MERCEDES-BENZ ML430 1997 Complete Repair Manual

244
Tires, Wheels
Te ch n ica l
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Instruments
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Car care Index
2. Loosen screw (2) using wrench supplied with vehicle tools, see page 237. The screw (2) remains
in the holder.
3. Lift spare wheel carrier slightly and push lever (3) to the right using screwdriver supplied with vehicle
tools, swing spare wheel carrier down and pull it out
from under the bumper.
4. Remove space-saver spare wheel.

245
Tires, Wheels
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Changing wheels
Position vehicle jack only at the jack take-up bracket
when raising the vehicle.
Wa r n i n g !
The jack is designed exclusively for jacking up the
veh icle at the jack take-u p brackets bu ilt i nto eit her
side 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
when in use, especially on hills. Always try to use
the jack on level surface. Be sure that the jack arm
end is fully seated in the jack take-up bracket.
Always lower the vehicle onto sufficient capacity
jackstands before working under the vehicle.

246
Tires, Wheels
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Move vehicle to a level area which is a safe distance
from the roadway.
Important!
The vehicle doors lock if the left front wheel rotates with
the engine running. Do not leave the engine running
while changing a wheel.
1. Set parking brake and turn on hazard warning flasher.
2. Move selector lever to position “P” and turn off engine, and remove key from the steering lock.
3. Prevent vehicle from rolling away by blocking wheels with wheel chocks (not supplied with
vehicle) or sizable wood block or stone. When
changing a wheel on a hill, place chocks on the
downhill side blocking both wheels of the other
axle. On a level road, place one chock in front of and
one behind the wheel that is diagonally opposite to
the wheel being changed. 4. Using the wrench, loosen but do not yet remove the
wheel bolts.
5. Open jack enough to fit under vehicle.
The jack take-up brackets are located directly
behind the front wheel housings and in front of the
rear wheel housings.
P40.10-2370-26

247
Tires, Wheels
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6. Place jack on firm ground. Position the jack under
t he take-up bracket so t hat it is always ve rtical
(plumb-line) as seen from the side, even if the
vehicle is parked on an incline.
7. Open jack further until jack arm end seats firmly in the take-up bracket and its base sits sq uarely on the
ground. Jack up the vehicle until the wheel is clear
of the ground. Never start engine while vehicle is
raised. 8. Unscrew and remove all wheel bolts. Keep bolt
threads protected from dirt and sand.
9. Remove wheel. Grip wheel from the sides. Keep hands from beneath the wheels.
Clean contact surfaces of wheel and wheel hub.
Install spare wheel on wheel hub. Insert wheel bolts
and tighten them slightly.
10. Lower vehicle to ground. Remove jack.
Before storing the jack, it should be fully collapsed, with
handle folded in.
For proper storage of jack see page 237.

248
Tires, Wheels
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Using the wrench, tighten the five bolts evenly,
following the sequence illustrated, until all bolts are
tight. Observe a tightening torque of 110 ft.lb. (150 Nm).
Ensure proper tire pressure. Notes:
The removed road wheel cannot be stored in the
space-saver wheel carrier or inside the storage
compartment in the rear cargo area (ML 55 AMG), but
should be transported in the rear cargo compartment
wrapped in a protective cover supplied with the vehicle.
The protective cover is located in the rear cargo
compartment behind the cover in the right side trim
panel.
Model ML 55 AMG:
Store air pump in its proper location. Close and latch the
spare wheel cover, see page 239.
1
2
3
4
5
Wa r n i n g !
Always replace wheel bolts that are damaged or
rusted.Never apply oil or grease to wheel bolts.Damaged wheel hub threads should be repaired
immediately.Incorrect mounting bolts or improperly tightened
mounting bolts can cause the wheel to come off.
This could cause an accident. Be sure to use the
correct mounting bolts.

249
Tires, Wheels
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Inflating the space-saver tire
(ML 55 AMG only)
1. Remove air pump from compartment behind the space-saver spare wheel.
2. Open lid (arrow) and pull out filler hose (1) with pressure gauge and electrical plug (2). Observe
manufacturer’s instructions.
3. Unscrew tire valve cap from space-saver tire valve.
4. Screw filler hose (1) onto space-saver tire valve. 5. Plug air pump electrical plug (2) into electrical
outlet in front passenger footwell or rear cargo
compartment.
6. Start the engine and switch on the air pump.
7. Operate air pump (approximately 8 minutes) until pressure gauge displays 61 psi (4.2 bar).
8. Switch off air pump and turn off the engine.
9. Unscrew filler hose from space-saver tire. Reinstall tire valve cap.
Note:
Excessive tire air pressure should be released using the
vent screw.
3
12
Wa r n i n g !
When working on the vehicle with the engine
running, always set the parking brake in addition
to shifting the gear selector lever to position “P”.Wa r n i n g !
To prevent possible injury when unscrewing air
pump filler hose from space-saver tire valve after
inflating the tire, use a rag since the tire valve
could be hot.

