2008 MERCEDES-BENZ ML550 manual lock

415 Practical hints
What to do if …
Text messages
Display messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
ABSABS, ESP Inoperative
See Operator’s ManualThe ABS and the ESP® have been
switched off due to a malfunction.
The BAS is also switched off.
The brake system is still functioning
normally but without the ABS avail-
able.Continue driving with added caution.
Wheels may lock during hard braking,
reducing steering capability.
Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center as soon
as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases
the risk of an accident.
ABS, ESP Unavailable
See Operator’s ManualThe ABS and the ESP® have been
switched off because of insufficient
power supply. The charging voltage
has fallen below 10 volts.
The BAS is also switched off.
The brake system is still functioning
normally but without the ABS
available.When the voltage is above this value again, the
ABS is operational again and the message in
the multifunction display should disappear.
If the message in the multifunction display
does not disappear:
Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center as soon
as possible.

429 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbolDisplay messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
;(USA only)
!(Canada only)
Release
Parking BrakeYou are driving with the parking
brake set.Release the parking brake (page 57).
;(USA only)
3(Canada only)
EBV, ABS, ESP Inoperative
See Operator’s ManualThe EBP, the ABS, and the ESP®
have switched off due to a mal-
function. The BAS is also
switched off.
The brake system is still func-
tional but without the EBP, the
ABS, and the ESP
® available.
Continue driving with added caution.
Wheels may lock during hard braking,
reducing steering capability.
Have the system checked at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases
the risk of an accident.

456 Practical hints
Unlocking/locking in an emergency
Locking the vehicle
If you cannot lock the vehicle with the
SmartKey or KEYLESS-GO*, lock the vehi-
cle carrying out the following steps.
Close the front passenger door, the
rear right door and the tailgate.
Open the driver’s door and the rear left
door.
Press the central locking switch on the
driver’s door (
page 126).
The locking knobs of the front passen-
ger door and the rear doors move
down.
If the vehicle battery is disconnected or
drained:
Press down the locking knobs of
the front passenger door and the
rear doors manually.
Exit the vehicle.
Close the driver’s door.
Enter the vehicle through the rear left
door.
Press down the locking knob of the
driver’s door.
Exit the vehicle.
Close the rear left door.
The vehicle is locked.
Unlocking and opening the tailgate
A minimum height clearance of 7.2 ft
(2.20 m) is required to open the tailgate.If the tailgate can no longer be unlocked
and opened using the Œbutton on the
SmartKey or the KEYLESS-GO* function,
use the emergency release lever to unlock
and open the tailgate.
The emergency release lever is located on
the inside of the tailgate.
1Emergency release lever
2CoverRemove cover2 from the trim on the
tailgate.
Push release lever1 all the way to the
left.
Lift the tailgate.
!To prevent inadvertent lockout, make sure
to have the SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* with you before proceeding with
the next step. The next step will lock the vehicle.
iThis procedure does not arm the anti-theft
alarm system, nor does it lock the fuel filler flap.

532 Index
Automatic climate control (3-zone)* 218
Air conditioning, Cooling 229
Air distribution, Front 224
Air distribution, Rear 233
Air recirculation mode 227
Air vents, Front 224
Air volume 225
Control panel, Front 220
Control panel, Rear 231
Deactivating system 222
Defogging 225
Defrosting 225
Maximum cooling, MAXCOOL 226
Rear passenger compartment 231
Rear window defroster 203
Residual engine heat (REST) 230
Using driver-side settings for
all temperature zones 229
Automatic headlamp mode 136
Automatic lighting control, Interior
lighting 142
Automatic locking when driving 125
Automatic shift program
(ML 63 AMG only) 195Automatic transmission 54
Accelerator position 190
Automatic shift program
(ML 63 AMG only) 195
Emergency operation
(Limp-Home Mode) 197
Gear ranges 192
Gear selector lever 54, 183
Gear shifting malfunctions 197
Hill start assist system 191
Kickdown 190
Kickdown, manual shift program
(ML 63 AMG only) 196
Manual shift progam
(ML 63 AMG only) 195
Program mode selector switch
(ML 63 AMG only) 194
Shift program (ML 63 AMG only) 194
Shifting procedure 186
Starting the engine 54
Steering wheel gearshift control 193
Towing a trailer 191
Transmission fluid level 345
Transmission positions 187
Automatic Transmission Fluid see ATFB
Backrest
Seat 44
Seat, Lumbar support 129
Seat, Multicontour* 129
Backup lamps
Messages in the multifunction
display 438
Replacing bulbs 471
Bar 380
BAS 100
Lamps in instrument cluster 400
Messages in the multifunction
display 415
Basic carrier bars* 266
Batteries, SmartKey
Check lamp 110, 113
Messages in the multifunction
display 427
Replacing 461
Battery, Vehicle 489
Charging 496
Disconnecting and connecting 491
Jump starting 497
Removing and installing 491

