2010 MERCEDES-BENZ ML450 HYBRID hood open

Safety notes
Warning labels
G
Warning!
Various warning labels are attached to your
vehicle. These warning labels are intended to
make you and others aware of various risks.
Do not remove any of these warning labels
unless explicitly instructed to do so by
information on the label itself. Removing
warning labels may cause you and others to
be unaware of certain risks which may result
in an accident and/or personal injury.
Danger of electric shock The components of the HYBRID system are
indicated by yellow warning labels to make
you aware of high voltage. High-voltage
cables are orange-colored.
G
Warning!
The HYBRID system is energized by high
voltage.
You could be seriously or even fatally injured
when you
R tamper with components or high-voltage
cables of the HYBRID system
R touch components or high-voltage cables
of the HYBRID system after the vehicle has
been involved in an accident
R touch damaged components of the HYBRID
system
Do not remove covers of components of the
HYBRID system that carry the yellow warning label. Do not tamper with any components or
with the orange high-voltage cables of the
HYBRID system.
Engine compartment
Before opening the hood do the following:
X Engage the parking brake.
X Shift the automatic transmission into park
position P.
X Switch off the ignition.
The READY indicator (Y page 16) in the
instrument cluster goes out.
X Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch or remove the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO from the vehicle.
X Observe the safety notes on the danger of
electric shock in this manual.
X Observe the safety notes regarding the
hood in the Operator’s Manual. Automatic HYBRID system switch-off
The HYBRID system switches off
automatically if
R the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)
activates the restraint systems in an
accident
R a short circuit in the HYBRID system is
detected
R a plug connection of the HYBRID system is
disconnected
These measures help to prevent you from
coming into contact with high voltage. High-voltage battery
G
Warning!
The high-voltage battery of the HYBRID
system is located under the cargo
compartment. When the pressure inside the
high-voltage battery exceeds a certain value, 8
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G
Warning!
When the READY indicator in the instrument
cluster is on while the combustion engine is
off, the combustion engine has been turned
off automatically. All vehicle systems
continue
to be active as long as the ignition is
switched on. When you open the driver’s door
and unbuckle the seat belt with the READY
indicator on, while the automatic
transmission is in position N or P, the
combustion engine starts automatically.
Therefore, always do the following before
leaving the vehicle:
R Engage the parking brake.
R Shift the automatic transmission into park
position P.
R Switch off the ignition. The READY indicator
goes out.
The combustion engine turns off
automatically when the system determines
that it is not needed. The combustion engine
does not turn off automatically when
R the operation strategy requires that the
combustion engine is running
R the self-diagnosis of the combustion
engine management is still running
R the combustion engine is running below or
above the operating temperature
R the catalytic converter is running below the
operating temperature
R the vehicle is being driven up an extremely
steep incline
R the hybrid components are below or above
their operating temperature
R the accelerator pedal is being depressed to
hard
R the vehicle speed is above 34 mph
(55 km/h)
R the automatic transmission is
malfunctioning R
the hood is open
R the high-voltage battery is not charged
sufficiently Driving off
G
Warning!
When your vehicle is in electric drive mode the
engine produces significantly lower noise
levels. Other motorists or pedestriants,
especially those who are visually or hearing
impaired,

may be unable to hear your vehicle
while it is in motion. This is particularly true
when driving at lower speeds and during
parking maneuvers. At all times, it is the
responsibility of the driver to be aware of their
surroundings, especially in these low speed
situtations. Otherwise other road users could
be seriously or fatally injured.
Depress the brake pedal and shift the
automatic transmission into drive position D
or reverse gear R. If the message Depress
brake to shift out of P. appears in the
multifunction display:
X Depress the brake pedal with somewhat
greater force and select the desired
transmission position.
i Read and observe messages that may
appear in the multifunction display
(Y page 24).
For

