engine coolant MERCEDES-BENZ ML350 2006 W163 Owner's Manual

Contents
At the gas station .............................. 323
Refueling ...................................... 323
Check regularly and
before a long trip.......................... 324
Engine compartment ......................... 326
Hood ............................................ 326
Engine oil ..................................... 327
Transmission fluid level ................ 332
Coolant level ................................ 332
Windshield/rear window
washer system and
headlamp cleaning system* ........ 333
Tires and wheels ................................ 335
Important guidelines .................... 335
Tire care and maintenance........... 336
Direction of rotation ..................... 338
Loading the vehicle ...................... 338
Recommended tire
inflation pressure ......................... 345
Checking tire inflation pressure ... 347
Tire labeling.................................. 355
Load identification ....................... 359
DOT, Tire Identification
Number (TIN) ............................... 360Maximum tire load ........................ 361
Maximum tire inflation pressure ... 362
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (U.S. vehicles) .............. 362
Tire ply material ............................ 364
Tire and loading terminology......... 365
Rotating tires ................................ 368
Winter driving ..................................... 369
Winter tires ................................... 369
Block heater (Canada only) ........... 370
Snow chains.................................. 370
Maintenance....................................... 371
Clearing the maintenance
service indicator ........................... 372
Maintenance service
term exceeded .............................. 372
Calling up the service indicator..... 372
Resetting the
maintenance service indicator ...... 373
Vehicle care........................................ 374
Cleaning and care of the vehicle ... 374
Practical hints.................................. 381
What to do if … ................................... 382
Lamps in instrument cluster ......... 382
Lamp in center console ................ 393
Vehicle status messages in the
multifunction display .................... 395
Where will I find ...? ............................ 430
First aid kit.................................... 430
Vehicle tool kit.............................. 430
Spare wheel .................................. 433
Unlocking/locking in an emergency .. 435
Unlocking the vehicle ................... 435
Locking the vehicle ....................... 436
Unlocking and opening
the tailgate ................................... 437
Fuel filler flap ................................ 438
Opening/closing in an emergency ..... 439
Power tilt/sliding sunroof* ........... 439
Replacing SmartKey batteries ............ 440
SmartKey ...................................... 440
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* ....... 441

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

59 Getting started
Driving
The coolant temperature is above
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 332).In case of accident
If the vehicle is leaking fuel:

Do not start the engine under any
circumstances.

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

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


major assemblies


fuel system


engine mount:

Start the engine in the usual manner.

154 Controls in detailControl systemMenus, submenus and functions
Menu1
Menu2
Menu3
Menu4
Menu5
Menu6
Standard display
AUDIO
NAV*
Off-road
Vehicle status
message memory
Settings
(page 156)
(page 157)
(page 158)
(page 159)
(page 159)
(page 161)
Commands/submenusTrip odometer and
Main odometer
Select radio station
Show route guid-
ance instructions,
current direction
traveled
Compass
Call up vehicle mal-
function, warning
and system status
messages stored in
memory
Reset to factory set-
tings
Check tire inflation
pressure
Select satellite radio*
station
Vehicle level*
Instrument cluster
submenu
Check coolant temper-
ature
Operate CD player
Time/Date sub-
menu
Digital speedometer/
outside temperature
Lighting submenu
Call up maintenance
service indicator
Vehicle submenu
Check engine oil level*
Convenience sub-
menu

156 Controls in detailControl systemStandard display menu
In basic mode, the multifunction display
shows the trip odometer and the main
odometer. This is known as the standard
display.
1Trip odometer
2Main odometer
In case you see another display, press
buttonè orÿ repeatedly until the
standard display appears.
Press buttonk orj to select
the functions in the standard display
menu.The following functions are available:
Call up digital speedometer

Press buttonk orj until the
digital speedometer or the outside
temperature appears in the multifunc-
tion display.
To select whether the digital speedometer
or the outside temperature is shown in the
multifunction display, see “Selecting dis-
play (speed display or outside tempera-
ture) for status display” (
page 165).Call up coolant temperature display

Press buttonk orj repeatedly
until the coolant temperature appears
in the multifunction display.
Function
Page
Check engine oil level (ML 500)
328
Call up maintenance service
indicator
371
Call up digital speedometer
156
Call up coolant temperature
display
156
Check tire inflation pressure
347
iDuring severe operating conditions,
e.g. stop-and-go traffic, the coolant
temperature may rise close to 248°F
(120°C).!The engine should not be operated with
the coolant temperature above 248°F
(120°C). Doing so may cause serious
engine damage which is not covered by
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

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.

