MERCEDES-BENZ ML350 2006 W163 Owner's Manual

390 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
1
The red SRS indicator lamp comes
on while driving.
There is a malfunction in the restraint systems.
The air bags or emergency tensioning device
(ETDs) could deploy unexpectedly or fail to de-
ploy unexpectedly in an accident.

Drive with added caution to the
nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.
Warning!
G
In the event a malfunction of the SRS is indi-
cated as outlined above, the SRS may not be
operational. For your safety, we strongly
recommend that you visit an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center immedi-
ately to have the system checked, otherwise
the SRS may not be activated when needed
in an accident, which could result in serious
or fatal injury, or it might deploy unexpect-
edly and unnecessarily which could result in
an accident/or injury to you or to others.

391 Practical hints
What to do if …
Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
H
Combination low tire pres-
sure/TPMS malfunction telltale
for the TPMS* illuminates con-
tinuously.
The Advanced TPMS* detects a loss of
pressure in at least one tire.

Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt,
avoiding abrupt steering and braking
maneuvers. Observe the traffic situation
around you.

Take note of the messages in the multi-
function display.
If the tire inflation pressure in the respec-
tive tire(s) has (have) been corrected, the
combination low tire pressure/TPMS mal-
function telltale goes out after few minutes
driving.
H
Combination low tire pres-
sure/TPMS malfunction telltale
for the Advanced TPMS* flashes
60 seconds and then stays illu-
minated.
There is a malfunction in the Advanced
TPMS*.

Take note of the messages in the multi-
function display.

Have the Advanced TPMS* checked by
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.
After the malfunction has been remedied
the combination low tire pressure/TPMS
malfunction telltale goes out after few
minutes driving.

392 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Warning!
G
Each tire, including the spare (if provided),
should be checked monthly when cold and
inflated to the inflation pressure recom-
mended by the vehicle manufacturer on the
vehicle placard or the tire inflation pressure
label. (If your vehicle has tires of a different
size than the size indicated on the vehicle
placard or the tire inflation pressure label,
you should consult the appropriate section
of this owner’s manual to determine the
proper tire inflation pressure). When the low
tire pressure telltale is illuminated, one or
more of your tires is significantly under-in-
flated. You should stop and check your tires
as soon as possible, and inflate them to the
proper pressure. Driving on a significantly
under-inflated tire causes the tire to over-
heat and can lead to tire failure. Under-infla-
tion also reduces fuel efficiency and tire
tread life, and may affect the vehicle’s han-
dling and stopping ability.
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a
TPMS malfunction telltale to indicate when
the system is not operating properly. When
the malfunction telltale is illuminated, the
system may not be able to detect or signal
low tire pressure as intended. TPMS mal-
functions may occur for a variety of reasons,
including the installation of incompatible
replacement tires on the vehicle. Always
check the TPMS malfunction telltale after
replacing one or more tires on your vehicle
to ensure that the replacement tires are
compatible with the TPMS.

393 Practical hints
What to do if …
Lamp in center consoleProblem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
59
The front passenger front
air bag off indicator lamp
illuminates and remains
illuminated with the
weight of a typical adult
or someone larger than a
small individual on the
front passenger seat.
The system is malfunctioning.

Have the system checked as soon as
possible by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.

Also note any messages in the
multifunction display and follow cor-
rective steps (
page 401).
Warning!
G
If the59indicator lamp
illuminates and remains illuminated with the
weight of a typical adult or someone larger
than a small individual on the front passen-
ger seat, do not have any passenger use the
front passenger seat until the system has
been repaired.

394 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
59
The front passenger front
air bag off indicator lamp
does not illuminate
and/or does not remain
illuminated with the
weight of a typical
12-month-old child in a
standard child restraint or
less on the front passen-
ger seat.
The system is malfunctioning.

Make sure there is nothing between seat cushion
and child seat and check installation of the child
seat.

Make sure no objects applying supplemental weight
onto the seat are present.

Make sure no objects which apply forces to the seat
are present (e.g. objects such as books, briefcases
etc. lodged behind or around the seat, head
restraints pushing against roof etc.). The system
may recognize such forces as supplemental weight.

If the front passenger front air bag off indicator lamp
remains out, have the system checked as soon as
possible by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center. Do not transport a child on the front
passenger seat until the system has been repaired.

Also note any messages in the multifunction display
and follow corrective steps (
page 401).
Warning!
G
If the59indicator lamp does not
illuminate or remains out with the weight of
a typical 12-month-old child in a standard
child restraint or less on the front passenger
seat, do not transport a child on the front
passenger seat until the system has been
repaired.

