2008 MERCEDES-BENZ ML SUV Owners Manual

Battery
334 Battery
Notes on the vehicle battery
In order for the battery to achieve the maxi-
mum possible service life, it must always be
sufficiently charged.
Have the battery charge checked more fre-
quently if you use the vehicle mainly for short
trips or if you leave it standing idle for a
lengthy period.
To prevent damage from corrosion, only
replace the battery with one that has a central
ventilation cover.
Consult a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre if
you wish to leave your vehicle parked up for
a long period of time. G
Risk of injury
Comply with safety precautions and take
protective measures when handling batter-
ies. Risk of explosion
Fire, naked flames and
smoking are prohibited
when handling the bat-
tery. Avoid creating
sparks. Battery acid is caustic.
Avoid contact with the
skin, eyes or clothing.
Wear suitable protective
clothing, in particular
gloves, an apron and a
face mask.
Immediately rinse acid
splashes off with clean
water. Consult a doctor if
necessary. Wear eye protection.
Keep children away.
Observe this Owner's
Manual.
H
Environmental note
Do not dispose of batteries with the house-
hold rubbish. Dispose of defective batteries
in an environmentally responsible manner.
Take them to a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre or to a special collection point for
old batteries.
G
Risk of injury
For safety reasons, Mercedes-Benz recom-
mends that you only use batteries which
have been tested and approved for your
vehicle by Mercedes-Benz. These batteries
provide increased impact protection to pre-
vent vehicle occupants from suffering acid
burns should the battery be damaged in the
event of an accident.
To prevent acid burns, observe the follow-
ing safety notes when handling batteries:
R Do not lean over batteries.
R Do not place any metal objects on a bat-
tery. You could otherwise cause a short
circuit and the battery's highly flammable
gas mixture could ignite.
R Make sure that you do not create an elec-
trostatic charge, e.g. by wearing syn-
thetic clothing or as a result of friction on
fabrics. Therefore, you should not pull or
slide the battery over carpets or other
synthetic materials.
R Never touch the battery first. To dis-
charge a possible electrostatic charge, Practical advice
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Battery
335step out of the vehicle first and touch the
bodywork.
R Do not wipe the battery using a cloth. The
battery may explode as a result of elec-
trostatic charge or due to flying sparks.
! Switch off the engine and remove the
key/KEYLESS GO * button before loosen-
ing or removing the battery terminal
clamps. You may otherwise destroy elec-
tronic components such as the alternator.
i Mercedes-Benz recommends that you
have all work involving the battery, e.g.
removing, charging and replacing, carried
out at a qualified specialist workshop, e.g.
a Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
The battery is located under the front seat on
the right-hand side when viewed in the direc-
tion of travel. Disconnecting the battery
G
Risk of accident
If the battery is disconnected:
R the brake boosting effect will not be avail-
able. Greater braking force will then be
required and the brake pedal travel will
be longer. If necessary, depress the
brake pedal with maximum force.
R you can no longer turn the key in the igni-
tion and, on vehicles with KEYLESS
GO*, pressing the KEYLESS GO button*
will have no effect
R the selector lever is locked in position P
! Always disconnect the battery in
the order described below. Never swap the
terminal clamps. You may otherwise dam-
age the vehicle electronics.
X Firmly depress the parking brake and shift
the selector lever to position Pon vehicles
with automatic transmission.
X Position the front seat as far forwards as
possible.
X Switch off all electrical consumers. 1
Battery cover
X Get into the rear compartment.
X Remove battery cover 1from under the
right-hand front seat. 2
Carpet Practical advice
* optional
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Battery
336
X
Use a sharp knife on carpet 2to cut along
the dashed white line until you reach the
perforated part.
X Position the right-hand front seat at its rear-
most position. 2
Carpet
X Fold the piece of cut carpet 2in the direc-
tion of the arrow.
X Adjust the right-hand front seat to its high-
est position.
X Position the right-hand front seat as far for-
wards as possible.
X Switch off the ignition.
X Remove the key from the ignition lock.
or
X On vehicles with KEYLESS GO*: open the
driver's door. 3
Rear-compartment footwell air duct
4 Fastening clip
X Remove fastening clip 4.
