2006 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350 key battery

442 Practical hintsReplacing SmartKey batteries
Pull out batteries3.

Using a line-free cloth, insert new
batteries3 with the plus (+) side fac-
ing up underneath the contact
spring4.

Return battery compartment2 into
housing until it locks into place.

Slide mechanical key1 back into the
SmartKey.

Check the operation of the SmartKey
and the KEYLESS-GO*.


464 Practical hintsBattery
Disconnecting, removing, reinstalling and reconnecting the battery
Warning!
G
Failure to follow these instructions can re-
sult in severe injury or death.
Observe all safety instructions and precau-
tions when handling automotive batteries
(page 462).
Never lean over batteries while connecting,
you might get injured.
Battery fluid contains sulfuric acid. Do not
allow this fluid to come in contact with eyes,
skin or clothing. In case it does, immediately
flush affected area with water and seek
medical help if necessary.
A battery will also produce hydrogen gas,
which is flammable and explosive. Keep
flames or sparks away from battery, avoid
improper connection of jumper cables,
smoking etc.
!Never loosen or detach battery termi-
nal clamps while the engine is running
or the SmartKey is in the starter switch.
Otherwise the alternator and other
electronic components could be se-
verely damaged.
Have the battery checked regularly by
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.
Refer to Maintenance Booklet for main-
tenance intervals or contact your au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center for further information.Warning!
G
Do not place metal objects on the battery as
this could result in a short circuit.
Use leak-proof battery only to avoid the risk
of acid burns in the event of an accident.
Warning!
G
Disconnecting, removing, reinstalling and
reconnecting the battery is a complicated
and technically demanding procedure that
also requires safety precautions to avoid the
r i s k o f i n j u r y . W e s t r o n g l y r e c o m m e n d t h a t i t
be performed by a qualified technician only.
Please read the instructions fully before
beginning operation and only undertake it if
you feel fully capable of performing all of the
tasks involved as described in these instruc-
tions. Observe all safety instructions and
precautions when handling automotive bat-
teries (
page 462). Performing the tasks
involved incorrectly can cause damage to
the vehicle and impair the operating safety
o f t h e v e h i c l e , a n d / o r c a u s e s e v e r e i n j u r y t o
you or others.

465 Practical hints
Battery
Step 1 (Disconnecting)

Turn off the engine and leave the igni-
tion switched on (
page 34).

Depress parking brake firmly and set
automatic transmission to positionP.

Turn off all electrical consumers.

Read and observe safety instructions
and precautions (
page 462).

Move the front passenger seat to the
most forward position (
page 39).
Step 2 (Disconnecting)
1Battery cover

Enter the rear passenger compartment
and remove main battery cover1.Step 3 (Disconnecting)
2Perforated floor carpet

Cut the floor carpet2 along the
dotted white line (see illustration) until
you reach the perforated part. Start
cutting at the point indicated by the
arrows. Cut carpet using a sharp object
(knife etc.).

Enter the front passenger compart-
ment.

Move the front passenger seat to the
most rearward position (
page 39).
iWith a disconnected battery you will no
longer be able to turn the SmartKey in
the starter switch and pressing the
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button will
have no effect.iIf your battery is discharged, the vehi-
cle must be jump started (
page 470)
using the jump start contacts in the
engine compartment, or an accessory
battery charge unit* approved by
Mercedes-Benz must be connected
using the jump start contacts in the
engine compartment (see separate
instructions for the accessory battery
charge unit*) before any of the follow-
ing steps can be performed. If the
battery cannot be jumped or charged,
please contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.


466 Practical hintsBattery2Perforated floor carpet, unfolded
Fold the floor carpet piece2 in
direction of the arrow.

Move the front passenger seat to the
most forward and upward position
again (
page 39).

Switch off the ignition (
page 34).

Remove SmartKey from starter switch.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
Make sure the vehicle’s on-board
electronics have status0 (Turn off
the engine or all electrical systems
using the KEYLESS-GO start/stop
button. Open the driver’s door. With
the driver’s door open, the vehicle’s
on-board electronics have status0,
same as with the SmartKey
removed from the starter switch).

Enter the rear passenger compartment
again.Step 4 (Disconnecting)
3Air channel
4Clip

Remove clip4.

Remove air channel3 by pulling it out
in direction of arrow.


