Page 333 of 458
331 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Problem
Possible cause
Suggested solution
v
The yellow ESP warning lamp
comes on while driving.
The ESP is deactivated.
Risk of accident!
Switch the ESP back on (
page 84).
Adapt your speed and driving to the pre-
vailing road and weather conditions.
If the ESP cannot be switched back on, have
the system checked at an authorized
Mercedes-Benz Center as soon as possible.
<
The red seat belt telltale illumi-
nates briefly after starting the
engine.
The driver or the front passenger has not
fastened his or her seat belt.
Fasten your seat belt.
The warning lamp goes out.
Page 342 of 458
340 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display
Possible cause
Possible solution
ESP UNAVAILABLE
SEE OPERATORS 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.
Page 344 of 458
342 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Symbol messagesDisplay
Possible cause
Possible solution
#
BATTERY CHARGE
VISIT WORKSHOP
The battery is no longer charging.
Possible causes:
alternator malfunctioning
broken poly-V-belt
Do not forget that the brake system re-
quires electrical energy and may be oper-
ating with restricted capability.
Considerably greater brake pedal force is
required and the stopping distance is
longer.
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.
;(USA only)3(Canada only)
RELEASE
PARKING BRAKE
You are driving with the parking brake en-
gaged.
Release the parking brake (
page 50).
Page 345 of 458

343 Practical hints
What to do if …?
Display
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.
Failure to follow these instructions increases
the risk of accident.
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 Maintenance
Booklet.
Page 346 of 458
344 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display
Possible cause
Possible solution
?
VISIT WORKSHOP
There may be a malfunction in the:
Fuel injection system
Ignition system
Exhaust system
Fuel system
Visit an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center as soon as possible.
B
COOLANT
CHECK LEVEL!
The coolant level is too low.
Add coolant (
page 279).
If you have to add coolant frequently,
have the cooling system checked by an
authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
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 can be seriously burned.
!Do not ignore the low engine coolant
level warning. Extended driving with
the message and symbol displayed
may cause serious engine damage not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.
Do not drive without a sufficient
amount of coolant in the cooling sys-
tem. The engine will overheat, causing
major engine damage.
Page 348 of 458
346 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display
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 Cen-
ter.
If it is intact:
Restart the engine only after the message
disappears from the multifunction dis-
play. Doing so could result in serious en-
gine damage that is not covered by the
Mercedes-Benz Limited Warranty.
Observe the coolant temperature gauge
(page 135).
Drive immediately to the nearest autho-
rized Mercedes-Benz Center. Adjust driv-
ing to be consistent with reduced braking
responsiveness.
Page 350 of 458
348 Practical hintsWhat to do if …?Display
Possible cause
Possible solution
:
USA only:ADD 1.0 QT. OIL
AT FILLING STATIONCanada only:ADD 1.0 LITER OIL
AT FILLING STATION
The engine oil level is too low.
Add engine oil (
page 278) and check
the engine oil level (page 275).
ENGINE OIL LEVEL
STOP, ENGINE OFF
There is no oil in the engine.
There is a danger of engine damage.
Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt as
soon as possible.
Turn off the engine.
Add engine oil (
page 278) and check
the engine oil level (page 275).
ENGINE OIL LEVEL
REDUCE OIL LEVEL
You have added too much engine oil.
There is a risk of damaging the engine or
the catalytic converter.
Have excess oil siphoned or drained off.
Observe all legal requirements with re-
spect to its disposal.
Page 351 of 458

349 Practical hints
What to do if …?
When the message
ADD 1.0 QT. OIL AT
FILLING STATION (Canada:
1 Liter
) ap-
pears while the engine is running and at
operating temperature, the engine oil level
has dropped to approximately the mini-
mum level.When this occurs, the warning will first
come on intermittently and then stay on if
the oil level drops further.
Visually check for oil leaks. If no obvious oil
leaks are noted, drive to the nearest ser-
vice station where the engine oil should be
topped to the required level with an ap-
proved oil specified in the Factory Ap-
proved Service Products pamphlet.
Display
Possible cause
Possible solution
:
ENGINE OIL
VISIT WORKSHOP
It may be that there is water in the engine
oil.
Have the engine oil level checked
(page 275).
ENGINE OIL LEVEL
VISIT WORKSHOP
The engine oil has dropped to a critical
level.
Check the engine oil level (
page 275)
and add engine oil as required
(
page 278).
If you must add engine oil frequently,
have the engine checked for possible
leaks.
OIL SENSOR MALFUNCT.
VISIT WORKSHOP
The measuring system is malfunctioning.
Have the measuring system checked by
an authorized Mercedes-Benz Center.
!The engine oil level warnings should
not be ignored. Extended driving with
the symbol displayed could result in
serious engine damage that is not
covered by the Mercedes-Benz Limited
Warranty.