Gilly, what the heck is this light? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

drmoore · #1 12-13-2003, 06:12 PM

Gilly, you seem to be "the man" here and this is my first post so please help. I've done the search and found no reference to this light. My wife has a 2001 ML320 Sport and it has been flawless so far. Last week when she started it, a yellow lamp or LED illuminated on the speedo. It's between the "MPH" and the "140" on the speedo and there is no text around it anywhere. I've read the manual 3 times and can't find anything that says what this means. What the heck is it and do we need to take it in to the dealer? It went back out the next time she started it.

Gilly · #2 12-13-2003, 09:54 PM

HI
If you mean the triangle above the speedo needle, that's showing that the traction control is in a responsive mode and wants yer fat foot OFF the throttle NOW! But that doesn't really sound like what you're describing, plus it's in the owners manual.

What I think you may be describing is illustrated in the US owners manual, but no description is given; it's just to the lower right of the "MPH", correct?
What I believe it is is a speed warning lamp which is required in some European countries. No idea why yours is being illuminated,I've never seen one light up.
Possibly the reason is that the internal version coding (country code) is incorrectly set.
I'm assuming you are in the USA.

Gilly

drmoore · #3 12-14-2003, 11:40 AM

Yep, were in the USA. Thanks for the quick response. If you knew how my wife drives, there is no way she would ever light up the traction control light! You're right, it's the lamp just to the lower right of the MPH on the speedometer with no icon's or anything around it. Like you, I saw it on the drawing of the speedo, but couldn't find anything describing what it meant. She said it came on when she started it, like all the warning lights, but it stayed on, although it hasn't come on again since. If the country code is wrong, that might explain why the fuel mileage computer/compass thing always goes back to German settings on us! Well, it doesn't sound like anything to worry about so we'll have them check it the next time she's in for service. I appreciate it, was making us both a little nervous and we've never had even a minor problem with the ML so far.

Gilly · #4 12-14-2003, 07:45 PM

On the trip computer, I believe the only option there on the readings are "US" measurements or "metric", so the distance remaining on the tank (range) is in miles or KM for example, same with the fuel consumption (mpg or KM/Ltr). It's strange it would switch by itself. When you scroll through the readings, it will display i believe either "KM" or "mi", and when in this screen you can change the setting. Are you sure it's not being inadvertantly changed when scrolling through?

Gilly

drmoore · #5 12-15-2003, 08:12 AM

Truthfully, I'm not sure. My wife just keeps complaining that the date keeps reseting and it goes back to kilometers. Hasn't been real high on my radar screen since I didn't even notice it was there till she started complaining about it

Gilly · #6 12-15-2003, 09:09 AM

The date resetting may be related. it seems the Europeans like showing the number of the day before the number of the month, so for example today is shown as 12/15/03 in the US, they would show it as 15/12/03. I know the trip computer does this to the date when you swap from US to Metric settings, so possibly this is all that's going on is that it's getting changed to Metric.

Gilly

george d · #7 12-22-2003, 03:29 PM

I read somewhere that it is the ambient light sensor, and it controls how bright the readout on the odometer, and the gear selector read out are.

George

george d · #8 12-22-2003, 05:00 PM

I read somewhere that it is the ambient light sensor, and it controls how bright the readout on the odometer, and the gear selector read out are.

George

Gilly · #9 12-22-2003, 07:57 PM

It could be what it's used for in some countries. On the US version, I don't believe it has the automatic function. Most of the other vehicles MB markets in the US do have this, but not the ML I believe.

Gilly

ML320 · #10 12-23-2003, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by drmoore
It's between the "MPH" and the "140" on the speedo and there is no text around it anywhere.

drmoore, that light is used with the variable speed limiter, also called Speedtronic. It's different from cruise control, and one can set a limit speed which won't be exceeded, e.g. for a winter tire or off-road tire speed rating, in European MLs.

ML320 · #11 12-23-2003, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gilly
It could be what it's used for in some countries. On the US version, I don't believe it has the automatic function. Most of the other vehicles MB markets in the US do have this, but not the ML I believe.

Gilly

Gilly, yes, 98 MLs didn't have it, but my 99 ML320 (USA model) does have automatic dimming. The light sensor is on the left coolant temperature, fuel and outside temperature gauge, slightly under the 12 noon position.

dave45056 · #12 02-19-2004, 10:42 PM

If this is the little round orange light on the speedo, I may have an answer. My 2001 ML has it, too. The dealer told me that this was a light they used to when communicating between the car and diagnostic or programming equipment. Kind of like a modem.