run flat MERCEDES-BENZ ML350 2006 W163 Owner's Manual

348 OperationTires and wheels
Install the valve cap.

Repeat this procedure for each tire.Run Flat Indicator
While the vehicle is being driven, the Run
Flat Indicator monitors the set tire inflation
pressures by evaluating each wheel’s rota-
tional speed. This allows the system to de-
tect a significant loss of pressure in a tire.
If a wheel’s rotational speed changes due
to falling tire inflation pressure, you will
see a corresponding warning message in
the multifunction display.
The Run Flat Indicator may function in a re-
stricted manner or with a delay if:


snow chains are mounted to the
vehicle


winter road conditions prevail


you are driving on a loose surface (e.g.
sand or gravel)


you are driving in a very sporty manner
(involving rapid acceleration or high
speeds in curves)
iIf you have overfilled the tire, release
tire inflation pressure by pushing the
metal stem of the valve with e.g. a tip of
a pen. Then recheck the tire inflation
pressure with the tire gauge.
Warning!
G
When the multifunction display shows the
message
Tire pressure Check tires
,
one or more of your tires is significantly un-
der-inflated. You should stop and check
your tires as soon as possible, and inflate
them to the proper tire inflation pressure as
indicated on the vehicle’s tire information
placard. Driving on a significantly under-in-
flated tire causes the tire to overheat and
can lead to tire failure. Under-inflation also
reduces fuel efficiency and tire tread life,
and may affect the vehicle’s handling and
stopping ability. Each tire, including the
spare, should be checked monthly when
cold and set to the recommended tire infla-
tion pressure as specified in the vehicle
placard and owner’s manual.


349 Operation
Tires and wheels
iThe recommended tire inflation pres-
sures for your vehicle can be found on
the tire placard located on the driver’s
door B-pillar (
page 339). The tire in-
flation pressures are not listed in the
owner’s manual.
Warning!
G
The Run Flat Indicator does not indicate a
warning for wrongly selected tire inflation
pressures. Always adjust tire inflation pres-
sure according to the placard on the driver’s
door B-pillar or fuel filler flap.
The Run Flat Indicator does not replace reg-
ular checks of the tire inflation pressures
since a gradual pressure loss in all four tires
cannot be detected by the Run Flat
Indicator.
The Run Flat Indicator is not able to issue a
warning due to a sudden dramatic loss of
tire inflation pressure (e.g. tire blowout
caused by a foreign object). In this case
bring the vehicle to a halt by carefully apply-
ing the brakes and avoiding abrupt steering
maneuvers.
Warning!
G
Follow recommend tire inflation pressures.
Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated tires
wear excessively and/or unevenly,
adversely affect handling and fuel economy,
and are more likely to fail from being over-
heated.
Do not overinflate tires. Overinflated tires
can adversely affect handling and ride
comfort, wear unevenly, increase stopping
distance, and result in sudden deflation
(blowout) because they are more likely to
become punctured or damaged by road
debris, potholes etc.
Do not overload the tires by exceeding the
specified load limit or vehicle capacity
weight as indicated on the placard on the
driver’s door B-pillar. Overloading the tires
can overheat them, possibly causing a
blowout.

350 OperationTires and wheelsReactivating the Run Flat Indicator
The tire inflation pressure monitor must be
reactivated in the following situations:

If you have changed the tire inflation
pressure


If you have replaced the wheels or tires


If you have installed new wheels or
tires

Using the tire placard on the driver’s
door B-pillar or, if available, the inside
of the fuel filler flap, make sure the tire
inflation pressure of all four tires is cor-
rect.

Switch on the ignition (
page 34).
Make sure the standard display menu
appears in the multifunction display
(
page 150).

Press buttonk orj repeatedly
until the following message appears in
the multifunction display:

Press buttonæ.
The following message will appear in
the multifunction display:Tire pressure OK now?
If you wish to confirm activation:
Press buttonæ.
The following message will appear in
the multifunction display:Run Flat Indicator
reactivated
After a certain “learning phase”, the Run
Flat Indicator checks the set pressure val-
ues for all four tires.
If you wish to cancel activation:
Press buttonç.
or

Wait until the messageTire pressure OK now?disappears.
Warning!
G
The Run Flat Indicator can only warn you in
a reliable manner if you have set the correct
tire inflation pressures for each tire.
If an incorrect tire inflation pressure was
set, the system will monitor the pressure ac-
cording to the incorrect value.

405 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
Run Flat Indicator
inactive
Run Flat Indicator is malfunctioning.

Have the Run Flat Indicator checked by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
Check tires
Then reactivate
Run Flat Indicator
There was a warning message about
a loss in the tire inflation pressure
and the Run Flat Indicator has not
been reactivated yet.

Make sure that the correct tire inflation pressure is set
for each tire.

Then reactivate the Run Flat Indicator.
Run Flat Indicator
unavailable
The Run Flat Indicator has been
switched off due to an error.

Have the Run Flat Indicator checked by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
Tire pressure
Check tires
The Run Flat Indicator indicates that
the pressure is too low in one or more
tires.

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

Check and adjust tire inflation pressure as required
(page 348).

If necessary, change the wheel (
page 457).

Reactivate the Run Flat Indicator after adjusting the tire
inflation pressure values (
page 350).

457 Practical hints
Flat tire
Mounting the spare wheel
Preparing the vehicle
Prepare the vehicle as described
(page 456).