467 Practical hints
Battery
Step 5 (Disconnecting)
5Protection cover
6Battery
Unclip protection cover5 from
battery6 and remove it.Step 6 (Disconnecting)
7Positive terminal
8Negative terminal

Disconnect battery negative lead8
from negative terminal.

Remove positive terminal cover.

Disconnect the battery positive
lead7.Step 7 (Removing)
9Battery ventilation tube
aAttachment nut
bMounting

Remove the battery ventilation tube9
by pulling it out.

Remove the battery attachment
nutsa using a 6 mm T-handle hex key
(not supplied with vehicle) with a shaft
length of min. approx. 12 in (30 cm).

Remove mountingb.

468 Practical hintsBatteryStep 8 (Removing)
cBattery
Tilt the batteryc with the negative
terminal side upwards.

Take out the battery maintaining its
tilted position in the direction of the
arrow.Step 9 (Reinstalling)

Carry out step 8 in reverse order
(page 468).
Battery, shown removed for illustration9Battery ventilation tube
dVent plug

Carry out step 10 to reconnect the
battery (
page 468).

Follow steps 5 to 1 in reverse order to
completely reinstall the battery
(page 467) to (
page 465).
Step 10 (Reconnecting)

If the battery has been removed, first
carry out step 8 in reverse order
(page 468).

Open the driver’s door.

Make sure all electrical consumers are
turned off.

Make sure the SmartKey has been re-
moved from the starter switch.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
Make sure the vehicle’s on-board
electronics have status0 (Open the
driver’s door. With the driver’s door
open, the vehicle’s on-board elec-
tronics have status0, same as with
the SmartKey removed from the
starter switch).
!The battery, the battery ventilation
tube9 and the vent plugd must
always be securely installed when the
vehicle is in operation.

474 Practical hintsTowing the vehicle
Installing towing eye bolt
1Cover on passenger side of front
bumper
1Cover on passenger side of rear
bumper (ML 350)
iThe vehicle cannot be started via
tow-start.iIf the battery is disconnected or dis-
charged, the automatic transmission
will remain locked in positionP and the
SmartKey will not turn in the starter
switch. For more information, see “Bat-
tery” (
page 462) and “Jump starting”
(
page 470).
!When towing the vehicle with all wheels
on the ground, note the following:
With the automatic central locking
activated and the SmartKey in starter
switch position2, or KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button (
page 36) in
position2, the vehicle doors lock if the
left front wheel is turning at vehicle
speeds of approximately 9 mph
(15 km/h) or more.
Switch off the tow-away alarm
(
page 102).
To prevent the vehicle doors from
locking, deactivate the automatic
central locking (
page 125).
Towing of the vehicle should only be
done using the properly installed tow-
ing eye bolt. Never attach tow cable,
tow rope or tow rod to vehicle chassis,
frame or suspension parts.

509 Index
Automatic climate control (3-zone)*
Adjusting air distribution 222
Adjusting air volume 222
Air recirculation mode 223
Defrosting 223
Rear passenger compartment 227
Rear window defroster 200
Residual heat utilization 226
Residual ventilation 226
Setting the temperature 221
Automatic climate control*
3-zone automatic climate
control* 216
Automatic climate control* (3-zone) 216
Automatic headlamp mode 139
Automatic lighting control
Deactivating 146
Automatic locking when driving 125Automatic transmission 49
Accelerator position 190
Emergency operation
(Limp Home Mode) 192
Gear ranges 187
Gear selector lever position 184, 185
Gear shifting malfunctions 192
Gearshift pattern for 49
Kickdown 190
Towing a trailer 191
Transmission fluid 332
B
Backrest
Folding forward 261
Backup lamps 444, 451
Bulbs 444
Bar 365, 501
BAS 95, 501
Batteries, SmartKey
Check lamp 109, 115Batteries, vehicle
Messages in display 398, 407
Battery
Key batteries 440
Replacing key batteries 440
Battery discharged
Jump starting 470
Battery, vehicle 462
Charging 469
Dis-/reconnecting 464
Removing/installing 464
Bead 365, 501
Belt reel 267
Bi-Xenon headlamps* 501
Block heater (Canada only) 370
Blocking
Rear door window operation 89
Brake assist system (BAS) 501
Brake fluid 495
Message in display 409
Brake lamp bulbs 444