2004 MERCEDES-BENZ S500 coolant temperature

323 Practical hints
What to do if …?
During severe operating conditions,
e.g. stop-and-go 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 engine.

Only start the engine again after the mes-
sage disappears. You could otherwise
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
engine damage which is not covered by
the Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.

324 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display symbol
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
Ï
COOLANT
STOP, ENGINE OFF!
The poly-V-belt could be broken.

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:

Do not continue to drive the vehicle with
this message displayed. Doing so could
result in serious engine damage that is
not covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limit-
ed Warranty.
Ï
COOLANT
VISIT WORKSHOP!
The cooling fan for the coolant is malfunc-
tioning.

Observe the coolant temperature display.

Have the fan replaced as soon as possi-
ble.

325 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display symbol
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
G
DISPLAY MALFUNCTION
VISIT WORKSHOP!
The instrument cluster display is malfunc-
tioning.

Continue driving with added caution.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
±
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 Center.
J
DOOR OPEN!
You are attempting to drive with one or
more doors open.

Close the doors.

392 Technical dataFuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Model
Capacity
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Front wheel hubs
approx. 3.5 oz. (100 g)
each
High-temperature roller bearing
grease
Brake system
0.7 US qt. (0.7 l)
MB Brake Fluid (DOT 4+)
Cooling system
S 430, S 500
S 55 AMG
S 600
approx. 12.1 US qt. (11.5 l)
approx. 14.3 US qt. (13.5 l)
approx. 15.85 US qt. (15 l)
MB 325.0 Anticorrosion / Antifreeze
Low temperature cooling system
S 600
2.3 US qt. (2.2 l)
MB 325.0 Anticorrosion / Antifreeze
Fuel tank
including a reserve of
S 430, S 500,
S55AMG
S 600
23.2 US gal. (88.0 l)
2.9 US gal. (11.0 l))
Premium unleaded gasoline:
Minimum Posted Octane 91
(Avg.of96RON/86MON)
Air conditioning system
R-134a refrigerant and special PAG
lubricant oil (never R-12)
Windshield washer
3.2 US qt. (3.0 l)
MB Windshield Washer Concentrate
1
1Use MB Windshield Washer Concentrate “S” and water for temperatures above freezing or MB Windshield Washer Concentrate “S” and commercially available pre-
mixed windshield washer solvent / antifreeze for temperatures below freezing point. Follow suggested mixing ratios (page 398).Windshield washer and
headlamp cleaning system:
7.1 US qt. (6.7 l)
MB Windshield Washer Concentrate
1

396 Technical dataFuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.The coolant solution must be used
year-round to provide the necessary corro-
sion protection and increase boil-over pro-
tection. Refer to Service Booklet for
replacement interval.
Coolant system design and coolant used
stipulate the replacement interval. The re-
placement interval published in the Ser-
vice Booklet is only applicable if MB 325.0
anticorrosion/antifreeze solution or other
Mercedes-Benz approved products of
equal specification (see Factory Approved
Service Products pamphlet) are used to re-
new the coolant concentration or bring it
back up to the proper level.
To provide important corrosion protection,
the solution must be at least 45%
anticorrosion / antifreeze [equivalent to
freeze protection to approximately - 22°F
(-30°C)]. If you use a solution that is more
than 55% anticorrosion / antifreeze [freeze
protection to approximately - 49°F
(-45°C)], the engine temperature will in-
crease due to the lower heat transfer capa-bility of the solution. Therefore, do not use
more than this amount of
anticorrosion / antifreeze.
If the coolant level is low, water and
MB 325.0 Anticorrosion / Antifreeze
should be used to bring it up to the proper
level (have cooling system checked for
signs of leakage).
The water in the cooling system must meet
minimum requirements, which are usually
satisfied by normal drinking water. If you
are not sure about the water quality, con-
sult an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.Anticorrosion / antifreeze
Your vehicle contains a number of alumi-
num parts. The use of aluminum compo-
nents in motor vehicle engines
necessitates that anticorrosion/ antifreeze
coolant used in such engines be specifical-
ly formulated to protect the aluminum
parts. (Failure to use such anticorro-
sion/antifreeze coolant will result in a sig-
nificantly shortened service life.)
Therefore, the following product is strongly
recommended for use in your vehicle:
Mercedes-Benz 325.0
Anticorrosion / Antifreeze Agent.
Before the start of the winter season (or
once a year in hot southern regions), you
should have the anticorrosion / antifreeze
concentration checked. The coolant is also
regularly checked each time you bring your
vehicle to an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center for service.

