2004 MERCEDES-BENZ ML500 warning light

245 Practical hints
What to do if …
Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
É
-
The red brake warning lamp
comes on in addition to the yel-
low ABS malfunction lamp and
you hear a warning sound.
There is a malfunction in the Electronic Brake
Proportioning (EBP) system.
The enhanced braking effect is not available.

Have the system checked immediate-
ly at an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center.
Failure to follow these instructions in-
creases the risk of accidents.
¿
The yellow BAS / ESP malfunc-
tion indicator lamp comes on
while driving.
The self-diagnosis has not been completed.
The BAS / ESP malfunction indicator lamp
will go out after driving a short distance at
more than approx.12 mph (20 km / h).

249 Practical hints
What to do if …
Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
/
The yellow coolant warning lamp
comes on when the engine is
running.
The coolant is to hot.
The coolant level is too low.

Stop as soon as possible and allow
the engine and coolant to cool down.

Check the coolant level and add
coolant if necessary (
page 222).
If the warning lamp comes on frequently,
there is a leak in the cooling system.

Have the cooling system checked by
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.
The coolant temperature gauge is above
248 °F (120 °C).
The coolant level is too low.

Stop as soon as possible and allow
the engine and coolant to cool down.

Add coolant to prevent engine from
overheating (
page 222).
If the coolant level is correct, the electrical
radiator fan may be broken.

If the coolant temperature is below
the red zone, drive on to the nearest
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.
Avoid high engine loads (e.g. driving
uphill) and stop-and-go driving.

251 Practical hints
What to do if …
Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
v
The yellow 4-ETS / ESP warning
lamp comes on steady while
driving.
The ESP is deactivated.
Risk of accident!
Adapt your speed and driving to the prevail-
ing road and weather conditions.

Switch the ESP back on (
page 82).
If the ESP cannot be switched back on,
have the system checked at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center
as soon as possible.
v
The yellow 4-ETS / ESP warning
lamp flashes while driving.
The ESP or 4-ETS has come into operation
because of detected traction loss in at least
one tire.

During take-off, apply as little throttle
as possible.

While driving, ease up on the accele-
rator.

Adapt your speed and driving to the
prevailing road and weather condi-
tions.

Do not deactivate the ESP.
Exceptions: (
page 81).
Failure to follow these instructions in-
creases the risk of accidents.

252 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
{
The yellow ETS malfunction indi-
cator lamp comes on while driv-
ing.
4-ETS has switched off to prevent overheat-
ing of the brakes. Also see 4-ETS / ESP warn-
ing lamp (
page 251).
As soon as the brakes have cooled off,
4-ETS switches on again.
The indicator lamp goes out.
4-ETS is malfunctioning and has switched off.

Have the 4-ETS checked at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
ê
The yellow LOW RANGE indicator
lamp flashes after one or more
switching conditions.
The gear selection conditions have not been
adhered to.

Repeat the gear selection process
(page 125).
ê
The yellow LOW RANGE indicator
lamp flashes after switching the
ignition on.
LOW RANGE mode is malfunctioning.
Have the LOW RANGE mode checked at
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.
The yellow fuel tank reserve
warning lamp comes on while
driving.
The fuel level has gone below the reserve
mark.

Refuel at the next gas station
(page 214).
The yellow fuel tank reserve
warning lamp flashes when leav-
ing the engine running.
The fuel cap is not closed tightly.

Check the fuel cap (
page 214).

253 Practical hints
What to do if …
Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
:
The yellow warning lamp flashes
after starting the engine or while
driving.
The engine oil level has sunk to the minimum
level. If the engine oil level continues to sink,
the warning lamp will light up.

Add approved oil at the next gas
station (
page 302).

If oil loss is visible on the engine, have
the malfunction corrected as soon as
possible at a Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.
_
The red indicator lamp does not
go out after starting the engine.
The adjustable telescoping steering column
is not properly locked.

Lock the adjustable steering column
(page 39).
‡
The green front fog lamp indica-
tor lamp lights up when ignition
is turned on.
The front fog lamps are switched on.

Fog lamps (
page 111).
<
The red seat belt warning lamp
illuminates for a brief period
after starting the engine.
The warning lamp reminds you to fasten seat
belts.

Fasten your seat belt (
page 64).
W
The yellow low washer system
fluid level lamp comes on 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 224).
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.

255 Practical hints
What to do if …
Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
1
The red SRS indicator lamp lights
up while driving.
There is a malfunction in the restraint sys-
tems. The airbags or emergency tensioning
device (ETDs) could deploy unexpectedly or
fail to activate in an accident.

Drive with added caution to the near-
est authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.
Warning!
G
In the event a malfunction of the SRS is indi-
cated as outlined above, the SRS may not be
operational. For your safety, we strongly
recommend that you visit an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center immedi-
ately to have the system checked, otherwise
the SRS may not be activated when needed
in an accident, which could result in serious
or fatal injury, or it might deploy unexpect-
edly and unnecessarily which could result in
an accident / or injury to you or to others.

259 Practical hints
Where will I find ...?
Spare wheel (space-saver tire)
Use the spare wheel only temporarily,
while observing the following restrictions:

Do not exceed vehicle speed of
50 mph (80 km / h).


Drive to the nearest repair facility to
have the flat tire repaired or replaced
as appropriate.


Do not operate vehicle with more than
one spare wheel mounted.Removing spare wheel
The spare wheel is located behind the rear
bumper.
1Cover

Hold left and right side of cover1 and
pull away from bumper.2Screw
3Spare wheel carrier
4Lever

Turn screw2 counterclockwise using
the wrench (
page 258).
Screw2 remains in spare wheel
carrier3.

Lift spare wheel carrier slightly and
push lever4 to the right using screw-
driver (
page 257).

Swing spare wheel carrier3 down and
pull it out from under the bumper.
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.iPlease comply with the instructions for
“Mounting the spare wheel”
(page 274).
Warning!
G
Exercise care when removing or installing
spare wheel to prevent personal injury.


262 Practical hintsUnlocking / locking in an emergencyLocking the vehicle
If you are unable to lock the vehicle with
the remote control, lock it with the me-
chanical key as follows:
Close the passenger doors and the lift-
gate.

Press the upper part of the central
locking button in the cockpit
(page 93).

Check to see whether the locking
knobs on the passenger doors are still
visible. If necessary push them down
manually.

Lock the liftgate if necessary from in-
side (
page 91).

Lock the driver’s door with the me-
chanical key.Changing batteries in the remote
control
If the batteries in the remote control are
discharged, the vehicle can no longer be
locked or unlocked. It is recommended to
have the batteries replaced at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
Batteries contain materials that can harm
the environment if disposed of improperly.
Recycling of batteries is the preferred
method of disposal. Many states require
sellers of batteries to accept old batteries
for recycling.1Release button
2Battery cover
Replacement batteries: Lithium, type
CR 2025 or equivalent.

Unfold the key by pressing release
button1.
Warning!
G
Keep the batteries out of reach of children.
If a battery is swallowed, seek medical help
immediately.
iWhen changing batteries, always re-
place both batteries.
The required replacement batteries are
available at any Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.