2006 MERCEDES-BENZ ML500 Owner's Manual

112 Controls in detailLocking and unlockingImportant notes on using KEYLESS-GO*

You can also use the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO like a normal SmartKey
(page 106).


You can combine KEYLESS-GO func-
tions with normal SmartKey functions
(e.g. unlocking with KEYLESS-GO and
locking with the ‹button).


Always carry the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO with you.


Never store the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO together with:

Electronic items such as a cellular
phone or another SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO


Metallic objects such as coins or
metal foil
Doing so could impair the function of
the KEYLESS-GO system.


To lock or unlock the vehicle, the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must be
located outside the vehicle within ap-
proximately 3 ft (1 m) of the respective
door or the tailgate.


In order to start the engine with the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO:

The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO
must be located in the vehicle.


All doors must be closed.


The brake pedal must be firmly de-
pressed. Do not depress the accel-
erator.


If the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is
positioned farther away from the vehi-
cle, the system may no longer recog-
nize the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO.
The vehicle then cannot be locked or
the engine started via the KEYLESS-GO
system.


If the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is re-
moved from the vehicle while starter
switch position1 (e.g. if passenger ex-
its the vehicle with the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO), the message
Key not
recognized
will appear in the multi-
function display while driving off.
Find the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO or
change its present location immediate-
ly (e.g. place it on the front passenger
seat or insert it in shirt pocket).

113 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking


Remember that the engine can be
started by anyone with a SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO that is left inside the
vehicle.
Possibility 1 (One SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO in the vehicle, one
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO outside
the vehicle):
If you leave the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO behind when exiting and
locking the vehicle, no message
appears in the multifunction display.
Possibility 2 (One SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO in the vehicle, no
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO outside
the vehicle):
When exiting and locking the vehicle,
the message
Key recognized in
vehicle
will appear in the multifunction
display.Factory setting
Global unlocking

Grasp an outside door handle.
All turn signal lamps flash once. The
locking knobs in the doors move up.
The anti-theft alarm system is switched
off.
The vehicle will lock again automatically
and reactivate the anti-theft alarm system
within approximately 40 seconds of
unlocking if:


neither a door nor the tailgate is
opened


the central locking switch is not
activated.Global locking

Press lock button on an outside door
handle (
page 64) or tailgate
(
page 116).
All turn signal lamps flash three times.
The locking knobs in the doors move
down. The anti-theft alarm system is
armed.
i If the vehicle has been parked for more
t h a n 7 2 h o u r s , y o u m u s t p u l l a n o u t s i d e
door handle in order to activate the
KEYLESS-GO function.
iThe vehicle could be inadvertently
unlocked if the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO is within 3 ft (1 m) of the
vehicle and

an outside door handle is splashed
with water, or


you attempt to clean an outside
door handle.

114 Controls in detailLocking and unlockingSelective setting
If you frequently travel alone, you may wish
to reprogram the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO so when you grasp the driv-
er’s door handle only the driver’s door and
the fuel filler flap unlocks.
Press and hold buttonsŒ and‹
simultaneously for about five seconds
until battery check lamp5
(page 110) flashes twice.
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO will
then function as follows:
Unlocking driver’s door and fuel filler
flap

Grasp the driver’s outside door handle.
All turn signal lamps flash once. The
locking knob in the driver’s door moves
up. The anti-theft alarm system is dis-
armed.Global unlocking

Grasp any outside door handle other
than the driver’s outside door handle.
All turn signal lamps flash once. The
locking knobs in the doors move up.
The anti-theft alarm system is dis-
armed.
Global locking

Press lock button on an outside door
handle (
page 64).
All turn signal lamps flash three times.
The locking knobs in the doors move
down. The anti-theft alarm system is
armed.Restoring to factory setting

Press and hold buttonsŒ and‹
simultaneously for about five seconds
until battery check lamp5
(page 110) flashes twice.
!If you can no longer lock or unlock the
vehicle with the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO, then the batteries in the
SmartKey are discharged, the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is mal-
functioning or the vehicle battery is
drained.

Check the batteries in the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO
(page 115) and replace them if
necessary (
page 440).


Use the mechanical key to unlock
the driver’ door (
page 436).

115 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Checking the batteries
Press button‹orŒ.
Battery check lamp5 comes on brief-
ly to indicate that the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO batteries are in order.
Unlocking and opening the tailgate
You can unlock and open the tailgate sep-
arately.
A minimum height clearance of 7 ft
(2.15 m) is required to open the tailgate.The handle is located above the rear
license plate recess.

Pull on the handle
or
Vehicles with tailgate opening/closing
system*:

Press and hold buttonŠ on the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO until the
tailgate unlocks and opens.


Have the vehicle battery and the
battery connections checked
(page 462).


