2004 MERCEDES-BENZ S500 traction control

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.

399 Technical data
Consumer information
Consumer information
The following text is published as required
of all manufacturers of passenger cars un-
der Title 49, Code of U.S. Federal Regula-
tions, Part 575 pursuant to the “National
Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act of
1966.”Uniform tire quality grading
Quality grades can be found, where appli-
cable, on the tire sidewall between tread
shoulder and maximum section width. For
example:
All passenger car tires must conform to
federal safety requirements in addition to
these grades.Tread wear
The tread wear grade is a comparative rat-
ing based on the wear rate of the tire when
tested under controlled conditions on a
specified government test course. For ex-
ample, a tire graded 150 would wear one
and one-half (1½) times as well on the gov-
ernment course as a tire graded 100. The
relative performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart significantly
from the norm due to variations in driving
habits, service practices and differences in
road characteristics and climate.Traction
The traction grades - from highest to low-
est - are AA, A, B, and C. Those grades rep-
resent the tire’s ability to stop on wet
pavement as measured under controlled
conditions on specified government test
surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire
marked C may have poor traction perfor-
mance.Tread wear
Traction
Temperature
200
AA
A
Warning
G
The traction grade assigned to this tire is
based on straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction
characteristics.

406 Technical termsTire speed rating
Part of a tire designation; indicates the
speed range for which a tire is ap-
proved.
Traction
Force exerted by the vehicle on the
road via the tires.
VIN
(V
ehicle I
dentification N
umber)
The number set by the manufacturer
and stamped on the body to uniquely
identify each vehicle produced.
Voice control system*
Voice control system for car phones,
portable cell phones and audio sys-
tems (radio, CD, etc.).

415 Index
Emergency tensioning device see
ETD 67, 403
Emission control 267
Ending
A call (telephone) 145
Engine 382
Compartment 272
Message in display 306
Starting 43
Starting with KEYLESS-GO* 44
Starting with the SmartKey 43
Turning off with the SmartKey or the
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* 53
Engine cleaning 298
Engine compartment 272
Fuse box in 375
Hood 272
Engine malfunction indicator lamp 306
Engine number 402
Engine oil 273
Adding 277
Additives 393
Checking level 273
Consumption 273Display messages 326
Filler neck 277
Messages in display 275, 326
Viscosity 403
Engine oil level see Oil level 271
Engine shut down in an emergency 376
Entry position
Messages in display 328
ESP 79, 403
Four wheel electronic traction system
with ESP 82
Switching off 80
Switching on 81
Synchronizing 316
Warning lamp 307, 308
ETD 403
Safety guidelines 62
ETD (Emergency tensioning device) 67
Exterior lamp switch 124
Exterior rear view mirrors
Adjusting 38
Folding electrically 176
Parking position for 162F
Fahrenheit
Setting temperature units 154
Fastening the seat belts 40
Fine adjustment
Cruise control 205
Distronic* 212
First aid kit 344
Flat tire 361
Lowering the vehicle 365
Mounting the spare wheel 361
Preparing the vehicle 361
Flexible Service System (FSS) 294, 403
Fog lamp, rear 127, 354
Fog lamps
Replacing bulbs 353
Fog lamps, front
Messages in display 330
Replacing bulbs 354
Switching on 127
Folding electrically
Exterior rear view mirrors
176

416 IndexFour wheel electronic traction system
(4MATIC)
with ESP 82
4MATIC 82
Front airbags 63
Front lamps
Messages in display 330–333
Replacing bulbs 353, 355
Switching on 124
Front seat head restraints
Installing 109
Power seat 109
Removing 109
FSS (Flexible Service System) 294, 403
Fuel 270
Fuel reserve warning lamp 308
Premium unleaded gasoline 270
Fuel consumption statistics
After start 148
Since last reset 149Fuel filler flap 269
Locking 269
Opening 351
Unlocking 269
Fuel tank
Filler flap 269
Fuels, coolants, lubricants etc. 391
Functions (control system) 136, 138
Resetting 152
Fuse box 374, 375
Fuse chart 345
Fuses 374
Auxiliary fuse box in trunk 374
Fuse box in engine compartment 375
Fuse box in passenger
compartment 374
Fuse boxes in the engine
compartment 376
Fuse chart 345
Fuse extractor 345
Spare fuses 345G
Garage door opener 250
Erasing in remote control 255
Integrated remote control 252
Rolling code programming 253
Gasoline see Fuel 270
Gear range 403
Automatic transmission 166
Limiting 166
Shifting into optimal 165
Gear range limit
Canceling 165
Gear selector lever
Cleaning 301
Position 167
Glasses
Storage compartment in front of
armrest 234
Global
Locking 89
Unlocking 89

430 IndexTow-away alarm 85
Arming 85
Disarming 85
Disarming for transport 85
Towing eye bolt (vehicle tool kit) 345
Installing 373
Towing the vehicle 371
Tracking services
For stolen vehicle 250
Traction 170, 406
Transmission see Automatic
transmission 278
Tread depth (tires) 292
Trip computer 148
Trip odometer
Resetting 132
Trunk
Auxiliary fuse box 374
Closing from the inside 100
Lock button, KEYLESS-GO* 95
Locking separately 105
Message in display 334
Opening 97
Opening from inside vehicle 97
Opening from the inside 99Parcel net 238
Tie-down hooks 230
Trunk lid 97, 99, 100
Trunk lock 349
Unlocking in an emergency 349
Unlocking separately 105, 106
Unlocking with SmartKey 90
Trunk lid
Closing 98
Trunk lid emergency release 104
Trunk lid opening/closing system* 99
Turn signal lamps
Replacing bulbs 353, 354
Turn signals 47
Additional in mirrors 353
Cleaning lenses 298
Front bulbs 353, 356
Rear bulbs 354, 358
Turning off
Engine 53
Turning off the engine 54U
Units
Setting speedometer units 154
Setting temperature units 154
Unlocking 30, 88
Driver’s door in an emergency 348
Fuel filler flap 269
Global 89
Global (SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO*) 94
Glove box 231
In an emergency 348
Selective settings 89, 94
Trunk in an emergency 349
Trunk lid with SmartKey 90
Trunk lid, separately 105, 106
Vehicle in an emergency 249
With the SmartKey 30
With the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* 32, 91
Upgrade signals
Tele Aid* 248
Uphill driving
Cruise control 204