2002 MERCEDES-BENZ S500 selector

4 Contents
Instrument cluster displayMalfunction and indicator
lamps in the
instrument cluster ....................302
On-board diagnostic
system ..........................................302
Check engine malfunction
indicator lamp .............................302
Brake warning lamp ..................304
Supplemental restraint system
(SRS) indicator lamp ..................305
Fuel reserve warning .................305
ABS malfunction
indicator lamp .............................306
Electronic stability program
(ESP) — warning lamp ...............307
Distronic (DTR) –
warning lamp ..............................307
Seat belt nonusage
warning lamp ..............................308
Malfunction and indicator
lamp in the
center console ...........................308
AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp .....308Malfunction and warning
messages in the
multifunction display .............. 309
DISPLAY DEFECTIVE ................. 310
BATTERY/ALTERNATOR ........... 311
ENTRANCE POSITION ...............312
BRAKE ASSIST ............................312
BRAKE LINING WEAR ............... 313
BRAKE FLUID ............................. 313
PARKING BRAKE ........................ 314
TRUNK OPEN .............................. 314
ELEC. STABIL. PROG.
(Electronic stability
program) ...................................... 315
COOLANT
(coolant level) .............................. 316
COOLANT
(coolant temperature) ................ 317
LIGHTING SYSTEM .................... 318
LIGHT SENSOR .......................... 320
ACTIVE BODY CONTROL
(ABC) ........................................... 320
TIRE PRESSURE ........................ 322
ENGINE OIL LEVEL ................... 324CRUISE CONTROL .....................325
KEY ...............................................325
DOOR ...........................................326
HOOD ...........................................326
TELE AID .....................................327
CHIP-CARD
(KEYLESS-GO) ............................328
SELECTOR LEVER ......................329
TELEPHONE – FUNCTION .......329
WASHER FLUID .........................330
AIR SPRING (AirMatic) ............. 331
DISTRONIC (DTR) ......................332
AIR CLEANER .............................333
Practical hintsFirst aid kit .....................................336
Stowing things in the vehicle ......336
Fuses ................................................337
Hood .................................................339
Checking engine oil level .............342
Automatic transmission
fluid level ...................................343
Active body control (ABC)
fluid level ...................................343

5 ContentsCoolant level ...................................344
Adding coolant ...........................344
Windshield and headlamp
washer system ...........................345
Windshield and headlamp
washer fluid mixing ratio .........345
Spare wheel, vehicle tools,
storage compartment ................346
Vehicle jack .....................................347
Wheels .............................................348
Tire Replacement .......................348
Rotating wheels ..........................349
Spare wheel ....................................349
Changing wheels ........................... 351
Tire inflation pressure ..................356
Battery .............................................357
Jump starting ..................................359
Towing the vehicle ......................... 361
Exterior lamps ................................364
Headlamp assembly ...................365
Taillamp assemblies ..................368Changing batteries in
the electronic key ......................371
Synchronizing
remote control ............................ 373
Changing batteries in the
KEYLESS-GO-card .....................374
Emergency engine
shut-down ...................................376
Fuel filler flap,
manual release ..........................376
Emergency operation of
sliding/pop-up roof .................. 377
Replacing wiper blades ................ 378
Roof rack ......................................... 380
Vehicle careCleaning and care
of the vehicle ............................. 382
Power washer ............................. 383
Tar stains .................................... 384
Paintwork, painted body
components ................................ 384Engine cleaning ..........................384
Vehicle washing .........................384
Ornamental moldings ................385
Headlamps, taillamps,
turn signal lenses ......................385
Cleaning the Distronic
system sensor .............................386
Cleaning the parktronic
system sensors ...........................386
Wiper blades ...............................387
Light alloy wheels ......................388
Instrument cluster .....................388
Steering wheel and
gear selector lever ......................388
Cup holder ...................................388
Seat belts .....................................389
Headliner and shelf
below rear window .....................389
Leather upholstery .....................389
Hard plastic trim items .............389
Plastic and rubber parts ............389

31 Central locking system
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Start lock-out
Important!
Operating with electronic key:
Removing the electronic key from the starter switch
activates the start lock-out. The engine cannot be
started.
Inserting the electronic key in the starter switch
deactivates the start lock-out.
Operating with KEYLESS-GO:
Turning off the engine with the start- / stop button on
the gear selector lever activates the start lock-out. For
turning off the engine with KEYLESS-GO, see page 236.
Starting the engine with the start- / stop button
deactivates the start lock-out, if a valid KEYLESS-GO-
card is recognized inside the vehicle. For starting the
engine with KEYLESS-GO, see page 236. The engine
cannot be started with a KEYLESS-GO-card outside the
vehicle.Note:
In case the engine cannot be started (vehicle’s battery is
in order), the system is not operational. Contact an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center or call 1-800-FOR-
MERCedes (in the USA), or 1-800-387-0100 (in Canada).

