air conditioning MERCEDES-BENZ ML350 2006 W163 Owner's Manual

Contents
Control system .................................. 150
Multifunction display .................... 150
Multifunction steering wheel ........ 151
Menus .......................................... 153
Standard display menu ................ 156
AUDIO menu ................................ 157
NAV* menu .................................. 158
Off-road menu .............................. 159
Vehicle status message
memory menu .............................. 159
Settings menu .............................. 161
Vehicle configuration ................... 175
Trip computer menu..................... 177
TEL menu* ................................... 178
Automatic transmission ..................... 182
Gear selector lever ....................... 182
Shifting procedure ....................... 184
Transmission positions................. 185
Gear ranges ................................. 187
Steering wheel gearshift control .. 188
Shifting into optimal gear range ... 190
Canceling gear range limit ........... 190
Driving tips ................................... 190
Towing a trailer ............................ 191
Emergency operation
(Limp Home Mode) ...................... 192Transfer case ...................................... 193
Good visibility ..................................... 194
Headlamp cleaning system* ......... 194
Rear view mirrors.......................... 194
Power folding exterior
rear view mirrors*......................... 197
Sun visors ..................................... 198
Rear window defroster .................. 200
Climate control ................................... 202
Deactivating the
climate control system ................. 206
Rear air conditioning ..................... 206
Setting the temperature................ 207
Adjusting air distribution............... 207
Adjusting air volume ..................... 208
Defrosting ..................................... 208
Air recirculation mode .................. 209
Air conditioning............................. 211
Residual heat and ventilation ........ 212
Rear air conditioning ..................... 2133-zone automatic climate control* ..... 216
Deactivating the
climate control system ................. 220
Rear air conditioning..................... 221
Setting the temperature ............... 221
Adjusting air distribution .............. 222
Adjusting air volume ..................... 222
Maximum cooling MAX COOL ....... 223
Defrosting ..................................... 223
Air recirculation mode .................. 223
Air conditioning ............................ 225
Residual heat and ventilation ........ 226
Rear air conditioning..................... 227
Power windows .................................. 230
Opening and closing
the windows ................................. 230
Synchronizing power windows ...... 232
Summer opening feature .............. 233
Convenience closing feature......... 234
Power tilt/sliding sunroof* ................ 235
Opening and closing the power
tilt/sliding sunroof........................ 235
Synchronizing the
power tilt/sliding sunroof ............. 237

Contents
Replacing bulbs ................................. 443
Bulbs ............................................ 443
Replacing bulbs for front lamps ... 445
Replacing bulbs for rear lamps..... 450
Adjusting headlamp aim............... 451
Replacing wiper blades ...................... 453
Removing front wiper blades........ 453
Installing front wiper blades ......... 453
Removing rear wiper blade........... 454
Installing rear wiper blade ............ 455
Flat tire .............................................. 456
Preparing the vehicle ................... 456
Mounting the spare wheel............ 457
Battery ............................................... 462
Disconnecting, removing,
reinstalling and
reconnecting the battery.............. 464
Charging the battery .................... 469
Jump starting ..................................... 470
Towing the vehicle ............................. 472
Installing towing eye bolt ............. 474
Stranded vehicle .......................... 476Fuses .................................................. 477
Aids for changing fuses................. 478
Main fuse box ............................... 478
Fuse box in
cargo compartment ...................... 479
Fuse box in
passenger compartment ............... 479
Technical data.................................. 481
Parts service....................................... 482
Warranty coverage ............................. 483
Loss of Service and Warranty
Information Booklet ...................... 483
Identification labels ............................ 484
Layout of poly-V-belt drive .................. 485
ML 350 ......................................... 485
ML 500 ......................................... 485
Engine ................................................ 486
Rims and tires .................................... 487
Rims and tires ............................... 488
Minispare wheel............................ 489Electrical system ................................ 490
Main Dimensions................................ 491
Weights .............................................. 492
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc. .......... 493
Capacities ..................................... 493
Engine oils .................................... 495
Engine oil additives ....................... 495
Air conditioning refrigerant ........... 495
Brake fluid .................................... 495
Premium unleaded gasoline.......... 496
Fuel requirements......................... 496
Gasoline additives......................... 497
Coolants ....................................... 497
Windshield washer and
headlamp cleaning* system ......... 500
Windshield and headlamp
washer fluid mixing ratio............... 500
Technical terms............................... 501Index................................................. 507

