check engine MERCEDES-BENZ ML SUV 2008 Owner's Manual

Trailer towing*
242Check locking mech.
message is shown
in the multi-function display until the ball
coupling is engaged.
X Remove the protective cap from the ball
coupling. Coupling up and uncoupling a trailer
Coupling up a trailer Steel-spring vehicles
X
Make sure the selector lever is set to P.
X Depress the parking brake.
X Position the trailer level behind the vehicle.
X Couple up the trailer.
X Establish the electrical connection
between the vehicle and the trailer.
Vehicles with the AIRMATIC package* G
Risk of injury
Never lock, unlock, open or close a vehicle
door or tailgate when coupling up or decou-
pling a trailer. The vehicle level could
change and you could endanger yourself or
others. Never press the ADS button* or operate the
level control* while you are coupling up or
decoupling a trailer.
X Make sure the DIRECT SELECT selector
lever is set to P.
X Depress the parking brake.
X Start the engine.
X Set the vehicle to highway level
(Y page 159).
X Set the adaptive damping system (ADS)
setting to AUTOorCOMF (Ypage 157).
X Switch off the engine.
X Close the doors and tailgate.
X Position the trailer level behind the vehicle.
X Couple up the trailer.
X Establish the electrical connection
between the vehicle and the trailer.
i If you have coupled a trailer, the vehicle
will remain at highway level.
The vehicle automatically lowers to high-
way level if you drive faster than 8 km/h
with a trailer. The vehicle is not lowered to
the high-speed level even if you are travel-
ling at higher speeds. This also applies when using accessories
that are plugged into the socket of the
trailer coupling (e.g. a bicycle rack).
Decoupling a trailer G
Risk of injury
Do not connect a trailer with an engaged
overrun brake. Otherwise, your hand could
become trapped between the bumper and
drawbar.
! Do not uncouple a trailer with overrun
brake between the bumper and drawbar,
otherwise your vehicle could be damaged
by the spring action of the overrun brake.
Steel-spring vehicles
X Make sure the selector lever is set to P.
X Depress the parking brake.
X Secure the trailer against rolling away.
X Remove the trailer cable and decouple the
trailer.
Vehicles with the AIRMATIC package*
X Make sure the DIRECT SELECT selector
lever is set to P.
X Depress the parking brake.
X Start the engine. Operation
* optional
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Display
messages 265Display messages Possible cause/consequence Possible solution
P To start the
engine, shift to
either P or N You attempted to start the engine while
transmission position
Ror Dwas selec-
ted. X
Shift the automatic transmission to Por N. Depress brake
to shift out of position P X
Depress the brake pedal. PRE-SAFE inoperative See
Owner's Manual G
Risk of injury
Important functions of PRE-SAFE ®
have
failed. All other occupant safety systems,
e.g. airbags, remain available. X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop. Tyre pressure
monitor inoperative
The tyre pressure monitor* is malfunc-
tioning. X
Have the tyre pressure monitor* and wheels
checked at a qualified specialist workshop. Tyre pressure
monitor inoperative No
wheel sensors The tyre pressure monitor* is deactivated
because the vehicle is fitted with wheels
that do not have suitable wheel sensors. X
Have wheels with suitable wheel sensors fitted
at a qualified specialist workshop.
Once wheels with the correct wheel sensors
have been fitted, the tyre pressure monitor*
reactivates automatically after a few minutes
of driving. Practical advi
ce
* optional
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Display
messages 269Display messages Possible cause/consequence Possible solution
$ At least one door is open. X
Close the doors. D The cooling fan for the coolant is faulty. X
If the coolant temperature is less than 120 †,
you can continue driving to the nearest quali-
fied specialist workshop.
X In doing so, avoid heavy loads on the engine
(e.g. driving in mountainous terrain) and stop-
and-go driving. \ Trailer hitch
Check lock mech. Vehicles with a fold-out trailer hitch*: The
trailer hitch* is not engaged properly. X
Stop the vehicle. Pay attention to the traffic
conditions as you do so.
X Allow the ball coupling to engage in the end
position (Y page 241). # The battery is not being charged. Possible
causes are:
R
a faulty alternator
R a torn poly-V-belt
R a malfunction in the electronics X
Stop immediately and safely when traffic con-
ditions allow and check the poly-V-belt.
X If it has torn: do not drive on. Contact the
nearest qualified specialist workshop.