X Remove air duct 3by pulling it in the
direction of the arrow. 5
Protective cover
6 battery
X Remove protective cover 5from battery
6. 7
Positive terminal clamp
8 Negative terminal clamp Practical advice
* optional
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Battery
337
X
Disconnect negative terminal clamp 8
from the battery and put it down so that it
does not touch positive terminal clamp
7.
X Remove the cover from positive terminal
clamp 7.
X Remove positive terminal clamp 7from
the battery. Removing the battery
X Disconnect the battery ( Ypage 335). 9
Breather hose
a Securing bolt
b Retainer X
Remove breather hose 9.
X Loosen bolt awhich holds the battery in
place.
i You need a 13 mm socket wrench with at
least a 30 cm shaft.
X Remove bracket b. c
battery
X Lift battery cat the side until the lower
edge is free.
X Pull out battery cin the direction of the
arrow. Charging and fitting the battery
G
Risk of injury
Only charge the battery in a well-ventilated
area. As the battery is being charged, gases
can escape and generate minor explosions.
This may injure you and other persons or
cause damage to the paintwork or acid cor-
rosion on the vehicle.
You can obtain information about battery
chargers which allow the battery to be
charged when still installed from a qualified
specialist workshop, e.g. a Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre. G
Risk of injury
There is a risk of acid burns during the
charging process due to the gases which
escape from the battery. Do not lean over
the battery during the charging process. G
Risk of injury
Battery acid is caustic. Avoid contact with
the skin, eyes or clothing.
! Only charge the installed battery with a
battery charger which has been tested and
approved by Mercedes-Benz. These battery
chargers allow the battery to be charged Practical advice
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Battery
338while it is still installed. Otherwise, the vehi-
cle's electronic system may be damaged.
! Only use battery chargers with a maxi-
mum charging voltage of 14.8 V.
X Charge the battery. Observe the notes in
the operating instructions for your battery
charger.
X Refit the charged battery.
To do this, follow the steps described in
"Removing the battery" (Y page 337) in
reverse order.
i You can charge the battery using the
jump-start terminals. These are located on
the right when viewed in the direction of
travel.
X Open the bonnet (Y page 219). Jump-start terminals
1
Body earth point (negative terminal)
2 Positive terminal (under cover) Reconnecting the battery
! Always reconnect the battery in the
sequence described below. Never swap the
terminal clamps. You may otherwise dam-
age the vehicle electronics.
X Switch off all electrical consumers.
X Connect the positive terminal clamp and
secure the cover.
X Connect the negative terminal clamp.
X Connect the breather hose. Make sure that
a cell cap is fitted is fitted on the side. i
If the battery power supply has been inter-
rupted (e.g. if it has been reconnected), you
must carry out the following tasks:
R Set the time (Y page 130).
On vehicles with COMAND and a naviga-
tion system*, the clock is set automati-
cally
R Reset the sliding/tilting sun-
roof* (Y page 189).
R Reset the function for folding the exterior
mirrors in/out automatically* by folding
the mirrors out once ( Ypage 86).
R Reset the side windows (Y page 101)Practical advice
* optional
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Jump-starting
339Jump-starting
If your vehicle's battery is discharged, the
engine can be jump-started from another
vehicle or from an external battery using jump
leads.
Observe the following points:
R Jump-starting may only be performed when
the engine and catalytic converter are cold.
R Do not start the engine if the battery is fro-
zen. Let the battery thaw first.
R Jump-starting may only be performed from
batteries with a nominal voltage of 12 V.
R Only use jump leads which are protected
against polarity reversal and which have a
sufficient cross-section and insulated ter-
minal clamps.
i Jump leads which are protected against
polarity reversal and further information
about jump-starting can be obtained from
any Mercedes-Benz Service Centre.
! Avoid repeated and lengthy starting
attempts.
Never start the vehicle using a rapid battery
charger. G
Risk of injury
There is a risk of acid burns when jump-
starting a vehicle due to the gases which
escape from the battery. Do not lean over
the battery while the engine is being jump-
started. G
Risk of explosion
Gases escaping from the battery during
jump-starting may cause minor explosions.
Avoid creating sparks. Keep naked flames
away from the battery, and do not smoke.
Comply with safety precautions and take
protective measures when handling batter-
ies. You will find these under "Battery" in
the index.
