
4 Contents 
Instrument cluster displayMalfunction and indicator 
lamps in the 
instrument cluster  ....................264
On-board diagnostic system  .........265
Check engine malfunction 
indicator lamp .............................265
Brake warning lamp  ..................266
Supplemental restraint system 
(SRS) indicator lamp ..................267
Fuel reserve warning .................268
ABS malfunction 
indicator lamp .............................269
Electronic stability program 
(ESP) — warning lamp  ...............270
Seat belt nonusage 
warning lamp .............................270
Malfunction and indicator lamp 
in the center console  ................ 271
AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp ..... 271Malfunction and warning 
messages in the 
multifunction display  .............. 272
DISPLAY DEFECTIVE 
(engine control unit)  ................. 273
DISPLAY DEFECTIVE 
(several systems)  ....................... 273
BATTERY  / ALTERNATOR  ........274
ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM  .... 275
BRAKE ASSIST ............................276
BRAKE PAD WEAR .................... 277
BRAKE FLUID  ............................ 277
PARKING BRAKE  ....................... 278
SEAT BELT SYSTEM  .................. 278
ELEC. STABIL. PROG. 
(Electronic stability program)  . 279
COOLANT 
(coolant level)  ............................. 280
COOLANT 
(coolant temperature)  ............... 281
ENGINE OIL LEVEL  ................... 282LIGHTING SYSTEM ....................283
LIGHT SENSOR ...........................285
DOOR  ...........................................285
TRUNK OPEN  .............................286
HOOD  ...........................................286
TELEPHONE – FUNCTION  .......287
TELE AID  .....................................287
WASHER FLUID  .........................288
RESTRAINT SYSTEM  .................289
KEY ...............................................289
FUEL RESERVE  ..........................290
UNDERVOLTAGE ........................290
ELECTRONIC BRAKE BOOSTER 
(EBB)  ............................................ 291
ENGINE AIR FILTER  .................. 291
TC SHIFT   ....................................292
TC SHIFT CONDITIONS  ............292
TC IN NEUTRAL  .........................293
TRANSFER CASE  .......................293
J_G463.book Seite 4 Mittwoch, 19. September 2001 8:06 08 

42 Antitheft alarm system
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Antitheft alarm system
1Indicator lamp in switch located in center console
The antitheft alarm is automatically armed or disarmed 
with the remote control by locking or unlocking the 
vehicle.
The antitheft alarm is armed within approximately 
15 seconds after locking the vehicle.
A blinking lamp (1) indicates that the alarm is armed.Operation:
Once the alarm system has been armed, the exterior 
vehicle lamps will flash and an alarm will sound when 
someone:
•opens a door,
•opens the tailgate,
•opens the hood,
•attempts to raise the vehicle.
The alarm will last approximately 3 minutes in form of 
flashing exterior lamps. At the same time an alarm will 
sound for 30 seconds. The alarm will stay on even if the 
activating element (a door, for example) is immediately 
closed. If the alarm stays on for more than 20 seconds, 
an emergency call is initiated automatically. See Tele 
Aid on page 192.
Notes:
When unlocking the driver’s door or the tailgate with 
the mechanical key, the exterior lamps will flash and 
the alarm will sound.
To cancel the alarm, insert the electronic key in the 
starter switch to position 1 or press buttonŒ 
or‹ on the electronic key.
P54.25-2500-26
J_G463.book Seite 42 Mittwoch, 19. September 2001 8:06 08 

123 Coolant temperature gauge
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Coolant temperature gauge
Turn the electronic key in starter switch to position 1 
or 2.
Call up the trip odometer and main odometer by 
pressing button è or ÿ on the multifunction 
steering wheel. See page 94.
Press button j or k until the coolant 
temperature gauge appears.During severe operating conditions and stop-and-go city 
traffic or uphill driving, the coolant temperature may 
rise close to 120
°C.
The engine should not be operated with the coolant 
temperature above 120
°C. Doing so may cause serious 
engine damage which is not covered by the 
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Note:
Excessive coolant temperatures trigger a warning 
message in the multifunction display. See page 281.
0
60
40100
120
140
mph
2080
P54.30-5171-26
Wa r n i n g !
• Driving when your engine is badly overheated 
can cause some fluids which may have leaked 
into the engine compartment to catch fire. You 
could be seriously burned.• Steam from an overheated engine can cause 
serious burns and can occur just by opening 
the engine hood. Stay away from the engine if 
you see or hear steam coming from it.Turn off the engine, get out of the vehicle and do 
not stand near the vehicle until it cools down.
J_G463.book Seite 123 Mittwoch, 19. September 2001 8:06 08 

