2004 MERCEDES-BENZ E500 Driving

347 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbol
Display messages
Possible cause
Possible solution
_
Steering oil
Visit workshop!
The steering gear oil level is too low.
There is a danger of steering gear dam-
age.

Have the system checked by an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Entry position
Do not drive!
Seat, mirrors and steering wheel have not
yet moved to their preset driving posi-
tions.

Wait until the seat, mirrors and steer-
ing wheel have moved to their driving
positions.
The message disappears.
Ê
Trunk open!
This message will appear whenever the
trunk lid is open.

Close the trunk lid.
W
Washer fluid
Check level!
The fluid level has dropped to about
1/3
of total reservoir capacity.
Add washer fluid (
page 288).
Warning!
G
If the level of steering gear oil in reservoir is
too low, the steering power assistance could
fail. Much greater effort will then be needed
to turn the steering wheel.
Do not add steering oil without checking the
steering system.
Do not drive the vehicle. Have the system
checked at your authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.

349 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 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
u p t o 3 0 m i l e s ( 5 0 k m ) a n d a t a s p e e d n o t t o
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.

351 Practical hints
Where will I find ...?
Removing the spare wheel
Turn luggage bowl counterclockwise.

Remove spare wheel2.
Storing the spare wheel

Place spare wheel2 in wheel well.

Turn luggage bowl clockwise to its stop
to secure the spare wheel.Minispare wheel
In the case of a flat tire, you may tempo-
rarily use the Minispare wheel when ob-
serving the following restrictions:


Do not exceed a vehicle speed of
50 mph (80 km / h).


Drive to the nearest tire repair facility
to have the flat tire repaired or re-
placed as appropriate.


Do not operate vehicle with more than
one spare wheel mounted.More information can be found in the
“Technical data” section (
page 396).
Luggage box
Remove luggage box
1Fastening clip
2Luggage box
Turn fastening clips1 to the left up-
wards from fastening bolts.

Lift luggage box in the area of the fas-
tening bolts and remove it from trunk.
!Always lower trunk floor before closing
trunk lid.
Warning!
G
The dimensions of the Minispare wheel are
different from those of the road wheels. As
a result, the vehicle handling characteristics
change when driving with a Minispare wheel
mounted.
The Minispare wheel should only be used
temporarily, and replaced with a regular
road wheel as quickly as possible.

367 Practical hints
Flat tire

Take the TIREFIT kit out of the trunk
(page 350).

Foreign objects (e.g. screws or nails)
should not be removed from the tire.

Attach the sticker where it will be easily
seen by the driver on the instrument
cluster.Preparing TIREFIT
1TIREFIT container
2Flap
3Notch
4Electrical plug
5Air hose
6Flange

Open flap2 on the electric air pump.

Pull plug4 and air hose5 out of the
pump housing.

Screw the air pump’s air hose5 onto
flange6 of the TIREFIT container.

Stick TIREFIT container1 upside
down into notch3 of the electric air
pump.
7Tire valve
8Electric air pump switch
9Air hose with pressure gauge and vent
screw
aFiller hose
Warning!
G
TIREFIT is a limited repair device. TIREFIT
cannot be used for:

cuts or punctures larger than approxi-
mately 0.16 in (4 mm)


on a flat tire, or a damaged wheel


tire damage caused by driving with ex-
tremely low tire pressure
Do not drive the vehicle under such circum-
stances.
Contact your nearest Mercedes-Benz
Center for assistance or call Roadside Assis-
tance.
Warning!
G
Observe safety instructions on air pump la-
bel.

369 Practical hints
Flat tire

Turn SmartKey in starter switch to
position0 (
page 31).
or

Press the KEYLESS-GO* start / stop
button (
page 33) on the selector le-
ver twice. Do not depress brake pedal.

Detach the electric air pump.
The air hose may still be hot. Please ex-
ercise appropriate caution.

Store the electrical plug and the air
hose behind the flap and place the air
pump back in the trunk.

Close the trunk lid.

Drive away immediately.
The TIREFIT sealant will distribute itself
evenly inside the tire.

After driving vehicle for an initial
10 minutes, check tire pressure using
the pressure gauge on the air pump.Warning!
G
Do not exceed vehicle speed of 50 mph
(80 km / h). A TIREFIT repair is not designed
to operate at higher speeds.
The sticker must be attached on the instru-
ment cluster where it will be easily seen by
the driver.
Vehicle handling characteristics may
change. Adapt your driving accordingly.
Warning!
G
If tire pressure has fallen below
20 psi (1.3 bar) do not continue to drive the
vehicle.
Park your vehicle safely away from the road-
way and contact the nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center or Roadside Assis-
tance.
If ti re pre ss ur e i s at l ea st 2 0 psi (1 .3 ba r ), in -
flate tire to correct pressure (see label on
fuel filler flap), and drive vehicle to nearest
tire repair facility to have tire repaired or re-
placed.
Recommended maximum duration of use:
300 miles (500 km) at 50 mph (80 km / h)
with the recommended tire pressure.


