2004 MERCEDES-BENZ E500 Driving

330 Practical hintsWhat to do if …
During severe operation conditions and
stop-and-go city traffic, the coolant tem-
perature may rise close to 248°F (120°C).
Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause
Possible solution
Ï
Coolant
Stop, engine off!
The coolant is too hot.

Stop the vehicle.

Only start the engine again after the
message disappears. You could other-
wise damage the engine.
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 the
engine has cooled down.
!The engine should not be operated with
the coolant temperature above 248°F
(120°C). Doing so may cause serious
damage which is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

332 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause
Possible solution
G
Display malfunction
The instrument cluster display is malfunc-
tioning.

Continue driving with added caution.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
Display malfunction
Visit workshop!
The displays for several systems have
malfunctioned. Some systems them-
selves may also have malfunctioned.

Have the electronic systems checked
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter.
±
Display malfunction
Visit workshop!
Certain electronic systems are unable to
relay information to the control system.
The following systems may have failed:

Coolant temperature display


Tachometer


Cruise control display

Have the electronic systems checked
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter.
J

Door open
You are attempting to drive with one or
more doors open.

Close the doors.

334 Practical hintsWhat to do if …When the
Engine oil - Visit workshop!

message appears while the engine is run-
ning and at operating temperature, the en-
gine oil level has dropped to approximately
the minimum level.
When this occurs, the warning will first
come on intermittently and then stay on if
the oil level drops further.If no oil leaks are noted, continue to drive
to the nearest service station where the
engine oil should be topped to the required
level with an approved oil.
Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause
Possible solution
:
Engine oil
Visit workshop!
The engine oil has dropped to a critical
level.

Check the engine oil level
(page 283) and add oil as required
(page 284).

If you must add engine oil frequently,
have the engine checked for possible
leaks.
It may be that there is water in the engine
oil.

Have the engine oil checked.
Engine oil level
Visit workshop!
The measuring system is malfunctioning.

Have the measuring system checked
by an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center.!The engine oil level warnings should
not be ignored. Extended driving with
the symbol displayed could result in
serious engine damage that is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.

335 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause
Possible solution
A
Reserve fuel
The fuel level has dropped below the re-
serve mark.

Refuel at the next gas station
(page 278).
Y
Hood open!
You are driving with the hood open.

Close the hood (
page 281).
F
Key
Check battery!
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* batter-
ies are discharged.

Change the batteries (
page 355).
Key
not recognized!
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* is not
recognized while the engine is running
because

the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* is
not in the vehicle


there is strong radio-frequency inter-
ference

Stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe
to do so.

Search for the SmartKey.
Otherwise the vehicle cannot be cen-
trally locked nor can the engine be
started again after the engine is
stopped.
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* is mo-
mentarily not recognized.

Change the position of the SmartKey
in the vehicle.

Operate the vehicle with the Smart-
Key in the starter switch if necessary.

341 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause
Possible solution
H
Tire pres. monitor
not activated!
The tire inflation pressure monitor* is un-
able to monitor the tire pressure due to

the presence of several wheel sensors
in the vehicle.


excessive wheel sensor tempera-
tures.


a nearby radio interference source.


unrecognized wheel sensors mount-
ed.

Check the tire pressure at the next
service station.
Tire pres. monitor

Pres. display after
driving a few mins. Re-
activate using R button
The tire pressure is being checked.
Warning!
G
Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire affects
the ability to steer or brake the vehicle.
You may lose control of the vehicle. Contin-
ued driving with a flat tire will cause exces-
sive heat build-up and possibly a fire.

342 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause
Possible solution
H
Tire pres. monitor
Visit workshop!
The tire inflation pressure monitor is mal-
functioning.
A wheel without proper sensor was in-
stalled.

Have the tire inflation pressure moni-
tor checked by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.

Change the wheel (
page 370).
Tire pres.
Caution, tire defect!
The tire pressure has decreased signifi-
cantly in one or more tires.

Check and correct tire pressure as re-
quired (
page 290).
Tire pres.
Caution, tire defect
One or more tires is deflating.

Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt,
avoiding abrubt steering and braking
maneuvers.

Change the wheel (
page 370).
Tire pres.
Check tires!
The tire pressure in one or more tires is
already below the minimum value.
The tire pressure in one or more tires is
low.

Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt,
avoiding abrubt steering and braking
maneuvers.

Change the wheel (
page 370).
Warning!
G
Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire affects
the ability to steer or brake the vehicle.
You may lose control of the vehicle. Contin-
ued driving with a flat tire will cause exces-
sive heat build-up and possibly a fire.

343 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause
Possible solution
H
Tire pres. RL
Caution
Tire defect
The left rear tire is deflating.

Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt,
avoiding abrupt steering and braking
maneuvers.

Change the wheel (
page 370).
Tire pres. RL
Check tires!
The left rear tire pressure is low.

Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt.

Check the tire pressure.

Change the wheel (
page 370).
Tire pres. RR
Caution
Tire defect
The right rear tire is deflating.

Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt,
avoiding abrubt steering and braking
maneuvers.

Change the wheel (
page 370).
Tire pres. RR
Check tires!
The right rear tire pressure is low.

Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt.

Check the tire pressure.

Change the wheel (
page 370).
Warning!
G
Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire affects
the ability to steer or brake the vehicle.
You may lose control of the vehicle. Contin-
ued driving with a flat tire will cause exces-
sive heat build-up and possibly a fire.

344 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause
Possible solution
H
Tire pres. FL
Caution
Tire defect
The left front tire is deflating.

Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt,
avoiding abrupt steering and braking
maneuvers.

Change the wheel (
page 370).
Tire pres. FL
Check tires!
The right rear tire pressure is low.

Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt.

Check the tire pressure.

Change the wheel (
page 370).
Tire pres. FR
Caution
Tire defect
The right front tire is deflating.

Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt,
avoiding abrubt steering and braking
maneuvers.

Change the wheel (
page 370).
Tire pres. FR
Check tires!
The right front tire pressure is low.

Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt.

Change the wheel (
page 370).
Warning!
G
Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire affects
the ability to steer or brake the vehicle.
You may lose control of the vehicle. Contin-
ued driving with a flat tire will cause exces-
sive heat build-up and possibly a fire.