2008 MERCEDES-BENZ ML SUV engine

Care
248 H
Environmental note
Dispose of empty packaging, cleaning
cloths and polishing wads in an environ-
mentally responsible manner.
! Do not affix:
R stickers
R films
R magnetic plates or similar items
to painted surfaces, otherwise you could
damage the paintwork. Vehicle care
! Do not park the vehicle for a long period
of time directly after cleaning, especially if
the wheels have just been cleaned with a
wheel cleaner. Wheel cleaners could cause
rapid corrosion of the brake discs and
brake pads/linings. After cleaning, park
the vehicle when it is at normal operating
temperature.
Automatic car wash You can wash the vehicle in an automatic car
wash from the very start. !
Vehicles with an exterior spare wheel
bracket* must not be washed in an auto-
matic car wash.
! Do not use a touch-free automatic car
wash that uses chemical agents to wash
the vehicle.
Preferably use one without brushes.
If the vehicle is very dirty, prewash it before
cleaning it in an automatic car wash.
! Make sure that the automatic car wash is
suitable for the size of the vehicle. Fold in
the exterior mirrors before the vehicle is
washed. There is otherwise a risk of dam-
age to the exterior mirrors.
! Make sure that the automatic transmis-
sion is not in position Pwhen washing your
vehicle in an automatic car wash.
R Vehicles with a key:
Do not remove the key from the ignition
lock. Do not open the driver's or front-
passenger door when the engine is
switched off, as this automatically shifts
the automatic transmission to park posi-
tion Pand locks the wheels, unless you have shifted the automatic transmission
to
N.
R Vehicles with KEYLESS GO*:
Do not open the driver's or front-
passenger door when the engine is
switched off, as this shifts the automatic
transmission to park position Pand locks
the wheels.
! Make sure the side windows are com-
pletely closed, the ventilation/heater
blower is fully turned off and the wind-
screen wiper switch is set to 0. The rain
sensor may otherwise be activated, for
instance, leading to inadvertent wiper
sweeps being triggered. This could cause
damage to the vehicle.
After using an automatic car wash, wipe off
wax from the windscreen and the wiper
blades. This will prevent smears and reduce
wiping noises caused by residue on the wind-
screen.
High-pressure cleaners G
Risk of accident
Do not use high-pressure cleaners with cir-
cular-jet nozzles (dirt grinders) to clean Operation
* optional
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256 able to achieve its load-bearing capacity
due to the restricted height.
Do not start the engine at any time while a
wheel is being changed.
i When using the jack, you should also
observe the safety notes in the "Flat tyre"
section (Y page 323).
Vehicles with a TIREFIT kit/exterior
spare wheel bracket* 1
TIREFIT kit 27
2 Electric air pump 28
3 Centring pin
4 Jack, ratchet ring spanner 28
5 Wheel wrench 6
Folding wheel chock
7 Towing eye
8 Trailer ball coupling*
9 Fuse allocation chart
Exterior spare wheel bracket* G
Risk of injury
The spare wheel is heavy. Make sure that
nobody is injured as you remove the spare
wheel.
The spare wheel is on the outer side of the
tailgate. 1
Securing bolts X
Unscrew and remove retaining screws 1
with the wheel wrench.
X Take the spare wheel from the bracket.
i If the vehicle is fitted with mixed tyres, the
spare wheel is the same type as on the front
wheels.
Vehicles with a "Minispare" emergency
spare wheel* (except ML 63 AMG) There may be an additional cover over the
stowage well, depending on the vehicle
equipment.
27 Not for vehicles with an exterior spare wheel bracket.
28 Depending on the date of production of the vehicle, the appearance and stowage location of the jack and the other tools may differ from the illustrations. Practical advice
* optional
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Display
messages 262 Display messages Possible cause/consequence Possible solution
DISTRONIC currently unavail-
able See Owner's
Manual
Distronic
* is deactivated and is tempora-
rily not operational if:
R the Distronic* cover in the radiator
grille is dirty.
R its function is impaired due to heavy rain
or snow
R the radar sensor system is temporarily
not operational, e.g. due to electromag-
netic radiation emitted by nearby TV or
radio stations or other sources of radi-
ation
R the radar sensor system has not detec-
ted any vehicles or stationary objects,
e.g. traffic signs, for a long time.
R the system is outside the operating
temperature range Distronic* becomes available again and the dis-
play message disappears when:
R
the dirt (e.g. slush) falls off while you are driving
R the system detects that the sensors are fully
available again
R the system is within the operating temperature
range
If the display message does not disappear:
X Clean the Distronic* cover in the radiator grille
(Y page 251).
X Restart the engine. ESP unavailable See
Owner's Manual
G
Risk of accident
ESP ®
and therefore also PRE-SAFE ®
are
temporarily unavailable. It is possible that
self diagnosis is not yet complete. BAS
has also been deactivated. X
Carefully drive a short distance at a speed
above 20 km/h.