370 Practical hintsFlat tire

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible to obtain a
new TIREFIT container.

Bring used TIREFIT materials to an au-
thorized Mercedes-Benz Center for
proper disposal.

Replace your TIREFIT container every
four years. Replacement containers are
available at your authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
Mounting the spare wheel
Preparing the vehicle
Prepare the vehicle as described under
“Preparing the vehicle” on this page.
Take the spare wheel out of the trunk
(page 350).
Lifting the vehicle

Prevent the vehicle from rolling away
by blocking wheels with wheel chocks
(not included) or other sizable objects.
When changing wheel on a level surface:

Place one chock in front of and one be-
hind the wheel that is diagonally oppo-
site to the wheel being changed.
Warning!
G
Follow recommend inflation pressures.
Do not overinflate tires. Overinflating tires
can result in sudden deflation (blowout) be-
cause they are more likely to become punc-
tured or damaged by road debris, potholes
etc.
Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated tires
wear unevenly, adversely affect handling
and fuel economy, and are more likely to fail
from being overheated.
Do not overload the tires by exceeding the
specified vehicle capacity weight (as indicat-
ed by the label on the pillar in the driver’s
door opening). Overloading the tires can
overheat them, possibly causing a blowout.
Warning!
G
Do not exceed vehicle speed of 50 mph
(80 km / h). A TIREFIT repair is not designed
to operate at higher speeds.
The sticker must be attached on the instru-
ment cluster where it will be easily seen by
the driver.
Vehicle handling characteristics may
change. Adapt your driving accordingly.


374 Practical hintsFlat tireIn the case of a flat tire, you may tempo-
rarily use the Minispare wheel when ob-
serving the following restrictions:

Do not exceed a vehicle speed of
50 mph (80 km / h).


Drive to the nearest tire repair facility
to have the flat tire repaired or re-
placed as appropriate.


Do not operate vehicle with more than
one spare wheel mounted.Lowering the vehicle

Lower vehicle by turning crank coun-
terclockwise until vehicle is resting ful-
ly on its own weight.

Remove the jack.
1-5 Wheel bolts

Tighten the five wheel bolts evenly, fol-
lowing the diagonal sequence illustrat-
ed (1 to 5), until all bolts are tight.
Observe a tightening torque of 96 lb-ft
(130 Nm).

Before storing the jack in the trunk, it
should be fully collapsed.
Warning!
G
The dimensions of the Minispare wheel are
different from those of the road wheels. As
a result, the vehicle handling characteristics
change when driving with a Minispare wheel
mounted.
The spare wheel should only be used tempo-
rarily, and replaced with a regular road
wheel as quickly as possible.
Warning!
G
Have the tightening torque checked after
changing a wheel. The wheels could come
loose if they are not tightened to a torque of
96 lb-ft (130 Nm).iWrap the damaged wheel in the protec-
tive film that comes with the spare
wheel and put the wheel in the trunk.
You can also place the damaged wheel
down into the spare wheel well. In this
case, you must stow the holder from
the spare wheel well in the trunk.
Do not activate the tire inflation pres-
sure monitor until the depressurized
tire is no longer in the vehicle.

376 Practical hintsBatteries
Disconnecting the battery
Depress parking brake firmly or move
gear selector lever to positionP.

Turn off all electrical consumers.

Remove SmartKey from starter switch.
Vehicles with KEYLESS-GO*:
Press the start / stop button until
the engine shuts off.

Open the driver’s door.

Open the trunk.
!Never loosen or detach battery termi-
nal clamps while the engine is running
or the SmartKey is in the starter switch.
Otherwise the alternator and other
electronic components could be se-
verely damaged.
Have the battery checked regularly by
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Refer to Service Booklet for mainte-
nance intervals or contact your autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center for further
information.Warning!
G
Do not place metal objects on the battery as
this could result in a short circuit.
Use leak-proof battery only to avoid the risk
of acid burns in the event of an accident.
Warning!
G
The SBC brake system requires electrical
power to operate.
A malfunction in the vehicle’s power supply
or electrical system may impair brake sys-
tem operation and switch it into its emer-
gency operation mode. The same applies if
battery is disconnected. To brake, the driver
must then apply significantly greater brake
pedal pressure and depress the pedal much
further to obtain the expected braking ef-
fect. If necessary, apply full pressure to the
brake pedal. Brakes may only be applied to
the front wheels. Stopping distance is in-
creased! Adjust your driving style according-
ly. For more information, refer to “SBC brake
system” (
page 79).
Warning!
G
With a disconnected battery

you will no longer be able to turn the
SmartKey in the starter switch and
pressing the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop
button on the gear selector lever will
have no effect


the gear selector lever will remain
locked in positionP