2007 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320CDI parking brake

329 Operation
Driving instructions
Driving off
Apply the brakes to test them briefly after
driving off. Perform this procedure only
when the road is clear of other traffic.
Warm up the engine smoothly. Do not
place full load on the engine until the oper-
ating temperature has been reached.
Parking
Tires
!
When driving off on a slippery surface, do
not allow a drive wheel to spin for an extended
period with the ESP
® switched off. Doing so may
cause serious damage to the drivetrain which is
not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
!
Simultaneously depressing the accelerator
pedal and applying the brake reduces engine
performance and causes premature brake and
drivetrain wear.
Warning!
G
Do not park this vehicle in areas where com-
bustible materials such as grass, hay or
leaves can come into contact with the hot
exhaust system, as these materials could be
ignited and cause a vehicle fire.
To reduce the risk of personal injury, or
damage to the vehicle drivetrain, as a result
of vehicle movement, before turning off the
engine and leaving the vehicle always:

Keep right foot on brake pedal.


Firmly depress parking brake pedal.


Set the automatic transmission to
positionP.


Slowly release brake pedal.


When parked on an incline, turn front
wheel towards the road curb.


Turn the SmartKey to starter switch
position0 and remove, or press
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button (vehi-
cles with KEYLESS-GO*).


Take the SmartKey or the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* with you and lock vehicle
when leaving.
Warning!
G
If you feel a sudden significant vibration or
ride disturbance, or you suspect that possi-
ble damage to your vehicle has occurred,
you should turn on the hazard warning flash-
ers, carefully slow down, and drive with cau-
tion to an area which is a safe distance from
the road.
Inspect the tires and the vehicle underbody
for possible damage. If the vehicle or tires
appear unsafe, have the vehicle towed to
the nearest Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center or tire dealer for repairs.

345 Operation
Driving instructions

Make sure the automatic transmission
is set toP (
page 187).

Set the parking brake for the vehicle
(page 65).

Start the engine (
page 54).

Vehicles with air suspension package*:
Set the vehicle level to Highway
(page 270).

Vehicles with air suspension package*:
Set the ADS* to AUTO or COMFORT
(page 269).

Turn off the engine (
page 66).

Close all doors and the tailgate.

Attach the trailer.

Plug in all electrical connectors.Towing a trailer
There are many different laws, including
speed limit restrictions, having to do with
trailer towing. Make sure your rig will be le-
gal, not only for where you reside, but also
for where you will be driving. A good
source for this information can be the po-
lice or local authorities.
Note the following points, when driving
with the trailer:


In order to gain skill and an under-
standing of the vehicle’s behavior, you
should practice turning, stopping and
backing up in an area which is free from
traffic.


Before you start driving check the

trailer hitch


break-away switch


safety chains


electrical connections


lighting and tires
!
Do not connect a trailer brake system (if
trailer is so equipped) directly to the vehicle’s
hydraulic brake system, as your vehicle is
equipped with antilock brakes. If you do, neither
the vehicle’s brakes nor the trailer’s brakes will
function properly.
i
The provided vehicle electrical wiring
harness for trailer towing has a brake signal wire
for hook-up to a brake controller.
You should consider using a trailer sway control
system. For further information, see an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
i
Vehicles with air suspension package*:
When you are towing a trailer, the vehicle level
always remains in the Highway setting.
The following applies additionally when towing a
trailer:


The vehicle is lowered to the highway level
when it reaches a speed of 5 mph (8 km/h)
if not set to highway level.


The high-speed level is not available.
The restrictions that apply to towing also apply
when using accessories that are connected to
the trailer power socket, such as a bicycle rack.

347 Operation
Driving instructions


Extreme care must be exercised since
your vehicle with a trailer will require
additional passing distance ahead than
when driving without a trailer.
Because your vehicle and trailer is
longer than your vehicle alone, you will
also need to go much farther ahead of
the passed vehicle before you can re-
turn to your lane.Uncoupling the trailer

Make sure the automatic transmission
is set toP (
page 187).

Set the parking brake for the vehicle
(page 65).

Start the engine (
page 54).

Close all doors and the tailgate.

Set the parking brake for the trailer.
Warning!
G
Vehicles with air suspension package*:
While you are coupling or decoupling a trail-
er, make sure that you do not

lock or unlock


open or close
a vehicle door or the tailgate.
The vehicle’s level could change and you
could endanger yourself and/or others as a
result.
Make sure that you do not operate the ADS
button* (
page 269) or the vehicle level
control system* (
page 270) when cou-
pling/decoupling the trailer.
Warning!
G
Vehicles with air suspension package*:
As soon as you disconnect the electrical
connection between the trailer and the
vehicle, the vehicle will lower. To help avoid
personal injury, make sure no one is near
the wheel housing or underneath the vehicle
before the electrical connection is discon-
nected.
When you uncouple the trailer, the vehicle is
temporarily raised because the springs are
relieved of load. Be especially careful during
this process, as you could otherwise injure
yourself and/or others. Make sure that any
persons remaining in the vehicle do not
press the switches for vehicle level control
or the ADS*.

