2006 MERCEDES-BENZ ML500 Owner's Manual

256 Controls in detailDriving systemsFront sensors
Rear sensorsMinimum distance
If the system detects an obstacle in this
range, all the distance warning segments
illuminate and you hear a warning signal. If
the obstacle is closer than the minimum
distance, the actual distance may no long-
er be indicated by the system.
Warning indicators
Visual signals indicate to the driver the rel-
ative distance between the sensors and an
obstacle. The warning indicator for the
front area is located above the center air
vents in the dashboard. The warning indi-
cator for the rear area is located in the rear
passenger compartment in the roof dome.
Front area warning indicator1Left side of the vehicle
2Right side of the vehicle
3Readiness indicators
Each warning indicator is divided into five
yellow and two red segments for either
side of the vehicle. The Parktronic system
is operational when the readiness
indicators3 are illuminated.
The position of the automatic transmission
determines which warning indicator will be
activated.
Center
approx. 40 in (100 cm)
Corners
approx. 24 in (60 cm)
Center
approx. 48 in (120 cm)
Corners
approx. 32 in (80 cm)
!During parking maneuvers, pay special
attention to objects located above or
below the height of the sensors (e.g.
planters or trailer hitches). The
Parktronic system will not detect such
objects at close range and damage to
your vehicle or the object may result.
Ultrasonic signals from outside sourc-
es (e.g. working jackhammers, car
wash or the air brakes of trucks) may
impair the operation of the Parktronic
system.
Center
approx. 8 in (20 cm)
Corners
approx. 6 in (15 cm)

257 Controls in detail
Driving systems
As your vehicle approaches an object, one
or more distance segments will come on,
depending on the distance. When the
second red distance segment illuminates,
you have reached the minimum distance.

Front area: An intermittent acoustic
warning will sound as the first red dis-
tance segment illuminates and a con-
stant acoustic warning lasting a
maximum of two seconds will sound for
the second red segment. The signal is
canceled when the automatic trans-
mission is set toP, or the parking brake
is activated.


Rear area: An intermittent acoustic
warning will sound as the first red dis-
tance segment illuminates and a con-
stant acoustic warning lasting a
maximum of two seconds will sound for
the second red segment. The signal is
canceled when the automatic trans-
mission is set toD, P, or the parking
brake is activated.
Switching Parktronic* system on/off
The Parktronic system can be switched off
manually using the control system
(
page 175).
As your vehicle approaches an object, and
three or more distance segments will
come on, the following message appears in
the multifunction display.

Pressæ orç to switch function
off.
Automatic trans-
mission position
Warning indicator
D
Front area activated
R or N
Front and rear area
activated
P
Neither activated
iThe display disappears automatically
within ten seconds if you continue to
approach an object.
If the vehicle comes closer to the ob-
ject and the first red distance segment
comes on, the display appears continu-
ously. It disappears if:

you clear the message by pressing
theèÿkor
buttonj on the multifunction
steering wheel
or


the distance is increased and the
third yellow distance segment goes
out.


258 Controls in detailDriving systems
Parktronic* system malfunction
If only the red distance segments illumi-
nate and an acoustic warning sounds,
there is a malfunction in the Parktronic
system. The Parktronic system will auto-
matically switch off after 20 seconds.
Have the Parktronic system checked
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center as soon as possible.
If only the red distance segments illumi-
nate and no acoustic warning sounds, the
Parktronic system sensors are dirty or
there is an interference from other radio or
ultrasonic signals. The Parktronic system
will automatically switch off after
20 seconds.

Switch off the ignition (
page 34).

Clean the Parktronic system sensors
(page 377).

Switch on the ignition.
or

Check the Parktronic system operation
at another location to rule out interfer-
ence from outside radio or ultrasonic
signals.
iThe message
Parktronic on
reappears
as soon as the system senses that you
get closer to the object again, even if
you cleared the message before by
pressingèÿk or
buttonj on the multifunction
steering wheel.
iThe Parktronic system is automatically
switched on when the ignition is
switched on.
Vehicles with original equipment
Mercedes-Benz Trailer Hitch Kit:
The rear Parktronic sensor will auto-
matically disengage when towing a
trailer as soon as the electrical connec-
tion between the vehicle and the trailer
has been established.


259 Controls in detail
Loading
Loading
Loading instructions
Load distributionThe gross vehicle weight which is the
weight of the vehicle including fuel, tools,
spare wheel, installed accessories, pas-
sengers and luggage/cargo must never
exceed the load limit and Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating (GVWR) for your vehicle as
specified on the placard(s) located on the
driver’s door B-pillar. In addition, the load
must be distributed in such a way so that
the weight on each axle never exceeds the
Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) for the
front and rear axle. The GVWR and GAWR
for your vehicle are indicated on the certi-
fication label which can be found on the
driver’s door B-pillar.The handling characteristics of a fully load-
ed vehicle depend greatly on the load dis-
tribution. It is therefore recommended to
load the vehicle according to the illustra-
tions shown, with the heaviest items being
placed towards the front of the vehicle.
Please pay attention to and comply with
the following instructions when loading the
vehicle and transporting cargo:


Always place items being carried
against front or rear seat backrests,
and fasten them as securely as possi-
ble.


