weight MERCEDES-BENZ ML320 2002 W163 Owner's Manual

73 Restraint systems
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cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Install a “LATCH” type child seat according to the
manufacturer’s instructions.
The child seat must be firmly attached in the right and
left side mounting fittings (1).
Non-“LATCH” type child seats may also be used and are
capable of being installed using the vehicle’s seat belt
system. Install child seat according to the
manufacturer’s instructions.
Note:
With a child seat installed in the left rear seat, the seat
belt for the center seat occupied by a passenger must
operate freely. Guide seat belt between its seat cushion
mount and backrest mount along outside of right side
child seat mount.
Wa r n i n g !
The “LATCH” mounting fittings are intended for
children up to 22 kg (50 lbs) in weight.Children too big for child restraint systems must
ride in back seats using regular seat belts. Position
shoulder belt across chest and shoulder, not face or
neck. A booster seat may be necessary to achieve
proper belt positioning for children from 41 lbs. to
the point where a lap / shoulder belt fits properly
without one.Install child seat according to manufacturer’s
instructions.The child seat must be firmly attached in the right
and left side mounting fittings (1).An incorrectly mounted child seat may come loose
during an accident.Damaged or impact damaged child seats or child
seat mounting fittings must be replaced.Do not leave children unattended in the vehicle,
even if the children are secured in a child restraint
system.

151 Interior equipment
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Four hooks, located on the rear compartment trim
panels can be used to secure light weight items
(maximum permissible weight per hook: 9 lbs. [4 kg]).Partition net (MB Accessory)
Use of the partition net is a particularly important safety
factor when the vehicle is loaded higher than the top of
the seat backrests with smaller objects.
The partition net can be installed behind the backrests
of the front or rear seats.
Note:
Passenger use of seats behind installed partition net is
restricted because of the footwell being taken up by the
net.

154 Interior equipment
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Loading instructions
The total load weight including vehicle occupants and
luggage / cargo should not exceed the vehicle capacity
weight indicated on the certification label which can be
found on the left door pillar.
The handling characteristics of a fully loaded vehicle
depend greatly on the load distribution. It is therefore
recommended to load the vehicle according to the
illustrations shown, with the heaviest items being
placed towards the front of the vehicle.Always place items being carried against front or rear
seat backrests, and fasten them as securely as possible.
The heaviest portion of the cargo should always be kept
as low as possible against front or rear seat backrest
since it influences the handling characteristics of the
vehicle.
For additional safety when transporting cargo while the
rear seats are unoccupied, fasten the outer seat belts
crosswise into the opposite side buckles.

155 Interior equipment
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The trunk is the preferred place to carry objects. The
enlarged cargo area should only be used for items which
do not fit in the trunk alone.Cargo area cover blind
(except vehicles with third row seats)
Closing blind:
Pull blind (visual protection) across luggage / cargo area,
and guide into holders (1) next to liftgate.
Opening blind:
To roll up blind, disengage blind and guide retraction by
its handle.
Wa r n i n g !
Always fasten items being carried as securely as
possible using cargo tie-down rings and fastening
materials appropriate for the weight and size of the
load.In an accident, during hard braking or sudden
maneuvers, loose items will be thrown around
inside the vehicle, and can cause injury to vehicle
occupants unless the items are securely fastened in
the vehicle.To help avoid personal injury during a collision or
sudden maneuver, always use partition net when
transporting cargo.
Never drive vehicle with the liftgate open. Deadly
carbon monoxide (CO) gases may enter vehicle
interior resulting in unconsciousness and death.

