MERCEDES-BENZ ML430 1997 Complete Repair Manual

97 Controls in detail
Seats
Removing and installing rear seat head
restraints
Removing rear seat head restraints

Pull head restraint to its highest
position.

Push button1 and pull out head
restraint.Installing rear seat head restraints

Insert head restraint and push it down
to the stop.

Push button1 and adjust head
restraint to the desired position
(page 36).
Stowing rear center head restraint
1Rear center head restraint
2Bar
3Clip
Warning!
G
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust head restraint so that the head re-
straint supports the back of the head at eye
level. This will reduce the potential for injury
to the head and neck in the event of an ac-
cident or similar situation.
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat
head restraints. Head restraints are intend-
ed to help reduce injuries during an acci-
dent.
Do not interchange head restraints from
front and rear seat.
iFor a better view toward the rear, you
can store the rear center head restraint
underneath the rear seat (
page 97).


98 Controls in detailSeats
Remove rear center head restraint
(page 96).

If necessary, remove cargo floor plates,
see “Removing cargo floor plates”
(page 162).

Slide rear seats forward, see “Adjusting
rear seat fore and aft” (
page 99).

Fold rear seat backrests down, see
“Folding down the backrest”
(page 100).

From cargo compartment, attach rear
center head restraint1 to underside
of rear center seat.
Make sure front side of head
restraint1 is facing upward.

Press bar2 on both sides into
clips3.
Heated seats*
Both switches for the front seats are loca-
ted in the center console.
1Normal heating
2Rapid heating
Start the engine.
Switching on seat heating

Press upper switch position1.
A red indicator lamp on the switch
lights up.Switching off seat heating

Press upper switch position1 again.
The indicator lamp on the switch turns
off.
Switching on rapid seat heating

Press lower switch position2.
Both red indicator lamps on the switch
turn on.iThe seat heater will be automatically
switched off after approximately
20 minutes.iThe system switches over to normal
heating mode after approximately five
minutes. Only one red indicator lamp
remains on.


99 Controls in detail
Seats
Switching off rapid seat heating
Press lower switch position2 again.
Both red indicator lamps on the switch
turn off.
Rear seats
The rear seats are divided asymmetrically.
To enlarge the cargo area you can adjust
the left and right part separately. The fol-
lowing changes are possible:

moving the seat fore and aft


folding down the backrest


lowering the seatAdjusting rear seat fore and aft
1Release lever

Pull release lever1 in direction of
arrow.

Slide seat to the desired position until
it locks in place.
!If one or both of the lamps on the seat
heater switch are flashing, there is in-
sufficient voltage available since too
many electrical consumers are turned
on. The seat heater switches off auto-
matically.
The seat heater will switch back on
again automatically as soon as suffi-
cient voltage is available.
Warning!
G
Do not adjust the rear seats while driving.
Always seat in an upright position and the
seat belts are properly positioned on the
body. Your seat must be adjusted so that
you can correctly fasten your seat belt.
Adjust head restraint to support the back of
the head approximately at ear level.
Never place hands under the seat or near
any moving parts while a seat is being ad-
justed.
Warning!
G
Failure to assure that seats are locked into
place could result in an increased chance of
injury in an accident.

100 Controls in detailSeatsFolding down the backrest
1Lock button
Close cup holder (
page 167) and
ashtray (
page 169) in rear center
console (page 167).

Move front seats forward. Manual seat
(page 35) or power seat (
page 37).

Slide seat forward.

Remove head restraint(s) (
page 95).

Pull lock button1 up and fold back-
rest forward until it locks in place.The red backrest lock indicator at lock
button1 is not visible in the locked
position.
Folding up the backrest

Close cup holder (
page 167) and
ashtray (
page 169) in rear center
console.

Pull lock button1 up and unfold back-
rest until it locks in place.
M a k e s u r e t h e s e a t b e l t i s n o t c a u g h t i n
the seat.

Check for secure locking by pulling and
pushing on the backrest.
The red backrest lock indicator at lock
button1 is not visible in the locked
position.

Install head restraint (
page 96).

Slide seat rearward to desired position
(page 99).

Adjust front seats to desired position.
Manual seats (
page 35) or power
seats (
page 37).
Lowering the rear seat
1Release button
2Lever
3Release lever

101 Controls in detailSeats

Close cup holder in rear center console
(page 167).

Move front seats forward. Manual seat
(page 35) or power seat (
page 37).

Press and hold release button1 to un-
lock lever2.

Pull lever2 in direction of arrow.

Pull release lever3 and push down
rear seat until it locks in place.

Fold down the backrest (
page 100).

Adjust front seats to desired position.
Manual seats (
page 35) or power
seats (
page 37).Folding up the rear seat

Move front seats forward. Manual seat
(page 35) or power seat (
page 37).

Pull release lever3 and raise rear seat
until it locks in place.
Easy entry / exit feature*
The easy entry / exit feature allows access
to the third row seats*. The right cargo
floor plate must be removed (
page 162).Folding rear seat forward
1Lever

Move right seat forward. Manual seats
(page 35) or power seats
(page 37).

Move rear seat forward (
page 99).

Push head restraint fully down and tilt
it forward.

Fold backrest forward (
page 100).

