2003 MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS open hood

292 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
D
The red coolant warning lamp
lights up when the engine is run-
ning.
There is insufficient coolant in the reservoir.
If this warning lamp lights up frequently,
there is a leak in the cooling system.
If the coolant level is correct, the electric ra-
diator fan may be broken.

Immediately add coolant to prevent
engine from overheating
(page 264).

Have the cooling system checked.

If the coolant temperature is below
257 °F (125 °C), you can continue
driving to the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.

Avoid high engine loads (e.g. driving
uphill) and stop-and-go driving.
D
The red coolant warning lamp
lights up while driving and you
hear a warning sound.
The coolant temperature has exceeded
257 °F (125 °C).

Stop as soon as possible and allow
the engine and coolant to cool down.
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.
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312 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display
Possible cause
Suggested solution
Ï
Coolant
Stop, engine off!
The coolant is too hot.
The poly-V-belt could be broken.

Stop the vehicle.

Only start the engine again after the mes-
sage disappears. You could otherwise dam-
age the engine.

Stop immediately and check the
poly-V-belt.
If it is broken, do not drive any further.
Notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
If it is in order, drive immediately to the
nearest authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter.
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 oper-
ated with the coolant temperature above
266°F (130°C). Doing so may cause serious
engine damage which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
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313 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display
Possible cause
Suggested solution
A
Reserve fuel
The fuel level has dropped below the
reserve mark.

Refuel at the next gas station (
page 259).
Y
Hood open!
You are driving with the hood open.

Close the hood (
page 261).
I
Remove key
!
You have forgotten to remove the
key.

Remove the key from the starter switch.
Replace key
There is 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 automati-
cally.

In the control system, set lamp operation to
manual mode (
page 130).

Switch on headlamps using the exterior
lamp switch.
Low beam, left
The left low beam lamp is malfunc-
tioning.

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

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
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334 Practical hintsReplacing bulbsReplacing bulbs for front lamps
1Bulb socket for turn signal lamp
2High beam bulb
3Bulb socket for parking and standing
lamp
High beam bulb (Halogen headlamps
only)
Switch off the lights.

Open the hood (
page 261).

Press the clamp and remove headlamp
cover.

Pull electrical connector off.

Turn the locking mechanism counter-
clockwise and take out the high beam
bulb2.

Insert the new high beam bulb so that
the base is in the recess of the holder.

Turn the locking mechanism clockwise.

Plug the connector onto the high beam
bulb.

Align headlamp cover and click into
place.
High beam bulb (Bi-Xenon* headlamps
only)

Switch off the lights.

Open the hood (
page 261).

Press the clamp and remove headlamp
cover.

Pull electrical connector off.

Turn the locking mechanism counter-
clockwise and take out the high beam
bulb2.

Insert the new high beam bulb so that
the base is in the recess of the holder.

Turn the locking mechanism clockwise.

Plug the connector onto the high beam
bulb.

Align headlamp cover and click into
place.
Warning!
G
Because of high voltage in Bi-Xenon lamps,
it is dangerous to replace the bulb or repair
the lamp and its components. We recom-
mend that you have such work done by a
qualified technician.
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335 Practical hints
Replacing bulbs
Front turn signal lamp bulb
Switch off the lights.

Open the hood (
page 261).

Twist bulb socket1 counterclockwise
and pull out.

Push bulb into socket, turn counter-
clockwise and remove.

Insert new bulb in socket, push in and
twist clockwise.

Reinsert bulb socket in lamp and twist
clockwise.Parking and standing lamp bulb

Switch off the lights.

Open the hood (
page 261).

Press the clamp and remove headlamp
cover.

Pull out the bulb socket3 with the
bulb.

Pull the bulb out of the bulb socket.

Insert a new bulb in the socket.

Reinstall the bulb socket.

Align headlamp cover and click into
place.Side marker lamp bulb

Switch off the lights.

Carefully slide lamp towards front.

Remove rear end first.

Twist bulb socket counterclockwise
and pull out.

Pull bulb out of the bulb socket.

Insert new bulb in socket.

Reinstall bulb socket, push in and twist
clockwise.

To reinstall lamp, set rear end in
bumper and let front end snap into
place.
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337 Practical hints
Replacing wiper blades
Replacing wiper blades
Replacing wiper blades
Removal 
Turn key in starter switch to position1.

