Page 254 of 376
254 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 230).
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.
Page 256 of 376
256 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
?
The yellow CHECK ENGINE mal-
function indicator lamp comes
on while driving.
There is a malfunction in:
The fuel injection system
The ignition system
The emission control system
Systems which effect 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.
The fuel cap is not closed tightly.
Check 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 red seat belt warning lamp
lights up after starting the en-
gine.
The warning lamp reminds you to fasten seat
belts.
Fasten your seat belt.
Page 262 of 376
262 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
Distronic
External fault
Reactivate!
Distronic* is switched off and is
temporarily unavailable.
Try activating Distronic* again later.
Clear sensor!
See Owner’s Man.
Distronic* is switched off be-
cause the Distronic* cover in the
radiator grille is dirty.
Clean the Distronic* cover in the radiator grille
(page 246).
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
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 position P.
Cruise
Control
Visit workshop!
Cruise control or Distronic* is
malfunctioning.
Have the cruise control or Distronic* checked
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Page 265 of 376
265 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
2
Brake lining wear!
Visit workshop!
The brake pads have reached their
wear limit.
Have the brake pads replaced as soon as
possible.
T
Brake defective!
Stop vehicle!
The SBC brake system is in emer-
gency operation mode. Consider-
ably greater brake pedal force is
required and the stopping distance
is increased.
The maximum speed is limited to
55 mph (90 km/h).
Do not drive any further.
Stop the vehicle and notify an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Significantly greater force must be applied
to the brake pedal.
Call for roadside assistance.
Reduced
brake effect
Start engine!
The battery has insufficient voltage
and cannot supply sufficient power
to the SBC brake system.
Start the engine.
As soon as the engine is running, the mes-
sage disappears.
!Brake pad thickness must be visually
checked by a qualified technician at the
intervals specified in the Service book-
let.
Page 267 of 376
267 Practical hints
What to do if …
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
vehicle"(
page 325).
If the SBC brake system enters its emergen-
cy 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 increased!
Low brake fluid in the reservoir may cause
the braking system to fail!
If necessary, apply full pressure to the brake
pedal. Brakes are only applied to the front
wheels. Stopping distance is increased!
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 res-
ervoir can result in spilling brake fluid on hot
engine parts and the brake fluid catching
fire. You can be seriously burned.
Page 269 of 376
269 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
F
Chip card
Check battery!
The KEYLESS-GO* card batteries are
discharged.
Change the batteries (
page 294).
Chip card
not recognised!
The KEYLESS-GO* card is not recog-
nized while the engine is running be-
cause
the card is not in the vehicle
there is strong radio-frequency
interference
Stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do
so.
Search for the card or continue to operate
the vehicle with the key.
Otherwise the vehicle cannot be centrally
locked nor can the engine be started again
after the engine is stopped.
The KEYLESS-GO* card is momen-
tarily not recognized.
Change the position of the card in the vehi-
cle.
Operate the vehicle with the key if neces-
sary.
Chip card
still in vehicle!
A KEYLESS-GO* card left in the vehi-
cle was recognized while locking the
vehicle from the outside.
Take the card out of the vehicle.
KEYLESS-GO
Visit workshop!
The KEYLESS-GO* system is mal-
functioning.
Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
Page 271 of 376
271 Practical hints
What to do if …
Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
F
KEYLESS GO
Check system
The KEYLESS-GO* system is mal-
functioning.
Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.
Key
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 SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* with
you when leaving the vehicle.
_
Entry position
Do not drive!
Seat, mirrors and steering wheel
have not yet moved into their preset
driving positions.
Wait until the seat, mirrors and steering
wheel have moved to their driving positions.
The message disappears.
Except Canada:;Canada only:!
Release
parking brake!
You are driving with the parking
brake set.
Release the parking brake (
page 41).
Page 272 of 376
272 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Left display
Right display
Possible cause
Possible solution
<
Seat belt system
Visit workshop!
The seat belt system is malfunction-
ing.
Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
Ê
Close
trunk lid!
This message will appear whenever
the trunk lid is open.
Close the trunk lid.
Close
trunk separator!
You are trying to open or close the
roof even though the luggage cover
in the trunk is not pulled out.
Pull out the luggage cover and secure it
(page 160).
B
Coolant
Check level!
The coolant level is too low.
Add coolant (
page 230).
If you have to add coolant frequently, have
the cooling system checked by an autho-
rized 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
this 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.