204 Driving instructions
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Driving on embankments, slopes and other steep
inclines should only be done straight up or downhill, i.e.
in the line of gravity.
Do not drive along the side of a slope (danger of vehicle
rollover). If in doing so, the vehicle begins to show a
tendency to roll, immediately steer into a line of gravity
(straight up or downhill).
To help avoid the vehicle rolling over, never turn it
around on steep inclines. If the vehicle cannot complete
the attempted climb, back it down in reverse gear.
Utilize the engine’s braking power when descending a
slope, observe the engine speed (do not overrev the
engine). Apply the service brake as needed.
Check the brakes after a lengthy downgrade drive.
Notes:
Avoid excessive engine speeds – drive with moderate
engine speeds (max. 3000 RPM).
Select gear range “2” or “1” on the automatic
transmission, see page 183.Traction in steep terrain:
Be easy on the accelerator and watch for continuous
wheel traction when driving in steep terrain.
The 4-ETS+ helps greatly when starting out on a steep
incline when the front wheels have then the tendency to
slip due to the weight shifting away the front axle.
The 4-ETS+ recognizes the situation and limits the
torque for the front wheels by braking them.
Simultaneously the torque for the rear wheels is
increased.
See page 221 for four wheel electronic traction system
(4-ETS+).
Driving across a hilltop:
To prevent the vehicle from speeding up too much after
climbing a hill, decelerate just ahead of a hilltop (do not
select gear range “N”). Use the momentum of the
vehicle to drive across the hilltop. Driving in this
manner prevents the vehicle from jumping across the
hilltop and thus loosing its forward momentum.

210 Driving instructions
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Vehicle and trailer weights and ratings
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) is the maximum
permissible vehicle weight: 6614 lbs. (3000 kg)
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW): comprises weight of
vehicle including fuel, tools, spare wheel, installed
accessories, passengers, cargo and trailer tongue. It
must never exceed the GVWR.
Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) is the maximum
permissible axle weight:
Gross Trailer Weight (GTW) is the maximum
permissible trailer weight to be towed:
5000 lbs. (2260 kg)
Trailer Tongue Weight Rating (TWR) is the maximum
permissible weight of the trailer tongue:
[500 lbs. (225 kg) limit for MB approved hitch receiver]Loading a trailer
When loading a trailer, you should observe that neither
the permissible GTW, nor the GVWR are exceeded.
Maximum permissible values are listed on the safety
compliance certification labels for the vehicle and for
the trailer to be towed. The lowest value listed must be
selected when determining how the vehicle and trailer
are loaded.
We recommend loading the trailer in such a manner
that it has a tongue weight (TW) between 10% and 15%
of the GTW.
The tongue weight at the hitch ball must be added to the
GVW to prevent exceeding your Mercedes-Benz tow
vehicle’s rear GAWR. front
rear2976 lbs.
3858 lbs.(1350 kg)
(1750 kg)

211 Driving instructions
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cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Checking weights of vehicle and trailer
To assure that the tow vehicle and trailer are in
compliance with the maximum permissible weight
limits, and to know the actual weights, have the loaded
rig (tow vehicle including driver, passengers and cargo,
trailer fully loaded) weighed on a commercial scale.
Check the vehicle’s front and rear Gross Axle Weight
(GAW), the GTW and TW. The values as measured must
not be exceeded, according to the weight listed under
“Vehicle and trailer weight and ratings”.
Attaching a trailer
Please observe maximum permitted trailer dimensions
(width and length).
Most states and all Canadian provinces require safety
chains between your tow vehicle and the trailer. The
chains should be crisscrossed under the trailer tongue.
They must be attached to the hitch receiver, and not to
the vehicle’s bumper or axle. Be sure to leave enough
slack in the chains to permit turning corners.
Most states and all Canadian provinces require a
separate brake system at various trailer weights.Caution!
Do not connect a trailer brake system (if trailer is so
equipped) directly to the vehicle’s hydraulic brake
system, as your vehicle is equipped with antilock
brakes. If you do, neither the vehicle’s brakes nor the
trailer’s brakes will function properly.
The provided vehicle electrical wiring harness for trailer
towing has a brake signal wire (color orange) for
hook-up to a brake controller.
Most states and all Canadian provinces require a
break-away switch on trailers with a separate brake
system. The switch activates the trailer brakes in the
possible event that the trailer might separate from the
tow vehicle.
You should consider using a trailer sway control system.
For further information see your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.