X If it is not damaged: have the vehicle checked
immediately at a qualified specialist workshop. # Battery/Alternator
Stop vehicle The battery is faulty. X
Pull over as soon as it is safe to do so.
X Do not continue driving under any circumstan-
ces.
X Consult the nearest qualified specialist work-
shop. Practical advi
ce
* optional
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Display
messages 273Display messages Possible cause/consequence Possible solution
< Diff. lock system
overheated.
Wait briefly. The differential locks* are too hot and
have therefore been disengaged. X
Drive on carefully.
X Allow the differential locks to cool down.
The differential locks are re-engaged as soon
as they have cooled down. { inoperative DSR is deactivated due to a malfunction. X
Have DSR checked at a qualified specialist
workshop. < Stop vehicle
Apply parking
brake The gear change process has not been
completed. LOW RANGE* is in the neutral
position. There is no connection between
the engine and the drive wheels. X
Stop the vehicle. Pay attention to the traffic
conditions as you do so.
X Depress the parking brake firmly.
X Do not continue driving under any circumstan-
ces.
X Carry out the gear change procedure again. m Consult workshop
If parked, apply
pk. brake The LOW RANGE* system is malfunction-
ing. X
Do not exceed a maximum speed of 80 km/h.
X Firmly depress the parking brake to park.
X Have the vehicle checked at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop. m max. speed 70 km/h You have exceeded the maximum speed
for the gear change process. X
Drive more slowly.
The gear change process is carried out. m max. speed 40 km/h You have exceeded the maximum speed
for the gear change process. X
Drive more slowly.
The gear change process is carried out. Practical advi
ce
* optional
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Display
messages 275Display messages Possible cause/consequence Possible solution
D Coolant Stop car,
turn engine off The poly-V-belt may have torn. X
Stop the vehicle. Pay attention to the traffic
conditions as you do so.
X Switch off the engine.
X Check the poly-V-belt.
X If it has torn: do not drive on. Contact the
nearest qualified specialist workshop.
X If it is not damaged: do not start the engine
again until the message disappears. There is
otherwise a risk of engine damage. B Top up coolant See
Owner's Manual The coolant level is too low. X
Top up the coolant, observing the warning
notes before doing so (Y page 223).
X Have the coolant system checked at a qualified
specialist workshop if the coolant needs top-
ping up more often than usual. . Left-hand Corner-
ing light
or
Right-hand Corner-
ing light The left-hand and/or right-hand cornering
lamp* is faulty. X
Replace the bulb (Y page 312). . Left-hand dipped
beam
or
Right-hand dipped
beam The right-hand or left-hand dipped-beam
headlamp is faulty. X
Halogen headlamp: replace the bulb
(Y page 312).
X Bi-xenon headlamp*: visit a qualified special-
ist workshop. Practical advi
ce
* optional
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Display
messages 279Display messages Possible cause/consequence Possible solution
. Reversing lamp,
left
or
Reversing lamp,
right The left-hand or right-hand reversing lamp
is faulty. X
Replace the bulb (Y page 312). . Left-hand tail
lamp
or
Right-hand tail
lamp The left-hand or right-hand tail lamp is
faulty.
For vehicles with LED tail lamps*: this
message only appears when all LEDs have
failed. X
Tail lamp with a bulb: change the bulb
(Y page 312).
X Tail lamp with LEDs*: contact a qualified spe-
cialist workshop. ò Replace air
cleaner element The engine air filter must be replaced. X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop. N Check engine oil
level when next
refuelling The engine oil level has dropped to a crit-
ical level. X
Check the engine oil level (Y page 220) and top
up the engine oil if necessary.
X Have the engine checked for leaks if the engine
oil needs topping up more often than usual. N Add 1 litre engine
oil when next refu-
elling The engine oil level is too low
31
. X
Check the engine oil level (Y page 220) and top
up the engine oil if necessary.
X Have the engine checked for leaks if the engine
oil needs topping up more often than usual. 31
Only for certain countries. Practical advi
ce
* optional
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Display
messages 280 Display messages Possible cause/consequence Possible solution
N Engine oil level
Stop car, turn
engine off There is insufficient oil in the engine.
There is a danger of engine damage. X
Stop the vehicle. Pay attention to the traffic
conditions as you do so.
X Switch off the engine.
X Top up the engine oil and check the level
(Y page 220). N Engine oil level
Reduce oil level
You have added too much engine oil.