415 Practical hints
What to do if …
Problem
Possible cause/conse-
quence
Suggested solution
;
(USA only)
3
(Canada only)
The red brake warning lamp
comes on while driving and
you hear a warning sound.
You are driving with the
parking brake set.

Release the parking brake
(page 57).
There is insufficient brake fluid
in the reservoir.

Risk of accident! Carefully stop the
vehicle in a safe location or as soon it
is safe to do so.

Apply the parking brake (
page 65).

Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center. Do not add brake
fluid! This will not solve the problem.
Warning!
G
Driving with the brake warning lamp illumi-
nated can result in an accident. Have your
brake system checked immediately if the
brake warning lamp stays on.
Do not add brake fluid before checking the
brake system. Overfilling the brake fluid res-
ervoir can result in spilling brake fluid on hot
engine parts and the brake fluid catching
fire. You can be seriously burned.
!
If you find that the brake fluid in the brake
fluid reservoir has fallen to the minimum mark or
below, have the brake system checked for brake
pad thickness and leaks.

417 Practical hints
What to do if …
Problem
Possible cause/consequence
Suggested solution
?
(USA only)
±
(Canada only)
The yellow engine malfunc-
tion indicator lamp comes on
while driving.
There is a malfunction in:

The fuel management system


The ignition system


The emission control system


Systems which affect
emissions
Such malfunctions may result in
excessive emissions values and
may switch the engine to its
limp-home (emergency opera-
tion) mode (
page 198).

Have the vehicle checked as soon as
possible by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
An on-board diagnostic connector is
used by the service station to link the
vehicle to the shop diagnostics
system. It allows the accurate identi-
fication of system malfunctions
through the readout of diagnostic
trouble codes. It is located in the
front left area of the footwell next to
the parking brake pedal.
i
Some states may by law require you to visit
a workshop immediately as soon as the engine
malfunction indicator lamp comes on. Check
local requirements.

431 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display message
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
ABS
unavailable
See Operator’s Manual
If the yellow ESP
® warning
lampv flashes while driving and
this message appears, the electron-
ic traction system has switched off
to prevent overheating of the drive
wheel brakes.
As soon as the brakes have cooled off,
the electronic traction system switches
on again.
The message in the multifunction dis-
play disappears and the ESP
® warning
lampv goes out.
The self-diagnosis has not yet been
completed yet.
The display will clear after driving a
short distance at a vehicle speed of
above 12 mph (20 km/h).
Cruise control and
SPEEDTRONIC
inoperative
The cruise control is malfunctioning.

Have cruise control checked by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.
Cruise control
--- mph
You have attempted to set a speed
while driving below 20 mph
(30 km/h).

Accelerate to a speed exceeding
20 mph (30 km/h) and set the
speed (
page 245).
The ESP
® is switched off.

Switch on the ESP
® (page 98).
The automatic transmission is set to
positionP, R, orN.

Set the automatic transmission to
positionD (
page 187).
The vehicle is secured with the
parking brake.

Release the parking brake
(page 57).

432 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display message
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
DISTRONIC
--- mph
You have attempted to set a speed
while driving below 20 mph
(30 km/h).

Accelerate to a speed exceeding 20 mph
(30 km/h) and set the speed (
page 250).
The ESP
® is switched off.

Switch on the ESP
® (page 98).
The automatic transmission is set to
positionP, R, orN.

Set the automatic transmission to
positionD (
page 187).
The vehicle is secured with the
parking brake.

Release the parking brake (
page 57).
inoperative
Override
The Distronic* or the Distronic*
display are malfunctioning.

Have the system checked by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
You have accelerated. The
Distronic* has switched off.

Stop accelerating.

435 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display message
Possible cause/consequence
Possible solution
Depress brake
to shift out of
Park
You have tried to shift the automatic
transmission into positionD,R orN
using the gear selector lever without
depressing the brake pedal.

Depress the brake pedal.
Door Open
Vehicle not in Park
You have opened the driver’s door
and the transmission is still in
positionD,R orN.

Before you leave the vehicle, make sure
that the automatic transmission is set to
positionP and that the parking brake is
engaged.
Drive to workshop
without
shifting gears
The automatic transmission cannot
be shifted out of the set position be-
cause of a malfunction.
If the automatic transmission is set to
positionD:
Without changing the automatic transmis-
sion from positionD, drive to an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
If the automatic transmission is set to
positionN,R orP:

Do not drive.

Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.