2008 MERCEDES-BENZ ML SUV cooling

Engine compartment
223Coolant
G
Risk of injury
The cooling system is pressurised. There-
fore, only unscrew the cap once the engine
has cooled down. The coolant temperature
gauge must display less than 70 °C. You
could otherwise be scalded by escaping hot
coolant.
Coolant consists of water and antifreeze/cor-
rosion inhibitor. Only check the coolant level
when the vehicle is on a level surface and the
engine has cooled down. Checking the coolant level The expansion tank is located in the engine
compartment on the left when viewed in the
direction of travel. 1
Cap
2 Expansion tank
3 Marker bar
X Slowly turn cap 1by half a turn anti-clock-
wise to allow excess pressure to escape.
X Turn cap 1further anti-clockwise and
remove it.
There is sufficient coolant in expansion
tank 2if the coolant is level with the
marker bar 3in the filler neck when cold
or approximately 1.5 cm higher when hot. X
Top up the coolant if necessary.
X Replace cap 1and tighten all the way to
the stop.
You will find further information about coolant
in the "Technical data" section
(Y page 370). Windscreen washer system/head-
lamp cleaning system*
The washer fluid reservoir is located in the
engine compartment on the left-hand side of
the vehicle when viewed in the direction of
travel. The headlamp cleaning system is also
supplied from the washer fluid reservoir. 1
Cap
X Add windscreen washer concentrate to the
washer fluid all year round. Operation
* 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
* optional
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Display
messages 271Display messages Possible cause/consequence Possible solution
> Level selection
not permitted You cannot change the vehicle level. Pos-
sible causes:
R
You are exceeding the speed permissi-
ble for the selected vehicle level.
R You are towing a trailer.
R The socket of the trailer coupling is
being used, for example, by a cycle
rack. X
Drive slower and reselect the desired vehicle
level.
X Observe the notes on trailer towing
(Y page 243). > Compressor cooling
down You have selected a higher vehicle level.
The compressor first needs to cool down
because of frequent level changes. X
Drive as appropriate for the current vehicle
level.
X Make sure that there is sufficient ground clear-
ance.
X Allow the compressor to cool down.
Once the compressor has cooled down, the
message disappears. The vehicle then contin-
ues rising to the selected level. > Malfunction
The level control has malfunctioned*. X
Drive as appropriate for the current vehicle
level, but no faster than 80 km/h.
X Make sure that there is sufficient ground clear-
ance.
X Have the vehicle checked at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop. 30
Only for certain countries. Practical advi
ce
* optional
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Troubleshooting
286 Problem Possible cause/consequence Suggested solutions
The steering wheel heating* indi-
cator lamp on the lower left lever
of the steering column is flashing. There is insufficient voltage
because too many consumers are
switched on. The steering wheel
heating* has switched itself off
automatically. X
Switch off consumers that are not required, e.g. reading lamps,
interior lighting, etc.
The steering wheel heating* will automatically switch back on as
soon as there is sufficient voltage again. The indicator lamp in the
9
button on the 2-zone Thermatic/
multi-zone Thermotronic* con-
trol panel is lit. The cooling sys-
tem cannot be switched on. Cooling has been deactivated
due to a malfunction. X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop. The indicator lamp in the
1
rear-window heating button is
flashing. The rear-window heat-
ing has switched itself off prema-
turely or cannot be switched on. There is insufficient voltage
because too many consumers are
switched on. X
Switch off consumers that are not required, e.g. reading lamps,
interior lighting, etc.
The rear-window heating will automatically switch back on as soon
as there is sufficient voltage again. Vehicles with automatic child
seat recognition on the front-
passenger seat*:
The
5 PASSENGER AIRBAG
OFF warning lamp on the centre
console is lit. A special Mercedes-Benz child
seat with automatic child seat
recognition has been fitted to the
front-passenger seat. The front-
passenger airbag has therefore
been disabled.Practical advice
* optional
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Trailer coupling*
365Trailer coupling*
Mounting dimensions
G
Risk of accident
Only have a trailer coupling retrofitted at a
qualified specialist workshop which has the
necessary specialist knowledge and tools
to carry out the work required. Mercedes-
Benz recommends that you use a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre for this pur-
pose. In particular, work relevant to safety
or on safety-related systems must be car-
ried out at a qualified specialist workshop.
! If you have a trailer tow hitch retrofitted,
changes to the cooling system may be nec-
essary, depending on the vehicle type.
If you have a trailer tow hitch retrofitted,
observe the anchorage points on the chas-
sis frame. Anchorage points for the trailer coupling
1 Anchorage points
2 Overhang dimension
For trailer tow hitches fitted at the factory, the
overhang dimension is 1,065 mm. Trailer loads
All models
Permissible trailer load,
unbraked 750 kg
Permissible trailer load,
braked
59 3,500 kg
Maximum drawbar nose-
weight
60 140 kg
59
At a minimum gradient-climbing capability of 12% from a standstill
60 The drawbar noseweight is not included in the trailer load. Technical data
* optional
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Service products and capacities
370
Capacities The following values refer to an oil change including the oil filter.
Engine with oil
filter ML 350 ML 500
ML 63 AMG
62 ML 280 CDI ML 320 CDI ML 420 CDI
Replacement
amount 8.0 l 9.0 l 9.7 l 8.5 l 8.5 l 11.5 l
Coolant
The coolant is a mixture of water and anti-
freeze/corrosion inhibitor. It performs the
following tasks:
R anti-corrosion protection
R antifreeze protection
R raising the boiling point
i When the vehicle is first delivered, it is
topped up with a coolant that will ensure
adequate antifreeze and corrosion protec-
tion.
! Only top up with coolant that has been
premixed with the desired antifreeze pro-
tection. You could otherwise damage the
engine. There is more information about coolant
and topping it up on Mercedes-Benz Spec-
ifications for Service Products Sheet
310.1.
! Always use a suitable coolant mixture,
even in countries where high temperatures
prevail.
Otherwise, the cooling system will not be
sufficiently protected from corrosion, and
the boiling point will be too low.
If antifreeze/corrosion inhibitor is present in
the correct concentration, the boiling point of
the coolant will be around 130 °C.
The antifreeze/corrosion inhibitor concentra-
tion in the cooling system should: R
be at least 50%. This will protect the cooling
system against freezing down to around
–37 °C.
R not exceed 55% concentration (antifreeze
protection down to –45 °C), otherwise heat
will not be effectively dissipated.
If the vehicle has lost coolant, top it up with
equal amounts of water and antifreeze/cor-
rosion inhibitor. Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends using an antifreeze/corrosion inhibi-
tor which has been approved for Mercedes-
Benz vehicles.
! The cooling system contains a filling
which must be renewed after 15 years, or
after 250, 000 km at the latest. Have the
renewal confirmed in the Service Booklet.
62 Engine with external oil cooler. Technical data
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Service products and capacities
371
The warranty is only valid if you top up with
an antifreeze/corrosion inhibitor which
has been approved by Mercedes-Benz, and
observe the recommended mixing ratios.
Capacities The following values indicate the total cooling system capacities.
ML 350 ML 500 ML 63 AMG ML 280 CDI ML 320 CDI ML 420 CDI
Coolant 9.5 l 12.0 l 11.5 l 9.5 l 9.5 l 12.0 l
Amount of antifreeze/corrosion inhibitor required for antifreeze protection
Down to
–37 °C
(approx. 50%) 4.75 l 6.0 l 5.8 l 4.75 l 4.75 l 6.0 l
Down to
–45 °C
(approx. 55%) 5.2 l 6.6 l 6.4 l 5.2 l 5.2 l 6.6 lTechnical data
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