The heaviest portion of the cargo
should always be kept as low as possi-
ble against front or rear seat backrests.
Warning!
G
Always fasten items being carried as secure-
ly as possible using cargo tie-down rings and
fastening materials appropriate for the
weight and size of the load.
In an accident, during hard braking or sud-
den maneuvers, loose items will be thrown
around inside the vehicle, and can cause in-
jury to vehicle occupants unless the items
are securely fastened in the vehicle.
To help avoid personal injury during a colli-
sion or sudden maneuver, always use parti-
tion net when transporting cargo.
Never drive vehicle with the tailgate open.
Deadly carbon monoxide (CO) gases may
enter vehicle interior resulting in uncon-
sciousness and death.

260 Controls in detailLoadingFor additional safety when transporting
cargo while the rear seats are unoccupied,
fasten the outer seat belts crosswise into
the opposite side buckles.Cargo tie-down rings
The vehicle is equipped with six tie-down
rings.
Four tie-down rings are located in the
cargo compartment.
1Cargo tie-down ringTwo additional tie-down rings are located
on the floor in front of the rear bench seat.
1Cargo tie-down ring

Carefully secure cargo by applying
even load on all rings with rope of suffi-
cient strength to hold down the cargo.
iThe cargo compartment is the pre-
ferred place to carry objects. The en-
larged cargo compartment should only
be used for items which do not fit in the
cargo compartment alone.
iWhile the partition net* will help pro-
tect you from smaller objects, it cannot
prevent the movement of large, heavier
objects into the passenger compart-
ment in an accident, during hard brak-
ing or sudden maneuvers. Such items
must be properly secured using the
cargo tie-down rings.

261 Controls in detail
Loading
Hooks
Four hooks located on the rear compart-
ment trim panels, two on each side.
1Hook
Use the hooks to secure light weight items.
The maximum permissible weight per hook
is 9 lbs (4 kg).
Split rear bench seat
To expand the cargo compartment, you
can fold down the left and right rear seat
backrests.
The two sections can be folded down sep-
arately to enlarge the cargo compartment.Folding the backrest forwardWarning!
G
When expanding the cargo compartment,
always fold the seat cushions fully forward
and always use the partition net when trans-
porting cargo.
Unless you are transporting cargo, the back-
rests must remain properly locked in the up-
right position.
In an accident, during hard braking or sud-
den maneuvers, loose items will be thrown
around inside the vehicle, and can cause
injury to vehicle occupants unless the items
are securely fastened in the vehicle.
Always use the cargo tie down rings
(page 260).
!Always release the seat cushion and
fold it up before folding the seat back-
rests forward. The covering on the seat
backrest may otherwise be damaged.
When the rear bench seat is folded for-
ward, the front seats cannot be moved
to the rearmost position. Otherwise
you could damage the front seats and
the rear bench seat.

262 Controls in detailLoading1Release handle
2Seat cushion
Pull release handle1.

Fold the seat cushion2 forward.3Release handle
4Seat backrest

Make sure the rear seat head restraints
are in the lowermost position
(page 130).

Pull release handle3.
A red indicator will be visible and the
seat backrest is released.

Fold the seat backrest4 forward.Returning seat backrest to original
position
1Seat backrest
2Seat cushion

Fold seat backrest1 rearward until it
engages.
The red indicator no longer should be
visible.

Fold seat cushion2 rearward until it
locks into position.

Check for secure locking by pushing
and pulling on the seat backrest.

263 Controls in detail
Loading
Partition net*Use of the partition net is a particularly im-
portant safety factor when the vehicle is
loaded higher than the top of the seat
backrests with smaller objects.
The partition net can be installed behind
the backrests of the front or rear seats.

Open the partition net zipper.

Roll out the partition net.

Unfold the partition net until it audibly
engages.
Engaging partition net
1Holder
2Mounting hook
Warning!
G
If a red indicator is visible with the backrest
up, then the backrest is not properly locked
into position.
Always lock backrest in its upright position
when the rear seats are occupied, or the ex-
tended cargo compartment is not in use.
Check for secure locking by pushing and
pulling on the backrest.
Warning!
G
Always lock backrest in its upright position
when rear seat bench is occupied by pas-
sengers, or cargo is being carried behind the
seat bench.
To help avoid personal injury from smaller
objects being thrown around in the occu-
pant compartment during a collision or sud-
den maneuver, always use partition net
when transporting cargo.
The partition net cannot prevent the move-
ment of large, heavier objects into the pas-
senger compartment in an accident. Such
items must be properly secured using the
cargo tie-down rings (
page 260) in the
cargo compartment floor.
Passenger use of seats behind installed par-
tition net is restricted because of the foot-
well being taken up by the net.