automatic transmission MERCEDES-BENZ ML320 1997 Complete Service Manual

234
Engine compartment
Te ch n ica l
data
Instruments
and controls Operation Driving
Instrument
cluster display Practical hints
Car care Index
Automatic transmission fluid level
The transmission has a permanent fill of automatic
transmission fluid.
Regular automatic transmission fluid level checks and
changes are not required. For this reason the dipstick is
omitted.
If you notice fluid leaks or gear shifting malfunctions,
have your authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center
check the transmission fluid level.
Engine oil consumption
Engine oil consumption checks should only be made
after the break-in period. During the break-in period,
higher oil consumption may be noticed and is normal.
Frequent driving at high engine speeds results in
increased consumption. Coolant level
To check the coolant level, the vehicle must be parked
on level ground and the engine stopped.
Check coolant level only when coolant is cold.
The coolant level should reach the COLD LEVEL mark in
the reservoir.P20.30-0241-20

292
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc. - capacities
Te ch n ica l
data
Instruments
and controls Operation Driving
Instrument
cluster display Practical hints Car care Index
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc. – capacities
Vehicle components and their respective lubricants must match. Therefore use only brands tested and recommended
by us. Please refer to the Factory Approved Service Products pamphlet, or inquire at your Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc. Model Capacity
Engine with oil filter
(recommended engine oils) ML 320 / ML 430
ML 55 AMG 8.5 US qt (8.0 l)
8.0 US qt (7.5 l)
Automatic transmission
(automatic transmission fluid) 9.0 US qt (8.5 l)
Transfer case
(Dexron 3 or Dexron 2E) 1. 6 U S q t (1. 5 l )
Rear axle
(Hypoid gear oil SAE 90, 85 W 90) 1.3 US qt (1.25 l)
Front axle
(Hypoid gear oil SAE 90) 1. 2 U S q t (1. 1 l )
Power steering
(MB Power steering fluid) approx. 0.65 US qt (0.6 l)
Front wheel hubs
(high temperature roller bearing grease) approx. 1.5 oz (43 g) each

300
Index
Te ch n ica l
data
Instruments
and controls Operation Driving
Instrument
cluster display Practical hints Car care
Index
Index
AABS (Antilock brake system) ....................................... 201 LOW RANGE – ABS ..................................................202
Malfunction indicator lamp .....................................222
Adjustable steering wheel .............................................. 70 Indicator lamp ...........................................................222
Adjusting headlamp aim ...............................................268
Air conditioner refrigerant ...........................................294
Air pump .........................................................................239
Air recirculation ............................................................ 102
Airbag deactivation system ............................................ 53
Airbag OFF indicator lamp ...........................................222
Airbags .............................................................................. 56
Alarm system ............................................................. 35, 36
Anticorrosion/antifreeze .................... 181, 235, 293, 297
Antiglare night position ................................................. 71
Antilock brake system (ABS) ....................................... 201 LOW RANGE – ABS ..................................................202
Malfunction indicator lamp .....................................222
Antitheft alarm system ................................................... 35
Aquaplaning ................................................................... 178 Ashtray
Center console, front ................................................ 118
Rear passenger compartment ................................. 118
Automatic central locking ..............................................32
Automatic transmission ................................................ 165 Emergency Operation ............................................... 172
Fluid level .................................................................. 234
Selector lever position .............................................. 168
Transmission selector lever, manually unlocking 259
BBabySmart
TM airbag deactivation system ..................... 53
Self-test ......................................................................... 53
BAS (Brake assist system) ............................................ 199 Malfunction indicator lamp .....................................221
Battery .............................................................................251 Battery recycling ...................................................... 252
Charge indicator lamp ............................................. 223
Battery, remote control ................................................. 270
Block heater .................................................................... 182
Blocking of rear door windows ....................................105
Brake assist system (BAS) ............................................ 199 Malfunction indicator lamp .....................................221

