2005 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350 Oil M1

ContentsAt the gas station............................... 219
Refueling ...................................... 219
Check regularly and
before a long trip .......................... 221
Engine compartment.......................... 222
Hood ............................................ 222
Engine oil...................................... 223
Transmission fluid level ................ 227
Coolant level ................................ 227
Battery ......................................... 228
Windshield / rear
window washer system and
headlamp cleaning system*......... 230
Tires and wheels ................................ 231
Important guidelines .................... 231
Life of tire ..................................... 232
Direction of rotation ..................... 232
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 232
Rotating wheels............................ 233
Winter driving..................................... 235
Winter tires................................... 235
Block heater (Canada only) .......... 236
Snow chains ................................. 236Maintenance ...................................... 237
Clearing the
maintenance service indicator ..... 237
Maintenance service
term exceeded ............................. 238
Calling up the
maintenance service indicator ..... 238
Resetting the
maintenance service indicator ..... 238
Vehicle care ....................................... 240
Cleaning and care of the vehicle .. 240
Practical hints.................................. 247
What to do if … .................................. 248
Lamps in instrument cluster ........ 248
Additional indicators
in the speedometer display .......... 263
Where will I find ...? ........................... 264
First aid kit ................................... 264
Vehicle tool kit ............................. 264
Spare wheel (space-saver tire) ..... 266Unlocking / locking in
an emergency .................................... 268
Unlocking the vehicle................... 268
Locking the vehicle ...................... 269
Fuel filler flap ............................... 269
Manually unlocking the
transmission gear selector lever .. 270
Opening / closing in
an emergency .................................... 271
Power tilt / sliding sunroof* ......... 271
Replacing key batteries ..................... 272
Remote control ............................ 273
Replacing bulbs ................................. 274
Bulbs ............................................ 274
Replacing bulbs for front lamps ... 276
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps .... 279
Adjusting headlamp aim .............. 282
Replacing wiper blades ...................... 283
Removing ..................................... 283
Installing ...................................... 283
Flat tire .............................................. 284
Mounting the spare wheel ........... 284

Contents
Battery ............................................... 288
Disconnecting the battery ............ 289
Removing the battery ................... 289
Charging and
reinstalling the battery ................. 289
Reconnecting the battery ............. 289
Jump starting ..................................... 291
Towing the vehicle ............................. 293
Front towing eye .......................... 295
Rear towing eye ........................... 295
Stranded vehicle .......................... 296
Fuses ................................................. 297
Aids for changing fuses ................ 298
Main fuse box............................... 298
Fuse box in
front passenger footwell .............. 299
Technical data.................................. 301
Parts service....................................... 302
Warranty coverage ............................. 303
Loss of Service and Warranty
Information Booklet ...................... 303
Identification labels ............................ 304
Layout of poly-V-belt drive .................. 305
Engine ................................................ 306
Rims and tires .................................... 307
Rims and tires ............................... 307
Spare wheel .................................. 308
Electrical system ................................ 309
Main Dimensions ................................ 310
Weights .............................................. 311Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc. .......... 312
Capacities ..................................... 312
Engine oils .................................... 314
Engine oil additives ....................... 314
Air conditioning refrigerant ........... 314
Brake fluid .................................... 314
Premium unleaded gasoline.......... 315
Fuel requirements......................... 315
Gasoline additives......................... 315
Coolants ....................................... 316
Windshield washer and
headlamp cleaning* system ......... 319
Windshield and headlamp
washer fluid mixing ratio............... 319
Consumer information........................ 320
Uniform tire quality grading .......... 320
Technical terms............................... 323Index................................................. 329