395 Practical hints
What to do if …
Vehicle status messages in the multifunction display
Warning and malfunction messages
appear in the multifunction display located
in the instrument cluster.
Certain warning and malfunction messag-
es are accompanied by an audible signal.
Address these messages accordingly and
follow the additional instructions given in
this Operator’s Manual.
Selecting the vehicle status message
memory menu in the control system
(page 159) displays both cleared and
uncleared messages.
High-priority messages appear in the
multifunction display in red color.Certain messages of high priority cannot
be cleared from the multifunction display
using the reset button (
page 24) or
buttonj,k,ÿ, orè on the
multifunction steering wheel.
Other messages of high priority and mes-
sages of less immediate priority can be
cleared from the multifunction display
using the reset button (page 24) or
buttonj,k,ÿ, orè on the
multifunction steering wheel. They are
then stored in the vehicle status message
memory (
page 159). Remember that
clearing a message will only make the mes-
sage disappear. Clearing a message will
not correct the condition that caused the
message to appear.
Warning!
G
All categories of messages contain
important information which should be
taken note of and, where a malfunction is
indicated, addressed as soon as possible at
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.
Failure to repair condition noted may cause
damage not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty, or result in property dam-
age or personal injury.Warning!
G
No messages will be displayed if either the
instrument cluster or the multifunction dis-
play is inoperative.
Contact the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.

396 Practical hintsWhat to do if …
On the pages that follow, you will find a
compilation of the most important warning
and malfunction messages that may
appear in the multifunction display.
For your convenience the messages are
divided into two sections:

Text messages (
page 397)


Symbol messages (
page 407)
iSwitching on the ignition causes all
instrument cluster lamps (except low
beam headlamp indicator lamp, high
beam headlamp indicator lamp, and
turn signal indicator lamps unless acti-
vated) as well as the multifunction dis-
play to come on. Make sure the lamps
and multifunction display are in work-
ing order before starting your journey.

397 Practical hints
What to do if …
Text messagesDisplay message
Possible cause
Possible solution
ABS
Malfunction
Visit workshop
The ABS has detected a malfunction
and has switched off. The ESP
® and
the BAS are also deactivated.
The brake system is still functioning
normally but without the ABS avail-
able.

Continue driving with added caution.
Wheels may lock during hard braking,
reducing steering capability.

Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center as soon
as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases
the risk of accident.
Display malfunction
Visit workshop
The ABS or the ABS display is mal-
functioning.

Continue driving with added caution.
Wheels may lock during hard braking, re-
ducing steering capability

Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center as soon
as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases
the risk of accident.

398 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
ABS
unavailable
See Operator’s Manual
The ABS was deactivated because of
insufficient power supply. The charg-
ing voltage has fallen below ten
volts.
The brake system is still functioning
normally but without the ABS
available.

Switch off electrical consumers that are
currently not needed, e.g. seat heating*.

If necessary, have the generator
(alternator) and the battery checked.
When the voltage is above this value again, the
ABS is operational again and the message in
the multifunction display should disappear.
Battery
protection
Convenience functs.
Temporarily
Unavailable
The battery has insufficient voltage
and can no longer supply conve-
nience functions such as the rear
window defroster.
As soon as the on-board voltage is sufficient,
the consumers will switch on again.
Please note:
Convenience Functions
Available again
On-board voltage is sufficient; the
consumers will switch on again.
Cruise
control
Drive to workshop
Cruise control is malfunctioning.

Have cruise control checked by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center.
DSR
Malfunction
Downhill Speed Regulation is
malfunctioning.

Have the Downhill Speed Regulation
checked by an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center.

399 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
ESP
unavailable
See Operator’s Manual
In addition, the yellow ESP
® warning
lampv comes on.
The ESP
® is deactivated because of
a malfunction or interrupted power
supply.

Continue driving with added caution.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases
the risk of accident.
If the yellow ESP
® warning
lampv flashes while driving and
this message appears, the electron-
ic traction system has switched off
to prevent overheating of the drive
wheel brakes.
As soon as the brakes have cooled off, the
electronic traction system switches on again.
The message in the multifunction display disap-
pears and the ESP
® warning lampv go out.
The self-diagnosis has not yet been
completed.
The display will clear after driving a short dis-
tance at a vehicle speed of above 12 mph
(20 km/h).
Malfunction
Visit workshop
In addition, the yellow ESP
® warning
lampv comes on.
The ESP
® has detected a malfunc-
tion and switched off.
The ABS may still be operational.

Continue driving with added caution.

Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center as soon
as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases
the risk of an accident.