2004 MERCEDES-BENZ S500 display

314 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
ABC
ACTIVE BODY CONTROL
VISIT WORKSHOP!
The capability of the ABC system is restrict-
ed.

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

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz center as
soon as possible.
ABS
MALFUNCTION!
VISIT WORKSHOP!
The ABS has detected a malfunction and
has switched off. The ESP and the BAS are
also deactivated.
The brake system is still functioning nor-
mally but without the ABS available.

Continue driving with added caution. Wheels
may lock during hard braking, reducing steer-
ing capability.

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 ABS or the ABS display is malfunction-
ing.

Continue driving with added caution. Wheels
may lock during hard braking, reducing steer-
ing capability.

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.
AIR FILTER
CHANGE CARTRIDGE
VISIT WORKSHOP!
The air filter is clogged.

Have the air filter checked by an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.

315 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
CRUISE CON-
TROL
CRUISE CONTROL
VISIT WORKSHOP!
Cruise control or Distronic* is malfunction-
ing.

Have cruise control or Distronic* checked by
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
DISTRONIC
EXTERNAL INTERFER-
ENCE
REACTIVATE!
Distronic* is switched off and is temporarily
unavailable.

Try activating Distronic* again later.
CURRENTLY UNAVAIL-
ABLE
SEE OPER. MANUAL
Distronic* is switched off because the Dis-
tronic* cover in the radiator grille is dirty.

Clean the Distronic* cover in the radiator
grille (
page 299).

Restart the vehicle.
DRIVE TO WORKSHOP!
Distronic* is malfunctioning or the display
is malfunctioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.
ESP
MALFUNCTION!
VISIT WORKSHOP!
The ESP has detected a malfunction and
switched off.
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 malfunction-
ing.

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.

316 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
ESP
NOT AVAILABLE!
SEE OPER. MANUAL
The ESP was deactivated the power supply
has been interrupted.
The ABS is still operational.

Synchronize the ESP. With the vehicle sta-
tionary and the engine running, turn the
steering wheel completely to the left and
then to the right to synchronize the ESP.
If the ESP message does not go out:

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.
!When synchronizing the ESP, make
sure you can turn the steering wheel in
both directions as far as it will go with-
out the wheel hitting any objects, e.g.
aroad curb.

317 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
P
SHIFT
TO P
You have tried to turn off the engine with
the KEYLESS-GO* start/stop button with
the gear selector lever not inP.

Place the gear selector lever in positionP.
PRE-SAFE
INACTIVE
SEE OPER. MANUAL
!
If BAS or ESP malfunction messages are
displayed simultaneously, PRE-SAFE has
been deactivated as a result of these mal-
functions. All other occupant safety sys-
tems, such as the airbags, are still available.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.
PRE-SAFE itself has failed. All other occu-
pant safety systems, such as the airbags,
are still available.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center as
soon as possible.

318 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Symbol messagesDisplay symbol
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
@
AIRMATIC
STOP, CAR TOO LOW!
The vehicle is parked on an extremely
uneven surface.

Press the vehicle level control button to
select the raised vehicle level
(page 219).
The vehicle level control is malfunction-
ing.

Stop and press the vehicle level control
button to select a higher vehicle level
(page 219).

Do not turn steering wheel too far to
avoid damaging the front fenders.

Listen for scraping noises.

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

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz center
as soon as possible.
AIRMATIC
DRIVE CAREFULLY!
The capability of the AIRMATIC system is
restricted.

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

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz center
as soon as possible.

319 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display symbol
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
@
DISPLAY MALFUNCTION
VISIT WORKSHOP!
The display for AIRMATIC or the AIRMAT-
IC system itself is malfunctioning.

Visit an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possi-
ble.
AIRMATIC
LEV. SEL. CANCELED!


You have exceeded a speed of
75 mph (120 km/h).
or


You have maintained a speed of be-
tween 50 mph (80 km/h) and 75 mph
(120 km/h) for more than 5 minutes.

Press the vehicle level control button to
adjust the vehicle level (
page 219).

320 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display symbol
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
#
BATTERY/ALTERNATOR
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

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 inoperative
water pump which may result in damage
to the engine. Notify an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center.
If it is intact:

Drive immediately to the nearest autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center. Adjust driv-
ing to be consistent with reduced braking
responsiveness.

321 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display symbol
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
2
BRAKE PAD WEAR
VISIT WORKSHOP!
The brake pads have reached their wear
limit.

Have the brake pads replaced as soon as
possible.
;(USA only)3(Canada only)
BRAKE FLUID
VISIT WORKSHOP!
There is insufficient brake fluid in the res-
ervoir.

Risk of accident! Stop the vehicle and no-
tify an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
Do not add brake fluid! This will not solve
the problem.
;(USA only)!(Canada only)
PARK. BRAKE
RELEASE BRAKE!
You are driving with the parking brake en-
gaged.

Release the parking brake (
page 45).
Warning!
G
Driving with this message displayed can re-
sult in an accident. Have your brake system
checked immediately. Don’t add brake fluid
before checking the brake system. Overfill-
ing the brake fluid reservoir can result in
spilling brake fluid on hot engine parts and
the brake fluid catching fire. You can be se-
riously 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.