2008 MERCEDES-BENZ ML320 Starter

478 Practical hints
Flat tire
Preparing the vehicle
Vehicles with air suspension program*:
Make sure the vehicle level is set to
highway (
page 257).
Park the vehicle in a safe distance from
moving traffic on a hard, flat surface
when possible.
Turn on the hazard warning flasher
(
page 141).
Turn the steering wheel so that the
front wheels are in a straight-ahead
position.
Set the parking brake (page 57).
Set the automatic transmission to park
positionP (
page 185).
Turn off the engine (page 39).
Have any passenger exit the vehicle at
a safe distance from the roadway.
Vehicles with SmartKey: Remove the
SmartKey from the starter switch.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*: Open the
driver’s door (this puts the starter
switch in position0, same as with the
SmartKey removed from the starter
switch). The driver’s door then can be
closed again.
Remove the KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button from the starter
switch.
Warning!G
The dimensions of the spare wheel
(Minispare wheel or collapsible tire) are dif-
ferent from those of the road wheels. As a
result, the vehicle handling characteristics
change when driving with a spare wheel
mounted. Adapt your driving style accord-
ingly.
The spare wheel is for temporary use only.
When driving with a spare wheel mounted,
ensure proper tire pressure and do not ex-
ceed a vehicle speed of 50 mph (80 km/h).
Drive to the nearest Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center as soon as possible to have the
spare wheel replaced with a regular road
wheel.
Never operate the vehicle with more than
one spare wheel mounted.
Do not switch off the ESP
® when a
Minispare wheel is mounted.
Warning!G
Vehicles with air suspension program*:
Do not open or close any doors or the
tailgate while mounting a spare wheel. The
vehicle could rise or lower to a previously
selected level. You or others could be
injured as a result.
iOpen door only when conditions are safe to
do so.

485 Practical hints
Flat tire
Inflating the collapsible tire
(ML 63 AMG only)
Take the electric air pump out of the
cargo compartment (
page 454).
Electric air pump
1Flap
2On/off switch
3Electrical plug
4Air hose with pressure gauge and vent
screw
5Union nut
Open flap1 on electric air pump.
Pull out electrical plug3 and air hose
with pressure gauge4.
Remove the valve cap from the
collapsible tire valve.
Screw union nut5 onto the
collapsible tire valve.
Insert electrical plug3 into a power
outlet (
page 287).
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position1.
or
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop
button once without depressing the
brake pedal.
Press I on electric air pump switch2.
The electric air pump should now
switch on and inflate the collapsible
tire.
Warning!G
Inflate collapsible tire only after the wheel is
properly mounted.
Inflate the collapsible tire using the electric
pump (
page 485) before lowering the
vehicle.
Warning!G
Observe instructions on air pump label.
!Do not lower the vehicle before inflating the
collapsible tire. Otherwise the rim may be dam-
aged.
!The cigarette lighter* (page 285) or the
power outlet in the front center console
(
page 288) is not designed for use with the
electric air pump. Use the power outlet in the
rear center console or in the cargo compartment
(
page 288) for electric air pump operation.


486 Practical hints
Flat tire
Inflate the collapsible tire to the recom-
mended tire inflation pressure given in
the “Technical data” section
(
page 515).
This takes about 5 minutes for the col-
lapsible tire.
Press 0 on electric air pump switch2.
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position0.
or
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop
button twice without depressing the
brake pedal.
If the tire inflation pressure is above
the recommended tire inflation pres-
sure given in this Operator’s Manual,
release excess tire inflation pressure
using the vent screw.
Detach the electric air pump.
Store the electrical plug and the air
hose behind the flap and place the
electric air pump back in the cargo
compartment.
Warning!G
Air hose4 and union nut5 can become
hot during inflation. Exercise proper caution
to avoid burning yourself when using the
equipment.
!Do not operate the electric air pump longer
than 8 minutes without interruption. Otherwise it
may overheat.
You may operate the electric air pump again
after it has cooled off.
!Please compare the recommended tire
inflation pressure for your vehicle with the tire
inflation pressure on the yellow label located on
the spare wheel rim.
If the tire inflation pressure on the yellow label
on the spare wheel rim differs from the values
given in this Operator’s Manual, inflate the tire to
the recommended tire inflation pressure given
on the yellow label on the spare wheel rim.Warning!G
Follow recommend inflation pressures.
Do not overinflate tires. Overinflated tires
can result in sudden deflation (blowout) be-
cause they are more likely to become punc-
tured or damaged by road debris, potholes,
etc.
Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated tires
wear unevenly, adversely affect handling
and fuel economy, and are more likely to fail
from being overheated.


488 Practical hints
Bleeding the fuel system (diesel engine only)
Driving the vehicle until the fuel tank is
empty is not recommended. Otherwise, air
may be sucked into the fuel system. If this
happens, the? malfunction indicator
lamp (USA only) or the± malfunction
indicator lamp (Canada only) comes on
and the engine may not start immediately
after refueling the vehicle.
After refueling:
Make sure the automatic transmission
is set toP.
The gear position indicator in the multi-
function display should be on
P.
Do not depress the accelerator.
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position 2 for at least 10 seconds
(
page 40).
Return the SmartKey in the starter
switch to position 0 (
page 40).
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position3 (
page 40) and hold it
there for a maximum of 40 seconds or
until the engine runs surge-free.
If the engine does not start:
Wait for approximately 2 minutes.
Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position3 (
page 40) and hold it
there for a maximum of 40 seconds or
until the engine runs surge-free.
If the engine still does not start, do not
make any further attempts to start the
engine. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center or call
Roadside Assistance (
page 298).iVehicles with KEYLESS-GO*: If necessary,
remove the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button from
the starter switch (
page 40).iWhen the ?malfunction indicator lamp
(USA only) or the ±malfunction indicator
lamp (Canada only) has been illuminated for the
above condition, it will remain illuminated until
the engine was cycled on and off four times in a
row.

