2006 MERCEDES-BENZ ML350 roof

374 OperationVehicle careCleaning and care of the vehicle
While in operation, even while parked, your
vehicle is subjected to varying external in-
fluences which, if gone unchecked, can at-
tack the paintwork as well as the
underbody and cause lasting damage.Such damage is caused not only by ex-
treme and varying climatic conditions, but
also by:


Air pollution


Road salt


Tar


Gravel and stone chipping
To avoid paint damage, you should imme-
diately remove:


Grease and oil


Fuel


Coolant


Brake fluid


Bird droppings


Insects


Tree resins, etc.
Frequent washing reduces and/or elimi-
nates the aggressiveness and potency of
the above adverse influences.More frequent washings are necessary to
deal with unfavorable conditions:


near the ocean


in industrial areas (smoke, exhaust
emissions)


during winter operation
You should check your vehicle from time to
time for stone chipping or other damage.
Any damage should be repaired as soon as
possible to prevent corrosion.
In doing so, do not neglect the underbody
of the vehicle. A prerequisite for a thor-
ough check is a washing of the underbody
followed by a thorough inspection. Dam-
aged areas need to be re-undercoated.
Your vehicle has been treated at the facto-
ry with a wax-base rustproofing in the body
cavities which will last for the lifetime of
the vehicle. Post-production treatment is
neither necessary nor recommended by
Mercedes-Benz because of the possibility
of incompatibility between materials used
in the production process and others ap-
plied later.
Warning!
G
Many cleaning products can be hazardous.
Some are poisonous, others are flammable.
Always follow the instructions on the partic-
ular container. Always open your vehicle’s
doors or windows when cleaning the inside.
Never use fluids or solvents that are not de-
signed for cleaning your vehicle.

394 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
59
The front passenger front
air bag off indicator lamp
does not illuminate
and/or does not remain
illuminated with the
weight of a typical
12-month-old child in a
standard child restraint or
less on the front passen-
ger seat.
The system is malfunctioning.

Make sure there is nothing between seat cushion
and child seat and check installation of the child
seat.

Make sure no objects applying supplemental weight
onto the seat are present.

Make sure no objects which apply forces to the seat
are present (e.g. objects such as books, briefcases
etc. lodged behind or around the seat, head
restraints pushing against roof etc.). The system
may recognize such forces as supplemental weight.

If the front passenger front air bag off indicator lamp
remains out, have the system checked as soon as
possible by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center. Do not transport a child on the front
passenger seat until the system has been repaired.

Also note any messages in the multifunction display
and follow corrective steps (
page 401).
Warning!
G
If the59indicator lamp does not
illuminate or remains out with the weight of
a typical 12-month-old child in a standard
child restraint or less on the front passenger
seat, do not transport a child on the front
passenger seat until the system has been
repaired.

401 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
Front passenger
airbag
activated
see Oper.’s Man.
Front passenger front air bag is
activated while driving even
though a child, small individual,
or object below the system’s
weight threshold is on the front
passenger seat, or the front
passenger seat is empty. Ob-
jects on the seat or forces act-
ing on the seat may make the
system sense supplemental
weight.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location as soon as possible and check the
front passenger seat for the following:
Switch off the ignition (
page 34).

Remove child and child restraint from front passenger seat and
properly secure the child in rear seat employing the child restraint if
necessary.

Remove any other items from on and around the front passenger
seat and make sure the storage bag on the back of the front passen-
ger seat is empty.

Make sure that no objects which apply forces to the seat are present
(e.g. objects such as books, briefcases etc. lodged behind or around
the seat, head restraints pushing against roof etc.). The system may
recognize such forces as supplemental weight and sense that an oc-
cupant on the front passenger seat is of a greater weight than actu-
ally present.

Keep the seat unoccupied, close the front passenger door and
switch on the ignition (
page 34).
(Continued on next page)

425 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause
Possible solution
<
Seat belt system
Drive to workshop
The seat belt system is malfunctioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center as soon as possi-
ble.
9
Service memory full
See Operator’s Manual
The maintenance service memory cannot
save any more data.

