2003 MERCEDES-BENZ CL500 key

277 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display
Possible cause
Possible solution
F
CHIP CARD
DO NOT FORGET
This display appears (for a maximum of
60 seconds) if the driver’s door is opened
with the engine shut off and no key in the
starter switch.
Message is only a reminder.

Insert key in the starter switch.

Take the KEYLESS-GO*card with you
when leaving the vehicle.
B
COOLANT
CHECK LEVEL!
The coolant level is too low.

Add coolant (
page 242).

If you have to add coolant frequently,
have the cooling system checked by
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter.
Warning!
G
Do not spill antifreeze on hot engine parts.
Antifreeze contains ethylene glycol which
may burn if it comes into contact with hot
engine parts. You can be seriously burned.
!Do not ignore the low engine coolant
level warning. Extended driving with
the message and symbol displayed
may cause serious engine damage not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
Do not drive without a sufficient
amount of coolant in the cooling sys-
tem. The engine will overheat, causing
major engine damage.

280 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display
Possible cause
Possible solution
G
DISPLAY MALFUNCTION
VISIT WORKSHOP!
The instrument cluster display is malfunc-
tioning.

Continue driving with added caution.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
DISTRONIC
EXTERNAL INTERFERENCE
REACTIVATE!
Distronic* is switched off and is temporari-
ly unavailable.

Try activating Distronic* again later.
CLEAN SENSOR!
SEE OPERATOR'S MAN.
Distronic* is switched off because the Dis-
tronic* cover in the radiator grille is dirty.

Clean the Distronic* cover in the ra-
diator grille (
page 259).

Restart the vehicle.
VISIT WORKSHOP!
Distronic* is malfunctioning or the display
is malfunctioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
J
DOOR OPEN!
You are attempting to drive with one or
more doors open.

Close the doors.
P
SHIFT
TO P
You have turned off the engine with the
KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button and
opened the driver’s door.

Place the selector lever in positionP.
?
VISIT WORKSHOP!
There may be a malfunction in the:

Fuel injection system


Ignition system


Exhaust system


Fuel system

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.

284 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?A
RESERVE FUEL
The fuel level has dropped below the re-
serve mark.

Refuel at the next gas station
(page 235).
Y
HOOD OPEN!
You are driving with the hood open.

Close the hood (
page 238).
I
REMOVE KEY!
You have forgotten to remove the key.

Remove the key from the starter
switch.
REPLACE KEY!
VISIT WORKSHOP!
There is no additional code available for
SmartKey.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
AUTOM. LIGHT ON
REMOVE KEY!

Remove the key from the starter
switch.
SEAT BACKREST, RIGHT
LOCK!
The driver seat backrest is not engaged.

Fold back and push the seat backrest
until the seat cushion and seat back-
rest audibly engage into the driving
position.
SEAT BACKREST, LEFT
LOCK!
The passenger seat backrest is not en-
gaged.

Fold back and push the seat backrest
until the seat cushion and seat back-
rest audibly engage into the driving
position.
Display
Possible cause
Possible solution

285 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display
Possible cause
Possible solution
.
LIGHT SENSOR
VISIT WORKSHOP!
The lamp sensor is malfunctioning. The
headlamps switch on automatically.

In the control system, set lamp oper-
ation to manual (
page 136).

Switch on headlamps using the exte-
rior lamp switch.
BRAKE LIGHT
VISIT WORKSHOP!
Brake lamp illumination is delayed or lamp
is permanently on.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
DISPLAY MALFUNCTION
VISIT WORKSHOP!
The display for the lamps or the system is
malfunctioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
TURN OFF LIGHTS!
Lamps have been turned on although the
key in the starter switch is in position 0.

Turn off the lights.
TURN SIG. MIRROR, L
CHECK LIGHT!

The left turn signal in the side mirror is mal-
functioning. This message will only appear
if all light emitting diodes have stopped
working.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
TURN SIG. MIRROR, R
CHECK LIGHT!

The right turn signal in the side mirror is
malfunctioning. This message will only ap-
pear if all light emitting diodes have
stopped working.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
TURN SIG., LF
CHECK LIGHT!