25 At a glance
Instrument cluster
Item
Page
1
Gauge for
Coolant tempera-
ture
118
Outside tempera-
ture
119
Fuel reserve
warning lamp
259
2
Knob for
Activating instru-
ment cluster
117
Adjusting intensity
of instrument lamps
117
Main odometer
118
Trip odometer
readout / reset
119
Activating
Maintenance
System indicator
237
Item
Page
3
Left indicator lamps
with:¿Brake Assist
System
(BAS) / Electronic
Stability Program
(ESP) malfunction
warning lamp
252
{Electronic Traction
System (4-ETS) mal-
function indicator
lamp
259
-Antilock Brake Sys-
tem (ABS) malfunc-
tion indicator lamp
248
2Brake pad wear in-
dicator lamp
261
:Low engine oil level
warning lamp
260
/Low engine coolant
level warning lamp
256
Item
Page
êLow range indicator
lamp
259
?Engine malfunction
indicator lamp,
USA only
254
±Engine malfunction
indicator lamp,
Canada only
254
4
Speedometer with:v4-ETS (Electronic
Traction
System)/Electronic
Stability Program
(ESP) warning lamp
258
Trip / main
odometer
118
Display for Mainte-
nance System
237
Engine oil level indi-
cator
224

182 Controls in detailUseful features
Remote door unlock
In case you have locked your vehicle unin-
tentionally (e.g. key inside vehicle), and no
other key is available:
Contact the Mercedes-Benz Response
Center at 1-800-756-9018 (in the USA)
or 1-888-923-8367 (in Canada).
You will be asked to provide your pass-
word which you provided when you
completed the subscriber agreement.

Then return to your vehicle and pull
outside handle of the liftgate for mini-
mum of 20 seconds until the SOS but-
ton is flashing.
The message
EMERGENCY CALL –
CALL CONNECTED appears in the MCS
display.
As an alternative, you may unlock the vehi-
cle via Internet using the ID and password
sent to you shortly after the completion of
your acquaintance call.
!If the indicator lamp continues to flash
or the system does not reset, contact
the Response Center at
1-800-756-9018 (in the USA) or
1-888-923-8367 (in Canada), or
Mercedes-Benz Customer Assistance
at 1-800-FOR-MERCedes
(1-800-367-6372) in the USA or Cus-
tomer Service at 1-800-387-0100 in
Canada.iThe indicator lamp on the correspond-
ing button flashes until the call is con-
cluded. Calls can only be terminated by
a Response Center or Customer Assis-
tance Center representative, except
Roadside Assistance and Information
calls, which can also be terminated by
using the END button on the MCS unit.
iWhen a Tele Aid call has been initiated,
the MCS system audio is muted and
the selected mode (radio, tape or CD)
pauses. The optional cellular phone (if
installed) switches off. If you must use
this phone, the vehicle must be parked.
Disconnect the coiled cord and place
the call. The navigation system (if en-
gaged) will continue to run. A pop-up
window will appear in the MCS display
to indicate that a Tele Aid call is in
progress.

205 Operation
Driving instructions
Special driving features for off-road
driving
The following driving features are available
for specific kind of operation:

LOW RANGE mode (
page 127)


LOW RANGE – ABS (
page 77)


LOW RANGE – 4-ETS (
page 80)


LOW RANGE – ESP (
page 81)
Off-road driving rules
Engage the LOW RANGE mode before driv-
ing under off-road conditions
(
page 127).
Fasten items being carried as securely as
possible (
page 160).Checklist before off-road driving
Engine oil level


Check the engine oil level
(page 224). The display
OIL i.O

must appear via display in the speed-
ometer.
Only then can the vehicle obtain a trou-
ble-free oil supply, even on steep gradi-
ents.
iWe recommend keeping doors, liftgate,
windows, and tilt / sliding sunroof*
closed whenever driving in off-road
mode.
!Observe the following during off-road
driving:

Adjust vehicle speed to condition of
terrain. The more uneven, rutty and
steeper the terrain, the lower the
speed should be.


Watch out for obstacles, such as
rocks, holes, tree stumps and ruts.


Be especially careful when driving
in unknown territory. It may be nec-
essary to get out of the vehicle and
scout the path you intend to take.


Before driving through water, deter-
mine is depth.


Do not stop vehicle while immersed
in water, and do not shut off the
engine.


In sandy soil, please drive at a
steady speed as allowed by condi-
tions. This helps overcome the vehi-
cle rolling resistance and reduces
the likelihood of the vehicle sinking
into the ground.


Do not initiate jumps with the vehi-
cle. It interrupts the forward mo-
mentum of the vehicle.