Use the mechanical key to lock the
doors (
page 436).
If the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is
malfunctioning, contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
iIf battery check lamp5 (
page 110)
does not come on briefly during check,
then the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO
batteries are discharged.
Replace the batteries (
page 440).
You can obtain the required batteries
at any authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.
iIf the batteries are checked within sig-
nal range of the vehicle, pressing the
button‹orŒ will lock or un-
lock the vehicle accordingly.

116 Controls in detailLocking and unlocking
Locking the vehicle
1Lock button at tailgate
Press the lock button at tailgate1.
or

Press the lock button at the outside
door handle (
page 64).
or

Vehicles with tailgate opening/closing
system*, press the KEYLESS-GO
locking/closing switch in the tailgate
(page 124).
The vehicle locks. The turn signals flash
three times to confirm locking.Loss of the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO
If you lose your SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO or mechanical key, you
should do the following:

Have the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO
deactivated by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.

Report the loss of the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO or the mechanical key im-
mediately to your car insurance com-
pany.

Have the mechanical lock replaced if
necessary.
Your authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center will be glad to supply you
with a replacement.
!The tailgate swings open upwards auto-
matically. Always make sure there is
sufficient overhead clearance.
Vehicles with tailgate opening/closing
system*: To stop the opening proce-
dure, press buttonŠ on the
SmartKey. The tailgate stops moving.iIf the vehicle was previously centrally
locked, the tailgate will lock automati-
cally when closed (
page 120). The
turn signals will flash three times to
confirm locking.

117 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Opening the doors from the inside
You can open a locked door from the in-
side. Open door only when conditions are
safe to do so.
1Locking knob
2Inside door handleFront doors

Pull on door handle2 on the respec-
tive front door to open door.
If door was locked, locking knob1 will
move up.
Rear doors

Pull up locking knob1 on the respec-
tive rear door to unlock door.

Pull on door handle2 on the respec-
tive rear door to open door.
iIf the vehicle has previously been
locked with the SmartKey or SmartKey
KEYLESS-GO*, opening a door from the
inside will trigger the anti-theft alarm
system.
To cancel the alarm, do one of the
following:
With the SmartKey

Insert the SmartKey in the starter
switch.


Press theŒ or ‹button on
the SmartKey.
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
must be outside the vehicle.
With KEYLESS-GO*


Grasp an outside door handle.


Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop
button.
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO
must be inside the vehicle.

118 Controls in detailLocking and unlockingOpening the tailgate
Opening the tailgate from the outside
A minimum height clearance of 7 ft
(2.15 m) is required to open the tailgate.
The handle is located above the rear
license plate recess.
Vehicles without KEYLESS-GO*:
The vehicle must be unlocked.
Pull on the handle.
The tailgate opens.The tailgate can also be opened using the
SmartKey (
page 106).Opening the tailgate from the inside
electrically*
You can open the tailgate from the inside if
the vehicle is stationary.
A minimum height clearance of 7 ft
(2.15 m) is required to open the tailgate.
The switch is located on the door control
panel.
1Remote tailgate switch with indicator
lamp
!The tailgate swings open upwards auto-
matically. Always make sure there is
sufficient overhead clearance.
Vehicles with tailgate opening/closing
system*: To stop the opening proce-
dure, press buttonŠ on the
SmartKey. The tailgate stops moving.iIf the vehicle was previously centrally
locked, the tailgate will lock automati-
cally after closing it (
page 120). The
turn signals will flash three times to
confirm locking.

119 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking

Pull remote tailgate switch1 until
tailgate begins to open.
The tailgate opens. The indicator lamp
in the remote tailgate switch comes on
and remains lit until the tailgate is
closed. While the tailgate is opening an
acoustic signal sounds.Limiting opening height of tailgate*
Vehicles with tailgate opening/closing
system*:
The tailgate opening height can be limited
when transporting goods on a roof rack
(e.g. presence of an MB sport luggage con-
tainer*). When activated, the tailgate
opens to approximately 6.4 ft (1.95 m).

Activate the limiting opening height of
tailgate using the control system
(page 173).
Warning!
G
Maintain sight of the area around the rear of
the vehicle while operating the tailgate with
the door-mounted remote tailgate switch or
with the Šbutton on the SmartKey or
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*. Monitor the
opening procedure carefully to make sure
no one is in danger of being injured.
To interrupt the opening procedure, press or
pull the door-mounted remote tailgate
switch or press the Šbutton on the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*.
!The tailgate swings open upwards auto-
matically. Always make sure there is
sufficient overhead clearance. To stop
the opening procedure, press or pull re-
mote tailgate switch1 or press the
Šbutton on the SmartKey or
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*. The
tailgate stops moving.iVehicles with tailgate opening/closing
system*:
The tailgate can also be opened using
the buttonŠ on the SmartKey or
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*.