2008 MERCEDES-BENZ ML SUV instrument cluster

Instrument cluster
27Function Page
1 ABS warning lamp
288
2 LIM indicator lamp
154
3
ESP
®
warning lamp 289
4 Display unit for the speed-
ometer
5
Distance warning lamp*
1 61
6 Brake system warning lamp
290
7 Tyre pressure warning
lamp*
2 291
8 Turn signal indicator lamp,
left
94
9 Adjusts the instrument
cluster lighting: dimmer
a Reset button
114
b Adjusts the instrument
cluster lighting: brighter Function Page
c Turn signal indicator lamp,
right
94
d Seat belt warning lamp
291
e Diesel engine: preglow indi-
cator lamp
103
f SRS warning lamp 41,
290 g Engine diagnostics warning
lamp
291
h Main-beam indicator lamp
95
j Rev counter
114
k Fuel gauge
l Fuel filler cap location: cap
is on the right at the rear Function Page
m Reserve tank warning lamp
293
n Total distance recorder
120
o Trip meter
114
p Multi-function display
114
q Gearshift program display
111
r Transmission position dis-
play
108
s Depending on the setting in
the on-board computer:
120
• outside temperature
3
• digital speedometer t Speedometer (the unit can
be changed to miles in the
on-board computer)
128
u Clock
129
1
On vehicles without Distronic* the symbol lights up briefly but has no function.
2 Only on vehicles with tyre pressure monitor*.
3 Vehicles for the United Kingdom: the outside temperature is always displayed in the digital speedometer. At a glance
* optional
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Instrument cluster
28 Instrument cluster, milesAt a glance
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Instrument cluster
29Function Page
1 ABS warning lamp
288
2 LIM indicator lamp
154
3
ESP
®
warning lamp 289
4 Display unit for the speed-
ometer
5
Distance warning lamp*
4 61
6 Brake system warning lamp
290
7 Tyre pressure warning
lamp*
5 291
8 Turn signal indicator lamp,
left
94
9 Adjusts the instrument
cluster lighting: dimmer
a Reset button
114
b Adjusts the instrument
cluster lighting: brighter
c Turn signal indicator lamp,
right
94 Function Page
d Seat belt warning lamp
291
e Diesel engine: preglow indi-
cator lamp
103
f SRS warning lamp 41,
290 g Engine diagnostics warning
lamp
291
h Main-beam indicator lamp
95
j Rev counter
114
k Fuel gauge
l Fuel filler cap location: cap
is on the right at the rear
m Reserve tank warning lamp
293
n Total distance recorder
120
o Trip meter
114
p Multi-function display
114
q Gearshift program display
111 Function Page
r Transmission position dis-
play
108
s Depending on the setting in
the on-board computer:
120
• outside temperature
6
• digital speedometer t Speedometer
128
u Clock
129
4
On vehicles without Distronic* the symbol lights up briefly but has no function.
5 Only on vehicles with tyre pressure monitor*.
6 Vehicles for the United Kingdom: the outside temperature is always displayed in the digital speedometer. At a glance
* optional
164_AKB; 5; 5, en-GB
wobuchh,
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Occupant safety
41carry out any modifications on the restraint
systems.
Never tamper with electronic components
and their software.
SRS (Supplemental Restraint System)
The SRS reduces the risk of occupants com-
ing into contact with the vehicle's interior in
the event of an accident. It can also reduce
the forces to which occupants are subjected
during an accident.
The SRS consists of:
R The 1 warning lamp
R belt tensioners
R belt force limiters
R airbags
The 1 1 warning lamp The SRS functions are checked regularly
when you turn on the ignition and when the
engine is running. Malfunctions can therefore
be detected in good time.
The
1 warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up when the ignition is switched
on. It goes out no later than a few seconds
after the engine is started. G
Risk of injury
If SRS is malfunctioning, individual systems
may be activated unintentionally or not be
deployed in the event of an accident with
heavy braking.
A malfunction has occurred if the 1
warning lamp:
R does not light up when you switch on the
ignition
R does not go out after the engine has been
running for a few seconds
R lights up again once the engine is running
In this case, have SRS checked immedi-
ately at a qualified specialist workshop.
Triggering of belt tensioners, belt force
limiters and airbags In the event of a collision, the sensor in the
airbag control unit evaluates important phys-
ical data such as duration, direction and force
of the vehicle deceleration or acceleration.
Based on the evaluation of this data and
depending on the vehicle's rate of longitudi-
nal deceleration in a collision, in the first
stage the airbag control unit pre-emptively
triggers the belt tensioners.i
The front belt tensioners can only be trig-
gered if the belt tongue is correctly
engaged in the seat belt buckle.
The front airbags are only deployed if there is
an even higher rate of vehicle deceleration in
a longitudinal direction.
