2010 MERCEDES-BENZ ML450 HYBRID Owner's Manual

X
Remove the cover (Y page 22).
X Unscrew filler cap : from filler neck.
X Add engine oil as required. Be careful not
to overfill with oil.
Be careful not to spill any oil when adding.
Avoid environmental damage caused by oil
entering the ground or water.
! Excess oil must be siphoned or drained
off. It could cause damage to the engine
and emission control system not covered
by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
X Screw filler cap : back on filler neck.
X Install the cover ( Y page 22). Operation
23164_ZA; 2; 2, en-US
d2ureepe,
Version: 2.11.8.1 2009-05-12T15:08:04+02:00 - Seite 23 Z

Vehicle status messages in the
multifunction display
Notes
Warning and malfunction messages appear in
the multifunction display located in the
instrument cluster.
Certain warning and malfunction messages
are accompanied by an audible signal.
Address these messages accordingly and
follow the additional instructions given in this
Supplemental Operating Instructions
Booklet.
Selecting the Vehicle status message
memory menu in the control system displays
both cleared and uncleared messages.
High-priority messages appear in the
multifunction display in red color.
Certain messages of high priority cannot be
cleared from the multifunction display using
the reset button or button &, *,
U or V on the multifunction steering
wheel.
Other messages of high priority and
messages of less immediate priority can be
cleared from the multifunction display using
the reset button or button &, *,
U or V on the multifunction steering
wheel. They are then stored in the Vehicle
status message memory menu. Remember
that clearing a message will only make the
message disappear. Clearing a message will
not correct the condition that caused the
message to appear. G
Warning!
All categories of messages contain important
information which should be taken note of
and, where a malfunction is indicated,
addressed as soon as possible at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Failure to repair the condition noted may
cause

damage not covered by the Mercedes-
Benz Limited Warranty, or result in property
damage or personal injury. G
Warning!
No messages will be displayed if either the
instrument cluster or the multifunction
display is inoperative.
As a result, you will not be able to see
information about your driving conditions,
such as
R speed
R outside temperature
R warning/indicator lamps
R malfunction/warning messages
R failure of any systems
Driving characteristics may be impaired.
If

you must continue to drive, do so with added
caution. Contact an authorized Mercedes-
Benz Center as soon as possible.
On the pages that follow, you will find a
compilation of the warning and malfunction
messages specific to the HYBRID system. For
all other warning and malfunction messages,
refer to the Operator’s Manual. 24
Practical hints 164_ZA; 2; 2, en-US
d2ureepe,
Version: 2.11.8.1 2009-05-12T15:08:04+02:00 - Seite 24

Text messages
Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
X SolutionsDriving
in
Reverse
currently
not
possible Wait
briefly Driving in reverse is currently not possible. The hybrid
transmission is overheated.
X
Wait briefly.
X Depress the brake pedal.
X Release the accelerator pedal.
X The message in the multifunction disappears. Driving
in
Reverse
now
possible
again The hybrid transmission has cooled down.
X
Driving in reverse is now possible again. Depress
brake to shift
out of P. You have attempted to shift the automatic transmission into
drive
position D, reverse gear R or neutral position N without
depressing the brake pedal or without depressing it fully.
X Depress the brake pedal fully. Engine
Can Now
Be Started The high-voltage battery has been charged via the voltage
transformer automatically.
X
Start the combustion engine.
X Disconnect the charge unit or jumper cables.
X Drive the vehicle for some time in order to charge the 12-
volt battery and the high-voltage battery. Fuel
Filler
Flap Open The fuel filler flap is open.
X
Check the fuel filler flap.
X If it is not closed properly: Close the fuel filler flap.
X If it is closed properly: Have the fuel system checked by
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. Practical hints
25164_ZA; 2; 2, en-US
d2ureepe,
Version: 2.11.8.1 2009-05-12T15:08:04+02:00 - Seite 25 Z

Symbol messages
Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
X Solutionsc Charging
Hybrid
Battery
Please
Wait The high-voltage battery is discharged. You have switched on
the
ignition while the 12-volt battery was being charged with
an approved charge unit or while jump starting the vehicle.
The high-voltage battery is being charged via the voltage
transformer automatically. Depending on the state of the
high-voltage battery's discharge, the charging procedure may
take up to 60 minutes. The message Engine Can Now Be
Started appears in the multifunction display, after the
system became adequately charged to start the combustion
engine (Y page 25).
If the display message Engine Can Now Be Started does
not appear after about an hour:
X Try to start the combustion engine.
X If the combustion engine cannot be started: Contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. d Malfunctio
n The HYBRID system is malfunctioning.
X
Have the system checked at an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center. d Stop car,
switch
engine
off. The HYBRID system is malfunctioning. In addition an acoustic
warning sounds.
X
Stop the vehicle in a safe location as soon as possible.
X Engage the parking brake.
X Switch off the ignition.
X Wait at least 60 seconds for the system to complete the
necessary check cycles before you start the combustion
engine again.
X If the combustion engine cannot be started again contact
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. c Malfunctio
n The high-voltage system is malfunctioning. In addition an
acoustic warning sounds.
X
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center immediately. 26
Practical hints 164_ZA; 2; 2, en-US
d2ureepe,
Version: 2.11.8.1 2009-05-12T15:08:04+02:00 - Seite 26

Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
X Solutionsc Malfunctio
n Service
Required The high-voltage system is malfunctioning. In addition an
acoustic warning sounds.
X
Drive with added caution to the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
The combustion engine cannot be started again, if
R the automatic transmission is set to position neutral
position N or park position P
R the hood is opened
R the bolted cover in the trunk is removed 8 Gas Cap
Open A loss of pressure has been detected in the fuel system. The
fuel cap may not be closed properly or the fuel system may
be leaking.
X
Check the fuel cap.
X If it is not closed properly: Close the fuel cap.
X If it is closed properly: Have the fuel system checked by
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. D Power
Steering
Malfunctio
n
See
Operator's
Manual Power assistance for the steering system is not available. A
considerably
higher degree of effort is necessary to steer the
vehicle.
X Check whether you are capable to apply the higher degree
of effort necessary to safely steer the vehicle.
If you are able to steer the vehicle safely:
X Continue driving with added caution.
X Have the system checked at an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
If, in any way, you feel that you are not able to steer the vehicle
safely:
X Stop the vehicle in a safe location as soon as it is safe to
do so.
X Apply the parking brake.
X Do not continue to drive.
X Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. Practical hints
27164_ZA; 2; 2, en-US
d2ureepe,
Version: 2.11.8.1 2009-05-12T15:08:04+02:00 - Seite 27 Z

Display messages
Possible causes/consequences and
X Solutions# The 12-volt battery is no longer charging.
Possible causes:
R
voltage transformer malfunctioning
R the 12-volt battery is malfunctioning
X Stop the vehicle in a safe location or as soon as it is safe
to do so.
X Engage the parking brake.
X Do not continue to drive.
X Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. 28
Practical hints 164_ZA; 2; 2, en-US
d2ureepe,
Version: 2.11.8.1 2009-05-12T15:08:04+02:00 - Seite 28

What to do if ...
Lamps in instrument cluster
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
X Solutionsé
The yellow RBS
(Recuperative Brake
System) warning lamp
is on while the
combustion engine is
running. In addition, an
acoustic warning may
sound.
The RBS is malfunctioning.
Risk of accident!
The combustion engine may not turn off automatically.
X
Read and observe messages that may appear in the
multifunction display
(Y page 24).
X Continue driving with added caution.
X Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. $
(USA only)
J
(Canada only)
The red brake warning
lamp is on while the
combustion engine is
running. An additional
acoustic warning
sounds.
The RBS is malfunctioning.
Risk of accident!
Brake pedal travel may be longer than usual and the braking
behavior of the vehicle may change.
X
Stop the vehicle in a safe location or as soon as it is safe to do
so. Do not continue to drive.
X Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center immediately.
X Read and observe messages that may appear in the
multifunction display

(Y page 24), see Operator’s Manual. The brake fluid level in the brake fluid reservoir is too low.
Risk of accident!
X
Stop the vehicle in a safe location or as soon as it is safe to do
so. Do not continue to drive.
X Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center immediately.
X Read and observe messages that may appear in the
multifunction display

(Y page 24), see Operator’s Manual.
Do not add brake fluid. This will not solve the problem. d
The yellow ABS/ESP
®
warning lamp flashes
while driving. The ESP
®
,
the 4-ETS, or the ABS has come into operation because
of detected traction loss for at least one wheel.
Risk of accident!
The cruise control is deactivated.
X When driving off, apply as little throttle as possible.
X While driving, ease up on the accelerator pedal.
X Adapt your speed and driving to the prevailing road and weather
conditions.
X Do not switch off the ESP ®
.
Exceptions, see Operator’s Manual. Practical hints
29164_ZA; 2; 2, en-US
d2ureepe,
Version: 2.11.8.1 2009-05-12T15:08:04+02:00 - Seite 29 Z

Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
X SolutionsThe warning and
indicator lamps in the
instrument cluster fail
to come on when
switching on the
ignition. The 12-volt battery and/or the high-voltage battery are
discharged.
X
Charge the 12-volt battery (Y page 32).
or
X Get a jump start (Y page 33).
or
X Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. Combustion engine
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
X SolutionsThe combustion engine
cannot be started. The
warning and indicator
lamps
in the instrument
cluster come on when
switching the ignition. The high-voltage battery is discharged.
The discharged high-voltage battery is being charged with the
ignition switched on while the vehicle is being jump started
(Y page 33).
X
Read and observe messages that may appear in the
multifunction display

(Y page 24). The combustion engine
cannot be started. The
multifunction display
does not display any
messages. The self-diagnosis has not been completed yet or the HYBRID
system is malfunctioning.
X
Switch off the ignition and switch it back on.
X Try to start the combustion engine once more.
X If the combustion engine cannot be started: Contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center. RBS (Recuperative Brake System)
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
X SolutionsLess brake pedal
pressure is required
and the brake pedal
travel is longer than
usual.
X
Apply the brake pedal fully and release it.
The required brake pedal pressure and the brake pedal travel
are back to normal. The RBS is malfunctioning.
Risk of accident!
X
Read and observe the messages in the multifunction display
(Y

page 24) and the notes on warning and indicator lamps in the
instrument cluster (Y page 29). 30
Practical hints 164_ZA; 2; 2, en-US
d2ureepe,
Version: 2.11.8.1 2009-05-12T15:08:04+02:00 - Seite 30