226 Controls in detail3-zone automatic climate control*Deactivating
It is possible to deactivate the air condi-
tioning (cooling) function of the automatic
climate control system. The air in the vehi-
cle will then no longer be cooled or dehu-
midified.
Press button2 (
page 218).
The indicator lamp on button2
goes out.
The cooling function switches off after
a short delay.Activating
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 system uses the refrig-
erant R-134a. 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.
!If the air conditioning cannot be turned
on again, this indicates that the air
conditioning is losing refrigerant. The
compressor 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.

318 OperationDriving instructions

If the transmission hunts between
gears on inclines, manually shift to a
lower gear (select 4, 3, 2 or 1).
A lower gear and reduction of speed re-
duces the chance of engine overload-
ing and/or overheating.


On very steep inclines, not manageable
with automatic transmission in1,
switch on off-road driving program
(page 248).


When going down a long hill, shift into
a lower gear and use the engine’s brak-
ing effect.
Avoid riding the brakes, thus overheat-
ing the vehicle and trailer brakes.


If the engine coolant rises to an ex-
tremely high temperature (coolant tem-
perature needle approaching the red
zone) when the air conditioning is on,
turn off the air conditioning system.
Engine coolant heat can be additionally
vented by opening the windows,
switching the climate control fan speed
to high and setting the temperature
control to the maximum hot position.


Extreme care must be exercised since
your vehicle with a trailer will require
additional passing distance ahead than
when driving without a trailer.
Because your vehicle and trailer is
longer than your vehicle alone, you will
also need to go much farther ahead of
the passed vehicle before you can re-
turn to your lane.Uncoupling the trailer

Start the engine (
page 34).

Make sure the automatic transmission
is set toP.

Set the parking brake for the vehicle
(page 52) and for the trailer.

Close all doors and the tailgate.
Detach the trailer immediately after-
ward as follows:

Disconnect all electrical plug connec-
tors.

Uncouple the trailer.
!If the trailer should begin to sway, re-
duce the vehicle’s speed immediately.
In no case attempt to straighten out the
tow vehicle and trailer by increasing
the speed.

322 OperationDriving instructionsCoolant temperature
During severe operating conditions,
e.g. stop-and-go traffic, the coolant tem-
perature may rise close to approximately
248°F (120°C).
The engine should not be operated with
the coolant temperature over 248°F
(120°C). Doing so may cause serious en-
gine damage which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Warning!
G


Driving when your engine is badly over-
heated can cause some fluids, which
may have leaked into the engine com-
partment to catch fire. You could be se-
riously 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.

324 OperationAt the gas station
Replace the fuel cap by turning it
clockwise until it audibly engages.

Close the fuel filler flap.
Check regularly and before a long trip
Open the hood (
page 326).
Example ML 5001Brake fluid
2Coolant level
3Windshield washer system and
headlamp cleaning system*
Engine oil level
For more information on engine oil, see
“Engine oil” (
page 327).Brake fluid
Coolant
For normal replenishing, use water (pota-
ble water quality).
For more information, see “Coolant level”
(
page 332) and see “Fuels, coolants, lu-
bricants, etc.” (
page 493).
iOnly use premium unleaded gasoline
with a minimum Posted Octane Rating
of 91 (average of 96 RON/86 MON).
Information on gasoline quality can
normally be found on the fuel pump.
For more information on gasoline, see
the Factory Approved Service Products
pamphlet.iLeaving the engine running and the fuel
cap open can cause the yellow engine
malfunction indicator lamp
?(USA only), ±(Canada only)
to illuminate.
For more information, see “Practical
hints” (
page 385).
!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 immediately. Noti-
fy an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center immediately. Do not add
brake fluid as this will not solve the
problem. For more information, see
“Practical hints” (
page 381).