Mercedes Benz 2004 ml 500 Manuale Utente

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.

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.

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.