
Setting the clock .......................... 118
Automatic transmission ..................... 119
One-touch gearshifting ................ 120
Gear ranges ................................. 121
Gear selector lever position ......... 122
Accelerator position ..................... 123
Towing a trailer ............................ 124
Emergency operation
(Limp Home Mode) ...................... 124

ContentsOperation......................................... 191
The first 1000 miles (1500 km) ......... 192
Driving instructions ............................ 193
Drive sensibly – save fuel ............. 193
Drinking and driving ..................... 193
Pedals .......................................... 193
Power assistance ......................... 193
Brakes .......................................... 194
Driving off..................................... 195
Parking ......................................... 196
Tires ............................................. 196
Hydroplaning ................................ 197
Tire traction .................................. 197
Tire speed rating .......................... 198
Winter driving instructions ........... 198
Standing water ............................. 200
Off-road driving ............................ 200
Trailer towing ............................... 206
Passenger compartment .............. 211
Driving abroad .............................. 211
Control and operation of
radio transmitters......................... 211
Catalytic converter ....................... 212
Emission control........................... 212
Coolant temperature .................... 213At the gas station .............................. 214
Refueling ...................................... 214
Check regularly and before
a long trip ..................................... 215
Engine compartment ......................... 217
Hood ............................................ 217
Engine oil ..................................... 218
Transmission fluid level ................ 222
Coolant ........................................ 222
Battery ......................................... 223
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system* ......... 224
Tires and wheels ................................ 226
Important guidelines .................... 226
Life of tire..................................... 227
Direction of rotation ..................... 227
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 227
Rotating wheels ........................... 228
Winter driving .................................... 230
Winter tires .................................. 230
Block heater (Canada only) .......... 231
Snow chains ................................. 231Maintenance...................................... 232
Clearing the service indicator ...... 232
Service term exceeded ................ 233
Calling up the service indicator .... 233
Resetting the service indicator .... 233
Vehicle care....................................... 234
Cleaning and care of the vehicle .. 234
Practical hints................................. 241
What to do if … .................................. 242
Lamps in instrument cluster ........ 242
Additional indicators in the
speedometer display.................... 256
Where will I find ...? ........................... 257
First aid kit ................................... 257
Vehicle tool kit ............................. 257
Spare wheel (space-saver tire) ..... 259
Unlocking / locking in an emergency . 261
Unlocking the vehicle................... 261
Locking the vehicle ...................... 262
Changing batteries in the
remote control ............................. 262
Fuel filler flap ............................... 263
Manually unlocking the
transmission gear selector lever .. 264

Contents
Opening / closing in an emergency .... 265
Sliding / pop-up roof* ................... 265
Replacing bulbs ................................. 266
Bulbs ............................................ 266
Replacing bulbs for front lamps ... 268
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps..... 270
Adjusting headlamp aim............... 272
Replacing wiper blades ...................... 273
Removing ..................................... 273
Installing ...................................... 273
Flat tire .............................................. 274
Mounting the spare wheel............ 274
Battery ............................................... 278
Disconnecting the battery ............ 279
Removing the batteries ................ 279
Charging and reinstalling
batteries....................................... 279
Reconnecting the batteries .......... 279
Jump starting ..................................... 281
Towing the vehicle ............................. 283
Front towing eye .......................... 285
Rear towing eye ........................... 285
Stranded vehicle .......................... 286Fuses .................................................. 287
Fuse box in engine
compartment ................................ 287
Auxiliary fuse box in front
passenger footwell........................ 288
Technical data.................................. 289
Spare parts service............................. 290
Warranty coverage ............................. 291
Loss of Service and Warranty
Information Booklet ...................... 291
Identification labels ............................ 292
Layout of poly-V-belt drive .................. 293
Engine ................................................ 294
Rims and tires .................................... 295
Rims and tires ............................... 295
Spare wheel .................................. 296
Electrical system ................................ 297
Main Dimensions ................................ 298
Weights .............................................. 299Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc............ 300
Capacities ..................................... 300
Engine oils .................................... 302
Engine oil additives ....................... 302
Air conditioning refrigerant ........... 302
Brake fluid .................................... 302
Premium unleaded gasoline.......... 303
Fuel requirements......................... 303
Gasoline additives......................... 303
Coolants ....................................... 304
Anticorrosion / antifreeze.............. 305
Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system* ......... 307
Windshield and headlamp
washer fluid mixing ratio............... 307
Consumer information........................ 308
Uniform tire quality grading .......... 308
Temperature ................................. 309
Technical terms............................... 311Index................................................. 317

124 Controls in detailAutomatic transmissionTowing a trailer
If you tow a trailer, note the following
points:

Manually shift to a lower gear range
(4,3, 2, 1), if the transmission hunts
between gears on inclines
(page 121).
A lower gear range and reduction of
speed reduces the change to overload
or overheat the engine.


