Page 293 of 399
293 Practical hints
What to do if …
Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
?
The yellow "CHECK ENGINE"
malfunction indicator lamp
comes on while driving.
There is a malfunction in:
The fuel injection system
The ignition system
The exhaust system
The fuel system
Such malfunctions may result in excessive
emissions values and may switch the engine
to its limp-home (emergency operation)
mode.
Have the vehicle checked as soon as
possible by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
An on-board diagnostic connector is
used by the service station to link the
vehicle to the shop diagnostics sys-
tem. It allows the accurate identifica-
tion of system malfunctions through
the readout of diagnostic trouble
codes. It is located in the front left
area of the footwell next to the park-
ing brake.
Your gas tank is empty.
After refuelling, start the engine three
or four times in succession.
The limp-home mode is canceled. You do
not need to have your vehicle checked.
<
The red seat belt warning lamp
blinks for a brief period after
starting the engine.
The warning lamp reminds you to fasten seat
belts.
Fasten your seat belt.
W
The yellow fuel tank reserve
warning lamp lights up while
driving.
The fuel level has gone below the reserve
mark.
Gas cap not closed tight.
Refuel at the next gas station
(page 259).
Close gas cap
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Page 299 of 399
299 Practical hints
What to do if …
ESP
Display defective
Visit workshop!
The BAS or the BAS 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.
ESP
not available!
See operator‘s manual
The ESP is deactivated because of a mal-
function or interrupted power supply. The
SBC brake system is still functioning nor-
mally. The ABS may still be operational.
With the vehicle stationary, 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 leve
l
Stop, engine off!
There is no oil in the engine. There is a dan-
ger of engine damage.
Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt
as soon as possible.
Turn off the engine.
Add engine oil.
Display
Possible cause
Suggested solution
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Page 300 of 399
300 Practical hintsWhat to do if …:
Engine oil level
Check level!
The engine oil level is too low.
Check the engine oil level
(page 262) and add oil as required.
:
Engine oil level
Reduce oil level!
You have added too much engine oil. There
is a risk of damaging the engine or the cat-
alytic converter.
Have oil siphoned. Observe all legal
requirements with respect to its dis-
posal.
Engine oil
Visit workshop!
The engine oil has dropped to a critical lev-
el.
Check the engine oil level
(page 262) 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
Center.
Distronic
External interference
Reactivate!
The Distronic* is switched off and is tem-
porarily unavailable.
Try activating the Distronic* again
later.
Clean sensor!
see oper. Manual
The Distronic* is switched off because the
Distronic* cover in the radiator grille is
dirty.
Clean the Distronic* cover in the ra-
diator grille (
page 283).
Restart the vehicle.
Visit workshop!
The Distronic* is malfunctioning or the dis-
play is malfunctioning.
Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Display
Possible cause
Suggested solution
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Page 301 of 399
301 Practical hints
What to do if …
P
Gear selector lever in 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 position P.
Cruise control
Visit workshop!
Cruise control or Distronic* is malfunction-
ing.
Have the cruise control or Distronic*
checked by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
1
Restraint system
malfunction
Visit workshop!
The system is malfunctioning.
Drive with added caution to the near-
est authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter.
@
Vehicle rising!
Your vehicle is adjusting to your level selec-
tion.
Level selec. canceled
The "Raised" level setting is canceled at ve-
hicle speeds of over 75 mph (120 km/h).
Reactivate the "Raised" level setting.
Display
Possible cause
Suggested solution
Warning!
G
In the event a malfunction of the SRS is indi-
cated as outlined above, the SRS may not be
operational. For your safety, we strongly
recommend that you visit an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center immediately to have
the system checked; otherwise the
SRS may not be activated when needed in
an accident, which could result in serious or
fatal injury, or it might deploy unexpectedly
and unnecessarily which could also result in
injury.
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Page 303 of 399
303 Practical hints
What to do if …
G
Display defective
The instrument cluster display is malfunc-
tioning.
Continue driving with added caution.
Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
G
Display defective
Visit workshop!
The displays for several systems have mal-
functioned. Some systems themselves may
also have malfunctioned.
Have the electronic systems
checked by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
L
Visit workshop!
One or more main functions of the Tele Aid
system are malfunctioning.
Have the Tele Aid system checked by
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter.
#
Malfunction
Electrical consumers
switched off
The consumer battery has insufficient volt-
age and can no longer supply the conve-
nience functions such as seat ventilation*.
The electrical consumers will come back
online as soon as on-board voltage is
sufficient.
#
Battery/Alternator
Stop vehicle!
The battery is malfunctioning.
The SBC brake system requires electrical
energy and therefore has only limited oper-
ation. Considerably greater brake pedal
force is required and the stopping distance
is increased.
Stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe
to do so. Adjust driving to be consis-
tent with reduced braking respon-
siveness.
Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
#
Undervoltage
Charge battery
The battery has insufficient voltage.
Start the engine (
page 43).
Display
Possible cause
Suggested solution
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Page 305 of 399
305 Practical hints
What to do if …
2
Brake wear
Visit workshop!
The brake pads have reached their wear
limit.
Brake pad thickness must be visually
inspected at the intervals specified in
the Service Booklet.
Have the brake pads replaced as
soon as possible.
T
Brake malfunction
Stop vehicle
The SBC brake system is in the limp-home
(emergency operation) mode. Consider-
ably greater brake pedal force is required
and the stopping distance is increased.
Do not exceed a speed of 55 mph
(90 km/h).
Do not drive any further.
Significantly greater force must be
applied to the brake pedal.
Call for roadside assistance.
Except Canada:;Canada only:3
Reduced braking effect
Start engine!
Increased braking dis-
tance
Start engine!
The battery has insufficient voltage and
cannot supply sufficient power to the SBC
brake system.
Start the engine.
The message disappears when suffi-
cient voltage is available
Display
Possible cause
Suggested solution
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Page 307 of 399
307 Practical hints
What to do if …
Except Canada:;Canada only:3
Brakes overheated!
Drive carefully!
The brake system is overheated due to an
excessive load on the brakes.
Relieve the load on the brake sys-
tem.
Drive more smoothly and think
ahead to avoid unnecessary braking.
When driving down slopes, shift into
a lower gear to use the engine’s brak-
ing power (
page 153).
Cautiously continue driving so that
the air stream will cool down the
brakes.
Display
Possible cause
Suggested solution
Warning!
G
Driving while these messages are displayed
can result in an accident. Have your brake
system checked immediately.
If there is a malfunction in the SBC brake
system, we recommend that the vehicle be
transported with all wheels off the ground
using flatbed or appropriate wheel lift/dolly
equipment. A tow bar must be used if cir-
cumstances do not permit the use of the
recommended towing methods and the ve-
hicle requires towing with all four wheels on
the ground. Towing the vehicle with all four
wheels on the ground is only permissible for
distances up to 30 miles (50 km) and at a
speed not to exceed 30 mph (50 km/h). For
more information, refer to "Towing the vehi-
cle" (
page 348).
If the SBC brake system enters its
limp-home (emergency operation) mode,
the driver must apply significantly greater
brake pedal pressure and depress the pedal
much further than normal to obtain braking
effect. If necessary, apply full pressure to
the brake pedal. Brakes are only applied to
the front wheels. Stopping distance is in-
creased!
Low brake fluid in the reservoir may cause
the braking system to fail!
Don’t add brake fluid before checking the
brake system. Overfilling the brake fluid
ProCarManuals.com
Page 308 of 399
308 Practical hintsWhat to do if …reservoir can result in spilling brake fluid on
hot engine parts and the brake fluid catch-
ing fire. You can be seriously burned.iIf you find that the brake fluid in the
brake fluid reservoir has fallen to the
minimum mark or below, have the
brake system checked for brake pad
thickness and leaks.!Brake pad thickness must be visually
inspected at the intervals specified in
the Service Booklet.
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