2008 MERCEDES-BENZ ML SUV ECU

Trailer towing*
242Check locking mech.
message is shown
in the multi-function display until the ball
coupling is engaged.
X Remove the protective cap from the ball
coupling. Coupling up and uncoupling a trailer
Coupling up a trailer Steel-spring vehicles
X
Make sure the selector lever is set to P.
X Depress the parking brake.
X Position the trailer level behind the vehicle.
X Couple up the trailer.
X Establish the electrical connection
between the vehicle and the trailer.
Vehicles with the AIRMATIC package* G
Risk of injury
Never lock, unlock, open or close a vehicle
door or tailgate when coupling up or decou-
pling a trailer. The vehicle level could
change and you could endanger yourself or
others. Never press the ADS button* or operate the
level control* while you are coupling up or
decoupling a trailer.
X Make sure the DIRECT SELECT selector
lever is set to P.
X Depress the parking brake.
X Start the engine.
X Set the vehicle to highway level
(Y page 159).
X Set the adaptive damping system (ADS)
setting to AUTOorCOMF (Ypage 157).
X Switch off the engine.
X Close the doors and tailgate.
X Position the trailer level behind the vehicle.
X Couple up the trailer.
X Establish the electrical connection
between the vehicle and the trailer.
i If you have coupled a trailer, the vehicle
will remain at highway level.
The vehicle automatically lowers to high-
way level if you drive faster than 8 km/h
with a trailer. The vehicle is not lowered to
the high-speed level even if you are travel-
ling at higher speeds. This also applies when using accessories
that are plugged into the socket of the
trailer coupling (e.g. a bicycle rack).
Decoupling a trailer G
Risk of injury
Do not connect a trailer with an engaged
overrun brake. Otherwise, your hand could
become trapped between the bumper and
drawbar.
! Do not uncouple a trailer with overrun
brake between the bumper and drawbar,
otherwise your vehicle could be damaged
by the spring action of the overrun brake.
Steel-spring vehicles
X Make sure the selector lever is set to P.
X Depress the parking brake.
X Secure the trailer against rolling away.
X Remove the trailer cable and decouple the
trailer.
Vehicles with the AIRMATIC package*
X Make sure the DIRECT SELECT selector
lever is set to P.
X Depress the parking brake.
X Start the engine. Operation
* optional
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Trailer towing*
243
X
Close the doors and tailgate.
X Secure the trailer against rolling away. G
Risk of injury
The vehicle is lowered as soon as you dis-
connect the trailer cable. Make sure that
nobody is in the vicinity of the wheel arch
or the underbody. You could otherwise trap
yourself or others.
As soon as you decouple the trailer, the
unladen vehicle rises slightly. Make sure
that you or others are not injured in the
process.
X Remove the trailer cable and decouple the
trailer.
X Switch off the engine. Notes on towing a trailer
G
Risk of accident
When reversing the vehicle towards the
trailer, make sure there is nobody between
the trailer and the vehicle.
Couple and uncouple the trailer carefully. If
you do not couple the trailer to the towing
vehicle correctly, the trailer could become
detached.
Make sure that the following values are not
exceeded:
R The permitted trailer drawbar nose-
weight
R The permitted trailer load
R The permitted rear axle load of the towing
vehicle
R The maximum permissible gross vehicle
weight of both the towing vehicle and the
trailer
You will find the applicable permissible val-
ues which must not be exceeded in the
vehicle documents.
You will find the values approved by the
manufacturer on the vehicle identification
plates and those for the towing vehicle in
the "Technical data" section. You will find installation dimensions and loads
in the "Technical data" section
(Y page 365).
The maximum permissible trailer drawbar
noseweight on the ball coupling is 140 kg.
However, the actual noseweight must not
exceed the value given on the trailer coupling
and trailer identification plates. The lowest
weight applies.
! Use a noseweight as close as possible to
the maximum permissible noseweight. Do
not use a noseweight of less than 50 kg,
otherwise the trailer may come loose.
Bear in mind that the payload and the rear
axle load are reduced by the actual nose-
weight.
i On vehicles without level control, the
height of the ball coupling will alter accord-
ing to the load placed on the vehicle. In this
case, you should use a trailer with a height-
adjustable drawbar.