539 Index
G
Garage door opener 302
Gasoline see Fuel
GAWR 380
Gear range
Automatic transmission 192
Limiting 192
Shifting into optimal 194
Gear selector lever 25, 54, 183
Cleaning 397
Gearshift pattern 183
Messages in the multifunction
display 420
Position 186
Shifting procedure 186
Transmission position 187
Global locking/unlocking see Key,
SmartKey
Glove box 279
Good visibility 199
Gross Axle Weight Rating see GAWR
Gross Trailer Weight see GTW
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating see GVWR
Gross Vehicle Weight see GVWGTW 380
GVW 380
GVWR 380
H
Halogen headlamp see Headlamps
Hands-free microphone 33
Hard plastic trim items, cleaning 396
Hazard warning flasher 141
Head restraints 44, 127
Active head restraint 88, 127
Front seats, Adjusting 44
Rear seats 89
Rear seats, Adjusting 128
Rear seats, Removing and
installing 128
Headlamp aim
Adjusting 473
Headlamp cleaning system* 199, 346
Headlamp shut-off delay see Delayed
shut-off, Exterior lampsHeadlamps
Automatic headlamp mode 136
Bi-Xenon* 438, 467
Cleaning lenses 393
Cleaning system* 199, 346
Halogen 466
High beam see High beam flasher
High beam see High beam headlamps
Light sensor, Messages in the
multifunction display 438
Low beam see Low beam headlamps
Manual headlamp mode 136
Messages in the multifunction
display 438, 439, 440, 441, 442,
443
Replacing bulbs 463, 464
Switch 59, 135
Heated seats see Seat heating*
Heated steering wheel* 290
Height adjustment
Vehicle level control (Vehicles with
Air suspension program*) 257

549 Index
Spare wheel 518
Bolts 450
Mounting 479
Wheel bolts 484
Spare wheel (except ML 63 AMG) 452
Speed settings
Cruise control 246
Speedometer 27
Spinning see Tires, Direction of rotation
SRS 86
Indicator lamp 29, 410
Messages in the multifunction
display 410
Standing lamps 135
Replacing bulbs 463, 464, 468, 471
Standing water, Driving through 324
Starter switch 25, 40
Positions 40
Starting difficulties, Engine 57
Starting, Engine 54
Steep terrain, Driving 322
Steering column 47, 48Steering wheel 46
Adjustment, Electrically* 48
Adjustment, Manually 47
Buttons 30, 148
Cleaning 397
Steering wheel gearshift control
Automatic transmission 193
Stolen Vehicle Recovery services 301
Storage compartments 34, 279
Cup holder 284
Cup holders 284
Door pockets 34
Front center console 281
Glove box 279
Parcel net, Front passenger
footwell 283
Parcel nets, Front seat backrest 283
Rear seats, In front of 282
Storage/telephone* compartment
Armrest, Front 281
Storing tires 350
Stranded vehicle 503
Submenus see Control system submenus
Sun visors 201
Sunroof see Power tilt/sliding sunroofSuspension tuning see Air suspension pro-
gram*
Symbols used in this Operator’s
Manual 16
T
Tachometer 29, 146
Overspeed range 146
Tail lamps 471
Cleaning lenses 393
Messages in the multifunction
display 442
Replacing bulbs 464, 472
Tailgate
Closing from the inside,
Electrically* 122
Closing from the outside
(vehicles without
KEYLESS-GO*) 123
Opening 119
Opening from the inside,
Electrically* 121
Unlocking and opening the tailgate in
an emergency 456

550 Index
Tar stains 390
Technical data 507
Air conditioning refrigerant 525
Brake fluid 523, 525
Capacities fuels, coolants, lubricants
etc. 522, 523
Coolant 528
Dimensions, Vehicle 520
Electrical system 519
Engine 513
Engine oil 525
Engine oil additives 525
Fuel requirements 526
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc. 522
Gasoline additives 527
Main dimensions 520
Premium unleaded gasoline 526
Rims 515
Tires 515
Weights 521
Windshield washer and headlamp
cleaning system* 524, 530Tele Aid 294
Call priority 300
Emergency calls 296
Hands-free microphone 33
Information 299
Initiating an emergency call
manually 297
Messages in the multifunction
display 444
Remote door unlock 301
Roadside Assistance 298
SOS button 297
Stolen Vehicle Recovery
services 301
System self-check 295
Telephone cradle*
Changing 293Telephone* 291
Answering/ending a call 181
Changing mobile phone cradle 293
Dialing a number from the phone
book 181
Ending a call or rejecting an incoming
call 181
Hands-free microphone 33
Inserting in cradle 292
Installing a different mobile phone
cradle 294
Messages in the multifunction
display 444
Operation 180
Phone book 181
Redialing 182
Rejecting/ending a call 181
Removing from cradle 293
Telescoping rod 277