2006 MERCEDES-BENZ ML500 stop start

329 Operation
Engine compartment
Other display messages
If the SmartKey or KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button is not in position2, the
following message will appear:Turn on ignition
to see engine oil level
Switch on the ignition (
page 34).
If you see the message:
Observe waiting time
If the engine is at operating
temperature, wait five minutes before
repeating check procedure.

If the engine is not at operating temper-
ature, wait 30 minutes before repeat-
ing check procedure.If you see the message:
Engine oil level
Not when engine on
Turn off the engine.

If the engine is at operating tempera-
ture, wait five minutes before checking
oil.

If the engine is not at operating temper-
ature yet, you must wait 30 minutes
before checking oil.
If there is excess engine oil with the engine
at operating temperature, the following
message will appear:
Engine oil level
Reduce oil level
Have excess oil siphoned or drained
off. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.For more information on messages in the
multifunction display concerning engine
oil, see “Practical hints” (
page 381).
!Excess oil must be siphoned or drained
off. It could cause damage to the
engine and catalytic converter not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.

400 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
ESP
Display malfunction
Visit workshop
In addition, the yellow ESP
® warning
lampv comes on.
The ESP
® or the ESP
® display is
malfunctioning.

Continue driving with added caution.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases
the risk of accident.
P
Gear selector lever
in park position
You have attempted to turn off the
engine with the KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button with the gear
selector lever not inP.
You have opened the driver’s door
with the gear selector lever not inP.

Select gear positionP using the gear
selector lever.
Please move gear
selector lever to N or P
You have attempted to start the en-
gine with the KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button while the gear
selector lever was in positionR orD.

Select gear positionP orN using the gear
selector lever.
Make sure the brake pedal is depressed
when attempting to start the engine with
the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button.

407 Practical hints
What to do if …
Symbol messagesDisplay symbol
Display messages
Possible cause
Possible solution
#
Undervoltage
Switch off consumers
The battery has insufficient volt-
age.

Turn off unnecessary electrical
consumers.
malfunction
Visit workshop
The battery was charged with a
battery charger or jump started.

Have the battery checked at a service
station.
Battery/Alternator
Stop vehicle
The battery is no longer charg-
ing.
Possible causes:

alternator malfunctioning


broken poly-V-belt
Do not forget that the brake sys-
tem requires electrical energy
and may be operating with re-
stricted capability. Considerably
greater brake pedal force is
required and the stopping dis-
tance is increased.

Stop immediately and check the
poly-V-belt.
If it is broken:

Do not continue to drive. Otherwise the
engine will overheat due to an inoperative
water pump which may result in damage
to the engine. Notify an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
If it is intact:

Drive immediately to the nearest autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
Adjust driving to be consistent with re-
duced braking responsiveness.

411 Practical hints
What to do if …
During severe operation conditions and
stop-and-go city traffic, the coolant tem-
perature may rise close to 248°F (120°C).
Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause
Possible solution
Ï
Coolant
Stop, engine off
The coolant is too hot.

Stop the vehicle and immediately turn off
the engine.

Only start the engine again after the mes-
sage disappears. You could otherwise
damage the engine.
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.
!The engine should not be operated with
the coolant temperature above 248°F
(120°C). Doing so may cause serious
damage which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

417 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause
Possible solution
F
Key
not detected
The SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* is not recognized
while the engine is running be-
cause

the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* is not in the
vehicle


there is strong radio-fre-
quency interference

Stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do
so.

Search for the SmartKey.
Otherwise the vehicle cannot be centrally
locked nor can the engine be started
again after the engine is stopped.
Key
not detected
The SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* is momentarily
not recognized.

Change the position of the SmartKey in
the vehicle.

Operate the vehicle with the SmartKey in
the starter switch if necessary.
Remove key
You have forgotten to remove
the SmartKey.

Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
Replace key
Drive to workshop
There is no additional code avail-
able for SmartKey or SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO*.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center as soon as possible.

435 Practical hints
Unlocking/locking in an emergency
Unlocking/locking in an emergency
Unlocking the vehicle
If you cannot unlock the vehicle using the
SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*, open the driver’s door us-
ing the mechanical key.
Removing the mechanical key
SmartKey1Mechanical key locking tab
2Mechanical key
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*1Mechanical key locking tab
2Mechanical key
Move locking tab1 in direction of
arrow.
The mechanical key2 comes out.

Slide the mechanical key2 out of
housing.
iUnlocking your vehicle with the me-
chanical key will trigger the anti-theft
alarm system.
To cancel the alarm, do one of the
following:

Press buttonŒ or‹on the
SmartKey.


Insert the SmartKey in the starter
switch.
In vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:

Grasp the outside door handle.
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO
must be outside the vehicle.


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

437 Practical hints
Unlocking/locking in an emergency
Unlocking and opening the tailgate
A minimum height clearance of 7 ft
(2.15 m) is required to open the tailgate.
If the tailgate can no longer be unlocked
and opened using the Œbutton on the
SmartKey or the KEYLESS-GO* function,
use the manual release to unlock and open
the tailgate.
The manual release is located on the inside
of the tailgate.
1Release lever
2Cover
Remove cover2 from the trim on the
tailgate.

Push release lever1 all the way to the
left.

Lift the tailgate.!Always make sure there is sufficient
overhead clearance.iIf the vehicle has previously been
locked from the outside using the
SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*, opening the tailgate
from the inside will trigger the
anti-theft alarm system.
To cancel the alarm, do one of the
following:
With the SmartKey:

Press buttonŒ or‹ on the
SmartKey.


Insert the SmartKey in the starter
switch.
With KEYLESS-GO*:

Grasp an outside door handle.
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO
must be within 3 ft (1 m) of the ve-
hicle.
or


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

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.