BACK-UP LIGHT ON!

The left front turn signal lamp is malfunc-
tioning. A back-up bulb is being used.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.

297 Practical hints
Unlocking/locking in an emergency
Unlocking/locking in an emergency
Unlocking the vehicle
Unlocking the driver’s door
If you are unable to unlock the driver’s
door using the SmartKey, open the door
using the mechanical key.
1Mechanical key locking tab
2Mechanical key
Move locking tab1 in direction of ar-
row and slide the mechanical key out of
the housing.

Unlock the door with the mechanical
key. To do so, push the mechanical key
in the lock until it stops and turn it to
the left (position1).
iUnlocking your vehicle with the me-
chanical key will trigger the anti-theft
alarm system. To cancel the alarm, do
one of the following:

Press button
Œ
or
‹
on the
SmartKey.


Insert the key in the starter switch.


If KEYLESS-GO* card present,
press the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button.

298 Practical hintsUnlocking/locking in an emergencyUnlocking the trunk
If you are unable to unlock the trunk with
the SmartKey, open the trunk with the me-
chanical key as follows:Trunk lock
Insert the mechanical key into the
trunk lid lock.

Turn the key counterclockwise to
position1.

Press trunk lid lock2.
The trunk lid swings open.
Locking the vehicle
If you are unable to lock the vehicle with
the SmartKey, lock it with the mechanical
key as follows:
Close the passenger door and the trunk
lid.

Press the central locking switch in the
center console (
page 95).

Check to see whether the locking knob
on the passenger door is still visible. If
necessary push it down manually.

Lock the driver’s door with the me-
chanical key.

Lock the trunk lid if necessary with the
mechanical key (
page 90).
!The trunk lid swings open automatical-
ly. Always make sure that there is suffi-
cient overhead clearance. A minimum
height clearance of 6.1 ft (1.90 m) is re-
quired to open the trunk lid. iUnlocking your vehicle with the me-
chanical key will trigger the anti-theft
alarm system. To cancel the alarm, do
one of the following:

Press button
Œ
or
‹
on the
SmartKey.


Insert the key in the starter switch.


If KEYLESS-GO* card present,
press the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button (
page 33).

299 Practical hints
Unlocking/locking in an emergency
Changing batteries
If the batteries in the SmartKey or the KEY-
LESS-GO* card are discharged, the vehicle
can no longer be locked or unlocked. It is
recommended to have the batteries re-
placed at an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Batteries contain materials that can harm
the environment if disposed of improperly.
Recycling of batteries is the preferred
method of disposal. Many states require
sellers of batteries to accept old batteries
for recycling.SmartKey
1Mechanical key
2Battery compartment
Replacement batteries: Lithium, type
CR 2025 or equivalent.

Remove mechanical key1
(page 297).

Insert the mechanical key1 in side
opening and push gray slide2.
The battery compartment is unlatched.

Pull the battery compartment out of the
key housing in direction of arrow.

Remove the batteries.
3Battery
4Contact spring

Using a lint-free cloth, insert new
batteries3 under the contact spring4
with the plus (+) side facing up.

Return battery compartment into hous-
ing until it locks into place.
Warning!
G
Keep the batteries out of reach of children.
If a battery is swallowed, seek medical help
immediately.
iWhen changing batteries, always re-
place both batteries.
The required replacement batteries are
available at any Mercedes-Benz
Center.

300 Practical hintsUnlocking/locking in an emergencyKEYLESS-GO* card
1Battery cover
Replacement batteries: Lithium, type
CR 2025 or equivalent.
Pry open cover 1 (e.g. by using a nar-
row blade screw driver).

Remove the batteries.

Install new batteries as indicated by
the “+” and “–” markings in the KEY-
LESS-GO card.

Replace battery cover 1.
Fuel filler flap
In an emergency, the fuel filler flap can
only be opened from the trunk. The release
knob is located on the right-hand side in
the trunk.
1Release knob

Open the trunk with the mechanical
key (
page 298).

Remove the battery cover and the trim
inside the trunk on the right-hand side.

Pull release knob 1 (arrow) flap.
The fuel filler flap can be opened.