2004 MERCEDES-BENZ S500 Owner's Manual

328 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display symbol
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
_
ENTRY POSITION
DO NOT DRIVE!
Seat, exterior mirrors and steering wheel
have not yet moved to their preset driving
positions.

Wait until the seat, exterior mirrors and
steering wheel have moved to their driv-
ing positions.
The message will disappear.
Y

HOOD OPEN!
You are driving with the hood open.

Close the hood (
page 273).
I
REMOVE KEY!
You have forgotten to remove the
SmartKey.

Remove the SmartKey from the ignition.
REPLACE KEY!
DRIVE TO WORKSHOP!
The batteries in the SmartKey are dead.

Change the batteries (
page 349).
AUTOM. LIGHT ON
REMOVE KEY!

Remove the SmartKey from the starter
switch.
F
KEY
CHECK BATTERY
!
The battery in the KEYLESS-GO* key is
discharged.

Change the battery (
page 349).
KEY
NOT RECOGNIZED!
SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* is not rec-
ognized while the engine is running be-
cause

the SmartKey is not in the vehicle


there is strong radio-frequency inter-
ference

Stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do
so.

Search for the SmartKey.
Otherwise the vehicle cannot be centrally
locked nor can the engine be started again
after it has been stopped.

329 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display symbol
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
F
KEY
NOT RECOGNIZED!
The SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* is mo-
mentarily not recognized.

Change the position of the SmartKey with
KEYLESS-GO* in the vehicle.

Operate the vehicle with the SmartKey in
the starter switch if necessary.
KEY DETECTED
IN VEHICLE
A SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO* left in the
vehicle was recognized while locking the
vehicle from the outside.

Take the SmartKey with KEYLESS-GO*
out of the vehicle.
KEY
DRIVE TO WORKSHOP!
The KEYLESS-GO* system is malfunction-
ing.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
.
3RD BRAKE LIGHT
CHECK LAMP!

The high mounted brake lamp is malfunc-
tioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
BRAKE LIGHT
VISIT WORKSHOP!
Brake lamp illumination is delayed or
lamp is permanently on.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
BRAKE LIGHT, L
CHECK LAMP!

SUBSTITUTE LAMP ON!
The left brake lamp is malfunctioning. A
back-up bulb is being used.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
BRAKE LIGHT, R
CHECK LAMP!

SUBSTITUTE LAMP ON!
The right brake lamp is malfunctioning. A
back-up bulb is being used.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
DISPLAY MALFUNCTION
VISIT WORKSHOP!
The display for the lamps or the system is
malfunctioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.

330 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display symbol
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
.
FRONT FOGLAMP, L
CHECK LAMP!
The left front fog lamp is malfunctioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
FRONT FOGLAMP, R
CHECK LAMP!
The right front fog lamp is malfunctioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
FR. L. PARK. LAMP
CHECK LAMP!

SUBSTITUTE LAMP ON!
The left parking lamps are malfunction-
ing. A back-up bulb is being used.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
FR. R. PARK. LAMP
CHECK LAMP!

SUBSTITUTE LAMP ON!
The right parking lamps are malfunction-
ing. A back-up bulb is being used.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
HIGH BEAM, L
CHECK LAMP!
The left high beam lamp is malfunction-
ing.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
HIGH BEAM, R
CHECK LAMP!
The right high beam lamp is malfunction-
ing.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
LICENSE PLATE LAMP, L
CHECK LAMP!
The left license plate lamp is malfunction-
ing.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
LICENSE PLATE LAMP, R
CHECK LAMP!
The right license plate lamp is malfunc-
tioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.

331 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display symbol
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
.
LIGHT SENSOR
DRIVE TO WORKSHOP!
The lamp sensor is malfunctioning. The
headlamps switch on automatically.

In the control system, set lamp operation
to manual (
page 154).

Switch on headlamps using the exterior
lamp switch.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
LOW BEAM, L
CHECK LAMP!
The left low beam lamp is malfunctioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
LOW BEAM, R
CHECK LAMP!
The right low beam lamp is malfunction-
ing.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
MARKER LIGHT, FL
CHECK LAMP!

The front left side marker lamp is mal-
functioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
MARKER LIGHT, FR
CHECK LAMP!

The front right side marker lamp is mal-
functioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
REAR FOGLAMP
CHECK LAMP!

The rear fog lamp is malfunctioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
REVERSE LIGHT, L
CHECK LAMP!
The left reverse lamp is malfunctioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
REVERSE LIGHT, R
CHECK LAMP!
The right reverse lamp is malfunctioning.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.

