MERCEDES-BENZ ML350 2008 W164 Owner's Manual

430 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbolDisplay messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
;(USA only)
3(Canada only)
Check
Brake Fluid LevelThere is insufficient brake fluid
in the reservoir.Risk of accident! Stop the vehicle in a
safe location or as soon at is safe to do
so.
Apply the parking brake (page 65).
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center. Do not add brake
fluid! This will not solve the problem.
Warning!G
Driving with the message Check Brake
Fluid Level
displayed can result in an
accident. Have your brake system checked
immediately. Do not add brake fluid before
checking the brake system. Overfilling the
brake fluid reservoir can result in spilling
brake fluid on hot engine parts and the
brake fluid catching fire. You could be
seriously burned.
!If you find that the brake fluid in the brake
fluid reservoir has fallen to the minimum mark or
below, have the brake system checked for brake
pad thickness and leaks.

431 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbolDisplay messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
Ï Coolant Level
Stop car, switch engine off.The coolant is too hot.
Among other possible causes
(the cooling fan could be
malfunctioning), the poly-V-belt
could be broken.Stop the vehicle in safe location or as
soon as it safe to do so.
Apply the parking brake (page 65).
Turn off the engine.
Check the poly-V-belt.
If it is broken:
Do not continue to drive. Otherwise, the
engine will overheat due to an inoperative
water pump which may result in damage
to the engine. Contact an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
If it is intact:
Do not continue to drive the vehicle with
this message displayed. Doing so could
result in serious engine damage that is
not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limit-
ed Warranty.
(Continued on next page)

432 Practical hints
What to do if …
During severe operation conditions and
stop-and-go city traffic, the coolant tem-
perature may rise close to 248°F (120°C).
Display symbolDisplay messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
Observe the coolant temperature in the
multifunction display (
page 154).
If the temperature raises again:
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center immediately.
Warning!G

Driving when your engine is overheated
can cause some fluids which may have
leaked into the engine compartment to
catch fire. You could be seriously
burned.

Steam from an overheated engine can
cause serious burns which can occur
just by opening the hood. Stay away
from the engine if you see or hear steam
coming from it.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location away from
other traffic. Turn off the engine, get out of
the vehicle and do not stand near the vehicle
until the engine has cooled down.
!The engine should not be operated with the
coolant temperature above 248°F (120°C).
Doing so may cause serious damage which is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.

433 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbolDisplay messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
B Top Up Coolant
See Operator’s ManualThe coolant level is too low.Add coolant (page 345).
If you have to add coolant frequently,
have the cooling system checked by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.
Warning!G
Do not spill antifreeze on hot engine parts.
Antifreeze contains ethylene glycol which
may burn if it comes into contact with hot
engine parts. You could be seriously burned.
!Do not ignore the low engine coolant level
warning. Extended driving with the message and
symbol displayed may cause serious engine
damage not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.
Do not drive without sufficient amount of coolant
in the cooling system. The engine will overheat
causing major engine damage.

434 Practical hints
What to do if …
When the message Check engine oil
level at next refueling.
appears while
the engine is running and at operating tem-
perature, the engine oil level has dropped
to approximately the minimum level.
When this occurs, the warning will first
come on intermittently and then stay on if
the oil level drops further.
Visually check for oil leaks. If no obvious oil
leaks are noted, drive to the nearest
service station where the engine oil should
be topped to the required level with an
approved engine oil.For information on approved engine oils,
refer to the Factory Approved Service
Products pamphlet (USA only) or contact
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.
Display symbolDisplay messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
NCheck engine oil level
at next refueling.The engine oil level is too low.Check the engine oil level (page 343)
and add engine oil as required
(
page 344).
!The engine oil level warning should not be
ignored. Extended driving with the symbol dis-
played could result in serious engine damage
that is not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty.

