When you're in the shooting mode press the Menu button and go up twice (if you were in Auto) to the magnifying glass with the broken rectangle around it. Hit Menu again to get out of the screen and you should be set. Flash isn't automatic in this mode so you'll have to determine if you need it and turn it on or off. Don't forget to get out of the mode and back in Auto or whatever you were shooting or the pictures will all be blurry next time you take them. I learned that the hard way.
I love this camera. It's good for it's size and price. I'd picture whore the crap out of this thread with pictures from this camera, but I won't out of respect for you...
Well, at least you figured something out, even if it was way off the original topic. At least it keeps the thread at the top, right? (Well, that's always my justification for thread jacking.)
For notchy pedal action, lubricate the throttle cable with white lithium grease. Something like wd40 will not work. You need something more viscous to stick on to the cable and coat. As for the side to side movement, I tried shimming the bracket with washers, but the gap between the pedal and the bracket is not uniform, so they bind. You have to sand the edges of the bracket flat, so it does not bind with the pedal assembly. My ml has been smooth and bind free for 2 years already. If you dont try it, it's your loss.