2008 MERCEDES-BENZ ML SUV automatic transmission

Driving sys
tems 166Front area warning display
1
Left-hand side of the vehicle
2 Right-hand side of the vehicle
3 Indicator segments
The warning display for each side of the vehi-
cle is divided into five yellow and two red
segments. Parktronic is operational if yellow
indicator segments 3light up. The automatic transmission position deter-
mines which warning display is active: Automatic trans-
mission position Warning display
D Front area activated
R
or N Rear and front areas
activated
P No areas activated
One or more segments light up as the vehicle
approaches an obstacle, depending on the
vehicle's distance to the obstacle.
From the:
R sixth segment onwards, you will hear an
intermittent warning tone for approxi-
mately two seconds.
R seventh segment onwards, you will hear a
warning tone for approximately two sec-
onds. You have reached the minimum dis-
tance. Deactivating/activating Parktronic Vehicles with Parktronic button
You can deactivate and activate Parktronic
via the Parktronic button on the centre con-
sole.
The location of the Parktronic button on the
centre console varies depending on the vehi-
cle's equipment.
1
To deactivate/activate Parktronic
2 Indicator lamp
If indicator lamp 2is on, Parktronic is deac-
tivated.
Vehicles without Parktronic button
You can deactivate and activate Parktronic
via the on-board computer (Y page 134).Controls
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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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Care
248 H
Environmental note
Dispose of empty packaging, cleaning
cloths and polishing wads in an environ-
mentally responsible manner.
! Do not affix:
R stickers
R films
R magnetic plates or similar items
to painted surfaces, otherwise you could
damage the paintwork. Vehicle care
! Do not park the vehicle for a long period
of time directly after cleaning, especially if
the wheels have just been cleaned with a
wheel cleaner. Wheel cleaners could cause
rapid corrosion of the brake discs and
brake pads/linings. After cleaning, park
the vehicle when it is at normal operating
temperature.
Automatic car wash You can wash the vehicle in an automatic car
wash from the very start. !
Vehicles with an exterior spare wheel
bracket* must not be washed in an auto-
matic car wash.
! Do not use a touch-free automatic car
wash that uses chemical agents to wash
the vehicle.
Preferably use one without brushes.
If the vehicle is very dirty, prewash it before
cleaning it in an automatic car wash.
! Make sure that the automatic car wash is
suitable for the size of the vehicle. Fold in
the exterior mirrors before the vehicle is
washed. There is otherwise a risk of dam-
age to the exterior mirrors.
! Make sure that the automatic transmis-
sion is not in position Pwhen washing your
vehicle in an automatic car wash.
R Vehicles with a key:
Do not remove the key from the ignition
lock. Do not open the driver's or front-
passenger door when the engine is
switched off, as this automatically shifts
the automatic transmission to park posi-
tion Pand locks the wheels, unless you have shifted the automatic transmission
to
N.
R Vehicles with KEYLESS GO*:
Do not open the driver's or front-
passenger door when the engine is
switched off, as this shifts the automatic
transmission to park position Pand locks
the wheels.
! Make sure the side windows are com-
pletely closed, the ventilation/heater
blower is fully turned off and the wind-
screen wiper switch is set to 0. The rain
sensor may otherwise be activated, for
instance, leading to inadvertent wiper
sweeps being triggered. This could cause
damage to the vehicle.
After using an automatic car wash, wipe off
wax from the windscreen and the wiper
blades. This will prevent smears and reduce
wiping noises caused by residue on the wind-
screen.
High-pressure cleaners G
Risk of accident
Do not use high-pressure cleaners with cir-
cular-jet nozzles (dirt grinders) to clean Operation
* optional
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Display
messages 263Display messages Possible cause/consequence Possible solution
ESP unavailable See
Owner's Manual G
Risk of accident
ESP ®
and therefore also BAS and PRE-
SAFE ®
are unavailable due to undervolt-
age.
The brake system continues to function
normally, but without the functions listed
above. X
Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop immedi-
ately. ESP unavailable See
Owner's Manual If, when driving, this message appears and
the
v warning lamp flashes, this
means that 4ETS has been deactivated.
This prevents the brakes on the drive
wheels overheating. As soon as the brakes have cooled down again,
4ETS will be reactivated automatically.
The display message disappears and the v
warning lamp goes out. ESP inoperative See
Owner's Manual G
Risk of accident
ESP ®
and therefore also Brake Assist and
PRE-SAFE ®
are unavailable due to a mal-
function. The vwarning lamp also
lights up in the instrument cluster.
The brake system continues to function
normally, but without the functions listed
above. X
Drive on carefully.
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop immedi-
ately. Select position
P only when vehicle
is at a standstill You have attempted to move the auto-
matic transmission to
Peven though the
vehicle is still moving. X
Stop the vehicle immediately, paying attention
to the traffic conditions as you do so.
X Move the selector lever to P. Practical advi
ce
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Display
messages 264 Display messages Possible cause/consequence Possible solution
Vehicle not in position P You have opened the driver's door and the
automatic transmission is in position
R,
N or D. X
Move the selector lever to P.
X Engage the parking brake. Compass unavailable
The compass* is malfunctioning. X
Have the compass* checked at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop. Compass - - -
The compass* is not calibrated. X
Calibrate the compass* (Y page 213).Compass - - -
The compass* is malfunctioning because
of exterior interference. As soon as the source of the interference has
been removed:
X
Turn the key to position 0in the ignition lock
and remove it.
X Wait until the total distance recorder has dis-
appeared from the multi-function display.
X Calibrate the compass* (Y page 213).No Service Your vehicle is outside the network pro-
vider transmitter/receiver range. X
Wait until the operational readiness symbol
appears in the multi-function display
(Y page 137). Drive to work-
shop without changing
gear The transmission position cannot be
changed due to a malfunction. If transmission position
Dis selected:
X Drive to a qualified specialist workshop without
shifting the transmission from position D.
If transmission position R,Nor Pis selected:
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. Practical advi
ce
* optional
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Display
messages 265Display messages Possible cause/consequence Possible solution
P To start the
engine, shift to
either P or N You attempted to start the engine while
transmission position
Ror Dwas selec-
ted. X
Shift the automatic transmission to Por N. Depress brake
to shift out of position P X
Depress the brake pedal. PRE-SAFE inoperative See
Owner's Manual G
Risk of injury
Important functions of PRE-SAFE ®
have
failed. All other occupant safety systems,
e.g. airbags, remain available. X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop. Tyre pressure
monitor inoperative
The tyre pressure monitor* is malfunc-
tioning. X
Have the tyre pressure monitor* and wheels
checked at a qualified specialist workshop. Tyre pressure
monitor inoperative No
wheel sensors The tyre pressure monitor* is deactivated
because the vehicle is fitted with wheels
that do not have suitable wheel sensors. X
Have wheels with suitable wheel sensors fitted
at a qualified specialist workshop.
Once wheels with the correct wheel sensors
have been fitted, the tyre pressure monitor*
reactivates automatically after a few minutes
of driving. 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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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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