2006 MERCEDES-BENZ R500 Owner's Manual

488 Practical hintsBattery
!
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 disconnected 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 and
the lateral plug must always be
securely installed when the vehicle is in
operation.Warning!
G
Jump starting must only be done using the
jump-start contacts located in the engine
compartment (
page 496).

489 Practical hints
Battery
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 487).
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.
Contact your authorized
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
risk of injury. We strongly recommend that it
be performed by a qualified technician or an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center only. Please read the instructions
fully before beginning operation and only
undertake it if you feel fully capable of per-
forming all of the tasks involved as de-
scribed in these instructions. Observe all
safety instructions and precautions when
handling automotive batteries
(page 487). Performing the tasks involved
incorrectly can cause damage to the vehicle
and impair the operating safety of the
vehicle, and/or cause severe injury to you
or others.

490 Practical hintsBatteryStep 1 (Disconnecting)

Set the automatic position to P
(page 199).

Firmly depress the parking brake
(page 65).

Turn off the engine (
page 66).

Leave the ignition switched on
(page 38).

Switch off all electrical consumers.

Read and observe safety instructions
and precautions (
page 487).

Open the front passenger door.

Move the front passenger seat to the
most rearward position (
page 43).Step 2 (Disconnecting)
1Seat rail covers, front right
2Seat rail covers, front left

Pull off right seat rail cover 1 in direc-
tion of arrow.

Pull left seat rail cover 2 in direction
of arrow as far as it will go.
Left seat rail cover 2 cannot be re-
moved.
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 496)
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 bat-
tery cannot be jumped or charged,
please contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
iOpen doors only when conditions are
safe to do so.

491 Practical hints
Battery
3Battery cover mounting nuts
Using a 6 mm T-handle hex key (not
supplied with vehicle) with a minimum
shaft length of 12 in (30 cm), unfasten
and remove battery cover mounting
nuts 2 located at the floor carpet per-
foration.

Move the front passenger seat to the
most forward position (
page 43).

Switch off the ignition (
page 38).

Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
Make sure the vehicle’s on-board
electronics have status 0.
After turning off the engine with the
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button,
with the driver's door closed, the
starter switch is in position1. With
the driver’s door opened, the start-
er switch is set to position0, same
as SmartKey removed from starter
switch (
page 39).Step 3 (Disconnecting)
4Seat rail, rear
5Seat rail cover, rear

Pull seat rail cover 5 away from seat
rail 4 on both sides as indicated by ar-
rows.

Pull off seat rail cover 5 to the rear as
indicated by arrow.

492 Practical hintsBatteryStep 4 (Disconnecting)
6Floor carpet
Pull back and fold floor carpet8 in
direction of the arrow.Step 5 (Disconnecting)
7Battery cover mounting nuts

Unfasten and remove battery cover
mounting nuts 7.Step 6 (Disconnecting)
8Battery cover with integrated air
channel
9Pulling battery cover out
aLifting battery cover

Lift battery cover 8 slightly in direc-
tion of arrow a.

Pull battery cover 8 in direction of
arrow 9.

Remove battery cover 8.
iTo release the floor carpet perforations
(see dotted line in above illustration),
you will have to apply somewhat great-
er force when pulling the floor carpet
back.

493 Practical hints
Battery
Step 7 (Disconnecting)
bBattery ventilation hose
cBattery
dBattery attachment
eAttachment nuts
Pull battery ventilation hose b out of
battery c.

Unfasten and remove attachment
nutse.

Remove battery attachment d.Step 8 (Disconnecting)
fPositive terminal with cover
gNegative terminal

Disconnect battery negative lead from
negative terminal g.

Remove the cover from positive termi-
nal f.

Disconnect battery positive lead from
positive terminal f.Step 9 (Removing)

Take out battery.
Step 10 (Reinstalling)

Carry out step 9 (
page 493) first and
then step 7 (
page 493), both in re-
verse order.
bBattery ventilation hose
hVent plug
!The battery, battery ventilation
hoseb, and vent plug h must always
be securely installed when the vehicle
is in operation.


494 Practical hintsBattery
Carry out step 8 to reconnect the bat-
tery (
page 493).

Carry out steps 6 to 1 in reverse order
to complete reinstall the battery,
(page 492) to (
page 490).
Step 11 (Reconnecting)

If the battery has been removed, carry
out step 9 (
page 493) first and then
step 7 (
page 493), both in reverse
order, before starting the connecting
procedure.

Open the driver’s door.

Make sure the SmartKey is removed
from the starter switch.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
Make sure the vehicle’s on-board
electronics have status 0.
With the driver’s door opened, the
vehicle’s on-board electronics have
status 0, same as SmartKey re-
moved from the starter switch
(page 39).

Connect the positive lead to the posi-
tive terminal and fasten it’s cover
(page 493).

Connect the negative lead to the nega-
tive terminal (
page 493).
!Never invert the terminal connections!
iThe following procedures must be car-
ried out following any interruption of
battery power (e.g. due to disconnec-
tion):

Set the clock (
page 180).
Vehicles with Modular COMAND
system with navigation module*:
Time and date are set automatical-
ly.


Synchronize the door windows
(page 251).


Synchronize the power tilt/sliding
sunroof* (
page 258).


Synchronize the power tilt/sliding
panel* (
page 262).


Synchronize the power folding
exterior rear view mirrors*
(page 211).


495 Practical hints
Battery
Charging the battery
If the battery is discharged, the battery can
be charged using the jump-start contacts
located in the engine compartment
(page 497).

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.
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.