306
Index
Te ch n ica l
data
Instruments
and controls Operation Driving
Instrument
cluster display Practical hints Car care
Index
Parking lamp ...................................................... 90, 264
Replacing bulbs .........................................................260
Side marker lamp ......................................................264
Standing lamp .................................................... 90, 264
Taillamp assemblies .................................................265
Turn signal lamp ................................................ 90, 264
Turn signal lamp, side .............................................266
Layout of poly-V-belt ......................................................286
Liftgate ............................................................................... 34 Unlocking ..................................................................... 28
Lighter ..............................................................................119
Limp home mode (Automatic transmission) ............. 172
Loading instructions ..................................................... 136
Lockable storage compartment .....................................116
Locking and unlocking the vehicle ............................... 27
Low engine coolant level warning ..............................224
Low engine oil level warning .......................................224
LOW RANGE Indicator lamp ........................................................... 221
LOW RANGE mode ........................................................209 LOW RANGE – 4-ETS+ .............................................204
LOW RANGE – ABS ..................................................202
LOW RANGE – ESP ...................................................208
MMaintenance ...................................................................147
Malfunction and indicator lamps in the instrument cluster ......................................................................... 218
Manual locking/unlocking the doors ...........................29
Manual operation of Skyview Top .............................. 273
Manual operation of sliding/pop-up roof .................. 272
Manual seat, front ............................................................39
MCS, radio and telephone ............................................146
Mechanical keys ............................................................... 29
Memory .............................................................................42 Recalling ....................................................................... 42
Storing ........................................................................... 42
Mirror, exterior, adjusting ..............................................73
Mirror, exterior, rear view ..............................................73
Mirror, inside, rear view ................................................. 71
Mirrors, vanity ................................................................ 113

ContentsSafety and Security........................... 57
Occupant safety................................... 58
Airbags ........................................... 59
Seat belts ....................................... 64
Children in the vehicle .................... 67
Blocking of rear door
window operation ........................... 73
Panic alarm .......................................... 75
Activating ....................................... 75
Deactivating ................................... 75
Driving and safety systems .................. 76
ABS ................................................ 76
BAS ................................................ 78
4-ETS .............................................. 79
EBP................................................. 80
ESP ................................................. 80
Anti-theft systems................................ 83
Immobilizer..................................... 83
Anti-theft alarm .............................. 83
Tow-away alarm,
glass breakage sensor.................... 84
Controls in detail............................... 87
Locking and unlocking ......................... 88
Remote control with folding key..... 88
Opening the doors
from the inside ............................... 90
Opening the liftgate ....................... 91
Closing the liftgate ......................... 92
Automatic central locking .............. 93
Locking and unlocking
from the inside ............................... 94
Seats ................................................... 95
Removing and installing
front seat head restraints............... 95
Rear seat head restraints ............... 96
Heated seats* ................................ 98
Rear seats ...................................... 99
Third row seats* .......................... 102
Memory function* ............................. 105
Storing exterior rear view mirror
parking position ........................... 105
Storing positions in memory ........ 106
Recalling positions from memory . 106Lighting ............................................. 107
Combination switch ..................... 107
Fog lamps .................................... 111
Hazard warning flasher ................ 112
Interior lighting ............................ 112
Instrument cluster ............................. 116
Instrument cluster illumination .... 116
Coolant temperature gauge ......... 117
Display in the speedometer ......... 117
Resetting trip odometer ............... 118
Tachometer .................................. 118
Outside temperature indicator ..... 118
Setting the clock .......................... 118
Automatic transmission ..................... 119
One-touch gearshifting ................ 120
Gear ranges ................................. 121
Gear selector lever position ......... 122
Accelerator position ..................... 123
Towing a trailer ............................ 124
Emergency operation
(Limp Home Mode) ...................... 124

Contents
Transmission control –
LOW RANGE mode............................. 125
Switching on LOW RANGE mode.. 125
Switching off LOW RANGE mode . 125
Good visibility .................................... 126
Rear view mirror........................... 126
Electrically folding exterior
rear view mirrors .......................... 128
Windshield wipers ........................ 129
Headlamp cleaning system* ........ 131
Rear window wiper ....................... 131
Sun visor ...................................... 132
Rear window defroster ................. 133
Automatic climate control ................. 134
Automatic mode........................... 137
Adjusting air volume and
air distribution manually............... 137
Defrosting .................................... 138
Air recirculation mode.................. 138
Air conditioning ............................ 139
Residual heat and ventilation ....... 140
Rear passenger compartment
ventilation and rear automatic
climate control ............................. 141
Front and rear air vents................ 142Power windows .................................. 144
Opening and closing
the side windows .......................... 144
Synchronizing power windows ...... 146
Rear quarter windows* ................. 146
Sliding / pop-up roof* ......................... 148
Opening and closing the
sliding / pop-up roof ...................... 148
Synchronizing the
sliding / pop-up roof ...................... 149
Driving systems .................................. 150
Cruise control ............................... 150
Parktronic system*
(Parking assist) ............................. 153
Loading............................................... 157
Loading instructions ..................... 157
Partition net* ................................ 159
Cargo area cover blind* ................ 161
Cargo floor plates ......................... 162
Roof rack* .................................... 163Useful features ................................... 164
Interior storage spaces ................. 164
Cup holders .................................. 166
Armrest in rear seat bench ........... 167
Ashtrays and cigarette lighter ....... 168
Electrical outlet............................. 170
Telephone* ................................... 170
Tele Aid* ....................................... 171
Garage door opener ...................... 180
Trip computer* ............................. 186

