2007 MERCEDES-BENZ ML500 display

196 Controls in detailAutomatic transmissionThe selected program mode appears in the
multifunction display.
1Current program mode
Automatic shift program
You can choose between automatic shift
program C or S.
Press program mode selector switch
repeatedly until the letter of the
desired program mode appears in the
multifunction display.SelectCfor standard driving:


The vehicle starts out in second
gear (both forward and reverse) for
gentler starts. This does not apply if
full throttle is applied or gear
range1 is selected.


Traction and driving stability are
improved on icy roads.


Upshifts occur earlier even when
you give more gas. The engine then
operates at lower rpms and the
wheels are less likely to spin.
SelectSfor sporty driving:


The vehicle starts out in first gear.


Upshifts occur later.Manual shift program
In the manual program mode M,
system-controlled automatic gearshifting
is switched off and you need to change the
the gears by manually upshifting or down-
shifting using the steering wheel gearshift
control buttons to the left and right of the
steering wheel (
page 194).
Activating manual shift program

Press program mode selector switch
repeatedly until the
M for the manual
program modeM appears in the multi-
function display.
The transmission switches to the
manual program modeM. Automatic
shifting is switched off. The gear range
is not limited.
You can change the gears manually with
drive positionD selected. You can upshift
or downshift through the gears in succes-
sion.
i
The last selected program mode (C or S) is
switched on when the engine is restarted.

197 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
Upshifting
Briefly press right shift button2
(page 194).
The transmission shifts to the next
higher gear.If you have selected the AMG menu in the
control system and you are driving in the
manual program modeM, upshift
indicator2 in the multifunction display
advises you to upshift before the engine
reaches the overspeed range. Thus you
can drive at the maximum engine speed for
each gear without overrevving the engine.
1Gear indicator
2Upshift indicator

Shift to the next higher gear.
The fuel supply will otherwise be inter-
rupted to prevent the engine from over-
revving.Downshifting

Briefly press left shift button1
(page 194).
The transmission shifts to the next
lower gear.
i
The manual program modeM will not be
stored. When the engine is turned off with the
manual program modeM selected, the transmis-
sion will go to the automatic program mode
(CorS) when the engine is restarted.
!
In the manual program modeM, the trans-
mission will not upshift, even if the engine has
reached its overrewing range. Shift up to the
next gear before the engine has reached its over-
rewing range. Make absolutely certain that the
engine speed does not reach the red marking on
the tachometer (
page 28). Otherwise the en-
gine could be damaged which is not covered by
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Warning!
G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced
vehicle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not
prevent this type of loss of control.i
When you brake or stop, the transmission
shifts down to a gear from which you can easily
accelerate or drive off.

198 Controls in detailAutomatic transmissionKickdown
Using the kickdown when driving in the
manual program modeM is not possible.
Deactivating manual shift program
Press the program mode selector
switch (
page 195) repeatedly until
Cor
S appears in the multifunction
display.
or

Restart the engine.
The transmission will go to the
automatic program mode (C orS).
The manual program modeM is not
stored.Emergency operation (Limp-Home
Mode)
If vehicle acceleration becomes less re-
sponsive or sluggish or the transmission
no longer shifts, the transmission is most
likely operating in limp-home (emergency
operation) mode. In this mode only second
gear and reverse gear can be activated.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location.

Shift to park positionP.

Turn off the engine.

Wait at least 10 seconds before
restarting.

Restart the engine.

Shift to drive positionD (for second
gear) or reverse gearR.

Have the transmission checked at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center as soon as possible.

208 Controls in detailClimate control
1
Temperature control, left
2
Air distribution and air volume
(automatic, manual)
3
Front defroster
0USA only
PCanada only
4
Increasing air volume
5
Air distribution (directs air through
the windshield and side air vents)
6
Rear climate control* on/off
Air supply for rear passenger
compartment on/off
:USA only
7
Temperature control, right
8
AC cooling on/off
Residual heat/ventilation
9
Air distribution (directs air through
center and side air vents)
a
Air distribution (directs air through
the footwells and side air vents)
b
Air volume display
c
Decreasing air volume
d
Rear window defroster
1USA only
FCanada only
e
Air recirculation
f
Interior temperature sensor
g
Climate control on/off

