MERCEDES-BENZ ML430 1997 Complete Repair Manual

107 Controls in detail
Lighting
Lighting
For notes on how to switch on the head-
lamps (
page 48) and use the turn signals
(
page 49), see the “Getting started” sec-
tion.
Combination switch
The combination switch is on the left of the
steering column.
1High beam
2High beam flasherMOff
UAutomatic headlamp mode
CParking lamps, license plate lamps
and instrument panel lamps
Canada only: With the engine run-
ning, the low beam headlamps
additionally switched on.
õLow beam or high beam headlamps
ƒLeft or right standing lamps
(symbol on underside of switch)
iIf you drive in countries where vehicles
drive on the other side of the road than
the country where the vehicle is regis-
tered, you must have the headlamps
modified for symmetrical low beams.
Relevant information can be obtained
at your authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center.

108 Controls in detailLightingManual headlamp mode
The low beam headlamps and parking
lamps can be switched on and off with the
combination switch. For combination
switch, see (
page 107).
Automatic headlamp mode
The parking lamps, low beam headlamps
and license plate lamps switch on and off
automatically depending on the brightness
of the ambient light.

Turn the combination switch toU.iIf you remove the key and open the
driver’s door while the parking lamps or
low beam headlamps are switched on,
then a warning sounds.
Warning!
G
If the combination switch is set toU,

the headlamps may switch off unexpect-
edly when the system senses bright am-
bient light, for example light from
oncoming traffic.


the headlamps will not be automatically
switched on under foggy conditions.
To minimize risk to you and to others, acti-
vate headlamps by turning combination
switch toõ when driving or when traffic
and / or ambient lighting conditions require
you to do so.
In low ambient lighting conditions, only
switch from positionU toõ with the
vehicle at a standstill. Switching fromU
toõ will briefly switch off the head-
lamps. Doing so while driving in low ambient
lighting conditions may result in an acci-
dent.
The automatic headlamp feature is only an
aid to the driver. The driver is responsible for
the operation of the vehicle's lights at all
times.iIf the automatic headlamp mode is ac-
tivated, the fog lamps can also be
switched on (
page 111). The low
beam headlamp and parking lamps are
activated simultaneously.

109 Controls in detail
Lighting
Daytime running lamp mode
Canada only:
Turn combination switch to
positionM orU.
When the engine is running, the low beam
headlamps are automatically switched on.
In low ambient light conditions, the parking
lamps will also switch on.
When you shift from a driving position to
positionN orP, the low beam switches off
(three minutes delay).
For nighttime driving you should turn the
combination switch to positionõ to
permit activation of the high beam head-
lamps.Night security illumination
When you turn off the engine and the last
door has been closed, the following lamps
will remain lit:


Parking lamps


Tail lamps


License plate lamps


Front fog lamps
The combination switch must be set to
positionU (
page 107).Deactivating night security illumination
temporarily

Before leaving the vehicle, turn the key
in the steering lock to position0
(page 33) then turn it to position2
and back to0.
The night security illumination is deac-
tivated. It will reactivate as soon as you
start the engine.
Setting illumination time
1Switch for fog lamps
iThe high beam flasher is always avail-
able.
iYou can reactivate this function within
ten minutes by opening a door or the
liftgate.
If you do not open a door or the liftgate
after turning off the engine, the lamps
will automatically switch off after
60 seconds.

110 Controls in detailLighting
Stop the vehicle.

Make sure the ignition is switched on.
All the lamps in the instrument cluster
light up.

Turn combination switch to
positionM.

Press upper part1 of switch until the
clock, located in the instrument clus-
ter, displays the actual illumination
time.

Press upper part1 of switch again.
Each time the switch is pressed, the
illumination time increases by
15 seconds. You can set the illumina-
tion time between 0 (off) and
60 seconds.
Approximately five seconds after pressing
the switch, the illumination time is set and
the clock is displayed again.Locator lighting
During darkness, the following lamps will
come on when the vehicle is unlocked by
remote control:


Parking lamps


Tail lamps


License plate lamps


Front fog lamps
The combination switch must be set to
positionU (
page 107).
The locator lighting switches off when the
driver’s door is opened. It switches off au-
tomatically after a period of approximately
40 seconds.Switching on high beams

Turn the combination switch
toõ(
page 107).

Push the combination switch forward.
The high beam indicatorA in the
instrument cluster comes on.
High beam flasher

Pull the combination switch briefly in
direction2.

111 Controls in detail
Lighting
Fog lamps
The switch is located on the upper center
console.1Front fog lamps
2Indicator lamp
3Front fog lamps and rear fog lamp
Switching front fog lamps on and off

Make sure the low beam headlamps
are switched on.

Press upper part1 of switch.
The green indicator lamp‡ in the
instrument cluster comes on.

