check engine MERCEDES-BENZ ML500 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

34 Getting startedUnlockingStarter switch positions SmartKey
Starter switch0For removing SmartKey
1Power supply for some electrical con-
sumers, such as seat adjustment
2Ignition (power supply for all electrical
consumers) and driving position
All lamps (except high beam headlamp
indicator lamp and turn signal indicator
lamps unless activated) in the instru-
ment cluster come on. If a lamp in the
instrument cluster fails to come on
when the ignition is switched on, have
it checked and replaced if necessary. If
a lamp in the instrument cluster re-mains on after starting the engine or
comes on while driving, refer to “Lamps
in instrument cluster” (
page 382).
3Starting position
Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
SmartKey or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
from the starter switch, take it with you and
lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unat-
tended in the vehicle, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehi-
cle equipment may cause an accident
and/or serious personal injury.
iWhen you switch on the ignition, the in-
dicator and warning lamps (except high
beam headlamp indicator lamp and
turn signal indicator lamps unless acti-
vated) in the instrument cluster come
on. The indicator and warning lamps
(except high beam headlamp indicator
lamp and turn signal indicator lamps if
activated) will go out when the engine
is running. This indicates that the
respective systems are operational.iWhen the SmartKey is removed from
the starter switch and the automatic
transmission is in a position other
thanP, the transmission automatically
shifts toP.

35 Getting started
Unlocking
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
Vehicles equipped with the KEYLESS-GO
feature are supplied with a SmartKey with
integrated KEYLESS-GO function and a
removable KEYLESS-GO start/stop
button.With the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button
inserted and the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO present in the vehicle, press-
ing the KEYLESS-GO start/stop button


without the brake pedal depressed cor-
responds to the various starter switch
positions (
page 36)


with the brake pedal firmly depressed
will start the engine (
page 49)
If you wish or should there be a need to
insert the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO in
the starter switch, the start/stop button
can be easily removed by pulling it out of
the starter switch.
!If the SmartKey cannot be turned in the
starter switch, the battery may not be
sufficiently charged.

Check the battery and charge it if
necessary (
page 440).


Get a jump start (
page 470).
To prevent accelerated battery dis-
charge or a completely discharged bat-
tery, always remove the SmartKey from
the starter switch when the engine is
not in operation.
iIf you firmly depress the brake pedal
while pressing the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button, the engine starts
automatically.
iThe KEYLESS-GO start/stop button
does not need to be removed from the
starter switch when you leave the vehi-
cle. However, always take the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO with you
when you leave the vehicle. As long as
the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO is in
your vehicle, the vehicle’s electrical
systems can be switched on or the
engine can be started using the
KEYLESS-GO start/stop button.Warning!
G
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO with you and
lock the vehicle. Do not leave children unat-
tended in the vehicle, or with access to an
unlocked vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehi-
cle equipment may cause an accident
and/or serious personal injury.

36 Getting startedUnlocking1KEYLESS-GO start/stop button
2Starter switchKEYLESS-GO start/stop button1USA only
2Canada onlyThe SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO must be
located in the vehicle.

Make sure the automatic transmission
is set toP.

Do not depress the brake pedal.
Position 0
Before you press the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button, the vehicle’s on-board
electronics have status0 (as with
SmartKey removed).
Position 1

Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop
button once.
This supplies power for some electrical
consumers, such as seat adjustment.Ignition (or Position 2)

Press the KEYLESS-GO start/stop
button twice.
All lamps in the instrument cluster
come on. If a lamp in the instrument
cluster fails to come on when the igni-
tion is switched on, have it checked
and replaced if necessary. If a lamp in
the instrument cluster remains on after
starting the engine or comes on while
driving, refer to “Lamps in instrument
cluster” (
page 382).
iIf you now press the KEYLESS-GO
start/stop button

once more, the ignition (position2)
is switched on


twice more, the power supply is
again switched off

57 Getting started
Driving
Rear window wiper/washer
The combination switch is located on the
left of the steering column.Combination switch1Rear window wiper switch
2Wiping rear window with washer fluid
3Intermittent wiping
4Rear window wiper off
5Wiping rear window with washer fluid
!If anything blocks the windshield wip-
ers (leaves, snow, etc.), switch them off
immediately.
For safety reasons, stop the vehicle in
a safe location and


turn off the engine by turning
the SmartKey to position0 and
withdraw SmartKey from starter
switch
or


turn off the engine by pressing
the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button and open the driver’s
door (with the driver’s door
open, starter switch is in
position0, same as with
SmartKey removed from starter
switch)
before attempting to remove any
blockage.


Remove blockage.


Turn the windshield wipers on
again.
If windshield wipers fail to function at
all in switch positionI,


set the combination switch to the
next highest wiper speed


have the windshield wipers
checked at the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center


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.

82 Safety and SecurityOccupant safetyWarning!
G
If the 59indicator lamp illumi-
nates when an adult or someone larger than
a small individual is in the front passenger
seat, have the front passenger re-position
himself or herself in the seat until the
59indicator lamp goes out, or
check whether objects are caught under or
around the seat.
More information about air bag display mes-
sages (
page 401).
In the event of a collision, the air bag control
unit will not allow front passenger front air
bag deployment when the OCS classified
the front passenger seat occupant as being
up to or less than the weight of a typical
12-month-old child in a standard child re-
straint or if the front passenger seat is
sensed as being empty.
When the OCS senses that the front passen-
ger seat occupant is classified as being up
to or less than the weight of a typical
12-month-old child in a standard child
restraint, the 59indicator lamp
will illuminate when the engine is started
and remain illuminated, indicating that the
front passenger front air bag is deactivated.
When the OCS senses that the front passen-
ger seat is classified as being empty, the
59indicator lamp will illuminate
when the engine is started and remain
illuminated, indicating that the front
passenger front air bag is deactivated.
When the OCS senses that the front passen-
ger seat occupant is classified as being
heavier than the weight of a typical
12-month-old child seated in a standard
child restraint or as being a small individual
(such as a young teenager or a small adult),
the 59indicator lamp will illumi-
nate for approximately six seconds when
the engine is started and then, depending on
occupant weight sensor readings from the
seat, remain illuminated or go out. With the
59indicator lamp illuminated, the
front passenger front air bag is deactivated.
With the 59indicator lamp out,
the front passenger front air bag is activat-
ed.
When the OCS senses that the front passen-
g e r s e a t o c c u p a n t i s c l a s s i f i e d a s a n a d u l t o r
someone larger than a small individual, the
59indicator lamp will illuminate
for approximately six seconds when the en-
gine is started and then go out, indicating
that the front passenger front air bag is
activated.

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.

192 Controls in detailAutomatic transmissionEmergency operation (Limp Home Mode)
If vehicle acceleration worsens or the
transmission no longer shifts, the trans-
mission is most likely operating in limp
home (emergency operation) mode. In this
mode only second gear and reverse gear
can be activated.
Stop the vehicle.

Shift to park positionP.

Turn off the engine.

Wait at least ten seconds before
restarting.

Restart the engine.

Shift to drive positionD (for second
gear) or reverse gearR.

Have the transmission checked at an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck
Center as soon as possible.