ECU MERCEDES-BENZ ML55AMG 2003 W163 Workshop Manual

195 Operation
Driving instructions
Adjust the mirrors to permit unobstructed
view beyond rear of trailer.

If the trailer has electric brakes, start
your vehicle and trailer moving slowly,
and then apply only the trailer brake
controller by hand to be sure the
brakes are working properly.


Always secure items in the trailer to
prevent load shifts while driving.


When towing a trailer, check occasion-
ally to be sure that the load is secure,
and that lighting and trailer brakes (if
so equipped) are functioning properly.


Take into consideration that when tow-
ing a trailer, the handling characteris-
tics are different and less stable from
those when operating the vehicle with-
out a trailer.
It is important to avoid sudden maneu-
vers.


The vehicle and trailer combination is
heavier, and therefore is limited in ac-
celeration and climbing ability, and re-
quires longer stopping distances.
I t i s m o r e p r o n e t o r e a c t i n g t o s i d e w i n d
gusts, and requires more sensitive
steering input.


If possible, do not brake abruptly, but
rather engage the brake slightly at first
to permit the trailer to activate its
brake. Then increase the braking force.


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 selector lever in position1, switch
transfer case to LOW RANGE mode
(page 118).


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 trailer should begin to sway, re-
duce the vehicle’s speed and use the
brake controller by hand to straighten
out the vehicle and trailer.
In no case should you attempt to
straighten out the tow vehicle and trail-
er by increasing the speed or over-
steering and stepping on the brakes.

196 OperationDriving instructions

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.Parking
Passenger compartment
Warning!
G
To reduce the risk of personal injury, or
damage to the vehicle powertrain, as a re-
sult of vehicle/trailer movement, always:

Keep right foot on brake pedal.


Shift gear selector lever to positionN.


Have a second person place wheel
chocks on downhill side of left and right
trailer wheels.


Slowly release brake pedal and let vehi-
cle and trailer roll into chocks until
stopped.


Firmly depress parking brake pedal.


Move gear selector lever to position P.


When parked on an incline, turn front
wheel towards the road curb.
Warning!
G
Always fasten items being carried as secure-
ly as possible.
In an accident, during hard braking or sud-
den maneuvers, loose items will be thrown
around inside the vehicle, and cause injury
to vehicle occupants unless the items are
securely fastened in the vehicle.
The trunk is the preferred place to carry ob-
jects. Always use partition net when trans-
porting cargo. Partition net cannot secure
hard or heavy objects.

240 Practical hintsWhere will I find ...?5Bayonet lock
Turn the bayonet lock 90° to the left.

Pull off bayonet lock5.

Remove the spare wheel cover and the
spare wheel.

Store bayonet lock5 and spare wheel
cover in cargo area.

Replace the spare wheel carrier and se-
cure it in place.

Fasten handle1 to the bumper.Removing spare wheel with collapsible
tire (ML 55 AMG)
The spare wheel is located on the left side
in the rear cargo compartment.
1Cargo area cover blind
2Clamp
3Cover

Remove the cargo area cover blind1
(page 143).

Open the clamps2 and remove the
cover3.
!When storing the space-saver spare
wheel in its holder, secure it using the
bayonet lock.


262 Practical hintsBatteryRemoving the batteries
Remove the screw securing the bat-
tery.

Remove the battery support and brack-
et. Take out the battery.
Charging and reinstalling batteries
Charge battery in accordance with the
instructions of the battery charger
manufacturer.

Reinstall the charged battery. Follow
the previously described steps in re-
verse order.
Reconnecting the batteries
Turn off all electrical consumers.

Connect the positive lead and fasten its
cover.

Connect the negative lead.
Warning!
G
Never charge a battery while still installed in
the vehicle. Gases may escape during charg-
ing and cause explosions that may result in
paint damage, corrosion or personal injury.
!Never invert the terminal connections!!The battery, its filler caps and the vent
tube must always be securely installed
when the vehicle is in operation.
iThe following procedures must be car-
ried out following any interruption of
battery power (e.g. due to reconnec-
tion):

Set the clock (
page 112).


Set the date in trip computer
(page 172).


Calibrate the compass
(page 174).


Resynchronize the ESP
(page 225).


Resynchronize side windows
(page 136).


Resynchronize sliding/pop-up
roof*(
page 138).

269 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Front towing eye
The front towing eye is located on the pas-
senger side below the bumper.
1Towing eyeRear towing eye The rear towing eye is located behind the
right side cover in the bumper panel.
ML 320, ML 350, ML 5001Cover
2Towing eye
To remove cover:
Pry out the cover1 using a flat blade
screwdriver (
page 237).
To reinstall cover:

Engage cover at bottom and press in
top securely.
iThe selector lever will remain locked in
positionP and the key will not turn in
the steering lock if the battery is dis-
connected or discharged. See notes on
the battery (
page 261) or on jump
starting (
page 264).
Manual unlocking of transmission se-
lector lever (page 245)
Warning!
G
In order to avoid possible serious burns or
injury, use extreme caution when removing
the cover, because the rear exhaust pipe is
extremely hot.

270 Practical hintsTowing the vehicleML 55 AMG and vehicles with sport pack-
age*1Cover
2Towing eye
To remove cover:
Grip cover at bottom and securely pull
out.
To reinstall cover:

Engage cover and press in securely.
Stranded vehicle
Freeing a stranded vehicle, on which the
wheels are dug into sand or mud, should
be done with the greatest of care, especial-
ly if the vehicle is heavily loaded.
Avoid pulling the vehicle jerkily or diago-
nally, since it could result in damage to the
chassis alignment.
Never try to free a vehicle that is still cou-
pled to a trailer.
If possible, a vehicle equipped with trailer
hitch receiver should be pulled backward
in its own previously made tracks.