203 Controls in detail
Climate control
Rear climate control panel
1
Door air vent, fixed
2
Side air vent, adjustable
3
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for side air vent
4
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for left center air vent
5
Left center air vent, adjustable
6
Right center air vent, adjustable
7
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for right center air vent
8
Thumbwheel for air volume control
for side air vent
9
Side air vent, adjustable
a
Door air vent, fixed
b
Climate control paneliFor draft-free ventilation, move the
sliders for the center vents5 and6
to the middle position.
1
Left rear center air vent, adjustable
2
Right rear center air vent, adjustable
3
Air distribution and air volume
(automatic, manual)
4
Air distribution (directs air through
the center air vents)
5
Air distribution (directs air through
the footwells and both center air
vents)
6
Rear air conditioning on/off

204 Controls in detailClimate control1
Temperature control, left
2
Air distribution and air volume
(automatic, manual)
3
Defrosting
4
Increase air volume
5
Air distribution (directs air through
the windshield and side air vents)
6
Rear air conditioning on/off
7
Temperature control, right
8
AC cooling on/off (A/C)
Residual heat/ventilation (REST)
9
Air distribution (directs air through
center and side air vents)
a
Air distribution (directs air through
the footwells and side vents)
b
Indicator lamps for air volume
settings
c
Decrease air volume
d
Rear window defroster
e
Air recirculation
f
Interior temperature sensor
g
Climate control on/off

205 Controls in detail
Climate control
The climate control is operational whenev-
er the engine is running. You can operate
the climate control system in either the au-
tomatic or manual mode. The system cools
or heats the interior depending on the se-
lected interior temperature and the cur-
rent outside temperature.Nearly all dust particles, pollutants and
odors are filtered out before outside air en-
ters the passenger compartment through
the air distribution system.
The air conditioning will not engage (no
cooling) if the A/C mode is deactivated
(
page 211).
Warning!
G
When operating the climate control, the air
that enters the passenger compartment
through the air vents in the footwell can be
very hot or very cold (depending on the set
temperature). This may cause burns or frost-
bite to unprotected skin in the immediate
area of the air vents. Always keep sufficient
distance between unprotected parts of the
body and the footwell air vents. If necessary
change the air flow using the air distribution
controls (
page 204) to direct the air away
from the footwell air vents.
Warning!
G
Follow the recommended settings for heat-
ing and cooling given on the following pag-
es. Otherwise the windows could fog up,
impairing visibility and endangering you and
others.
iSevere conditions (e.g. strong air pollu-
tion) may require replacement of the fil-
ter before its scheduled interval. A
clogged filter will reduce the air volume
to the interior.
If the vehicle interior is hot, ventilate
the interior before driving off.
Keep the air intake grille in front of the
windshield free of snow and debris.

206 Controls in detailClimate controlDeactivating the climate control system
Deactivating
Press button´ (
page 204).
Reactivating

Press buttonU (
page 204).
Rear air conditioning
You can switch on and off the rear air con-
ditioning using the climate control panel in
the front.
Deactivating
Press button: on the front climate
control panel (
page 204).
The indicator lamp on button:
comes on. The rear air conditioning is
switched off.
Activating

Press button: on the front climate
control panel (
page 204).
The indicator lamp on button:
goes out. The rear air conditioning is
adjusted automatically.For more information on rear air condition-
ing, see “Rear air conditioning”
(
page 213).
iWhen the air conditioning is switched
off, the outside air supply and circula-
tion are also switched off. Only choose
this settings for a short time. Otherwise
the windows could fog up.iYou can also press button´ on the
climate control panel.
If you press button0 to reactivate
the climate control system, the defrost-
ing mode is activated.
iYou can also switch on and off the rear
air conditioning by pressing the respec-
tive button on the rear climate control
panel.

208 Controls in detailClimate controlAdjusting automatically
Press buttonU (
page 204).
The indicator lamp on buttonU
comes on. The air distribution is
adjusted automatically.
Windshield fogged on the outside

Switch the windshield wipers on
(page 55).

