2008 MERCEDES-BENZ ML SUV engine

Troubleshooting
292 Problem Possible cause/consequence Suggested solutions
<
After the engine starts you
will hear a warning tone for
up to 6 seconds 33
. G
Risk of injury
The driver's seat belt is not fas-
tened. X
Fasten your seat belt (Y page 89).
The warning tone ceases. <
The red seat belt warning
lamp lights up after start-
ing the engine, as soon as
the driver's door or the
front-passenger door is
closed. G
Risk of injury
The driver or front passenger has
not fastened their seat belt. X
Fasten your seat belt (Y page 89).
The warning lamp goes out. G
Risk of injury
There are objects on the front-
passenger seat. X
Remove the objects from the front-passenger seat and stow them
safely.
The warning lamp goes out. <
The red seat belt warning
lamp flashes and you hear
an intermittent warning
tone. G
Risk of injury
The driver or front passenger has
not fastened their seat belt. At
the same time, you are driving
faster than 25 km/h or have
briefly driven faster than
25 km/h. X
Fasten your seat belt (Y page 89).
The warning lamp goes out and the intermittent warning tone
ceases. G
Risk of injury
There are objects on the front-
passenger seat. At the same
time, you are driving faster than
25 km/h or have briefly driven
faster than 25 km/h. X
Remove the objects from the front-passenger seat and stow them
safely.
The warning lamp goes out and the intermittent warning tone
ceases. 33
Only for certain vehicles. Practical advice
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Troubleshooting
293Problem Possible cause/consequence Suggested solutions
The yellow reserve fuel warning
lamp comes on while the engine
is running. The fuel level has fallen below the
reserve range. The operation of
the auxiliary heating* can no lon-
ger be guaranteed. X
Refuel at the nearest filling station. Warning tones
Problem Possible cause/consequence Suggested solutions
The anti-theft warning alarm* is
triggered. You have opened the vehicle
using the emergency key element
without deactivating the anti-
theft alarm system* first. X
Switch off the alarm (Y page 63).You hear a warning tone. A message appears in the multi-
function display. X
See the explanations for the display message (Y page 259).You hear a warning tone. You are driving with the parking
brake applied. X
Release the parking brake. You hear a warning tone. You did not switch off the lights
when leaving the vehicle. X
Turn the light switch to MorU.
or
X If the rear foglamp is switched on: press the light switch in as far
as it will go. Practical advice
* optional
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Troubleshooting
294 Problem Possible cause/consequence Suggested solutions
You hear a warning tone.
G
Risk of injury
The driver or front passenger has
not fastened their seat belt. X
Fasten your seat belt (Y page 89).Accident
Problem Possible cause/consequence Suggested solutions
Fuel is leaking from the vehicle.
G
Risk of fire
The fuel line or the fuel tank has
been damaged. The leaking fuel
creates a risk of fire or explosion. X
Switch off the ignition immediately.
X Remove the ignition key.
Do not restart the engine under any circumstances. The leaking fuel
creates a risk of fire or explosion.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. You are unable to determine the
extent of the damage. X
Consult a qualified specialist workshop. You cannot detect any damage. X
Start the engine as normal. The NECK-PRO head restraints
on the driver's and front-
passenger seats have been trig-
gered. Your vehicle has been involved in
a rear-end collision. X
Reset the NECK-PRO head restraints (Y page 310).Practical advice
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Troubleshooting
295Fuel and fuel tank
Problem Possible cause/consequence Suggested solutions
Fuel is leaking from the vehicle.
G
Risk of explosion or fire
The fuel line or the fuel tank is
defective. X
Turn the key to position 0(Y page 75) in the ignition lock immedi-
ately and remove it.
X Do not restart the engine under any circumstances.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. The fuel filler flap cannot be
opened. The fuel filler flap is not released.
The batteries in the vehicle key or
the KEYLESS GO key
* are dis-
charged. X
Unlock the vehicle using the emergency key element
(Y page 308).
X Open the tailgate (Y page 70).