250
Tires, Wheels
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Tire inflation pressure
A table (see fuel filler flap) lists the tire inflation
pressures specified for Mercedes-Benz recommended
tires as well as for the varying operating conditions.
Important!
Tire pressure changes by approximately 1.5 psi (0.1 bar)
per 18 °F (10 °C) of air temperature change. Keep this in
mind when checking tire pressure inside a garage –
especially in the winter.
Example:
If garage temperature = approximately +68 °F (+20 °C)
and ambient temperature = approximately +32 °F (0 °C)
then the adjusted air pressure = specified air pressure
+3 psi (+0.2 bar). Tire pressures listed for light loads are minimum values
offering high driving comfort. Increased inflation
pressures for heavy loads produce favorable handling
characteristics with lighter loads and are perfectly
permissible. The ride of the vehicle, however, will
become somewhat harder.
Tire temperature and pressure increase with the vehicle
speed. Tire pressure should therefore only be checked
and corrected on cold tires. Correct tire pressure in
warm tires only if pressure has dropped below the
pressure listed in the table and the respective operating
conditions are taken into consideration.
An underinf lated tire due to a slow leak (e.g. due to a
nail in the tire) may cause damage such as tread
separation, bulging etc.. Regular tire pressure checks
(including the spare tire) at intervals of no more than
14 days are therefore essential.

251
Battery
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If a tire constantly loses air, it should be inspected for
damage.
The spare tire should be checked periodically for
condition and inflation. Spare tire will age and become
worn over time even if never used, and thus should be
inspected and replaced when necessary. Battery
Important!
Battery replacement information:
The maintenance-free battery is located in the engine
compartment.
The service life of the battery is dependent on its
condition of charge. The battery should always be kept
sufficiently charged, in order to last an optimum length
of time.
Wa r n i n g !
Do not overinflate tires. Overinflating tires can
result in sudden deflation (blowout) because they
are more likely to become punctured or damaged
by road debris, potholes etc.. Follow recommended
inflation pressures.Do not overload the tires by exceeding the specified
vehicle capacity weight (as indicated by the label
on the driver’s door latch post). Overloading the
tires can overheat them, possibly causing a
blowout.
Wa r n i n g !
Failure to follow these instructions can result in
severe injury or death.Never lean over batteries while connecting, you
might get injured.Battery fluid contains sulfuric acid. Do not allow
this fluid to come in contact with eyes, skin or
clothing. In case it does, immediately flush affected
area with water and seek medical help if necessary.A battery will also produce hydrogen gas, which is
flammable and explosive. Keep flames or sparks
away from battery, avoid improper connection of
jumper cables, smoking etc..

252
Battery
Te ch n ica l
data
Instruments
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Car care Index
Therefore, we strongly recommend that you have the
battery charge checked frequently, and corrected if
necessary, especially if you use the vehicle less than
approximately 200 miles (300 km) per month,
mostly for short distance trips, or if it is not used for
long periods of time.
Only charge a battery with a battery charger after the
battery has been disconnected from the vehicle’s
electrical circuit.
Always disconnect the battery negative lead first and
connect last.
When removing and connecting the battery, always
make sure that all electrical consumers are off and the
key is in steering lock position 0. The battery must
always be securely installed when the vehicle is in
operation. During removal and installation always
protect the disconnected battery positive (+) terminal
with the cover attached to the battery.
While the engine is running the battery terminal clamps
must not be loosened or detached, otherwise the
generator and other electronic components would be
damaged. Note:
After reconnecting the battery also set the clock in
instrument cluster (see page 80), set date in trip
computer (see page 83), resynchronize the sliding / pop-
up roof (see page 272), the Skyview Top (see page 273)
and the electronic stability program (ESP) (see
page 206).
Battery recycling
Batteries contain material that can harm the
environment with improper disposal.
Large 12 Volt storage batteries contain lead.
Recycling of batteries is the preferred method of
disposal.
Many states require sellers of batteries to accept old
batteries for recycling.

253
Jump starting
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data
Instruments
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Jump starting
Important!
A discharged battery can freeze at approximately +14 °F
(–10 °C). In that case, it must be thawed out before
jumper cables are used. Attempting to jump start a
frozen battery can result in it exploding, causing
personal injury.
Jumper cable specifications:
• Minimum cable cross-section of 25 mm
2 or
approximately 2 AWG
• Maximum length of 11.5 ft. (3.5 m).
If the battery is discharged, the engine should be started
with jumper cables and the (12 V) battery of another
vehicle.
Only use 12 V battery to jump start your vehicle. Jump
starting with more powerful battery could damage the
vehicle’s electrical systems, which will not be covered
by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
The battery is located in the engine compartment.
Wa r n i n g !
Failure to follow these directions will cause
damage to the electronic components, and can lead
to a battery explosion and severe injury or death.Never lean over batteries while connecting or jump
starting, you might get injured.Battery fluid contains sulfuric acid. Do not allow
this fluid to come in contact with eyes, skin or
clothing. In case it does, immediately flush affected
area with water, and seek medical help if
necessary.A battery will also produce hydrogen gas, which is
flammable and very explosive. Keep flames or
sparks away from battery, avoid improper
connection of jumper cables, smoking etc..Read all instructions before proceeding.