2005 MERCEDES-BENZ ML500 coolant

ContentsAnti-theft systems................................ 83
Immobilizer..................................... 83
Anti-theft alarm system .................. 83
Tow-away alarm,
glass breakage sensor.................... 84Controls 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 ............................... 94Seats ................................................... 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 positions into memory ..... 106
Recalling positions
from memory ............................... 106
Storing exterior rear
view mirror parking position......... 106
Lighting.............................................. 107
Combination switch ..................... 107
Fog lamps .................................... 111
Hazard warning flasher ................ 113
Interior lighting............................. 114
Instrument cluster ............................. 117
Instrument cluster illumination .... 117
Coolant temperature gauge ......... 118
Display in the speedometer ......... 118
Resetting trip odometer ............... 119
Tachometer .................................. 119
Outside temperature indicator ..... 119
Setting the clock .......................... 119Automatic transmission ..................... 120
One-touch gearshifting ................ 121
Gear ranges ................................. 122
Gear selector lever position ......... 123
Driving tips................................... 124
Towing a trailer ............................ 125
Emergency operation
(Limp Home Mode) ...................... 126
Transmission control –
LOW RANGE mode ............................ 127
Switching on LOW RANGE mode.. 127
Switching off LOW RANGE mode . 127
Good visibility .................................... 128
Rear view mirrors ......................... 128
Electrically folding
exterior rear view mirrors............. 130
Windshield wipers ........................ 131
Headlamp cleaning system* ........ 133
Rear window wiper....................... 133
Sun visors .................................... 134
Rear window defroster ................. 135

Contents
Automatic climate control ................. 136
Automatic mode........................... 139
Adjusting air volume and
air distribution manually............... 139
Defrosting .................................... 140
Air recirculation mode.................. 140
Air conditioning ............................ 141
Residual heat and ventilation ....... 142
Rear passenger compartment
ventilation and rear
automatic climate control ............ 143
Front and rear air vents................ 144
Power windows.................................. 146
Opening and closing
the side windows ......................... 146
Synchronizing power windows ..... 148
Rear quarter windows* ................ 148
Power tilt / sliding sunroof* ............... 150
Opening and closing the
power tilt / sliding sunroof............ 150
Synchronizing the
power tilt / sliding sunroof............ 152Driving systems .................................. 153
Cruise control ............................... 153
Parktronic* system
(Parking assist) ............................. 156
Loading............................................... 160
Loading instructions ..................... 160
Partition net* ................................ 162
Cargo compartment cover blind* . 164
Cargo floor plates ......................... 165
Roof rack* .................................... 166
Useful features ................................... 167
Storage compartments ................. 167
Cup holders .................................. 169
Armrest in rear seat bench ........... 170
Ashtrays and cigarette lighter ....... 171
Electrical outlet ............................. 173
Telephone* ................................... 173
Tele Aid* ....................................... 174
Garage door opener ...................... 183
Trip computer* ............................. 189
Operation.......................................... 195
The first 1000 miles (1500 km) .......... 196
Driving instructions ............................ 197
Drive sensibly – save fuel ............. 197
Drinking and driving...................... 197
Pedals ........................................... 197
Power assistance .......................... 197
Brakes .......................................... 198
Driving off ..................................... 199
Parking ......................................... 200
Tires.............................................. 200
Hydroplaning ................................ 201
Tire traction .................................. 201
Tire speed rating ........................... 202
Winter driving instructions ............ 202
Standing water ............................. 204
Off-road driving ............................. 204
Trailer towing ................................ 211
Passenger compartment............... 215
Driving abroad .............................. 216
Control and operation
of radio transmitters ..................... 216
Catalytic converter ....................... 217
Emission control ........................... 217
Coolant temperature .................... 218

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

53 Getting started
Driving
Problems while driving
The engine runs erratically and misfires

An ignition cable may be damaged.


The engine electronics may not be
operating properly.


Unburned gasoline may have entered
the catalytic converter and damaged it.

Give very little gas.

Have the problem repaired by an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center as soon as possible.The coolant temperature is above
248°F (120°C)
The coolant is too hot and is no longer
cooling the engine.

Stop the vehicle as soon as possible
and turn off the engine. Allow engine
and coolant to cool.

Check the coolant level and add cool-
ant if necessary (
page 227).In case of accident
If the vehicle is leaking gasoline:

Do not start the engine under any cir-
cumstances.

Notify local fire and / or police authori-
ties.
If the extent of the damage cannot be de-
termined:

Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center.
If no damage can be determined on the


major assemblies


fuel system


engine mount:

Start the engine in the usual manner.

118 Controls in detailInstrument clusterCoolant temperature gauge
Under normal driving conditions, the cool-
ant temperature may rise to 248°F
(120°C). The coolant temperature may
climb to the red marking:

at high outside temperatures


during stop-and-go city traffic


when driving on hilly terrain
The engine should not be operated with
the coolant temperature in the red zone.
Doing so may cause serious engine dam-
age which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Display in the speedometer
Changing display
Press the left knob1 in the instru-
ment cluster (
page 117).
The display changes between main
odometer and trip odometer.

Press the left knob1 twice.
The next scheduled service is displayed
(page 237).
Warning!
G
Driving when your engine is badly overheat-
ed can cause some fluids which may have
leaked into the engine compartment to
catch fire. You could be seriously burned.
Steam from an overheated engine can cause
serious burns and can occur just by opening
the engine hood. Stay away from the engine
if you see or hear steam coming from it.
Turn off the engine, get out of the vehicle
and do not stand near the vehicle until the
engine has cooled down.

142 Controls in detailAutomatic climate control
Residual heat and ventilation
With the engine switched off, it is possible
to continue to heat or ventilate the interior
for up to 30 minutes. This feature makes
use of the residual heat produced by the
engine.
Activating
Turn the key in the steering lock to
position0 or1 (
page 33).

Press button° (
page 137).
The indicator lamp on button°
comes on.Deactivating

Press button°.
The indicator lamp on button°
goes out.
!If the °button on the automatic
climate control panel starts to flash,
this indicates that the air conditioning
system is losing refrigerant. The com-
pressor has turned itself off. The air
conditioning cannot be turned on
again.
Have the air conditioning system
checked at the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
iHow long the system will provide heat-
ing depends on the coolant tempera-
ture and the temperature set by the
operator. The blower will run at lower
speed regardless of the air volume con-
trol setting.
iThe residual heat is automatically
turned off:

when the ignition is switched on


after about 30 minutes


if the coolant temperature is too
low


if the battery voltage drops