Page 293 of 416

293 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
;
(USA only)
3
(Canada only)The red brake warning lamp
lights up while driving and you
hear a warning sound.
You are driving with the parking brake set.
Release the parking brake
(page 44).
The red brake warning lamp
lights up while driving.
There is insufficient brake fluid in the reser-
voir.
Risk of accident! Carefully stop the
vehicle and notify an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center. Do not add
brake fluid! This will not solve the
problem.
Warning!
G
Driving with the brake warning lamp illumi-
nated can result in an accident. Have your
brake system checked immediately if the
brake warning lamp stays on. Don’t add
brake fluid before checking the brake
system.
Overfilling the brake fluid reservoir can re-
sult in spilling brake fluid on hot engine
parts and the brake fluid catching fire. You
can be seriously burned.
!If 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.
Page 294 of 416

294 Practical hintsWhat 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 management system
The ignition system
The emission control system
Systems which affect emissions
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 pedal.
The fuel cap is not closed tightly.
Close the fuel cap.
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 yellow fuel tank reserve
warning lamp lights up while
driving.
The fuel level has gone below the reserve
mark.
Refuel at the next gas station
(page 261).
<
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.
Page 295 of 416
295 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Lamp in center consoleProblem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
The PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator
lamp lights up.
A BabySmart
TM child seat is installed on the
front passenger seat. Therefore the front
passenger airbag is switched off.
The system is malfunctioning when there is
no BabySmart
TM child seat installed on the
front passenger seat.
Have the system checked as soon as
possible by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
The PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF indicator
lamp does not light up with a BabySmart
TM
child seat properly installed on the front
passenger seat.The system is malfunctioning.
Make sure that there is nothing be-
tween seat cushion and child seat and
check installation of the child seat.
If the light remains out, have the sys-
tem checked as soon as possible by
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Do not use the BabySmart
TM restraint
to transport children on the front pas-
senger seat until the system has been
repaired.
Page 312 of 416

312 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display
Possible cause
Suggested solution
.
LIGHT SENSOR
VISIT WORKSHOP!
The lamp sensor is malfunctioning. The
headlamps switch on automatically.
In the control system, set lamp operation
to manual (
page 149).
Switch on headlamps using the exterior
lamp switch.
BRAKE LIGHT
VISIT WORKSHOP!
Brake lamp illumination is delayed or lamp
is permanently on.
Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
DISPLAY MALFUNCTION
VISIT WORKSHOP!
The display for the lamps or the system is
malfunctioning.
Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
TURN OFF LIGHTS!
Lamps have been turned on although the
SmartKey in the ignition is in position 0.
Turn off the headlamps
TURN SIG. MIRROR, L
CHECK LIGHT!
The left 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 Cen-
ter 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 Cen-
ter 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.
Page 332 of 416

332 Practical hintsReplacing bulbsRear lamps Notes on bulb replacement
Use only 12 volt bulbs of the same type
and with the specified watt rating.
Switch lights off before changing a bulb
to prevent short circuits.
Always use a clean lint-free cloth when
handling bulbs.
Your hands should be dry and free of oil
and grease.
If the newly installed bulb does not light
up, visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Have the LEDs and bulbs for the follow-
ing lamps replaced by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Additional turn signal lamps in the
exterior rear view mirrors
High mounted brake lamp
Bi-Xenon lamps*
Front fog lamps
Lamp
Type
8
Brake lamp
LED
9
Turn signal lamp
PY 21 W
10
Tail and standing
lamp, side marker
P21/4W
11
Backup lamp
P21W
12
License plate lamps
C5W
13
Tail lamp, Rear fog
lamp
P21/4W
14
High mounted brake
lamp
LED
Warning!
G
Keep bulbs out of reach of children.
Bulbs and bulb sockets can be very hot. Al-
low the lamp to cool down before changing
a bulb.
Halogen lamps contain pressurized gas. A
bulb can explode if you:
touch or move it when hot
drop the bulb
scratch the bulb
Wear eye and hand protection.
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.
Page 333 of 416
333 Practical hints
Replacing bulbs
Replacing bulbs for front lamps
1Headlamp cover for fog lamp
2Headlamp cover for high beam head-
lamp bulb, parking and standing lamp
3Headlamp cover for low beam
(Bi-Xenon* or halogen) headlamp bulb4Bulb socket for fog lamp
5Bulb socket for parking and standing
lamp
6Electrical connector for high beam
headlamp bulb
7Electrical connector for low beam
headlamp bulb
8Bulb socket for turn signal lampReplacing low beam bulbs
Bi-Xenon* headlamp
Halogen headlamp
Switch off the lights.
Open the hood (
page 263).
Press the tab on cover3 and remove
cover.
Pull connector7 off of the lamp.
Release the retaining springs and take
out the bulb.Warning!
G
Do not remove the cover for the Bi-Xenon
headlamp. Because of high voltage in xenon
lamps, it is dangerous to replace the bulb or
repair the lamp and its components. We rec-
ommend that you have such work done by a
qualified technician.
Page 334 of 416

334 Practical hintsReplacing bulbs
Insert the new bulb in the socket so
that the base is in the recess on the
lower left.
Attach the retaining springs.
Insert connector7 into the bulb.
Press cover3 onto the housing until
the tab engages.Replacing high beam bulbs
Switch off the lights.
Open the hood (
page 263).
Press the tab on cover2 and remove
cover.
Pull connector 6 off of the bulb.
Apply pressure on the bulb contacts
from above until the bulb releases from
the retaining springs.
Remove bulb.
Insert the new bulb in the socket with
the marking facing upward.
Press the bulb upward on the contacts
until it engages in the retaining springs.
Insert connector6 onto the bulb.
Press cover2 onto the housing until
the tab engages.Front turn signal lamp bulb
Switch off the lights.
Open the hood (
page 263).
Twist bulb socket8 counterclockwise
and pull out.
Gently push bulb into socket, turn
counterclockwise and remove.
Insert new bulb in socket, push in and
twist clockwise.
Reinstall bulb socket in lamp and twist
clockwise until it engages.
Page 335 of 416
335 Practical hints
Replacing bulbs
Parking and standing lamp bulb
Switch off the lights.
Open the hood (
page 263).
Press the tab on cover2 and remove
cover.
Pull out the bulb socket5 with the
bulb.
Pull the bulb out of the bulb socket.
Insert a new bulb in the socket.
Reinstall the bulb socket.
Press cover2 onto the housing until
the tab engages.Side marker lamp bulb
Switch off the lights.
Carefully slide lamp towards rear.
Remove front 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.