Have the service memory checked by
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.
K
Close
tilt/sliding sunroof
You have opened the driver’s door with
the SmartKey removed from the starter
switch and the sliding portion of the
tilt/sliding sunroof* open.

Close the tilt/sliding sunroof*
(page 235).
J
Close
tilt/sliding sunroof
You have opened the driver’s door with
the SmartKey removed from the starter
switch and the tilt portion of the
tilt/sliding sunroof* open.

Close the tilt/sliding sunroof*
(page 235).

439 Practical hints
Opening/closing in an emergency
Opening/closing in an emergency
Power tilt/sliding sunroof*
You can open or close the tilt/sliding
sunroof manually should an electrical
malfunction occur.
The tilt/sliding sunroof drive is located be-
hind the cover on the overhead control
panel.
1Cover
Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.Vehicles with SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*

Turn off the engine by pressing the
KEYLESS-GO* once (
page 36).

Open the driver’s door (this puts the
starter switch in position 0, same as
with the SmartKey removed from the
starter switch). The driver’s door then
can be closed again.

Push cover1 at the location marked
by the arrow.
2Crank

Take crank2 out of the Operator’s
Manual pouch.

Insert crank2 through hole.

Turn crank2 clockwise to:

slide sunroof open


raise sunroof at the rear

Turn crank2 counterclockwise to:

slide sunroof closed


lower sunroof at the rear
iTurn crank2 slowly and smoothly.
The tilt/sliding sunroof must be syn-
chronized if it has been operated man-
ually (
page 237).

463 Practical hints
Battery
!
The battery is a valve-regulated lead
acid (VRLA) battery, also referred to as
“fleece” battery. Such batteries do not
require topping-up of the electrolyte
level. VRLA batteries therefore do not
have cell caps and the battery cover is
non-removable. Do not attempt to
open the battery as otherwise the bat-
tery will be damaged.
Even though VRLA batteries do not
require topping-up of the electrolyte
level and cannot be opened to check
the electrolyte level, the battery condi-
tion must be checked periodically by
performing a battery conductance test.
Refer to Maintenance Booklet for bat-
tery condition testing intervals.
As with any other battery, the battery
may discharge if the vehicle is not
operated for an extended period of
time. You can connect a battery
maintenance charge unit tested and
approved for use on your vehicle model
or disconnect the battery to prevent
battery discharge. Contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center for more information.
!The factory-equipped VRLA battery is
leak-proofed. Only use a battery as re-
placement that has the same security
features and is of identical size,
voltage, and capacity as the
factory-equipped battery.
The battery, the battery ventilation
tube (
page 468) and the vent plug
(
page 468) must always be securely
installed when the vehicle is in opera-
tion.
Warning!
G
Jump starting must only be done using the
jump-start contacts located in the engine
compartment (
page 470).

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.

469 Practical hints
Battery

Connect the positive lead and fasten its
cover (
page 467).

Connect the negative lead.
Charging the battery
If the battery is discharged, the battery can
be charged using the jump-start contacts
located in the engine compartment
(page 471).

Charge the battery in accordance with
the instructions of the battery charger
manufacturer.
Batteries contain materials that can harm
the environment if disposed of improperly.
Large 12 volt storage batteries contain
lead. Recycling of batteries is the preferred
method of disposal. Many states require
sellers of batteries to accept old batteries
for recycling.
!NEVER invert the terminal connections!iThe following procedures must be car-
ried out following any interruption of
battery power (e.g. due to reconnec-
tion):

Set the clock (
page 165)
(see Modular COMAND system
operator’s manual).


Resynchronize the power windows
(page 232).


Resynchronize the power tilt/slid-
ing sunroof* (
page 237).
Warning!
G
Never charge a battery while still installed in
the vehicle unless the accessory battery
charge unit approved by Mercedes-Benz is
being used. Gases may escape during charg-
ing and cause explosions that may result in
paint damage, corrosion or personal injury.
An accessory battery charge unit specially
adapted for Mercedes-Benz vehicles and
tested and approved by Mercedes-Benz is
available, permitting the charging of the
battery in its installed position. Contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center for information and availability.
Charge battery in accordance with the
separate instructions for the accessory
battery charger.