2008 MERCEDES-BENZ ML SUV cruise control

Driving sys
tems 155
5
To switch between cruise control or Dis-
tronic* and variable Speedtronic
6 To deactivate variable Speedtronic
Selecting variable Speedtronic X
Check whether LIM indicator lamp 2is on.
If it is on, variable Speedtronic is already
selected.
If it is not, press the cruise control lever in
the direction of arrow 5.
LIM indicator lamp 2in the cruise control
lever lights up. Variable Speedtronic is
selected. G
Risk of accident
If there is a change of drivers, advise the
new driver of the limit speed stored.
Only use Speedtronic when you do not have
to accelerate suddenly to a speed higher
than the stored limit speed allows. You
could otherwise cause an accident.
You can only exceed the limit speed stored
if you deactivate variable Speedtronic:
R using the cruise control lever.
R by depressing the accelerator pedal
beyond the pressure point (kickdown). It is not possible to deactivate variable
Speedtronic by braking. G
Risk of injury
Variable Speedtronic brakes automatically
in order to avoid exceeding the set speed.
As it does so, the brake pedal is depressed.
Do not place your foot under the brake
pedal as it could become trapped.
Storing the current speed You can use the cruise control lever to limit
the speed to any speed above 30 km/h while
the engine is running.
X Briefly press the cruise control lever up
1 or down 4to the pressure point.
The current speed is stored and shown in
the multi-function display.
The LIM indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up.
Storing the current speed or calling up
the last stored speed G
Risk of accident
Only select a stored speed if you know what
that speed is and whether it is suitable for
the current driving and traffic situation. Otherwise, sudden braking could endanger
you or others.
X Briefly pull the cruise control lever towards
you 3.
Making adjustments in 1 km/h incre-
ments X
Briefly press the cruise control lever to the
pressure point, up 1for a higher speed or
down 4for a lower speed.
or
X Keep the cruise control lever pressed to the
pressure point until the desired speed is
set. Press the cruise control lever, up 1
for a higher speed or down 4for a lower
speed.
Making adjustments in 10 km/h incre-
ments X
Briefly press the cruise control lever
beyond the pressure point, up 1for a
higher speed or down 4for a lower speed.
or
X Keep the cruise control lever pressed
beyond the pressure point until the desired
speed is set. Press the cruise control lever, Controls
* optional
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Driving sys
tems 156up
1 for a higher speed or down 4for a
lower speed.
Deactivating variable Speedtronic There are several ways to deactivate variable
Speedtronic:
X Briefly press the cruise control lever for-
wards 6.
The LIM indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out.
or
X Briefly press the cruise control lever in the
direction of arrow 5.
LIM indicator lamp 2in the cruise control
lever goes out. Variable Speedtronic is
deactivated.
Cruise control or Distronic* is selected.
Variable Speedtronic is deactivated automat-
ically when you depress the accelerator pedal
beyond the pressure point (kickdown), but
only if your current speed does not differ by
more than 20 km/h from the stored speed.
You will hear a warning tone if this is the case. G
Risk of accident
It is not possible to deactivate variable
Speedtronic by braking. i
The last speed stored is cleared when you
switch off the engine.
Permanent Speedtronic i
Permanent Speedtronic is only available
in certain countries.
You can use the on-board computer to limit
the speed permanently to a value between
160 km/h (e.g. for driving with winter tyres)
and the maximum speed.
Just before the stored speed is reached, it
appears in the multi-function display.
Permanent Speedtronic remains active, even
if variable Speedtronic is deactivated.
You cannot exceed the stored limit speed,
even if you depress the accelerator pedal
beyond the pressure point (kickdown).
Setting permanent Speedtronic
X Press the èor· button to select the
Settings menu (Ypage 127).
X Press the jbutton to call up the selec-
tion of submenus.
X Press the æorç button to select the
Vehicle submenu.
X Press the jbutton to select Speed
limit (winter tyres) . X
Press the æorç button to select the
desired setting.
The following settings can be selected:
R Off
Permanent Speedtronic is deactivated.
R A limit speed between 240 km/hand
160 km/h in increments of 10 km/h. AIRMATIC package*
AIRMATIC enables a suspension tuning set-
ting to be selected and regulates the damping
behaviour and level of your vehicle. The sys-
tem comprises two components: ADS*
(Adaptive Damping System) (Y page 157)
and level control* (Y page 158).
See the notes on driving with a trailer in the
"Operation" (Y page 243) section. Controls
* optional
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Driving
tips 233
Downhill gradients On long and steep downhill gradients, espe-
cially if the vehicle is laden or towing a trailer,
you must select shift range
1,2or 3in good
time.
i This also applies if you have activated
cruise control, Speedtronic or Distronic*.
This uses the braking effect of the engine and
you will not have to brake to such an extent
to maintain the same speed. This relieves the
load on the brake system and prevents the
brakes from overheating and wearing too
quickly. If you need additional braking,
depress the brake pedal repeatedly rather
than continuously.
Heavy and light loads If the brakes have been subjected to a heavy
load, do not stop the vehicle immediately, but
drive on for a short while. This allows the air-
flow to cool the brakes more quickly.
G
Risk of accident
Never depress the brake pedal continu-
ously while the vehicle is in motion, e.g.
never cause the brakes to rub by applying
constant slight pedal pressure. This causes
the brake system to overheat, increases the braking distance and can lead to the
brakes failing completely.
If the brakes have been used only moderately,
you should occasionally test their effective-
ness. To do this, brake more firmly from a
higher speed. This improves the grip of the
brakes.
Wet roads If driving in heavy rain for a prolonged period
of time without braking, there may be a
delayed reaction from the brakes, when brak-
ing for the first time. You must brake harder.
