2004 MERCEDES-BENZ G500 warning

260 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Messages in the multifunction display
The control system shows warning and
malfunction messages in the multifunction
display.
Certain warning and malfunction messag-
es are accompanied by an audible signal.
Address these messages accordingly and
follow the additional instructions given in
this Operator’s Manual.
Selecting the malfunction memory menu in
the control system (
page 122) displays
both cleared and uncleared messages.
High-priority messages appear in the mul-
tifunction display in red colour.
Certain messages of high priority cannot
be cleared from the multifunction display
using the reset button (page 112).
Other high-priority messages and messag-
es of less immediate priority (regular dis-
play colours) can be cleared from the
multifunction display using the reset but-
ton and are then stored in the malfunction
message memory (
page 122).On the pages that follow, you will find a
compilation of the most important warning
and malfunction messages that may ap-
pear in the multifunction display. High-
priority messages appear on a red back-
ground.
Warning!
G
All categories of messages contain impor-
tant information which should be taken note
of and, where a malfunction is indicated, ad-
dressed as soon as possible at an autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
Failure to repair condition noted may cause
damage not covered by the Mercedes-Benz
Limited Warranty, or result in property dam-
age or personal injury.Warning!
G
No messages will be displayed if either the
instrument cluster or the multifunction dis-
play is inoperative. Systems that have a sig-
nificant influence on handling performance
may not be functioning.
Contact your nearest authorized
Mercedes-Benz Light Truck Center.
iTurning the SmartKey in starter switch
to position2 causes all lamps as well
as the multifunction display to come
on. Make sure they are all in working
order before starting your journey.

266 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display symbol
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
#
UNDERVOLTAGE
SWITCH CONSUMERS OFF!
The battery has insufficient voltage.

Have the battery checked at a ser-
vice station.
2
BRAKE WEAR
VISIT WORKSHOP!
The brake pads have reached their
wear limit.

Have the brake pads replaced as
soon as possible.
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 Light Truck Center.
Do not add brake fluid! This will not
solve the problem.
Warning!
G
Driving with the last message displayed can
result in an accident. Have your brake sys-
tem checked immediately.
Do not 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.
!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. !Brake pad thickness must be visually
checked by a qualified technician at the
intervals specified in the Service book-
let.

268 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display symbol
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
B
COOLANT
CHECK LEVEL!
The coolant level is too low.

Add coolant (
page 232).

If you have to add coolant frequently,
have the cooling system checked by
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck 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 could be seriously burned.
!Do not ignore the low engine coolant
level warning. Extended driving with
the 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 serious
engine damage.
Observe the coolant temperature dis-
play (
page 112).

269 Practical hints
What to do if …
During severe operating conditions and
stop-and-go city traffic, the coolant tem-
perature may rise close to 248°F (120°C).
Display symbol
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
Ï
COOLANT
STOP, ENGINE OFF!
The coolant is too hot.

Stop the vehicle and turn off the en-
gine.

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 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
engine damage which is not covered by
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

271 Practical hints
What to do if …
When the
ADD 1.0 QT. ENG. OIL
-
WHEN
NEXT REFUELLING!
(Canada:
1.0 LITER
)
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.Visually check for oil leaks. If no obvious oil
leaks are noted, drive to the nearest ser-
vice station where the engine oil should be
topped to the required level with an ap-
proved oil.
Display symbol
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
Ñ
CRUISE CONTROL
DRIVE TO WORKSHOP!
Cruise control is malfunctioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center.
J
DOOR OPEN!
You are attempting to drive with one or
more doors open.

Close the doors.
e
ENGINE AIR FILTER
VISIT WORKSHOP!
The engine filter is clogged and must be
replaced.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center as soon as
possible.
:
USA only:ADD 1.0 Qt. ENGINE OIL
WHEN NEXT REFUELING!Canada only:ADD 1.0 LITER ENG. OIL
WHEN NEXT REFUELING!
The engine oil level is too low.

Add engine oil (
page 231) and check
the engine oil level (
page 229).
!The engine oil level warnings should
not be ignored. Extended driving with
the symbol displayed could result in se-
rious engine damage that is not cov-
ered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.

279 Practical hints
What to do if …
Display symbol
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
1
RESTRAINT SYSTEM
SERVICE
The system is malfunctioning. The air-
bags or emergency tensioning device
(ETD) could deploy unexpectedly or fail to
activate in an accident.

Drive with added caution to the near-
est authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.
RESTRAINT SYSTEM
DRIVE TO WORKSHOP!
The system is malfunctioning. The air-
bags or emergency tensioning device
(ETD) could deploy unexpectedly or fail to
activate in an accident.

Drive with added caution to the near-
est authorized Mercedes-Benz Light
Truck Center.
Warning!
G
In the event a malfunction of the SRS is indi-
cated as outlined above, the SRS may not be
operational.
For your safety, we strongly recommend
that you visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center immediately to have the
system checked.
Otherwise the SRS may not be activated
when needed in an accident, which could re-
sult in serious or fatal injury, or it might de-
ploy unexpectedly and unnecessarily which
could also result in injury.

280 Practical hintsWhat to do if …Display symbol
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
<
SEAT BELT SYSTEM
DRIVE TO WORKSHOP!
The seat belt system is malfunctioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Light Truck Center as soon as possi-
ble.
DRIVER’S SEAT BELT
FASTEN SEAT BELT!
The display reminds you and your passen-
gers to fasten seat belts.

Fasten the seat belts.
FR. PASS. SEAT BELT
FASTEN SEAT BELT!
The display reminds you and your passen-
gers to fasten seat belts.

Fasten the seat belts.
§
TC IN NEUTRAL
No gear has been selected in the transfer
case, it is in NEUTRAL.

Engage transfer case to gear position
HIGH or LOW (
page 145).
Warning!
G
If the transfer case is in NEUTRAL, the
Pposition of transmission will not hold vehi-
cle. The parking brake must be applied to
hold vehicle in place.

284 Practical hintsWhere will I find ...?Vehicle jack
The vehicle jack is under the rear bench
seat.
1Cover
2Tab
3Vehicle jack
Fold the rear bench seat forward
(page 177).

Open cover1.

Open tab2 and remove vehicle
jack3.
Please also observe the safety guidelines
in the “Flat tire” section (
page 306)
when using the jack.
CD changer
The CD changer is located on the left side
of the cargo compartment.CD changer
Warning!
G
The jack is designed exclusively for jacking
up the vehicle under the axle housing. To
help avoid personal injury, use the jack only
to lift the vehicle during a wheel change.
Never get beneath the vehicle while it is sup-
ported by the jack. Keep hands and feet
away from the area under the lifted vehicle.
Always firmly set parking brake and block
wheels before raising vehicle with jack.
Do not disengage parking brake while the
vehicle is raised. Be certain that the jack is
always vertical (plumb line) when in use, es-
pecially on hills. Always try to use the jack
on level surface. Make sure the jack is posi-
tioned correctly under the axle housing. Al-
ways lower the vehicle onto sufficient
capacity jackstands before working under
the vehicle.
iFor CD changer instructions, see sepa-
rate COMAND operator’s manual.