309 Index
Light alloy wheels
Cleaning 221
Lighter
Rear center console 157
Lighter see cigarette lighter 156
Lighting 102
Automatic headlamp mode 103
Cargo compartment 109
Combination switch 102
Daytime running lamp mode 103
Door entry lamps 107
Front fog lamps 105
High beam flasher 102
High beams 102
Instrument cluster illumination 110
Interior 107
Locator lighting 105
Low beam 102
Night security illumination 104
Parking lamps 102
Limiting the gear range 114
Limp Home Mode 117
Line of fall 294
Loading 139
Cargo area cover blind* 143
Cargo floor plates 144Cargo tie-down rings 140
Hooks 140
Instructions 139, 140
Partition net* 141
Roof rack 145
Split rear bench seat 93
Trailer 193
Locator lighting 105
Lock button 294
Locking 84
Automatic while driving 89
Centrally from inside 90
Fuel filler flap 200
Global 85
Vehicle in an emergency 243
Locking knobs 32
Loss of keys 86
Loss of Service and Warranty Information
Booklet 275
Low beam headlamps
Replacing bulbs 247, 249
Switching on 46
Low engine oil level
Indicator lamp 229
LOW RANGE - 4-ETS 74
LOW RANGE - ABS 72LOW RANGE - ESP 76
LOW RANGE mode 118
Low washer system fluid level
Indicator lamp 234
Lowering
Vehicle 258
M
Main dimensions 282
Maintenance 12
Display messages 235
Manual operations
Fuel filler flap 244
Interior lighting control 108
Locking the vehicle 243
Sliding/pop-up roof 246
Unlocking the driver’s door 242
Unlocking transmission selector
lever 245
Manual seat
Adjusting 35
Adjusting backrest tilt 36
Adjusting head restraint height 36
Adjusting head restraint tilt 36
Seat fore and aft adjustment 35
Seat height 35

310 IndexMB Tex upholstery
Cleaning 222
MCS
Modular Control System 294
Mechanical key 242
Memory function 99, 295
Storing exterior rear view mirror
parking positions 100
Memory function* 100
Recalling positions from memory 100
Mirror
Inside rear view mirror 38
Mirrors
Activating exterior mirror parking posi-
tion 101
Adjusting 38
Automatic antiglare for rear view
mirror 119
Exterior rear view mirror 38
Storing exterior rear view mirror
parking position 101
MON 200
MON (Motor Octane Number) 295
Monitoring reach
Parktronic* 150
Multifunction display 295N
Night security illumination 104
Deactivation temporarily 104
Setting time 104
O
Occupant safety 54
Children and airbags 56
Children in the vehicle 63
Fastening the seat belt 40
Infant and child restraint systems 63
LATCH child seat mounts 68
Seat belts 40, 57
Odometer display 111
Odometer, main 25
Off-road driving
Checklist 187, 191
Crossing obstacles 190
Driving instructions off-road
driving 186
Driving through water 189
Returning 191
Rules 186
Special driving features 186
Steep terrain 187Oil
Adding 204, 205
Checking level 203
Consumption 203
Dipstick 203, 205
Filler neck 205
Viscosity 294
Oil dipstick 205
Oil level
Checking 201
One-touch gearshifting 113
Canceling gear range limit 114
Downshifting 113
Upshifting 114
Opening
Doors from the inside 86
Fuel filler flap 200
Fuel filler flap manually 244
Glove box 152
Hood 202
Liftgate 85, 87
Liftgate from inside 87
Liftgate from outside 87
Rear quarter windows 136
Side windows 135
Sliding/pop-up roof 246

314 IndexS
Safety
Occupant 54
Safety belts see Seat belts 40
Safety defects
Reporting 19
Safety systems
Driving 71
Saving current speed 147
Seat belt force limiter 62
Seat belt height adjustment 43
Seat belts 54, 60
Cleaning 221
Fastening 40
Height adjustment 43
Proper use of 42, 61
Safety guidelines 57
Warning lamp 234
Seat heater
Switching off 91
Switching on 91
Seats 91
Adjusting 34
Heater 91
Manual 35
Power 37Rapid seat heating 91
Rear 93
Split rear bench seat 93
Securing cargo
Cargo tie-down rings 140
Selector lever 26
Lock 44
Position 26, 113
Self-test
BabySmart
TM airbag deactivation
system 66
Tele Aid* 160
Service 215
Calling up the service indicator 216
Major service (Service B) 215
Minor service (Service A) 215
Overdue 215
Spare parts
Types 215
When due 215
Service and Warranty Booklet
Loss of 275
Service and warranty information 10
Service indicator 215
Calling up 216
Clearing 215, 216Service indicator (FSS)
Display messages 235
Service life (tires) 210
Service System see FSS
Setting
Cruise control 147
Exterior rear view mirror parking
position 100
Higher speed in cruise control 148
Hours (clock) 112
Lower speed in cruise control 148
Minutes (clock) 112
Slower speed in cruise control 148
Speed in cruise control 148
Setting date
Trip computer* 172
Setting language
Trip computer* 176
Shift lock 296
Shifting
Gear selector lever positions 115
Into optimal gear range (automatic
transmission) 114
Side impact airbags 59
Side marker lamps
Replacing bulbs 247, 248, 250