Turn combination switch to wiper
settingII (
page 47).

With wiper arm in the vertical position
(see above), turn key in starter switch
to position0.

Fold the wiper arm forward.You should hear it snap into place.

Turn the wiper blade at a right angle to
wiper arm.

Slide the wiper blade sideways out of
the retainer.Installation

Slide wiper blade onto wiper arm until
it locks in place.

Rotate wiper blade into position paral-
lel to wiper arm.

Fold wiper arm back so that blade rests
on windshield.
!To avoid damage to the hood, the wiper
arms should only be folded forward
when in the vertical position.Warning!
G
For safety reasons, remove key from starter
switch before replacing a wiper blade, other-
wise the motor could suddenly turn on and
cause injury.
!Never open the hood when the wiper
arm is folded forward.
Do not allow the wiper arms to contact
the windshield glass without a wiper
blade inserted.
For your convenience, we recommend
that you have this work carried out by
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
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388 IndexGrarage door opener 27
H
Hand-held transmitter
Programming integrated remote
control 244
Hazard warning flasher 115
Switching off 115
Switching on 115
Head restraints 103
Headlamps
Automatic control 113
Bi-Xenon 375
Cleaning system* 158
Switching off 51
Switching on 46
Heated seats* 107
Height adjustment
Head restraints 36
Steering wheel 37
Vehicle level 209
High beam flasher 47, 115
High beam headlamps 332
Messages in display 316
Switching on 115Hood 261
Closing 261
Message in display 313
Opening 261
I
Identification labels 358
Ignition 31, 33
Switching on 44
Immobilizer 81
Activating 81
Deactivating 81
Indicator lamps see Lamps, indicator and
warning
Infant and child restraint systems 65
Info services 242
Information
About service and warranty 10
Button for Tele Aid* 239
Inside rear view mirror
Adjusting 38
Instrument 22
Instrument cluster 118, 377
Coolant temperature display 119
Illumination 118
Multifunction display 121
Outside temperature indicator 120Selecting language 135
Instrument lighting 118, 119
Integrated remote control
Canadian programming 245
Erasing memory 246
Hand-held transmitter 244
Operating 246
Rolling code programming 245
Interior lighting 116
Activating automatic control 116
Deactivating automatic control 116
Delayed switch-off 141
Manual operation 116
Interior storage spaces 226
Glove box 226
J
Jump starting 346
K
Key (SmartKey)
Changing the batteries 329
Key dependency memory
Settings 144
Key positions in starter switch 31
Key, electronic
Messages in display 323
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391 Index
Storing exterior mirror parking
position 111
MON 260
MON (Motor Octane Number) 378
Mph or km/h in speedometer 134
Multicontour seat* 104
Multifunction display 121, 378
Selecting language 135
Standard display 125
Multifunction display messages
ABS 296
BAS 297, 298
Batteries 303, 304
Brake pads 305
Coolant 311, 312
Coolant level 311
Distronic* 300
Doors 323
Easy-entry/exit feature 310
Engine oil level 300
Fuel reserve tank 313, 323
Hood 313
Key 313, 323
KEYLESS-GO* card 309
Lamps 313–??
Parking brake 310SBC brake system 305, 306
Seat belts 310
Steering gear oil level 318
Telephone* 309
Trunk lid 310
Washer fluid 311
Multifunction steering wheel 24, 122,
378
Buttons 122
N
Network provider 148
Night security illumination 114
O
Occupant safety 56
Airbags 57
Children and airbags 58
Children in the vehicle 65
Fastening the seat belt 40
Infant and child restraint systems 65
Seat belts 40, 59
Oil
Viscosity 376
One-touch gearshifting 152
Canceling gear range limit 152
Downshifting 152Upshifting 152
Opening 331
Ashtray 231
Doors from the inside 93
Glove box 226
Side windows 184
Sliding/pop-up roof* 187
Sliding/pop-up roof* with
SmartKey 188, 192
Trunk 88, 96
Trunk from the inside 94
Windows 184
Windows with SmartKey 185
Operating
Cassette player 128
CD player* 127, 128
Garage door opener 246
Integrated remote control 246
Radio 127
Safety 16
Telephone* 147
Vehicle outside the USA and
Canada 13
Operating safety 16
Operator’s Manual 10
Outside temperature indicator 120
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