261 Check regulary and before a long trip
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Check regularly and before a long trip 1Engine oil level
See “Checking engine oil level” on page 304 and 
“Engine oil level indicator” on page 127.
2Coolant level
See “Coolant level” on page 306.
3Brake fluid
See “Brake fluid” on page 363.
4Windshield washer system/
Headlamp cleaning system/
Rear window washer system
For refilling reservoir see page 307.
Opening hood, see page 302.
Vehicle lighting: Check function and cleanliness. For 
replacement of light bulbs, see “Exterior lamps” on 
page 328.
Exterior lamp switch, see page 129.
2
1
3
4
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263 Contents - Instrument cluster display 
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Instrument cluster displayMalfunction and indicator 
lamps in the 
instrument cluster  ....................264
On-board diagnostic system  .........265
Check engine malfunction 
indicator lamp .............................265
Brake warning lamp  ..................266
Supplemental restraint system 
(SRS) indicator lamp ..................267
Fuel reserve warning .................268
ABS malfunction 
indicator lamp .............................269
Electronic stability program 
(ESP) — warning lamp  ...............270
Seat belt nonusage 
warning lamp .............................270
Malfunction and indicator lamp 
in the center console  ................ 271
AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp ..... 271Malfunction and warning 
messages in the 
multifunction display  .............. 272
DISPLAY DEFECTIVE 
(engine control unit)  ................. 273
DISPLAY DEFECTIVE 
(several systems)  ....................... 273
BATTERY  / ALTERNATOR  ........274
ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM  .... 275
BRAKE ASSIST ............................276
BRAKE PAD WEAR .................... 277
BRAKE FLUID  ............................ 277
PARKING BRAKE  ....................... 278
SEAT BELT SYSTEM  .................. 278
ELEC. STABIL. PROG. 
(Electronic stability program)  . 279
COOLANT 
(coolant level)  ............................. 280
COOLANT 
(coolant temperature)  ............... 281
ENGINE OIL LEVEL  ................... 282LIGHTING SYSTEM ....................283
LIGHT SENSOR ...........................285
DOOR  ...........................................285
TRUNK OPEN  .............................286
HOOD  ...........................................286
TELEPHONE – FUNCTION  .......287
TELE AID  .....................................287
WASHER FLUID  .........................288
RESTRAINT SYSTEM  .................289
KEY ...............................................289
FUEL RESERVE  ..........................290
UNDERVOLTAGE ........................290
ELECTRONIC BRAKE BOOSTER 
(EBB)  ............................................ 291
ENGINE AIR FILTER  .................. 291
TC SHIFT   ....................................292
TC SHIFT CONDITIONS  ............292
TC IN NEUTRAL  .........................293
TRANSFER CASE  .......................293
J_G463.book Seite 263 Mittwoch, 19. September 2001 8:06 08 

281 Malfunction and warning messages
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index COOLANT (coolant temperature)
* C = Category, see page 272
1 This may indicate that the poly-V-belt has broken. Should this 
con dition o ccur, the poly-V-belt must be repla ced befo re co ntin uin g 
to operate the vehicle. Otherwise, the engine will overheat due to 
an inoperative water pump which may result in damage to the 
engine. Do not continue to drive the vehicle with this message 
displayed. Doing so could result in serious engine damage that is 
not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
2 The cooling fan for the coolant is faulty. Observe the coolant 
temperature gauge. See page 123
During severe operating conditions and stop-and-go city 
traffic, the coolant temperature may rise close to 120
°C.
The engine should not be operated with the coolant 
temperature above 120
°C. Doing so may cause serious 
engine damage which is not covered by the 
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Line 1 Line 2 C*
COOLANT STOP, ENGINE OFF!
1
1
COOLANT VISIT WORKSHOP!
2
2
Wa r n i n g !
Driving when your engine is badly overheated can 
cause some fluids which may have leaked into the 
engine compartment to catch fire. You could be 
seriously burned.Steam from an overheated engine can cause serious 
burns and can occur just by opening the engine 
hood. Stay away from the engine if you see or hear 
steam coming from it.Turn off the engine, get out of the vehicle and do 
not stand near the vehicle until it cools down.
J_G463.book Seite 281 Mittwoch, 19. September 2001 8:06 08 

286 Malfunction and warning messages
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
TRUNK OPEN
* C = Category, see page 272
Trunk=Tailgate
HOOD* C = Category, see page 272.See page 302 for hood.
Line 1 Line 2 C*
TRUNK OPEN! 2
Line 1 Line 2 C*
HOOD OPEN! 2
J_G463.book Seite 286 Mittwoch, 19. September 2001 8:06 08 

302 Engine compartment
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments 
and controlsOperation DrivingInstrument 
cluster displayPractical hintsCar care Index
Hood
To o pen :
To unlock the hood, pull release lever (1) under the 
driver’s side of the instrument panel. 
Caution!
To avoid damage to the windshield wipers or hood, open 
the hood only with wipers in the parked position.Lift hood up slightly. Pull safety hook (2) in direction of 
arrow and open hood.
To   c l o s e :
Lower hood and let it drop into lock from a height of 
approximately 0.7 ft. (20 cm).
To avoid hood damage, please make sure that hood is 
fully closed. If not, repeat closing procedure. Do not 
push down on hood to attempt to fully close it.
J_G463.book Seite 302 Mittwoch, 19. September 2001 8:06 08