Always drive onto slopes with the
the engine running and the vehicle
in gear.

206 OperationDriving instructionsTires

Check the tread depth and maintain
specified tire pressure (see tire pres-
sure label inside the fuel filler flap).


Check tires for possible damage and
remove foreign objects.


Replace missing valve caps.
Rims


Dented or bent rims can cause tire
pressure loss and damage the tire
beads. For this reason, check and, if
necessary, change rims before driving
off-road.
Vehicle tool kit


Check if the vehicle jack is functional.


In all cases take the vehicle tool kit, a
strong tow rope, a shovel and a small
plank (to put under the vehicle jack on
sandy soil) with you.Driving in steep terrain
Slope angle1 25°
226°

Switch to LOW RANGE mode before
starting to drive up or down steep in-
clines (
page 127).


Driving on embankments, slopes and
other steep inclines should only be
done straight up or downhill, i.e. in the
line of gravity. Maximum vehicle climb-
ing ability is a 60% grade.


Do not drive along the side of a slope
(danger of vehicle rollover). If in doing
so the vehicle begins to show a tenden-
cy to roll, immediately steer into a line
of gravity (straight up or downhill).


To help avoid the vehicle rolling over,
never turn it around on steep inclines.
If the vehicle cannot complete the at-
tempted climb, back it down in reverse
gear.


Utilize the engine’s braking power
when descending a slope, observe the
engine speed (do not overrev the en-
gine). Apply the service brake as need-
ed.


Check the brakes after a lengthy down-
grade drive.iAvoid excessive engine speeds – drive
with moderate engine speeds
(max. 3000 RPM).
Select gear range2 or1 on the auto-
matic transmission (
page 122).

211 Operation
Driving instructions


Inspect frame, oil pan, brake hoses,
etc., as well as vehicle underbody for
possible damage.


Check tires for possible damage, clean
all exterior lamps, and conduct a brake
test.


Check for brush or branches caught in
the undercarriage.
They could increase the possibility of a
fire, as well as cut fuel and / or brake
lines, puncture rubber bellows of the
axles or drive shafts.


After continued operation in mud,
sand, water or other dirty conditions
clean the brake discs, wheels, brake
pads and check and clean axle joints.
Trailer towing Trailer hitches


Only install a trailer hitch receiver ap-
proved for your vehicle.
For information on availability and in-
stallation, see an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.


The bumpers on your vehicle are not
designed for use with clamp-type hitch-
es.
Do not attach rental hitches or other
bumper-type hitches to them.


To reduce the possibility of damage, re-
move the hitch ball adaptor from the
receiver when not in use.
Warning!
G
Failure to use proper equipment and driving
technique can result in a loss of vehicle con-
trol when towing a trailer.
Improper towing or failure to follow the in-
structions contained in this guide can result
in serious injury. Follow the guidelines be-
low carefully to assure safe trailer operation.
Ask an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center should you require an explana-
tion of information contained in this guide.

221 Operation
At the gas station
Check regularly and before a long trip
Open the hood (
page 222).
1Engine oil level
2Coolant level
3Brake fluid
4Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system*
Engine oil level
For more information on engine oil, see
“Engine oil” (
page 223).Coolant
For normal replenishing, use water (pota-
ble water quality). For more information,
see “Coolant level” (
page 227) and see
“Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.”
(
page 312).
Brake fluidWindshield / rear window washer
system and headlamp cleaning
system*
For more information on refilling the reser-
voir, see “Windshield / rear window washer
system and headlamp cleaning system*”
(
page 230).
Vehicle lighting
Check function and cleanliness. For infor-
mation on replacing light bulbs, see “Re-
placing bulbs” (
page 274).
For more information, see “Combination
switch” (
page 107).
Tire inflation pressure
For more information, see “Checking tire
inflation pressure” (
page 232).
!If you find that the brake fluid in the
brake fluid reservoir has fallen to the
minimum mark or below, have the
brake system checked for brake pad
thickness and leaks immediately. Noti-
fy an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center immediately. Do not add
brake fluid as this will not solve the
problem. For more information, see
“Practical Hints” (
page 251).