491 Practical hints
Battery
Disconnecting, removing, reinstalling
and reconnecting the battery
Step 1 (Disconnecting)
Set the automatic transmission to
positionP (
page 185).
Firmly depress the parking brake
(
page 65).
Turn off the engine (page 66).
Leave the ignition switched on
(
page 40).
!Never loosen or detach battery terminal
clamps while the engine is running or the
SmartKey is in the starter switch. Otherwise the
alternator and other electronic components
could be severely damaged.
Have the battery checked regularly by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
Contact your authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center for further information.
Warning!G
Do not place metal objects on the battery as
this could result in a short circuit.
Use leak-proof battery only to avoid the risk
of acid burns in the event of an accident.
Warning!G
Disconnecting, removing, reinstalling and
reconnecting the battery is a complicated
and technically demanding procedure that
also requires safety precautions to avoid the
risk of injury. We strongly recommend that it
be performed by a qualified technician or an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center only. Please read the instructions
fully before beginning operation and only
undertake it if you feel fully capable of
performing all of the tasks involved as de-
scribed in these instructions. Observe all
safety instructions and precautions when
handling automotive batteries
(
page 489). Performing the tasks involved
incorrectly can cause damage to the vehicle
and impair the operating safety of the
vehicle, and/or cause severe injury to you
or others.
iWith a disconnected battery you will no
longer be able to turn the SmartKey in the starter
switch and pressing the KEYLESS-GO*
start/stop button will have no effect.
iIf your battery is discharged, the vehicle
must be jump started (
page 497) using the
jump start contacts in the engine compartment,
or an accessory battery charge unit* approved
by Mercedes-Benz must be connected using the
jump start contacts in the engine compartment
(see separate instructions for the accessory bat-
tery charge unit*) before any of the following
steps can be performed. If the battery cannot be
jumped or charged, please contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.


493 Practical hints
Battery
2Perforated floor carpet, unfolded
Fold the floor carpet piece2 in
direction of the arrow.
Move the front passenger seat to the
most forward and upward position
again (
page 44).
Switch off the ignition (page 40).
Remove SmartKey from starter switch.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
Make sure the vehicle’s on-board
electronics have status0 (Turn off
the engine or all electrical systems
using the KEYLESS-GO start/stop
button. Open the driver’s door. With
the driver’s door open, the vehicle’s
on-board electronics have status0,
same as with the SmartKey
removed from the starter switch).
Enter the rear passenger compartment
again.Step 4 (Disconnecting)
3Air channel
4Clip with pin insert
Pull pin out of clip4 in direction of
arrow.
Pull clip with pin4 outwards.
Remove air channel3 by pulling it out
in direction of arrow.
iIf the vehicle battery is discharged and you
had the vehicle jump started, turn off the engine.

495 Practical hints
Battery
Step 8 (Removing)
cBattery
Tilt the batteryc with the negative
terminal side upwards.
Take out the battery maintaining its
tilted position in the direction of the
arrow.Step 9 (Reinstalling)
Carry out step 8 in reverse order
(
page 495).
Battery, shown removed for illustration
9Battery ventilation hose
dVent plug
Carry out step 10 to reconnect the
battery (
page 495).
Follow steps 5 to 1 in reverse order to
completely reinstall the battery
(
page 494) to (page 491).
Step 10 (Reconnecting)
If the battery has been removed, first
carry out step 8 in reverse order
(
page 495).
Open the driver’s door.
Make sure all electrical consumers are
turned off.
Make sure the SmartKey is removed
from the starter switch.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
Make sure the vehicle’s on-board
electronics have status0 (Open the
driver’s door. With the driver’s door
open, the vehicle’s on-board elec-
tronics have status0, same as with
the SmartKey removed from the
starter switch (
page 39)).
!The battery, the battery ventilation hose9
and the lateral plugd (
page 495) must
always be securely installed when the vehicle is
in operation.


499 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Towing the vehicle
Mercedes-Benz recommends that the
vehicle be transported with all wheels off
the ground using flatbed or appropriate
wheel lift/dolly equipment. This method is
preferable to other types of towing.If circumstances do not permit the recom-
mended towing methods, the vehicle may
be towed with all wheels on the ground
only so far as necessary to have the vehicle
moved to a safe location where the recom-
mended towing methods can be employed.
When towing the vehicle with all wheels on
the ground, the vehicle may be towed only
for distances up to 30 miles (50 km) and at
a speed not to exceed 30 mph (50 km/h).
!Do not tow-start the vehicle.
!Use flatbed or wheel lift/dolly equipment,
with the SmartKey in starter switch turned to
position0.
Do not tow with sling-type equipment. Towing
with sling-type equipment over bumpy roads will
damage radiator and supports.
To prevent damage during transport, do not tie
down vehicle by its chassis or suspension parts.
Use the towing eyes.
Switch off the ESP
® (page 102) and the
automatic central locking (
page 125).
!Do not tow with one axle raised. Doing so
could damage the transfer case, which is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
All wheels must be on or off the ground. Observe
instructions for towing the vehicle with all
wheels on the ground.
Warning!G
If circumstances require towing the vehicle
with all wheels on the ground, always tow
with a tow bar if

the engine will not run

there is a malfunction in the brake
system

there is a malfunction in the power
supply or in the vehicle’s electrical
system
This is necessary to adequately control the
towed vehicle.
Prior to towing the vehicle with all wheels on
the ground, make sure the automatic trans-
mission is in neutral positionN.