252 Electrical outlet
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Electrical outlet
Two electrical outlets can be found, one at the front
passenger footwell, and the other in the rear
compartment (always operational).To o p e n :
Flip up cover and insert electrical plug (cigar lighter
type).
Note:
The electrical outlets can be used to accommodate
accessories (e.g. air pump, auxiliary lamps) up to
maximum 180 W.
Stowing items in the vehicle
Wa r n i n g !
To help avoid personal injury during a collision or
sudden maneuver, always use partition net when
transporting cargo. Always fasten items being
carried as securely as possible using cargo tie-
down rings and fastening materials appropriate for
the weight and size of the load.

273 Battery
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cluster displayPractical hintsCar care Index If a tire constantly loses air, it should be inspected for
damage.
The spare tire should be checked periodically for
condition and inflation. Spare tire will age and become
worn over time even if never used, and thus should be
inspected and replaced when necessary.Battery
Important!
Battery replacement information:
The maintenance-free battery is located in the engine
compartment.
The service life of the battery is dependent on its
condition of charge. The battery should always be kept
sufficiently charged, in order to last an optimum length
of time.
Wa r n i n g !
Do not overinflate tires. Overinflating tires can
result in sudden deflation (blowout) because they
are more likely to become punctured or damaged
by road debris, potholes etc.. Follow recommended
inflation pressures.Do not overload the tires by exceeding the specified
vehicle capacity weight (as indicated by the label
on the driver’s door latch post). Overloading the
tires can overheat them, possibly causing a
blowout.
Wa r n i n g !
Failure to follow these instructions can result in
severe injury or death.Never lean over batteries while connecting, you
might get injured.Battery fluid contains sulfuric acid. Do not allow
this fluid to come in contact with eyes, skin or
clothing. In case it does, immediately flush affected
area with water and seek medical help if necessary.A battery will also produce hydrogen gas, which is
flammable and explosive. Keep flames or sparks
away from battery, avoid improper connection of
jumper cables, smoking etc..

332 Index
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Snow chains .................................................................... 199
SOS-call
See Tele Aid ............................................................... 166
Space-saver tire
Air pump .................................................................... 261
Spare parts service ........................................................ 306
Spare wheel .................................................................... 264
Space-saver tire ......................................................... 265
Split rear seat bench ..................................................... 139
Easy entry/exit feature ............................................ 142
Rear seat head restraints ......................................... 143
SRS indicator lamp ........................................................ 242
SRS malfunction .............................................................. 60
Start lock-out .................................................................... 25
Starting and turning off the engine ............................ 182
Steering lock ................................................................... 180
Steering wheel
Adjustable .................................................................... 74
Indicator lamp ...........................................................244
Stop lamp, high mounted ............................................. 289
Storage compartments
Center console ........................................................... 133
Compartment under front passenger seat ............ 134
Glove box .................................................................... 133
Storing mirror positions ................................................. 78
Stowing items in the vehicle ........................................252Stranded vehicle .............................................................281
Sun visors ........................................................................ 131
Supplemental restraint system (SRS) ........................... 56
Synchronizing remote control .................................... 293
TTachometer ........................................................................ 88
Technical data ................................................................ 309
Electrical system ....................................................... 312
Main dimensions ...................................................... 313
Rims and tires ................................................... 310, 311
Weights ....................................................................... 312
Tele Aid ............................................................................ 166
Emergency calls ........................................................ 167
Information ................................................................ 172
Initiating an emergency call manually .................. 169
Roadside Assistance ................................................. 170
Telephone, general ......................................................... 157
Telephones and two-way radios ................................... 164
Telescoping steering column
Adjusting ...................................................................... 74
Indicator lamp .......................................................... 244
The first 1 000 miles (1 500 km) ................................ 165
Third row seats ............................................................... 144