Driving tips i
Observe the notes on ESP ®
trailer stabi-
lisation (Y page 59).
In Germany, the maximum permitted speed
for vehicle/trailer combinations is 80 km/h. Operation
* optional
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Service
246
X
Open the socket cover.
X Insert the connector with lug 1into
groove 2on the socket and turn the con-
nector clockwise to the stop.
X Make the cover engage.
X If you are using an adapter cable, secure
the cable to the trailer with cable ties.
! Make sure that there is sufficient cable
play so that the cable cannot become
detached when cornering. Service
ASSYST PLUS service interval display
ASSYST PLUS, the service interval display,
tells you when the next service is due. When-
ever a service is due, the following message
appears in the multi-function display:
Service A due in .. days
Service A due in .. km
Service A due now The letter indicates how much time the work-
shop will require to carry out the service work.
The letters displayed range from
Afor a short
service duration to Hfor a long service dura-
tion.
The service interval display ASSYST PLUS
does not record any periods of time during
which the battery is disconnected. In order to
maintain the time-dependent service sched-
ule, you should call up the service due date
and make a note of it before disconnecting
the battery. The alternative is to subtract the battery disconnection periods from the
service date shown on the display. Fading out the service message
1
Reset button
X Press the 1reset button beside the instru-
ment cluster.
The service message goes out. Operation
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Where will I find...?
256 able to achieve its load-bearing capacity
due to the restricted height.
Do not start the engine at any time while a
wheel is being changed.
i When using the jack, you should also
observe the safety notes in the "Flat tyre"
section (Y page 323).
Vehicles with a TIREFIT kit/exterior
spare wheel bracket* 1
TIREFIT kit 27
2 Electric air pump 28
3 Centring pin
4 Jack, ratchet ring spanner 28
5 Wheel wrench 6
Folding wheel chock
7 Towing eye
8 Trailer ball coupling*
9 Fuse allocation chart
Exterior spare wheel bracket* G
Risk of injury
The spare wheel is heavy. Make sure that
nobody is injured as you remove the spare
wheel.
The spare wheel is on the outer side of the
tailgate. 1
Securing bolts X
Unscrew and remove retaining screws 1
with the wheel wrench.
X Take the spare wheel from the bracket.
i If the vehicle is fitted with mixed tyres, the
spare wheel is the same type as on the front
wheels.
Vehicles with a "Minispare" emergency
spare wheel* (except ML 63 AMG) There may be an additional cover over the
stowage well, depending on the vehicle
equipment.
27 Not for vehicles with an exterior spare wheel bracket.
28 Depending on the date of production of the vehicle, the appearance and stowage location of the jack and the other tools may differ from the illustrations. Practical advice
* optional
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Where will I find...?
257
Vehicles with an EASY-PACK load-secur-
ing kit*
1
"Minispare" emergency spare wheel*
2 Emergency spare wheel cover
3 EASY-PACK load-securing kit* bag
X Remove emergency spare wheel cover 2
with EASY-PACK load-securing kit* bag
3. 1
"Minispare" emergency spare wheel*
2 Stowage well
3 Trailer ball coupling*
4 Centring pin
5 Towing eye
6 Wheel wrench
Underneath "Minispare" emergency spare
wheel* 1:
R Folding wheel chock
R Jack
R Wheel bolts for "Minispare" emergency
spare wheel*
R Fuse allocation chart Removing the "Minispare" emergency
spare wheel*
1
Emergency spare wheel retainer
2 Stowage well
X Turn emergency spare wheel retainer 1
anti-clockwise and remove.
X Remove stowage well 2.
X Remove "Minispare" emergency spare
wheel*. Practical advice
* optional
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Where will I find...?
258
Vehicles with a collapsible emergency
spare wheel* (only ML 63 AMG) 1
Electric air pump
2 Collapsible emergency spare wheel*
3 Stowage well
4 Trailer ball coupling*
5 Centring pin
6 Towing eye
7 Wheel wrench
Underneath collapsible emergency spare
wheel* 2:
R Folding wheel chock
R Jack
R Fuse allocation chart Taking out the collapsible emergency
spare wheel*
1
Emergency spare wheel retainer
2 Stowage well
X Remove stowage well 2.
X Turn emergency spare wheel retainer 1
anti-clockwise and remove.
