Page 251 of 442

251 Controls in detail
Useful features
Shortly after the completion of your ac-
quaintance call, you will receive a user ID
and password via first call mail. By visiting
www.mbusa.com and selecting “Tele Aid”
(USA only), you will have access to account
information, remote door unlock and
more.System self-check
Initially, after turning the ignition on, mal-
functions are detected and indicated (the
indicator lamps in the SOS button, the
Roadside Assistance button• and the
Information button¡ stay on longer
than ten seconds or do not come on). The
message
TELE AID – VISIT WORKSHOP!
ap-
pears for approximately 10 seconds in the
multifunction display.
iThe SOS button is located above the in-
terior rear view mirror.
The Roadside Assistance button•
and the Information button¡ are
located below the center armrest cov-
er.
!The Tele Aid system utilizes the cellular
network for communication and the
GPS (Global Positioning System) satel-
lites for vehicle location. If either of
these signals are unavailable, the
Tele Aid system may not function and if
this occurs, assistance must be sum-
moned by other means.
Warning!
G
If the indicator lamps in the SOS button, in
the Roadside Assistance button and / or in
the Information button remain illuminated
constantly in red and / or the message
TELE
AID - VISIT WORKSHOP!
is displayed in
the multifunction display after the system
self-check, a malfunction in the system has
been detected.
If a malfunction is indicated as outlined
above, the system may not operate as ex-
pected. Have the system checked at the
nearest Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as
possible.
Page 319 of 442
319 Practical hints
What to do if …
Text messagesDisplay
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
ABS
Malfunction!
Visit workshop!
The ABS has detected a malfunction
and has switched off. The ESP and
the BAS are also deactivated. The
SBC brake system is still functioning
normally but without the ABS avail-
able.
Continue driving with added caution.
Wheels will lock during hard braking, reduc-
ing steering capability.
Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases
the risk of accident.
Display malfunction
Visit workshop!
The ABS or the ABS display is mal-
functioning.
Continue driving with added caution.
Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases
the risk of accident.
Page 320 of 442
320 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
Battery
Protection
Conven. Functions
Temporarily
Unavailable
The battery has insufficient voltage
and can no longer supply conve-
nience functions such as the rear
window defroster.
As soon as the on-board voltage is sufficient,
the consumers will switch on again.
Please Note:
Conven. Functions
Available Again
On-board voltage is sufficient; the
consumers will switch on again.
Cruise control
Visit workshop!
Cruise control or Distronic* is mal-
functioning.
Have the cruise control or Distronic*
checked by an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.
Distronic
External interference
Reactivate!
The Distronic* is switched off and is
temporarily unavailable.
Try activating the Distronic* again later.
Visit workshop!
The Distronic* is malfunctioning or
the display is malfunctioning.
Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
Page 322 of 442
322 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
ESP
Malfunction!
Visit workshop!
The ESP has detected a malfunction
and switched off.
The SBC brake system is still func-
tioning normally. The ABS may still
be operational.
Continue driving with added caution.
Have the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases
the risk of an accident.
Display malfunction
Visit workshop!
The ESP or the ESP display is mal-
functioning.
Continue driving with added caution.
Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center
as soon as possible.
Failure to follow these instructions increases
the risk of accident.
Page 324 of 442

324 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Symbol messagesDisplay symbol
Display messages
Possible cause
Possible solution
#
Undervoltage
Switch off
consumers
The battery has insufficient voltage.
Turn off unnecessary electrical con-
sumers.
Visit workshop!
The battery was charged with a battery
charger or jump started.
Have the battery checked at a service
station.
The battery is no longer charging.
Possible causes:
alternator malfunctioning
broken poly-V-belt
Do not forget that the brake system re-
quires electrical energy and may be oper-
ating with restricted capability.
Considerably greater brake pedal force is
required and the stopping distance is in-
creased.
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:
Drive immediately to the nearest au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center. Ad-
just driving to be consistent with
reduced braking responsiveness.
Page 326 of 442

326 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause
Possible solution
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 emergen-
cy operation mode. Considerably 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.
Stop the vehicle and notify an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Significantly greater force must be ap-
plied to the brake pedal.
Call for Roadside Assistance.
Except Canada:;Canada only:3
Reduced
braking effect
Start engine!
Longer
stopping dist.
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
Page 327 of 442

327 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause
Possible solution
Except Canada:;Canada only:3
Reduced
braking effect
Visit workshop!
Longer
stopping dist.
Visit workshop!
The SBC brake system is in emergency
operation mode. Considerable brake ped-
al force is required and the stopping dis-
tance is increased.
Continue driving with added caution.
Adjust driving to be consistent with
reduced braking responsiveness.
Service brake
!
Visit workshop!
There are malfunctions, but the SBC
brake system is operating normally.
Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Brake overheated!
Drive carefully!
The brake system is overheated due to an
excessive load on the brakes.
Relieve the load on the brake system.
Drive more smoothly and think ahead
to avoid unnecessary braking.
When driving down slopes, shift into a
lower gear to use the engine’s braking
power (
page 159).
Cautiously continue driving so that
the air stream will cool down the
brakes.
Release
park. brake!
You are driving with the parking brake
set.
Release the parking brake
(page 45).
Page 328 of 442

328 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause
Possible solution
Except Canada:;Canada only:3
Brake fluid
Visit workshop!
There is insufficient brake fluid in the
reservoir.
Risk of accident! Stop the vehicle and
notify an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center. Do not add brake fluid! This
will not solve the problem.
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 circumstances do
not permit the use of the recommended
towing methods and the vehicle 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 infor-
mation, refer to “Towing the vehicle”
(page 381).
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 neces-
sary, apply full pressure to the brake pedal.
Brakes may only be 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.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 by a qualified technician at
the intervals specified in the Service
Booklet.