2004 MERCEDES-BENZ ML500 brake light

271 Practical hints
Replacing bulbs
7Tabs
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 it engages.

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

Switch off the lights.

Loosen both screws2 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
reflector.

Gently push bulb into socket, turn
counterclockwise and remove.

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


274 Practical hintsFlat tire
Flat tireMounting 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 gear 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 259).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 257). 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.

282 Practical hintsJump startingThe battery is located on the right side of
the engine compartment.
Make sure the two vehicles do not
touch.

Turn off all electrical consumers.

Apply parking brake.

Shift gear selector lever to positionP.

Open the hood.

Connect positive terminals1 and4
of the batteries with the jumper cable.
Clamp cable to positive terminal4 of
charged battery first.1Positive terminal of discharged battery
2Negative terminal of discharged
battery
3Negative terminal of charged battery
4Positive terminal of charged battery

Start engine of the vehicle with the
charged battery and run at idle speed.

Connect negative terminals2 and3
of the batteries with the jumper cable.
Clamp cable to negative terminal3 of
charged battery first.

Start the engine of the disabled vehi-
cle.
Now you can turn on the electrical
consumers. Do not turn on the lights under
any circumstances.

Remove the jumper cables first from
the negative terminals2 and3 and
then from positive terminals1
and4.
You can now turn on the lights.

Have the battery checked at the
nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center.
Warning!
G
Keep flames or sparks away from battery.
Do not smoke.
Observe all safety instructions and precau-
tions when handling automotive batteries
(page 223).
!Never invert the terminal connections.
!Do not tow-start the vehicle.

302 Technical dataFuels, coolants, lubricants etc.Engine oils
Engine oils are specifically tested for their
suitability in our engines. Therefore, use
only engine oils approved by
Mercedes-Benz. Information on approved
engine oils is available in the Factory
Approved Service Products pamphlet, or at
your authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.
Engine oil additives
Do not blend oil additives with engine oil.
They may damage the engine.
Damage or malfunctions resulting from
blending oil additives are not covered by
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.Air conditioning refrigerant
R-134a (HFC) refrigerant and special PAG
lubricating oil is used in the air condition-
ing system.
Never use R-12 (CFC) or mineral-based lu-
bricating oil. Otherwise damage to the
system will occur.
Brake fluid
During vehicle operation, the boiling point
of the brake fluid is continuously reduced
through the absorption of moisture from
the atmosphere. Under extremely strenu-
ous operating conditions, this moisture
content can lead to the formation of bub-
bles in the system, thus reducing the sys-
tem’s efficiency.
Therefore, the brake fluid must be re-
placed every two years, preferably in the
spring.
Only brake fluid approved by
Mercedes-Benz is recommended. Your au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center will provide you with additional in-
formation.
!Always check the oil filler cap
(page 221) for important information
pertaining to the engine oil needing to
meet a specific Mercedes-Benz specifi-
cation (e.g. MB 229.5). If such informa-
tion is printed on the oil filler cap, only
use an engine oil from the list of ap-
proved engine oils in the Factory Ap-
proved Service Products pamphlet that
meets the specification indicated on
the oil filler cap.
Using engine oils of other specification
may cause the FSS to incorrectly deter-
mine the next service interval and will
result in engine damage not covered by
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

311 Technical terms
ABS
(A
ntilock B
rake S
ystem)
Prevents the wheels from locking up
during braking so that the vehicle can
continue to be steered.
BabySmart
TM airbag deactivation
system
This system detects if a special system
compatible child restraint seat is in-
stalled on the front passenger seat. The
system will automatically deactivate
the passenger front airbag when such a
seat is properly installed (indicator
lamp7 in the instrument cluster
lights up). See your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center for
availability.
BabySmartTM compatible child seats
Special restraint system for children.
The sensor system for the passenger
seat prevents deployment of the pas-
senger front airbag if a BabySmart
TM
compatible child seat is installed.BAS
(B
rake A
ssist S
ystem)
System for potentially reducing braking
distances in emergency braking situa-
tions. The system is activated when it
senses an emergency based on how
fast the brake is applied.
Bi-Xenon headlamps*
Headlamps which use an electric arc as
the light source and produce a more in-
tense light than filament headlamps.
Bi-Xenon headlamps produce low
beam and high beam.
CAC
(C
ustomer A
ssistance C
enter)
Mercedes-Benz customer service cen-
ter, which can help you with any ques-
tions about your vehicle and provide
assistance in the event of a break-
down.CAN system
(C
ontroller A
rea N
etwork)
Data bus network serving to control ve-
hicle functions such as door locking or
windshield wiping.
Cockpit
All instruments, switches, buttons and
indicator / warning lamps in the pas-
senger compartment needed for vehi-
cle operation and monitoring.
Cruise control
Driving convenience system for auto-
matically maintaining the vehicle speed
set by the driver.
Engine number
The number set by the manufacturer
and placed on the cylinder block to
uniquely identify each engine pro-
duced.

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

320 IndexBulbs, replacing 266
Additional turn signals 266
Backup lamps 267
Brake lamps 267
Fog lamps 266
Front fog lamp 270
Front lamps 266
High beam 266
High mounted brake lamp 267, 271
License plate lamps 267, 271
Low beam 266
Parking lamps 266, 267, 269
Rear fog lamp 267
Rear fog lamps 270
Rear side marker lamp bulbs 270
Side marker lamps 266, 267, 269
Standing lamps 266, 267
Tail lamp assemblies 267, 270
Turn signal lamps 266, 267, 269C
CAC (Customer Assistance Center) 311
Calibrating compass 188
California
Important notice 11
Calling up
Service indicator 233
CAN system 311
Capacities
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc. 300
Cargo area cover blind* 161
Closing 161
Installing 162
Opening 161
Removing 161
Cargo area see Cargo compartment 89
Cargo compartment
Liftgate 89
Lighting 114
Tie-down rings 158Cargo floor plates 162
Installing 163
Removing 162
Storing 162
Cargo tie-down rings 158
Catalytic converter 212
CD-changer* 258
Center console 27
Lower part 28
Upper part 27
Central locking
Automatic 93
From inside 93
Switch 94
Unlocking from inside 93, 94
Central locking switch 94
Certification label 292
Charge indicator lamp 254
Charging
Vehicle battery 279

327 Index
I
Identification labels 292
Certification label 292
Vehicle identification number
(VIN) 292
Ignition 33
Immobilizer 83
Activating 54, 83
Deactivating 83
Indicator lamp
Adjustable steering column 253
Brake pad wear 254
Coolant 249
Front fog lamps 253
Low engine oil level 253
Indicators, additional
Speedometer display 256
Infant and child restraint systems 68
Installing 71
LATCH child seat mounts 72Information
About service and warranty 10
Button for Tele Aid* 177
Inside rear view mirror
Antiglare 126
Installing
Infant and child restraint systems 71
Wiper blades 273
Instrument cluster 24, 116, 313
Cleaning 238
Coolant temperature gauge 117
Display in the speedometer 117
Illumination 116
Lamps in 252
Outside temperature indicator 118
Instruments and controls see Cockpit 22
Integrated remote control
Erasing memory 185
Operating 185
Interior lighting 112Activating automatic control 113
Deactivating automatic control 113
Manual operation 113
Reading lamps 114
Interior storage spaces 164
Armrest 165
Cup holder 167
Glove box 164
Storage compartment in front of
armrest 165
Storage compartment under front pas-
senger seat* 164
Intermittent wiping 130
J
Jack 258
Jump starting 281