At very steep inclines switch transfer
case to LOW RANGE mode
(page 125).
For more information on trailer towing, see
the “Operation” section (
page 206).Emergency operation (Limp Home
Mode)
If vehicle acceleration worsens or the
transmission no longer shifts, the trans-
mission is most likely operating in limp
home (emergency operation) mode. In this
mode only second gear and reverse gear
can be activated.
Stop the vehicle.

Move gear selector lever to positionP.

Turn off the engine.

Wait at least ten seconds before
restarting.

Restart the engine.

Move selector lever to positionD
(for second gear) orR.

Have the transmission checked at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center as soon as possible.

241 Practical hints
What to do if …
Where will I find ...?
Unlocking / locking in an emergency
Opening / closing in an emergency
Replacing bulbs
Replacing wiper blades
Flat tire
Battery
Jump starting
Towing the vehicle
Fuses

319 Index
Rear passenger compartment 141
Rear window defroster 133
Residual heat utilization 140
Residual ventilation 140
Switching off 137
Switching on 137
Automatic headlamp mode 108
Automatic interior lighting control
Activating 113
Deactivating 113
Automatic locking when driving 93
Automatic transmission 119
Accelerator position 123
Emergency operation (Limp Home
Mode) 124
Gear ranges 121
Gear selector lever position 122
Gear shifting malfunctions 124
Kickdown 123
Manual shifting 120
One-touch gearshifting 120Selector lever position 119
Towing a trailer 124
Transmission fluid 222
B
BabySmart
TM
Airbag deactivation system 70
Compatible child seats 70, 311
Self-test 70
BabySmart
TM airbag deactivation
system 311
Backrest tilt 35
Backup lamps 267, 270
Bulbs 267
BAS 78, 311
Malfunction indicator lamp 245, 246,
247
Warning lamp 245, 246, 247
Batteries, remote control
Changing 262
Batteries, vehicle 223
Battery discharged
Jump starting 281Battery indicator lamp
Indicator lamp 254
Battery, vehicle 223, 278
Charging 279
Disconnecting 279
Reconnecting 279
Reinstalling 279
Removing 279
Bi-Xenon headlamps* 311
Blocking
Rear door window operation 73
Brake assist system (BAS) 311
Brake fluid 302
Brake lamp bulbs 267
Brake lamp, high mounted 267
Brake pad wear
Indicator lamp 254
Brakes 194
Warning lamp 244
Break-in period 192

323 Index
Display messages
Error 256
Service indicator (FSS) 256
StArt 256
Displays
Messages 219
Service indicator 232
Distance remaining 189
Door entry lamps 113
Door unlock
With Tele Aid* 179
Doors
Opening from inside vehicle 90
Opening from outside 89
Downhill driving
Cruise control 151
Downshifting 120
Drink holder see Cup holder 167
Drinking and driving 193Driving 42, 47
Abroad 211
In winter 198
Problems 51
Safety systems 76
Through standing water 200
Driving abroad 211
Driving instructions
Towing a trailer 209
Driving off 195
Driving safety systems
4-ETS 79
ABS 76
BAS 78
ESP 80
Driving systems 150
Cruise control 150
Driving safety systems 76
EBP 80
Parktronic* 153
Driving through water 203E
Easy entry/exit feature* 101
EBP 80
Indicator lamp 245
Economy mode
Automatic climate control 135
Electrical connections
Trailer 207
Electrical fuses 287
Electrical outlet 170
Electrical system
Technical data 297
Electrically folding exterior rear view
mirrors 128
Electronic Brake Proportioning see EBP
Electronic Stability Program see ESP 25,
80
Electronic stability program see ESP 312
Electronic Traction System see 4-ETS 25
Emergency call system
Requirements 172
Emergency call system* 172

338 IndexTele Aid* 171
Emergency calls 173
Information 177
Initiating an emergency call
manually 175
Remote door unlock 179
Roadside assistance 175
Stolen vehicle tracking services 180
System self-check 172
Upgrade signals 178
Telematics* 315
Telephone* 170
Temperature
Grades of tires 309
Tires 228
Third row seats* 102
Folding down single seat 102
Installing single seat 104
Removing single seat 104
Storing single seat 103
Tie-down rings (Cargo
compartment) 158Tightening torque 315
Tightening torque (Wheel bolts) 277
Tilt
Head restraint 37, 39
Time
Setting hours 118
Setting minutes 118
Tire inflation pressure
Checking 216, 227
Tire speed rating 198, 315
Tire traction 197
Tires 295, 308
Direction of rotation 227
Driving instructions 196
Retreads 226
Rims and tires 295
Rotating 228
Service life 227
Temperature 228
Temperature grades 309
Tread depth 230
Wear pattern 228
Winter 230Tools 257
Vehicle jack 258
Vehicles with CD-changer* 258
Wheel bolt wrench 258
Tow-away alarm 29, 84
Arming 84
Disarming 84
Disarming for transport 84
Towing
Trailer 206
Towing a trailer 209
Automatic transmission 124
Towing eyes
Front 285
Rear 285
Towing the vehicle 283
Stranded vehicle 286
Tracking services
For stolen vehicle 180