435 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbolDisplay messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
c You are driving with one or more
doors open.Stop the vehicle in a safe location or as
soon as it is safe to do so.
Close the door(s).
] Clean
Fuel FilterContact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center.
AGas Cap OpenA loss of pressure has been
detected in the fuel system. The
fuel cap may not be closed
properly or the fuel system may
be leaky.Check the fuel cap (page 337).
If it is not closed properly:
Close the fuel cap.
If it is closed properly:
Have the fuel system checked by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.
aYou are driving with the hood or
the tailgate open.Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt as
soon as it is safe to do so in a safe
location.
Close the hood (page 341) or the
tailgate (
page 119).
You are trying to lock the vehicle
with the KEYLESS-GO* function
with a door or the tailgate open.Close all doors and/or the tailgate
(
page 119).

436 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbolDisplay messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
FKey
Not DetectedThe SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* is not detected
while the engine is running
because

the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* is not in the
vehicle

there is strong
radio-frequency interference
Stop the vehicle in a safe location or as
soon as it is safe to do so.
Apply the parking brake (page 65).
Search for the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*.
Otherwise the vehicle cannot be centrally
locked nor can the engine be started
again after the engine is stopped.
The SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* is momentarily
not detected.Change the position of the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* in the vehicle.
Operate the vehicle with the SmartKey in
the starter switch if necessary.
Key
Not DetectedThe SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* is not detected
while the ignition is switched on
(
page 40) and a door is
opened or closed and the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* is
not in the vehicle.
Search for the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*.
Otherwise the vehicle cannot be locked
nor can the engine be started.
Change the position of the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* in the vehicle.

437 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbolDisplay messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
FKey Detected
In VehicleA SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
left in the vehicle was detected
while trying to lock the vehicle
from the outside.Take the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
out of the vehicle.
Remove KeyYou have forgotten to remove
the SmartKey.Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
You need a new key.There is no additional code avail-
able for SmartKey or SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO*.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center as soon as possible.
Key
Does Not Belong to VehicleThe SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* in the starter
switch does not belong to the
vehicle.Find the SmartKey or SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* that belongs to the
vehicle to operate the vehicle.
Change
Key BatteriesThe batteries in the SmartKey
with KEYLESS-GO* are dis-
charged.Replace the batteries (page 461).
Don’t Forget
Your KeyThis message appears for a
maximum of 60 seconds if the
driver’s door is opened with the
engine shut off and no SmartKey
in the starter switch.
This message is only a reminder.Insert the SmartKey in the starter
switch (
page 40).
or
Take the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
with you when leaving the vehicle.

438 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbolDisplay messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
. 3rd Brake LampThe high mounted brake lamp is
malfunctioning. This message
will only appear if a critical num-
ber of LEDs have stopped work-
ing.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center as soon as possible.
Active Headlamps
InoperativeThe active Bi-Xenon* headlamp
system is malfunctioning.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center as soon as possible.
AUTO Light
InoperativeThe light sensor is malfunction-
ing. The headlamps switch on
automatically.Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center as soon as possible.
To switch off the headlamps
(U. S. vehicles only):
In the control system, set lamp operation
to manual mode (
page 136).
Switch off the headlamps using the
exterior lamp switch (
page 135).
Brake Lamp
LeftThe left brake lamp is malfunc-
tioning. A substitute bulb is
being used.Replace the bulb as soon as possible
(
page 471).
Brake Lamp
RightThe right brake lamp is malfunc-
tioning. A substitute bulb is
being used.Replace the bulb as soon as possible
(
page 471).

439 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbolDisplay messagePossible cause/consequencePossible solution
. Cornering Lamp
LeftThe left corner-illuminating front fog lamp
is malfunctioning.Replace the bulb as soon as possible
(
page 469).
Cornering Lamp
RightThe right corner-illuminating front fog
lamp is malfunctioning.Replace the bulb as soon as possible
(
page 469).
Front Foglamp
LeftThe left front fog lamp is malfunctioning.Replace the bulb as soon as possible
(
page 469).
Front Foglamp
RightThe right front fog lamp is malfunctioning.Replace the bulb as soon as possible
(
page 469).
High Beam
LeftThe left high beam lamp is
malfunctioning.Halogen headlamp:
Replace the bulb as soon as possible
(
page 467).
Bi-Xenon* headlamp:
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center as soon as possible.
High Beam
RightThe right high beam lamp is
malfunctioning.Halogen headlamp:
Replace the bulb as soon as possible
(
page 467).
Bi-Xenon* headlamp:
Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center as soon as possible.