Your vehicle has adaptive, dual stage front
airbags. When the first activation threshold is
reached, the front airbag is filled with enough
propellant gas to reduce the risk of injuries.
The front airbag is only fully inflated if a sec-
ond threshold is reached within a few milli-
seconds, due to the control unit having
detected further deceleration.
Criteria for triggering belt tensioners and
airbags
In the first stage of a collision, the airbag con-
trol unit evaluates the duration and direction
of vehicle acceleration or deceleration in
order to determine whether it is necessary to
trigger the belt tensioner and/or airbag.
The belt tensioner and airbag triggering
thresholds are variable and are adapted to the
rate of deceleration of the vehicle. This proc-
ess is pre-emptive in nature as the airbag
must be deployed during – and not at the end
of – the collision. Safety
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Driving safety sys
tems58
or if the LOW RANGE* (Y
page 141) off-road
gear is selected.
At speeds below 30 km/h, the front wheels
lock cyclically during braking. The digging-in
effect achieved in the process reduces the
stopping distance on off-road terrain. This
limits steering capability. BAS (Brake Assist)
BAS operates in emergency braking situa-
tions. If you depress the brake pedal quickly,
BAS automatically boosts the braking force,
thus shortening the stopping distance.
X Keep the brake pedal firmly depressed until
the emergency braking situation is over.
ABS prevents the wheels from locking.
The brakes will function as usual once you
release the brake pedal. BAS is deactivated. G
Risk of accident
If BAS has malfunctioned, the braking sys-
tem remains available with full brake boost-
ing effect. However, braking force is not
automatically increased in emergency
braking situations and the stopping dis-
tance may increase. Adaptive brake lamps
i Adaptive brake lamps are only available in
certain countries.
If you brake sharply from a speed of more
than 25 km/h or if braking is assisted by BAS,
the brake lamps flash rapidly. In this way,
traffic travelling behind you is warned in an
even more noticeable manner.
If you brake sharply from a speed of more
than 70 km/h to a standstill, the hazard warn-
ing lamps are activated automatically. If the
brakes are applied again, the brake lamps
light up continuously. The hazard warning
lamps switch off automatically if you drive
faster than 10 km/h again. You can also
switch off the hazard warning lamps using the
hazard warning switch button (Y page 95). ESP
®
(Electronic Stability Program)
ESP ®
monitors driving stability and traction,
i.e. power transmission between tyres and
the road surface.
If ESP ®
detects that the vehicle is deviating
from the direction desired by the driver, one
or more wheels are braked to stabilise the
vehicle. The engine output is also modified, if
necessary, to keep the vehicle on the desired
course within physical limits. ESP ®
assists
the driver when pulling away on wet or slip-
pery roads. ESP ®
can also stabilise the vehi-
cle during braking.
When ESP ®
intervenes, the vwarning
lamp flashes in the instrument cluster. G
Risk of accident
If the v warning lamp in the instrument
cluster flashes, proceed as follows:
R do not deactivate ESP ®
under any cir-
cumstances.
R only depress the accelerator pedal as far
as necessary when pulling away.
R adapt your driving style to suit prevailing
road and weather conditions.
The vehicle could otherwise go into a skid. Safety
* optional
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Driving safety sys
tems 59ESP
®
cannot reduce the risk of an accident
if you drive too fast. ESP ®
cannot override
the laws of physics.
! Only operate the vehicle briefly (for a max-
imum of ten seconds) on a brake dyna-
mometer. Turn the key in the ignition lock
to position 0or 1. You could otherwise
damage the drive train or the brake system.
! A function or performance test should
only be carried out on a twin-axle dyna-
mometer. If you wish to operate the vehicle
on such a dynamometer, please consult a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre in advance.
You could otherwise damage the drive train
or the brake system.
i Only use wheels with the recommended
tyre sizes. Only then will ESP ®
function
properly.
ESP ®
trailer stabilisation If your trailer begins to lurch, you can only
stabilise the vehicle/trailer combination by
depressing the brake firmly.
In this situation, ESP
®
assists you and detects
if the trailer begins to lurch. ESP ®
slows the
vehicle down by braking and limiting the engine output so the vehicle/trailer combi-
nation can stabilise.
Trailer stabilisation is active from about
65 km/h. G
Risk of accident
If road and weather conditions are bad,
trailer stabilisation will not be able to pre-
vent the trailer from swerving and thereby
reduce the risk of accident. Trailers with a
high centre of gravity can tip over before
ESP ®
can detect this.
Trailer stabilising does not work if ESP ®
is
deactivated or disabled because of a mal-
function.
Activating/deactivating ESP ® ESP
®
is activated automatically when the
engine is running.