X Take out the collapsible emergency spare
wheel*.
Setting up the foldable wheel chock The folding wheel chock serves as an addi-
tional measure for securing the vehicleagainst rolling away, e.g. when a wheel is
being changed.
1
To fold the plates upwards
2 To fold out the lower plate
3 To insert the plate
X Fold both plates 1upwards.
X Fold out lower plate 2.
X Guide the lugs on the lower plate fully into
the openings in base plate 3.Practical advice
* optional
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Flat tyre
327Changing a wheel/fitting the emer-
gency spare wheel*
G
Risk of accident
The wheel dimensions and tyre size of the
spare wheel*, the emergency spare
wheel* and standard wheels may differ
from one another.
The handling characteristics of your vehicle
will change if you fit an emergency spare
wheel*. Adapt your style of driving accord-
ingly.
You may only use the emergency spare
wheel* for a short while. Do not exceed the
maximum speed of 80 km/h and do not
deactivate ESP ®
.
Never drive the vehicle with more than one
emergency spare wheel* fitted. G
Risk of accident
Have the "Minispare" emergency spare
wheel* or the spare wheel* replaced with
a new wheel as soon as possible at a quali-
fied specialist workshop which has the nec-
essary specialist knowledge and tools to
carry out the work required. Mercedes-
Benz recommends that you use a
Mercedes-Benz Service Centre for this pur- pose. In particular, work relevant to safety
or on safety-related systems must be car-
ried out at a qualified specialist workshop.
Preparing the vehicle X
Prepare the vehicle as described
(Y page 323).
X If a trailer is coupled, uncouple it.
X Position the wheels in the straight-ahead
position.
X Take the following from the stowage well
beneath the luggage compartment floor:
R
the wheel wrench
R the wheel chock
R the jack
X Secure the vehicle to prevent it from rolling
away.
On level ground: place chocks or similar
items under the front and rear of the wheel
that is diagonally opposite the wheel you
wish to change. Securing a vehicle on level ground (example illus-
tration)
X
On downhill gradients: place chocks or
similar items under both wheels of the
other axle. Securing a vehicle on slight downhill slopes (exam-
ple illustration) Practical advice
* optional
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Flat tyre
332
X
Press on/off switch 2on the electric air
pump to I.
The electric air pump is switched on. The
tyre is inflated.
X When a tyre pressure of 3.5 bar has been
reached, press 0on electric air pump on/
off switch 2.
The electric air pump is switched off.
! Do not operate the electric air pump for
longer than eight minutes at a time without
a break. Otherwise, it may overheat.
The air pump can be operated again once
it has cooled down.
If the tyre pressure is higher than 3.5 bar:
X Version 1: open pressure release
screw 4on the pressure gauge until the
tyre pressure is correct.
X Version 2: press pressure release button
6 until the tyre pressure is correct.
X Switch off the electric air pump with on/off
switch 2, remove from the tyre valve and
stow it away. Lowering the vehicle X
Place the ratchet ring spanner onto the
hexagon nut of the jack so that the lettering
AB is visible.
X Lower the vehicle by turning the ratchet
ring spanner until the vehicle is once again
standing firmly on the ground.
X Place the jack to one side. 1
–5 Wheel bolts
X Tighten the wheel bolts evenly in a cross-
wise pattern in the sequence indica-
ted (1 to5). The tightening torque is
150 Nm . G
Risk of accident
Have the tightening torque checked imme-
diately after a wheel is changed. The wheels could work loose if they are not tightened
to a torque of
150 Nm.
X Turn the jack back to its initial position and
stow it and the rest of the vehicle tool kit in
the luggage compartment.
Vehicles with the "Minispare" emergency
spare wheel*:
X Wrap the faulty wheel in the protective film
included with the "Minispare" emergency
spare wheel* and transport the wheel in
the luggage compartment.
or
X Depending on the size of the wheel, you
may also be able to secure the faulty wheel
in the emergency spare wheel well. In this
case, you will have to remove the stowage
tray from the emergency spare wheel well
and stow it securely in the luggage com-
partment.
Vehicles with a spare wheel*:
X Use the fastening bolts to secure the faulty
wheel to the exterior spare wheel
bracket*. Practical advice
* optional
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