Pull lever1 up and fold the rear seat
forward.
Warning!
G
Failure to assure that seats are locked into
place could result in an increased chance of
injury in an accident.Warning!
G
Never drive with the second row right seat
folded forward (easy entry / exit feature). It
could open and fold back unintentionally.

102 Controls in detailSeatsResetting rear seat
Pull down on seat bench until it locks
into place.

Pull lock button1 (
page 100) up
and unfold backrest until it locks into
place.

Check for secure locking by pulling and
pushing on the backrest.
The red backrest lock indicator at lock
button1 (
page 100) is not visible in
the locked position.

Move the rear and front seats in de-
sired position.

Pull up and adjust head restraint
(page 36).
Third row seats*Folding down single seat
1Head restraint
2Hook
3Tensioner
4Hook and loop velcro strip

Remove cargo floor plate
(page 162).

Remove head restraint1 from seat
cushion.

Lift tensioner3 upward to a horizon-
tal position to release tension of the
belt.

Disengage hook2 while holding onto
the seat firmly with one hand.
Warning!
G
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust head restraint so that head restraint
supports the back of the head at eye level.
This will reduce the potential for injury to the
head and neck in the event of an accident or
similar situation.
Failure to assure that seats are locked into
place could result in an increased chance of
injury in an accident.
Never place hands under seat or near any
moving parts while a seat is being adjusted.

103 Controls in detailSeats

Attach belt at hook and loop velcro
strip4 (
page 102) on underside of
seat.
5Backrest release
6Seat release

Fold seat down until it locks securely in
place.
The red marking on the seat release6
should not be visible.

Store cargo floor plates inside the
backrest (
page 162).

Pull backrest release5 and unfold
backrest until it locks securely in place.

Install head restraint1 in backrest
(page 102).
Storing single seat

Remove head restraint from backrest
(page 102).

Pull backrest release5 and fold back-
rest forward until it locks securely in
place.

Remove cargo floor plates from the
backrest.

Pull seat release6 (
page 103) and
fold seat up.

Disengage belt and engage hook2
(page 102) in ceiling mount.

Pull on free end of belt until tight.

Install head restraint in openings
provided in seat cushion.

Install cargo floor plates (
page 162).
Warning!
G
After folding the seats up, manually place
the lap belt portion of the seat belt behind
the seat (arrow). Otherwise, the lap belt may
be subject to damage and could rip.

104 Controls in detailSeatsRemoving single seat
1Hook
2Tensioner
3Hook and loop velcro strip
4Release lever

Lift tensioner2 upward to a horizon-
tal position to release tension of the
belt.

Disengage hook1 while holding onto
the seat firmly with one hand.

Attach belt at hook and loop strip3
on underside of seat.

Move release lever4 upward and re-
move seat.
Installing single seat

Place seat into the mounting clamps
and click the seat into place.

105 Controls in detail
Memory function*
Memory function*
With the memory button you can store up
to three different settings for the driver-
and passenger seat.
Together with the driver’s seat you can
store the exterior rear view mirrors.
For the front passenger seat you can store
the seat position.
Storing exterior rear view mirror parking position
For easier parking, you can adjust the pas-
senger-side exterior rear view mirror so
that you can see the right rear wheel as
soon as you engage reverse gearR.For information on activating the parking
position feature, see “Activating exterior
rear view mirror parking position”
(
page 127).
1Position buttons
2Memory button
!Prior to operating the vehicle the driver
should check and adjust the seat
height, seat position fore and aft, and
seat backrest angle if necessary, to en-
sure adequate control, reach and com-
fort. The head restraint should also be
adjusted for proper height. See also the
section on airbags (
page 59) for
proper seat positioning.
In addition, adjust the steering wheel to
ensure adequate control, reach, opera-
tion and comfort. Both the inside and
outside rear view mirrors should be ad-
justed for adequate rear vision.
Fasten seat belts. Infants and small
children should be seated in a properly
secured restraint system that complies
with U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard 213 and 225 and Canadian
Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213 and
210.2.
Warning!
G
Do not activate the memory function while
driving. Activating the memory function
while driving could cause the driver to lose
control of the vehicle.

106 Controls in detailMemory function*Storing parking position
Stop the vehicle.

Switch on ignition (if not already on).

Press button2.
The passenger-side exterior rear view
mirror is selected.

Adjust the exterior rear view mirror
with button3 so that you see the rear
wheel and the road curb.

Press memory button2 (
page 105).

Within three seconds, press bottom of
adjustment button3.
The parking position is stored if the
mirror does not move.
Storing positions in memory
Adjust the seat (
page 37) and exteri-
or rear view mirrors (page 40) to the
desired position.

Push memory button2 (
page 105).

Release memory button and press one
of the position buttons1 within three
seconds.
All the settings are stored at the select-
ed position.
Recalling positions from memory
Press and hold one of the position
buttons1 until seat and rear view mir-
rors have fully moved to the stored po-
sitions.
iIf the mirror does move, repeat the
above steps. After the setting is stored
you can move the mirror again.
The selected position will be stored rel-
ative to the position button1
(page 105) pressed.
!Do not operate the power seats using
the memory button if the seat backrest
is in an excessively reclined position.
Doing so could cause damage to front
or rear seats.iReleasing the button immediately
stops movement to the stored posi-
tions.