You must therefore maintain a greater dis-
tance from the vehicle in front.
Brake firmly after driving on a wet road. This
way the brake discs will become warm, drying
more quickly, which will protect them against
corrosion.
Limited braking performance on salted
roads
G
Risk of accident
The layer of salt on the brake discs and the
brake pads/linings may cause a delay in
the braking effect, resulting in a signifi- cantly longer braking distance, which could
lead to an accident.
To avoid this danger, you should:
R
occasionally brake carefully, without put-
ting other road users at risk, when you
are driving on salted roads. This helps to
remove any salt that may have started to
build up on the brake discs and the brake
pads/linings.
R maintain a greater distance to the vehicle
ahead and drive with particular care.
R carefully apply the brakes at the end of a
trip and immediately after commencing a
new trip, so that salt residues are
removed from the brake disc.
New brake pads/linings For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you only have brake pads/linings
fitted to your vehicle that have been approved
for Mercedes-Benz vehicles or which corre-
spond to an equivalent quality standard.
Brake pads/linings which have not been
approved for Mercedes-Benz or which are not
of an equivalent quality could affect your vehi-
cle's operating safety. Operation
* optional
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Trailer towing*
244
!
A maximum speed of 80 km/h should not
be exceeded, even in countries where
higher speeds are permitted for vehicle/
trailer combinations.
When towing a trailer, your vehicle's handling
characteristics will be different in comparison
to when driving without a trailer.
The vehicle/trailer combination:
R is heavier
R is restricted in its acceleration and gradi-
ent-climbing capability
R has an increased braking distance
R is affected more by strong crosswinds
R demands more sensitive steering
R consumes more fuel
On long and steep downhill gradients you
must select the shift range 1,2or 3in good
time.
i This also applies if you have activated
cruise control, Distronic* or Speedtronic.
This uses the braking effect of the engine and
you will not have to brake to such an extent
to maintain the same speed. This relieves the
load on the brake system and prevents the
brakes from overheating and wearing too
quickly. If you need additional braking, depress the brake pedal repeatedly rather
than continuously. G
Risk of accident
Never depress the brake pedal continu-
ously while the vehicle is in motion, e.g.
never cause the brakes to rub by applying
constant slight pedal pressure. This causes
the brake system to overheat, increases
the braking distance and can lead to the
brakes failing completely.
Driving tips
R Maintain a greater distance from the vehi-
cle in front than when driving without a
trailer.
R Avoid braking abruptly. If possible, brake
gently at first to allow the trailer to run on.
Then increase the braking force rapidly.
R The values given for gradient-climbing
capabilities from a standstill refer to sea
level. When driving in mountainous areas,
note that the power output of the engine,
and consequently the vehicle's gradient-
climbing capability, decrease with increas-
ing altitude.
If the trailer swings from side to side: X
Do not accelerate.
X Do not counter-steer.
X Brake if necessary. G
Risk of accident
On no account should you attempt to draw
the vehicle/trailer combination out by
increasing speed. Folding in the ball coupling
i Fold in the ball coupling when you are not
using the trailer tow hitch. 1
Telescopic lever
2 Indicator lamp
X Place the protective cap on the ball cou-
pling. 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 268 Display messages Possible cause/consequence Possible solution
DISTRONIC and
SPEEDTRONIC inoperative
Distronic
* andSpeedtronic are unavaila-
ble. X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop. Cruise control - - - km/h A condition for activating cruise control
has not been met. X
Activate ESP ®
(Ypage 59)
X If conditions permit, drive faster than
30 km/h and store the speed (Y page 145).Symbol messages
G
Risk of accident and injury
The operating safety of your vehicle could be compromised if service work is carried out improperly. You could lose control of the vehicle,
thereby causing an accident. Safety systems may also not be able to protect you or others as intended.
Always have maintenance work carried out 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 purpose.
In particular, work relevant to safety or on safety-related systems must be carried out at a qualified specialist workshop. Display messages Possible cause/consequence Possible solution
a This message always appears when the
tailgate is open. X
Close the tailgate. G
Risk of accident
Vehicles with an anti-theft alarm sys-
tem*:
You are driving with the bonnet open. X
Stop the vehicle. Pay attention to the traffic
conditions as you do so.
X Close the bonnet. Practical advice
* optional
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Troubleshooting
289Problem Possible cause/consequence Suggested solutions
v
3
-
The yellow ESP
®
warning
lamp, the red brake sys-
tem warning lamp and the
yellow ABS warning lamp
light up while the engine is
running. You will also hear
a warning tone. G
Risk of accident
The electronic brake force distri-
bution (EBV) is faulty. Therefore,
ABS, Brake Assist, ESP ®
and PRE-
SAFE ®
are, for example, no lon-
ger available. The brake system
continues to function normally,
but without electronic support.
The wheels could therefore lock
if you brake hard, for example. X
Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop. v
The yellow ESP ®
warning
lamp flashes while the
vehicle is in motion. G
Risk of accident
ESP ®
, ABS or traction control has
intervened because at least one
wheel has reached its grip limit
and is threatening to spin or lock.
Cruise control or Distronic* is
deactivated. X
Only depress the accelerator pedal as far as necessary when pull-
ing away.
X Release the accelerator pedal while you are driving.
X Adapt your driving style to suit the road and weather conditions.
X Do not deactivate ESP ®
.
Exceptions: ( Ypage 59). v
The yellow ESP ®
warning
lamp is lit while the engine
is running. G
Risk of accident
ESP ®
is deactivated. ESP ®
will
not stabilise the vehicle if it starts
to skid or if a wheel starts to spin. X
Reactivate ESP ®
.
Exceptions: ( Ypage 59).
X Adapt your driving style to suit the road and weather conditions. Practical advice
* optional
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