211 Controls in detail
Climate control
Deactivating
Press button
orQ
(page 208).
The indicator lamp on buttonU
goes out. The automatic operation of
air volume switches off. The selected
blower speed is shown in the air
volume displayb (
page 208).
or

Press air distribution button5,9,
ora (
page 208).
The indicator lamp on buttonU
goes out. The automatic operation of
air distribution switches off.
Setting the temperature
Use temperature controls1 and7
(page 208) to separately adjust the air
temperature on each side of the passenger
compartment. You should raise or lower
the temperature setting in small incre-
ments, preferably starting at 72°F (22°C).
The climate control will adjust to the set
temperature as fast as possible.Increasing

Turn temperature control1
and/or7 (
page 208) slightly clock-
wise.
The climate control system will corre-
spondingly adjust the interior air tem-
perature.
Decreasing

Turn temperature control1
and/or7 (
page 208) slightly coun-
terclockwise.
The climate control system will corre-
spondingly adjust the interior air tem-
perature.

212 Controls in detailClimate controlAdjusting air distribution
Press air distribution button5,9, ora
(page 208) to adjust the air distribution.
The following symbols are found on the
controls:

Press the desired air distribution
button5,9, ora (
page 208).
The indicator lamp on buttonU
goes out.
Adjusting air volume
Five blower speeds are available.
Press button
to decrease or
buttonQ to increase air volume
(page 208) to the desired level.
The indicator lamp on buttonU
(page 208) goes out. The automatic
operation of air volume switches off.
The selected blower speed is shown in
the air volume displayb
(page 208).
Adjusting air volume for the center and
side air vents
Opening the center air vents

Turn thumbwheels4 and7
(page 206) to the right.
The corresponding center air vents on
the left and right are open.Closing the center air vents

Turn thumbwheels4 and7
(page 206) to the left.
The corresponding center air vents on
the left and right are closed.
Opening the side air vents

Turn thumbwheels3 and8
(page 206) to the right.
The corresponding side air vents on the
left and right are open.
Closing the side air vents

Turn thumbwheels3 and8
(page 206) to the left.
The corresponding side air vents on the
left and right are closed.
Symbol
Function
a
Directs air through the center
and side air vents
Z
Directs air to the windshield
and side air vents
Y
Directs air to the footwells and
side air vents

222 Controls in detail3-zone automatic climate control*
1
Temperature control, left
2
Air distribution and air volume
(automatic, manual)
3
Air distribution, driver’s side
4
Front defroster
0USA only
PCanada only
5
Increasing air volume
6
Rear window defroster
1USA only
FCanada only
7
Air distribution, passenger side
8
Rear automatic climate control
on/off
>USA only
™Canada only
9
Temperature control, right
a
Automatic climate control on/off
b
Air distribution, passenger side
c
Air distribution, passenger side
d
AC cooling on/off
Residual heat/ventilation
e
Display
f
Decreasing air volume
g
Air recirculation
h
Air distribution, driver’s side
j
Air distribution, driver’s side
k
Interior temperature sensor
l
Adopting driver’s side settings for all
zones

224 Controls in detail3-zone automatic climate control*
Deactivating the automatic climate control system
Deactivating
Press button´ (
page 222) until
the displaye (
page 222) is cleared.
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.Reactivating

Press buttonU(
page 222).
Warning!
G
Follow the recommended settings for heat-
ing and cooling given on the following pag-
es. Otherwise the windows could fog up,
impairing visibility and endangering you and
others.i
Severe conditions (e.g. strong air pollution)
may require replacement of the filter before its
scheduled interval. A clogged filter will reduce
the air volume to the interior.
If the vehicle interior is hot, ventilate the interior
before driving off, see “Summer opening fea-
ture” (page 239). The automatic climate con-
trol will then adjust the interior temperature to
the set value much faster.
Keep the air intake grille in front of the wind-
shield free of snow and debris.
Warning!
G
When the automatic climate control system
is switched off, the outside air supply and
circulation are also switched off. Only
choose this settings for a short time. Other-
wise the windows could fog up, impairing
visibility and endangering you and others.
i
You can also press button´
(
page 222) on the automatic climate control
panel.
If you press button0 (
page 222) to reacti-
vate the automatic climate control system, the
defrosting mode is activated.