Off-road driving
237
necessary. Foreign objects can disturb the
balance and cause vibrations. Travelling uphill
Approach/departure angle 1
Front approach/departure angle
2 Rear approach/departure angle
The table shows approach and departure
angles 1and 2when the vehicle is loaded
and ready to drive.
For vehicles with steel springs, loaded and
ready to drive means: a full tank, all fluids
topped up and the driver is in the vehicle.
On vehicles with the AIRMATIC package* or
the off-road engineering package* and on the ML 63 AMG, the approach/departure angles
are not affected up to the maximum load. 1
1 1 1
26 2
2 Steel-spring vehi-
cles 27° 22° 26°
Vehicles with the
AIRMATIC package*
Raised level 31° 25° 29°
Highway level 25° 18° 24°
ML 63 AMG
Raised level 24° – 26°
Highway level 19° – 21°
Vehicles with the
Off-Road Pro engi-
neering package*
Off-road level 3 33° 27° 30°
Off-road level 2 31° 25° 29°
Off-road level 1 28° 22° 26°
Highway level 25° 18° 24° R
Follow the line of fall when driving on slopes
and steep inclines.
R Before driving on extreme uphill and down-
hill gradients, select the off-road drive pro-
gram or the LOW RANGE* off-road gear.
R Observe the warnings for off-road driving
(Y page 235).
R Drive slowly.
R Accelerate gently and make sure that the
wheels are gripping.
R Avoid high engine speeds, except when
driving on sandy and muddy routes with
high driving resistance.
R Select a shift range appropriate to the gra-
dient.
R Before tackling steep downhill gradients,
select shift range 1.
i The vehicle will not roll backwards when
stopping on an uphill gradient if:
R the automatic transmission is in position
D
R you have selected the LOW RANGE* off-
road gear.
Depress the brake pedal when stopping on
steep uphill gradients. Hill start assist will
26 Vehicles with AMG body styling*. Operation
* optional
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Display
messages 267Display messages Possible cause/consequence Possible solution
Tyre pressure Check tyres
G
Risk of accident
The tyre pressure loss warning system has
detected a significant pressure loss. X
Stop the vehicle without making any sudden
steering or braking manoeuvres. Pay attention
to the traffic conditions as you do so.
X Check the tyres.
X Check the tyre pressure and correct it if nec-
essary (Y page 226).
X Repair or change the faulty wheel as neces-
sary (Y page 323).
X Then restart the tyre pressure loss warning
system once the tyre pressure is correct
(Y page 227). Check tyres, then restart Run
Flat Indicator There was a tyre pressure warning mes-
sage. X
Make sure that the pressure set is correct for
all tyres (Y page 226).
X Restart the tyre pressure loss warning sys-
tem (Y page 228). Run Flat Indi-
cator inoperative The tyre pressure loss warning system is
deactivated due to a malfunction. X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop. Please correct tyre pressures
Vehicles with tyre pressure monitor*:
The pressure is insufficient in one or more
tyres, or the pressures of the individual
tyres differ significantly. X
Check the tyre pressure at the next opportunity
and correct it if necessary ( Ypage 226). Cruise control
and SPEEDTRONIC inoperative Speedtronic and cruise control are
unavailable. X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop. 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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Display
messages 282 Display messages Possible cause/consequence Possible solution
I Key does not belong
to vehicle You have put the wrong key in the ignition
lock. X
Use the correct key. I Key not detected
The KEYLESS GO* key is not in the vehicle.
If the engine is switched off, the vehicle
can no longer be locked centrally and the
engine cannot be started. X
Stop the vehicle. Pay attention to the traffic
conditions as you do so.
X Look for the KEYLESS GO *key. I Key not detected
The KEYLESS GO* key is not detected
while the engine is running, due to radio
interference. X
Stop the vehicle. Pay attention to the traffic
conditions as you do so.
X Operate the vehicle using the key in the ignition
lock if necessary. I Key not detected
The KEYLESS GO* key cannot be detec-
ted. X
Change the location of the KEYLESS GO key*
within the vehicle.
X Operate the vehicle using the key in the ignition
lock if necessary. I Key detected in
vehicle
The KEYLESS GO key* has been detected
in the vehicle during locking. X
Remove the KEYLESS GO key* from the vehi-
cle. I You need a new key The key no longer functions. X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop. I Pull starting but-
ton out then insert
key Continuously unable to detect the KEY-
LESS GO key*. X
Operate your vehicle using the KEYLESS GO*
key in the ignition lock.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. Practical advice
* optional
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Troubleshooting
291Problem Possible cause/consequence Suggested solutions
±
The yellow engine diagnos-
tics warning lamp comes
on while the engine is run-
ning. Vehicles with a diesel engine: the
fuel tank has run dry. X
Start the engine three to four times after refuelling.
Emergency running mode is cancelled. The vehicle need not be
checked. ±
The yellow engine diagnos-
tics warning lamp comes
on while the engine is run-
ning. There may be a malfunction:
R
in the fuel injection system
R in the exhaust system
R in the ignition system (on vehi-
cles with a petrol engine)
The emission limit values may be
exceeded and the engine may be
running in emergency mode. X
Have the vehicle checked as soon as possible at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop. H
The yellow tyre pressure
monitor* warning lamp is
on. G
Risk of accident
The tyre pressure monitor* has
detected a sudden or significant
pressure loss in at least one of
the tyres. X
Stop the vehicle without making any sudden steering or braking
manoeuvres. Pay attention to the traffic conditions as you do so.
X Observe the additional messages in the multi-function display
(Y page 259).
The warning light will go out after the flat tyre has been changed
and you have been driving for a few minutes. <
The red seat belt warning
lamp lights up for 6 sec-
onds after the engine
starts up 33
. The seat belt warning lamp
reminds the driver and front
passenger to fasten their seat
belts. X
Fasten your seat belt (Y page 89).33
Only for certain vehicles. Practical advice
* optional
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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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