It may be best to deactivate ESP ®
in the fol-
lowing situations:
R when using snow chains
R in deep snow
R on sand or gravel G
Risk of accident
Activate ESP ®
as soon as the situations
described above no longer apply. ESP ®
will
otherwise not be able to stabilise the vehi-
cle if the vehicle starts to skid or a wheel
starts to spin.
If you deactivate ESP ®
:
R ESP ®
no longer improves driving stability.
R the engine's torque is no longer limited and
the drive wheels can spin. Spinning of the
wheels results in a cutting action, which
provides better grip.
R traction control is still activated.
R ESP ®
still provides support when you
brake.
i If ESP ®
is deactivated and one or more
wheels start to spin, the vwarning lamp
in the instrument cluster flashes. In such
situations ESP ®
will not stabilise the vehi-
cle. Safety
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Driving safety sys
tems601
To deactivate/activate ESP ®
X To deactivate: press button1.
The v warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up. G
Risk of accident
If the v warning lamp in the instrument
cluster is continuously lit when the engine
is running, ESP ®
is deactivated or not avail-
able due to a malfunction. There is an
increased risk of your vehicle skidding in
certain situations.
You should always adapt your driving style
to suit prevailing road and weather condi-
tions. X
To activate: press button 1.
The v warning lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out.
Off-road ESP ® An ESP
®
system specifically suited to off-road
terrain is activated automatically if the off-
road drive program is activated
(Y page 140) or if the LOW RANGE* off-road
gear is selected (Y page 141). It intervenes
with a delay if there is oversteering or under-
steering, thus improving traction. EBV (electronic brake-power distribu-
tion)
EBV monitors and controls the brake pres-
sure on the rear wheels to improve driving
stability under braking. G
Risk of accident
If EBV is malfunctioning, the brake system
is still available with full brake boosting
effect. However, the rear wheels can still
lock, e.g. under full braking. This could
cause you to lose control of your vehicle
and cause an accident. You should there- fore adapt your driving style to the different
handling characteristics.
4ETS
4-ETS makes it possible to pull away or accel-
erate on a slippery surface. It brakes the
wheels individually if they start to spin.
The v warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up briefly when the engine is
started. This indicates that the warning lamp
is operational.
X Activate the off-road drive program
(Y page 140) or the LOW RANGE* off-road
gear (Y page 141) if appropriate to driving
conditions.
The v warning lamp in the instrument
cluster flashes at any speed if at least one tyre
has exceeded its tyre grip limit. Safety
* optional
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Driving safety sys
tems 61G
Risk of accident
If the v warning lamp in the instrument
cluster flashes, proceed as follows:
R Only depress the accelerator pedal as far
as necessary when pulling away.
R Accelerate less when driving.
R Adapt your driving style to suit prevailing
road and weather conditions.
The vehicle could otherwise go into a skid.
If you drive too fast, 4-ETS cannot reduce
the risk of an accident. 4-ETS cannot over-
ride the laws of physics.
! Only operate the vehicle briefly (for a max-
imum of ten seconds) on a brake dyna-
mometer. Turn the key in the ignition lock
to position 0or 1. You could otherwise
damage the drive train or the brake system.
! A function or performance test should
only be carried out on a twin-axle dyna-
mometer. If you wish to operate the vehicle
on such a dynamometer, please consult a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre in advance.
You could otherwise damage the drive train
or the brake system. i
If heavy demands are made on the brakes,
4-ETS switches off automatically for a brief
period so that the brakes do not heat up
further. If, for this reason, 4-ETS does not
engage, the vwarning lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up. The message
ABS, ESP unavailable see Owner's
Manual also appears in the multi-function
display.
! The engine may be switched on when the
vehicle is towed with its axle raised or when
the parking brake is checked on the brake
dynamometer. Application of the brakes
via 4-ETS may otherwise destroy the brake
system.
Off-road 4-ETS A 4-ETS system specifically suited to off-road
terrain is activated automatically if the off-
road drive program is activated
(Y page 140) or the LOW RANGE* off-road
gear is selected (Y page 141). Distance warning system (only for
vehicles with Distronic*)
This function will issue a warning at speeds of
around 30 km/h or more if:
R for a period of several seconds, the dis-
tance to the vehicle in front is too short for
the speed at which you are travelling. The
distance warning lamp lin the instru-
ment cluster will then light up.
R you are approaching the vehicle in front too
rapidly. An intermittent warning tone will
then sound and the distance warning lamp
l will light up in the instrument cluster.
In order to maintain the appropriate distance
to the vehicle in front and thus prevent a
crash, you must apply the brakes yourself. G
Risk of accident
Pay particular attention to the traffic con-
ditions if the distance warning lamp l
in the instrument cluster lights up or an
intermittent warning tone sounds.
If necessary, brake or swerve to avoid an
obstacle. Safety
* optional
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