2003 MERCEDES-BENZ CLK320 COUPE Owner's Manual

289 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display
Possible cause
Suggested solution
F
Key
do not forget key
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 SmartKey with KEY-
LESS-GO* with you when leaving the
vehicle.
B
Coolant
Check level
The coolant level is too low.

Add coolant (
page 256).

If you have to add coolant frequently,
have the cooling system checked by
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
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 sufficient amount
of coolant in the cooling system. The
engine will overheat, causing major en-
gine damage.

290 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?
During severe operating conditions and
stop-and-go city traffic, the coolant tem-
perature may rise close to 248°F (120°C).
Display
Possible cause
Suggested solution
Ï
Coolant
Stop, engine off!
The coolant is too hot.

Stop the vehicle and turn off the en-
gine.

Only start the engine again after the
message disappears. You could other-
wise damage the engine.
Warning!
G
Driving when your engine is badly overheat-
ed 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.
!The engine should not be operated with
the coolant temperature above 248°F
(120°C). Doing so may cause serious
engine damage which is not covered by
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

291 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display
Possible cause
Suggested solution
Ï
Coolant
Stop, engine off!
The poly-V-belt could be broken.

Stop immediately and check the
poly-V-belt.
If it is broken:

Do not continue to drive. Otherwise
the engine will overheat due to an in-
operative water pump which may re-
sult in damage to the engine. Notify an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
If it is intact:

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.
Ï
Coolant
Visit workshop
The cooling fan for the coolant is malfunc-
tioning.

Observe the coolant temperature dis-
play.

Have the fan replaced as soon as pos-
sible.

292 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display
Possible cause
Suggested solution
Distronic
External interference
Reactivate!
Distronic* is switched off and is tempo-
rarily unavailable.

Try activating Distronic* again later.
Unavailable!
see oper. manual
Distronic* is switched off because the
Distronic* cover in the radiator grille is
dirty.

Clean the Distronic* cover in the radi-
ator grille (
page 271).

Restart the vehicle.
Visit workshop!
Distronic* is malfunctioning or the display
is malfunctioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
P
Selector lever
in park position
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.
J
Doors open!
You are attempting to drive with one or
more doors open.

Close the doors.
?
Visit workshop!
There may be a malfunction in the

fuel injection system


ignition system


exhaust system


fuel system

Have the measuring system checked
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter.

293 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display
Possible cause
Suggested solution
ESP
not available!
See operator’s manual
The charging voltage has fallen below
10 volts and the ESP has switched off.

When the voltage is above this value
again, the ESP is operational again.

If necessary, have the generator and
battery checked.
The self-diagnosis has not been complet-
ed.
The display will clear itself after driving a
short distance at more than 12 mph
(20 km/h).
Display defective
Visit workshop!
The ESP or the ESP display is malfunction-
ing.

Continue driving with added caution.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions in-
creases the risk of accident.

294 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display
Possible cause
Suggested solution
ESP
Defective!
Visit workshop!
The ESP is deactivated because of a mal-
function or interrupted power supply. The
ABS may still be operational.

With the vehicle stationary and the en-
gine running, turn the steering wheel
completely to the left and then to the
right to synchronize the ESP.
If the ESP message does not go out:

Continue driving with added caution.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions in-
creases the risk of accident.
:
Engine oil level
Stop, engine off!
There is no oil in the engine. There is a
danger of engine damage.

Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt as
soon as possible.

Turn off the engine.

Add engine oil.

295 Practical hints
What to do if …?
When the
Engine oil – Visit workshop!

message appears while the engine is run-
ning and at operating temperature, the en-
gine oil level has dropped to approximately
the minimum mark on the dipstick.
When this occurs, the warning will first
come on intermittently and then stay on if
the oil level drops further.If no oil leaks are noted, continue to drive
to the nearest service station where the
engine oil should be topped to the “full”
mark on the dipstick with an approved oil.
Display
Possible cause
Suggested solution
:
Engine oil level
Reduce oil level!
You have added too much engine oil.
There is a risk of damaging the engine or
the catalytic converter.

Have oil siphoned. Observe all legal re-
quirements with respect to its dispos-
al.
Engine oil
Visit workshop!
The engine oil has dropped to a critical
level.

Check the engine oil level
(page 254) and add oil as required.

If you must add engine oil frequently,
have the engine checked for possible
leaks.
There is water in the oil.

Have the oil checked.
Engine oil level
Visit workshop!
The measuring system is malfunctioning.

Have the measuring system checked
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter.!The engine oil level warnings should
not be ignored. Extended driving with
the symbol displayed could result in se-
rious engine damage that is not cov-
ered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.

296 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display
Possible cause
Suggested solution
A
Reserve fuel
The fuel level has dropped below the re-
serve mark.

Refuel at the next gas station
(page 251).
Y
Hood open!
You are driving with the hood open.

Close the hood (
page 254).
I
Remove key
You have forgotten to remove the key.

Remove the key from the starter
switch.
Replace key!
No additional code available for SmartKey
or SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
.
Lamp sensor
Visit workshop!
The lamp sensor is malfunctioning. The
headlamps switch on automatically.

In the control system, set lamp opera-
tion to manual (
page 129).

Switch on headlamps using the exteri-
or lamp switch.
Low beam, left
The left low beam lamp is malfunctioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Low beam, right
The right low beam lamp is malfunction-
ing.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Display defective!
Visit workshop!
The display for the lamps or the system is
malfunctioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Turn signal rear left
Substitute lamp on!

The left rear turn signal lamp is malfunc-
tioning. A backup bulb is being used.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
Turn signal rear right
Substitute lamp on!

The right rear turn signal lamp is malfunc-
tioning. A backup bulb is being used.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.