X Manually unlock the fuel filler flap via the emergency release
(Y page 310). The fuel filler flap is released, but
the opening mechanism is jam-
med. X
Consult a qualified specialist workshop. Practical advice
* optional
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Troubleshooting
296 Problem Possible cause/consequence Suggested solutions
The fuel tank of a vehicle with a
diesel engine has been run com-
pletely dry and will not start. There is air in the fuel system. X
Refuel the vehicle.
X Switch on the ignition for approximately 10 seconds (key in posi-
tion 2(Y page 75) in the ignition lock).
X Start the engine continuously for up to 40 seconds until it runs
smoothly.
The fuel system is now free of air.
If the engine does not start:
X Wait two minutes.
X Repeat the starting procedure for up to 40 seconds.
If the engine still does not start:
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. Practical advice
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Troubleshooting
297Engine
Problem Possible cause/consequence Suggested solutions
The engine will not start. You can
hear the starter motor operating. R
There is a malfunction in the
engine electronics.
R There is a malfunction in the
fuel supply. X
Turn the key back to position 0(Y page 75)in the ignition lock
before the next starting attempt.
X Try to start the engine again (Y page 103). When doing so, remem-
ber that excessively long and frequent attempts to start the engine
will drain the battery.
If the engine does not start after several attempts:
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. The engine will not start. You can
hear the starter motor operating.
The reserve fuel warning lamp is
on and the fuel gauge shows
0. The fuel tank has been run dry. X
Refuel the vehicle.
X Bleed the fuel system (Y page 296).The engine will not start. You can-
not hear the starter motor oper-
ating. The on-board voltage is too low
because the starter battery is too
weak or discharged. X
Jump-start the vehicle (Y page 339).
If the engine does not start despite attempting to jump-start it:
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. The starter motor was exposed to
a thermal load that was too high. X
Allow the starter motor to cool down for approximately two
minutes.
X Try to start the engine again.
If the engine still does not start:
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. Practical advice
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Troubleshooting
298 Problem Possible cause/consequence Suggested solutions
Vehicles with a petrol engine:
The engine is not running
smoothly and is misfiring. There is a malfunction in the
engine electronics or a mechani-
cal component of the engine con-
trol unit. X
Only depress the accelerator pedal slightly.
X Have the cause rectified immediately at a qualified specialist work-
shop.
Otherwise, non-combusted fuel may get into the catalytic converter
and damage it. A coolant temperature of over
120 °C is displayed. You also
hear a warning signal. The coolant level is too low. The
coolant is too hot and the engine
is no longer being cooled suffi-
ciently. X
Stop as soon as possible and allow the engine and the coolant to
cool down.
X Check the coolant level (Y page 223). Observe the warning notes
as you do so and top up the coolant if necessary. If the coolant level is correct, the
radiator fan may be faulty. The
coolant is too hot and the engine
is no longer being cooled suffi-
ciently. X
If the coolant temperature is less than 120 °C, you can continue
driving to the nearest qualified specialist workshop.
X Avoid heavy loads on the engine as you do so, e.g. driving on
mountain roads and stop/start driving. The engine does not switch off. The ignition lock is faulty. X
Open the fuse box in the engine compartment ( Ypage 344).
X Remove fuse 120 using the fuse extractor.
The engine stops.
If you wish to start the engine again:
X Replace the fuse. Practical advice
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Troubleshooting
299Automatic transmission
Problem Possible cause/consequence Suggested solutions
The transmission has problems
shifting gear The transmission is losing oil. X
Have the transmission checked at a qualified specialist workshop
immediately. The acceleration ability is deteri-
orating.
The transmission no longer
changes gear. The transmission is in emergency
mode.
It is only possible to shift into
2nd
gear and reverse gear. X
Stop the vehicle.
X Move the selector lever to P.
X Turn the key to position 0(Y page 75) in the ignition lock.
X Wait at least 10 seconds before restarting the engine.
X Move the selector lever to position Dor R.
If D is selected, the transmission shifts into 2ndgear; if Ris selec-
ted, the transmission shifts into reverse gear.
X Have the transmission checked at a qualified specialist workshop
immediately. Practical advice
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