Mercedes-Benz ML320. Service manual - part 93

 

  Index      Mercedes     Mercedes-Benz ML320 - service and repair manual 1997-2005 year

 

Search            copyright infringement  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

Content   ..  91  92  93  94   ..

 

 

Mercedes-Benz ML320. Service manual - part 93

 

 

199

Operation

Driving instructions

Road salts and chemicals can adversely af-
fect braking efficiency. Increased pedal 
force may become necessary to produce 
the normal brake effect.

Depressing the brake pedal periodically 
when traveling at length on salt-strewn 
roads can bring road-salt-impaired braking 
efficiency back to normal.

If the vehicle is parked after being driven 
on salt-treated roads, the braking efficien-
cy should be tested as soon as possible af-
ter driving is resumed.

For more information, see "Winter driving" 
(

page 230).

Warning!

G

On slippery road surfaces, never downshift 
in order to obtain braking action. This could 
result in drive wheel slip and reduced vehi-
cle control. Your vehicle’s ABS will not pre-
vent this type of control loss.

Do not engage the transfer case in position 
LOW when driving on ice or packed snow. At 
speeds below 18 mph (30 km / h) vehicle 
steering is adversely affected by the LOW 
RANGE - ABS (

page 77).

Warning!

G

Make sure not to endanger any other road 
users when carrying out these braking ma-
neuvers.

Warning!

G

If the vehicle becomes stuck in snow, make 
sure that snow is kept clear of the exhaust 
pipe and from around the vehicle with the 
engine running. Otherwise, deadly carbon 
monoxide (CO) gases may enter vehicle in-
terior resulting in unconsciousness and 
death.

To assure sufficient fresh air ventilation, 
open a window slightly on the side of the ve-
hicle not facing the wind.

Warning!

G

The outside temperature indicator is not de-
signed to serve as an ice-warning device and 
is therefore unsuitable for that purpose. In-
dicated temperatures just above the freez-
ing point do not guarantee that the road 
surface is free of ice.

200

Operation

Driving instructions

Standing water

Off-road driving

Read this chapter carefully before you be-
gin off-road travel.

Familiarize yourself with the vehicle char-
acteristics and gear changing before you 
attempt any difficult terrain off-road driv-
ing. We recommend that you start out with 
easy off-road travel.

!

Do not drive through flooded areas or 
water of unknown depth. Before driving 
through water, determine its depth. 
Never accelerate before driving into 
water. The bow wave could force water 
into the engine and auxiliary equip-
ment, thus damaging them.

If you must drive through standing wa-
ter, drive slowly to prevent water from 
entering the passenger compartment 
or the engine compartment. Water in 
these areas could cause damage to 
electrical components or wiring of the 
engine or transmission, or could result 
in water being ingested by the engine 
through the air intake, causing severe 
internal engine damage. Any such dam-
age is not covered by the 
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

Warning!

G

Drive slowly in unknown terrain. This will 
make it easier to recognize unexpected ob-
stacles and avoid damage to the vehicle.

To help avoid the vehicle rolling over, never 
turn it around on steep inclines. If the vehi-
cle cannot complete the attempted climb, 
back it down in reverse gear.

Do not drive along the side of a slope (dan-
ger of vehicle rollover). The vehicle might 
otherwise rollover. If in doing so the vehicle 
begins to show a tendency to roll, immedi-
ately steer into a line of gravity (straight up 
or downhill).

Never let the vehicle roll backwards in idle. 
You may lose control of the vehicle if you 
use only the service brake.

Warning!

G

Sand, dirt, mud and other material having 
friction property can cause exceptional wear 
and tear as well as brake failure.

Have the brakes checked for dirt build-up 
and cleaned. There is otherwise a risk that 
full braking power may not be available in an 
emergency.

201

Operation

Driving instructions

Special driving features for off-road 
driving

The following driving features are available 
for specific kind of operation:

LOW RANGE mode (

page 125)

LOW RANGE – ABS (

page 77)

LOW RANGE – 4-ETS (

page 80)

LOW RANGE – ESP (

page 81)

Off-road driving rules

Engage the LOW RANGE mode before driv-
ing under off-road conditions 
(

page 125).

Fasten items being carried as securely as 
possible (

page 157).

Checklist before off-road driving

Tires

Check the tread depth and maintain 
specified tire pressure (see tire pres-
sure label inside the fuel filler flap).

Check tires for possible damage and 
remove foreign objects.

Replace missing valve caps.

i

We recommend keeping doors, liftgate, 
windows, and sliding/pop-up roof* 
closed whenever driving in off-road 
mode.

!

Observe the following during off-road 
driving:

Adjust vehicle speed to condition of 
terrain. The more uneven, rutty and 
steeper the terrain, the lower the 
speed should be

Watch out for obstacles, such as 
rocks, holes, tree stumps and ruts.

Be especially careful when driving 
in unknown territory. It may be nec-
essary to get out of the vehicle and 
scout the path you intend to take.

Before driving through water, deter-
mine is depth.

Do not stop vehicle while immersed 
in water, and do not shut off the 
engine.

In sandy soil, please drive at a 
steady speed as allowed by condi-
tions. This helps overcome the vehi-
cle rolling resistance and reduces 
the likelihood of the vehicle sinking 
into the ground.

Do not initiate jumps with the vehi-
cle. It interrupts the forward mo-
mentum of the vehicle.

Always drive onto slopes with the 
the engine running and the vehicle 
in gear.

202

Operation

Driving instructions

Rims

Dented or bent rims can cause tire 
pressure loss and damage the tire 
beads. For this reason, check and, if 
necessary, change rims before driving 
off-road.

Vehicle tool kit

Check if the vehicle jack is functional.

In all cases take the vehicle tool kit, a 
strong tow rope, a shovel and a small 
plank (to put under the vehicle jack on 
sandy soil) with you.

Driving in steep terrain

Slope angle

1 25°
2 26°

Switch to LOW RANGE mode before 
starting to drive up or down steep in-
clines (

page 125).

Driving on embankments, slopes and 
other steep inclines should only be 
done straight up or downhill, i.e. in the 
line of gravity. Maximum vehicle climb-
ing ability is a 60% grade.

Do not drive along the side of a slope 
(danger of vehicle rollover). If in doing 
so, the vehicle begins to show a ten-
dency to roll, immediately steer into a 
line of gravity (straight up or downhill).

To help avoid the vehicle rolling over, 
never turn it around on steep inclines. 
If the vehicle cannot complete the at-
tempted climb, back it down in reverse 
gear.

Utilize the engine’s braking power 
when descending a slope, observe the 
engine speed (do not overview the en-
gine). Apply the service brake as need-
ed.

Check the brakes after a lengthy down-
grade drive.

Traction in steep terrain

Be easy on the accelerator and watch 
for continuous wheel traction when 
driving in steep terrain.

The 4-ETS helps greatly when starting 
out on a steep incline when the front 
wheels have then the tendency to slip 
due to the weight shifting away the 
front axle.

i

Avoid excessive engine speeds – drive 
with moderate engine speeds 
(max. 3000 RPM).

Select gear range 2 or 1 on the auto-
matic transmission (

page 121).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Content   ..  91  92  93  94   ..