31
There is a risk of damaging the engine or
catalytic converter. X
Siphon off excess engine oil until it is at the
specified level. Observe the legal require-
ments. N Engine oil level
Consult workshop The engine oil level has dropped to a crit-
ical level or the measuring system is mal-
functioning.
32 X
Check the engine oil level (Y page 220).
If the engine oil level is OK:
X Visit a qualified specialist workshop.
If the engine oil level is not OK:
X Top up the engine oil.
X If the warning message disappears: consult a
qualified specialist workshop.
X If the warning message does not disappear: do
not drive on. Consult the nearest qualified spe-
cialist workshop. N Engine oil level
cannot be measured The measuring system is malfunctioning.
32 X
Visit a qualified specialist workshop. 31
Only for certain countries.
32 Only for certain vehicles. Practical advi
ce
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Troubleshooting
291Problem Possible cause/consequence Suggested solutions
±
The yellow engine diagnos-
tics warning lamp comes
on while the engine is run-
ning. Vehicles with a diesel engine: the
fuel tank has run dry. X
Start the engine three to four times after refuelling.
Emergency running mode is cancelled. The vehicle need not be
checked. ±
The yellow engine diagnos-
tics warning lamp comes
on while the engine is run-
ning. There may be a malfunction:
R
in the fuel injection system
R in the exhaust system
R in the ignition system (on vehi-
cles with a petrol engine)
The emission limit values may be
exceeded and the engine may be
running in emergency mode. X
Have the vehicle checked as soon as possible at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop. H
The yellow tyre pressure
monitor* warning lamp is
on. G
Risk of accident
The tyre pressure monitor* has
detected a sudden or significant
pressure loss in at least one of
the tyres. X
Stop the vehicle without making any sudden steering or braking
manoeuvres. Pay attention to the traffic conditions as you do so.
X Observe the additional messages in the multi-function display
(Y page 259).
The warning light will go out after the flat tyre has been changed
and you have been driving for a few minutes. <
The red seat belt warning
lamp lights up for 6 sec-
onds after the engine
starts up 33
. The seat belt warning lamp
reminds the driver and front
passenger to fasten their seat
belts. X
Fasten your seat belt (Y page 89).33
Only for certain vehicles. Practical advice
* optional
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Troubleshooting
298 Problem Possible cause/consequence Suggested solutions
Vehicles with a petrol engine:
The engine is not running
smoothly and is misfiring. There is a malfunction in the
engine electronics or a mechani-
cal component of the engine con-
trol unit. X
Only depress the accelerator pedal slightly.
X Have the cause rectified immediately at a qualified specialist work-
shop.
Otherwise, non-combusted fuel may get into the catalytic converter
and damage it. A coolant temperature of over
120 °C is displayed. You also
hear a warning signal. The coolant level is too low. The
coolant is too hot and the engine
is no longer being cooled suffi-
ciently. X
Stop as soon as possible and allow the engine and the coolant to
cool down.
X Check the coolant level (Y page 223). Observe the warning notes
as you do so and top up the coolant if necessary. If the coolant level is correct, the
radiator fan may be faulty. The
coolant is too hot and the engine
is no longer being cooled suffi-
ciently. X
If the coolant temperature is less than 120 °C, you can continue
driving to the nearest qualified specialist workshop.
X Avoid heavy loads on the engine as you do so, e.g. driving on
mountain roads and stop/start driving. The engine does not switch off. The ignition lock is faulty. X
Open the fuse box in the engine compartment ( Ypage 344).
X Remove fuse 120 using the fuse extractor.
The engine stops.
If you wish to start the engine again:
X Replace the fuse. Practical advice
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Troubleshooting
299Automatic transmission
Problem Possible cause/consequence Suggested solutions
The transmission has problems
shifting gear The transmission is losing oil. X
Have the transmission checked at a qualified specialist workshop
immediately. The acceleration ability is deteri-
orating.
The transmission no longer
changes gear. The transmission is in emergency
mode.
It is only possible to shift into
2nd
gear and reverse gear. X
Stop the vehicle.
X Move the selector lever to P.
X Turn the key to position 0(Y page 75) in the ignition lock.
X Wait at least 10 seconds before restarting the engine.
X Move the selector lever to position Dor R.
If D is selected, the transmission shifts into 2ndgear; if Ris selec-
ted, the transmission shifts into reverse gear.
X Have the transmission checked at a qualified specialist workshop
immediately. Practical advice
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