Take the wheel wrench, the collapsible
wheel chock, and the vehicle jack out
of the cargo compartment
(page 430).

Take the Minispare wheel out of the
cargo compartment (
page 433).Lifting the vehicle

Prevent the vehicle from rolling away
by blocking wheels with wheel chocks
or other sizable objects.
A collapsible wheel chock is included
with the vehicle tool kit (
page 430).
For information on setting up the col-
lapsible wheel chock, see
(
page 432).
When changing wheel on a level surface:

Place one wheel chock in front of and
another sizeable object behind the
wheel that is diagonally opposite to the
wheel being changed.
Always try lifting the vehicle using the jack
on a level surface. However, should
circumstances require you to do so on a
hill, place the wheel chock and other size-
able object as follows:

Place the wheel chock and another
sizable object on the downhill side
blocking both wheels of the axle not
being worked on.
!Vehicles with factory-mounted
running-boards*:
Your vehicle is equipped with a scis-
sors-type jack (located under the cargo
compartment floor) designed for use
with factory-mounted running boards.
Only use this jack when jacking up ve-
hicles with factory-mounted running
boards as otherwise the vehicle’s
underbody can be damaged. See sepa-
rate instructions for scissors-type jack.
Warning!
G
The jack is designed exclusively for jacking
up the vehicle at the jack take-up brackets
built into both sides of the vehicle. To help
avoid personal injury, use the jack only to lift
the vehicle during a wheel change. Never
get beneath the vehicle while it is supported
by the jack. Keep hands and feet away from
the area under the lifted vehicle. Always
firmly set parking brake and block wheels
before raising vehicle with jack.
Do not disengage parking brake while the
vehicle is raised. Be certain that the jack is
always vertical (plumb line) when in use, es-
pecially on hills. Always try to use the jack
on level surface. Make sure that the jack
arm is fully seated in the jack take-up brack-
et. Always lower the vehicle onto sufficient
capacity jackstands before working under
the vehicle.

458 Practical hintsFlat tire
On wheel to be changed, loosen but do
not yet remove the wheel bolts
(approximately one full turn with
wrench).
The jack take-up brackets are located di-
rectly behind the front wheel housings and
in front of the rear wheel housings.1Take-up bracket
2Jack

Place jack2 on firm ground.

Position jack2 under the take-up
bracket1 so that it is always vertical
(plumb-line) as seen from the side,
even if the vehicle is parked on an in-
cline.

Jack up the vehicle until the wheel is a
maximum of 1.2 in (3 cm) from the
ground. Never start engine while vehi-
cle is raised.
!Do not position the jack on the body of
the vehicle, as this may cause damage
to the vehicle.
!Vehicles with factory-mounted
running-boards*:
Your vehicle is equipped with a scis-
sors-type jack (located under the cargo
compartment floor) designed for use
with factory-mounted running boards.
Only use this jack when jacking up ve-
hicles with factory-mounted running
boards as otherwise the vehicle’s
underbody can be damaged. See sepa-
rate instructions for scissors-type jack.

526 IndexReplacing key batteries
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* 441
Reporting
Safety defects 19
Reset button in the instrument
cluster 161
Resetting
All functions of a submenu 162
Fuel consumption 177
Maintenance service indicator 373
Trip odometer 149
Residual heat utilization 212, 226, 227,
505
Residual ventilation 212, 226
REST (Residual engine heat
utilization) 505Restraint system 505
Restraint system see Infant
and child restraint systems
Returning from off-road driving 313
Returning seat backrest to original
position 262
Rim 367
Rims 487
Roadside assistance 12
Tele Aid* 284
RON 324
RON (Research Octane Number) 505
Roof rack* 269
Rotating wheels 368
Rubber parts
Cleaning 380
Run Flat Indicator 348S
Safety
Occupant 66
Safety belts see Seat belts
Safety defects
Reporting 19
Safety systems
Driving 93
Seat backrest
Returning to original position 262
Seat belt force limiter 76
Seat belt height adjustment 48
Seat belts 73
Cleaning 379
Fastening 46
Height adjustment 48
Proper use of 48, 74
Safety guidelines 70
Warning lamp 388, 389

532 IndexTime
Setting day 166
Setting hours 165
Setting minutes 166
Setting month 166
Setting year 167
TIN 367
Tire
Vehicle maximum load on 368
Tire and Loading Information 339
Tire and loading terminology 365
Tire care and maintenance 336
Tire Identification Number see TIN
Tire inflation pressure
Checking 325, 345, 347
Tire inflation pressure see
the placard on the fuel filler flap
Tire inspection 336
Tire load rating 367
Tire ply composition and
material used 367Tire speed rating 303, 357, 367, 506
Tire terminology 365
Tire traction 303
Tires 487
Direction of rotation 338
Driving instructions 302
Low tire pressure telltale 391
Retreads 335
Rims and tires 487
Run Flat Indicator 348
Service life 336
Temperature 346, 364
TPMS malfunction telltale 391
Tread depth 337, 369
Wear pattern 368
Winter 369Tools 430
Tow-away alarm 102
Arming 102
Disarming 102
Disarming for transport 102
Towing
Trailer 314
Towing a trailer 317
Automatic transmission 191
Towing the vehicle
Installing towing eye bolt 474
Stranded vehicle 476
Traction 367, 506
Trailer
Attaching 316
Loading 315
Towing 317