Press the buttonU.
The indicator lamp on buttonU
comes on.
Adjusting air volume
Adjusting manually
Five blower speeds are available.
Press
to decrease orQ to in-
crease air volume to the desired level.
The indicator lamp on buttonU
goes out. The selected blower speed is
shown by the indicator lamps for air
volume settings (
page 204).
Adjusting automatically

Press buttonU.
The indicator lamp on buttonU
comes on. The air volume is adjusted
automatically.
Defrosting
If the air volume is switched off or the air
recirculation mode is switched on, the
interior is no longer ventilated and the
windows can get fogged on the inside.
Activating
Press button0(
page 204).
The yellow indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
The air conditioning switches automat-
ically to the following functions:


maximum blower and heating pow-
er


air flows onto the windshield and
the front side windows (side air
vents must be open)
iThese settings should only be selected
for a short time.

209 Controls in detail
Climate control


The climatic compressor is
switched on at outside tempera-
tures above approximately 41°F
(5°C) for air-drying
Deactivating

Press button0.
The yellow indicator lamp on the button
goes out. Defrosting is turned off.
Air recirculation mode
Switch to air recirculation mode to prevent
unpleasant odors from entering the vehicle
from the outside (e.g. before a tunnel trav-
el). This setting cuts off the intake of out-
side air and recirculates the air in the
passenger compartment.Activating

Press button:.
The indicator lamp on the button
comes on.
iTo switch off, you can press also
button´ orU.
Warning!
G
Fogged windows impair visibility,
endangering you and others. If the windows
begin to fog on the inside, switching off the
air recirculation mode immediately should
clear interior window fogging. If interior win-
dow fogging persists, make sure the air
conditioning (
page 204) is activated, or
press button0.
iPress and hold button: for approx.
two seconds. The side windows and
tilt/sliding sunroof* will close. You can
release button: once the closing
procedure has begun. The windows
and tilt/sliding sunroof* continue clos-
ing until they are fully closed.

211 Controls in detail
Climate control
At outside temperatures above 79°F
(26°C), the system will not automatically
switch back to outside air. A quantity of
outside air is added after approximately
30 minutes.
Air conditioning
The air conditioning is operational while
the engine is running and cools the interior
air to the temperature set by the operator.
In addition, the air conditioning dehumidi-
fies the interior air at outside temperatures
above 41°F (5° C) and helps prevent
window fogging.Deactivating
It is possible to deactivate the air condi-
tioning (cooling) function of the climate
control system. The air in the vehicle will
then no longer be cooled or dehumidified.

Press button2 (
page 204).
The indicator lamp on the button2
goes out.
iThe air recirculation mode is
deactivated automatically

after five minutes if the outside
temperature is below
approximately 41°F (5°C)


after five minutes if the air condi-
tioning and air-drying is turned off


after 30 minutes if the outside
temperature is above
approximately 41°F (5°C)
iCondensation may drip out from under-
neath the vehicle. This is normal and
not an indication of a malfunction.Warning!
G
If you turn off the cooling function, the
interior air is not dried. The windows can fog
up more quickly. Window fogging may im-
pair visibility and endanger you and others.

212 Controls in detailClimate controlActivating
Moist air can fog up the windows. You can
dehumidify the air with the air condition-
ing.
Press button2 again.
The indicator lamp on button2
comes on.
The air conditioning uses the refrigerant
R134a. This refrigerant is free of CFCs
which are harmful to the ozone layer.
Residual heat and ventilation
With the engine switched off, it is possible
to continue to heat or ventilate the interior
for up to 30 minutes. This feature makes
use of the residual heat produced by the
engine.Activating

Turn the SmartKey in the starter switch
to position0or1, or remove it from
the starter switch.

Press buttonT (
page 204).
The indicator lamp on buttonT
comes on.
Deactivating

Press buttonT (
page 204).
The indicator lamp on buttonT
goes out.
!If the air conditioning cannot be turned
on again, this indicates that the air con-
ditioning is losing refrigerant. The com-
pressor has turned itself off.
Have the air conditioning checked at
the nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center.
iHow long the system will provide heat-
ing depends on the coolant tempera-
ture and the battery voltage.
Regardless of the temperature and air
volume set on the climate control panel
an interior temperature is aimed at by
72°F (22°C) and the blower runs for
the protection of the battery on low
stage.