Mercedes-Benz ML320. Manual — part 74

123

Controls in detail

Automatic transmission

Accelerator position

Your driving style influences the
transmission’s shifting behavior:

Less throttle

Earlier upshifting

More throttle

Later upshifting

Kickdown

Use kickdown when you want maximum
acceleration.

왘

Press the accelerator past the point of
resistance.

The transmission shifts into a lower
gear.

왘

Ease on the accelerator when you have
reached the desired speed.

The transmission shifts up again.

!

Coasting the vehicle, or driving for any
other reason with gear selector lever
in N can result in transmission damage
that is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

Warning!

G

Getting out of your vehicle with the gear
selector lever not fully engaged in position P
is dangerous. Also, position P alone is not
intended to or capable of preventing your
vehicle from moving, possibly hitting people
or objects.

Always set the parking brake in addition to
shifting to position P (

컄

page 53).

When parked on an incline, turn the front
wheels towards the road curb.

Warning!

G

Do not park this vehicle in areas where com-
bustible materials such as grass, hay or
leaves can come into contact with the hot
exhaust system, as these materials could be
ignited and cause a vehicle fire.

Warning!

G

When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
key from the steering lock, take it with you
and lock the vehicle. Do not leave children
unattended in the vehicle, or with access to
an unlocked vehicle. Children could move
the gear selector lever from position P,
which could result in an accident and/or
serious personal injury.

124

Controls in detail

Automatic transmission

Towing a trailer

If you tow a trailer, note the following
points:

앫

Manually shift to a lower gear range
(4, 3, 2, 1), if the transmission hunts
between gears on inclines
(

컄

page 121).

A lower gear range and reduction of
speed reduces the change to overload
or overheat the engine.

앫

At very steep inclines switch transfer
case to LOW RANGE mode
(

컄

page 125).

For more information on trailer towing, see
the “Operation” section (

컄

page 206).

Emergency 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.

왘

Stop the vehicle.

왘

Move gear selector lever to position P.

왘

Turn off the engine.

왘

Wait at least ten seconds before
restarting.

왘

Restart the engine.

왘

Move selector lever to position D
(for second gear) or R.

왘

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

125

Controls in detail

Transmission control – LOW RANGE mode

왔

Transmission control – LOW RANGE mode

In the following situations you should
switch to LOW RANGE mode:

앫

during off-road driving

앫

when crossing water

앫

when towing up or down on steep
gradients

Switching on LOW RANGE mode

LOW RANGE mode switch

왘

Stop the vehicle.

왘

Move the gear selector lever to
position N.

왘

Press on the upper part of the switch.

During the changeover the indicator
lamp (

컄

page 25) flashes three times.

Once the changeover is complete, the
indicator lamp comes on continuously.

Switching off LOW RANGE mode

왘

Stop the vehicle.

왘

Move the gear selector lever to
position N.

왘

Press on the upper part of the switch.

During the changeover the indicator
lamp (

컄

page 25) flashes three times.

Once the changeover is complete, the
indicator lamp goes out.

For information on driving safety systems
during LOW RANGE mode see the “Safety
and Security” section (

컄

page 76).

!

Only switch the LOW RANGE mode on
or off, when the vehicle is

앫

at a complete standstill

앫

the engine speed is less than
1500 rpm

Failure to do so may result in transmis-
sion or engine damage which is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.

!

You should only operate the vehicle on
a single axle dynamometer for briefly
testing the brakes.

The key must be in steering lock
position 1 (

컄

page 33).

126

Controls in detail

Good visibility

왔

Good visibility

Information on the windshield wipers
(

컄

page 49) and for setting the rear view

mirrors (

컄

page 40) is found in the

“Getting started” section.

Rear view mirror

Interior rear view mirror, antiglare
position

1 Lever

왘

Tilt the mirror to the antiglare night po-
sition by moving lever 1 towards the
windshield.

The interior rear view mirror is dimmed.

Automatic antiglare rear view mirror*

The reflection brightness of the exterior
rear view mirror on the driver’s side and
the interior rear view mirror will respond
automatically to glare when:

앫

the automatic antiglare function is acti-
vated (

컄

page 127)

앫

the ignition is switched on

앫

incoming light from headlamps falls on
the sensor in the interior rear view
mirror

The rear view mirror will not react if

앫

reverse gear is engaged

앫

the interior light is turned on

Warning!

G

The automatic antiglare function does not
react if incoming light is not aimed directly
at sensors in the inside rear view mirror.

The interior rear view mirror and the exterior
rear view mirror on the driver’s side do not
react, for example, if the cargo area is fully
loaded.

Glare can endanger you and others.

Warning!

G

In the case of an accident, liquid electrolyte
may escape the mirror housing if the mirror
glass breaks.

Electrolyte has an irritating effect. Do not al-
low the liquid to come into contact with
eyes, skin, clothing, or the respiratory sys-
tem. In case it does, immediately flush af-
fected area with water, and seek medical
help if necessary.