phone MERCEDES-BENZ ML430 1997 Complete Repair Manual

2 Contents
Fog lamp switch
(except Canada) ........................... 92
Fog lamp switch
(Canada only) .............................. 93
Hazard warning flasher
switch ............................................ 94
Headlamp cleaning system ............ 94
Windshield wiper/washer
switch ............................................ 95
Rear window wiper/washer ........... 96
Climate control ................................. 98
Basic setting – Heater ............... 100
Basic setting –
Air conditioner ........................... 100
Special setting ............................ 101
Dust filter .................................... 102
Air recirculation ......................... 102
Rear window defroster .............. 103
Power windows ............................... 104
Rear quarter windows ................... 106
Sliding/pop-up roof ....................... 107
Skyview Top .................................... 109
Interior lighting ..............................110
Sun visors ........................................113Illuminated vanity mirrors ........... 113
Interior ............................................. 114
Storage compartments,
armrest and cup holder ............ 114
Glove box ...................................... 115
Armrest in rear bench seat ........... 117
Ashtrays ........................................... 118
Lighter .............................................. 119
Split rear seat bench ..................... 120
Easy entry/exit feature ............. 123
Rear seat head restraints ......... 124
Third row seats .............................. 126
Removable cargo floor plates ...... 129
Enlarged cargo area .......................131
Cargo tie-down rings .....................132
Hooks ...............................................133
Partition net ....................................133
Loading instructions ......................136
Cargo area cover blind ..................137
Telephone, general .........................139
Cellular telephone ..........................139
Garage door opener ....................... 140
DrivingControl and operation of
radio transmitters ..................... 146
The first 1 000 miles
(1 500 km) ................................. 147
Maintenance ................................... 147
Tele Aid ........................................... 148
Catalytic converter ........................ 160
Emission control ............................ 161
Steering lock ................................... 162
Starting and turning off
the engine .................................. 164
Automatic transmission ............... 165
Parking brake ................................. 173
Driving instructions ...................... 174
Drive sensibly – save fuel ......... 174
Drinking and driving ................. 174
Pedals ........................................... 174
Power assistance ........................ 175
Brakes .......................................... 175
Driving off ................................... 176
Parking ........................................ 176
Tires ............................................. 177

21 Instruments and controls
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Overhead control panel1Interior lighting, see page 110
2Garage door opener, see page 140
3Hands-free microphone for Tele Aid, telephone and
voice recognition system
4Tele Aid (emergency call system), see page 148
5Sliding /pop-up roof, see page 107
Skyview Top, see page 109
6Rear view mirror, see page 71
Reading lamps inside rear view mirror, see page 110
1
2
3
4
5
6
1

23 Contents - Operation
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Basic setting –
Air conditioner ........................... 100
Special setting ............................ 101
Dust filter .................................... 102
Air recirculation ......................... 102
Rear window defroster .............. 103
Power windows ............................... 104
Rear quarter windows ................... 106
Sliding/pop-up roof ....................... 107
Skyview Top .................................... 109
Interior lighting ..............................110
Sun visors ........................................113Illuminated vanity mirrors ........... 113
Interior ............................................. 114
Storage compartments,
armrest and cup holder ............ 114
Glove box ...................................... 115
Armrest in rear bench seat ........... 117
Ashtrays ........................................... 118
Lighter .............................................. 119
Split rear seat bench ..................... 120
Easy entry/exit feature ............. 123
Rear seat head restraints ......... 124
Third row seats .............................. 126Removable cargo floor plates ....... 129
Enlarged cargo area ....................... 131
Cargo tie-down rings ..................... 132
Hooks ............................................... 133
Partition net .................................... 133
Loading instructions ..................... 136
Cargo area cover blind .................. 137
Telephone, general ........................ 139
Cellular telephone ......................... 139
Garage door opener ....................... 140

