ignition MERCEDES-BENZ ML350 2003 W163 Owner's Manual

23 At a glance
Cockpit
Item
Page
1
Hood lock release
202
2
Parking brake pedal
50
3
Parking brake release
50
4
Left cup holder
154
5
Combination switch

Turn signals


High beam
46
6
Cruise control lever
146
7
Instrument cluster
110
8
Hazard warning flasher
switch
106
9
Lever for voice control
system*, see separate
operating instructions
Item
Page
10
Windshield wiper/washer
switch
122
11
Front Parktronic* warning
indicator
150
12
Glove box
152
13
Right cup holder
154
14
Storage compartment
15
Electrical outlet
158
16
Horn
17
Headlamp washer button*
121
18
Steering lock with ignition
33
19
Steering wheel adjustment
stalk
37

33 Getting started
Unlocking
Steering lock positions
Steering lock0For removing key
The steering is locked when the key is
removed from the steering lock. If nec-
essary, move steering wheel slightly to
allow the locking mechanism to en-
gage.
1Unlocking steering. Power supplies to
some electrical consumers, such as
seat adjustment
2Ignition (power supply for all electrical
consumers) and driving position (selec-
tor lever is unlocked)
3Starting positionMore information can be found in the
“Controls in detail” section (
page 84).
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle always remove the
key from the steering lock and lock the vehi-
cle. Do not leave children unattended in the
vehicle, or with access to an unlocked vehi-
cle. Unsupervised use of vehicle equipment
may cause an accident and/or serious per-
sonal injury.
!To prevent accelerated battery dis-
charge and a possible dead battery, al-
ways remove the key from the steering
lock.iThe key can only be withdrawn in
position0.
If necessary, move steering wheel
slightly to allow the key to be turned
clockwise to position1.
A warning sounds when the driver’s
door is opened and the key is in steer-
ing lock position0 or1.

36 Getting startedAdjustingBackrest tilt
Turn handwheel3 until your hands are
slightly angled when holding the steer-
ing wheel.
Head restraint height

Pull up or push down on head restraint
until it is in desired position.Head restraint tilt

Manually adjust the angle of the head
restraint. Push or pull on the lower
edge of the head restraint cushion.
Adjusting power seats*
The seat adjustment switch is located on
the entry side of each front seat base.

Switch on the ignition by turning the
key in the steering lock to position2
(page 33).
All the lights in the instrument cluster
light up.1Seat height
2Seat fore and aft adjustment
3Seat cushion tilt
4Backrest tilt
Seat height

Press the switch up or down in the di-
rection of arrow1.
Warning!
G
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust head restraint to support the back of
the head approximately at ear level.
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat
head restraints. Head restraints are intend-
ed to help reduce injuries during an acci-
dent.
Warning!
G
The power seats can also be operated with
the appropriate door open. Do not leave
children unattended in the vehicle, or with
access to an unlocked vehicle. Unsuper-
vised use of vehicle equipment may cause
an accident and/or serious personal injury.

37 Getting started
Adjusting
Seat fore and aft adjustment
Press the switch forward or backward
in the direction of arrow2 until you can
comfortably press the pedals all the
way to the floor.
Seat cushion tilt

Press the switch up or down in the di-
rection of arrow3 until your upper legs
are lightly supported.
Backrest tilt

Press the switch forward or backward
in the direction of arrow4 until your
hands are slightly angled when holding
the steering wheel. Head restraint height

Pull up or push down on head restraint
until it is in desired position.
Head restraint tilt

Manually adjust the angle of the head
restraint. Push or pull on the lower
edge of the head restraint cushion.
More information can be found in the
“Controls in detail” section (
page 91).
Steering wheel
1Lever
iWith the front door open, the seats can
still be adjusted approx. 30 minutes af-
ter the ignition has been turned off.
Warning!
G
For your protection, drive only with properly
positioned head restraints.
Adjust head restraint to support the back of
the head approximately at ear level.
Do not drive the vehicle without the seat
head restraints. Head restraints are intend-
ed to help reduce injuries during an acci-
dent.
Warning!
G
Do not adjust the steering wheel while driv-
ing. The steering wheel must be locked
while driving. Adjusting the steering wheel
while driving, or driving without the steering
column locked could cause the driver to lose
control of the vehicle.

39 Getting started
Adjusting
The buttons are on the lower part of the
center console.
1Driver’s side mirror
2Passenger side mirror
3Adjustment button

Switch on the ignition by turning the
key in the steering lock to position2
(page 33)
All the lights in the instrument cluster
light up.

Press button1 for the left mirror or
button2 for the right mirror.

Push adjustment button3 up, down,
left or right according to the setting de-
sired.More information can be found in the
“Controls in detail” section (
page 119).
iWith the front doors closed, the exteri-
or mirrors can still be adjusted approx.
30 minutes after the ignition has been
turned off.
At low outside temperatures, the exte-
rior mirrors will be automatically
heated.

