MERCEDES-BENZ ML320 2002 W163 Owner's Manual

108 Automatic climate control
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Automatic climate control
P68.10-2565-29
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109 Automatic climate control
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index 1Display and controls
2Thumbwheels for the center air outlets
To open the left air and center air outlet:
Turn the left thumbwheel upward.
To open the right center air outlet:
Turn the right thumbwheel upward.
3Thumbwheels for the side air outlets
To open the side air outlets:
Turn the thumbwheels upward.
To defrost the side windows in the area around the
exterior rear view mirrors:
Turn the thumbwheel to the center position.4Center air outlets, adjustable
5Side air outlets, adjustable
6Defroster outlet windshield
Important!
The air outlets should be remain open to allow
unrestricted operation of the automatic climate control.
Notes:
For the air flow-through system to function properly, the
air vents and air outlets should be kept unobstructed.
The air outlets can be directed towards your body or
pointed upwards for draft free ventilation of the interior.

110 Automatic climate control
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Front display and controls
1Air volume control wheel
2Temperature control
3Air distribution control wheel4Defrosting, see page 115
5Air recirculation, see page 116
6Automatic mode AUTO
Automatic control of temperature, air distribution
and air volume
7AC
OFF
, economy mode see page 117
Residual engine heat utilization, see page 117
8Rear window defroster, see page 121
9Rear passenger compartment ventilation switched
off, see page 118
10Interior temperature sensor
Important!
This vehicle is equipped with an air conditioner system
that uses R–134a (HFC: hydrofluorocarbon) as a
refrigerant. Repairs should always be performed by a
qualified technician, and refrigerant should be collected
in a recovery system for recycling.
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111 Automatic climate control
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Automatic climate control
The automatic climate control only operates with the
engine running.
The system is always at operational readiness, except
when manually switched off.
In the automatic mode the automatic climate control
cools or heats the interior depending on outside
temperature and the selected interior temperature.
Make the temperature settings in small increments.
If the vehicle interior has been heated by direct sunlight
and is very hot, ventilate the interior (open door or
windows for a short period) before driving off
Keep the air intake grill in front of the windshield free
of debris and snow.
The air conditioning mode removes considerable
moisture from the air during operation in the cooling
mode. It is normal for water to drip on the ground
through ducts in the underbody.
If the economy mode AC
OFF
is selected, the air
conditioning compressor will not engage and it is not
possible to air condition in this setting. See page 117.Notes:
The interior temperature sensor (10) should not be
touched to maintain a precise temperature.
If the vehicle travels from shade into direct sunlight, a
sensor automatically increases the air volume
temporarily to maintain the interior temperature.
The automatic climate control will not remove moisture
from the air at low outside ambient temperatures.
The air conditioner switches itself off for its own
protection if refrigerant is lost. No cooling will then take
place. Economy mode AC
OFF
cannot be switched off.
Have the air conditioner checked by a Mercedes-Benz
Center should this happen.
Dustfilter
Nearly all dust particles and pollen are filtered out
before outside air enters the passenger compartment
through the air distribution system.
Severe conditions (e.g. strong air pollution) may require
replacement of the filter before its scheduled interval.
A clogged filter will reduce the air volume to the
interior.

112 Automatic climate control
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Basic setting - automatic mode
To a c ti va te :
With the engine running, briefly press the Ubutton.
The indicator lamp in the Ubutton lights up. The
temperature, air volume and distribution are controlled
automatically.
Temperature can be adjusted with the temperature
control, which is located in the center.
Turning the control wheel to either the blue or red dot
switches off the temperature regulation.
To deactivate:
Briefly press the Ubutton. The indicator lamp in the
Ubutton goes out. The automatic mode is switched
off, air volume control is set to fan speed 2 and air
distribution is set to positionV.To activate basic setting:
Press Ubutton at least 3 seconds.
All functions are switched to automatic mode and
temperature is set to 72˚F (22˚C).
The rear window defroster may be switched on
manually.
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113 Automatic climate control
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Programming the basic temperature setting
Set temperature control to the desired temperature.
Press the Ubutton for 10 seconds.
The new temperature value is selected and set.Note:
Make the temperature settings in small increments.
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114 Automatic climate control
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Special settings (use only for short duration)
Turning the air volume control wheel or air distribution
wheel switches off the automatic mode.
The temperature control will be still in automatic mode.
The fan speed and air distribution can be manually
selected.
The indicator lamp in the Ubutton goes out.
The set value is indicated by a lighted segment on the
setting wheels.
To return to automatic mode:
Press Ubutton. The indicator lamp in the button
illuminates and the lighted segments on the air volume
and air distribution wheel go out.Air volume, manual:
The air volume control wheel has 5 fan speeds which
can be selected.
Important!
No fresh air enters the interior with the air volume
control set to0. The system is switched off.
Air distribution, manual:
jAir from the windshield and side air outlets.
VAir from the windshield, center, side and footwell
air outlets.
kAir from the footwell and side air outlets.
hAir from the center and side air outlets.
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115 Automatic climate control
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Defrosting / Windows fogged up on the inside
To a c ti va te :
Press the Pbutton. The indicator lamp in the button
illuminates.
The automatic climate control switches automatically to:
•maximum heat and blower output
•air from the side and windshield air outlets
•Rear passenger ventilation is switched off.
To deactivate:
Press Pbutton again or Ubutton. The indicator
lamp in button goes out and the system returns to the
previous setting.
Note:
If the automatic climate control is in the defrost mode,
the rear window defroster may still be switched on
manually. No other settings are possible.Windshield fogged up on outside.
Switch on the windshield wiper.
Set air distribution wheel to positionj.

116 Automatic climate control
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Air recirculation
This mode can be selected to temporarily reduce the
entry of annoying odors or dust into the vehicle’s
interior.
Outside air is not supplied to the vehicles’s interior.
To select, press briefly O button. The indicator lamp
in button lights up.
To cancel, press briefly O button again. The indicator
lamp in button goes out.
The system automatically switches from air
recirculation to fresh air, after:
•approx. 30 minutes, when the automatic climate
control switched on,
•approx. 5 minutes, when the automatic climate
control switched off.
•approx. 5 minutes, if the outside temperature is
below 45˚F (7˚C).
If the windows should fog up from the inside, switch
from recirculated air back to fresh air.Note:
To achieve the fastest possible cooling of the interior, the
automatic climate control automatically switches to air
recirculation.
The indicator lamp in the Obutton is not illuminated
when the system automatically switches to air
recirculation.

117 Automatic climate control
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Economy mode
The function of this setting corresponds to the
automatic mode. However, because the air conditioning
compressor will not engage (fuel savings), it is not
possible to air condition in this setting.
Press AC
OFF
button to activate. The indicator lamp in the
button illuminates.
Press AC
OFF
button once again to return to the previous
setting.
Important!
In the mode AC
OFF
the windows could fog up on the
inside. Switch off ACOFF
mode.Residual engine heat utilization
With the engine switched off, it is possible to continue
to heat or ventilate the interior for a short while,
dependent of the temperature set in the climate control.
Air volume and distribution are controlled
automatically.
To s e l e c t :
Turn the key in steering lock to position 1.
Press buttonT. The indicator lamp in the button
illuminates.
To s w i tch o f f :
Press buttonT. The indicator lamp in the button
goes out.
This function selection is automatically switched off,
•if turning the key in steering lock to position 2,
•after approx. 30 minutes,
•if the coolant temperature is too low and
•if the battery voltage drops.
Note:
The fan switches to a lower speed independent of the
setting of the air volume control.