89 Engine oil level indicator
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Engine oil level indicator
To check the engine oil level, park vehicle on level
ground, with engine at normal operational temperature.
Check oil level approximately 5 minutes after stopping
the engine, allowing for the oil to return to the oil pan.
Turn the key in steering lock to position 2 and wait until
the display “––––––” appears in the odometer display
field.
Within 1 second press button (1) twice.The following messages are available:
“OIL i.O”
No oil needs to be added.
“–1.0 L”
“–1.5 L”
“–2.0 L”
Add oil to upper (max) mark of the dipstick.
See page 233 for instructions on adding engine oil.
“OIL HI”
Do not overfill the engine.
Excessive oil must be siphoned or drained off. It could
cause damage to the engine and catalytic converter not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
The display “––––––” flashes in the odometer display
field if a proper oil level check cannot be performed. The
engine oil level check can be repeated after a short time.
Perform the engine oil level check with the dipstick, if it
cannot be completed via the odometer display field.
See page 233.
In this case we recommend that you have the system
checked at a Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.

139 Interior equipment
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Telephone, general
See separate instruction manual for instructions on how
to operate the telephone.
Cellular telephone
Wa r n i n g !
A driver’s attention to the road must always be his /
her primary focus when driving. For your safety
and the safety of others, we recommend that you
pull over to a safe location and stop before placing
or taking a telephone call. If you choose to use the
telephone while driving, please use the hands-free
device and only use the telephone when road and
traffic conditions permit.Some jurisdictions prohibit the driver from using a
cellular telephone while driving a vehicle.Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km / h), your vehicle is covering
a distance of approximately 50 feet (approximately
14 m ) e v e r y s e c o n d .
Never operate radio transmitters equipped with a
built-in or attached antenna (i.e. without being
connected to an external antenna) from inside the
vehicle while the engine is running. Doing so could
lead to a malfunction of the vehicle’s electronic
system, possibly resulting in an accident and
personal injury.Wa r n i n g !
Some jurisdictions prohibit the driver from using a
cellular telephone while driving a vehicle. Whether
or not prohibited by law, for safety reasons, the
driver should not use the cellular telephone while
the vehicle is in motion.
Stop the vehicle in an safe location before
answering or placing a call.

146 Control and operation of radio transmitters
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Control and operation of radio transmitters
MCS, radio and telephone
1 Observe all legal requirements.
Telephones and two-way radio
Radio transmitters, such as a portable telephone or a
citizens band unit should only be used inside the
vehicle if they are connected to an antenna that is
installed on the outside of the vehicle.
Refer to the radio transmitter operation instructions
regarding use of an external antenna.
Wa r n i n g !
Please do not forget that your primary
responsibility is to drive the vehicle. Only operate
the MCS, radio or telephone
1 if road and traffic
conditions permit.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km / h), your vehicle is covering
a distance of approximately 50 feet (approximately
14 m ) e v e r y s e c o n d .
Wa r n i n g !
Never operate radio transmitters equipped with a
built-in or attached antenna (i.e. without being
connected to an external antenna) from inside the
vehicle while the engine is running. Doing so could
lead to a malfunction of the vehicle’s electronic
system, possibly resulting in an accident and
personal injury.

150 Tele Aid
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
The Tele Aid system is available if:
•it has been activated and is operational. Activation
requires a subscription for monitoring services and
cellular air time
•the relevant cellular phone network and GPS signals
are available and pass the information on to the
response center.
Note:
Location of the vehicle on a map is possible if the
vehicle is able to receive signals from the GPS satellite
network and pass the information on to the response
center.
Wa r n i n g !
If the indicator lamp in the “SOS” button is
illuminated continuously and there was no voice
connection to the Response Center established,
then the Tele Aid system could not initiate an
emergency call (e.g. the relevant cellular phone
network is not available). The message
“EMERGENCY CALL – CALL FAILED” appears in
the MCS display for approx. 10 seconds.Should this occur, assistance must be summoned
by oth er means.