27 At a glance
Center console
Center console
Upper part
Item
Page
1
Air vents, automatic
climate control
142
2
MCS, see separate
operating instructions
3
Automatic climate control
134
Rear window defroster
switch
133
4
Seat heater switch*,
passenger side
98
5
Rear quarter window
switch*, right
146
6
ESP control switch
80
Item
Page
7
Rear window
wiper / washer switch
51
8
Rear quarter window
switch*, left
146
9
Seat heater switch*,
driver’s side
98
a
Front and rear fog lamp
switch
111
b
Indicator lamp for antitheft
alarm system
83
c
Transmission control
switch, LOW RANGE mode
125

28 At a glanceCenter consoleLower part
Item
Page
1
Ashtray with cigarette
lighter
168
2
Gear selector lever for
automatic transmission
46
3
Power window switch, right
front door
144
4
Power window switch, right
rear door
144
5
Parktronic system*
deactivation switch
156
6
Storage compartment with
cup holder
166
Item
Page
7
Exterior rear view mirror
adjustment switch
40
Exterior rear view mirror
electrically folding*
128
8
Central locking switch
93
9
Power window switch, left
rear door
144
a
Switch for rear door win-
dow override
73
b
Power window switch, left
front door
144

46 Getting startedDrivingStarting the engine Automatic transmission
Gearshift pattern for automatic
transmissionPPark position with gear selector lever
lock
RReverse gear
NNeutral
DDrive position
More information can be found in the
“Controls in detail” section (
page 119).Starting

Make sure the gear selector lever is set
toP.

Do not depress the accelerator.

Turn the key in the steering lock to
position3 and hold until the engine
starts (
page 33).

Depress the brake pedal.
The gear selector lever lock is released.
For information on turning off the engine,
see “Turning off engine” (
page 54).
Warning!
G
Inhalation of exhaust gas is hazardous to
your health. All exhaust gas contains carbon
monoxide, and inhaling it can cause uncon-
sciousness and lead to death.
Do not run the engine in confined areas
(such as a garage) which are not properly
ventilated. If you think that exhaust gas
fumes are entering the vehicle while driving,
have the cause determined and corrected
immediately. If you must drive under these
conditions, drive only with at least one win-
dow fully open.

48 Getting startedDrivingAfter a cold start, the automatic transmis-
sion shifts at a higher engine revolution.
This allows the catalytic converter to reach
its operating temperature earlier.
More information can be found in the “Op-
eration” section (
page 191).
For information on off-road driving, see
“Driving instructions” (
page 200).
Switching on headlamps
The combination switch is located on the
left of the steering column.Combination switch1 Off
2Low beam headlamps on
3High beam lamps on
Turn the switch toõ.
Low beam headlamps on.
!If you hear a warning signal when driv-
ing off, you have forgotten to release
the parking brake.
Release the parking brake.Warning!
G
It is dangerous to shift the gear selector
lever out ofP orN if the engine speed is
higher than idle speed. If your foot is not
firmly on the brake pedal, the vehicle could
accelerate quickly forward or in reverse. You
could lose control of the vehicle and hit
someone or something. Only shift into gear
when the engine is idling normally and when
your right foot is firmly on the brake pedal.
Warning!
G
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
in order to obtain braking action. This could
result in drive wheel slip and reduced vehi-
cle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not pre-
vent this type of loss of control.!Place the gear selector lever in
positionR only when the vehicle is
stopped in order to avoid damaging the
transmission.!Do not run cold engine at high engine
speeds. Running a cold engine at high
engine speeds may shorten the service
life of the engine.