32 Central locking system
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
General notes on the central locking system
If the electronic key is inserted in the starter switch, the
vehicle cannot be locked or unlocked with the remote
control.
If the vehicle cannot be locked or unlocked:
•Aim transmitter eye at a receiver on either front
door handle. Check the batteries of the electronic
key, see page 371, or synchronize the remote
control, see page 373.
•Use the mechanical key to unlock the vehicle. To
start engine, insert the electronic key in the starter
switch. There could be a slight delay until the
electronic key can be turned in the starter switch.
•Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO only:
A KEYLESS-GO-card must be recognized by the
system as being outside the vehicle to enable the
vehicle to be locked or unlocked (maximum distance
between card and doors or trunk is approx. 3 ft.
(1 m). Check the location of the KEYLESS-GO-card,
see page 36. Check the batteries of the KEYLESS-
GO-card, see page 374. The trunk lid will open
automatically if a KEYLESS-GO card is detected in
the trunk, see page 36.Note:
If neither the remote control nor KEYLESS-GO system
functions, use the mechanical key to unlock or lock the
vehicle. To start engine, insert the electronic key in the
starter switch. There could be a slight delay until the
electronic key can be turned in the starter switch.
Important!
When unlocking the driver’s door 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, or press buttonŒ or‹ on the
electronic key; or with the optional KEYLESS-GO-
system, when carrying a KEYLESS-GO-card, by grasping
a door handle or pressing the start- / stop button on the
gear selector lever.

42 Central locking system
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index
Simultaneous use of electronic key and
KEYLESS-GO-card
When using the electronic key and the KEYLESS-GO-
card at the same time, the electronic key overrules the
KEYLESS-GO-card.
If the engine is started with the start- / stop button on
the gear selector lever, and afterwards the electronic
key is inserted in the starter switch, the engine
continues to run with the gear selector lever in positions
“R”, “N”, “D” plus ranges “4”, “3”, “2”, “1” until it is
stopped by using the start- / stop button on the gear
selector lever.If the electronic key is inserted in the starter switch
while the gear selector lever is in position “P”, the
electronic key takes over. The vehicle operates
according to the electronic key position in the starter
switch (see page 230), eventually even stopping the
engine.
Wa r n i n g !
When leaving the vehicle always remove the
electronic key from the starter switch, take the
KEYLESS-GO-card with you, and lock your vehicle.
Unsupervised use of vehicle equipment may cause
serious personal injury.

49 Central locking system
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Important!
When the driver’s door is open and the central locking
switch activated, the complete vehicle is locked after
closing driver’s door.
If the vehicle was previously locked with the central
locking switch, while in the selective remote control
mode, only the door opened from the inside is unlocked.
If the vehicle was previously locked with the central
locking switch, while in the global remote control mode,
the complete vehicle is unlocked when a door is opened
from the inside.
Notes:
If the vehicle was previously locked with the remote
control or the lock button at any door handle (vehicles
with KEYLESS-GO), the doors and trunk cannot be
unlocked with the central locking switch.
The fuel filler flap cannot be locked or unlocked with
the central locking switch.If the vehicle has previously been locked from the
outside, opening a door from the inside will trigger the
alarm. To cancel the alarm, insert the electronic key in
the starter switch or press buttonŒ or‹ on the
electronic key; or (vehicles with KEYLESS-GO) when
carrying the KEYLESS-GO-card, grasp the door handle
or press the start- / stop button on the gear selector lever.
Wa r n i n g !
When leaving the vehicle always remove the
electronic key from the starter switch, take the
KEYLESS-GO-card (if so equipped) with you, and
lock your vehicle. Do not leave children unattended
in the vehicle, or with access to an unlocked
vehicle. Unsupervised use of vehicle equipment
may cause serious personal injury.

51 Central locking system
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Trunk
0Neutral position – push to open (arrow)
1Unlocking
2Separate locking of trunk – remove mechanical key
in this position.
The lock is located in the license plate recess.When the trunk is separately locked, it remains locked
when centrally unlocking the vehicle.
To deny any unauthorized person access to the trunk,
lock it separately with the mechanical key. Leave only
the electronic key less its mechanical key with the
vehicle.
Notes:
In case of a malfunction in the central locking system
the trunk can be unlocked individually.
To unlock and open the trunk lid, turn mechanical key
to position 1, hold and push to open.
The mechanical key does not operate the central locking
system or antitheft alarm system.
When unlocking the trunk 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 or press buttonŒ or‹ on the
electronic key or (vehicles with KEYLESS-GO) when
carrying the KEYLESS-GO-card, grasp the door handle
or press the start-/stop button on the gear selector lever.
If the fuel filler flap cannot be opened, see page 376.
P54.25-2404-26
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59 Central locking system
Te ch n i c a l
data Instruments
and controlsOperationDrivingInstrument
cluster displayPractical hints Car care Index Trunk lid emergency release
The emergency release button (1) is located in the trunk
lid.
Briefly press emergency release button (1).
The trunk unlocks and the trunk lid opens.Important!
The emergency release button (1) does not open the
trunk lid, if the vehicle battery is discharged or
disconnected.
Illumination of the emergency release button (1):
The button will blink for 30 minutes after opening the
trunk.
The button will blink for 60 minutes after closing the
trunk.
Note:
When pressing the emergency release button while the
vehicle was centrally locked, the exterior lamps will
flash and the alarm will sound.
To cancel the alarm, insert the electronic key in the
starter switch or press buttonŒ or‹ on the
electronic key or (vehicles with KEYLESS-GO) when
carrying the KEYLESS-GO-card, grasp the door handle
or press the start-/stop button on the gear selector lever.
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