2004 MERCEDES-BENZ S430 brakes

307 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
l
The red Distronic warning lamp
comes on while driving.
You are too close to the vehicle in front of
you to maintain selected speed.

Apply the brakes immediately to in-
crease the following distance.
l
The red Distronic warning lamp
comes on while driving and you
hear a warning sound.


You are gaining too rapidly on the vehi-
cle ahead of you.


The distance warning system has recog-
nized a stationary obstacle on your
probable line of travel.

Apply the brakes immediately.

Carefully observe the traffic situation.
You may need to brake or maneuver to
avoid hitting an obstacle.
v
The yellow ESP warning lamp
flashes while driving.
The ESP or traction control has come into
operation because of detected traction loss
in at least one tire.
Distronic* is deactivated.

When driving off, apply as little throttle
as possible.

While driving, ease up on the accelera-
tor.

Adapt your speed and driving to the pre-
vailing road and weather conditions.

Do not deactivate the ESP.
Exceptions: (
page 80).
Failure to follow these instructions increas-
es the risk of an accident.

371 Practical hints
Towing the vehicle
Towing the vehicle
Mercedes-Benz recommends that the vehi-
cle be transported with all wheels off the
ground using flatbed or appropriate wheel
lift/dolly equipment. This method is pref-
erable to other types of towing.When circumstances do not permit the
recommended towing methods, the vehi-
cle may be towed with all wheels on the
ground or front wheels raised (except vehi-
cles with 4MATIC) only so far as necessary
to have the vehicle moved to a safe loca-
tion where the recommended towing
methods can be employed.
!Use flatbed or wheel lift/dolly equip-
ment with SmartKey in starter switch
turned to position0.
Do not tow with sling-type equipment.
Towing with sling-type equipment over
bumpy roads will damage radiator and
supports.
To prevent damage during transport,
do not tie down vehicle by its chassis or
suspension parts.
Switch off the tow-away alarm
(page 85) and the automatic central
locking (
page 106).
Do not tow-start the vehicle.
!Vehicles with 4MATIC:
Do not tow with one axle raised. Doing
so could damage the transfer case,
which is not covered by the Mer-
cedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
All wheels must be on or off the ground.
Observe instructions for towing the ve-
hicle with all wheels on the ground.
!If the vehicle is towed with the front
axle raised (not permissible for vehicles
with 4MATIC), the engine must be shut
off (SmartKey in starter switch
position0 or 1). Otherwise the ESP will
immediately be engaged and will apply
the rear wheel brakes.
When towing the vehicle with all wheels
on the ground, the selector lever must
be in positionN and the SmartKey
must be in starter switch position2.
When towing the vehicle with all wheels
on the ground or the front axle raised,
the vehicle may be towed only for dis-
tances up to 30 miles (50 km) and at a
speed not to exceed 30 mph
(50 km/h).

409 Index
Automatic lighting control
Activating 129
Deactivating 130
Automatic locking when driving 106
Automatic transmission 164
Accelerator position 170
Comfortable program mode 170
Deactivating steering wheel gearshift
control 173
Emergency operation
(Limp Home Mode) 173
Fluid level 278
Gear ranges 166
Gear selector lever position 167
Gear shifting malfunctions 173
Kickdown 170
One-touch gearshifting 165
Program mode selector switch 170
Selector lever position 164
Starting the engine 43
Steering wheel gearshift control
(Speedshift) S 55 AMG 168
Transmission fluid 278
Winter program mode 171
Auxiliary fuse box 374B
BabySmart
TM
Airbag deactivation system 71
Compatible child seats 71, 401
Self-test 71
BabySmart
TM airbag deactivation
system 401
Backrest supports
Lumbar region 113
Shoulder region 112
Backup lamps 354, 358
Bulbs 354
BAS 78, 401
Messages in display 315
Batteries, SmartKey
Changing 350
Check lamp 90, 91
Replacing 349
Battery discharged
Jump starting 369
Battery, SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
Changing 351
Check lamp 95Battery, vehicle 280, 366
Charging 367
Disconnecting 367
Reconnecting 368
Reinstalling 367
Removing 367
Bi-Xenon headlamps 401
Block heater (Canada only) 293
Blocking
Rear window operation 74
Brake assist system (BAS) 401
Brake fluid 270, 394
Brake lamp bulbs 354
Brake lamp, high mounted 354
Brake pads
Message in display 321
Brakes 260
Warning lamp 305
Break-in period 258
Bulbs, replacing 353
Additional turn signals 353
Backup lamps 354
Brake lamps 354

418 IndexInside rear view mirror
Antiglare 174
Installing
Infant and child restraint systems 72
Towing eye bolt 373
Wiper blades 360
Instrument cluster 22, 131, 403
Cleaning 301
Coolant temperature gauge 132
Illumination 131
Multifunction display 134
Outside temperature indicator 133
Selecting language 155
Integrated remote control
Canadian programming 254
Erasing memory 255
Hand-held transmitter 252
Operating 255
Rolling code programming 253
Interior illumination
Delayed switch-off 158Interior lighting 129
Activating automatic control 129
Deactivating automatic control 130
Manual operation 130
Interior rear view mirror
Adjusting 38
J
Jump starting 369
K
Key see SmartKey 30, 53
Key, mechanical 348
Key, SmartKey
Positions in starter switch 31
Key, SmartKey, SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*
Replacing the battery 349
Key-dependency memory
Settings 160
KEYLESS-GO* 403
Activating ignition with 33
Closing power windows 198
Closing sliding/pop-up roof 202Locking the vehicle 95
Loss of SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO 96
Messages in display 328
Starting the engine 44
Turning off engine 54
Kickdown 170, 403
Kilometers/miles in speedometer 154
Km/h or mph in speedometer 154
L
Lamp bulbs, exterior 353
Lamps, exterior
Front 353
Light sensor 331
Messages in display 331
Rear 354
Lamps, indicator and warning
ABS 304
Airbag Off 63
Battery (SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*) 94
Battery (SmartKey) 89
Brakes 305