more information on driving off, refer to
the Operator’s Manual. Driving
Driving tips R
Think ahead and keep sufficient distance.
R Avoid frequent and rapid acceleration as
well as abrupt braking. Controls in detail
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Using special additives not approved by
Mercedes-Benz may cause damage not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
For further information contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Notes on checking engine oil level
When checking the oil level the vehicle must
be parked on level ground and the vehicle
must have been stationary for at least
5 minutes with the combustion engine turned
off. Checking engine oil level
Before opening the hood do the following:
X Engage the parking brake.
X Shift the automatic transmission into park
position P.
X Switch off the ignition.
The READY indicator (Y page 16) in the
instrument cluster goes out.
X Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch or remove the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO from the vehicle.
X Observe the safety notes on the danger of
electric shock in this manual.
X Open the hood, see Operator's Manual. X
Remove cover : by pulling it in direction
of arrow. X
Pull out oil dipstick ;.
X Wipe oil dipstick ; clean.
X Fully insert oil dipstick ; into the dipstick
guide tube.
X Pull out oil dipstick ; again after
approximately 3 seconds to obtain
accurate reading.
The oil level is correct when it is between
lower (min) mark ? and upper (max) mark
= of oil dipstick ;.
i The filling quantity between the upper and
lower marks on the oil dipstick is
approximately 2.1 US qt. (2.0 l).
X If necessary, add engine oil ( Y page 22).
X Install cover :.
For more information on engine oil, see
Operator's Manual. Adding engine oil 22
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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
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Charge battery in accordance with the
separate instructions for the accessory
battery charger.
X Open the hood, see Operators' Manual.
X Follow the instructions in the separate
operating instructions of the charge unit. X
Flip up cover 1 of the positive terminal in
direction of arrow.
X Connect the positive terminal clamp of the
charge unit with positive terminal 2.
X Slide cover = from the negative terminal
in direction of arrow.
X Connect the negative terminal clip of the
charge unit with negative terminal ?.
X Charge the 12-volt battery.
Disconnecting the charge unit X
After the combustion engine has been
started, disconnect the charge unit. Follow
the instructions in the separate operating
instructions of the charge unit.
X Close the hood.
X Drive the vehicle for some time in order to
charge the 12-volt battery. Jump starting
When the 12-volt battery or the high-voltage
battery is discharged, the combustion engine
can be started with jumper cables and the
battery of another vehicle. Observe the following:
R
Jump starting should only be performed
when the combustion engine and the
catalytic converter are cold.
R Do not jump start if the battery is frozen.
Let the battery thaw out first.
R Only jump start from batteries with the
same voltage rating (12 V). Jump starting
with a more powerful battery could damage
the vehicle’s electrical system, which is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
R Only use jumper cables with sufficient
cross-section and insulated terminal
clamps.
R Always make sure the jumper cables are
not on or near pulleys, fans or other parts
that move when an engine is started or
running.
R Should the battery be drained completely,
let the donating power source charge the
vehicle for several minutes before
reattempting the starting process.
i Jumper cables and additional information
on jump starting are available at any
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
! Jump starting should only be performed
using the jump-start terminals located in
the engine compartment.
Avoid repeated and lengthy starting
attempts.
Do not attempt to start the engine using a
battery quick-charge unit.
If the engine does not run after several
unsuccessful starting attempts, have it
checked at the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Excessive unburned fuel generated by
repeated failed starting attempts may
damage the catalytic converter and may
present a fire risk.
Make sure the jumper cables do not have
loose or missing insulation. Practical hints
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Make sure the cable clamps do not touch
any other metal part while the other end is
still attached to a battery.
Connecting the jumper cables
Your vehicle is equipped with two jump start
terminals in the engine compartment.
Position
C represents the charged battery of
another vehicle or an equivalent starter pack.
X Make sure the two vehicles do not touch.
X Switch off all electrical consumers.
X Engage the parking brake.
X Make sure the automatic transmission is in
park position P.
X Open the hood, see Operators' Manual.
X Flip up cover : of positive terminal = in
direction of arrow.
X Connect positive terminal ; of charged
battery C with positive terminal = with a
jumper cable. Clamp the cable to positive
terminal ; of charged battery C first.
X Slide cover A from negative terminal B in
direction of arrow.
X Connect negative terminal ? of charged
battery C with negative terminal B with a jumper cable. Clamp the cable to
negative terminal ? of charged battery
C first. Starting the combustion engine
X Start the engine of the vehicle with the
charged battery and run it at an engine
speed slightly above idle speed.
X Make sure the automatic transmission is in
park position P.
X Starting the jump start process with
the SmartKey: To start the charging
process for the high-voltage battery, turn
the SmartKey in the starter switch first into
starting position 3.
X Turn the SmartKey back into ignition
position 2.
X Starting the jump start process with
KEYLESS-GO: Depress the brake pedal
during the starting procedure. 34
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