48 Getting startedDrivingSwitching on windshield wipers
Make sure that the ignition is switched
on.

Turn the wiper switch to the desired po-
sition 1, 2 or 3, depending on the inten-
sity of the rain.
Single wipe

Press switch briefly in the direction of
arrow2.
The windshield wipers wipe one time
without washer fluid.
Wiping with windshield washer fluid

Pull and hold wiper switch in direction
of arrow4.
The windshield wiper operates with
washer fluid.
More information on windshield wipers can
be found in the “Controls in detail” section
(
page 122).
Rear window wiper
The button is on the upper part on the cen-
ter console.
1Intermittent wiping
2Indicator lamp
3Wiping with washer fluidSwitching on intermittent wiping
Make sure that the ignition is switched on.

Press upper half1 of the button.
Switching off intermittent wiping

Press upper half1 of the button again.
Wiping with washer fluid

Press and hold lower half3 of the but-
ton.
After releasing the button the wiper op-
erates for additional five seconds.

49 Getting started
Driving
Problems while driving
The engine runs erratically and misfires

An ignition cable may be damaged.


The engine electronics may not be op-
erating properly.


Unburned gasoline may have entered
the catalytic converter and damaged it.

Give very little gas.

Have the problem repaired by an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.The coolant temperature is over 248°F
(120°C)
The coolant is too hot and is no longer
cooling the engine.

Stop the vehicle as soon as possible
and turn off the engine. Allow engine
and coolant to cool.

Check the coolant level and add cool-
ant if necessary (
page 206).In case of accident
If the vehicle is leaking gasoline:

Do not start the engine under any cir-
cumstances.

Notify local fire and/or police authori-
ties.
If the extent of the damage cannot be de-
termined:

Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
If no damage can be determined on the


major assemblies


fuel system


engine mount:

Start the engine in the usual manner.

78 Safety and SecurityAnti-theft systems
Anti-theft systemsImmobilizer
The immobilizer prevents unauthorized
persons from starting your vehicle.
Activating
Removing the key from the steering lock
activates the immobilizer.
Deactivating
Switch on the ignition by turning the key in
the steering lock to position2.
Anti-theft alarm
Once the alarm system has been armed, a
visual and audible alarm is triggered when
someone:

opens a door


opens the liftgate


opens the hood
The alarm will stay on even if the activating
element (a door, for example) is immedi-
ately closed.
The alarm system will also be triggered
when


someone attempts to raise the vehicle


unlocking and opening the driver’s
door with the mechanical key Arming the alarm system
The alarm system is armed after locking
the vehicle with the remote control. The
turn signal lamps blink three times to indi-
cate that the alarm system is activated. A
red lamp in the center console will blink af-
ter approximately 10 seconds when the
alarm system is completely armed
(
page 27).
iIn case the engine cannot be started
(vehicle’s battery is in order), the sys-
tem is not operational. Contact an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center or call 1-800-FOR-MERCedes
(in the USA), or 1-800-387-0100 (in
Canada).
iIf the alarm stays on for more than
20 seconds, an emergency call is initi-
ated automatically by the Tele Aid sys-
tem (
page 159) provided Tele Aid
service was subscribed to and properly
activated.

79 Safety and Security
Anti-theft systems
Disarming the alarm system
The alarm system is disarmed when you
unlock your vehicle with the remote con-
trol. The turn signal lamps blink once to in-
dicate that the alarm system is
deactivated.
Canceling the alarm
To cancel the alarm:
Switch on the ignition by turning the
key in the steering lock to position2.
or

Press the
Œ
or
‹
button on the
remote control.
The alarm is cancelled.Tow-away alarm, glass breakage
sensor
The tow-away alarm and the glass break-
age sensor are part of the anti-theft alarm
system.
Once the tow-away alarm is armed, a visual
and audible alarm will be triggered when
someone:

attempts to raise the vehicle


breaks a window and reaches into the
passenger compartment
iIf the turn signal lamps do not blink
three times, the tow-away - glass-
breackage sensor is malfunctioning or
one of the following elements may not
be properly closed:

a door


the liftgate


the hood
Close the respective element and lock
the vehicle again.
iThe alarm system will rearm automati-
cally again after approximately 40 sec-
onds if one of the doors or the liftgate
is not opened.
iThe tow-away protection alarm is trig-
gered, for example, if the vehicle is lift-
ed on one side.
If the alarm stays on for more than
20 seconds, an emergency call is initi-
ated automatically by the Tele Aid sys-
tem (
page 159) provided Tele Aid
service was subscribed to and properly
activated.

89 Controls in detail
Locking and unlocking
Automatic central locking
The doors and the liftgate automatically
lock when the ignition is switched on and
the left front wheel turns at vehicle speeds
of approximately 9 mph (15 km/h) or
more.
If one of the front doors is then opened
from the inside, the vehicle is unlocked
centrally unless only the driver's door was
previously unlocked. The central locking button is located on
the lower center console.
Central locking button1Locking
2UnlockingActivating

Check that the ignition is switched on.
All the lamps in the instrument cluster
light up.

Press and hold upper part1 of the cen-
tral locking button for approximately
six seconds.
The automatic central locking is acti-
vated.
Deactivating

Check that the ignition is switched on.
All the lamps in the instrument cluster
light up.

Press and hold lower part2 of the cen-
tral locking button for approximately
six seconds.
The automatic central locking is deacti-
vated.
iThe doors unlock automatically after an
accident if the force of the impact ex-
ceeds a preset threshold.
To prevent the vehicle door locks from
locking, deactivate the automatic cen-
tral locking when the vehicle

is pushed or


is on a test stand