MERCEDES-BENZ ML350 2005 W163 Owner's Manual

249 Practical hints
What to do if …
Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
7
The yellow indicator lamp comes
on.
A BabySmart
TM1
child seat is installed on the
front passenger seat. The front passenger
front airbag is therefore switched off.
The system is malfunctioning when there is
no BabySmart
TM child seat installed on the
front passenger seat.

Have the system checked as soon as
possible by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
7
The yellow indicator lamp does
not light up with a BabySmart
TM
child seat properly installed on
the front passenger seat.The system is malfunctioning.

Make sure there is nothing between
seat cushion and child seat and check
installation of the child seat
(page 67).

If the light remains out, have the sys-
tem checked as soon as possible by
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.
Do not use the BabySmart
TM restraint
to transport children on the front pas-
senger seat until the system has been
repaired.
1Baby Smart
TM is trademark of Siemens Automotive Corp.

250 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
É
The red brake warning lamp
comes on while driving.
There is insufficient brake fluid in the reser-
voir.

Risk of accident! Carefully stop the
vehicle and notify an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
Do not add brake fluid! This will not
solve the problem.
É
The red brake warning lamp
comes on while driving and you
hear a warning sound.
You are driving with the parking brake set.

Release the parking brake
(page 48).
Warning!
G
Driving with the brake warning lamp illumi-
nated can result in an accident. Have your
brake system checked immediately if the
brake warning lamp stays on. Don’t add
brake fluid before checking the brake sys-
tem. Overfilling the brake fluid reservoir can
result in spilling brake fluid on hot engine
parts and the brake fluid catching fire. You
can be seriously burned.
!If you find that the brake fluid in the
brake fluid reservoir has fallen to the
minimum mark or below, have the
brake system checked for brake pad
thickness and leaks.

251 Practical hints
What to do if …
Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
É
-
The red brake warning lamp
comes on in addition to the yel-
low ABS indicator lamp and you
hear a warning sound.
There is a malfunction in the Electronic Brake
Proportioning (EBP) system.
The enhanced braking effect is not available.

Have the system checked immediate-
ly at an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center.
Failure to follow these instructions in-
creases the risk of accidents.
¿
The yellow BAS / ESP indicator
lamp comes on while driving.
The self-diagnosis has not been completed.
The BAS / ESP indicator lamp will go out
after driving a short distance at more
than approx.12 mph (20 km / h).

252 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
¿
The yellow BAS / ESP malfunc-
tion indicator lamp comes on
while driving.
The ESP is no longer synchronized following
a voltage supply interruption (e.g. battery dis-
connected or discharged).
Synchronize the ESP:
With vehicle stationary and the engine
running, turn the steering wheel
completely to the left and then to the
right.
If the BAS / ESP indicator lamp does not
go out:

Continue driving with added caution.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center as soon as possi-
ble.
Failure to follow these instructions
increases the risk of an accident.
!When synchronizing the ESP, make
sure you can turn the steering wheel in
both directions as far as it will go with-
out the wheels hitting any objects, e.g.
a road curb.

253 Practical hints
What to do if …
Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
¿
The yellow BAS / ESP malfunc-
tion indicator lamp comes on
while driving.
The charging voltage has fallen below
10 volts. The BAS and the ESP have switched
off.
When the voltage is above this value
again, the BAS and ESP are operational
again.
If necessary, have the generator and
the battery checked.
¿
The yellow BAS / ESP malfunc-
tion indicator lamp comes on
while driving.
The BAS or the ESP is malfunctioning.

Continue driving with added caution.

Have the BAS / ESP checked at an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions
increases the risk of an accident.

254 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
?
(USA only)
±
(Canada only)
The yellow engine malfunction
indicator lamp comes on while
driving.
There is a malfunction of:

The fuel management
system


The ignition system


The emission control
system


Systems which affect
emissions
Such malfunctions may result
in excessive emissions values
and may switch the engine to
its limp-home (emergency op-
eration) mode.

Have the vehicle checked as soon as
possible by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
An on-board diagnostic connector is
used by the service station to link the
vehicle to the shop diagnostics sys-
tem. It allows the accurate identifica-
tion of system malfunctions through
the readout of diagnostic trouble
codes. It is located in the front left area
of the footwell next to the parking
brake pedal.

255 Practical hints
What to do if …
Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
?
(USA only)
±
(Canada only)
The yellow engine malfunction
indicator lamp comes on while
driving.
A loss of pressure has been
detected in the fuel system.
The fuel cap may not be closed
properly or the fuel system
may be leaky.

Check the fuel cap (
page 219).
If it is not closed properly:

Close the fuel cap.
If it is closed properly:

Have the fuel system checked by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.
Your fuel tank is empty.

After refuelling start the engine three
or four times in succession.
The limp-home mode is canceled. You do
not need to have your vehicle checked.

256 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
/
The yellow coolant warning lamp
comes on when the engine is
running.
The coolant is to hot.
The coolant level is too low.

Stop as soon as possible and allow
the engine and coolant to cool down.

Check the coolant level and add
coolant if necessary (
page 227).
If the warning lamp comes on frequently,
there is a leak in the cooling system.

Have the cooling system checked by
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.
The coolant temperature gauge is above
248°F (120°C).
The coolant level is too low.

Stop as soon as possible and allow
the engine and coolant to cool down.

Add coolant to prevent engine from
overheating (
page 227).
If the coolant level is correct, the electrical
radiator fan may be broken.

If the coolant temperature is below
the red zone, immediately to the near-
est authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.
Avoid high engine loads (e.g. driving
uphill) and stop-and-go driving.

257 Practical hints
What to do if …
Warning!
G
Driving when your engine is badly overheat-
ed can cause some fluids which may have
leaked into the engine compartment to
catch fire. You could be seriously burned.
Steam from an overheated engine can cause
serious burns and can occur just by opening
the engine hood. Stay away from the engine
if you see or hear steam coming from it.
Turn off the engine, get out of the vehicle
and do not stand near the vehicle until the
engine has cooled down.Warning!
G
Do not spill antifreeze on hot engine parts.
Antifreeze contains ethylene glycol which
may burn if it comes into contact with hot
engine parts. You can be seriously burned.
!Do not ignore the coolant warning
lamps. Extended driving with the sym-
bol displayed may cause serious engine
damage not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Do not drive without sufficient amount
of coolant. The engine will overheat,
causing major engine damage.

258 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
v
The yellow 4-ETS / ESP warning
lamp comes on steady while
driving.
The ESP is deactivated.
Risk of accident!
Adapt your speed and driving to the prevail-
ing road and weather conditions.

Switch the ESP back on (
page 82).
If the ESP cannot be switched back on,
have the system checked at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center
as soon as possible.
v
The yellow 4-ETS / ESP warning
lamp flashes while driving.
The ESP or 4-ETS has come into operation
because of detected traction loss in at least
one tire.

During take-off, apply as little throttle
as possible.

While driving, ease up on the accele-
rator.

Adapt your speed and driving to the
prevailing road and weather condi-
tions.

Do not deactivate the ESP.
Exceptions: (
page 81).
Failure to follow these instructions in-
creases the risk of accidents.