Red button on ML320 Tailgate

[sailorf80]

Hi, I have a 2006 ML320 that I've owned now for about 3 months. Despite its age it's a really nice runner and all in all, and as the first Merc I've ever owned, I have to say I like it a great deal.

The car is a fairly high miler, with a lot of previous owners (9) and when I bought it was not in the best state and certainly needed some TLC. I've now pretty much worked through the list of issues that came with the car but a couple remain, and I'm struggling to find info on the net.

One is that I have a red button that sits on the underside of the tailgate that seems to serve no obvious purpose. It looks like an autoclose boot button to me, but it doesnt push in or click in any way, and underneath the red cover there is a pcb with what look like 3 LED indicators on it. None of them seem to illuminate. Just hoping someone may be able to point me in the right direction.

Many thanks in advance, and thanks to all for accepting me as a new member.

 

[Blobcat]

Hello and welcome

Is it a switch or just a light that shows red behind when the boot is open for safety?

 

[sailorf80]

Hello and welcome

Is it a switch or just a light that shows red behind when the boot is open for safety?

It could well be just a light as you say, I really don't know.

I don't have an internal switch for the boot lid in the cabin, nor do I have an extra button on the key fob.

I've just popped the cover off and actually all 3 red LEDs are now illuminated, but I have no clue as to what they mean. The red cover looks like it may have had some writing/drawing on it in the past, but it's not possible to say what it was.

If it's some kind of safety light, that would explain it, but I really don't know; hence my question.

 

[Blobcat]

Is it the same as below?

 

[umblecumbuz]

Do you have red safety lighting on your side doors when they are open?
I would suspect that this is similar on your tailgate.

 

[John Laidlaw]

Hello and welcome

Is it a switch or just a light that shows red behind when the boot is open for safety?

It’s to warn low flying aircraft .....

 

[Blobcat]

It’s to warn low flying aircraft .....

Laser guidance for sh1te hawks...