154 Tele Aid
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
If the indicator lamp in the Roadside Assistance
button• is illuminated continuously and there was
no voice connection to the Response Center established,
then the Tele Aid system could not initiate an Roadside
Assistance call (e.g. the relevant cellular phone network
is not available). The message “ROADSIDE
ASSISTANCE – CALL FAILED” appears in the MCS
display.
Should this occur, assistance must be summoned by
other means.
Roadside Assistance calls can be terminated using the
END button on the MCS unit.Information button ¡
Located in the overhead control panel is the Information
button¡. Briefly press on cover (3) – the cover will
open.
Pressing and holding the Information button¡ (for
longer than 2 seconds) will initiate a call to the Client
Assistance Center. The button will flash while the call is
in progress. The message “INFO – CONNECTING CALL”
appears in the MCS display. When the connection is
established, the message “INFO – CALL CONNECTED”
appears in the MCS display.

RESET
MODE
3

155 Tele Aid
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index The Tele Aid system will transmit data generating the
vehicle identification number, model, color and location
(subject to availability of cellular and GPS signals).
While the call is connected, you can change to
navigation menu by pressing NAVI button on the MCS.
A voice connection between the Client Assistance
Center representative and the occupants of the vehicle
will be established. When a voice connection is
established, the audio system mutes and the message
“TELE AID – INFO CALL ACTIVE” appears in the MCS
display. Information regarding the operation of your
vehicle, the nearest Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center
or Mercedes-Benz USA products and services is
available to you.
For more details concerning Tele Aid, please visit
www.mbusa.com and use your ID and password, sent to
you separately, to learn more (USA only).Notes:
The indicator lamp in the Information button¡
remains illuminated in red for approximately
10 seconds during the system self-check after turning
key in steering lock to position 2 (together with the
“SOS” button and the Roadside Assistance button•).
See system self-check on page 148 when the indicator
lamps do not light up in red or stay on longer than
approximately 10 seconds.
If the indicator lamp in the Information button¡ is
illuminated continuously and there was no voice
connection to the Response Center established, then the
Tele Aid system could not initiate an Roadside
Assistance call (e.g. the relevant cellular phone network
is not available). The message “Info – CALL FAILED”
appears in the MCS display.
Should this occur, information must be summoned by
other means.
Information calls can be terminated using the END
button on the MCS unit.

157 Tele Aid
Te ch n ica l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Important!
If the indicator lamp continues to flash or the system
does not reset, contact the Response Center at
1-800-756-9018 (in the USA) or 1-888-923-8367 (in
Canada), or Mercedes-Benz Client Assistance at
1-800-FOR-MERCedes (1-800-367-6372) in the USA or
Customer Service at 1-800-387-0100 in Canada.
Notes:
The indicator lamp for the respective button flashes
until the call is concluded and this can only be
completed by a Response Center or Client Assistance
Center representative, except Roadside assistance and
Information calls, which can also be terminated by
using the End button on the MCS unit.
When a Tele Aid call has been initiated, the MCS system
audio is muted and the selected mode (radio, tape or
CD) pauses. The optional cellular phone (if installed)
switches off. If you must use this phone, the vehicle
must be parked. Disconnect the coiled cord and place
the call. The navigation system (if engaged) will
continue to run. A pop-up window will appear in the
MCS display to indicate that a Tele Aid call is in
progress.Remote door unlock
In the case you have your vehicle locked unintentionally
(e.g. key inside vehicle), and the reserve key is not
handy, contact the Mercedes-Benz Response Center at
1-800-756-9018 (in the USA) or 1-888-923-8367 (in
Canada). You will be asked to provide your password
which you provided when you completed the subscriber
agreement.
Then return to your vehicle and pull outside handle of
liftgate for a minimum of 20 seconds until the “SOS”
button is flashing.
As an alternative, you may unlock the vehicle via
Internet using the ID and password sent to you shortly
after the completion of your Acquaintance Call.
The Response Center will then unlock your vehicle with
the remote door unlocking feature.
Note:
The remote door unlock feature is available if the
relevant cellular phone network is available.
The SOS button will f lash and the message
“EMERGENCY CALL – CALL CONNECTED” will appear
in t he MCS display to indica te receipt of t he d oor unlock
command.