2007 MERCEDES-BENZ ML500 Page 16

403 Operation
Maintenance
Calling up the maintenance service indicator display
You can call up the maintenance service in-
dicator display at any time to check when
the next maintenance service is due.
Switch on the ignition (
page 40).

Press buttonè orÿ on the mul-
tifunction steering wheel repeatedly
until the standard display appears in
the multifunction display (
page 154).

Press buttonk orj until the
maintenance service indicator display
with the service symbol9 and the
service deadline appears in the multi-
function display.Resetting the maintenance service
indicator
In the event that the maintenance service
on your vehicle is not carried out by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center, you can have the maintenance
service indicator reset. The automotive
maintenance facility carrying out the
maintenance service will find the informa-
tion for resetting the maintenance service
indicator in the maintenance-relevant
information for your vehicle. Such informa-
tion is available from either your
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center or directly from Mercedes-Benz.
i
If the battery is disconnected, the days of
disconnection will not be included in the count
shown by the maintenance service indicator.To arrive at the true maintenance service dead-
line, you will need to subtract these days from
the days shown in the maintenance service indi-
cator message or maintenance service indicator
display.
Do not confuse the maintenance service indica-
tor with the engine oil level indicatorN.
i
If the maintenance service indicator was
inadvertently reset, have an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center correct it.
Only reset if the proper maintenance service has
been performed. Resetting the system without
performing the proper service as called for by
the maintenance service indicator will result in
engine damage and/or other vehicle damage not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.

407 Operation
Vehicle care
Automatic car wash
You can have your car washed in an auto-
matic car wash from the start. Automatic
car washes without brushes are prefera-
ble.
To protect the filter system, switch the
climate control (
page 208) or the au-
tomatic climate control (
page 222)
to air recirculation mode.
If the vehicle is very dirty, prewash it
before running it through the automatic
car wash.Ornamental moldings
For regular cleaning and care of ornamen-
tal moldings, use a damp cloth.
!
Do not clean your vehicle in an automatic
touchless car wash which use caustic spray.
Otherwise the caustic spray will damage the
paint or ornamental moldings.
!
If you want the gear position to remain inN
(for example when the vehicle is pulled through
a car wash)


do not remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch
or, when using KEYLESS-GO*


do not turn off the engine using the
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button* and open
the driver’s door.
Otherwise, the transmission will shift toP and
lock the wheels, preventing the vehicle from be-
ing pulled through a car wash.
!
Make sure that the windshield wiper switch
is set to0 (
page 61). Otherwise, e.g. the rain
sensor could activate and cause the wipers to
move unintentionally. This may lead to vehicle
damage.
Due to the width of the vehicle, fold in exterior
rear view mirrors prior to running the vehicle
through an automatic car wash to prevent
damage to the mirrors.
i
After running the vehicle through an auto-
matic car wash, wipe any wax off of the wind-
shield (
page 410). This will prevent smears
and reduce wiping noise which can be caused by
residual wax on the windshield.
When leaving the car wash, make sure that the
mirrors are folded out. Otherwise they may
vibrate.
!
Do not use chrome cleaner on ornamental
moldings. Although ornamental moldings may
have chrome appearance, they could be made of
anodized aluminum that will be damaged when
cleaned with chrome cleaner. Instead, use a
damp cloth to clean those ornamental moldings.
For very dirty ornamental moldings of which you
are sure are chrome-plated, use a chrome clean-
er. If in doubt whether an ornamental molding is
chrome-plated, contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.

408 OperationVehicle careHeadlamps, brake lamps, tail lamps,
side markers, turn signal lenses
Use a mild car wash detergent, such as
Mercedes-Benz approved Car Sham-
poo, with plenty of water.Cleaning the Distronic* system sensor
cover
1Distronic* system sensor cover

Switch off the ignition (
page 40).

Use a mild car wash detergent, such as
Mercedes-Benz approved Car Sham-
poo, with plenty of water and a
non-scratching cloth to clean sensor
cover1.

Restart the engine after cleaning sen-
sor cover1.
Cleaning the Parktronic* system
sensors
1Parktronic* system sensors in front
bumper

Use a mild car wash detergent, such as
Mercedes-Benz approved Car Sham-
poo, with plenty of water and a soft,
non-scratching cloth to clean
sensors1 on the bumpers.
!
Only use window cleaning solutions that are
suitable for plastic lamp lenses. Window clean-
ing solutions which are not suitable may damage
the plastic lamp lenses of the headlamps. There-
fore, do not use abrasives, solvents or cleaners
that contain solvents.
Never apply strong force and only use a soft,
non-scratching cloth when cleaning the lenses.
Do not attempt to wipe dirty lenses with a dry
cloth or sponge.
Otherwise you may scratch or damage the lens
surface.
!
To prevent scratches or damage, never
apply strong force and only use a soft,
non-scratchy cloth when cleaning the sensor
cover1. Do not attempt to wipe dirty sensors
with a dry cloth or sponge.

414 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Lamps in instrument clusterGeneral information:
If any of the following lamps in the instru-
ment cluster fails to come on during thebulb self-check when switching on the
ignition, have the respective bulb checked
and replaced if necessary.Problem
Possible cause/consequence
Suggested solution
-
The yellow ABS indicator lamp
comes on while the engine is
running.
ABS has detected a malfunction and has
switched off. The BAS, ESP
®, EBP and 4-ETS
are also switched off (see messages in multi-
function display).
The brake system is still functioning normally
but without the ABS available.
If the ABS control unit is malfunctioning,
other systems such as the navigation
system* or the automatic transmission may
also be malfunctioning.

Continue driving with added caution.
Wheels may lock during hard braking,
reducing steering capability.

Read and observe messages in the
multifunction display (
page 428).

Have the system checked at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions
increases the risk of an accident.
The charging voltage has fallen below
10 volts. The ABS has switched off.
The battery might not be charged sufficiently.
When the voltage is above this value
again, the ABS is operational again and
the ABS indicator lamp should go out.
If the ABS indicator lamp should go out:
Have the generator (alternator) and
the battery checked.

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.

416 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Problem
Possible cause/conse-
quence
Suggested solution
;
(USA only)
3
(Canada only)
-
v
The red brake warning lamp
comes on while driving. In ad-
dition, the yellow ABS malfunc-
tion indicator lamp, and the
yellow ESP
® warning lamp
come on and a warning will
sound.
A malfunction in the Electronic
Brake Proportioning
(page 101) was detected.

Have the system checked at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions
increases the risk of an accident.

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.

418 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Problem
Possible cause/conse-
quence
Suggested solution
?
(USA only)
±
(Canada only)
The yellow engine malfunction
indicator lamp comes on while
driving.
A loss of pressure has been
detected in the fuel system.
The fuel cap may not be closed
properly.
The fuel system may be leaky.

Check the fuel cap (
page 352).
If it is not closed properly:

Close the fuel cap.
If it is closed properly:

Have the fuel system checked by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.
Your fuel tank is empty.

After refueling start, turn off and
restart the engine three or four times in
succession.
The limp-home mode is canceled. You do
not need to have your vehicle checked.