Press upper part1 of switch again.
The green indicator lamp‡ in the
instrument cluster goes out.Switching front fog lamps and rear fog
lamps on and off

Make sure the low beam headlamps
are switched on.

Press lower part3 of switch.
The green indicator lamp‡ in the
instrument cluster comes on in addi-
tion to the yellow indicator lamp2 in
the switch.

Press lower part3 of switch again.
The green indicator lamp‡ in the
instrument cluster and the yellow indi-
cator lamp2 in the switch go out.
Switching rear fog lamp on and off

Press upper part1 of switch.
The yellow indicator lamp2 in the
switch goes out.

Press upper part1 of switch.
The green indicator lamp‡ in the
instrument cluster goes out.
Warning!
G
In low ambient lighting or foggy conditions,
only switch from positionU toB with
the vehicle at a standstill. Switching
fromU toB will briefly switch off the
headlamps. Doing so while driving in low
ambient lighting conditions may result in an
accident.iThe fog lamps can be switched on with
combination switch in positionõ
orU. Consult your state Motor Reg-
ulations regarding allowable lamp oper-
ation.

112 Controls in detailLightingHazard warning flasher
The hazard warning flasher can be activa-
ted with the ignition switched on or off. It
is activated automatically when an airbag
is deployed.
The switch is located on top of the steering
column.Hazard warning flasher switch
Switching on hazard warning flasher
Press the hazard warning flasher
switch.
All the turn signals will flash.
Switching off hazard warning flasher

Press hazard warning flasher switch
again.
Interior lighting
The controls are located in the overhead
control panel.
1Left front interior lamp lens
2Right front interior lamp lens
3Automatic function off
4Automatic function on
5Rear interior lighting
iIf the hazard warning flasher was acti-
vated automatically, press the hazard
warning flasher switch twice to deacti-
vate.

113 Controls in detail
Lighting
Automatic control
Activating automatic control
Bring the rocker switch to center
position4.
Interior lamps (except cargo compart-
ment lamp) are switched on in dark-
ness, when you

unlock the vehicle


open a door


remove the key from the steering
lock
In addition, the entry / exit lamps in the
door trays will come on when you open
a door.
When all doors are closed and no key is
inserted in the steering lock, the interi-
or lamps are switched off after a brief
delay.Deactivating automatic control

Press lower part3 of rocker switch.
The interior lighting and the entry / exit
lamps remain switched off in darkness,
even when you

unlock the vehicle


open a door


remove the key from the steering
lockManual control
Switching on front interior lamps

Press on lamp lens1 or2.
The respective lamp switches on.
Switching off front interior lamps

Press on lamp lens1 or2 again.
The respective lamp switches off.
Operating rear interior lighting with
rocker switch

Press on upper part5 of rocker
switch.
The rear interior lighting goes on.
iIf the door remains open, the interior
lamps (except cargo compartment
lamp) switch off automatically after ap-
proximately 30 minutes.
iIf a lamp is switched on manually, it will
not go out automatically. This could
cause the battery to become dis-
charged.


114 Controls in detailLighting
Press on upper part5 of rocker
switch again.
The rear interior lighting goes off.
If the switch is pressed while the rear
interior lighting is on, the function is re-
versed.
Operating rear interior lighting with
lamp lens
Rear interior lighting
Push on lamp lens (arrow) to switch
rear interior lighting on or off.Reading lamps in inside rear view
mirror
1Reading lamps
2Reading lamps on / off
Switching reading lamp on and off

Press button2.
The lamp switches on.

Press button2 again.
The lamp switches off.Cargo compartment lamp
1Switched off
2Switched on continuously
3Automatic control
Switching off cargo compartment lamp

Slide the switch to position1.
The cargo compartment lamp is
switched off, even when the liftgate is
opened.


115 Controls in detail
Lighting
Switching on continuous cargo
compartment lamp
Slide the switch to position2.
The cargo compartment lamp is
switched on continuously.Automatic control

Slide the switch to position3.
The cargo compartment lamp is
switched on and off by opening or clos-
ing the liftgate.
iTo prevent the vehicle battery from be-
ing discharged, make sure the switch is
not in position2 when leaving the ve-
hicle.

116 Controls in detailInstrument cluster
Instrument clusterA full view illustration of the instrument
cluster can be found in the “At a glance”
section of this manual (
page 24).
1Left knob
2Right knobThe instrument cluster is activated when
you:


open the driver’s door


turn the key in steering lock to
position1 or 2 (
page 33)


press the left knob1
Instrument cluster illumination
To brighten illumination
Turn knob1 clockwise.
The instrument cluster illumination will
brighten.
To dim illumination

Turn knob1 counterclockwise.
The instrument cluster illumination will
dim.iYou can set the instrument cluster illu-
mination with the following lamps on:

parking lamps


low beam headlamps


high beam headlamps