X Make sure that the two vehicles do not
touch.
X Depress the parking brake firmly.
X Move the selector lever to P.
X Switch off all electrical consumers. 1
Positive terminal on your vehicle
2 Earth point on your vehicle
3 Positive terminal of donor battery
4 Negative terminal of donor battery
X Connect positive terminal 1on your vehi-
cle to positive terminal 3of the donor
battery using the jump lead, beginning with
your own battery.
X Start the engine of the donor vehicle and
run it at idling speed.
X Connect negative terminal 4of the donor
battery to the earth point 2of your vehicle
using the jump lead, connecting the jump
lead to the donor battery first.
X Start the engine. Practical advice
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Towing and tow-starting
340
X
Electrical consumers can be switched on
again. Do not switch the lights on, however,
as this will overload the battery.
X First, remove the jump lead from earth
point 2and negative terminal 4, then
from positive terminal 1and positive ter-
minal 3, each time disconnecting from the
battery on your own vehicle first.
i The message Battery protection:
some convenience functions cur-
rently not available may appear in the
multi-function display. It disappears as
soon as the battery is sufficiently charged.
X Have the battery checked at a qualified
specialist workshop, e.g. a Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre. Towing and tow-starting
Points to remember
G
Risk of accident
If you tow the vehicle, you must use a rigid
towing bar if:
R the engine is not running
R there is a brake system malfunction
R the voltage supply or the vehicle's elec-
trical system is damaged
The electric power steering and the brake
force booster do not work when the engine
is not running. Greater braking force will
then be required and the brake pedal travel
will be longer. If necessary, depress the
brake pedal with maximum force.
Do not tow the vehicle if the key cannot be
turned in the ignition lock. If this is the case,
the steering is locked and the vehicle can-
not be steered.
If you tow or tow-start another vehicle, its
weight must not exceed the maximum per-
missible gross vehicle weight of your vehi-
cle.
It is better to have the vehicle transported
than to have it towed. When towing, observe the legal requirements
in all countries concerned.
!
When towing, pull away slowly and with-
out jerking. If the tractive power is too high,
the vehicles could be damaged.
! Do not use the towing eye for recovery,
as this will damage the vehicle. If in doubt
recover the vehicle with a crane.
! You may tow the vehicle for a maximum
of 50 km. A towing speed of 50 km/h must
not be exceeded.
With towing distances over 50 km, the
entire vehicle needs to be lifted up and
transported.
! On vehicles with KEYLESS GO*: use the
key instead of the KEYLESS GO * button.
Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock and set the automatic transmission to
N. Then turn the key back to 0and leave it
in the ignition lock.
! Only secure the tow cable or towing bar
to the towing eyes. You may otherwise
damage the vehicle. Practical advice
* optional
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Towing and tow-starting
341
R
Tow-starting the vehicle is not permitted.
R Vehicles with 4MATIC must not be towed
with the front or rear axle raised.
R If the engine does not start, try jump-start-
ing it (Y page 339).
R If it is not possible to jump-start the vehicle,
have it towed to the nearest qualified spe-
cialist workshop, e.g. a Mercedes-Benz
Service Centre.
R If the vehicle has suffered transmission
damage, have it carried away on a trans-
porter or trailer.
R If you are towing the vehicle, move the
automatic transmission selector lever to
N and turn the key to position 2
(Y page 75) in the ignition lock.
R Before towing the vehicle, make sure that
the battery is connected and charged. Oth-
erwise:
-you cannot switch on the ignition
- you cannot move the selector lever to N
- you have no support when braking
i Before towing the vehicle, deactivate tow-
away protection* (Y page 63) and the auto-
matic door locking feature (Y page 132).You could otherwise be locked out when
pushing or towing the vehicle. Fitting the towing eye
Opening the front cover The mountings for the removable towing eyes
are located in the bumpers. They are located
at the front and rear under the covers on the
right-hand side of the vehicle when viewed in
the direction of travel.
1
Cover
X Press cover 1back in the direction of the
arrow.
X Take cover 1off the opening. Opening the rear cover
1
Cover
X Press cover 1back in the direction of the
arrow.
X Take cover 1off the opening. Practical advice
* optional
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