332 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display symbol
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
.
STANDING LIGHT, L
CHECK LAMP!

SUBSTITUTE LAMP ON!
The left standing lamp is malfunctioning.
A back-up bulb is being used.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
STANDING LIGHT, R
CHECK LAMP!

SUBSTITUTE LAMP ON!
The right standing signal lamp is malfunc-
tioning. A back-up bulb is being used.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
TAIL LIGHT, L
CHECK LAMP!

SUBSTITUTE LAMP ON!
The left tail lamp is malfunctioning. A
back-up bulb is being used.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
TAIL LIGHT, R
CHECK LAMP!

SUBSTITUTE LAMP ON!
The right tail lamp is malfunctioning. A
back-up bulb is being used.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
SWITCH OFF LIGHTS!
Lamps have been turned on although the
SmartKey in the ignition is in position 0.

Turn off the headlamps.
TURN SIGNAL F, L
CHECK LAMP!

SUBSTITUTE LAMP ON!
The left front turn signal lamp is malfunc-
tioning. A back-up bulb is being used.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
TURN SIGNAL F, R
CHECK LAMP!

SUBSTITUTE LAMP ON!
The right front turn signal lamp is mal-
functioning. A back-up bulb is being used.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.

333 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display symbol
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
.
TURN SIGNAL, L
CHECK LAMP!

SUBSTITUTE LAMP ON!
The left rear turn signal lamp is malfunc-
tioning. A back-up bulb is being used.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
TURN SIGNAL, R
CHECK LAMP!

SUBSTITUTE LAMP ON!
The right rear turn signal lamp is malfunc-
tioning. A back-up bulb is being used.

Replace the bulb as soon as possible.
TURN SIG. MIRROR, L
CHECK LAMP!
The left turn signal in the side mirror is
malfunctioning. This message will only ap-
pear if all light emitting diodes have
stopped working.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
TURN SIG. MIRROR, R
CHECK LAMP!
The right turn signal in the side mirror is
malfunctioning. This message will only ap-
pear if all light emitting diodes have
stopped working.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz Cen-
ter as soon as possible.
<
SEAT BELT SYSTEM
VISIT WORKSHOP!
The seat belt system is malfunctioning.

Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
K
CLOSE
SUNROOF!
You have opened the driver’s door with
the SmartKey removed from the starter
switch and the sliding/pop up roof open.

Close the sliding/pop-up roof
(page 199).
J
CLOSE
SUNROOF!
You have opened the driver’s door with
the SmartKey removed from the starter
switch and the sliding/pop up roof open.

Close the sliding/pop-up roof
(page 199).

334 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display symbol
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
L
TELE AID
DRIVE TO WORKSHOP!
One or more main functions of the Tele
Aid system are malfunctioning.

Have the Tele Aid system checked by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
TELE AID BATTERY
DRIVE TO WORKSHOP!
The emergency power battery for the Tele
Aid system is malfunctioning. If the vehi-
cle battery is also discharged, Tele Aid
will not be operational.

Have the Tele Aid system checked by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
t
FUNCTION
NOT AVAILABLE!
This display appears if button t or
s on the multifunction steering wheel
is pressed and the vehicle is not equipped
with a telephone.
Ê
TRUNK OPEN!
This message will appear whenever the
trunk lid is open.

Close the trunk lid.
W
WASHER FLUID
CHECK LEVEL!
The fluid level has dropped to about
1/3
of total reservoir capacity.
Add washer fluid (
page 281).
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.

335 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Tire pressure monitor messages
(vehicles produced up to approximately
October 2003)Display symbol
Display message
Possible cause
Possible solution
H
TIRE PRES.

DISPLAY AFTER DRIVING
A FEW MINS. REACTIVATE
USING R-BUTTON
The tire pressure is being checked.
TIRE PRES. MONITOR
NOT ACTIVE
The tire inflation pressure monitor* is un-
able to monitor the tire pressure due to

the presence of several wheel sensors
in the vehicle.


excessive wheel sensor tempera-
tures.


a nearby radio interference source.


unrecognized wheel sensors mount-
ed.

Check the tire pressure at the next ser-
vice station.
Warning!
G
Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire affects
the ability to steer or brake the vehicle.
You may lose control of the vehicle. Contin-
ued driving with a flat tire will cause exces-
sive heat build-up and possibly a fire.