397 Technical data
Fuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.
Anticorrosion / antifreeze quantityModel
Approx. freeze protection
– 35°F (– 37°C)
– 49°F (– 45°C)
S 430, S 500
6.1 US qt. (5.75 l)
6.7 US qt. (6.3 l)
S 600 (main cooling system)
7.9 US qt. (7.5 l)
8.7 US qt. (8.25 l)
S 600 (low temperature cooling system)
1.2 US qt. (1.1 l)
1.3 US qt. (1.2 l)
S 55 AMG
7.1 US qt. (6.75 l)
7.8 US qt. (7.4 l)

398 Technical dataFuels, coolants, lubricants, etc.Windshield and headlamp washer system
Both the windshield and headlamp washer
systems are supplied from the windshield
washer fluid reservoir.
The washer fluid reservoir has a capacity of
approximately:

3.2 US qt. (3.0 l) in vehicles without
headlamp cleaning system*


7.4 US qt. (7.0 l) in vehicles with head-
lamp cleaning system* or heated reser-
voir

Refill the reservoir with MB Windshield
Washer Concentrate and water (or con-
centrate and commercially available
premixed windshield washer
solvent / antifreeze, depending on am-
bient temperatures).Windshield and headlamp washer fluid
mixing ratio
For temperatures above freezing point, use
MB Windshield Washer Concentrate “S”
and water:


1 part “S” to 100 parts water
[40 ml “S” to 1 gallon (4 liters) water].
For temperatures below freezing point, use
MB Windshield Washer Concentrate “S”
and commercially available premixed
windshield washer solvent / antifreeze:


1 part “S” to 100 parts solvent
[40 ml “S” to 1 gallon (4 liters) solvent].
Warning
G
Washer solvent /antifreeze is highly flamma-
ble. Do not spill washer solvent /antifreeze
on hot engine parts, because it may ignite
and burn. You could be seriously burned.

410 Index
Fog lamps 353
Front lamps 353
High beam 353
High mounted brake lamp 354
License plate lamps 354, 358
Low beam 353
Parking and standing lamps 353
Parking lamps 354, 357
Rear fog lamp 354
Rear fog lamps 358
Side marker lamps 353, 357
Standing lamps 353, 354, 357
Tail lamp assemblies 354, 358
Turn signal lamps 353, 354
C
CAC (Customer Assistance Center) 402
Calling up
Distronic* settings 147
Range (distance to empty) 150
Service indicator 295
CAN system 402
Cargo tie-down hooks 230Cassette player
Operating 141
Catalytic converter 267
CD changer* 142
CD mode 142
CD player
Operating 141
Center console 25
AIRBAG OFF indicator lamp 311
Centigrade
Setting temperature units 154
Central locking
Automatic 106
From inside 107
Switch 107
Switching on/off (control
system) 159
Unlocking from inside 107
Changing
Batteries (SmartKey) 350
Battery (SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*) 351
CDs 142SmartKey setting 160
Vehicle level 219, 222
Charcoal filter 188
Activating 188
Deactivating 189
Charging
Vehicle battery 367
CHECK ENGINE malfunction indicator
lamp 306
Checking
Brake fluid 270
Coolant level 278
Oil level 271, 273
Oil level via control system 274
Tire inflate pressure 271
Vehicle lighting 271
Child safety 69
Airbags 60
Infant and child restraint systems 64,
69
LATCH child seat anchors 73
Cigarette lighter 239