If the display message disappears, ESP ®
is
available again. Practical advice
* optional
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Display
messages 265Display messages Possible cause/consequence Possible solution
P To start the
engine, shift to
either P or N You attempted to start the engine while
transmission position
Ror Dwas selec-
ted. X
Shift the automatic transmission to Por N. Depress brake
to shift out of position P X
Depress the brake pedal. PRE-SAFE inoperative See
Owner's Manual G
Risk of injury
Important functions of PRE-SAFE ®
have
failed. All other occupant safety systems,
e.g. airbags, remain available. X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop. Tyre pressure
monitor inoperative
The tyre pressure monitor* is malfunc-
tioning. X
Have the tyre pressure monitor* and wheels
checked at a qualified specialist workshop. Tyre pressure
monitor inoperative No
wheel sensors The tyre pressure monitor* is deactivated
because the vehicle is fitted with wheels
that do not have suitable wheel sensors. X
Have wheels with suitable wheel sensors fitted
at a qualified specialist workshop.
Once wheels with the correct wheel sensors
have been fitted, the tyre pressure monitor*
reactivates automatically after a few minutes
of driving. Practical advi
ce
* optional
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Display
messages 269Display messages Possible cause/consequence Possible solution
$ At least one door is open. X
Close the doors. D The cooling fan for the coolant is faulty. X
If the coolant temperature is less than 120 †,
you can continue driving to the nearest quali-
fied specialist workshop.
X In doing so, avoid heavy loads on the engine
(e.g. driving in mountainous terrain) and stop-
and-go driving. \ Trailer hitch
Check lock mech. Vehicles with a fold-out trailer hitch*: The
trailer hitch* is not engaged properly. X
Stop the vehicle. Pay attention to the traffic
conditions as you do so.
X Allow the ball coupling to engage in the end
position (Y page 241). # The battery is not being charged. Possible
causes are:
R
a faulty alternator
R a torn poly-V-belt
R a malfunction in the electronics X
Stop immediately and safely when traffic con-
ditions allow and check the poly-V-belt.
X If it has torn: do not drive on. Contact the
nearest qualified specialist workshop.
X If it is not damaged: have the vehicle checked
immediately at a qualified specialist workshop. # Battery/Alternator
Stop vehicle The battery is faulty. X
Pull over as soon as it is safe to do so.
X Do not continue driving under any circumstan-
ces.
X Consult the nearest qualified specialist work-
shop. Practical advi
ce
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Display
messages 273Display messages Possible cause/consequence Possible solution
< Diff. lock system
overheated.
Wait briefly. The differential locks* are too hot and
have therefore been disengaged. X
Drive on carefully.
X Allow the differential locks to cool down.
The differential locks are re-engaged as soon
as they have cooled down. { inoperative DSR is deactivated due to a malfunction. X
Have DSR checked at a qualified specialist
workshop. < Stop vehicle
Apply parking
brake The gear change process has not been
completed. LOW RANGE* is in the neutral
position. There is no connection between
the engine and the drive wheels. X
Stop the vehicle. Pay attention to the traffic
conditions as you do so.
X Depress the parking brake firmly.
X Do not continue driving under any circumstan-
ces.
X Carry out the gear change procedure again. m Consult workshop
If parked, apply
pk. brake The LOW RANGE* system is malfunction-
ing. X
Do not exceed a maximum speed of 80 km/h.
X Firmly depress the parking brake to park.
X Have the vehicle checked at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop. m max. speed 70 km/h You have exceeded the maximum speed
for the gear change process. X
Drive more slowly.
The gear change process is carried out. m max. speed 40 km/h You have exceeded the maximum speed
for the gear change process. X
Drive more slowly.
The gear change process is carried out. Practical advi
ce
* optional
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Display
messages 274 Display messages Possible cause/consequence Possible solution
m Engage N briefly You have reduced the vehicle speed, but
the automatic transmission is not in the
N
position. X
Briefly shift the automatic transmission to posi-
tion N. m Shifting process
cancelled Reacti-
vate The gear change process was not carried
out. X
Repeat the gear change process. D Coolant Stop car,
turn engine off The coolant is too hot. X
Stop the vehicle. Pay attention to the traffic
conditions as you do so.
X Switch off the engine.
X Make sure that the airflow to the radiator is not
blocked, e.g. by snow, slush or ice.
X Wait until the message disappears before
restarting the engine. There is otherwise a risk
of engine damage.
X Observe the coolant temperature gauge
(Y page 120).
X If the temperature increases again, visit a quali-
fied specialist workshop immediately. Practical advi
ce
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Display
messages 275Display messages Possible cause/consequence Possible solution
D Coolant Stop car,
turn engine off The poly-V-belt may have torn. X
Stop the vehicle. Pay attention to the traffic
conditions as you do so.
X Switch off the engine.
X Check the poly-V-belt.
X If it has torn: do not drive on. Contact the
nearest qualified specialist workshop.
X If it is not damaged: do not start the engine
again until the message disappears. There is
otherwise a risk of engine damage. B Top up coolant See
Owner's Manual The coolant level is too low. X
Top up the coolant, observing the warning
notes before doing so (Y page 223).
X Have the coolant system checked at a qualified
specialist workshop if the coolant needs top-
ping up more often than usual. . Left-hand Corner-
ing light
or
Right-hand Corner-
ing light The left-hand and/or right-hand cornering
lamp* is faulty. X
Replace the bulb (Y page 312). . Left-hand dipped
beam
or
Right-hand dipped
beam The right-hand or left-hand dipped-beam
headlamp is faulty. X
Halogen headlamp: replace the bulb
(Y page 312).
X Bi-xenon headlamp*: visit a qualified special-
ist workshop. Practical advi
ce
* optional
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